CRUISE CATEGORY: Megaships over 4,000 passengers; Large Ships up to 4,000 passengers

Capacity: 2018 to 4266 passengers

Ships: 17

Customers: Middle-aged and older couples, Families, Groups 

DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

Norwegian Cruise Line is a mass market, cruise line with an extensive fleet of large ships. It is owned by the conglomerate Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings which also runs the premium brands of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas. Launched in the 1960s with a focus on sailings to the Caribbean out of Miami, Norwegian has grown into the third largest cruise line operator in the world based on annual passengers with itineraries that include voyages to most parts of the world. 

Norwegian has been at the forefront of industry innovations in terms of the services and products offered to cruisers. The ten Norwegian ships built prior to 2010 such as the Gem and the Pearl hold approximately 2,400 passengers, but since the first Breakaway class ship was launched in 2013 the company has added mega class vessels with a capacity of 4,000 or more. The company recently launched  a new class of large ships starting with the Norwegian Prima featuring amenities and extensive outdoor deck space. 

NOTABLE FEATURES OF NORWEGIAN SHIPS

One notable characteristic of Norwegian Cruise Line is its willingness to think creatively and bring novel approaches to the design and operation of its vessels. The first innovation that surprised the cruise industry was the development of an island resort in the Bahamas during the 1970s called Great Stirrup Cay. Norwegian ships stop there on Caribbean voyages and passengers can enjoy a day at a beach equipped with all the amenities of a private resort. An even more dramatic innovation was instituting “freestyle cruising” in 2000, allowing passengers to eat when they wanted, to eat alone or with friends without being assigned to a particular table or dining room. This was followed by the addition of specialty restaurants on Norwegian ships where different types of fine cuisine are available for an additional fee. Finally, formal nights were eliminated, and passengers were encouraged to dress country club casual.

Other changes followed in recent years. Norwegian was the first cruise line to offer a short cruise to Cuba. They also added stage shows featuring shortened versions of Broadway and West End productions. Stateroom options were expanded to include exciting new choices. One option was the addition of several dozen studio staterooms on most ships. These staterooms provide single passengers with a small bedroom and bath for themselves along with shared use of a common lounge and kitchenette.

The latest innovation by Norwegian was the introduction of the exclusive Haven area with luxury amenities for guests on Breakaway class vessels and other Norwegian ships. Key access to the Haven is limited to passengers staying in suites located on one of the top floors. Those passengers enjoy the services of a private butler and a dedicated concierge to assist them with all aspects of their voyage. Haven guests have exclusive access for all three meals to the Haven restaurant and can enjoy the Haven lounge for drinks, quiet conversation, and relaxation. There is also a dedicated Haven courtyard with a pool, a jacuzzi, sundeck, and observation lounge. While premium and luxury cruise lines have long provided similar services to passengers, Norwegian was the first company to create a separate first-class area on a large mass market vessel. 

The next wave of innovations was incorporated into the Norwegian Prima this year. That vessel reimagined the upper decks and interior of the vessel by placing pools, Jacuzzis, lounges, and restaurants on the outside part of the deck facing the water rather than in recessed interior spaces. The big question facing Norwegian will be whether all these diverse concepts can be integrated into a mega vessel with more than 3,000 passengers and still provide a satisfactory experience for all.

DINING 

Norwegian is proud of its dining options and culinary offerings. Its promotional material puts it this way. “You can taste our passion on every plate…...Discover our Main Dining Rooms, where our menus change daily, or make it a special night out and reserve a table at any of our specialty restaurants for a taste of something unique and unexpected. With no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating and superb culinary experiences, you are free to dine when you want, where you want – wherever your palate leads you.” Passengers seem to agree that Norwegian’s food offerings are excellent but would like to see specialty dining opportunities and beverages included in the basic cruise packages with fewer surcharges. Promotional bookings and Haven staterooms come with greater specialty dining opportunities for passengers. 

The dining options included in the basic cruise fare are the daily meals served in the three main dining rooms, the Garden Café buffet, The Local Pub, and breakfast room service. Specialty restaurants vary from ship to ship but the most common options are French fare at Le Bistro, beef and seafood entrees at Cagney’s Steakhouse, endless meat at the Brazilian Churrascaria, Italian fare at La Cucina, Japanese grilled fare at Teppanyaki, contemporary Mexican at Los Lobos, and world fusion fare at Food Republic. Another option on Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships is to dine oceanside on a long promenade called The Waterfront. Haven passengers also have daily access to the exclusive Haven dining room. 

ENDLESS SHIP ACTIVITIES

Norwegian tries harder than any other cruise line to offer activities and entertainment that will satisfy its diverse passengers. The upper decks of Norwegian ships are full of facilities designed to provide “something exhilarating or relaxing for everyone.”  Most ships feature two large pools with shaded hot tubs at the center of the entertainment deck and the Haven courtyard has a separate pool and jacuzzi. Breakaway Plus class ships and the new Prima class have a virtual amusement park on the top level of the ship that includes a huge waterslide, a racetrack where passengers can zoom around on go carts, a sports complex, a ropes course, and sometimes laser tag. A teen lounge, video arcade, movie screen, kids’ area, and a virtual reality pavilion complement these activities and create ongoing fun for both young and old. 

The spa services and fitness options available at the Mandarin Spa are also popular. The spa includes therapy rooms and, on some vessels, an excellent indoor thermal suite. The suite has  saunas and steam baths, a large pool and jacuzzi with powerful water jets, sixty comfortable lounge chairs, private dressing and shower rooms, and even a snow room. The latest addition to the activity decks on Norwegian ships is the 14th floor Ocean Boulevard which encircles the entire ship with several venues for relaxing, eating, drinking, and walking.

The entertainment provided on Norwegian ships is good. Professional versions of Broadway and West End shows have been featured in recent years including  the story of the Four Seasons in Jersey Boys, the high energy Footloose, the Tony award winning Kinky Boots, and a British pop musical about the six wives of Henry VIII called SIX. Other shows feature comedians in the comedy club, country bands, and a Beatles Tribute band who perform in a replica of the Cavern Club from Liverpool. Finally, the ships have a full casino and dance clubs. 

The top rear deck of many ships features a bar and large movie screen area called Spice H2O where adult dance parties are held such as an 80s party with MTV videos on the screen, a themed 70s dance party, and a glow party. For people who like to perform, the ships offer an excellent karaoke stage with opportunities for teen, family, and adult singers to entertain. The renovated Norwegian ships have turned the central atrium into a presentation and performance venue where you will find everything from movies to group dance classes to future cruise promotions going on throughout the day

STATEROOMS

Most staterooms on Norwegian ships fall into the usual categories of inside cabins, Oceanview cabins, and balcony cabins. The rooms in these categories range from 129 square feet to 300 square feet on the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class vessels although larger rooms are available in each class. Norwegian ships have lower ceilings than other leading cruise lines which can make the rooms feel small. In general, the layout of the older refurbished Norwegian ships and the more recent vessels is functional and the décor such as the carpeting and curtains is ordinary. 

For more sizzle, rewards and services, some passengers select one of the special category staterooms. A popular option for solo travelers is to pick one of the award-winning studio rooms. Another option is to select a spa balcony room located close to the ship’s wellness facilities amenities. For couples and families seeking more room, the Club Balcony suites and Haven suites are well appointed and usually exceed three hundred square feet in size. Some suites come with separate bedrooms, a jacuzzi and large bathrooms.  

ITINERARIES

Norwegian has gradually expanded its cruise offerings over the past decade to include almost every location around the world. While most of its voyages travel to the Caribbean, North American ports, Alaska, Mexico, and Europe, cruises now visit multiple locations in East Asia, Australia, and South Africa. Several destinations visited by Norwegian are particularly noteworthy. For decades, Norwegian has been the only cruise line with a U.S. flagged vessel based in Hawaii that sails to all the islands there and other locations in the South Pacific. The Pride of America has an American crew, and its cruises provide an excellent introduction to the Hawaiian Islands and other exotic locations there. Norwegian also introduced cruises from Florida to Cuba in 2004 that visited Havana and other Cuban locations when that country was open to visiting Americans and is likely to expand its cruises there when possible. Other interesting destinations that will be visited by Norwegian in the next two years include Iceland, Greenland, Antarctica, Dubai, Egypt, and the Seychelles. Caribbean cruises except for those focuses on the western Caribbean usually stop at Norwegian’s private Bahamas Island, Great Stirrup Cay, which is set up to handle thousands of passengers and is full of beach resort amenities and watersports. 

On land, Norwegian offers a wide variety of excursions for passengers that cover the principal attractions at most locations. Overnight stays are not common on its cruises so while passengers are able to get an introduction to most destinations, the opportunities for in depth exploration with private guides or overnight tours are infrequent. 

Editor’s Personal Observations

I have cruised on Norwegian with my wife and with family five times over the past ten years. Our first cruise out of New York to the Bahamas and Florida in 2015 was underwhelming as the Gem had not yet been refurbished, the pools and other facilities were overcrowded, and the behavior of some passengers was disappointing. We found refuge by purchasing daily spa packages which allowed us to use the facilities of the thermal suite and by enjoying dinners at the specialty restaurants. The next year we flew to Hawaii and had a fun time on the Pride of America touring the islands and enjoying the beaches and natural wonders of the various locations. We also visited the Caribbean on the larger Getaway vessel in 2017. These two ships had a more relaxed atmosphere and a higher standard of service then the Gem.  In 2019, we took a short cruise on the Sun to Cuba which stopped at Key West, Havana and Great Stirrup Cay. The food at the restaurants and the shows were excellent and the veranda staterooms were small but functional.

A post-Covid cruise in 2022 to the Eastern Caribbean which included stops in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup Cay was enjoyable. The Norwegian Escape includes most of the upgrades which Norwegian has added to its larger ships. By booking a Spa Veranda Room and creatively planning our days to take full advantage of the specialty dining venues and the relaxation of the thermal suite, we avoided the crowded pools and food areas. Our son enjoyed the evening dance parties which attracted young and middle-aged cruisers. In a technological age, the slow internet speed was the most common complaint of passengers along with difficulty in booking tickets to the larger shows.

Norwegian is moving aggressively to create a niche for itself among middle aged and family cruisers by providing lots of choices for dining, entertainment, and activities. At the same time, it is moving upmarket by adding the first-class Haven area to its newer vessels. Wealthier millennials and older couples may welcome this approach as a way to combine the attractions of a large ship with the refinement of a premium cruise line for twice the price. However, there are areas of concern. First, with a fleet of mostly large ships, it will be difficult for Norwegian to access the more remote ports in Europe or the undeveloped islands around the world often included on the itineraries of luxury cruise lines. Second, the mish mosh created by offering so many activities could be confusing to new cruisers who may leave frustrated by what they did not get to do rather than enthused by the activities they enjoyed. 

In summary, whether Norwegian can be all things to all people is not clear, but the company has shown a unique ability to innovate and evolve so it will undoubtedly work hard to achieve this difficult balance at a competitive price. I hope that they will succeed and will give them a chance to do so again soon.

Average Daily Price Per Person excluding airfare for Basic Veranda Stateroom and all Meals:

Over $500   _ __     $350 to $500 ____       $200 to $350 _X___    Under $200 ____

SERVICES PROVIDED WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CHARGE EXCEPT DURING SPECIAL PROMOTIONS WHICH FREQUENTLY INCLUDE SOME SPECIALTY DINING, EXCURSIONS AND BEVERAGE EXTRAS

• Entertainment

• Coffees, Teas, and water

• Lectures and Destination Talks

EDITOR’S OVERALL REPORT OF CRUISE LINE QUALITY AND VALUE- 4.00***

***Rating is 4.10 for the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus vessels and 3.90 for other fleet vessels.

4.5 to 5.0 is Outstanding / 4.0 to 4.5 is Very Good / 3.5 to 4.0 is Acceptable / 2.5 to 3.5 is Fair / Less than 2.5 is Poor

This profile is based on information published by the cruise line or gathered from other published sources. Additional information listed in the profile as the Editor’s Personal Observations and Overall Report reflects the personal experience and opinion of the Editor which may or may not be applicable to other guests traveling on the ship.