Norwegian Cruise Line Profile

Over 30 years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line introduced the very first Caribbean Cruise. Today, they are a global cruise company and industry innovator that operates a fleet of ships sailing to more than 140 ports around the world. NCL's ships were designed to provide guests with the utmost in comfort, safety and personal enjoyment. All of them are new or recently refurbished and boast a wide range of dining choices, award-winning Broadway shows and an international staff.

In May 2000, NCL launched a new cruise era when it announced its successful Freestyle Cruising concept, which offers NCL passengers a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility and non-intrusive service of the highest standard.

Freestyle Cruising

With Freestyle Cruising, you'll discover something you won't find on other cruise lines - freedom. Freestyle Cruising offers diverse and exciting restaurants, a more relaxed dress code and more things to see and do. And that's just the beginning. They've designed the entire cruise experience around giving you the option to choose. It's proven to be very popular with their guests, and it's only available with NCL. Now is the time to come see how different a cruise can be.

• Dining: The choice is yours. With Freestyle Cruising, you travel a world of dining options all in one week. From elegant French bistros and Italian trattorias to sushi and tapas bars, and more, there's a different dining option for almost every night of your cruise. With up to 10 different restaurants, each featuring a diverse an ever-changing menu, you'll always find exactly what you're in the mood for. And there are no fixed seatings. Imagine restaurants open from 5:30 pm to midnight so that you can choose from an early dinner before the show or a later romantic dinner for the two of you. And of course there's always the option of 24-hour room service. You're free to dine where, when and with whom you choose. Just as it should be on your vacation.
• Attire: Wear what you want. Dress according to your mood. It is your vacation. "Resort casual" attire is as dressy as you'll ever have to get for dinner. But if it's elegance you're dreaming of, they invite you to indulge. Many of NCL's restaurants offer formal options. If you prefer more casual dress, that's fine, too. How you dress is up to you.
• Service: You're about to be pampered. By adding additional crewmembers to every ship in their fleet we're able to offer exceptional service. With almost one crewmember per stateroom, you can be assured you'll be very well taken care of when you cruise with NCL.
• Activities: Do everything, or nothing at all. For those who prefer to be active, a new LifeStyle Program features adventurous Shore Excursions, art auctions, health and wellness programs, cooking demonstrations - all kinds of activities aimed at challenging your mid as well as your body. Or you can simply relax and enjoy not having a schedule to follow.
• Gratuities: For your convenience, NCL now automatically applies a service charge to your shipboard account: $10 per guest per day for guest age 13 and above, $5 per day for children age 3-12 and no charge for children under the age of three. All service personnel on board receive gratuities from this service charge, so there's no need to think about additional tipping.
• Disembarkation: Enjoy every day of your vacation. Because they've streamlined the whole process of disembarkation, you can now relax, have breakfast and enjoy more of your final morning on board without having to rush.

Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line is famous for their top-quality entertainment. The line was one of the first to offer big-name entertainers and full Broadway productions, and continues its tradition of entertainment excellence with exclusive agreements with Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The line has teamed with the top theatrical producers in the world and Jean Ann Ryan Productions to produce a series of award-winning musical productions for its fleet.

In addition to top-notch productions, NCL offers a range of evening entertainment that includes cabaret singers, stand-up comics and specialty acts such as jugglers, ventriloquists, magicians and comedy hypnotists.

Casinos at Sea

Looking for Action and Excitement? You will find everything you're looking for in NCL's Casinos at Sea. With all they have to offer, you'll never want to leave. Whether you're a veteran player, or just getting started, you'll feel right at home in their sizzling casino, most featuring Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Let It Ride, Caribbean Stud Poker, 3-Card Poker, Baccarat, Video Poker, 24-Hour Slots, and the highest table limits at Sea.

Mandara Spa

NCL is proud to announce its fleetwide agreement with Mandara Spa, a leading operator of exotic resort spas in the world. The name "Mandara" comes from an ancient Sanskrit legend about the gods' quest to find the elixir of immortality and eternal youth. Mandara spa, originating in Bali, has embraced the legend. With over 45 land and sea-based spas worldwide and on Norwegian Cruise Line, they have developed unique and exotic spa treatments to reflect the beauty, spirit and traditions of Bali. They cannot promise immortality but when you experience one of their unique treatments, you too will feel as if you can live forever. The Mandara Spa features massages, facials, body wraps, hydrotherapy baths, hair and nail care, as well as make-up application. Ask about these Mandara specialty treatments and immerse yourself even further into the exciting lands that NCL visits.

Staterooms

Imagine seeing the ocean and beautiful islands from your stateroom's own private balcony, or watching the majestic coastline glide by from an oversized picture window. You can also choose to cruise in the luxury of an Owner's Suite, Penthouse or one of NCL's opulent Garden Villas - the largest suites afloat. You can also enjoy the value of an Inside Stateroom. Whatever you choose, you'll find spacious comfort and superior service are the norm on a Norwegian Cruise Line vacation.

Great Stirrup Cay

NCL was the first cruise line to offer a private tropical island experience exclusively for its passengers. Great Stirrup Cay is located 120 nautical miles due east of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and is the northernmost island in a chain of islands known as the Berry Islands in the Bahamas. The 2.5 by 1.5-mile-island boasts white sand beaches, lined with palms. Its pristine waters are home to an abundance of colorful marine life, which inhabit the surrounding coral reefs.

Guests of NCL may enjoy one main bar, as well as a smaller one, located at the east end of the beach, as well as a barbecue. Additionally, rental equipment is available for several water sports, including snorkeling, paddle boats, floats, sailboats and kayaks.

Kid's Crew Program

NCL's Kid's Crew™ is a program of things to do, places to go and kids to meet. Created for junior cruisers ages 2-17, the "Kids Crew" programs offer organized activities, games, parties, and special menus. It's like recess, only longer. You can enjoy a massage while they're on a treasure hunt. Play roulette while they're camping out, or head for the Chocoholic Buffet™ while they're having a pillow fight at a pajama party.

A staff of youth counselors from leading universities and organizations carefully supervises every minute your kids spend in Kid's Crew™. Prior to coming aboard, they attend a special training course on team and confidence building, communication skills, safety and working with children who have special needs. Together they've come up with an impressive bag of tricks for your kids.

There are circuses, crafts, parades, sports, games, stories and parties. Campouts with flashlights and tents, and cooking classes where they can make pizza or pancakes with funny faces. There is T-shirt painting, face painting and poolside root beer floats. Treasure hunts and sand castle competitions on our private island. And even shore excursions designed just for families. Of course they will have plenty of time to spend with you, too. Shoot some hoops at the basketball court. Take them to the magic show. Let junior beat you at table tennis. (Or maybe try hard not to.)

The well-trained counselors offer and age-appropriate array of fun-filled options so kids can get as much excitement out of the cruise as you do during days at sea. And on NCL, your kids can also learn while they are having fun! With everything from parties and video arcades to stimulating learning sessions, NCL provides so much fun, your kids will have the trip of a lifetime! This fleetwide program is available year-round and is free of charge.

If you would like someone to watch your kids later than the normal hours of the Kid's Crew Club, NCL also offers group babysitting for ages 2-12. There is a nominal fee for this service, and it is with the Kid's Crew counselors. In addition to our regular sitting hours of 10 pm - 1 am, group sitting is available in port from 9 am - 5 pm. Private babysitting is not available.

Guests with Special Needs

NCL welcomes guests with special needs. Of course, they also require advance notice in order to accommodate them, so you must advise your Cruise Specialist of your special needs at least three weeks prior to the cruise.

All of the NCL ships have designated staterooms with wider doorways and bathrooms that will accommodate wheelchairs and staterooms with lights and under-pillow vibrating alarms for guests with hearing impairments. Guide dogs are permitted on all NCL ships. Many staterooms have refrigerators that can be used to store medications that must be kept cold. Guests who need oxygen or require oxygen therapy are welcome on all NCL ships; however, they must supply their own oxygen. Guests who use wheelchairs must provide their own. NCL maintains a limited number of wheelchairs on their private island, Great Stirrup Cay, that are specially designed for use on sand. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests with disabilities must be self-sufficient and should travel with another guest who can provide assistance during the cruise. If you or a family member requires special assistance during your cruise, please do not book your cruise online. Instead, please call one of our Cruise Specialists, so a live agent who can help make sure you get the help you're looking for.

Latitudes Club for Past Guests of NCL

Latitudes® is an international cruise club exclusively for past guests of Norwegian Cruise Line. Once you complete your first full tariff cruise with NCL, you automatically become a member of Latitudes, and an integral part of our close-knit family of loyal return guests.

NCL is committed to their Latitudes members and will continue to show their commitment with exclusive offers, members-only privileges, and many other special touches you deserve. At NCL, they want to make sure nothing stands between you and the destinations you dream about. That's why they established Latitudes in the first place.

If you are Latitudes Member, please let your Cruise Specialist know at the time of your reservation so we can make sure to check for possible discounts and complimentary upgrades.

Itineraries

With NCL and Freestyle Cruising you will travel to unforgettable destinations, aboard spectacular ships. Where in the world would you like to go? Europe? Bermuda? Alaska? The Caribbean? Perhaps you've always wanted to cruise to the bottom of the world? Cruise the Hawaiian Islands? Or revel in the riotous colors of fall foliage along the New England and Canadian coast.

Rediscover the Americas with their Homeland Cruising program and choose from 13 convenient departure ports in the US and Canada. NCL has dozens of destinations in North and Central America as exotic and exciting as any on Earth.

Get more of Hawaii with the new US Flag brand - NCL America. They have developed the largest Hawaii deployment ever for you to enjoy, with two NCL America ships sailing inter-island cruises and two NCL ships sailing Hawaii/Fanning Island itineraries

Whether it's lazy days and romantic nights or an action-packed week of adventure, there's no better way to have the vacation of your dreams than with Freestyle Cruising and NCL.

What are you waiting for? Start planning your Norwegian Cruise Line vacation today. You can book online or call us to speak to one of our Cruise Specialists.