Table Of Content
Even better, the cruise sailed from Malaga, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal with a stop in Cadiz, Spain. I love cruising around Europe, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to book this cheap cruise. At 169,116 tons and carrying 3,958 passengers, Norwegian Encore is the largest ship in the Norwegian fleet. That means it has the most space for the many over-the-top family fun zones that are at the core of the four Breakaway-Plus vessels — a series of ships that was specifically designed with families in mind. Since that time, it’s grown to be one of the largest cruise lines in the world.
Learn About Credit Cards
Encore cabins range from compact solo studios to huge family suites that can sleep up to six. 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. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. The exclusive, keycard-accessed suite complex called The Haven (found on 13 of Norwegian's 19 ships) comes with private lounges, pools and other tony features.
Pro: Affordable sailings to international destinations
There are no set dining times or assigned seats, as is customary with “traditional” dining on many cruise lines. Norwegian was an early pioneer of the idea of giving cruisers lots of choices when it comes to restaurants on ships, and even its smallest vessels offer a wide range of options. And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.
How much does a Norwegian cruise cost?
The 3,998-passenger Norwegian Encore is a modern and sophisticated ship, with decor and public spaces that could rival a more luxury-oriented cruise line. It's a ship that aims to give everyone vacation choices, with multiple bars and restaurants, indoor and outdoor activities and plenty of evening entertainment. I recommend taking a look at what bars and entertainment are offered onboard each ship. Over the past 12 months, I have been able to cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line 6 times and currently have three additional sailings booked for 2024. From these experiences, I have gained some insight into what some of the pros and cons of NCL might be for prospective travelers.
The Best Way to Experience Alaska is with Norwegian
After five cruises with Norwegian, here's why I am coming back to Royal Caribbean - Royal Caribbean Blog
After five cruises with Norwegian, here's why I am coming back to Royal Caribbean.
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The cabins measure just 100 square feet but are superbly designed to maximize storage space. They're also clustered around the exclusive Studio Lounge, which has its own private bar and a television area where solo travelers can mingle at daily hosted happy hour gatherings. For would-be Norwegian cruisers, Norwegian Sky's shorter sailings out of Miami serve as a sort of "test the line" opportunity. Their short time frame and low pricing mean you're not out a lot in time or money if you don't love it as much as you hoped.
The lower drinking age in international waters does not apply during sailings in Alaska and Hawaii. If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for most sailings from U.S. ports (including sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Mexican Riviera and Alaska). 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. Also, every ship has a least four and often many more extra-charge eateries. Two found across the entire fleet are Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, and Le Bistro, a fine French restaurant. Every ship also has an Italian restaurant, called Onda by Scarpetta or La Cucina.
Norwegian Cruise Line signs Broadway and West End shows for slightly shortened shipboard productions, creates its own shows and searches around the world for interesting acts. You can catch productions of such popular shows as "Beetlejuice" and "Six," as well as the super-fun pub show "The Choir of Man" and Latin dance show "Burn the Floor." Its Hawaii sailings, in particular, are something of a rarity in the industry. The two-day visit to Kauai involves an overnight stay at the port of Nawiliwili.
Con: Norwegian Cruise Line app
All Norwegian’s recent ship builds, as well as refurbished cruise ships, have elegant and modern interiors. The decorations, lighting and architecture give Norwegian cruise ships a very beautiful look. Norwegian cruises also have many lounge areas, bar areas and activities on the upper decks. This design is perfect as there is always something to do onboard the cruise. NCL cruises are very nice looking and the cruise line has great ship designs.
Throw in the brand's low starting prices, and it's an even more compelling package. If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to ncl.com to make a booking directly. In contrast to airline frequent-flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. But it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.
THE 25 BEST Norwegian (NCL) Romantic & Couples Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Norwegian (NCL) Romantic & Couples Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:19:04 GMT [source]
I have found every NCL ship that I've sailed on to be beautiful and well-maintained. There are some features that I think would be beneficial to add to the NCL app, one of which would be adding the dinner menu for guests to view ahead of time. Perhaps one of the largest pros and benefits of cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line is their freestyle cruising mantra that allows guests to dine whenever or wherever they'd like.
The ships also have a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, leading to better service. Norwegian Encore is also the setting for one of the biggest go-kart racing tracks at sea. The racecourse also features a middle-of-the-track observation area where your family and friends can cheer you on to victory — and even shoot you with "lasers" that'll give you a boost of power. Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation.
The room was equipped with everything we needed, although the bathroom was the least impressive part of the stateroom. We also discovered an outdoor buffet that was located not too far from the Garden Cafe that featured classic pool deck food like hamburgers and hot dogs; however, we didn’t have enough time to try this one out. However, I had only sailed on Pride of America, which is only four years newer than Norwegian Sun. The two ships are nearly identical in size, weighing right around 80,000 gross tons.
If you know you want to eat at several extra-charge restaurants during a single voyage, you can buy one of several dining packages that offer meals at a discount. On some ships, you'll also find Ocean Blue, a seafood restaurant; The District Brew House, a gastropub serving craft beers; and a Mexican spot called either Los Lobos or Los Lobos Cantina. Every vessel has some sort of sushi restaurant, often called Sushi or Wasabi, and there are hibachi-style teppanyaki restaurants on nearly every Norwegian vessel. The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs.
Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure. Do you need a wide range of activities to keep the kiddos happy while the adults live it up or relax? The onboard activities and amenities can really make or break your vacation, so be sure you know what you're getting. Oftentimes onboard some of the newer cruise ships, it can be challenging to find a lounge chair by the main pool area due to cruisers reserving chairs, and there can often be no space for many guests later in the day. Note that due to the ship's small size, some of Norwegian's signature features, including a private The Haven suite complex and solo cabins, aren't found on the ship. Some of the extra-charge restaurants come with a flat fee (the teppanyaki outlets are $59 per person, not including the cost of drinks).
Additionally, Norwegian is the leading cruise line in the field of solo cruising. NCL has some unique Studio Staterooms that are specially designed for solo travelers and come with their own exclusive amenities and benefits. Norwegian Cruise Line has an impressive amount of stateroom types available onboard their ships. Many of the NCL ships have around six different types of rooms for guests onboard.
Norwegian is also the “freestyle” cruise line, with a relaxed dress code. The crew always seems genuinely happy, which really makes the cruising experience better. Plus, if you request a drink that’s not on the menu, they will make it for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment