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There's also an art gallery, photo studio, meeting rooms and a dual card room and library, where passengers can borrow books and board games. Reservations are recommended at all extra-fee restaurants, and if you don't make them before you board, you could be out of luck. I waited until the evening of the first day of my sailing, and I ended up with some horrendously late dining times. If you're wondering whether you'd enjoy a sailing on Norwegian Encore or one of Norwegian's other similar ships, keep reading.
I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
It’s near the back of the ship on deck 17, and it’s small compared to other ships, where the pool area takes up the majority of a deck. If they drop, you can sometimes take advantage of a better deal by modifying the booking. Booking can be a bit of a game since cruise lines always seem to have sales and offers they say are for a limited time.
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I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like. - Royal Caribbean Blog
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The Prima looks a bit different than other NCL ships I had been on in that it is more understated elegance than in-your-face opulence. There were many decorative touches I wouldn’t mind having in my house. The Norwegian Prima was built in 2022 and has a capacity of 3,099 guests at double occupancy and 1,506 crew members. I always take a photo of my bag before I leave it behind so I know what it looks like and how to describe it in case it gets lost.
Norwegian Encore bars
Did you know that a cruise line has a standby program where you can cruise for just $49 per day per person? Holland America Line, one of nine cruise lines owned by Carnival ... Norwegian Viva launched in the summer of 2023, making it the newest ship for NCL. It has special features like a three-tier race track, the fastest slides at sea, a food hall with 11 complimentary eateries and a sustainable cocktail bar. If you’re scrolling through endless Norwegian Cruise Line reviews, let this complete guide to the cruise company give you the larger overview of what sets this brand apart from the rest. There are some interesting innovations from Norwegian that other cruise lines have since adopted, but they started here.
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I liked the smaller tours and saved some money because they were a bit cheaper than the ship’s tours. Soon I was on my way for a daylong tour on a large and full bus. I returned to the ship in plenty of time to shower and get ready for dinner. Taking up part of decks 18, 19 and 20 was the Prima Speedway, a racetrack where, for $15, you can zoom around and race others.
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Going on Solo Cruise Aboard Ship With Studio Cabins: Norwegian Review.
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There is an aqua park for kids, a waterslide and a few hot tubs and smaller pools and lounging areas on other decks, but no one large gathering place for water and sun fun. Exactly 21 days before sailing, you can check in and will likely receive an email telling you to do so. The ship's wide selection of both complimentary and for-fee cuisine is a boon to any group with picky eaters.
In addition to the lower quality of service, the food in their main dining room has become so bad that it's reminiscent of a High School Cafeteria. There are many different cruise lines to choose from, and each one offers a different type of experience. Some are geared towards families, while others are more focused on luxury or adventure.
If you have a dining package, you can select four items per person. Alcohol options include sake by the bottle or glass and a small selection of cider and beer. The Food Republic cocktail menu has only five drinks, but it was difficult to choose among them. We learned quickly that most people on the ship had been sailing on a 14-night Canary Islands itinerary that set sail from Lisbon. Norwegian advertised and sold an itinerary for just the final two nights of this cruise - effectively allowing people to join for nights 13 and 14. Regardless, it’s tough not to compare Norwegian Sun to newer cruise ships that have more amenities and onboard offerings.
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The latter prevented most people from riding, which was a shame. The crew member stationed at the ride's entrance asked men to pull down their waistbands so he could look for the plastic. Riders whose suits had it were banned, even if it was on the inside and covered by external material.
My slight disappointment came in the ports where I had nothing planned. The shore excursion desk didn’t have much information about the ports themselves or what was available. Having a spa treatment like a massage does not allow you access to the thermal suite. I had a nice treatment that included a body brush and massage. Because this cruise was so port-intensive, I didn’t take part in any of the entertainment because all I wanted to do after a day of touring was eat dinner and go to sleep.
If it's swanky digs you're after (and you have the money to spend), you'll find plenty of options on these ships. Norwegian had several available itineraries in our apples-to-apples comparison, looking for a trip in March within the Caribbean and booking about a year in advance. Interestingly, a 12-day cruise out of Punta Cana and visiting Barbados, Curacao and Aruba was less expensive, with a starting fare of $1,079 per person. At the time of our review, NCL had a promotion in place offering free airfare for the second guest on the booking, which could be a pretty significant savings depending on your departure port.
Although the American Diner's fare was tasty, you can order similar items (minus the milkshake) for no fee at The Local. Your dining package will cover a meal at American Diner, but milkshakes still cost extra. While I was impressed with Norwegian Encore's included restaurants, I found the extra-fee venues to be less consistent. For example, I absolutely loved street food restaurant Food Republic but was underwhelmed by the Los Lobos Mexican eatery — and I adore Mexican food. The bathroom offered a single sink with several narrow shelves, a toilet and a plexiglass shower with a removable showerhead.
It is also known for its beautiful hull art, pioneering Freestyle Dining and adding buzzworthy amenities like ice bars and race tracks to its ships. NCL cruises are fun for all types of travelers, and its loyalty program can provide added perks along the way. The ship is large, so it's likely not the best choice if you enjoy smaller (or quieter) vessels.
For one price, you get your travel, accommodation, meals, and entertainment covered. I didn’t miss the lack of entertainment options because I was spending most of my time either in port, eating or sleeping. The other times were based on flight time and whether people had a ship-sponsored tour of the city. In all ports, the disembarkation process was smooth and simple.
On NCL’s site, there’s often a countdown clock showing how long a particular offer will last. The ship operates on a cashless system where passengers use their room key cards to charge purchases to their onboard accounts. The ship's seven-night Eastern Caribbean offerings round-trip from Miami will set you back $96 per person, per night, in the beginning of 2024. Panama Canal repositioning sailings begin at $43 per person, per night, for an inside cabin on a 21-night voyage from Seattle to Miami in the fall of 2023.
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