norwegian cruise line web check in

Check-In for Large Groups Online  Check-In MyNCL Account Procedures Online Check-In Photo Upload Process E-Muster Drill-Fleetwide OCI Walkthrough - Click on the File Top Right Due to government requirements and Norwegian Cruise Line’s health and safety protocols, all guests must provide Norwegian Cruise Line with key personal information prior to sailing.  Online Check-In MyNCL Account Procedures: Guests, who have a MyNCL account, can log in @  www.ncl.com and fill out the appropriate information for the online check-in.

New Guests who do not have a MyNCL Account:

Click on “Register” on the upper right-hand side of the home screen @   www.ncl.com   to create an online account. Guests must fill in the requested information exactly as it appears on their reservation. Once logged in, "Online Check-In" will be on the right-hand side of the page.

Guests must be 18 years of age or older to complete the online check-in.

Note :  Releasing e-docs for reservations with only minors in the stateroom is no longer available. Please advise the guest that they can complete their check-in at the pier. 

Back to Top

Online Check-In Photo Upload Process: Once a guest has reached step 7 during Online Check-in, guests are required to upload a security photo. If a guest encounters an issue, after two failed attempts to upload a photo, the guest will receive the following message:  

“The photo you uploaded could not be validated by our system.  As such, your photo will be taken upon your check-in at the port on embarkation day.  You may proceed with completing your online check-in.”

The guest will then continue through the OCI process and will be able to access e-docs once the remaining OCI steps have been completed. Upon arrival to the port on the day of embarkation, their picture will be taken while completing the check-in process at the port.

Back to Top  

As of November 22, 2021, online check-in will ONLY be available to start and complete once a reservation is between 21 days - 3 days prior to sailing.

• Guests are no longer able to start their online check-in outside of 21 days prior to sailing. As a reminder, online check-in is not available to complete once a reservation is within 3 days of the sail date.
• Guests who FULLY complete their online check-in prior to 3 days/ 72 hours before their sail date, can now access and download their e-docs via their MyNCL account and/or the Cruise Norwegian mobile app anytime through and including the day of sailing .

Please view the attached My NCL Account and OCI Walk Through to assist while guiding guests on how to create their account and/or complete their online check-in. 

Guests having issues accessing or creating their MyNCL Account should contact Digital Guest Experience at 866.625.1160 -  Monday - Friday/ 9 am - 6 pm EST.

E-Muster Drill - Fleetwide:   As of April 01, 2023 the E-Muster Drill must be done thru the guests' online check-in. Guests must complete their online check-in and review the muster drill before their online check-in is complete.

• If guests are traveling with small children, once onboard guests need to request a child or infant-sized lifejacket from their stateroom steward.
• Assigned Evacuation Team Members directs guests to the assembly stations.
• For groups of 100 guests or more: the group leader should contact the Special Events team at [email protected]
• It will be the responsibility of the Travel Agent/ Group Leader to work with the pier manager for location drop off and timing
• For groups of less than 100 guests: each guest is required to complete their online check-in and if possible, select the same pier arrival time.
• Description
• Booking Window
• Terms& Conditions
• Destination
• Travel Dates
• Combinability

Online Check-In - MyNCL

Online check in procedures for guests including e-muster drill & check in for large groups. nov 16, 2023 • knowledge.

Nov 16, 2023 404 KB pdf

Nov 16, 2023 3.5 MB pdf

Check Your Inbox!

Username or password.

Please provide the information below and we'll send you an email containing your Username and a link to reset your Password.

Still having issues signing in?

1-866-625-1160

Mon - Fri 9:00am - 8:00pm ET Sat, Sun 9:00am - 5:30pm ET

USERNAME OR PASSWORD?

Link your account, your account.

Please give us the information below so we can link your accounts for you or Create a new My NCL account .

Benefits of Registering

Benefits of

Registering.

• Reserve your table at specialty dining restaurants
• Receive exclusive email updates, deals, and insider tips
• Explore and book shore excursions before they fill up
• Book seats for entertainment, spa services and other onboard activites
• Check in online and prepare your boarding eDocs to save time at the pier
• Access your itinerary, cruise history and Latitudes Rewards Account information

How to Check in for Norwegian Cruise | a Step-by-Step Guide

Going on a Norwegian Cruise is an exciting and immersive experience that allows you to explore magnificent destinations, indulge in luxurious amenities, and create lifelong memories. However, before embarking on your adventure at sea, it’s vital to familiarize yourself with the check-in process. From preparing the required documents to understanding the various check-in options available, this comprehensive guide will equip you with all the essential information you need to make your check-in experience effortless and stress-free. So, let's delve into the world of Norwegian Cruise check-ins and embark on a journey of discovery and relaxation like no other.

Can You Check-in Early on Norwegian Cruise?

When it comes to checking in for a Norwegian cruise, it’s essential to be aware of the specific guidelines and timeframes set by the cruise line. Norwegian Cruise Line offers passengers the convenience of online check-in, which can be completed up to 21 days before the departure date. However, it’s crucial to note that online check-in must be completed no later than three days prior to departure.

Passengers must ensure that they’re checked in at least 60 minutes before the scheduled sailing time. This requirement allows the cruise line to efficiently process all necessary documentation and ensure a smooth embarkation process for all guests.

By completing the online check-in within the specified timeframe and arriving at least 60 minutes before departure, passengers can maximize their time onboard and start their vacation stress-free.

This system not only streamlines the boarding process but also ensures the safety and security of all passengers and crew members.

Benefits of Completing Online Check-in for a Norwegian Cruise

Completing online check-in for a Norwegian cruise offers several benefits. Firstly, it saves you time and avoids the hassle of long queues at the port. By providing your personal information and travel details online in advance, the check-in process becomes faster and smoother upon arrival.

Moreover, online check-in allows you to select your preferred dining options, make reservations for onboard activities, and even pre-book any shore excursions you’re interested in. This ensures that you’ve the best possible experience during your cruise.

In addition, by completing the check-in process online, you can access and print your boarding passes in advance, making embarkation day stress-free. It enables you to start enjoying the ship’s amenities and activities without any delay.

Overall, taking advantage of online check-in for a Norwegian cruise offers convenience, time-saving, and the opportunity to customize your vacation experience from the moment you step onboard.

Watch this video on YouTube:

Before your cruise, it’s always a good idea to find out how far in advance you can check-in. Typically, most cruise lines allow check-in three months before your sailing date. However, it’s important to double-check this information with your specific cruise line, as there may be variations. Additionally, it’s crucial to inquire about any passport requirements for your trip, ensuring you’ve all the necessary travel documents well in advance.

How Far in Advance Can You Check-in for a Cruise?

When it comes to checking in for a Norwegian cruise, it’s important to know how far in advance you can do so. Typically, check-in for a cruise becomes available around three months prior to your sailing date. This gives you ample time to plan and prepare for your trip. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check with your specific cruise line to ensure that this time frame applies to your particular voyage.

In addition to checking in early, you should also verify whether your trip will require a passport. Some cruise itineraries may call for a passport, while others may only require a valid government-issued identification card. It’s crucial to confirm these details with your cruise line before the check-in period begins. This way, you can make arrangements well in advance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.

If your cruise does require a passport, it’s crucial to make sure that your passport is up to date well before the check-in period commences. Passports typically take several weeks to process, so it’s prudent to apply for or renew your passport well in advance. By doing so, you can avoid any last-minute stress or complications.

This may involve gathering all necessary travel documents, such as boarding passes and reservation confirmations. It’s always a good idea to keep these documents easily accessible during your journey.

What to Expect During the Check-in Process for a Cruise

When checking in for a Norwegian Cruise, you can expect a smooth and organized process that ensures a hassle-free boarding experience. Upon arrival at the cruise terminal, you’ll be directed to the check-in area where you’ll present your travel documents, including your passport and boarding pass.

After submitting your documents, you’ll proceed to the security screening process, which includes a routine bag check and metal detector scan. Once cleared, you’ll be guided to the registration area where you’ll receive your keycard, which serves as your identification and access to various areas of the ship.

At this point, you may also be required to provide a debit or credit card for onboard expenses, such as drinks, dining, and activities. This information will be securely stored on your keycard for easy and convenient use throughout your cruise.

After completing the check-in process, you’ll be directed to the embarkation area, where you can board the ship and start enjoying your vacation. Norwegian Cruise Line strives to make the check-in process efficient and welcoming, ensuring a seamless start to your cruise experience.

By taking the time to complete online registration, printing important documents, and ensuring you’ve all necessary identification, you can minimize any potential stress and ensure a smooth and enjoyable embarkation experience.

Related Posts

Are drones allowed on norwegian cruise ships, exploring the theatre royal caribbean cruise: an inside look at the number of vip seats, what is an express cruiser boat, discover the spectacular port stops: where norwegian cruise lines dock in burnie, tasmania.

• Norwegian Cruise Line

Choosing arrival time with online check-in?

By AryMay , April 24, 2017 in Norwegian Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

Our cruise is getting close and NCL has added an option on the online check-in where we can choose our arrival time from a drop-down menu. The choices are half hour increments starting at 9:30 to 10:00 and going to 2:30 to 3:00. This is only our 2nd NCL cruise so wondering if this is something that is common? (Our first cruise was on the POA following a drydock which messed up the embarkation times totally.)

Here is a copy & paste from the website:

Anyway...I am wondering if choosing the early arrival times will mean you can actually board at that time, or if we would be left sitting in the terminal for several hours. I've never been on a cruise where the ship was ready to board much before noon. Seems like having passengers arrive as early as 9:30 would cause quite a crowd in the terminal if boarding doesn't begin right away.

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Budget Queen

No "check in" is NOT boarding.

Sometimes people want lower boarding group numbers, so they want to check in as early as possible. If you are not trying for Vibe/Posh passes (on the Epic, Escape, Breakaway and Getaway) and don't want to wait around the terminal, then I wouldn't choose the earliest group.

Arrival time is for checking-in and has little to do with boarding time. NCL tries to spread out the check-in load by scheduling specific times throughout the morning. Since many passengers are arriving in taxis straight from a flight, they have little choice on their arrival times.

The boarding process itself on NCL is really pretty simple. No one is allowed to board the ship until all previous guests are off and the ship is certified as empty. That is generally about 11 am. Sometimes you get lucky and the ship is cleared by 10:30 am but it can often be as late as 11 or 11:30 am. Once the ship is cleared, suite guests will be the first to board. After suite guests, it is Latitude members, Platinum and above by level and finally the the check-in folks in the waiting areas. If you choose to arrive and check-in at 8:30 am, you will join a group of passengers in a waiting area until all of this has occurred. If the waiting areas are your idea of getting an early start...go for it. Most of the more experienced cruisers arrive after 12 or 1 pm when both check-in and boarding are much quicker..

Is there any port NCL is actually enforcing the arrival time?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Forums mobile app

CruisinHarvey

Is there any port NCL is actually enforcing the arrival time?   Sent from my SM-G955U using Forums mobile app

None that I'm aware of. How could they?. You were supposed to get here at 10:30, and it's 11:30 now. so you can't check in. LOL I know it's suppose to work the other way, but it really can't be enforced. No one even looks at the times on the edocs.

LindaRochdale

Arrival time is for checking-in and has little to do with boarding time. NCL tries to spread out the check-in load by scheduling specific times throughout the morning. Since many passengers are arriving in taxis straight from a flight, they have little choice on their arrival times.     The boarding process itself on NCL is really pretty simple. No one is allowed to board the ship until all previous guests are off and the ship is certified as empty. That is generally about 11 am. Sometimes you get lucky and the ship is cleared by 10:30 am but it can often be as late as 11 or 11:30 am. Once the ship is cleared, suite guests will be the first to board. After suite guests, it is Latitude members, Platinum and above by level and finally the the check-in folks in the waiting areas. If you choose to arrive and check-in at 8:30 am, you will join a group of passengers in a waiting area until all of this has occurred. If the waiting areas are your idea of getting an early start...go for it. Most of the more experienced cruisers arrive after 12 or 1 pm when both check-in and boarding are much quicker..

How does this work when there are 2 embarkation ports? We are boarding in Rome so all the passengers who got on the ship in Barcelona will still be onboard. Some of these passengers will be getting off to go on excursions and others will be leaving to return home?

You can arrive when you want. It's no different than any other boarding process.

Thank you, this is a new one for me. Really looking forward to the cruise.

phoenix1181

They were in Boston last June. People arriving after their chosen boarding time had no problem but the early birds weren't allowed to head to the escalator for check-in.

BirdTravels

General boarding starts around 11:30. You should allow about 45 minutes for security and checkin.

We are very experienced cruisers and show up around 10:15, get through security and checkin, and read the morning paper until boarding starts. No sense sitting around a hotel paying for food when there is a beautiful ship paid for.

It certainly is enforced with Carnival.....many of their ports are staggered arrival and if you show up at 10 but your arrival time is 11 they make you wait....

Thank you!! Heading on the Dawn May 5 (Boston) and an arrival time choice was not part of the online check-in.... printed eDocs without it and checked last week and it was now required.... reprinted eDocs with the arrival time.

Wonder what happens if people don't catch it after printing eDocs..... always an adventure.

Wow! Remind me not cruise out of Boston. LOL In the last couple years we've cruised out of NYC, Miami, New Orleans, Tampa, and Barcelona on NCL. None of them ever checked anything.

I just want NCL to decide if they want the local Port Authority to either "do it or not do it" just be consistent across the board. If they choose not to... then take it off the on-line check-in - mini rant over

I wonder if the option of "Choose check-in time" is only for American embarkation ports? We did an European cruise last September out of Venice that did NOT have any option or "demand" to choose a specific check-in time. And we have a cruise booked for next week out of Barcelona, and I just doublechecked my e-docs to see if there was any mention about a specific check-in time, and there is not.....

I don't know any experienced cruisers that wait until 12 or 1 to check in unless they are forced to by a flight. More common among experienced cruisers is to get there between 10-10:30 to breeze thru security and check-in before the mob arrives around 11:30-12 expecting to get right onto the ship. I'd much rather sit to wait for boarding than wait in security lines for an hour or so.

I don't know if it is only a requirement in the US but if you are in a suite or Platinum or higher, you do not have to choose a time. We can show up whenever we want. That could be why you don't see it also.

MICHLEV1974

For NYC, as of last Sunday when I was there, if you arrived before your time, the port authority had you stand at a section roped off until the time approached. It seems as if they are controlling the crowd through the security checkpoint. They asked everyone to show their pass with the time.

Of course, this is the busiest time of the morning (1030-1230), so perhaps if the line at security isn't too bad, they dont care about your arrival time on your pass.

What port are you sailing out of and what time of year? This might be another factor in your responses. We travelled April school vacation week out of NYC - super busy - and we picked arrival time 930. We got there at 1030. We showed our pass and they let us in to go through security. The other folks with us picked 11--they were ushered to the roped off section. It really wasn't a problem since none of us got to board til @ 1145. Seems like this 'arrival time' thing is an attempt at crowd control at the port.

I am on the Breakaway in June. I can't find anywhere to choose a check in time. We did choose one on cruises out of Miami, and it was ignored. I can't find a place for that for this cruise though.

EDIT - I just went back and looked, and it's now been added. My check in process had been at 100% forever, and it just went down to 80%, so that I could choose a time. That wasn't there last week.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 21 hours ago

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 07:43 PM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 01:14 AM

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started April 26

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Ignite Cruises

Last Update 10 dagen geleden

Register and Print Your E-Documents & Boarding Pass at NCL.com

Please check your inbox for the email confirmation from Ignite Cruises containing your Norwegian Reservation Number. This NCL Reservation # is needed in order to register and login at NCL.com to complete your online check-in, and print out your Norwegian eDocuments, which includes your Boarding pass. Online check-in must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the sail date. You can also book specialty dining and shore excursions here after checking-in. If you have not received this information, please contact Ignite as soon as possible. 

• If you’ve sailed onboard Norwegian in the past, login to NCL.com here: https://www.ncl.com/login. If this is your first cruise on Norwegian, register for a new account here: https://www.ncl.com/register. NOTE: if you are having trouble registering or logging into NCL.com, please contact NCL’s Technical Support at 1-866-625-1160. Ignite does not have access to your NCL.com login information.
• When searching for your reservation, you must use the NCL Reservation # (NOT the Ignite Cruises one) select your Sail Date (make sure to use the correct format), and select your Ship.
• After you have successfully logged in, you may review your reservation details by clicking Vacation Summary, then completing your check-in by clicking Start Check-In and entering the requested information. NOTE: The Lead Guest in your cabin may check-in for everyone in the cabin, or each guest can check-in separately.
• Once you’ve completed your check-in, please print a copy of your boarding pass (and one copy each for your cabinmates if you’ve checked in for them). NOTE: All guests in your cabin must be checked in before you will be able to print your boarding pass. Each guest must bring their eDocs to the port, as they will be required for entry into the terminal.
• If you are unable to download your eDocs after 24-48 hours from having everyone checked-in or have any issues during the check-in process, please call Norwegian at 1-800-327-7030.
• If you have issues with your NCL account: You can check-in and print your edocs without creating an NCL account or logging in here: https://www.ncl.com/oci

Please note: We can only assist you if you booked your cruise through our travel agency: Ignite Cruises

Was this article helpful?

56 out of 108 liked this article

Still need help? Message Us

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

• Already Booked?

Tap our phone number to call us for a FREE consultation

• Email Deals
• Personal Quote

• Advanced Search

• Featured Cruise Deals

• Deals by Destination

• Deals by Cruise Line

• Deals by Departure Port

Last Minute Cruise Deals

Holiday Cruise Deals

Military Cruise Deals

• Family Cruise Deals

Popular Destinations

Australia/New Zealand

• Canada / New England

Popular Int'l Departure Ports

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Barcelona, Spain

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Reykjavik, Iceland

Southampton, England

Stockholm, Sweden

Sydney, Australia

Vancouver, British Columbia

Venice, Italy

Popular U.S. Departure Ports

Baltimore, Maryland

Boston, Massachusetts

Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

Los Angeles, California

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Port Canaveral, Florida

San Francisco, California

Seattle, Washington

Popular Lines

Luxury Lines

River Lines

AmaWaterways

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Avalon Waterways River Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Holland America Line

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Seabourn Cruise Line

Silversea Cruises

Uniworld River Cruises

Viking Expeditions

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Land Vacations

• Cosmos Tours
• Globus Journeys
• Kensington Tours
• Tauck Tours

All-Inclusive Resorts

Cruising 101

• Free Consultation

Why Cruise?

Shore Excursions

Cruising Tips

Future Cruise Credits

Photo Galleries

Specialty Cruises

Group Cruises

Business / Incentive Cruises

Events & Meetings at Sea

Private Charters

Theme Cruises

• River Cruises

Cruise Tours

Wedding Cruises

Hosted Cruises

Family Cruises

Senior Living at Sea

News & Media

Press & News

Testimonials

Social Media

Pre-registration

Passports / Visas

Travel Protection

Why Cruise Web?

Our Approach

Low Price Guarantee

Gift Certificates

Customer Service

Not sure where to start?

Talk to a travel consultant.

Free quotes. Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Take advantage of limited-time offers and special deals

Your Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Information

Congratulations on your upcoming Norwegian Cruise Line cruise and thank you for selecting The Cruise Web! Here you will find important information to assist you in your preparations to your cruise vacations:

NOTICE : Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, vaccination requirements and regional travel restrictions are fast evolving, vary by cruise line, ship, destination and travel supplier, and are subject to change without notice. Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, itineraries, protocols and/or restrictions. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice.

Each traveler is responsible for ensuring their compliance with all passport, visa, vaccination and/or other entry/exit requirements and payment of any charges, fees, duties, taxes or assessments related to your travel.

To learn more about the latest travel requirements for Norwegian Cruise Line, CLICK HERE .

Ready to Redeem Future Cruise Credits?

We are available  7 days a week  to help with all of your cruise vacation planning , including with Future Cruise Credits .  CLICK HERE  to learn more about redeeming Future Cruise Credits , or call  1-800-377-9383 .

10% OFF SHORE EXCURSIONS!

See if you're eligible for our exclusive  10% SAVINGS  on shore excursions by calling  1-800-377-9383 .

Your Tickets:

Your E-tickets will be available online no later than 30 days prior to your sailing. Please pre-register online (please click the link below for online registration) and print out your Boarding Pass.

Pre-registration:

Due to increased security in ports worldwide, your embarkation will be much faster and easier if all of your pertinent information is already in the cruise line's check-in system. If you are pre-registering for multiple cabins, please note that each cabin needs a different username and password to pre-register. Please CLICK HERE to pre-register online .

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By booking with The Cruise Web, Passenger explicitly agrees to the terms of the Guest Ticket Contract ( https://www.ncl.com/fr/en/about-us/terms-conditions ). Please read all sections carefully as they affect the passenger's legal rights.

Identification, Passport & Visa Information:

Proof of citizenship and photo identification will be required for your vacation. A valid US passport and visa (for certain destinations only) may also be required for your travel . The United States Department of State has recently changed documentation requirements for travel outside of the United States, and continues to review these requirements. For example, when traveling to certain countries, your passport must be valid for several months beyond the date in which you expect to complete your travel and return home. Please visit the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov , for the official and most up to date documentation requirements, and also for instructions on how to renew or obtain a passport. You may also contact the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778.

NOTE : Effective May 3, 2023, travelers who elect to use a U.S. state-issued driver's license must ensure that it is   REAL ID-compliant , which should be indicated by the presence of a star located near the upper corner of the card.

Non-US citizens should check with their local consulate to determine the specific documents required for travel.

Shore Excursions:

Optional shore excursions are a great way to make the most of your cruise vacation, and we suggest booking yours with either The Cruise Web's third party excursion partner,  Shore Excursions Group , or directly with the cruise line.

Advantages of booking your excursions with Shore Excursions Group, our preferred partner, include up to 40% savings, a money-back guarantee, more tour options, guaranteed return to ship and 24/7 traveler support at 1-866-703-0606.

NOTE : Excursions booked through Shore Excursions Group are NOT operated by the cruise line, but rather are arranged by Shore Excursions Group.

Cruise Web Exclusive : SAVE 10% on Excursions. Call 1-800-377-9383 to see if you're eligible!

To browse shore excursions from Shore Excursions Group (The Cruise Web's 3rd party tour partner), please CLICK HERE .

To browse shore excursions directly with Norwegian Cruise Line, please CLICK HERE .

Either way, we recommend you book early for the best selection, as shore excursions and tours have limited capacity and fill up quickly!

Preferred Flights:

If your vacation package includes airfare, your airfare is subject to the carriers, dates, times, and routing selected by the cruise line or provider. You may also contact your Cruise Web cruise specialist to request Preferred Flights through Cruise Web's cruise line partners. Preferred Flights are strongly encouraged to accommodate your flight dates, times, routing, or airline choices. The cost of Preferred Flights is from $75 to $200 per person, depending on the cruise line, plus any difference in airfare.

Travel Protection:

Travel insurance is available through our partner, Travel Guard Insurance. Please call your cruise consultant for pricing and full coverage details as soon as possible. Coverages may vary and not all coverage is available in all jurisdictions.  CLICK HERE for more information about travel protection offered through Travel Guard .

Travel Advisories and Vaccination Requirements:

For health advisories and vaccination requirements, visit the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov . For US State Department travel advisories, see www.travel.state.gov . To learn more about the latest travel requirements for Norwegian Cruise Line, CLICK HERE .

Frequently Ask Questions:

Please CLICK HERE to read our F.A.Q. guide .

Information About Ports:

Please CLICK HERE for more information on different ports of call .

Terms and Conditions:

Please CLICK HERE to review Terms and Conditions .

Still Have Questions?

Please contact your personal Cruise Consultant or CLICK HERE to email your questions .

We Make Vacation Planning Easy

With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money.

Expert guidance. No booking fees.

Find a cruise.

• All Cruise Types
• Popular Cruises
• Luxury Cruises

Vacation Deals

Destinations & ports.

• All Destinations

Cruise Lines

• Popular Cruise Lines
• Luxury Cruise Lines
• River Cruise Lines
• All Cruise Lines
• All About Cruising
• Already Booked

Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals.

• Monthly Newsletter

• IMPORTANT SYSTEM UPDATE In order to access all tools within Norwegian Central, please change your password to NOT include any special characters or symbols.

Please Wait

Welcome to Norwegian Central.

All the tools you need to Learn, Promote and Book NCL.

Norwegian Central

The password format you have used is invalid, please reenter without any special characters. If you are using a Spanish keyboard, do not use the letters 'j' or 'n'

Not A Member Yet?

Learn How To Join us

For all individual, non-admin agents, please contact your agency admin for access to Norwegian Central

• Enable Accessibility

• 00800 0310 21 21 1-855-577-9489 1-877-288-3037 1-877-288-3037 1-877-474-2969
• | NCL Travel Blog">11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog
• | Norwegian Cruise Line">14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruise Tour | Norwegian Cruise Line
• | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line">14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruise Tour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line
• | Norwegian Cruise Line">20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line
• | NCL Travel Blog">11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog
• View All Results
• Preferences
• Latitudes Rewards
• Special Offers
• Personalised Recommendations
• Make reservations before you cruise
• 1 (current)

* Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.

00800 0310 21 21

Need Help Planning the Perfect Holiday?

We're here for any questions you may have. Call us at the numbers below to speak with our customer care.

WE'LL CALL YOU

00800 0310 21 21 " class="btn-cta btn-primary btn-large">Call Us WE'LL CALL YOU

Contact a Specific Department

Reservations.

Our Representatives would be happy to help you with the following: Phone: -->Finland: (0)93 157 9407 Sweden: (0)84 030 8702 Other European Countries: 00800 0310 21 21 (toll-free from landline network)

• New & Existing Reservations
• Gift Orders
• General Questions
• Documentation Needs
• Phone 00800 0310 21 21 00800 0310 21 21 "> Call Reservations
• Mon-Fri: 9:00 - 20:00
• Sat: 9:00 - 18:30
• Sun: 9:00 - 17:30

Personal Cruise Consultants

To find out more about our Personal Cruise Consultants. WE'LL CALL YOU

Pre-cruise Guest Services

For pre-cruise enquiries not available under our Frequently Asked Questions.

• Click here to Contact Guest Services
• Phone 00800 0310 21 21 00800 0310 21 21 "> Call Pre-cruise Guest Services

Guest Relations (post-cruise)

For any enquires you have after your cruise

• Submit post-cruise feedback

Lost & Found

All correspondence should include the guest's name (first and last), name of ship and sailing date, as well as a contact address and telephone number. Standard Response time is 10 working days from receipt.

Click here to report items lost on your cruise.

Please note, if your item is located, a shipping cost will apply.

Click here for the status of your claim.

Guests with special needs.

Norwegian is fully committed to providing you and your travel companions with the best cruise experience. Guests requiring special accommodations must fill out the Guest Special Needs Request Form. This form helps us understand your disability and/or special needs requirements to adapt your cruise with personalised accommodations. Once you have submitted the form, Norwegian Cruise Line Access Desk will respond within 72 hours. Feel free to contact our dedicated team of Accessibility Coordinators if you have any question or concerns.

• Guest Special Needs Request Form
• Accessibility Assistance Information Learn more about the accommodations we offer before and during your cruise for Special needs including Mobility, Dietary, Deaf or Low Hearing, Blind or Low Vision and Service Animals.

To add or amend flights with your Flight package.

• Email [email protected]
• Sun: closed

For Travel Agents to make Group bookings.

• Phone 00800 0310 21 21 00800 0310 21 21 "> Call Groups Email [email protected]
• Sat: closed

Shore Excursions

For enquiring about or booking Shore Excursions.

• Phone 00800 0310 21 21 00800 0310 21 21 "> Call Shore Excursions

Entertainment and Dining

For enquiring about or booking Entertainment and Dining.

• Phone 00800 0310 21 21 00800 0310 21 21 "> Call Entertainment and Dining

For enquires including updating contact information and advising of your Latitudes Rewards.

• Email Guest Services
• Phone 00800 0310 21 21 00800 0310 21 21 "> Call Latitudes

The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line ships and itineraries

L ooking for a cruise where you can do what you want, whenever you want, without a lot of structure and rules? Norwegian Cruise Line could be your brand.

The Miami-based cruise line pioneered the idea of "freestyle cruising" — cruising without rigid dining schedules, dress codes and formal nights — and it's still the go-to line for vacationers who want a floating resort experience with a casual, laissez-faire vibe.

Instead of a few big main restaurants with fixed seating times, Norwegian ships offer a wide range of eateries and no assigned seating times — just make a reservation. When it's time for dinner, if you want to dress up, fine. There's no rule saying you must, though.

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

Norwegian vessels also offer lots of options for daytime fun but are particularly well known for evening entertainment. You'll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions.

Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, you'd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas.

Just to be clear, Norwegian is a big-ship line . Its largest vessels are among the biggest cruise ships at sea (they must be, to accommodate everything mentioned above). If you want an intimate cruise experience, Norwegian probably isn't a good choice.

That said, the line does offer some smaller ships that aren't quite as big and bustling as its giants.

Norwegian is also a mass-market brand, not a luxury cruise operator. Still, as we'll explain below, it offers a wide range of accommodations, some of which fall squarely in the luxury segment. In some cases, its ships have an exclusive area full of high-end cabins and suites called The Haven that comes with its own private pools, lounge areas and even restaurants.

In short, if you want to turn a Norwegian cruise into a luxury experience , you can do that, too. Norwegian really is the line where you make the trip what you want it to be.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you?

3 things TPG loves about Norwegian Cruise Line

• The do-what-you-want freestyle vibe
• The wide range of restaurants, bars and nightspots
• The stellar entertainment

What we could do without

• The sky-high extra charges

The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet

Norwegian is the world's fourth-largest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 19 ships that together offer 56,780 berths.

Smaller only than Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises , the brand has become increasingly known for having some of the biggest, most amenity-filled vessels at sea. The line doesn't just operate giant ships, though. More than half of its fleet is comprised of vessels that, by today's standards, are considered almost midsize.

Indeed, Norwegian is essentially two cruise lines in one. The line's nine newest ships are big, bustling floating megaresorts that can carry upwards of 3,000 to 4,000 passengers at double occupancy (and even more with every berth filled). At around 143,000 to nearly 170,000 tons, all eight currently rank among the 50 biggest cruise ships in the world (although their rankings will shift downward as more big ships debut).

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

However, Norwegian's 10 older ships are much more modest in size, measuring around 75,000 to 94,000 tons and carrying closer to 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Norwegian thus appeals both to cruisers who like a giant resort vibe and those who prefer something more modest. The key, depending on your tastes, is getting on the right ship in the fleet.

On the big-ship end of the spectrum, Norwegian's four relatively new Breakaway Plus-class vessels — Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape — are the line's premier offerings. While not quite as big as Royal Caribbean's giant, Oasis-class ships , they are firmly in the pantheon of the world's cruising giants. They are the Norwegian vessels most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions.

Unveiled in 2019, Norwegian Encore is, notably, the 23rd biggest cruise ship in the world as of this story's publishing (it will drop in the rankings over the coming years as additional megaships debut). At 169,116 tons, it's bigger than all but three Carnival ships. Only Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have significantly more bigger vessels.

One step down in size from the Breakaway Plus ships are the still-quite-large Breakaway-class ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — as well as the one-of-a-kind Norwegian Epic and the recently unveiled Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva .

Around 17% smaller than Norwegian's biggest vessels, Prima and Viva are the first tow of six sister ships that the line will roll out between now and 2027 that will significantly change the composition of its fleet. While not the biggest vessels in the Norwegian fleet, these ships will be notably packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and decktop attractions. They also mark a more upscale turn for the line, with more space per passenger than earlier Norwegian ships and lots of suites.

Related: I've been on nearly every Norwegian ship. Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian's 10 smaller vessels break down among five classes, but many are roughly the same size and offer similar amenities.

One notable outlier among the smaller ships is the 2,186-passenger Pride of America. Sporting a patriotic U.S. theme (you'll find venues named after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams), and a distinct array of lounges and entertainment, it's the only big cruise vessel based year-round in Hawaii.

Pride of America notably operates with a mostly U.S. crew, in keeping with regulations governing cruise itineraries that only include U.S. ports.

Related: Our take on the new Norwegian Encore

Destinations and itineraries

Norwegian sails almost everywhere in the world, but its heaviest presence is in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

In a typical summer, the line will deploy nearly half its ships to Europe while sending several more to the West Coast to sail to Alaska from Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska. It'll also operate trips to Bermuda from New York City and Boston, usually with two ships, and trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Miami.

During the winter, the line will move many of its vessels to North America to operate sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas. It also sends a few ships to Asia, Australia and South America, and it'll typically keep a single vessel in Europe, too.

As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round. It's the only cruise line to offer year-round voyages in Hawaii.

In North America, Norwegian ships sail out of Baltimore; Boston; Galveston, Texas; New York City; Miami; Tampa; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Seattle; Honolulu; Vancouver, British Columbia; Quebec City; and Seward, Alaska.

In Europe, Norwegian ships sail out of Amsterdam; Stockholm; Copenhagen; Oslo and Tromso, Norway; Southampton and Portsmouth, England; Le Havre, France; Reykjavik; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona; Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Trieste, Italy (near Venice); Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Istanbul.

Related: The best Caribbean cruise for every type of traveler

Who sails Norwegian Cruise Line?

Norwegian appeals to vacationers who want a big-resort experience at sea with lots of options for dining and entertainment. In that, it's similar to Royal Caribbean — perhaps its closest competitor.

However, unlike Royal Caribbean, Norwegian hasn't retained any of the trappings of old-style cruising. There are no formal nights, as you'll still find on Royal Caribbean ships, or dress codes. Norwegian has also thoroughly done away with the concept of big main restaurants with fixed seating.

Because of that, Norwegian is popular with people who are seeking flexibility — freedom to eat when they want, with whom they want and to dress however they want, for sure, but also more freedom in general to just set their own schedule day and night.

Norwegian cruises are very unstructured vacations, and that's by design.

Like Royal Caribbean ships, Norwegian vessels have an inordinate amount of teen- and tween-friendly attractions — everything from some of the largest waterslides at sea to the only go-kart tracks on the ocean . That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. Families are a big part of Norwegian's business.

It's not just families that flock to Norwegian, though. The line's ships are designed to offer a little something for everyone, and thus they appeal to a wide demographic, including couples of all ages and even solo travelers (the line has been a leader in adding solo cabins to ships in recent years). They also draw customers with a wide range of incomes.

At their core, Norwegian ships are mass-market ships, with entry-level cabins that are affordable to middle-class travelers. However, overlaid across most vessels are high-end suites and services that are at a luxury level, and the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers.

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. It's essentially a small, luxury vessel that has been planted atop otherwise middle-class, mass-market megaships. These complexes appeal to well-heeled travelers who want a luxury cruising experience while also getting all the fun attractions, entertainment and dining venues only a mass-market megaship can offer.

Cabins and suites

Norwegian is known for offering a wide range of accommodations on its ships. You'll find everything from relatively low-cost, windowless inside cabins that measure as little as 135 square feet (perfect for the budget traveler) to massive, multi-room suites that are more than 50 times that size.

At the high end, the accommodations are aimed at affluent travelers who, for whatever reason, prefer the megaship experience to that of a luxury ship, and they truly are among the most spectacular accommodations at sea.

Some, such as the giant Garden Villas found on six Norwegian ships — Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star — sprawl over thousands of square feet and have as many as three bedrooms plus separate living rooms and dining rooms.

The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms.

Depending on the ship, top suites can come with perks such as private butlers and concierges who attend to your every need, access to a private restaurant, a private suite lounge and sun deck, reserved seating in entertainment venues and priority boarding and disembarkation.

On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of The Haven. Billed as an upscale "ship within a ship" and aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven is located at the very top of vessels and often comes with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and even restaurants.

Norwegian is also heralded for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships . In 2010, it debuted an entire zone of small studio cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, and it has since added them to seven more new ships.

The studio cabins are tiny at just 100 square feet. However, they're superbly designed to maximize storage space. On the ships that have them, they are clustered around an exclusive Studio Lounge where solo travelers can mingle at daily happy hour gatherings.

Related: What it takes to get concierge lounge access on a cruise ship

Restaurants and dining

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.

On Norwegian's recently built Breakaway Plus-class ships, there are up to 20 places to grab a bite, ranging from high-end French restaurants and steakhouses to casual pubs.

Every vessel has two or three main restaurants and a casual buffet where meals are included in the fare — the latter is usually called the Garden Cafe.

Other included-in-the-fare venues found on some ships include O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill, a casual pub; an outdoor bar and grill called Topsiders; and casual Asian restaurants that go by many names including Shanghai's Noodle Bar, Ginza and Bamboo.

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. There also are churrascaria restaurants called Moderno on most Norwegian vessels.

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.

You might even find Starbucks stores on some ships (the one-year-old Norwegian Prima has two!) and there are Starbucks products on every Norwegian vessel. Also, some ships have private restaurants just for passengers staying in The Haven.

Some of the extra-charge restaurants come with a flat fee (the teppanyaki outlets are $59 per person, not including the cost of drinks). However, most are a la carte, with sometimes hefty pricing. 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 — on the line's ships, particularly for things like restaurants.

A surf-and-turf dish at Ocean Blue that combines an 8-ounce filet mignon with a lobster tail costs $55, for example. If you just order a whole lobster, you'll be out $49. The least expensive entree on the menu, a roasted cauliflower steak, is $22.

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.

Related: The 7 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Few lines offer as broad a range of entertainment and activities on their ships as Norwegian. The line's biggest vessels offer multiple entertainment venues, from theaters to comedy clubs; a wide range of deck-top attractions; large casinos; full-service spas; and even virtual reality attractions. You'll also find a seemingly endless array of bars, lounges and nightspots.

Theaters and shows

Entertainment is one of the core areas where Norwegian excels, and if you're the kind of person who loves nights out with live music and lively performances on your vacations, you're going to love the line.

Many of Norwegian's biggest ships have state-of-the-art theaters as big as those you'd find on Broadway, with big-name productions to match. Norwegian Bliss, for instance, has the Tony Award-winning "Jersey Boys."

In some cases, the Broadway shows are cut down slightly from the original versions, and the casts aren't quite as seasoned as what you'll find on Broadway. However, these are quality productions. The best part is they are entirely free. Compare that with the hundreds of dollars you'd spend to take your family to a show in New York City.

Norwegian ships also are jam-packed with music venues. Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Epic, for instance, 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 dueling piano bars on some Norwegian ships, and there's the lively Q Texas Smokehouse found on Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy (a music-and-food concept that pairs live music with barbecue).

In addition, several Norwegian ships offer dinner theater venues with circus-type productions, and one vessel, Norwegian Getaway, features a magic-infused dinner theater show in a steampunk-inspired space called The Illusionarium.

Several ships also offer comedy club entertainment.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Norwegian ships are loaded with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night.

All but one Norwegian ship (Pride of America) has a casino, and on the line's bigger vessels, they are huge operations. The casino on Norwegian Encore has more than 300 slot machines and 26 table games (including blackjack, roulette, poker and craps), plus its own bar.

On the line's big Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class ships, the casino — along with a large proportion of all onboard restaurants, bars and clubs — sprawls across three central decks connected by an atrium-like space known as 678 Ocean Place (the name derives from the location of the decks, which on each ship are decks 6, 7 and 8). At night, these three-deck complexes become bustling places.

The Breakaway- and Breakaway Plus-class ships have innovative outdoor promenades called The Waterfront lined with seating for many restaurants and bars. The Waterfront is located on Deck 8 of each of the ships, which is one of the main decks for restaurants on them all.

Like the ships of the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes, the Prima Class ships have a lively zone that mixes casino space, bars, eateries and entertainment that sprawls across decks 6, 7 and 8. These vessels also have outdoor eating space in an area called Ocean Boulevard.

In addition, Norwegian two new Prima Class ships (Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva), as well as another relatively new Norwegian vessels — Norwegian Encore — have innovative gaming and virtual reality zones called Galaxy Pavilion (a fourth Galaxy Pavilion area on Norwegian Joy is being removed during an overhaul in dry dock scheduled for early 2024).

There's nothing quite like Galaxy Pavilion in the cruise world. The venue has an amazing array of high-tech virtual reality experiences, including incredibly realistic race car simulators (on Norwegian Encore, there are eight in a row along one wall), hang gliding simulators, virtual mazes and a virtual reality "Jurassic Park" ride.

The Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Encore is the biggest of them all. Among added features, it includes a 45-minute escape room experience laced with special effects. Themed around a Spanish galleon, it's designed to be played by up to six people at a time.

Just be warned that you'll pay a hefty fee to play in the Galaxy Pavilion. A weeklong pass to the venue will set you back $199 per person. There also are hourlong passes available for $29 per person, or you can sample a single ride for $8 (except for the escape room, which is priced separately at $15 per person).

There's also a bowling alley on Norwegian Epic and duck pin bowling lanes on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway.

Norwegian ships also all have Mandara Spas, which can be quite big on the bigger vessels, and there are fitness centers on every ship.

Deck-top attractions

What you'll find on the top decks of Norwegian ships will vary quite a bit depending on the vessel. The line's smaller ships will have at least one or two pools, sunning areas and usually a sports court area — but not all that much else.

The big ships are a different story.

On the line's Breakaway-, Breakaway Plus- and Epic-class ships, you'll find giant waterslides and kiddie splash zones and, in some cases, even more over-the-top attractions such as go-kart tracks and laser tag arenas.

The go-kart tracks (now on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy) are quickly becoming Norwegian's signature can-you-believe-this-is-on-a-ship attraction, and they truly are impressive. The biggest two of them, on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks.

Note that this is some serious go-karting. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour. Three of the speedways, on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Encore, also feature middle-of-the-track observation areas 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.

The open-air laser tag arenas also are significant venues that 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.

As is the case with the Galaxy Pavilion attractions mentioned above, the go-kart and laser tag experiences on Norwegian ships don't come cheap. You'll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap romp on the go-karts. Joining a five-minute laser shootout costs $10 per person. In both cases, you can buy a weeklong pass for $199.

The top decks of a few Norwegian ships — mostly the bigger ones — also have a ropes course, a climbing wall or both. Some vessels also have miniature golf courses.

You'll find an exclusive, extra-charge, adults-only VIP sunning area on seven Norwegian ships called Vibe Beach Club. The biggest of these areas is on Norwegian Encore, where Vibe Beach Club is an expansive private lounge with a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs designed to hold up to 270 people — far more than on other ships.

For those with money to burn (pricing on Norwegian Encore recently was $99 per person for a day pass), the Vibe Beach Clubs are lovely, secluded deck-top hideaways. However, there's a downside for everyone else on board the ships that have them, which is that they take away from the deck-top lounge space available to everybody else.

Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea

Children's programs

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.

The heart of the program, called Splash Academy, brings free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 12. The line splits children here up into three age groups: Turtles (ages 3 to 5), Seals (ages 6 to 9) and Dolphins (ages 10 to 12), and they each have their own age-appropriate activities ranging from treasure hunts to video game competitions. On many ships, there are extensive dedicated spaces for the different groups.

While the free programming ends at 10:30 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at Splash Academy past 10:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m., when it's billed as the Late Night Fun Zone.

Norwegian also has rooms on its ships for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 3 years. Called Guppies, the program offers parents a place to play with their youngest children, with occasional youth staff-led activities and games.

Norwegian also offers dedicated teen zones and programming on ships for children ages 13 to 17. Called Entourage, the teen zone is a place for teens to hang out, dance and play games, and it's supervised by counselors who plan activities and challenges.

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all cruises leaving from a non-U.S. port and all Panama Canal sailings (regardless of departure port). 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).

Instead, you can travel with a state-certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months after your trip, and the name on your reservation must be exactly as it's printed on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Norwegian adds an automatic service charge of $20 to $25 per person, per day, to final bills, depending on your cabin category. Depending on the service you receive, you can adjust the amount up or down at the guest services desk before disembarking. In addition, a 20% gratuity is added to the bill at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise ship

Norwegian has been rolling out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet in recent years, so you can now stream video on ships.

Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Norwegian vessels recently was priced at $39.99 per person per day, if you bought it in advance. Norwegian also offers a less expensive plan that doesn't allow video streaming for $29.99 per person per day if purchased in advance.

This pricing is quite a bit higher than what some other lines, such as Carnival or Princess, charge for Wi-Fi. Princess recently was charging just $14.99 per person per day for a WiFi package.

Related: Wi-Fi on ships really is getting better

Carry-on drinks policy

Norwegian allows you to bring bottles of your own wine or Champagne on board, but it will charge you a hefty corkage fee of $15 per bottle for the privilege — even if you plan to drink the bottle in your room. This is a more draconian policy than you'll find at most lines. Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, cigar lounges (for cigar smoking only) and casinos. It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be fined $250 per occurrence.

Unlike many cruise vessels, Norwegian ships do not have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks for passenger use. Instead, the line offers extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All cabins on Norwegian vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets and European-style, 220-volt outlets. Some cabins also have USB ports.

The currency used on all Norwegian itineraries is U.S. dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a cruise card you can use to make charges. This same card also lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

The official drinking age on Norwegian ships is 21. That said, passengers who are 18 to 20 can purchase and consume beer or wine on ships in international waters with permission from parents or legal guardians. The parent or legal guardian must be on board and sign a waiver at guest services. The lower drinking age in international waters does not apply during sailings in Alaska and Hawaii.

Norwegian Cruise Line may be the most laid-back line out there when it comes to dress codes. You can basically wear whatever you want, whenever you want.

The line specifically says that casual wear (think: khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts for men; casual dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans and tops for women) is just fine anytime during the day, at the buffet and in most specialty restaurants.

The line just recommends a step up to "smart casual" outfits in its more formal dining rooms and upscale specialty restaurants. In keeping with Norwegian's laid-backness, this might still mean nothing more than a crisper pair of jeans, or maybe slacks with a collared shirt, for men. Definitely no need for a jacket. For women, slacks, jeans, dresses, skirts and tops will do fine.

Related: What to pack for your first cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line loyalty program

Norwegian has a point-based frequent cruiser program, Latitudes Rewards, that has seven tiers, ranging from Bronze (requiring 1 point) to Ambassador (700 points).

Members earn points for every night they sail on one of the line's ships. They get an additional point for every night they stay in a concierge room, a suite (not including stays in minisuites, or stays in suites resulting from an upgrade) or a room in The Haven. They also get an additional point for every night booked through a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer.

Hitting the first tier, Bronze, takes one cruise. Reaching the second tier, Silver (20 points), would take at the most three cruises if you're doing seven-night trips.

Related: Everything you need to know about the Norwegian loyalty program

Lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll get things like priority check-in and discounted spa treatments performed while ships are in port. However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

Platinum (75 points) brings free dinners at two extra-charge restaurants, a discount on an internet package, behind-the-scenes ship tours and concierge service.

The top Ambassador level brings a truly wonderful perk: a one-time complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony cabin. You can pick almost any sailing except trips around Christmas and the new year.

In contrast to airline frequent-flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. 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.

A passenger staying in suites and booking through Latitudes Rewards Insider Offers could get to the Platinum level with just four seven-night cruises.

Related: The TPG guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Norwegian cruise cost?

Norwegian designs its ships to appeal to a broad mix of people, in part by offering a wide range of cabin types at varying price points. On a typical sailing, you might find an entry-level cabin for around $100 a night while a high-end suite is five to 15 times that amount.

At the time of this story's posting, A The Haven two-bedroom family villa on Norwegian Jewel for a seven-night Alaska cruise in August 2024, for example, was going for $13,978 per person, based on double occupancy. That's more than 13 times the cost of the least expensive inside cabin (which was starting at $1,058 per person, based on double occupancy). Oceanview cabins on the same sailing started at $1,698 per person, based on double occupancy.

Note the "based on double occupancy" caveat in the above paragraph. As is typical for cruise lines, Norwegian charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer some cabins for solo travelers on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy.

In general, Norwegian's newer ships including Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima and the Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class vessels will be more expensive than the line's older, smaller ships. However, there are many factors that go into pricing for any given cruise, including the popularity of the specific itinerary, the time of year when the cruise is taking place and changing demand trends.

As you might expect, pricing for all ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September and October.

The timing of when you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels, and many cruisers will tell you the best pricing for any given sailing often is available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance will also give you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Norwegian ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment.

Related: 15 ways that first-time cruisers waste money on a cruise

How to book

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.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise (there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process — trust us) we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure Norwegian is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Norwegian's cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your purchase when paying for the cruise by using a card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve , which offers 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual $300 travel credit), or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

For big-ship lovers, Norwegian pretty much has it all. There's tons of great entertainment on Norwegian's vessels, plenty of venues for eating and drinking, and all sorts of deck-top diversions — at least on the line's newest ships. Throw in the brand's low starting prices, and it's an even more compelling package.

If we have a gripe with the line, it's about the "extra-charge creep" we've been seeing for attractions on Norwegian ships such as go-karts and laser tag in recent years, and the higher a la carte prices spreading across the line's onboard restaurants.

Then again, you get what you pay for, as the saying goes. If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of included-in-the-fare choices for dining and entertainment. If money is no object, you can follow a different "journey" through the ship, as Norwegian executives like to say, to a far more high-end vacation.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

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.