23 Norwegian Cruise Line Tips, Tricks and Mistakes to Avoid

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Are you going on a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line? Here are some important NCL tips, tricks, and mistakes you’ll want to know before your cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line is one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. Known for its “freestyle cruising” model and family-friendly atmosphere, NCL is one of the best choices for a cruise vacation.

With Norwegian Cruise Line having so much to offer, you’re going to want to know every tip, trick, and secret, so you can make the most of your vacation. Whether this is your first cruise or you’re an experienced cruiser, this list includes essential things you’ll want to know before your Norwegian cruise.

23 Norwegian Cruise Line Tips, Tricks and Mistakes to Avoid

1. Understand NCL Free at Sea

One of the unique things about sailing with NCL is their “Free At Sea” program. This perks promotion allows cruise passengers to choose from a variety of deals that can enhance their cruise vacation.

The Free at Sea perks vary from time to time. However they typically include specialty dining, a beverage package, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credits. Free airfare and Kids Sail Free are also offered often on select sailings.

When booking your cruise through a travel agent or the NCL website, you can choose the “Free At Sea” promotion to access these amazing benefits.

Please note that the drink and specialty dining packages do have an additional cost, which is the gratuity on the value of these packages. In my experience, NCL’s Free At Sea is worth the price, as it is still less expensive that what I’d likely spend on drinks and specialty restaurants otherwise.

2. Make Dining Reservations on Embarkation Day

Something unique to Norwegian Cruise Line is making dining reservations on embarkation day. While you might be able to book some specialty dining online before your cruise, NCL leaves a lot of availability for guests to book once onboard.

Typically, there will be a specialty restaurant where you can make all your specialty dining reservations. When we were on Norwegian Joy, this was done in Teppanyaki.

By making these reservations on embarkation day, you can ensure you get the dining times that suit you best.

3. Download the NCL App

Before boarding your cruise ship, it’s essential to download the NCL App. The Norwegian Cruise Line app allows you to book shows, spa treatments, and dining reservations and see daily activities.

Some cruise passengers make the mistake of waiting until they get on the cruise ship to download the app. However, cellphone service does not always work properly in the cruise port, making downloading the app a real challenge.

So, be sure to download the NCL mobile app before embarkation day!

4. Be Ready for Freestyle Cruising

NCL is known for its freestyle cruising, which means that passengers can cruise the way they want without a schedule to follow.

With any time dining, cruise passengers can show up to the dining room without reservations and be seated promptly. Although this has become popular on other cruise lines, NCL was the first cruise line to introduce the concept of freestyle cruising.

5. Take Advantage of the Onboard Attractions

Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature some of the best onboard attractions at sea. From thrilling waterslides to ropes courses and race tracks, there are always exciting activities on an NCL cruise.

As a waterslide lover, I must admit that Norwegian has some of the best waterslides out of any cruise line! Furthermore, the water slides are included in your cruise fare, making them a great activity option for cruise passengers with younger kids.

6. Use a Lanyard for Your Keycard

Since NCL uses keycards to open your cabin door, order drinks, and go through security, you’ll want a cruise lanyard with a keycard holder. This way, your keycard will never get lost!

This cruise essential is something that I use every time I sail with Norwegian. It’s an easy way to keep my keycard nearby, and it helps prevent me from losing it.

Related: 50+ Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon in 2024

7. Research Your Ports Before Your Cruise

It’s a good idea to research your ports before your cruise. This way, you can make the most of your cruise vacation.

You can make a plan for what you want to do for those days in port, whether it’s a shore excursion or you plan on exploring on your own.

Furthermore, you may want to book a shore excursion through the cruise line. Popular shore excursions can sell out, so booking them in advance before your cruise is a good idea.

8. Know the Cruise Ship Layout

Since many NCL cruise ships tend to be on the bigger side, it’s a good idea to know the ship layout prior to embarkation day. This way, you’ll know how to get to the important venues like the main dining room, casino, and lido deck on the first day of your cruise.

Furthermore, a fish pattern will be on the carpet in the cabin hallways. A secret NCL cruise tip is that the fish are always heading towards the front of the cruise ship. This is an easy way to know which direction you are heading in.

Related: First-Time Cruiser? Here’s How to Find Your Way Around the Ship

9. Watch the Shows

NCL is known for its great shows in the theatre, funny comedians, and enjoyable live music. Since certain venues have a capacity limit, you may need to book your shows on the first day of your cruise vacation.

Cruise passengers can easily book the shows through Norwegian’s mobile app. The comedy shows and live music work on a first-come, first-serve basis. So if there’s a performer that you really want to see, you may want to arrive early.

10. Try Specialty Dining

One of the great things about NCL is there variety of specialty restaurants. Although the main dining room is great, specialty dining is a great way to enjoy an enhanced culinary experience.

The menu’s will have higher-quality food options, the service will be better, and there will be a unique atmosphere. Onboard the Norwegian Joy, we had the chance to try many of the specialty restaurants, and they were all amazing.

Going to a specialty restaurant is a great way to celebrate a special occassion, or to enjoy a nice meal with family and friends.

11. Take Advantage of the Kids Club

If you’re cruising with young children or teenagers, be sure to take advantage of the kids’ club. The kids’ club is a safe and supervised environment where kids ages 3 to 17 can meet friends, participate in activities, and have fun.

As a kid who grew up cruising, the kids’ club was always my favorite part of a cruise vacation. Throughout the years, I’ve made plenty of friends and memories by going to the kids’ club.

Since NCL is a family-friendly cruise line, the kids’ clubs are known for being very fun. It’s a good idea to sign your children up on the first day so they can make friends right away.

12. Avoid the Buffet on Embarkation Day

A cruise tip that many pro cruisers know is to avoid the buffet on embarkation day. During embarkation day, everyone will be rushing to the buffet which means long lines and it can be hard to find a table.

Instead of heading to the buffet, eat lunch at a casual dining venue (The Local or O’Sheehan’s) or eat in the main dining room.

On embarkation day, I always eat in the main dining room because you can relax and enjoy your meal in a calmer environment. Furthermore, NCL offers a really good lunch menu on embarkation day!

Related: 27 Cruise Dining Tips for First Time Cruisers

13. Enjoy 24-Hour Casual Dining

One of the benefits of sailing with NCL is that you will never go hungry! In fact, they have some really good 24-hour casual dining.

Depending on the cruise ship you are on, you may either have O’Sheehan’s or The Local, which both serve similar foods. You can eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snack options here.

One of my favorite things, when I sailed on the Norwegian Joy, was grabbing a late-night bite at The Local. They had great food options, ranging from chicken wings to hamburgers and hot dogs.

If you’re someone who enjoy’s casual american pub-style food, then you’ll really enjoy O’Sheehan’s and The Local.

14. Be Prepared for Certain Attractions to Cost Extra

If you’re cruising with kids, it’s important to know that certain attractions cost extra. For instance, there is an extra charge for Speedway. You can purchase a single go-kart session for about $15 a ride or purchase a package for $199.

Furthermore, video arcades (popular among kids) have an extra cost. It’s important to remember this before sailing with Norwegian, so that you can factor additional costs into a budget.

15. Take Advantage of Embarkation Day Specials

When you sail with NCL, consider taking advantage of the embarkation day specials. You’ll often get great deals for massages, facials, or other services offered at the Mandara Cruise Spa.

There may also be promotions for specialty dining packages, Wi-Fi, and drink packages. So, keep an eye out for deals on boarding day!

16. Get Back to the Cruise Ship on Time

When in a port of call, it’s essential to always arrive back at the ship on time. Although this may seem obvious to experienced cruisers, many new cruisers may not realize that the cruise ship will not wait for them if they do not arrive on time.

The cruise ship is very strict about passengers being back on time, so be sure to plan accordingly. This is especially important if you’re exploring a cruise port on your own rather than booking an excursion through the cruise line.

17. What to Wear on an NCL Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for it’s freestyle cruising, which includes a very relaxed dress code. However, there are some things you should know about what to wear on your NCL cruise before you go.

You can dress casually both during the day and evening on Norwegian Cruise Line. After all, its your vacation. That said, you won’t be out of place if you like to dress up a little.

A couple specialty dining restaurants require a collared shirt, pants or jeans, and closed-toe shoes. Although it’s not every specialty restaurant, certain ones do not allow shorts and T-shirts.

Be sure to pack closed toe shoes are required for activities like the racetrack, ropes course and other sports activities.

Onboard NCL cruise ships, you’ll have theme parties like the 70’s, 80’s, and Glow parties. Although optional, consider bringing special outfits for those evenings! Many people wear a white outfit or neon colors to the Glow party.

Related: 25 Pretty White Dresses to Wear on a Cruise

18. Book the Vibe Beach Club Early

Although Vibe Beach Club has an extra charge, it’s popular with cruise passengers who enjoy a quiet adult-only space with comfortable lounge chairs and a private bar area.

If you’re used to cruising on premium cruise lines, Vibe Beach Club may be worth the extra price as you will have enhanced service.

Furthermore, since NCL is a family-friendly cruise line, it can be hard to find a quiet place to relax on busier sailings. When you purchase Vibe Beach Club, you’ll get to enjoy a luxurious sundeck with premium bar service and a calm atmosphere.

On our recent NCL cruise, we had Vibe Beach Club and really enjoyed it. Since a limited number of guests were allowed in Vibe, it often felt like we were on a much smaller cruise ship.

If you’re interested in booking Vibe, it’s a good idea to do it before your cruise, as spaces are limited.

Related: Is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Vibe Beach Club Worth it?

19. Eat Outdoors

Certain specialty restaurants on select NCL ships offer outdoor dining.

Onboard the Breakaway-class and Breakaway Plus-class ships, there is The Waterfront, where cruise passengers can eat dinner at a specialty restaurant or sit at a bar outdoors.

Onboard Prima-class cruise ships, there is the Ocean Walk. Here, cruise passengers can relax on lounge chairs, go in the hot tubs, and eat outdoors at the restaurants.

On Jewel-class ships, there is the Great Outdoors. This is an outdoor buffet and bar area that cruise passengers enjoy throughout their vacation.

20. Spice H2O Adult Area

Spice H2O is an adult-only area with lounge chairs, hot tubs, and a bar. Since NCL attracts many families with children, it is a great spot for those who prefer an adult-only vibe.

On warmer itineraries, Spice H2O will host many of the theme parties. During the theme parties, cruise passengers of all ages can enter Spice H2O.

21. Priority Access Program

If you hate waiting to board the cruise ship on embarkation day, consider purchasing the Priority Access Program. This program offers priority embarkation and disembarkation, faster tendering, complimentary room service breakfast and canapés, and a  $50 USD spa credit.

Here is the pricing for the Priority Access Program:

• 3 to 5 Days – $129 USD per cabin
• 6 to 9 Days – $199 USD per cabin
• 10 to 15 Days – $279 USD per cabin
• 16+ Days – $329 USD per cabin

22. Solo Cabins

Norwegian Cruise Line offers solo cabins on select cruise ships. Furthermore, certain NCL cruise ships have a Studio Lounge for solo cabin guests.

Solo cruisers can choose from a solo balcony cabin, ocean view, interior cabin, or studio cabin. It’s important to note that there are a limited number of solo cabins, and they book up very fast.

23. Starbucks at Sea

If you’re a coffee lovers, you’ll love having a Starbucks onboard your NCL cruise ship. Moreover, the premium beverage package includes any beverage from Starbucks.

The specialized destination mugs are a cool feature that you’ll find at the Starbucks onboard NCL cruise ships. Each cruise ship has its unique mug, which serves as a nice souvenir from your cruise vacation.

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Final Thoughts on Norwegian Cruise Line Tips, Tricks and Mistakes to Avoid

Norwegian Cruise Line is a great option for families and cruisers who enjoy a fun and exciting cruise atmosphere. It’s hard not to love the onboard attractions, bar areas, and themed parties!

Have you been on a Norwegian cruise? Please let me know your tips and questions in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

Ethan

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Author Bio: Ethan Schattauer has been cruising with his family since he was four years old and has been on more than 30 cruises. As a frequent traveler, Ethan shares his unique perspective on what cruising is like from a young person’s perspective. Ethan also writes about men’s fashion, travel and college advice on the website WhatToWearMen.com.