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Watch the ocean blur by as you zoom around curves suspended 13 feet over the side of the ship on Norwegian Speedway, the largest race track at sea. Bring the secrets of the past to life in the lost city of Atlantis, where laser tag meets augmented reality. Later, this area was turned into cabins and a two-deck movie theater, later to be used as a casino.
The best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for every type of traveler
When inaugurated in 2005, the ship was the first new U.S. flagged deep water cruise ship in multiple decades. Because of its U.S. registration, the ship has no casino, a mostly U.S. crew and only sails around the United States. Originally, the cruise ship was intended to have some sister ships, but a dispute with the builder caused the other two ships to be canceled, leaving Norwegian Epic alone. One of NCL’s stand-alone ships without a class, Norwegian Epic debuted in 2010 after being built at the STX France Cruise SA, Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard. Despite being in the same class, Norwegian Joy does stand apart in a few ways, from sister ship and predecessor Norwegian Escape.
Norwegian Getaway Sunset Waterfront
That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport. What you'll find on the top decks of Norwegian ships will vary quite a bit depending on the vessel. The line's smaller ships will have at least one or two pools, sunning areas and usually a sports court area — but not all that much else. Pride of America notably operates with a mostly U.S. crew, in keeping with regulations governing cruise itineraries that only include U.S. ports. Norwegian thus appeals both to cruisers who like a giant resort vibe and those who prefer something more modest. The key, depending on your tastes, is getting on the right ship in the fleet.
Epic Class
You won't find big waterparks, go-kart racing tracks or laser tag zones on this ship. The bigger Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss all have an 82-cabin solo complex, while two older ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — have solo areas with 59 cabins. The line's two newest vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian VIva, have 72-cabin solo complexes spread over two decks. Only solos staying in the solo cabins (via keycards) can access the Studio Lounge, meaning that you and your new solo friends will have the place to yourselves. It's a look that carries over to a bevy of high-end eateries, including Nama, a new-for-Norwegian sushi restaurant with a design that is as sophisticated as the sushi it serves. Also striking is the look of a version of Le Bistro, Norwegian's signature French eatery, that can be found on both of these vessels.
Stranded cruise passengers in Africa race to rejoin their ship - CNN
Stranded cruise passengers in Africa race to rejoin their ship.
Posted: Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
CruiseNext Credits are redeemable as payment towards all Norwegian sailings of 3 days or longer so purchase onboard and redeem towards your next cruise(s) of 3 days or longer whenever you are ready. At 78,309 tons, Norwegian Sun is less than half the size of the biggest Norwegian ships, and it holds just 1,878 passengers at double occupancy. (Compare that to more than 4,000 for Norwegian's biggest vessels.) Expect a far more intimate experience than what you'll find on most of the ships mentioned above. The sailings out of Papeete will offer the chance to visit such iconic French Polynesian islands as Bora Bora, Raiatea and Moorea. Ia and Thailand in-depth, with departures ranging from 13 to 18 nights — the sort of cruise that appeals more to older couples than families. Norwegian also offers four solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Pride of America.
You'll find an exclusive, extra-charge, adults-only VIP sunning area on seven Norwegian ships called Vibe Beach Club. The biggest of these areas is on Norwegian Encore, where Vibe Beach Club is an expansive private lounge with a full-service bar, cabanas and two hot tubs designed to hold up to 270 people — far more than on other ships. On more than half of Norwegian's ships, many of the top suites are part of The Haven. Billed as an upscale "ship within a ship" and aimed at luxury travelers, The Haven is located at the very top of vessels and often comes with private lounges, pools, sunning areas and even restaurants. At their core, Norwegian ships are mass-market ships, with entry-level cabins that are affordable to middle-class travelers. However, overlaid across most vessels are high-end suites and services that are at a luxury level, and the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers.
Known for its "freestyle" cruising, the laid-back Norwegian experience is all about choice, offering one of the largest selections of dining and entertainment venues per ship. Plus, with Norwegian's Free At Sea offer, every cruise fare includes a choice of things like free Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks or excursions. Repeat perfect moments on Norwegian Encore — tailor-made for “Again! Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment. Around 17% smaller than Norwegian's biggest vessels, Prima and Viva are the first tow of six sister ships that the line will roll out between now and 2027 that will significantly change the composition of its fleet.
Norwegian Star teen club
With nearly 30 different dining and drinking venues aboard the massive ship, as well as tons of family-friendly entertainment, cruisers certainly won’t be wanting for things to do, no matter where they sail. So now you know which of Norwegian’s cruise ships are bigger than the rest and which are newer and which are older — but what else do you need to know before you book that cruise? Here are the need-to-know details on each ship, as well as a few fun facts. If you’re looking for the biggest ships with the most staterooms, entertainment spaces and dining, then you might not necessarily want to go for one of Norwegian’s brand-new ships. Even ships that were built as recently as 2017, such as Norwegian Joy, have already been refurbished, to keep Norwegian’s cruise ships looking and feeling fresh. While the cruise line is not necessarily historically known for its mega-ships, like Royal Caribbean might be these days, several Norwegian cruise ships are still ranked among the 30 largest in the world.
About Norwegian (NCL) Cruises
Carnival fares are also among the lowest in the Bahamas and Caribbean, and the line sails from multiple U.S. home ports, making its cruises accessible to a vast pool of vacationers. At Carnival's Alchemy Bar, patrons fill out a prescription pad of their favorites, and bartenders "prescribe" a special concoction. On Mardi Gras, molecular drinks smoke and otherwise impress at The Fortune Teller bar, and Carnival Celebration features a menu of throwback drinks to celebrate the cruise line's 50th anniversary. Carnival Cruise Line's larger fleet has several 2,100-passenger ships, though most Carnival ships carry 3,000 to 4,000 passengers. The latest ships — Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee (debuting December 2023) — have a passenger capacity topping 5,200. Those ships are topped by real roller coasters, an industry first.
She was launched in 2001 in a dual christening ceremony with sister ship Norwegian Star. It’s worth noting that many of these ships have received substantial and even multiple refurbishments since their original builds. So, even if you took a cruise on Norwegian Spirit, for example, you’d still be able to take advantage of refurbishments that occurred as recently as 2020. Lastly, the oldest class for NCL is the Sun Class, which debuted in 1999 and includes Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun. Whether it’s the two of you or your family, our mini-suites are accented with the finest touches. From British-style high tea to teeing it up on the greens, experience your island escape.
While not the biggest vessels in the Norwegian fleet, these ships will be notably packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and decktop attractions. They also mark a more upscale turn for the line, with more space per passenger than earlier Norwegian ships and lots of suites. Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation.
Additionally, for the first time, every public area in The Haven offers stunning sea views. Welcome aboard Norwegian Prima, the first in a new class of ships designed to elevate every expectation. Explore the greater wide open with the most outdoor deck space of any new cruise ship. Unwind in our most spacious accommodations and enjoy first-rate service so you won’t wait a second for that second round.
Decadent poolside burgers by Food Network star Guy Fieri are a particular passenger favorite, but you can also find complimentary tacos and burritos, as well as crispy crust pizza. Cabin choices abound on both cruise lines, but Norwegian is particularly innovative in this realm and, in some ways, Carnival is playing catch-up with its rival. Norwegian Cruise Line's 19 ships carry from just over 1,900 passengers (small by megaship standards) to around 4,200 passengers. The line is not trying to win the size war (Royal Caribbean, for instance, has ships that top 6,000 passengers) but has plenty of excitement on board. For example, some of the latest Norwegian ships are topped by multilevel go-kart racetracks, ropes courses and laser tag arenas.
The Breakaway- and Breakaway Plus-class ships have innovative outdoor promenades called The Waterfront lined with seating for many restaurants and bars. The Waterfront is located on Deck 8 of each of the ships, which is one of the main decks for restaurants on them all. Norwegian ships are also loaded with bars, lounges and nightclubs, including always-busy casinos. Put it all together, and you have vessels with a very lively atmosphere — particularly at night. If you had to compare Norwegian ships to something on land, you'd probably say they were like floating versions of the casino resorts you find in Las Vegas.
