Part 2: What to expect on board a Norwegian Cruise Line ship

From the food to the entertainment, the cabins to the destinations: let’s give you a rough run down

If you read part 1 of our guide to Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), then you’ve possibly got your head around how the fleet of 19 ships is compiled. But there are still so many deciding factors that could sway you when deciding if NCL is the one for you. The food, the shows, the accommodation, the itinerary and the cost.

We’ll try to shed some more light on these areas. For starters, let’s dig into the menus.

Activities: 

NCL is not afraid to stand out from the crowd and with its go-kart tracks it certainly does that. Its these tracks that are fast becoming NCL’s signature showpiece on board Viva, Prima, Encore, Bliss and Joy. 

The biggest two tracks, on Viva and Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour. Three of the tracks, on Viva, Prima and Encore also feature observation areas in the middle of the track where family and friends can cheer drivers on. The support crew can even aim their lasers at their chosen car – hit the target and the car gets a boost of power.

And talking of lasers, the open-air laser tag arenas are unlike anything you'll find atop the ships of other lines. The one on Norwegian Encore, which is the largest laser tag arena ever put on a ship, is themed around the lost city of Atlantis and spans the back of the vessel.

The waterparks are another wow attraction that NCL has made its mark. Giant waterslides snake down multiple decks, with tubes twisting and turning before spewing out their prey in the pools at the end. 

Epic is also home to its hair-raising Epic Plunge waterslide: starting four storeys above the pool deck and 200 feet long, dare devils catapult down the slide before swirling around the water bowl at the end.  

On Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva you’ll find The Drop, a 10-storey dry slide that the line claims is the world's first freefall dry slide at sea with a gravitational force "faster than an accelerating F1 race car”.

On Norwegian Encore you’ll find the tandem, Aqua Racer and Ocean Loops that will  whoosh you over the side of the ship on a hair-raising double loop. 

Much anticipation awaits what is dubbed the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world's first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea. The three-story-high attraction on Norwegian Aqua (the third Prima class ship launching in 2025) will twist around the ship’s funnel as riders shoot across the top deck.

Kiddies have their own splash zones, and so do the adults in the form of Spice H2O. This is a complimentary adults-only area. Or they can splash out (literally) and check into the exclusive adult-only sunbathing area called the Vibe Beach Club. However, tans come at a cost since you have to pay to access this exclusive area bedecked in padded sun beds, loungers and hot tubs. But you do get chilled towels, a private bar, fresh fruit and water spritzers. Encore has the biggest Vibe Beach Club of the lot. 

Inside the drama continues. NCL is fully embracing virtual reality. Galaxy Pavilion is where you can step onto an VR race car or hand gliding simulator, lose yourself in a virtual maze or brave the Jurassic Park ride. 

Encore has the biggest Galaxy Pavilion alongside an escape room where you have to have your wits about you if you’re going to make it out in time.

Other options to keep you entertained include bowling allies, rope courses, climbing walls and basketball courts. And for those wanting to stay fit while away, the fitness centres have got all the top speck gym gear and packed timetables of classes.

Spa: 

Norwegian ships also all have Mandara Spas, which can be impressively large on the big ships. The thermal suites come with a steam room and a salt room, a snow room and a chill-out room – basically, room after room of pure pampering. Plus, you can book yourself in for an array of glorious beautifying, relaxing and therapeutic treatments.

Shows and evening entertainment:

But, it’s on stage where Norwegian excels. Expect stellar shows in state-of-the-art theatres, particularly on the big ships. Norwegian Bliss, for example, has set the stage for the Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has unfolded on Norwegian Epic and original productions like Choir of Man have played out on Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian ships also are jam-packed with music venues. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Epic have the Cavern Club, a reproduction of the British club that gave rise to the Beatles. It comes complete with a cover band that plays the group's greatest hits.

There are also Howl at the Moon duelling piano bars on some Norwegian ships, while barbecue food and music pair perfectly at Q Texas Smokehouse found on Encore, Bliss and Joy.

All the ships, bar Pride of America, have a casino, and on the line's bigger vessels, these are huge operations.

Kids’ clubs: 

As you’d expect, NCL has an extensive children's programme with a packed timetable of activities for children as young as six months right through to 17 years old.

The Splash Academy is the place for children aged three up to 12 years old where they are then split into three age groups: Turtles (ages three to five), Seals (ages six to nine) and Dolphins (ages 10 to 12). Each group is entertained and kept busy with age-appropriate activities, ranging from treasure hunts to video game competitions. 

While the free programming ends at 10.30 pm, you can pay extra to leave your kids at Splash Academy way past this time until 1:30 am, when it's billed as the Late Night Fun Zone.

For babies and toddlers, parents need just turn to Guppies, a place to play with occasional staff-led activities and games.

For teens who are too cool for school, they can chill out in Entourage, the teen zone to play video games, listen to music and make friends.

Choosing the right cabin on board a cruise ship is always a tricky choice. There are so many considerations at the best of times. When it comes to booking on NCL, it can be even more complicated. 

For one, there are so many cabins to consider. On the biggies, there can be up to 2,000 cabins falling into up to a mind-bending 39 different categories.

Putting the minefield of decision making aside, the great thing about this depth and breadth of choice is that there really is a cabin for everyone. 

If you’re on a budget then there are an array of budget-conscious inside cabins on offer. Admittedly they can be small but for those planning to be out exploring the ship 90% of the time, then they are great budget options. 

The smallest cabin is targeted at solo travellers and these weigh in at just 100sq ft. 

Reacting to the trend for more solo travellers, NCL has embraced the charge and has been increasingly rolling out more of its Studio cabins, often clustering them around an exclusive Studio Lounge with a bar and television area where solos can mingle at daily hosted happy hour gatherings. All 19 ships will, in time, have solo cabins.

At the completely opposite end of the scale you’ve got the massive suites. 

Interestingly, among the most notable are the suites that can be found on Norwegian’s smaller class of ship – another reason why these smaller vessels should not be dismissed. 

The Garden Villas found on Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star are real show stoppers. Living areas come with glass walls looking over the pool areas of the ships. They have as many as three bedrooms, plus separate living rooms and dining rooms. Some measure as much as 6,694 square feet — more than the size of a typical home.

Among notable extras, the Garden Villas have private outdoor sundecks and courtyards with hot tubs.

On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of an exclusive, keycard-accessed area called The Haven. Aimed at luxury travellers, The Haven complexes are located at the very top of the vessels and often come with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and restaurants.

Norwegian Aqua also will have the largest Haven complex of any of its ships and the most spacious accommodations the line has ever offered.

The Haven complex on Norwegian Aqua will include 123 suites that feature the line's first three-bedroom duplex Haven suites. There will be four in total — all two storeys high with separate living and dining areas, three bathrooms, a sprawling balcony and three bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms will have a king-size bed, with the primary bedroom offering floor-to-ceiling windows.

You’ll find significantly more suites on the newer and bigger ships. On Norwegian Encore, for instance, 19% of the 2,040 cabins are suites. On the older vessels, suites are not so common –but, there again, they do have those spectacular Garden Villas.  

One thing you need to know upfront about going on a Norwegian cruise is that there are a lot of extra charges — and sometimes quite high extra charges. 

This is particularly the case in the speciality restaurants, some of which come with a flat fee while others are a la carte. If you know you want to eat at several extra-charge restaurants during your cruise then you really should buy one of the dining packages to avail discounts.

While many of the attractions on board are included, you should always check twice before assuming they’re complimentary. 

For example, you’ll pay a fee to play in the Galaxy Pavilion. At the time of writing, a week-long pass to the venue will set you back $199 per person. There also are hour-long passes available for $29 per person, or you can sample a single ride for $8.

The go-kart and laser tag experiences don't come cheap. At the time of writing, expect to pay $15 per person for eight laps on the go-karts and $10 per person for a five-minute laser shootout. Alternatively, you can buy a week-long pass for $199 to cover both.

Norwegian allows you to bring bottles of your own wine on board, but it will charge you a corkage fee per bottle for the privilege — even if you plan to drink the bottle in your room. You’ll find that many lines are more generous in this respect allowing you to bring at least a couple of bottles on board for free. 

Who ever you are; whatever your budget; whatever your age or interests, there’s an NCL ship for you. NCL has conquered big-ship cruising. And it does it in its own inimitable style – Freestyle. 

If you like a relaxing vibe where you call the shots (and let’s face it, who doesn’t, especially while they’re away on holiday), then we think you’ll enjoy NCL. 

If you like all the bells and whistles of mega ships then NCL will tick the box, with surprises at every twist and turn. It’s go-kart tracks really are astounding – who would have thought that was a thing on a cruise ship? 

However, be prepared to shell out lots of little extras to complete your experience. 

This is a booking that needs careful consideration. You’ve got 19 NCL ships to choose from, and there are lots of differences to bear in mind. 

To help you navigate this decision, then why not pick up the phone and chat to your Personal Travel consultant from Not Just Travel. He or she has all the information at their fingertips. For no extra cost to you, they can do all the legwork. Booking your holiday should be fun and stress free. 

So, give us a call and let’s get you on board! 

In this episode of The Travel Podcast, join Eamonn Holmes and cruise expert Gary Anslow as they delve into Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to uncover what makes this brand standout. 

Are you wondering if NCL could be the ideal choice for you, your partner, or your family? This episode will tell you everything you need to know about the NCL experience.

You’ll explore NCL’s innovative entertainment options, such as go-karts and theatre shows, which redefine onboard fun and excitement. Discover the latest additions to the fleet, with new ships that push the boundaries of comfort and adventure. Learn how NCL caters to solo travellers, families, and couples alike, ensuring each guest finds their own perfect way to unwind or seek adventure at sea.

Tune in and prepare to book your next journey with NCL!