norwegian cruise line escape menus

• Cruise Line Restaurant, Room Service, and Bar Menus / Food and Drink / NCL Menus

Norwegian Dining and Restaurant Menus 2022

by Prof. Cruise · Published September 14, 2021 · Updated May 15, 2023

***NOTE: UPDATED NCL DINING AND RESTAURANT MENUS FOR 2023 CAN BE FOUND HERE ***

These menus are current as of May 2022.

While the menus are generally the same fleet-wide, double check that your ship has a particular restaurant onboard and there may be slight variations to the menus depending on your particular itinerary. But these should give you a good idea of what to expect.

NCL Dining Room Breakfast Menu 2022

This menu is available at Taste and Savor. The Daily Feature will rotate, but the remainder of the items will be offered every day.

NCL Lunch Menu 2022

This menu is available at lunch at Taste and Savor.

NCL Main Dining Room Dinner Menus 2022

These menus are available at the Manhattan, Taste, and Savor.

NCL Main Dining Room Kids Menu 2022

Or kids at heart – I’ve ordered the Mac and Say Cheese many times!

NCL’s Haven Breakfast Menu 2022 (Only For Haven Guests)

There is also a breakfast buffet of supplemental items in addition to the regular menu.

NCL’s Haven Lunch Menu 2022 (Only For Haven Guests)

There are also daily lunch specials in addition to the regular menu.

NCL’s Haven Dinner Menu 2022 (Only For Haven Guests)

There are also daily dinner specials in addition to the regular dinner menu.

NCL’s Haven Lounge Snacks Menu 2022 (Only For Haven Guests)

NCL’s The Local Breakfast Menu 2022

All items are included in your cruise fare at no extra charge unless otherwise noted.

NCL’s The Local Lunch and Dinner Menu 2022

NCL’s The Local Late Night Menu 2022

NCL’s Complimentary Room Service Breakfast Menu 2022

NCL’s Room Service Breakfast Menu (Extra Charge) 2022

NCL’s Room Service All-Day Menu (Extra Charge) 2022

NCL’s American Diner Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Cagney’s Steakhouse Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

***the cagney’s menu has been updated for 2023. please go here for the new menu***.

NCL’s Coco’s Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Dolce Gelato Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Food Republic Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Le Bistro Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

***the le bistro menu has been updated for 2023. please go here for the new menu***.

NCL’s Los Logos Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Ocean Blue Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Onda Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Q Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s Teppanyaki Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s The Bake Shop Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

NCL’s The Vibe Snack Menu 2022 (Extra Charge)

Go HERE for all the Bar Menus with prices

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And with that…

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Tags: Encore Encore dining menus Encore menus Encoure restaurant menus NCL dining menus NCL menus NCL restaurant menus

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5 Responses

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Got this for the NCL Getaway?

I don’t have them for the Gem specifically, but there should be a ton of overlap. Hope you have a great cruise!

[…] (10 points): Check out NCL dining menus and NCL bar menus. And be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on social […]

[…] HERE for Norwegian Encore Dining and Restaurant […]

[…] for me. You can read my review of Cagney’s Steakhouse here and Los Lobos here. And you can go here for all the restaurant menus on the Encore and here for all the bar […]

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Norwegian Escape Menus

The Norwegian Escape menus were taken from our recent sailing. We found the food aboard the ship to be excellent for the most part. The included food was good, and they had a great selection as well. But where the ship really shines is with their specialty restaurants. Bistro, Pinchos, Bayamo and Food republic are not be missed. They have outstanding food, paired with polished service. Norwegian Cruise Line has certainly improved since that last time I sailed with them.

Food Republic offers a wide variety of items, from different types of cuisine. Each and every item that we ate there was absolutely fantastic.

Norwegian 2023 Restaurants

Norweigan Escape Food Republic Menu

Norwegian Escape Bayamo Menu

Norwegian Escape The Supper Club Menu

Norwegian Escape Margaritaville Menu

Norwegian Escape Cagney’s Steakhouse Menu

Norwegian Escape La Cucina Menu

Norwegian Escape Moderno Churrascaria Menu

Norwegian Escape Le Bistro Menu

Norwegian Escape Main Dining room Menu

Norwegian Escape Pinchos Menu

Norwegian Escape Le Bristo Menu

Norwegian Escape Teppanyaki Menu

Norwegian Escape Main Dining Room Lunch Menu

Norwegian Escape Room Servie Menu

Norwegian O’Sheehan’s Menu

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Home » Cruise » Norwegian Cruise Line » Norwegian Escape » Norwegian Escape Bars – A Complete Guide

Norwegian Escape Bars – A Complete Guide

The new and innovative Norwegian Escape provides plenty of drink options for all types of travelers. From a brewhouse, to a mojito bar, to many firsts at sea including Jimmy Buffet's 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar,

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Drink around the ship: complete guide to norwegian escape bars.

It has been an ongoing cruise tradition for us to “Drink Around the Ship”, making it a point to sample every bar menu and get at LEAST one drink at every bar on our cruise ship. Our recent 7-night Norwegian Escape cruise was no different. Over the course of the week, we made the rounds to all the Norwegian Escape Bars.

The Norwegian Escape Bars provide plenty of drink options for all types of travelers. From a brewhouse, to a mojito bar, to many firsts at sea including Jimmy Buffet’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, Miami’s oldest dive bar Tobacco Road , and the Mondavi family’s Cellars Wine Bar, there are plenty of drinks to be had. So, in the name of research, we set off to sample each bar and drink menu.

Follow us as we travel to all the Norwegian Escape Bars during our “Drink Around the Ship” extravaganza! See the complete menus from all the Norwegian Escape Bars and plenty of photos of all the craft cocktails.

Norwegian Escape Bars

So, let’s start at the bottom and work our way up through all of the Norwegian Escape Bars.

Deck 6- Atrium Bar, the Mixx Bar, and the Headliners Comedy Club

Atrium Bar – This bar, located in the Atrium, is the perfect place to sip a cocktail while people watching, listening to some live music, or partaking in ship activities.

The Atrium Bar serves the standard Norwegian Escape bar menu. While relaxing and listening to some live music, I opted for the Mr. Worldwide, while DB ordered his classic cruise drink- a long island iced tea.

Menu: Page 1 , Page 2 , Page 3

Mixx Bar – This bar located between the Taste and Savor main dining rooms is the perfect spot to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in a trendy, modern atmosphere. Or, you can always grab a drink here before heading to the comedy show at the nearby Headliners.

This bar also serves up cocktails from the standard bar menu. We indulged in two drinks of the day prior to the comedy show at this bar.

Headliners – This venue holds multiple comedy shows during the course of the week as well as the Howl at the Moon dueling pianos. Both of these acts are worth a trip to Headliners, and you might as well grab a drink while you are there!

Again, this menu offers standard bar drinks. While watching the dueling pianos, I enjoyed a rebellious fish, and DB enjoyed his long island iced tea.

Deck 7- O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill and the Skyline Bar

O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill – This Irish themed pub is the perfect place to grab a beer and enjoy some comfort food any time of day. While sipping on your favorite drink, you can also enjoy a game on the TV screens or partake in a friendly game of pool, darts, or bowling.

We sipped on two drinks of the day while dining at O’Sheehan’s for lunch one day during our cruise.

Skyline Bar – Located near the casino, this bar incorporates technology to provide stunning city landscapes on high definition screens. The skyline views are not the only offerings at this bar as this venue features live entertainment and virtual concerts at various intervals during the cruise.

The Skyline Bar was the last bar that we checked off our drink around the ship list. On this occasion, I ordered a vodka and cranberry, and I’m sure you can guess DB’s drink of choice by now.

Deck 8- Prime Meridian Bar, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar, the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, The Cellars Wine Bar, the District Brew House, and Tobacco Road

Prime Meridian Bar – This bar, located between Moderno and Cagney’s restaurants, is another perfect spot to grab a pre-dinner drink or relax for a bit following dinner before heading off to your next destination.

Featuring the standard bar menu, I ordered a rebellious fish- a cocktail I came to enjoy over the course of the week, and DB ordered a negroni.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar – Located in the center of all the action on Deck 8 near the Waterfront, this bar offers a unique mojito menu with plenty of refreshing cocktails for you to enjoy. A cruiser favorite among the Norwegian Escape Bars, don’t miss Bong, one of the great bartenders here.

During our first visit to the Mojito Bar, I ordered the pineapple coconut mojito, and DB ordered the bacardi mojito. It turns out that the raspberry guava mojito was by far the best so definitely give that a try.

Menu: Page 1

The 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar – It’s 5 O’Clock all day long at this Jimmy Buffet bar, the first at sea on Norwegian Escape. Located on the Waterfront, this bar is the perfect spot to sip a midday margarita outside or join in on the nighttime entertainment, including some karaoke.

We made a few stop at this bar during the course of the week, mostly at the outdoor Waterfront location, but also caught a karaoke session here one night. This menu has many great specialty cocktails, so be sure to try them all. On this occasion, I tried the Stranded on a Sandbar, and DB tried the Off to See the Lizard.

The Cellars Wine Bar – Located on the Waterfront, The Cellars is a Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar. Offering the family’s favorite blends of wine, this is a great spot to relax, enjoy a glass of vino, and watch the ocean.

Neither one of us are big wine connoisseurs, but I enjoyed a glass of Riesling, and DB ordered a glass of Cabernet during our visit to this bar.

The District Brew House – This bar is the place to be for all you beer lovers. Offering a wide selection of bottled beers, 24 beers on tap, and beer cocktails, this bar is found exclusively on Norwegian Escape. You can enjoy your brew while listening to live music, or perhaps while posing in the photo booth ($5 charge for photo booth).

We did not have enough time to visit this bar as much as DB would have liked, but during our visit I sampled the Dale cocktail and DB indulged in some beer.

Menu: Page 1 , Page 2 , Page 3 , Page 4

Tobacco Road – Miami’s oldest and most iconic bar is now serving up cocktails created by Tobacco Road’s Cocktail Collection mixologist, Leo Holtzman, onboard Nowergian Escape . Memorabilia from this famous Miami dive bar, 103 years in the making, is also showcased here.

This bar also serves up cocktails from a specialty menu, though they were not our favorites. During our visit to Tobacco Road, I ordered the Gateway and DB the Chile Mule.

Now that you’ve worked up a thirst walking all the way from Deck 8 up to Deck 16.

Deck 16- Waves Pool Bar and Garden Cafe Bar

Waves Pool Bar – Located on decks 16 &17 in the center of the action on the pool deck, you can enjoy your favorite frozen cocktail or drink of the day while laying poolside and soaking up the sun.

Our favorite poolside frozen drinks are a Miami Vice and a Pina Colada.

Deck 16 does also feature a bar in the Garden Cafe so you can grab a quick drink at meals.

Deck 17- Spice H2O and the Chill Bar at Margaritaville.

Spice H2O – This adult’s only area boasts a relaxing atmosphere with a unique grotto water feature during the day and turns into the hottest party at night. Whether you want to soak up the sun during the day or dance the night away under the stars, be sure to have a drink in hand.

We spent most of our sea days here in Spice H2O enjoying frozen cocktails and drinks of the day while working on our tans.

The Chill Bar – This bar located in the Margaritaville at sea is the perfect spot to grab a signature cocktail without having to pay the a la carte prices to dine in this restaurant. The bar serves up all the same signature boat drinks and margaritas. Admittedly though, you might get hungry watching all the plates of nachos pass by you.

We did pay the a la carte pricing to dine at Margaritaville on two occasions, but we also stopped in at the Chill Bar to grab some margaritas on the go too. Definitely make it a point to sample these tasty drinks during your cruise.

If you are lucky enough to be staying in the Haven, this area also has its own private bar. During our tour of the area we were able to get a glimpse at this exclusive lounge, but we did not grab a photo of the menu.

Deck 19 – Sundeck Bar and Vibe Beach Club

Vibe Beach Club – This 18+ private retreat has a full service bar for you to indulge in some cocktails while enjoying the serene ocean vistas. Passes are available for purchase at Guest Services if you want a bit of privacy and luxury without paying the Haven prices.

Sundeck Bar- This under the radar bar is located on deck 19 right outside of the entrance for the Vibe Beach Club and below the sundeck. If you are seeking some rest and relaxation on decks 19 or 20 forward, this will be your go to spot for some beverages.

We secured some comfy chairs and drinks of the day one afternoon at this bar.

After following us on our drink around the ship, are you thirsty for a cruise on Norwegian Escape? If all this talk about bars and drinks has made you want to book a cruise on this new ship, be sure to check out our Norwegian Escape planning guide and our top Norwegian Escape secrets every cruiser needs to know.

Have you sailed on this new and innovative ship? What are your favorite Norwegian Escape Bars ? Drop us an anchor below to tell us where you like to spend your time sipping your favorite cocktails.

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My wife and I are cruising Jan 14th on the Escape! I enjoyed your bar reviews. I have a feeling we will be trying every bar as well! 🙂

Hi Glenn, Thanks for the comment. Hope you and the wife have a great cruise. Escape is a marvelous ship and you will love her. Please report back if you do hit all of the bars onboard! Happy sailing.

Wow great job! It really was informative and I’m traveling in 10 days so this made me very excited!! Thanks!

Such a helpful guide! Thank you so much for your work. I’m running the numbers on upgrading our beverage package to include any listed spirits…any idea on the pricing for the higher end scotches they listed?

Anything onboard NCL Escape like a Spinnaker Bar…all the bars look small and cramped.

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CRUISE SHIP DINING

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Enjoy a four-course meal and a great bottle of wine. Or grab a burger hot off the grill. Dress up. Dress down. Sit with your friends or make new ones. Dine inside or Oceanside along The Waterfront. Only Norwegian offers the freedom and flexibility of Freestyle Dining, which means no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating. So follow your mood, not a timetable .

Enjoy a Wide Variety of COMPLIMENTARY DINING

All of our ships offer beautifully crafted menus in up to three Main Dining Rooms, a Buffet and a variety of casual eateries. With our chef's original dishes made with the finest ingredients, your dining can be as fine or as fun as you want.

Main Dining Rooms

Choose from up to three main dining rooms serving a wide variety of delicious cuisine. Enjoy specially curated modern and classic dishes made with the freshest ingredients.

Beyond Buffets

Our quintessential buffet is a crowd favourite for a reason. Available during breakfast, lunch and dinner, feel free to enjoy our meat carving station, made-to-order omelettes, pasta and more. Best part, it's complimentary.

24 Hour Eatery

Classic pub fare offered in a relaxed atmosphere. With popular dishes like the Reuben Sandwich and Fish n' Chips, this eatery has all your favourite comfort foods!

Indulge in Norwegian Exclusive SPECIALITY DINING

When you want a unique culinary experience, our speciality restaurants offer a variety of tastes for every palate. Now through The Norwegian Edge we are bringing an even higher standard of excellence to our dining with upgraded menus and new exciting venues. Whether you're indulging in succulent meats at Moderno Churrascaria, savouring French cuisine in Le Bistro, or enjoying fresh Mexican flavours at Los Lobos, you'll be sure to discover menus as fresh as the ingredients and cuisine that looks almost too good to eat.

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Dig into some authentic Texas BBQ at Q Texas Smokehouse. All our smoked meats are infused with delicious flavours and come with all the traditional sides.

Our authentic Brazilian steakhouse is a must. Start with an impressive salad bar, but save room for skewers of slow-roasted meats carved tableside by our Pasadores.

A contemporary take on classic French cuisine. Surround yourself in chic décor and rich fare plates. Perfect for a romantic night out for the deux of you.

This delicious Asian-Latin fusion cuisine served tapas style is perfect for sharing. Food Republic is open for lunch on sea days and dinner nightly.

Dine on Italian classics prepared using the finest ingredients at La Cucina. Or explore a new wave of flavour with a fresh take on old-world fare at Onda by Scarpetta.

Gather around a shared table as a skillful chef perfectly prepares steak, chicken and seafood on a large steel grill at Teppanyaki. In the mood for sushi? Pull up a chair at any one of our sushi bars for some traditional Japanese fare, including Nama, our new contemporary sushi house offering upscale sushi and sashimi prepared by master chefs.

Bienvenido a Los Lobos, a premium Mexican restaurant celebrating traditional flavours with a modern twist. Chefs serve up new favourites like Carne Asada marinated in guajillo chiles and tequila or Tres Leches Cake with Coconut Cream.

Indulge in our newest seafood concept, Palomar, featuring flavourful Mediterranean inspired dishes and an exclusive eco-friendly wine list. Dive into an ocean of flavour with other incredible seafood options like Ocean Blue, Bayamo and The Raw Bar, serving some of the finest and freshest ingredients at sea with perfectly paired wine selections and cocktails.

Enjoy a taste of Spain's cuisine at this lively tapas bar. Sip on delicious sangria as you savour an array of small plates, like Manchego Cheese and Iberico Ham, or Cod Croquettes and Garlic Shrimp.

An American-style steakhouse where succulent choice cuts of Angus beef are incredibly flavourful and perfectly prepared. Make sure to order our famous Parmesan truffle fries.

Indulge your sweet tooth with decadent treats such as French macarons, chocolate bonbons and gourmet cupcakes at Coco's, Dolce Gelato, or The Bake Shop.

See What We Offer for FAMILY DINING

Freestyle Dining provides dining choices that satisfy even the pickiest eater in the family. Grab a burger hot off the grill or sit down for a four-course meal. Dress up. Dress down. You'll find more dining options than days of your cruise, and you're free to enjoy them all on your own timetable .

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Check Out Norwegian Cruise Line’s New Main Dining Room Menus [2024]

Theresa Russell

• September 30, 2022

Get ready to experience a culinary adventure on the high seas because Norwegian Cruise Line has recently revamped its main dining room experience across its entire fleet.

Join me as I highlight what’s new and what’s improved in NCL’s dining experience. My point of reference will be Prima , one of NCL’s newest ships, as it was the first to feature the new menus. 

What Is New About the Norwegian Cruise Line Menus?

The menus on board Prima and other Norwegian ships no longer change each night. Instead of rotating selections each evening, one set menu will be offered each night of the cruise — no need to check the menus each morning.

This is a significant change, one that not everyone will like. However, from the start, Norwegian promised that the new menus would offer various selections, including items from some of the specialty venues and a mix-and-match pasta section where diners can customize their preferred flavors.

Why Did NCL Decide to Change the Main Dining Room Menus?

Norwegian Cruise Line’s decision to change the main dining room menus is rooted in the desire to modernize and improve the overall dining experience for their guests. 

As the cruise industry has evolved, the abundance of dining options on modern cruise ships has made the concept of rotating menus in the main dining rooms less necessary. 

Norwegians recognized that the practice of frequently changing menu items originated from a time when the main dining room was often the primary dining venue on ships. 

Nowadays, however, with the increase in specialty restaurants and cafes, guests have a wide range of dining choices available throughout their voyage, which makes it unnecessary to have a rotating menu. 

By streamlining the main dining room menu and focusing on fewer, more refined dishes, NCL aims to enhance the quality of each menu item and improve the overall service. 

That makes sense, right? 

I mean, why divide your attention across a constantly changing menu when your culinary team can concentrate on perfecting fewer recipes and preparations? 

Frankly, this change aligns perfectly with modern dining trends and preferences, where guests appreciate a carefully curated menu with exceptional quality and consistency.

ALSO READ:  5 Significant Changes to Norwegian Cruise Line 

How Was the Decision to Change the Menus Met?

Despite the initial feedback from some loyal passengers, NCL’s recent reviews suggest that the new main dining room menu has been well-received by many guests. 

While some individuals miss the ability to plan their specialty dining around the rotating menu, others have praised the improved quality and consistency of the new menu. 

The reviews indicate that every single meal and menu item was cooked perfectly and presented beautifully. They also indicate that the new menu boasts a wide variety of offerings. 

Norwegian Prima’s Two Main Dining Rooms

Before we dive into the menus on Prima, let’s talk about the ship’s two main dining rooms.

First and foremost, the dining rooms aren’t huge. They’re like Taste and Savor on other Norwegian ships, in which menus are the same but with different settings.

One of them is The Commodore Room located on Deck 6. This space features porthole windows, modern chandeliers with round translucent discs, and a dark carpet with geometric lines. 

Interestingly, there is more than one color of fabric on the chairs; it’s worth noting that this particular venue is only open for dinner.

Hudson’s, on the other hand, is quite larger compared to The Commodore Room. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What makes this restaurant special is that it oozes with light and modern décor.

MORE: Cruise Packing List: 10 Things You’ll Be Glad You Threw in Your Suitcase

Let’s Talk About the New Menus

The menu items for breakfast include express breakfast, hot and cold cereals, and made-to-order eggs, which remain on this menu. 

Steak, eggs, Benedict, pancakes, and waffles are also available. 

Additionally, you can also find Starbucks beverages on the menu. Just bear in mind that they come with an additional charge.

Lunch is served only at Hudson’s. The starters and soup offerings include six selections, as well as spinach and artichoke dip with tortilla chips, a few varieties of soups, and a mushroom flatbread.

The typical lunch dishes include burgers, smash burgers, fish and chips, tacos, and two sandwiches – the French dip and crispy chicken. There is also a veggie burger. All these come with either fries or a side salad.

Those seeking a larger meal should look at the specialties section on the menu, which offers fish, pasta, pork, risotto, steak, and chicken. The pasta and risotto are the meatless options. 

Salad lovers will find several options as they make a meal from a salad – or as an appetizer before a specialty dish. Choices include Caesar, Thai steak and noodles, mahi-mahi, and kale and chicken salads.

The menus at dinner start with a few suggested wines. I never saw anything that would be included in the beverage package. There is a separate wine menu that features about ten bottles of red and white wines included in the beverage package.

The menu starts with appetizers, including spare ribs, crab cakes, quesadillas, and coconut shrimp, followed by an excellent selection of soups and salads. 

I was surprised to see chili listed, but I didn’t have a chance to try it. Three other soups and four salads complete that section of the menu. There is also a create-your-own-pasta section.

Diners seeking meatless options have three choices for a main course — cauliflower piccata, the Buddha bowl, or risotto ai funghi.

Other main dishes include five seafood and six meat options. 

For those wanting to try specialty restaurants, there is a featured dish that comes with an extra charge. The Signature Taste option on one of the nights was coq au vin for $15.

Ten sides are available to accompany the main dishes – or to add to another dish. Some sides include sweet potato fries, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and mac and cheese.

Cake lovers will certainly have difficulty finishing their dinner. The menu includes a variety of cakes, including lava cake, carrot cake, and cheesecake. 

Rounding out the menu are crème brûlée, apple pie, bread pudding, a fruit plate, and a daily selection of ice cream and sherbet.

Final Thoughts

Despite the new setup, there would still be plenty of food to choose from. 

If that’s something you’re not interested in, there are other choices like Indulge Food Hall, The Local, and the Surfside Café. Bon Appétit!

Be sure to check out my other Norwegian Prima articles:

• My First Impressions of New Cruise Ship Norwegian Prima
• Checking Out 5 New Bars on Norwegian Prima
• Everything You Need To Know About Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima

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NCL Drink Prices & Bar Menus

Norwegian Cruise Line drink menus tend to be the same fleet-wide and are consistent across most ships. Changes in what is available in the bars are normally based on each ship’s venues and bars.

For example, there is a whiskey bar menu and a martini bar menu, but those venues aren’t on all ships. Additionally, ships with wine cellars or wine bars have an expanded menu.

• SEE : Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Packages – Are They Worth It?

What do drinks cost on Norwegian Cruise Line?

Most beer is $7 , some wines are as inexpensive as $9-$13/glass and cocktails range $10-$15. There are specialty drinks that are obviously more expensive, but in general, the costs for beverages are reasonable with NCL.

Don’t forget the gratuities on drinks

If you’re NOT on a drink or beverage package, Norwegian Cruise Line charges an additional 20% gratuity on every drink purchase .

Bottled water and coke prices on NCL

For non-drinkers, the cost of a soda ranges from $3-$3.50 depending on which bar you order from and bottled water ranges from $4 for boxed water (500ml) to $6 for premium water like Aqua Panna.

**NOTE** Some of the menus show Pepsi products, as these were taken during the last days that Pepsi was served (Jan 2023) – Pepsi has now been replaced by Coke on the ships.

Now to the drink menus!

A typical beverage menu for pool bars and vibe club area on a Norwegian ship

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Whiskey Bar menu (i.e. Maltings Bar on NCL Epic)

For american whiskey lovers on ncl (updated 2024).

Norwegian Cruise Line has a relatively impressive Whiskey menu. Below are the standard options across the ships for American whiskey (with prices). This can vary a bit.

NCL Martini Bar menu

Shipwide beverage & bar menu for all norwegian cruise line ships.

These menus are fleetwide and shipwide where you’ll find them in almost all of the lounges and bars.

The HAVEN Bar Menu

You’ll notice that most of the menu has prices of just a few dollars, this is presuming the passenger has the NCL premium beverage package and will only pay the difference in the drink prices.

Wine Menu across the whole NCL Fleet

Wine menu on ncl ships with a wine bar (i.e. cellars or mondavi).

Some ships have branded wine bars by Mondavi, and those menus rotate availability on occasion. Here are some examples of what you may see in a Modavi branded wine bar on Norwegian Cruise Line

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26 Comments

I hope there is lots of Drambuie on board the Viva in June!!!! th 5 adults in our family always drink Port and Drambuie after dinner, and on some cruises the ship has run out of Drambuie. Fingers crossed!

There is PLENTY! 🙂 I can personally confirm that (without shame). Enjoy!

What about beers? You show everything that is avalable but I didn’t see any beers! I guess that they have classic big breweries but what about craft beers? They must have some.

Hi Sylvain – I’m actually updating all of the menus this week! After your comment, I made an effort to get all of the beer offerings on my latest cruise (NCL Joy Transatlantic)… I’ll post that here shortly.

Phil: Love there is an Irish Bar on EPIC!! I think you have Guinness…….do you also have Smithwicks and Harp? I still don’t see a beer list with pricing. Thanks. Bob G.

Hi Bob! I don’t recall seeing Harp or Smithwicks unfortunately 🙁 – I’m about to upload all new menus this coming week. We just did a cruise and got all new menus scanned.

Hi Phil. The wine list for ships with a wine cellar bar eg Mondavi, has “Premium Plus” against certain wines / champagnes. Does that mean that these glasses are available only to holders of Premium Plus? But are those holders also entitled to all wines which are served by the glass regardless of price? I understand that champagne on NCL for Premium Plus holders may now be restricted to its own Rose Champagne – but there are so many conflicting comments, who knows!?! Many thanks.

Hi Colin, With premium plus, you can order those specific bottles of wine at meals. The bottle is included in the package. If you have the basic beverage package, the price you see is what you’d pay for that bottle.

With premium plus, if it’s sold by the glass, it’s included always! **a few exceptions to this like Louis XIII which I think is $200 per oz – not surprising it’s not included 🙂

A good example is, where Veuve Clicquot use to be available everywhere on the ship by the glass (and included in Premium Plus), it’s now only in Le Bistro – and is still included with Premium Plus. So if it’s on the menu by the glass, order as much as you want!

So if you find a champagne sold by the glass somewhere, you’ll get it with the P+

A nifty unknown thing though, is some of the Specialty restaurants have a bar within the restaurant and you can go to that bar and order things that might not be available around the ship (like the above Veuve Clicquot)

I hope this helps – if not, let me know!

Wow! Thanks Phil. Not only one of the fastest responses to any on-line query I have made – but more information and facts than even NCL Customer Service could provide! Many thanks

Glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your cruise, and — break even on that package! 🙂

Any frozen cocktails lists?

Hi Nello – Yes! The very first menu has the most common frozen cocktails served (Primarily at the pool bars). They also do some unique drinks that aren’t on the menus.

These are super helpful!! Can’t wait to cruise – drink list prepared – on Sunday!

Glad this could help! Enjoy your cruise!

Do you happen to know how much mocktails, like virgin daiquiris, cost? I’ve yet to find a menu with them included.

Great question! I’ve never seen a menu of mocktails on any NCL cruise, but I know they make anything you want without alcohol. I have a friend that I travel with that doesn’t drink and she orders them all the time, but has a beverage package and never gets charged. I can only presume you should expect to pay the price on the menu, alcohol or not. Just know that they would be covered in a drink package and that they can be made on request. Sadly, I think NCL is missing a huge opportunity by not offering specific non-alcoholic drinks.

Thank you for all the menu information. Can you advise of the situation for a Cruise guest on a Free at Sea package,leaving from Marseille on 11 night package stopping at Barcelona, Palma,Naples,Rome,Livorno and Cannes,with regards additional taxes for drinks when in port or at sea? Many blogged cruisers have posted conflicting information.

It’s understandable why there is a lot of confusion. Spain has made some changes recently and random ports in other countries have different regulations.

Expect you’ll be paying 10% VAT on the VALUE of the drink while in spanish waters (within 12 miles of the coast, I believe). In the past, it was only while docked, now it it seems that the VAT tax is charged even while in Spanish water. I’m unsure about Italy and France – but our last cruise recently did not have any taxes while on the Free at Sea because officially we weren’t “buying” anything. Spain is the first country to close that loophole I think. But these Tax rules are changing rapidly, so what you read today may likely change. So far, however, aside from Spain, most taxes are charged for PURCHASES while IN PORT, and not in EVERY port. Confusing, right? In the end, it only adds up to a few dollars – but can still be a surprise.

The biggest change that happened recently was Spain declared that any ship departing a Spanish port would have these taxes charged regardless of the other ports, for the whole cruise. This will definitely add a significant amount to a bill even for the Free at Sea people! Since they’ll be charging on the value of the drink served, even if it’s Free or Included in the Free at Sea promotion.

I’ve yet to speak to anyone that has encountered this first hand… I think the rule just started in the past week or so. I’ll update the article as I know for sure!

Thanks for your reply,as you say very confusing indeed,however as our cruise is leaving from Marseille I can only assume that the charges will not apply for the full duration of the cruise.

I think you are correct, but be prepared for changes and the unexpected, since European countries are making changes with these types of tourism taxes.

What draught beers are available on board Norwegian Epic?

I actually don’t recall seeing any! They were all bottles. I’ve been on the epic 4 times and I don’t think there have ever been taps come to think of it.

Hi Mick, Thanks for sharing this! We’re planning on trip on the Norwegian Joy at New Years. What was the Whisky bar like on the Joy? Do you know if they’re changing the scotch/whisky options frequently?

Many thanks

Hi Nicole, We haven’t done the Joy (YET), but planning on the transatlantic back after it’s Jan 2024 refurb. That said, the Maltings Bar on the Encore (sister ship) was quite lovely, as it is on Epic. The menus are shared in the Maltings bars across all ships from what I’ve experienced. The changes that stand out between some of the ships is the fact that Johnny Walker Blue wasn’t available all the time (or even on the menu) but it was on the Encore. Other than that, the menu has basically been the same since 2019. Enjoy the cruise!

Why don’t any of these blog entries state how much a soda costs? If I knew how much a soda costs, I can determine if the ~$10/day is worth it for me. Thank you!

Hi Ann, If you take a look at some of the menus, they show sodas, etc. Expect to pay $3 for a soda + 20% service charge. Other non-alcoholic items like energy drinks and bottles of water, expect to spend about $5 each. (plus the service charge / gratuity )

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Norwegian Cruise Line Drink Menus and Pricing

Last Updated on January 12, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line has a fairly diverse selection of drinks. While they don’t have as many themed bars as other cruise lines, they’ve really stepped up their cocktail game on their newer ships. You’ll find bars that specialize in mojitos, whiskey, martinis, and craft beer. Many of their new menus have focused on pre-mixed cocktails such as cocktails on tap or bottled cocktails that are premade in the morning. They’ve partnered with companies like The Liquid Kitchen to make delicious cocktail that can be served quickly.

See a new menu on your ship? Email it to us so we can share with everyone, [email protected]

If you’ve ever been on a Norwegian cruise, you’ve noticed that the bars can be really busy. That’s because many passengers get the “free” Ultimate Beverage Package Package that’s often part of the “Free at Sea” promotion they’re almost always running. With this package, you can enjoy almost any alcoholic (and non-alcoholic beverage) up to $15.

You can learn more about Norwegian’s drink packages and what they include here.

While it’s positioned as free, you still have to pay gratuities, which can be $139 per person for a 7-day cruise. On top of that, fares that include the Free At Sea package are usually more expensive than a base price cabin. We’re not saying it’s not a good deal, especially if you enjoy alcoholic beverages, but do the math both ways if you want to save.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2024 Bar Menus and Pricing

Below you’ll find the menus from some of the bars in the Norwegian fleet.

The A-List Bar Menu

Belvedere bar, the cellars wine bar menu, district brewhouse bar menu.

• Galveston TX Menu

Haven Bar Menu

• Ice Bar Menu

The Local Bar Menu

Luna bar / soleil bar, maltings whiskey bar menu, metropolitan bar, norwegian prima wine list.

• O’sheehan’s Bar Menu
• Penrose Bar

Proof Whiskey Bar

Speedway bar, standard bar menu, standard wine menu.

• Sugarcane Mojito Bar Menu
• Vibe Beach Club bar Menu

If you’re locking for trendy atmosphere and some classy cocktails, this is the place to stop. The A-List Bar can be found on Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Encore , and Norwegian Joy .

Try some custom cocktails at the Belvedere Bar located on the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva .

If you’re a fan of wine, this is the bar for you. Buy by the bottle or by the glass. The Cellars Wine Bar is on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Escape , and Norwegian Joy .

Here you’ll find some great craft beer choices. There are only a couple on tap but you’ll find up to 70 different varieties of craft canned beers. District Brewhouse can be found on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Escape , and Norwegian Joy .

Galveston Texas Menu

Because Texas has odd liquor laws, if you’re sailing out of Galveston, you won’t have access to the full bar menu until you’re out in international waters. These are the cocktails you’d be able order while waiting to set sail.

The Haven Bar is exclusively for guests saying in the Haven area of the ship. The Haven suite area is available in the Breakaway, Breakaway Plus, and Prima class ships.

The Local is one of Norwegian’s 24/7 restaurants where you can grab a drink or a bite to eat almost any time of the day.

The Luna and Soleil bar are located in the Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Viva. The Luna is inside portion of the bar while the Soleil is the exterior (if it’s a sunny day, Soleil will be packed but Luna will be empty, so stop by there to grab your drink quickly).

This bar specializes in whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails. You can find it on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Breakaway , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Epic , Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Jade , Norwegian Jewel , and Norwegian Pearl .

The Metropolitan Bar is located on Deck 7 of the Norwegian Prima and Viva. The focus here is on sustainable cocktails with many ingredients coming from food waste from the ship.

Since it’s the newest ship, the Norwegian Prima has a slightly different menu than the rest of the fleet. The menu below was found in the Hudson’s main dining room in mid-September.

O’Sheehan’s Bar Menu

O’Sheehan’s is an Irish-style pub that’s open nearly 24/7. Stop by to grab a drink or a bite to eat at almost any time of day.

Penrose Bar Menu

Penrose Bar is located on the first floor of the beautiful Penrose Atrium (Deck 6). It’s both the bar for the main atrium area and the casino with slot machines built it. It can get very busy at night.

Proof Whiskey Bar is located on the 3rd floor (Deck 8) of the Penrose Atrium. This large, circular bar offers beautiful views during the day, and is a lively spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks.

The Speedway Bar is a new addition to the Prima and Viva. The bar can be hard to find, it’s behind the entrance to the Speedway, but offers good views of the race track as well as the water.

All Norwegian cruise ships now serve Starbucks coffee. Some ships have dedicated Starbucks shops/kiosks, others just serve it at their other bars and restaurants. The menu will vary on each ship and seasonal specialties (ie pumpkin spice) may be available certain times of year.

Starbucks drinks are NOT included in the Standard Open Bar package that comes as part of the Free at Sea promo. You can either upgrade to the Premium Plus beverage package or buy the designated Starbucks package. See all of Norwegian’s drink packages here.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar

Mojitos are a cruise favorite, and you can find a variety of specialty ones at Sugarcane Mojito Bar. You can find it on the Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Dawn , Norwegian Escape , Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Jade , Norwegian Jewel , and Norwegian Pearl , and Norwegian Star .

If an indoor bar doesn’t have it dedicated menu, it’ll likely use a variation of the menu seen below. You’ll find this menu at Atrium bars and other bars around the ship that aren’t specialty (ie. not a mojito or champagne bar).

Vibe Beach Club Bar Menu

The Vibe Bar is in the Vibe Beach Club. This adults-only area is available exclusively to those who purchase a Vibe Beach Pass (typically over $200 per person for the whole cruise).

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Related posts:

• What is Carnival’s “Behind the Fun” Like?
• Norwegian Switches The American Diner to Complimentary

Randy Young

Randy Young is the founder and editor-in-chief at Cruise Spotlight. He has been in marketing for 19 years and has been cruising for just as long. Over the years, he's worked with products like TVs, copiers, light bulbs, and EV chargers, but cruising has always been his passion. There's nothing Randy likes more than the first couple of hours on a ship, exploring every nook and cranny and seeing how it's different from everything else out there. He's known for providing detailed and analytical coverage of cruising to help cruisers get a comprehensive picture of a ship's offerings.

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Norwegian Cruise Line food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board

Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to food.

Back in 2000, the company introduced the concept of Freestyle Cruising, and with it, the idea of Freestyle Dining. Guests no longer were assigned to traditional early or late dinner seatings in the main dining rooms on Norwegian Cruise Line's ships, but rather could decide when they wanted to eat and with whom.

The cruise line also began to roll out specialty restaurants — smaller, cuisine-specific dining venues such as the French-themed Le Bistro and Cagney's Steakhouse — that passengers could reserve for an additional cover charge.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Today, passengers will find more than three dozen dining options, including 21 that require a cover charge or feature a la carte pricing, on board NCL's 17 ships. While the cruise fare covers a number of restaurants, specialty restaurants requiring an extra charge are popular, and new specialty restaurants are introduced with each class of ship.

The onboard restaurant lineup also varies by ship, with those in the Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes having a larger selection than the line's older, smaller ships.

How do you make sense of it all? We've compiled a rundown of all the Norwegian Cruise Line food options, from coffee and gelato shops to a la carte restaurants where the tab can easily top $150 for two. Here's what's included, what you'll pay extra for and the ships that feature each dining venue.

American Diner

Included; lunch and dinner

This 1950s-inspired diner featured on all six ships in NCL's Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes offers quintessential midcentury comfort foods — from cheeseburgers and meatloaf to chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs. Desserts include bread pudding and carrot walnut cake. The food is now all free (Norwegian made this change in early 2024), but if you want to wash it down with a milkshake, you'll need to pay up.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Atrium Cafe

A la carte; coffee and snacks

Atrium Cafe is a coffee and cocktail bar that serves hot and cold beverages along with a selection of cookies, pastries and other snacks. Alternately, some NCL ships feature Starbucks cafes.

Available on : Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun

Cadillac Diner

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

You'll have to head to Hawaii to enjoy the barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches and more served up retro-style in the Cadillac Diner. This venue, with its funky black-and-white checkered floor and vinyl booths wedged between two sections of a vintage red sedan, is found exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. It's open 24 hours a day, and everything is complimentary except for the milkshakes.

Available on : Pride of America

Cagney's Steakhouse

A la carte; dinner

One of NCL's most popular specialty restaurants, Cagney's features a classic steakhouse menu with plenty of options for seafood lovers as well. The stars are the cuts of aged certified Angus beef (rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse and New York strip) with a choice of sauces and side dishes such as truffle mashed potatoes and sauteed garlic mushrooms. Other options include cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Australian lamb chops. Save room for the OMG Caramel-Butterscotch Cheesecake.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Sky)

Related: The best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants

Chinese restaurant

Included; dinner, plus lunch on select days

If you're craving shrimp dumplings or a bowl of stir-fried noodles with beef, a number of older Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a complimentary Chinese restaurant where you can get your fix. Names vary by ship — you'll find Bamboo on Dawn, Shanghai's on Epic, Orchid Garden on Gem, Jasmine Garden on Jade, Chin Chin on Jewel, Lotus Garden on Pearl, Silk on Spirit, Ginza on Star and East Meets West on Pride of America — but the menus are similar.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit and Star

A la carte; snacks and treats

A cross between an ice cream parlor and a candy shop, Coco's features an array of treats — chocolates from around the world, milkshakes, crepes and more — to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss and Encore

Dolce Gelato

When it's midafternoon and the sun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean is blazing, you can head to this takeaway counter on Deck 8 for a cup or cone of irresistibly creamy gelato.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape and Getaway

Food Republic

A la carte; dinner and lunch on sea days

This globally inspired specialty restaurant with an Asian-Latin fusion theme remains popular almost a decade after its debut on Norwegian Escape. You'll want to order multiple dishes to share family-style from Food Republic 's menu sections: Sushi Bar (eight different rolls), Hand Helds (everything from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos), Sharing Is Caring (grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, salt and pepper calamari and more), Noodles/Rice/Soups (shrimp pad thai to Vietnamese Pho Tai) and Sugar Pump (desserts featuring green tea, chocolate and ginger caramel).

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva

Garden Cafe

Sometimes, the buffet is the answer. It's perfect when you get on board the first day and need to grab a quick bite before you explore the ship or when you arrive back after a daylong shore excursion and want to refuel right away without having to change clothes. Garden Cafe offers plenty of options, including carved meats or grilled fish with assorted side dishes, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, and desserts. Most items are precooked and kept warm under heat lamps, so it's not the freshest option, but it's usually packed at breakfast and lunch with guests who like the all-you-can-eat portions.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Prima and Viva)

Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime

Cover charge; dinner

This is a slightly more elevated version of NCL's Teppanyaki restaurant. You'll be seated with other guests around a grill, and as you dine on edamame, miso soup and seaweed salad, the chef will prepare your entree (a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with great flair. These fresh-from-the-grill proteins are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables, and the dessert that follows is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi.

Available on : Norwegian Prima and Viva

This circular, light-filled space debuted on Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a new main dining room option. It features the same daily rotating menu as the second main dining room, the Commodore Room, but what sets this venue apart is its bright-and-airy ambience, courtesy of 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows.

Indulge Food Hall

This new casual dining concept, also introduced on Norwegian Prima, quickly became a popular alternative to the Surfside Cafe buffet (see below) for both lunch and dinner; at breakfast, it serves a similar but more limited menu as Surfside. The appeal of Indulge Food Hall is the variety — there are more than four dozen menu items from seven vendors: Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie and Tamara — served in small-plate portions. You can enjoy chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered from your table via a tablet.

Related: 11 venues, 32 dishes, 4 days: I tested every eatery at Norwegian Cruise Line's new Indulge Food Hall so you don't have to

La Cucina was Norwegian's sole Italian specialty restaurant until the launch of Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Encore in 2018, and the two restaurants are quite different. La Cucina is the more traditional, featuring classic Italian favorites — caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore and osso buco alla Milanese — while Onda's menu focuses on more finessed modern Italian dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Joy, Pearl, Sky, Star and Sun

Like Cagney's, NCL's French fine-dining restaurant is a longtime favorite that's featured fleetwide (it's called Jefferson's Bistro on Pride of America). Popular with couples for special occasion dinners, Le Bistro features everything from steak tartare and escargot to braised lamb shank and roasted duck breast. With its a la carte pricing, this is among the richest (and costliest) dining experiences on board, especially if accompanied by a bottle of Champagne or other French wine. Le Bistro restaurants on Norwegian Prima and Viva are especially atmospheric, with dramatic large-scale chandeliers and elegant ivory-and-blue decor.

Available : Fleetwide

Vibrant decor and sophisticated Mexican cuisine that goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex fare make Los Lobos an appealing option if you're sailing on one of the six ships that feature it. The guacamole, made fresh tableside, is a must. Other menu options include Mexican-style shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, nopales (cactus) salad, chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil (slow-braised pork). Top it all off with a tres leches cake with coconut cream.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Dawn, Encore, Prima, Sun and Viva

Main dining room

Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature at least two main dining rooms, and sometimes even three. Names vary by ship — although the six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships all feature the Manhattan Room, plus Savor and Taste, and Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have the Commodore Room and Hudson's. Menus change daily throughout the cruise and feature a selection of American and international dishes.

Moderno Churrascaria

Carnivores can devour their fill of a variety of meats the traditional Brazilian way as gauchos carve and serve cuts of beef, lamb, pork, sausage and chicken right at the table. Those who prefer to limit their meat intake can fill up instead at the salad bar, which features 43 items. White rice, black beans, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca and Brazilian cheese bread are also served as side dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star and Sun

Nama Sushi & Sashimi

Another new restaurant to debut on Norwegian Prima, Nama Sushi & Sashimi doesn't veer too far from its name, serving six different sushi rolls (from yellowtail to rock shrimp), three sashimi options and a variety of appetizers, most of which feature raw fish. Even the dessert — pineapple carpaccio — is uncooked.

Ocean Blue is an elegant seafood restaurant featured on NCL's six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. (It's known as Bayamo by Ocean Blue on Norwegian Escape.) Guests can savor appetizers such as crabcakes, pan-seared scallops and an ahi tuna and avocado tower, followed by steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini or simply grilled fish (salmon, tuna, cod or sea bass) served with a choice of sauces. All Ocean Blue restaurants are located on Deck 8 and feature indoor and outdoor seating on The Waterfront.

Onda by Scarpetta

Modern Italian cuisine is the centerpiece of Onda by Scarpetta, another of NCL's elevated specialty dining options and the sister restaurant to land-based Scarpetta. Introduced in 2019 on Norwegian Encore and more recently rolled out on the line's newest ships (plus at least one older vessel), Onda by Scarpetta indulges with antipasti starters such as burrata, short ribs and braised octopus, a half dozen pasta options (including pappardelle Bolognese and Scarpetta's famous spaghetti with tomato and basil) and finally gets around to secondis such as veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The main question will be: Do you have room for dessert?

Available on : Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit and Viva

O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill

Included; 24-hour dining

This lively and social pub-style eatery overlooks the buzzing three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships and is also featured on seven older NCL ships. It's open 24 hours a day and serves comfort classics such as burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, beef chili and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Star

One of NCL's newest dining venues, Palomar celebrates the Mediterranean with a menu featuring lots of Greek influences. Seafood dishes outnumber meat options and include tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, le puy lentils, clams and pistachio pesto. Desserts include Greek yogurt sorbet with orange custard pie.

Pincho Tapas Bar

This unique Spanish-style tapas bar is found on only one ship in the Breakaway Class and fits in with the ship's overall Miami/Latin-influenced theme. Head to Pinchos if you're looking to enjoy small-plate dishes such as blue crab salad and bacon-wrapped dates, as well as chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops and more served a la plancha. Wash it all down with a Spanish red, a glass of sangria or a signature Matador cocktail.

Available on : Norwegian Escape

Included; casual lunch

Three Norwegian ships feature a pool grill (all with different names) that's open for lunch and late afternoon snacks. The venue serves casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs and french fries.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Gem and Pride of America

Q Texas Smokehouse

This barbecue eatery debuted on Norwegian Bliss in 2018, and its menu features smoked meats (pit classics like brisket, pulled pork and beef short ribs), as well as calorific sides (loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings and macaroni and cheese). You can also enjoy live country music and even sweat off the excess calories by dancing (before ordering pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert). A more limited menu is available for free as part of Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva — but you'll need to dance elsewhere.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy

Savor (and Taste)

These two restaurants on all six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships are essentially smaller-scale main dining rooms. They are located across from each other on Deck 6 and feature lunch and dinner menus that change daily.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar

This casual dining venue serves a selection of freshly prepared and wok-fried Asian noodle and rice dishes, from pork pot stickers and steamed vegetable dumplings to Singapore-style rice noodles and udon noodles in broth.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Epic and Getaway

Included; casual pub fare

While most NCL ships, with the exception of Pride of America, have a pub-style complimentary eatery — either O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill or The Local Bar & Grill — one older outlier has Sports Bar. Like the other eateries, this venue is free and features comfort classics such as Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings and fish and chips.

Available on : Norwegian Sun

A la carte; coffee, breakfast and snacks

NCL wasn't the first cruise line to feature the well-known coffee chain (that would be Royal Caribbean), but it now has the most Starbucks cafes on board its ships. Guests can purchase frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews and many of the other coffee, tea and breakfast and pastry items that are available on land.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky and Viva

Surfside Cafe & Grill

With the debut of Norwegian Prima, NCL evolved its buffet-style restaurant (known as Garden Cafe on most ships) to Surfside Cafe & Grill. The Deck 17 space is notably smaller, though, due to the fact that Prima Class ships also feature Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill as complimentary casual dining options. The reduced size does result in some overcrowding, especially at breakfast, with overflow guests directed to find seats in the adjacent Food Republic space.

All but three NCL ships feature Teppanyaki , a Benihana-style Japanese restaurant where the live-action preparation is integral to the experience. You'll be seated around a grill as your chef prepares your entree (either chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with dramatic flair. You'll start with miso soup and seaweed salad, and all entrees are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Dessert is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi. Hasuki replaces Teppanyaki on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Encore, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

The Bake Shop

A sugar rush is practically guaranteed at The Bake Shop, a Deck 8 confectionery selling assorted bonbons (with fillings from passion fruit to praline), cupcakes (more than a dozen options, including red velvet, chocolate-pistachio and lemon merengue) and French macarons in a dozen flavors.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore and Getaway

The Great Outdoors

Included; lunch

This outdoor casual buffet on seven Norwegian Cruise Line ships has a come-as-you-are dress code and serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other items for guests who want to enjoy some ocean scenery with their lunch.

Available on : Norwegian Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Sun

The Haven Restaurant

Included for guests booked in The Haven; breakfast, lunch and dinner

If you book a suite in The Haven, the exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave found on every new NCL ship since it was introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010, you'll enjoy access to The Haven Restaurant. Open only to Haven guests, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus here do not change, but there are generally enough options (a dozen appetizers and 10 entrees at dinner, for example) that you can dine here multiple times without repeating a dish or running out of interesting dishes to try.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy, Prima and Viva

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local Bar & Grill is a favored hangout for sports telecasts and trivia contests, as well as a go-to for guests when anytime-hunger strikes. Like its comfort food sibling O'Sheehans's Bar & Grill, its 24-hour menu features breakfast, all-day and late-night items that include omelets, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish and chips and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit and Viva

The Raw Bar

Located adjacent to Ocean Blue, this casual option with counter seating serves oysters, clams, shellfish and crudos (salmon tartare, black sea bass ceviche and more), as well as wines by the glass and a selection of desserts.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway

Topsiders Bar & Grill

Included; casual pool grill with varying hours

Five older NCL ships feature Topsiders Bar & Grill, a poolside venue serving burgers, hot dogs, french fries and other takeaway items.

Available on : Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Star

Wasabi (or Sushi)

This contemporary sushi bar — called either Wasabi or Sushi, depending on the ship — is the spot for cocktails, sake and Japanese specialties that include sesame seaweed salad, sushi and specialty rolls, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. On Prima Class ships, you'll find Nama Sushi & Sashimi with a different menu.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

FAQs about NCL dining

Is norwegian cruise line's food free.

You can dine for free during your cruise at any of the complimentary dining venues on board NCL ships. There are typically four to six included dining venues per ship, several of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Is there a main dining room?

Yes, all NCL ships feature a main dining room — some have as many as three — and Freestyle Dining means you can choose when to dine (within the specified breakfast, lunch and dinner hours).

Do I need to make reservations?

You do not need to make reservations for the main dining rooms or casual venues like O'Sheehan's or the buffet. However, you can make reservations for the main dining rooms if you'd prefer to eat at a specific time and wish to avoid long wait times during the most popular dinner hours.

Sit-down specialty restaurants always require a reservation. The sooner you can make one, the better. You can book specialty dining online via the cruise line's website or app or by calling Norwegian reservations. You can also reserve when you get on board, but you risk that the more popular eateries will already be fully booked, especially during the peak summer and holiday periods. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available, but you'll likely need to show up early or late to snag a table.

Does Norwegian offer room service?

Yes, NCL offers 24-hour room service, but you will be charged a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per delivery, with the exception of morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests staying in The Haven. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will also be added for noncomplimentary beverages and special occasion items delivered to your room.

How much does specialty dining cost?

It varies by restaurant. At venues with a la carte pricing, such as Cagney's, Ocean Blue, Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro, it's easy to rack up a bill of $80 per person, not including beverages. NCL's sushi restaurants are also a la carte, as is Food Republic. Two people with an average appetite can dine at both for around $50 to $60 per person, not including beverages. Other venues, such as Teppanyaki and Moderno Churrascaria, feature a set cover charge of $59 per person.

Does NCL offer specialty dining packages?

Yes and if you like a variety of cuisines and plan to dine at two or more extra-charge restaurants, purchasing a specialty dining package makes sense.

These range in price from $99 per person for a two-meal package to $469 per person for a 14-meal package. The price per meal gets lower the more meals you purchase — from $49.50 per dinner on a two-meal package to $33.50 per dinner for 14 meals. Even the four-meal package at $169 per person is a good deal at $42.25 per dinner, given the a la carte pricing greatly exceeds that (for three courses) at most specialty restaurants and eateries with cover charges are priced at $59 per person.

Also, a select number of specialty dining meals are typically included with NCL's Free at Sea booking promotion .

What about service charges?

A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will automatically be added to the cost of your specialty dining package when you purchase it or to your onboard dining charge if you pay a la carte or a flat cover charge.

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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.