14 Great Reasons To Cruise on Norwegian

1 | Freestyle cruising

Freestyle cruising means no schedules, so you’re free to dine when you want and with whom you want. No more assigned seating at a table for ten with strangers! Now, if you want to eat at 5:30 so you can catch a 7:30 show, no problem. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from that can accommodate you.

Reservations are still needed for specialty restaurants, though, due to their smaller venues, especially if the ship is sailing at or near capacity.

2 | Free at Sea promotions

The Free at Sea promotion bundles the most popular options that cruisers want into the price of the cruise fare. These offers vary and can include:

• Free airfare – Buy one airfare, get one free for the second guest.
• Free unlimited open bar – Free for cocktails, spirits, wine, and beer under $15, no limit. Twenty percent off wine or champagne by the bottle. Unlimited soft drinks and juices.
• Specialty dining – Dine free for several nights depending on the length of sailing.
• Excursions – Save $50 per excursion per stateroom for each port visited.
• WiFi – Free WiFi package with the first certain number of minutes free.
• Third and fourth guests in the same cabin sail free (or for $99, depending on the offer).

Cruise-only fares are also available without these benefits, which are more attractive to those who don’t drink alcohol.

3 | appeals to most demographics

Norwegian positions itself as an option for singles, families, couples, and seniors.

Families enjoy the complimentary youth programs: Splash Academy for ages 3 to 12, and Entourage for teens. Late Night is a babysitting service offered in the evenings. Activities that kids enjoy include water slides, go-karts, laser tag, the arcade, and rope course (available on certain ships).

Family cruises are popular, with multi-generations and extended families coming together for onboard fun.

Couples and seniors feel right at home with ample dining, entertainment, and spa amenities to keep them entertained and pampered.

6 | The Haven

For cruisers wanting a more upscale experience, the Haven is the perfect choice. Located at the top of the ship, the Haven is a private enclave that offers a secluded getaway with the most luxurious accommodations and services available. Other Haven cabins are available outside the enclave, such as Spa Haven Suites, Aft Haven Suites, and Forward Haven suites.

A private restaurant, bar, lounge, pool, and deck area provide an upscale experience. Amenities include butler service, concierge assistance, priority tendering, priority embarkation and disembarkation, and special seating at shows.

7 | Dining

Several complimentary restaurants are available on each ship, including the main restaurants—the Manhattan Room, Taste, and Savor. The buffet—the Garden Café—is also complimentary. Several specialty restaurants offer more upscale dining, including Cagney’s, La Cucina, Le Bistro, and Teppanyaki. Some ships also have a barbecue restaurant, Q Texas Smokehouse.

8 | Bars

Across its ships, Norwegian has twenty-two bars and lounges, although all are not available on every ship. Some of the most popular are Shaker’s Martini Bar, Sugarcane Mojito Bar, Sunset Bar, Skyy Vodka Ice Bar, and The Local.

9 | Entertainment

Broadway-style entertainment is a given on Norwegian, as well as concerts, and they do it well. The shows are top-notch, and so are the comedians. Live music is available at Syd Norman’s Pour House, the Cavern Club, and Howl at the Moon.

The casino is open until the wee hours of the morning unless the ship is near or in port.

10 | Onboard activities

Activities abound, from game shows like Deal or No Deal to late-night deck parties to wine tastings. Or you can splurge for a spa treatment or a whole “me” day. There’s an arcade, aqua parks, mini-golf, and some ships even have a bowling alley and go-kart courses. You should never be bored on a Norwegian ship, even on port days.

11 | Relaxed dress code

Norwegian stresses “cruise casual” for daytime and “smart casual” for nighttime. There are “dress-up” nights, but no formal wear is required. More detailed information is available here and on their website.

12 | Hawaii itineraries

Norwegian offers several different types of cruises to Hawaii, including inter-island cruises, trans-Pacific cruises, and South Pacific cruises ranging from seven to sixteen days. They also offer cruise/land tours.

13 | Great Stirrup Cay

Norwegian’s private island is a tropical paradise with sandy beaches, water fun, and lots of activities. A huge buffet is available, and your drink package is accepted on the island.

14 | Military discount

Norwegian offers a 10% discount, applicable to the entire stateroom, for members of the military, veterans, and their spouses. This offer can be combined with Free at Sea.

Final Thoughts on Reasons To Cruise on Norwegian

There are many more reasons to cruise Norwegian, which is why they’re still one of our favorite cruise lines. If you haven’t already cruised on Norwegian, you should give them a try. They might be the perfect fit for you!

To read more about Norwegian, check out these posts and these videos.