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The perks include everything from shore excursion credit to alcohol packages to wi-fi. These days there is a lot to do on new ships from specialty restaurants to activities onboard. The thing is that with thousands of people on the ship and only a certain amount of open spots, the restaurants and things to do can fill up quickly. That’s why Norwegian has implemented a reservation system.
Entertainment and activities
Not every ship has this area, but many — especially newer vessels — do. Rooms are more luxurious than the rest of the cabins, and you are given access to an area reserved only for The Haven guests. You also earn priority status for boarding, tendering, and even restaurants and entertainment. If Norwegian has a claim to fame in entertainment aboard its ships, then is has to be their go-kart tracks at sea. Aboard the newest ships like Norwegian Prima, Encore, and more, there is a track that offers live racing.
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Review: Norwegian Cruise Line Prima - NerdWallet
Review: Norwegian Cruise Line Prima.
Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
On Norwegian's recently built Breakaway Plus-class ships, there are up to 20 places to grab a bite, ranging from high-end French restaurants and steakhouses to casual pubs. That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. However, unlike Royal Caribbean, Norwegian hasn't retained any of the trappings of old-style cruising. There are no formal nights, as you'll still find on Royal Caribbean ships, or dress codes. Norwegian has also thoroughly done away with the concept of big main restaurants with fixed seating. One notable outlier among the smaller ships is the 2,186-passenger Pride of America.
The “Free at Sea” Offer May Still Cost Gratuities
If you want the most things to do, we suggest sailing on the line’s newest and largest ships such as the Norwegian Encore or Norwegian Prima. No matter what, however, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained while on your cruise. Tipping is a personal matter, and there are no hard and fast rules. I canvassed TPG's cruise team and we agreed that we give roughly $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, adjusted for service and quality.
Who sails Norwegian Cruise Line?
It includes deck plans (so you don’t get lost), an overview of your onboard spending, the daily schedules, and you can even book reservations and excursions. Best of all, you don’t have to purchase wi-fi on the ship to use the app. We certainly don’t mind spending money on vacation, but seeing charges for items that are considerably less expensive on other cruise lines is hard to swallow sometimes.
The result is a relaxing spot where you can walk and enjoy yourself while reconnecting with why people fell in love with cruising in the first place — the ocean. Through Free at Sea, the dining package applies to the first and second guests on a reservation who must be at least 2 years old. Here's a breakdown of how many specialty restaurant meals you get if you choose this perk, based on the length of the cruise and the cabin category you have.
While not quite as big as Royal Caribbean's giant, Oasis-class ships, they are firmly in the pantheon of the world's cruising giants. They are the Norwegian vessels most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions. Norwegian vessels also offer lots of options for daytime fun but are particularly well known for evening entertainment. You'll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions.
Free 3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin
So not only can you try something new each day, but you can also save money doing so. Miss out on making a reservation before a specialty restaurant was booked up? Reservations are important, but there is still a chance you can get a seat. While cruise ship buffets are on every ship, not everyone is a fan of them. Many Norwegian ships have carpets with a design with lots of small fish. So you are walking in the direction of the fish or the triangles on the carpet, you’re going forward.
If some inclusions work for you but others do not, carefully consider whether the value is worth the cost (i.e., gratuities). One tip is if you are sailing the Caribbean, you’ll want to bring some white or neon clothing with you. On trips to this area, the cruise line often puts on white — or now moving to “glow” — parties on the pool deck. So you’ll head out to poolside at night, listen to some music, dance, and generally have a great time while all glammed up in either white or neon. That’s why most cruise lines leave a port like Los Angeles, sail to Hawaii, and then return for a quick visit to Mexico before heading home.
Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, you'd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas. Instead of a few big main restaurants with fixed seating times, Norwegian ships offer a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times — just make a reservation.
However, in popular cruise ports, there are often representatives waiting at the port or at a tourist office who can book you on same-day tours if space is available. The benefits to a cruise line's shore excursions are that they depart from and return to the ship; you don't need to figure out where to meet a guide in a port you've never visited. Better still, should an unexpected problem (traffic, a medical emergency) occur during your outing, the ship will not leave port until all of its own tours have returned. That's more than 13 times the cost of the least expensive inside cabin (which was starting at $1,058 per person, based on double occupancy).
When my parents traveled on a luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise, they said that waiting until the next morning to book tours meant that some of their choices were sold out. If you plan to book shore excursions through your cruise line, you have a couple of options of how to book them. Finally, some ports are simply wonderful to walk around, popping into shops and local restaurants or bars, going where you will. I've skipped tours in places like Key West, Florida; Tallinn, Estonia; Monaco; Nassau, Bahamas; Skagway, Alaska; Geiranger, Norway; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Some third-party operators will customize a tour for you or your group, so you can spend more time at the places you most want to see.
Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion offers guests several perks covered by the cruise fare, with the number often dependent upon the length of the cruise and the stateroom category chosen. Souvenir glasses for drinks aren’t anything new in cruising. They may be fun on the cruise ship, but they are nothing you’d really use at home. For example, the highest-tier of wi-fi service runs a staggering $40 per day if bought onboard, and you buy service for a whole cruise. On some cruise lines, the Drink of the Day isn’t anything special.
For women, slacks, jeans, dresses, skirts and tops will do fine. This is a more draconian policy than you'll find at most lines. Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge.
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