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Norwegian
Cruise Line
freestyle, which is a blessing or a trap depending on you
Norwegian is the line that took the dinner bell away. No assigned table, no fixed time, no second seating at half past eight when your youngest has already fallen asleep in the chair. They call it Freestyle Cruising and for families it is either the whole reason you book them or the thing that quietly stresses you out. It depends entirely on what kind of planner you are.
Norwegian at a glance
Eat when you like
No assigned table and no fixed sitting. Freestyle Cruising is the whole idea, and it is either the reason you book Norwegian or the thing that quietly stresses you out.
Ask which ship
The newest ships have go-karts and huge open-air complexes. The oldest are small and tired. The price gap is often narrow, so the ship matters more than the fare.
Read the fare type
Two sailings ten dollars apart can be hundreds apart once you land. Gratuity on the drinks package is charged per adult and both adults usually have to take it.
Who Norwegian actually suits
Families who do not want to be told when to eat. If your days run on whoever wakes up first and whoever crashes first, this is the line built for that. You eat at six or you eat at nine. Nobody is holding a table.
It also suits people travelling in odd numbers. Norwegian did something almost nobody else did and built proper single cabins, the studios, with their own shared lounge. If you are a solo parent, or you have a teenager who genuinely will not share, or grandma is coming and wants her own door, this is worth knowing about.
And it suits people who like a ship that feels a bit loud and a bit fun. Norwegian is not quiet. The newer ships have go-karts on the top deck and a laser tag course and a waterslide that hangs off the side of the hull. That is either your family or it is not.
The ships are not one fleet, they are three
This is the part people miss and then get disappointed by. Norwegian has been building ships for a long time and the difference between the oldest and the newest is enormous. It is not a small gap.
The newest ships are the ones with the go-karts, the big open-air complexes, the huge kids areas. The mid-age ships are solid and comfortable and have most of what you want without the headline attractions. The oldest ships are smaller and cheaper and honestly a bit tired in places, and they still sell well because the price is good.
None of those are bad choices. But if you book the cheapest Norwegian sailing you can find and you were picturing the go-karts, you are going to be upset on day one. Ask which ship. Always ask which ship.
What happens with the kids
The kids club is called Splash Academy and it is genuinely good. Age-banded, proper staff, a real programme rather than a room with a television. Children we book rarely have to be talked into going, which is the only review that matters.
The teen space is separate and Norwegian is better at teens than a lot of lines are. Teenagers want somewhere that is theirs and does not feel like daycare with a different sign on the door. They get that here.
Nursery care for the very small ones exists on most ships but it is limited, it books out, and it is not free. If you are sailing with a baby or toddler, sort that the day you board. Not the day you need it.
The cabins, and the thing about the Haven
Standard Norwegian cabins are on the tighter side. Not unbearable, but tighter than some of the competition, and the bathrooms in particular are small. For a family of five we have booked it both ways, standard cabins and the step up, and both have been the right call at different times.
Then there is the Haven. The Haven is a ship inside the ship. Private pool, private restaurant, private sun deck, a key that opens a door most people on board never walk through. It is expensive and it is not a small step up in price, it is a different holiday.
I will tell you honestly when the Haven is worth it. It is worth it on a long sailing, on a big ship, in a busy season, when the thing you actually need is somewhere to go that is not full of people. It is not worth it on a four night sailing where you are off the ship most days. Do not let anyone sell you the Haven as an upgrade. It is a decision.
Food, and what the drinks package really means
The included dining is fine. Main dining rooms, a buffet, a couple of casual spots, and you will eat well enough without spending anything extra. The speciality restaurants are where the good food is and they cost extra, and Norwegian sells dining packages that make that cheaper if you know you will use them.
The drinks package is where families get caught. Norwegian runs promotions where a beverage package looks like it is free or nearly free, and then there is gratuity charged on it, and it is charged per adult, and both adults in a cabin usually have to take it. That is not hidden exactly, but it is not on the front of the advert either.
Work out what you actually drink. Two coffees and a glass of wine at dinner is not a package. Sitting by the pool all afternoon might be. There is no shame in doing the maths.
Work out what you actually drink. Two coffees and a glass of wine at dinner is not a package. There is no shame in doing the maths.
What I would watch out for
The upselling is constant. On board you will be offered upgrades, packages, tastings and photos more than you would like. It is not aggressive but it is always there, and with children in tow it wears on you by day four.
Freestyle dining is wonderful right up until the ship is full and you are standing in a queue at seven with three hungry kids. Reserve. Norwegian lets you book main dining slots and most people do not bother. Bother.
And check what is included in the fare you are being quoted, because Norwegian sells a lot of different fare types with different things bundled in. Two prices that look ten dollars apart can be four hundred dollars apart once you land.
Who I would not book on Norwegian
If you want a quiet, formal, traditional cruise where dinner is an event and the ship feels calm, this is not it. Look at Holland America or Cunard instead.
If your children are very small and you need reliable, generous, included childcare, look at Disney or Royal Caribbean first.
And if the whole point of your trip is the destination rather than the ship, Norwegian is fine but you are paying for hardware you will not use. There are better value ways to see a coastline.
If you want, tell me who is coming, what ages, and what you want the week to feel like, and I will tell you which Norwegian ship fits and which one to walk away from. That part is free and it saves people a lot of money.
Everything here is subject to change. Cruise lines rewrite their inclusions, kids club ages and fare structures constantly, and what is true this season may not be true next. Before you book anything, talk to me and I will confirm the current details for your specific ship and sailing date.
Questions people actually ask
Is Norwegian good for families?
Yes, particularly for families with school-age children and teenagers who want a ship with a lot to do. The kids programming is strong and the flexible dining suits families who do not run to a schedule. Families with babies and toddlers should check nursery availability early because it is limited.
What is the Haven on Norwegian?
The Haven is a private suite area with its own pool, restaurant, sun deck and concierge, accessible only to guests booked in Haven accommodation. It is a significant price step, not a minor upgrade, and it makes the most sense on long sailings, large ships and busy sailing seasons.
Do I have to book dinner in advance on Norwegian?
You do not have to, because Freestyle dining means no assigned tables or times. In practice, on a full ship, reserving your main dining slots avoids queueing at peak times, which matters a lot when you are travelling with children.
Is the Norwegian drinks package worth it?
It depends entirely on how much you drink. Gratuity is charged on the package, it is usually charged per adult, and both adults in a cabin generally have to take it. Work out your actual consumption before assuming a promotional package saves you money.
Which Norwegian ship should I choose?
The fleet varies enormously in age and facilities. The newest ships carry the headline attractions like go-karts and large open-air complexes. Older ships are cheaper and smaller with far less on board. Always confirm the specific ship before booking, not just the price.
More in Ocean Cruising
- Royal CaribbeanThe big-ship benchmark.
- CelebrityGrown-up ships that still take kids.
- DisneyThe one that costs more and earns it.
- Virgin VoyagesAdults only. Worth knowing why.
- OceaniaFood first, everything else second.
- MSCEuropean feel, sharp pricing.
- PrincessThe comfortable middle.
- Holland AmericaCalmer, older, genuinely lovely.
- CunardAn ocean liner, not a cruise ship.
- Viking OceanNo children, and that is the point.
- SilverseaAll-inclusive, properly.
- Regent Seven SeasEverything really is included.
- AzamaraLonger in port, smaller ships.
- SeabournSmall, quiet, very good.
- Explora JourneysThe new one people keep asking about.
Keep reading
Written and kept current by Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with Adventures We Seek. If something here is out of date, tell me and I will fix it.
Tell me who is coming and how long you have.
That is usually enough to know whether this is a ship, a train, or a car with the windows down. Working with an advisor costs no more than booking direct.
