Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL Tips & Tricks
NCL is known for freestyle cruising. This means no set schedule for dinner or anything really. You can do what you want, when you want.
This is our favorite cruise line. We have been on Northern Europe, Caribbean, Alaskan, Mediterranean, and Transatlantic cruises with NCL. We think NCL is a great mix between family fun and relaxation. NCL also has a luxury experience onboard as well called the Haven if you are looking for a more upscale cruise.
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Free at Sea:
Open bar up to $15 drinks.
1-4 specialty dinners depending on length of cruise.
150 minutes of Wi-Fi.
$50 shore excursion credit per port for first guest.
Gratuities are NOT included.
Free at Sea Plus:
All the benefits of Free at Sea:
PLUS…
Top-shelf and premium brand spirits, high-end wines by the glass.
Unlimited Starbucks, bottled water, juices, and energy drinks.
Unlimited streaming Wi-Fi.
Gratuities are included.
50% discount on additional specialty dining meals outside the 1-4 you already get.
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There are two types of packages. One that includes most beer, wine, and liquors. Another that includes more premium options. I only recommend getting these if you are going to drink at least 4-5 drinks per day.
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Free at Sea includes 150 mins of free Wi-Fi. You can then pay for normal Wi-Fi or a faster Wi-Fi for streaming. My best advice is to use your free minutes first and then use cell service in ports. If you need more Wi-Fi, use your free minutes and then purchase once onboard. They will have sales that last the first few days of the cruise. If you can make it to the last day of the sale, the package for the rest of the cruise is cheaper.
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I always recommended booking some speciality dining. You can normally start booking dining about 135-120 days before your cruise depending on your room category and status with the cruise line. They only open up about 25% of the reservations before you get onboard. Once you get onboard, you can use a touchscreen near an elevator to book your dining. You can also go to the designated area that they announce on embarkation to speak to someone and book. The touchscreens are much easier and rarely have any lines.
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These can be booked through the cruise line. Typically the pricing is a bit high. The benefit with booking through the cruise line though is a guarantee of getting back to the ship before it leaves. The ship will not leave passengers that are late that booked an excursion through the cruise line. If you book through a third party or go adventure on your own and don’t make it back in time, the ship will leave without you.
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The Haven is an exclusive retreat onboard available only to a certain number of guests. Typically any guest staying in a Haven suite has access to the Haven.
The Haven includes exclusive amenities only for Haven guests. Amenities depend per ship.
Some of the amenities include: private lounge, restaurant, courtyard, sundeck, pool, 24/7 butler, upgraded bedding, upgraded bath products, concierge, and elevators.