Monday, April 1, 2024

NCL's Free at Sea promotion: What to know before you book

norwegian cruise lines excursions

You might think that dining outside would be simple on a cruise ship. Because the ship is normally underway, there is always a breeze, which makes it tough to eat outside. Norwegian, however, has put a lot of effort into battling this problem with wind breaks and covered areas. Not only is there outdoor dining for the buffet, but most restaurants have their own dedicated spots to eat outside.

Eat Somewhere Different Every Night

This pricing is quite a bit higher than what some other lines, such as Carnival or Princess, charge for Wi-Fi. Princess recently was charging just $14.99 per person per day for a WiFi package. Norwegian also offers dedicated teen zones and programming on ships for children ages 13 to 17. Called Entourage, the teen zone is a place for teens to hang out, dance and play games, and it's supervised by counselors who plan activities and challenges. As is typical for big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian has an extensive children's program, with programs and activities for children as young as 6 months through the age of 17. For those with money to burn (pricing on Norwegian Encore recently was $99 per person for a day pass), the Vibe Beach Clubs are lovely, secluded deck-top hideaways.

The “Free at Sea” Offer May Still Cost Gratuities

In short, if you want to turn a Norwegian cruise into a luxury experience, you can do that, too. Norwegian really is the line where you make the trip what you want it to be. Looking for a cruise where you can do what you want, whenever you want, without a lot of structure and rules?

How do I get the most from my cruise shore excursion?

Norwegian is also heralded for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships. In 2010, it debuted an entire zone of small studio cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, and it has since added them to seven more new ships. Its largest vessels are among the biggest cruise ships at sea (they must be, to accommodate everything mentioned above).

Cruises

We’ll admit, it’s a little funny seeing some of the waitstaff dressed up in cowboy hats and checked shirts, but hey, it’s a cruise. If you’re wanting to try some Texas-style BBQ while you are in the middle of the ocean, check out Q Texas Smokehouse, available on some ships. It features not just some good eats but also nightly country music showcases. You’ll have to pay a little extra as this is a specialty restaurant. All ships in the Norwegian Cruise Lines fleet have a number of spots to eat, but the newer ships take it to another level. The Norwegian Joy, for instance, has more than 15 spots to dine.

norwegian cruise lines excursions

NCL's Free at Sea promotion: What to know before you book

The key to getting the most from your cruise shore excursion is to know what you want and make sure the tour description matches your expectations. I find that the more I cruise, the less I take ship-sponsored shore excursions because they don't offer exactly what I want. Cruise shore excursion prices vary widely depending on the cost of living in the cruise destination, what type of activity is involved and whether it's a full- or half-day tour. At night, these three-deck complexes become bustling places.

Norwegian Cruise Line reroutes Antarctica cruise, angering passengers - The Washington Post

Norwegian Cruise Line reroutes Antarctica cruise, angering passengers.

Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Norwegian adds an automatic service charge of $20 to $25 per person, per day, to final bills, depending on your cabin category. Depending on the service you receive, you can adjust the amount up or down at the guest services desk before disembarking. In addition, a 20% gratuity is added to the bill at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas. The credit does not apply to Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye equipment rentals.

Complete Guide to Sailing Norwegian Cruise Line (What It’s Like)

Instead, you can travel with a state-certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport. The top decks of a few Norwegian ships — mostly the bigger ones — also have a ropes course, a climbing wall or both. Norwegian ships also all have Mandara Spas, which can be quite big on the bigger vessels, and there are fitness centers on every ship. As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round. It's the only cruise line to offer year-round voyages in Hawaii.

Free 3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin

The fun of a cruise is equal parts what you do on board and what you do on shore. Cruise lines offer a full schedule of shore excursions to help you make the most of your time in port. However, the process of choosing and booking tours can be overwhelming for new cruisers. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.

Themed around a Spanish galleon, it's designed to be played by up to six people at a time. There's nothing quite like Galaxy Pavilion in the cruise world. The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms.

Gratuities cost $20 per person, per day for most cabins (and $25 for higher-end rooms). Then there are charges for things like the go-karts and the Galaxy Pavilion (a high-end video gaming experience) on newer ships. That’s not exactly “free,” but it’s a small price to pay for a drink package, wi-fi, shore excursion credit, and specialty dining. One of the big draws to Norwegian has been their “Free at Sea” offer. You book a cabin and you can get the regular bare-bones fare, or you can get a number of perks included for a slightly fare.

And since all it takes to play is a swipe of your keycard, it’s easy to overspend. On every cruise you sail, no matter the ship, there will be production shows put on by the entertainment staff. For instance, Norwegian offers Broadway-style shows of Footloose and Kinky Boots on ships. In other words, these aren’t some low-level productions with a few singers and dancers. They are adaptations of major Broadway shows for performance at sea.

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