Norwegian Cruise Line Lifestyle:
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a cruise line for everyone--a true mainstream line. The fleet is diverse, but all the ships are contemporary. The parent cruise line is Star Cruises, and NCL also operates one ship in Hawaii with all-American crews under the NCL America brand. NCL introduced the flexible "freestyle dining" concept. NCL is a good choice for families or first time, active cruisers who are budget-conscious.Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Ships:
Norwegian Cruise Line has 11 ships, one of which sails under the U.S. flag, the only large cruise ships porting in the U.S. that does so.
- Norwegian Dawn (2002)
- Norwegian Majesty (1992/1999)
- Norwegian Star (2001)
- Norwegian Sun (2001)
- Norwegian Jewel (2005)
- Norwegian Spirit (1998/2004)
- Pride of America (2005)
- Norwegian Sky (1999/2008) - previously Pride of Aloha
- Norwegian Jade(2006) - previously Pride of Hawaii
- Norwegian Pearl (2006)
- Norwegian Gem (2007}
Norwegian Cruise Line Passenger Profile :
NCL cruises are well-suited for families and young-at-heart, active cruisers who enjoy a large ship atmosphere with flexible dining options. It is not marketed as a five-star experience, so cruisers should not expect exceptional service, cuisine, or amenities seen on luxury ships. However, the NCL ships have plenty of activities, good worldwide itineraries, and provide a good overall cruise experience for the mass market cruiser. Most passengers are from the U.S. or Canada.Norwegian Cruise Line Accommodations and Cabins:
Since NCL has a diverse fleet of ships, the cabins vary widely in size from ship to ship. The older ships generally have smaller staterooms and baths, and the standard cabins on the Pride of America ship sailing Hawaii are smaller than on many other comparably-priced ships.One good note for family cruisers is that NCL has many family-friendly cabins, with interconnecting doors. The cruise line also introduced family suites, which are perfect for those traveling with children.
Norwegian Cruise Line Cuisine and Dining :
Norwegian introduced "freestyle cruising", which gives passengers the option of dining in one of the many interesting different venues whenever they wish; however, reservations are often required. NCL certainly has a lot of variety, so cruisers don't get bored dining in the same place every night. Sometimes, or formal nights or when there is a popular show on board, reservations are hard to come by. Only continental room service breakfast is available. The food is acceptable, but not gourmet.Norwegian Cruise Line Onboard Activities and Entertainment :
Norwegian Cruise Line has entertaining production shows done by an onboard troupe in its show lounges. NCL emphasizes sports, theme cruises, and lots of music and entertainment throughout the day (and night). You will find all the standard cruise activities--dance lessons, art auctions, bingo, parlor games, and all sorts of passenger participation activities.Norwegian Cruise Line Common Areas:
All the public rooms on the Pride of America have a "best of America" motif, with the rooms modeled after famous Americans. The rest of the NCL ships have a contemporary look, with lots of airy spaces.The exterior of the NCL ships have been painted with distinctive artwork.
Norwegian Cruise Line Spa, Gym, and Fitness:
The fitness areas on NCL ships are open 24/7, so the cruise line certainly encourages passengers to be active! Some of the fitness classes are free, but others such as yoga and kick boxing require a fee. The spas are operated by Mandara Spa and have an Asian atmosphere.More on Norwegian Cruise Line:
Contact Information
Norwegian Cruise Line
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, Florida 33126
On the Web: http://www.ncl.com
Norwegian Cruise Line and NCL America are part of the world's third largest cruise line (behind Carnival and Royal Caribbean International.) The parent company is Asian-based Star Cruises, which also owns Orient Cruises.
