ships > NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL is known for its signature Freestyle Cruising. Challenging the conventional model of cruising, this onboard program is designed to meet the changing needs of today’s cruise passengers. It offers NCL passengers a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility and non-intrusive service of the highest standard. Hallmarks of the innovative onboard program include up to 10 restaurants, open seating and extended hours in the main restaurants, resort-casual attire each night, simplified tipping procedures, and a more leisurely disembarkation procedure. Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 44-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

NCL Fleet

Dining

Norwegian offers Freestyle Cruising®, giving you the freedom and flexibility to do what you want, when you want. Sit down to a four-course meal and a fine wine. Or grab a burger hot off the grill. Dress up. Dress down. Sit with your friends or make new ones. You'll find more dining options than days of your cruise, and you're free to enjoy them all on your own schedule.

Complimentary Fare

Every cruise fare includes meals in two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices.

Specialty Dining

Specialty restaurants provide refined choices for a cover charge ($15 to $75 per person). Experience a Brazilian Churrascaria, dine on expertly prepared sushi, or savor traditional French bistro, Italian trattoria or Chicago steakhouse fare — it's all on board.

Specialty dining can be pre-booked online for parties of up to eight guests. If you'd like to pre-book specialty dining for larger parties, please call 800-327-7030 for assistance.  

Unique features

Norwegian announced plans in 2014 to expand Carlo's Bake Shop across its fleet. Featuring treats created by Buddy Valastro, star of TLC's Cake Boss, guests can pre-order Specialty cakes or pick up a sweet treat while on board.

The new Breakaway-class ships brings onboard the flair of Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian in signature dining Ocean Blue and Ocean Blue on the Waterfront. Both dining experiences emphasize seafood.

Kids

Only on Norwegian Cruise Line can kids play with their favorite Nickelodeon(TM) characters. Kids can eat breakfast with Spongebob Squarepants or take part in the Pajama Jam.

Group Sitting Services

Sometimes you just want some adult or grown-up time together. For kids 3–12, Port Play (when ship is in port) and Late Night Fun Zone (nightly) are located at the Kids Center, supervised by youth staff and designed so that you can have some fun. And your kids, too.

Splash Academy

 6 months – 12 years

Program specifically designed to engage active and creative kids ages old. Whether it’s learning to juggle at circus school with Cirque du Jour presented by Hilario Productions, working on arts & crafts projects or getting the high score on Wii™, there’s plenty of fun for everyone throughout the ship.

Cirque Du Jour

Juggling. Spinning. Tumbling. Your kids will learn and perform all kinds of cool tricks in our family circus show presented by Hilario Productions.

Interactive Workshops

Supervised by kid-friendly youth counselors, innovative arts and crafts programs are fun, educational and where your child’s imagination can run wild.

The Kid's Center

Here, kids are the center of attention. With lots of activities, age appropriate Wii™ games and a surround sound cinema, your kids will never want to leave.

Splash Academy Hours

Entourage

13-17 years

Sporting Activities

Basketball. Ultimate Frisbee. Rounders. Triangle Ball. Some of over 20 interactive sports around the ship that we’ve developed with King’s Camps to encourage teamwork, bonding and confidence building.

Themed Events

Between watching scary movies for vampire night to singing your favorite pop songs while playing an air guitar to a nighttime pool party, there’s something exciting happening every night.

Teen Center

Chill in our teen lounge with vending machines, flat-screen televisions, PlayStation® 3, air hockey, pinball and more. Then dance the night away to the beats of our video jukebox.

Splash Academy Sea Day Hours

Morning: 9:00am – 12:00pm*
Afternoon: 2:00pm – 5:00pm*
Evening: 7:00pm – 10:30pm**
*Center closes at 12:00pm and 5:00pm. Children need to be picked up at these times.
**Splash Academy ends at 1030pm nightly. Fifteen minute transition time offered before Late Night Fun Zone charges apply.
Splash Academy Port Day* Hours of Operation
Arrival into Port to 10:30pm
*On Port Days, children ages 3-12 are combined from Arrival to Departure or 6:00pm whichever comes first.
*During Port Day lunch and dinner meal times, Splash Academy will not facilitate drop offs.
*10-12 year old sign out authorization does not apply when the ship is docked.

Wi-Fi

Access available via wireless connectivity or with the use of Ethernet cable (complimentary cables can be obtained from the Internet Café Manager in the Internet Café during posted hours.

Laptop rentals

Limited laptop rentals are subject to availability. Laptop insurance - optional

Access to printing is from café workstations or Laptops.

NCL History

Source: NCL

Norwegian was first established in 1966 when one of Norway’s oldest and most respected shipping companies, Oslo-based Klosters Rederi A/S, acquired the M/S Sunward and repositioned the ship from Europe to the then obscure Port of Miami. With the formation of a company called Norwegian Caribbean Lines, the cruise industry was changed forever.
Norwegian launched an entirely new concept with regularly scheduled cruises to the Caribbean in a single-class atmosphere of informal luxury. No longer simply a means of transportation, the ship became a destination unto itself, offering guests an exciting, affordable alternative to land-based resorts.

The Sunward’s popularity prompted other lines to build new -more-vessels to accommodate the burgeoning market, turning Miami into the world’s number one embarkation port. Norwegian led the way with its introduction of a fleet of sleek, new “white ships”: M/S Starward (1968), M/S Skyward (1969), M/S Southward (1971), and M/S Sunward II (1971) replacing the original of the same name.

In another bold decision, Norwegian in 1979 purchased the former S/S France and rebuilt the grand ocean liner in Bremerhaven, Germany, for Caribbean cruising. The 76,049-ton S/S Norway, then the largest and longest guest vessel afloat, assumed the honored position as flagship of the fleet. The S/S Norway was transferred to Norwegian’s parent company in April 2005.

In 2008, a 10-year berthing agreement was inked with the Port of Miami and Norwegian representing the first long-term agreement between the two since the company began operating from the Port as the first Caribbean cruise line 44 years ago.

The late-1980’s brought new ships, new itineraries, and a new corporate name, as Norwegian Caribbean Lines became Norwegian Cruise Line in 1987 to reflect an expanded route structure. The following year, the 42,000-ton, 1,518-guest M/S Seaward was launched, the first of the new and larger vessels built to replace the now retired “white ships.”
Next was the 41,000-ton, 1,242-guest M/S Dreamward, which debuted in 1992 as the company’s first ship to depart from Ft. Lauderdale.

Norwegian further expanded the fleet in November 1997, with the purchase of the 1,050-guest M/S Royal Majesty (built in 1992) from Kvaerner ASA. The re-named Norwegian Majesty began sailing Boston to Bermuda itineraries that same year.

In addition, Norwegian contracted with the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, to stretch three of its vessels in 1998 and 1999. Sister ships M/S Dreamward and M/S Windward were lengthened by inserting a prefabricated midsection into each vessel.

The 50,760-ton, 1,748-guest ships were re-introduced to the marketplace in 1998, each with 40 percent increased capacity. In 1999, Norwegian lengthened Norwegian Majesty, increasing the ship’s capacity from 1,056 to 1,462 guests, and its tonnage from 32,400 to 40,876 GRT.

In a move to strengthen Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand identity, most ship names were changed to reflect the “Norwegian” prefix. In October 1997, the Seaward became Norwegian Sea. The Windward resumed cruise service in March 1998 as the re-named Norwegian Wind, while the Dreamward became Norwegian Dream two months later. In September 2003, Norwegian transferred the Crown Odyssey from sister brand Orient Lines into the Norwegian fleet and renamed it Norwegian Crown.

Along with the acquisition of Orient Lines, the stretching of Norwegian Dream, Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian also debuted a brand new 2,002-guest vessel, Norwegian Sky, in August 1999. Norwegian Sky was renovated in the spring of 2004 and was renamed Pride of Aloha and re-flagged as a U.S. cruise ship. She debuted as the first
ship in the NCL America fleet on July 4, 2004. In July 2008, Norwegian Sky returned to the Norwegian international fleet and is currently sailing three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami.

In November 2001, Norwegian simultaneously christened both Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star in Miami. In December 2002, the company introduced Norwegian Dawn, the company’s third ship purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising. Star Cruises transferred its flagship SuperStar Leo to Norwegian in May 2004 and she was renamed Norwegian Spirit.

In May 2003, Norwegian announced a new U.S. flag brand - NCL America - under which its U.S. flagged, U.S. crewed ship operates. The brand was officially launched on July 4, 2004 with the christening of Pride of Aloha, the first modern ship to sail the stars and stripes in nearly 50 years. In 2005, Pride of America joined the NCL America fleet followed by Pride of Hawai`i in the spring of 2006.

In April 2007, Norwegian announced the temporary withdrawal of Pride of Hawai’i from the Hawai’i market effective February 2008. The ship has been renamed Norwegian Jade and is deployed to Europe through spring 2012. In February 2008, Norwegian announced that Pride of Aloha would leave the Hawai’i market and return to Miami to sail as Norwegian Sky. The company sees a strong future for the long-term flagship in Hawai'i, Pride of America. In Pride of America, the company has created a commercially successful modern U.S. flag cruise ship home ported in Hawai'i - the first time that has ever been achieved.

Norwegian Jewel, the first in a series of Jewel class ships built by Meyer Werft, entered service in August 2005. Norwegian Pearl, complete with the industry’s first bowling alley, entered service in
November 2006. The 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem, the fourth and final ship in the Jewel-class, entered service on October 1, 2007.

Norwegian revolutioned the cruising industry again with its announcement of the new Breakway-class ships. These new ships are themed around a particular city. The Norwegian Breakaway, the first in the new class, homeports in New York and features the city skyline across its bow. The ship is themed around New York sights and flair. Its sister ship, Norwegian Getaway, launched in 2014 with a Miami theme.

Industry Firsts

• Freestyle Cruising: Norwegian created this innovative cruising experience that provides freedom and flexibility in a cruise vacation. It is designed to meet the changing needs of today’s cruise passengers offering guests a more relaxed, resort-style cruise with complete flexibility and service of the highest standard.
• Shore Options: The company’s “Dive-In” snorkeling program was the first of its kind in the industry. Norwegian was the first cruise line to provide an uninhabited “out island” experience at Great Stirrup Cay, its private island in the Bahamas.
• Comprehensive Pricing: Norwegian was the first cruise line to offer a nationwide air/sea program combining cruise, hotel and transfers from more than 150 U.S. and Canadian cities. The company’s Premium Air Service Desk handles special travel requests.
• Internet Cafe, Wi-Fi Access and Cell Phone Service: An Internet Café – the first ever at sea – was introduced on Norwegian Sky in 2000. Internet Cafés are now available fleet wide. Norwegian became the first line to offer remote wireless Internet access (WiFi) at sea and cell phone service. Norwegian was also the first cruise line to launch a Web site -- www.ncl.com – in 1997.
• First Bowling Alley at Sea: In 2006, Norwegian introduced the first bowling alley at sea with the introduction of Norwegian Pearl.
• First Ice Bar at Sea: In June 2010, Norwegian launched its newest and most innovative ship Norwegian Epic, which features the first true ice bar at sea with a bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures all made from ice.
• First Accommodations for Solo Travelers: A first in design for the cruise industry, the Studio staterooms only on Norwegian Epic make cruising more attractive to solo travelers with unique and thoughtfully designed accommodations without the single supplement cruise price.

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Entertainment

Norwegian entertainment has something for everyone. Whether youu are looking for something intimate like the singers in lounges or you want to laugh till you drop with The Second City® comedy troupe. Then, there's the award-winning and inventive Blue Man Group, who you can only see aboard Norwegian Epic. And, with special events like the White Hot Party and amazing production shows, you'll be laughing, singing and dancing throughout your cruise.

Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy

From Broadway to Norwegian Breakaway, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy has performed over 2,000 shows in more than 200 cities. What began as the amazingly popular Cirque Dreams and Dinner on Norwegian Epic, Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy on Norwegian Breakaway is an exotic new twist under our colorful big top Spiegel Tent.

Rock of Ages

A Norwegian Breakaway exclusive, this five-time Tony Award nominated sensation relives the anthems of the 1980's big-hair bands through the story of a girl and boy who fall in love and despite all odds, make their dreams come true. Come see why The New York Times calls Rock of Ages "Absurdly enjoyable."

The Second City

Chicago's legendary comedy theatre, The Second City, celebrates its 50th Anniversary aboard Norwegian Epic with a hilarious revue of sketches, songs and improvisation. Watch the brightest young comic talent in North America puts its comic spin on current events and life on the cruise ship.

White Hot Party

Don your white attire and get to the pool deck for the most invigorating, black light glowing, electrifying party beneath the stars. Dance with our white-winged angels and be sure to get a souvenir t-shirt.

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The Haven

Hidden away on the ship is an exclusive enclave with our most luxurious, well-appointed and spacious accommodations. Not only will you have access to all the ship has to offer, you’ll enjoy the personal service of a 24-hour butler and concierge throughout your entire stay. On top of that, complete privacy and tranquility are just steps away on a private sundeck reserved exclusively for guests of The Haven. It’s like having your own ship within a ship, all of which makes for a vacation you’ll never forget. Available exclusively on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl, and Norwegian Getaway .

The Elite pre-cruise concierge team will pre-arrange your dining, entertainment and spa requests. Once on board, a concierge will help plan your day whether it's hosting a private party or reserving a private tour ashore. And our professional butlers offer the highest level of personalized service 24 hours a day.

For breakfast and lunch, you can choose to dine in a private restaurant reserved exclusively for guests of The Haven. And for the ultimate in private dining day and night, choose to dine in-suite with white tablecloth service.

To learn amore about the Haven's amenities, visit thehaven.ncl.com

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