Is FreeStyle cruising enough, or is there more to consider with Norwegian Cruise Line?
Today, we’re continuing our series designed to help you choose a cruise line. Over the past few weeks, we shared why you might cruise with Carnival or Royal Caribbean, and now it’s time to focus on Norwegian Cruise Line! With 6 classes of ships, and three ships in a class of their own, NCL has a pretty large (and growing!) fleet with lots of options for a variety of cruise styles.
Here’s what our community had to say about why they choose Norwegian:
Freestyle Cruising
The number one reason our audience shared was Freestyle Cruising, You’ve probably heard of it. Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising tosses out the traditional cruise rules in favor of flexibility. That means there is no need to show up for dinner at a set time, no required formal dress code, and no set schedules. Our community said they can “go at their own speed”, wear what they want, and dine when they want. Pretty cool!
Come for the Freestyle, stay for the food!
Next up, foodies love NCL for their wide range of dining choices and Specialty Restaurants. From Steakhouses & French food to Brazilian, Italian, Mexican and Japanese cuisine, Norwegian ships offer dining options GALORE and the food quality really stands out. For example, Norwegian escape has 25 dining options alone. It’s all about choice with NCL, and that goes for bars too.
Modern innovation
Another reason Norwegian shines is their focus on modern, beautiful ships. While they do have quite a few older ships with lots of charm in the fleet, the Breakaway, Breakaway Plus and new Prima Class ships are innovative and contemporary and are some of the newest on the cruise industry scene.
For that reason, NCL cruisers love that, particularly on the newer Prima Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships, there’s LOTS to do. One minute, you might be racing your cruise companions on the GoKart track, and the next you’re signed up for augmented reality laser tag. Throw in a few waterslides, then chill at the spa. See what I mean?. Oh, and on some ships, there’s a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade called the waterfront, designed to connect you with the sea.
So, yah, there’s lots to do (or not) on a Norwegian ship.
Solos welcome
If you’re traveling solo, Norwegian Getaway, Breakaway, Epic, Escape, Encore, Bliss and Pride of America feature have Studios designed and priced for solo travelers. Solo travelers also have exclusive access to the Studio Lounge – an area that’s unique to Norwegian Cruise Line. Our community digs this focus, and while they say they DON’T always book studio rooms, they feel right at home on NCL as a solo cruiser.
Free At Sea program
Now, it’s time for another BIG reason cruisers love NCL. Their “free at sea” concept Offers somewhat “all inclusive” options, and within that, things like drinks are included. “Free at sea” varies from month to month and year to year, but you can basically expect included things like – an Unlimited Open Bar, some Free Specialty Dining, some Free Shore Excursions, Free WiFi, airfare perks and Free 3rd & 4th Guests.
Make no mistake, we realize nothing in life is free, so your total cruise fare with Free at Sea will be more than a stripped down base fare, but some cruisers like knowing there’s lots included in their upfront investment. And, there’s something to be said for minimizing or eliminating that depressing bill at the end of your cruise.
Ship within a ship & luxe options
Looking for a little luxury? Norwegian has one of the few luxury, “ship within a ship” enclaves in the industry. That’s right. Perched at the top of the ship, the Haven is an exclusive, luxurious area where you’ll find a private restaurant, your 24-hour butler, a concierge, and personal service throughout your stay. Haven fans swear by this experience, and say it’s worth every penny.
Entertainment
We’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the entertainment on Norwegian Cruise Line. At the time of recording you’ll find shows like Six, Jersey Boys, Footloose and Choir of man onboard select ships. They also have live music, comedy, Broadway style entertainment and production shows, variety shows & deck parties. It’s pretty much impossible to get bored on a Norwegian Ship, and our subbies say Broadway shows are a cut above others in the cruise industry.
Loyalty perks
Lastly, NCL fans rave about the line’s loyalty program. Decent Perks start as low as the Silver level where just 20 points gets you discounts on shore excursions, spa treatments and photos. Higher levels receive free specialty dining, free wine tasting, and lots lots more. What’s important is that Norwegian cruisers feel rewarded for their loyalty, and say it keeps them coming back for more.
So, why do YOU cruise with Norwegian?
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