Top 10 Reasons To Cruise With Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
The line is famed for their laid-back approach to cruising that saw them revolutionise the whole onboard experience. No longer is there the need for getting dressed up in formal wear or been told when to do things.
Cruising with NCL is all about what they call the ‘freestyle’ approach that allows cruisers to dine when they want, go to shows when they want and pick and choose the holiday that they want.
Of course, with up to 4,500 other guests all trying to do the same, it is an idea that doesn’t always work perfectly in practise but on all our sailings with them, we have loved the onboard atmosphere and service offered by NCL.
If you are looking to book a holiday with Norwegian Cruise Line or if you are booked with them for the first time and wanting to know what to expect, this is the list for you as we take a look at the top 10 reasons to book a cruise with NCL.
Our Top Top 10 Reasons To Cruise With Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Production Shows
Long time readers of the CruiseHols website or viewers of our YouTube channel will likely know that the entertainment offered by a cruise line is a hugely important part of us choosing to sail with them.
One of the most impressive production shows we have enjoyed was Jersey Boys onboard the Norwegian Bliss but that is just one of a number of ships to host full production shows of West End/Broadway musicals.
For fans of the theatre such as us, it is great to see a line go to the time, effort and expense of bringing high quality shows into their theatre as when we take a land holiday, we more often than have a night in the local theatre.
Relaxed Atmosphere
On NCL, there is no need to dress up, no need to dine with strangers and no need to dine at the same time, in the same venue every night- unless you want to of course.
That, when couples with the fun approach the line have to entertainment, gives an onboard experience that can only be described as relaxed.
There ships offer a huge array of facilities, and the entertainment staff work around the clock to give cruisers plenty to do to keep occupied, especially on sea day heavy itineraries, but despite all of that, you never feel rushed, and you can just cruise at your own pace.
Do It Your Way
As mentioned in our introduction, Norwegian were one of the first cruise lines to modernise their approach to the onboard experience and to put their customers first and whilst others have caught up with them now, they remain at the top of relaxed cruising.
The size and popularity of their ships often mean that you do need to plan ahead to make sure you get to do everything you want, and it is best to book into restaurants and for some activities.
That may take away from their ‘freestyle’ cruising mantra, but you can still choose to do what you want when you want and for us that is just what we want whilst on holiday.
Great Ships
When we first cruise with the NCL, we knew that it was Alaska that was the region we wanted to cruise in and with so many lines operating such similar routes in that area, it was NCL’s Bliss that really stood out for us.
For us it was the chance to see Jersey Boys, the chance to ride a Go-Kart at sea and to be honest, the incredible hull artwork that really grabbed our attention and pulled us towards booking with the line.
What we like and what you like is probably completely different but that is one of the great aspects of Norwegian as they have a wide range of ships and each class have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Some of their ships are true mass-market behemoths that are designed to keep as many people entertained as possible, some are smaller and older with more of a focus on taking you to great locations and their new Prima class of ships merging the 2 together.
Never A Dull Moment
The first time that we sailed with NCL, we were surprised by just how much entertainment there was to be enjoyed once onboard.
Each bar had musicians playing at different times throughout the day and with a style that complimented it.
Some restaurants, such as the Bar-b-Que restaurant even had a country music band playing in it to add to the authenticity.
There was an entertainment staff that offered fun and games around the clock throughout the cruises and then there was the more ‘organised’ entertainment including the production shows, in house shows, comedians, singers and dancer- plus lots more.
Unique Facilities
NCL have never been shy about pushing the boundaries of what can be enjoyed on a cruise ship and that has led to them either starting new trends or having unique facilities.
One thing that instantly stands out when you look at their ships in the top deck Go-Kart track that wraps around the funnel of newer ships.
Other stand outs that you will struggle to find on other lines include an ice bar, West End/Broadway shows and an Irish themed pub open 24 hours a day serving food and drink!
Hawaii Only Cruises
Hawaii is a dream destination for many holidaymakers from around the world and it is a hugely popular destination for those based on the US mainland but one of the biggest issues for those wanting to visit on a cruise ship, is the time it takes to get there.
It takes about 3 days from California, and of course 3 days back plus for legal reason the ship will have to stop in a foreign country such as Mexico.
That is a lot of time taken up on your holiday just getting to and from the place you really want to be, but NCL are the only mainstream cruise line to offer cruises starting and ending in archipelago.
If you want to see as much of Hawaii as possible, Norwegians Pride of America offers year-round cruising starting from the capital city of Honolulu.
Ship Within A Ship Concept
If you are looking for some extra luxury but still want all the fun of a mainstream line when compared to a luxury cruise line, the lines Haven has you covered.
Billed as a ‘ship within a ship’, the Haven offers its own dining room, villas, courtyard swimming pool and sunbathing areas along with several other perks and all of it is kept totally separate from the rest of the ship.
That allows those with the budget to cruise in it the chance to have a quiet and relaxing luxurious cruise experience but to have the chance to take in a show or bustling bar that is found the rest of the ship.
Interesting Itineraries
Whilst it is fair to say that the line certainly has a focus on the USA, Caribbean and the Western Mediterranean, they do offer some great itineraries to destinations that often get overlooked.
Amongst those to have grabbed our attention are cruises around the coast of South Africa out of Cape Town, cruises around Cape Horn in South America and there Alaska to Asia transpacific cruises.
Hull Art
Whilst this won’t directly impact on your holiday, although it does make all those photos you tend to take of your ship when in port look so much better, we simply love the unique hull art found on the majority of NCL ships.
The line has commissioned a host of artists to provide their ships with not only a work of art but a unique identifier for the brand.
