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In short, if you’re wanting a more exclusive experience while still getting the advantage of a larger ship, then NCL has the solution. Norwegian Cruise Line is no slouch, but the fleet totals 19 ships — about two-thirds as many as Royal Caribbean. That said, NCL also has new ships scheduled annually to increase its fleet size in the years ahead. The truth is there are a lot of things that are similar between Royal Caribbean and NCL. For the most part, taking a cruise on either line will have a similar feel. Each line has things unique to its service that can endear them to passengers and potentially be what you’re looking for.
Norwegian Cruise Line Caribbean Departure Ports
It also has some of the newest ships among North American carriers, which means those looking for a variety of activities and a casual setup will want to consider Norwegian. Unlike other cruise lines, Norwegian has done away with assigned meal times and tables for guests. Instead, you can choose to have your fill at the buffet or sit down in a dining room whenever you’d like. The Norwegian Encore, built in 2019, is one of the cruise line’s newer ships. It can hold a maximum of 3,998 guests, and although there are some ships that can hold more guests, none are as large. Just like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian has a variety of offerings for its passengers.
10 of 21,678 Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Reviews
Norwegian Cruise Line Adds New Caribbean Sailings From Two US Ports - Cruise Hive
Norwegian Cruise Line Adds New Caribbean Sailings From Two US Ports.
Posted: Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Like other cruise lines, you can expect to find a plethora of pools, fitness clubs, spas, bars, dance clubs, shops and casinos aboard Norwegian ships. Aboard the Norwegian Encore, for example, you’ll find seven different room types, including several different types of suites, ocean view and interior rooms and studio rooms for solo travelers. Swaying palm trees, warm sandy beaches and tropical delights are just a few of the reasons to choose a Caribbean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line.You can sail to the Eastern Caribbean and enjoy sun, sand, and water sports in St. Maarten and St. Thomas. You can go cave tubing in the caves of Belize City in the Western Caribbean. Or, you can immerse yourself in the exotic luxury that is the Southern Caribbean, kicking back and relaxing in St. Lucia, Barbados, or Dominica. Pick one of the Caribbean regions (Eastern, Western, Southern) for a more in-depth look at a Caribbean cruise with Norwegian.
Bayside Shopping Mall in Miami
Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. In Miami, you’ll enjoy a small taste of the tropical weather many of you will experience during your cruise, and you’ll see why Miami is one of the most popular places to live in America. Enjoy an Eastern Caribbean Cruise by traveling to awe-inspiring Islands. Cruise to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, the US and British Virgin Islands and everything in between, you're sure to experience it all. Immerse yourself in rich cultures – Dutch and French – while you cruise to St. Maarten. Eco-tourists delight in Samaná, where North Atlantic humpback whales migrate every winter to birth their young.
Vacation Deals
Get the latest cruise deals and vacation specials sent straight to your inbox. Norwegian Cruise Line reveals new Caribbean sailings for Norwegian Getaway out of New Orleans and Norwegian Epic from Port Canaveral.
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean comparison - The Points Guy
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean comparison.
Posted: Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
This should give you a better idea of what you can expect on each cruise line and if it’s the right fit for you. Two ships in this Epic class were ordered by NCL in November 2006, with an option for a third vessel that was not exercised. If you like to have things to do while cruising — whether with family or friends — Royal Caribbean is a cruise line to consider.
Land Vacations
The ship has 15 dining venues, 19 bars, the adult-only Posh Beach Club area, and the Aqua Park with the Epic Plunge thrill ride. Prior to her deployment to Port Canaveral, the ship will sail Italy and Greece cruises from Rome in summer 2024. Norwegian Cruise Line in February 2024 will open for sale two new series of Caribbean cruises aboard the 4,000-guest Norwegian Getaway, sailing from New Orleans, and the 4,100-guest Norwegian Epic, operating from Port Canaveral, Florida. Both cruise lines charge a small service fee for room service outside continental breakfast and automatically add gratuity. Royal Caribbean International has 26 ships that are divided into six classes.
One big difference you’ll find with Norwegian and Royal Caribbean is NCL’s “Free at Sea” offer. Royal Caribbean does offer exclusive areas for high-end suite passengers, but The Haven is a step above. In this case, average passengers on Norwegian can likely expect to spend more compared to Royal Caribbean. Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed new Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises for Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic from New Orleans and Port Canaveral, FL. No comparison of Norwegian Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean is complete without talking about who should take these cruises. Let’s compare two of the most popular cruise line options, Norwegian Cruise Line versus Royal Caribbean, to see how they stack up against one another.
Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean: Dining Options

The upscale turn included loading Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva with the largest variety of suites and high-end cabins (13 categories in all) of any ships in the NCL fleet, including the largest three-bedroom suites of any new cruise vessel. If it's swanky digs you're after (and you have the money to spend), you'll find plenty of options on these ships. You could try sailing on smaller, more luxury-focused ships and cruise lines.
Anecdotally, we’ve found status to be flaunted much more on Royal Caribbean than on Norwegian. Put simply, Free at Sea is Norwegian’s regular sale where passengers get a number of perks to have included on their trip. The options include everything from a drink package on the ship to free specialty dining to free wi-fi and even free airfare. To be sure there are some terms and conditions, but overall the sale can give you up to five or six different items included with your cruise. As of August 2023[update], Norwegian Cruise Line operates 19 cruise ships, with four on order. All its ships are flagged to the Bahamas, except for the Pride of America, which operates cruises within the United States and is flagged and registered in the US, as well as being owned by a US-registered subsidiary, NCL America.
They offer several itineraries, including the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Mexico and Alaska. The smallest ships from Norwegian are Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Spirit. Norwegian Spirit has a guest capacity of 2,018 and crew capacity of 912. Norwegian Spirit was launched in 1998, which also makes it the oldest Norwegian cruise ship. 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.
With 7- and 11-day sailings from this convenient departure port, you can explore the best of The Caribbean on the first of a new class of ships designed to elevate every expectation. Experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment you will never forget while witnessing the icy-blue glaciers and unique wildlife of Alaska. Walk through Greece's enchanting, sun-bleached streets, or find your own paradise in a secret beach in The Caribbean. Our award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose while cruising to the most beautiful destinations around the world.

No matter where your dream vacation takes you, feel free to cruise your way. When the new cruises aboard Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Getaway open for sale in February, guests can book the line’s Free at Sea value-added fares, which cover beverages, WiFi access, and credits toward specialty dining venues and shore excursions. The promotion also includes free air for the second guest in a cabin, on certain voyages. Notably, the public areas that include these restaurants feel more spacious than many of the other ships in the Norwegian fleet. Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva were built with a higher ratio of space to passengers than earlier Norwegian vessels, which itself is an upscale touch. The ships also have a higher crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, leading to better service.
Responding to strong demand for warm-weather vacations at sea, the cruise line will reposition Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic following their 2024 summer season deployments in Europe. Grandeur of the Seas was the first of the Royal fleet as it was constructed in 1996, making it the oldest Royal Caribbean ship. Norwegian Sun also is the ship that Norwegian deploys on some of its longest and most destination-focused itineraries, the type that particularly appeals to retirees looking to see more of the world. As a result, it draws far fewer families than most of the vessels mentioned above and caters more to an older crowd of mostly couples. In addition, Norwegian Encore has a large laser tag area on its top deck (one that I can tell you from personal experience is a blast) and a massive indoor gaming and virtual reality zone called the Galaxy Pavilion. There’s no doubt that right now Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer a lot of similarities and generally appeal to the same sets of passengers.
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