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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. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Getaway blends a lot of adult spaces with kid-friendly activities, so passengers are a mix of couples, families -- both nuclear and multigenerational -- and groups of friends. At The Waterfront, an outdoor space that encircles Deck 8, passengers can sip drinks or dine alfresco. While the innovation debuted on twin sister Norwegian Breakaway, it just really works on Getaway, which sails mostly to warm-weather destinations.
Norwegian Viva review: What to expect on Norwegian Cruise Line's 2nd Prima Class ship
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. Sometimes, you could hear the sound of the cars from other decks. Then there was the buffet, the Surfside Cafe & Grill, which was tremendously undersized, always incredibly busy and without enough seating options. While the food was good, the traffic flow was not, and once you had your food in hand, finding a place to eat it was not easy. For breakfast one morning, I balanced my plate on the waitstaff’s cleaning area and ate there. The cabin seemed very spacious because the bed was by the balcony, which left a big open space in the cabin.
MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line ships are also known for their colorful hull art that makes them stand out in ports around the world. The Norwegian Getaway ship was built for socializing, and its deck plans make it easy. Most of the action takes place around 678 Ocean Place, the three-deck open space around which many of Getaway's bars are located. Have dinner in Le Bistro on Deck 6, and then catch an improv comedy show across the way at Headliners, before finishing the night at Sugarcane Mojito Bar on Deck 8 without missing a beat. These two ships are so similar that it’s hard to pick one over the other – unless you’re a serious foodie and want to shell out some extra cash for Onda by Scarpetta. Hands down the best restaurant on Norwegian Encore, Onda is a huge draw and what ultimately tips the scale for many cruisers when trying to decide between Encore and Bliss.
Viking Cruises
The Garden Villas also have private outdoor sun decks and courtyards with hot tubs. Additionally, the Garden Villas on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star include private outdoor dining areas and steam rooms. Smaller only than Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises, the brand has become increasingly known for having some of the biggest, most amenity-filled vessels at sea.
Australia & New Zealand Cruises
We also weren't overly impressed with the online booking experience and the NCL website overall. When we went to get more information on the Freestyle vs. Free at Sea vs. Free at Sea Plus differences, every result link we got when we searched gave us a 404 Not Found error. And, when we went to reach out for help via live chat, it took a long time to connect with an agent - and even when we did, the chat was super-slow and we waited over 10 minutes to get an answer to our one question. But, we give Norwegian somewhat of a downgrade for its safety record. The cruise line has had several incidents in recent years, including a fire on one of its ships in 2019 and a mechanical issue on another ship in 2018.
You'll be seated when you arrive, and you order from a touchpad. Items are priced a la carte and will be made to order, with each delivered when ready, rather than all at once. Although Palomar features vegetable-based sides and appetizers, vegetarians and vegans will not find suitable mains on the menu. Although the meal was great, the service was a bit on the slow side.
Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva: Best for luxury lovers
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Norwegian Cruise Line older, newer ships compared: review - Business Insider
Norwegian Cruise Line older, newer ships compared: review.
Posted: Sun, 18 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Like Cagney's, Palomar offers a mix of seafood and meats like steak and lamb chops, but it's heavier on the seafood end. Choose from oysters, grilled jumbo prawns, grilled octopus and several salads for appetizers. Mains include sea scallops, sea bass, filet mignon, New York strip and a whole grilled lobster, with sides such as potatoes, jasmine rice and carrots. I opted for sole (again), preceded by a golden beet salad with cheese and accompanied by asparagus. This specialty restaurant on Deck 7 is as elegant as they come, featuring a bright atmosphere with light blue accents and high-end decor, including giant floor-to-ceiling crystal chandeliers that are stunning. There's no dress code to dine at Le Bistro, but you might want to embrace the experience by making an effort.
THE 25 BEST Norwegian (NCL) Romantic & Couples Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Norwegian (NCL) Romantic & Couples Cruises (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
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A third set is available only to guests who are staying in The Haven, an exclusive area with a private concierge, butler, restaurant, bar, lounge, pool and other perks. Other nighttime events include club dance parties in both the main theater and Syd Norman's, comedy in the main theater and dedicated comedy venue Improv at Sea, and rotating acts that stay on board for a few sailings. On my voyage, I saw violinist Christopher Watkins, who plays well-known songs on a violin adorned with more than 1,000 Swarovski crystals.
As such, the buffet in usually a large venue to accommodate most passengers for multiple meals each day. The only thing that we did not appreciate is how their employees were being exploited. I noticed fairly quickly that all the servers, attendees cooks, housekeepers were from very poor countries. The only white faces who were part of the crew was the captain, entertainment, and onboarding.
It also leads to some bottlenecking as passengers make their way through. Adding to the chaos is Norwegian's Freestyle dining concept which, while much adored on the line's smaller ships, can seem onerous on Norwegian Getaway, which has a total capacity of 3,963 passengers. And, if you receive service that goes above and beyond, adding to the recommended gratuity is always appreciated. Be aware that tips for bartenders, poolside servers, and professional services provided in the spa or elsewhere are not included in the daily suggested gratuity and may be charged automatically at the time of service.
They offer such accommodations as additional square footage, wider doorways, and shower stools and toilet seat risers in the bathrooms. Rooms are serviced only once per day, but your room steward is available by phone if you need extras like fresh towels or more hangers. They will deliver a paper copy of the daily schedule to your room each evening and leave it in the mailbox outside your door. Standard bathrooms are shower-only with doors rather than curtains. They also include a toilet, a sink, storage space for toiletry items, wall-mounted hand soap by the sink and body wash and conditioning shampoo in the shower.
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