Norwegian Cruise Line

Overview — Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) - an international cruise company headquartered in Miami, operating since 1966. The fleet includes over 20 ships of various sizes - from relatively compact vessels to the newest Prima Plus-class liners.

The company’s main concept is Freestyle Cruising: passengers are not tied to a fixed dinner time, a permanent table, or mandatory formal evenings. They can independently plan their dining, rest, and entertainment.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers cruises across the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe, to Alaska, Hawaii, the Bermuda Islands, to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The company also provides transatlantic and repositioning cruises.

Recommended for

Norwegian Cruise Line cruises are recommended for:

• families with children and teenagers;

• couples and groups of friends;

• travelers who don’t want to stick to a fixed schedule;

• active travelers who value entertainment and modern attractions;

• passengers who care about a wide choice of restaurants;

• travelers who are going on the trip on their own;

• guests looking for a premium getaway as part of the The Haven complex.

NCL may be less suitable for travelers who are looking for the intimate atmosphere of a small ship, an all-inclusive fare, or a traditional format with formal evenings and a reserved table in the restaurant.

Features

Key features of Norwegian Cruise Line:

• Freestyle Cruising - free time to visit restaurants and no mandatory formal evenings;

• main dining venues and the buffet, included in the cruise fare;

• a wide selection of specialty restaurants for an additional fee;

• the Free at Sea package, which depending on the offer may include drinks, specialty restaurants, internet, and discounts on shore excursions;

• large-scale theatrical productions, live music, and evening shows;

• water slides, rope courses, sports facilities, and other attractions on select ships;

• the Splash Academy kids program and the Entourage teen club;

• Studios staterooms and special areas for passengers traveling solo;

• a premium complex The Haven with private suites, a restaurant, a lounge, and a pool;

• private destinations Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize.

The selection of restaurants, entertainment, and attractions varies significantly depending on the ship. Before booking, it’s worth checking the options available on the specific vessel.

Tips

Norwegian Cruise Line automatically charges a daily service fee:

• $20 per person per day - for inside staterooms, staterooms with a window, balconies and Club Balcony Suite;

• $25 per person per day - for guests of The Haven and suites.

The fee applies to passengers aged three and above. You can pay it in advance no later than 24 hours before the start of the cruise or pay onboard.

For drink packages, specialty restaurants, spa services and some other purchases, an additional service fee of 20% may be added. Even if the package is received as part of Free at Sea, the corresponding gratuities may still be paid additionally.

Current rates are listed in Norwegian Cruise Line onboard service charge policy.

Loyalty Program — Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Cruise Line loyalty program is called Latitudes Rewards. Passengers automatically become members after their first completed cruise.

By default, one point is awarded for each night of the cruise. Additional points can be earned for staying in a suite or The Haven, as well as for booking special Latitudes Insider offers.

Program tiers:

• Bronze - 1–19 points;

• Silver - 20–44 points;

• Gold - 45–74 points;

• Platinum - 75–149 points;

• Sapphire - 150–349 points;

• Diamond - 350–699 points;

• Ambassador - from 700 points.

Depending on their tier, participants receive special offers, discounts on excursions, photos, spa services and purchases, priority services, complimentary laundry, dinners at specialty restaurants, and other benefits. For the Ambassador tier, a complimentary cruise is provided according to the terms of the program.

The full table of privileges is available on the Latitudes Rewards page.

Dress Code — Norwegian Cruise Line

On Norwegian Cruise Line ships, a relaxed resort style is in effect. There are no mandatory formal evenings.

During the day, shorts, T-shirts, shirts, light dresses, jeans, and sandals are appropriate. Swimsuits are intended for pools and open decks. In restaurants, you need to wear shoes and clothing that sufficiently covers the body.

For dinner in specialty restaurants, you can choose an elegant casual style: a dress, a shirt, trousers, or neat jeans. Suits, blazers, and evening dresses are not required, but passengers may dress more formally if they wish.

Detailed recommendations are published in the official NCL dress code description.

Cancellation Conditions — Norwegian Cruise Line

Cancellation conditions depend on the booking country, fare, itinerary, payment method, availability of an air flight, and other additional services.

For individual bookings under standard NCL Continental Europe terms, the following indicative scale applies:

• 30 or more days before departure - a 20% penalty of the cost;

• 28–15 days - 50%;

• 14–8 days - 75%;

• 7 days or less, as well as in the event of a no-show - 95%.

For cruise tours, group bookings, charters, promotional fares, and air tickets, other penalties may apply. Certain air fares may be completely non-refundable.

If the number of passengers in a cabin is reduced, the company may re-calculate the cost for guests who continue the trip. After the cruise has started, funds for unused nights, meals, entertainment, or other services are usually not refunded.

This scale is not universal. The legally binding terms are the rules stated in the confirmation for the specific booking. Before payment, you should check the current terms of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Age Restrictions — Norwegian Cruise Line

The minimum age for an infant on the day of embarkation is six months. On itineraries with three or more consecutive days at sea, the child must be at least 12 months old.

The minimum age of the responsible passenger depends on the itinerary and the booking market. On sailings that begin, end, or call on ports in North America or China, the responsible guest must be at least 21 years old.

Passengers under 18 years old must stay in the same or an adjacent stateroom with a responsible adult. If a child is traveling without parents or legal guardians, an original notarized consent for travel and medical treatment may be required at check-in.

The standard minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol onboard is 21 years. On certain round-trip itineraries across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, the minimum age may be 18. On some other itineraries, passengers aged 18–20 may be allowed to consume beer and wine in international waters with a written parental consent.

The passenger’s age is determined as of the embarkation date. Before booking, you should check the rules for your specific itinerary, as they may vary depending on the region.