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Princess recently was charging just $14.99 per person per day for a WiFi package. Instead, you can travel with a state-certified birth certificate or other proof of citizenship and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. That said, Norwegian strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport. The go-kart tracks (now on Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy) are quickly becoming Norwegian's signature can-you-believe-this-is-on-a-ship attraction, and they truly are impressive. The biggest two of them, on Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima, are nearly 1,400 feet long and sprawl over three decks.
The Norwegian Cruise Line fleet
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Norwegian is also a mass-market brand, not a luxury cruise operator. Still, as we'll explain below, it offers a wide range of accommodations, some of which fall squarely in the luxury segment. In some cases, its ships have an exclusive area full of high-end cabins and suites called The Haven that comes with its own private pools, lounge areas and even restaurants. Norwegian Cruise Line offers sailings at different price points to a global range of destinations. 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.
Children's programs
The Pulse Fitness Center onboard Norwegian Viva is a real stunner, with rows of equipment facing windows that overlook the bow of the ship. The usual assortment of treadmills and weight equipment is here, and a dedicated spin classroom is located on the portside of the fitness center, tucked into an unassuming space behind a door. Once passengers accept that the promenade area on Deck 8 is the better of the "pool decks" aboard Norwegian Viva, the onboard experience gets substantially more enjoyable -- and far more relaxing.
What is the best Norwegian Cruise Line ship?
However, in some destinations, a shore excursion, or independently operated guided tour, is highly encouraged. This could be in places where it's difficult to navigate as a foreigner who can't speak the language or understand street signs or where the tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed. The Thermal Suite -- which can be enjoyed complimentary with a spa treatment, or on its own with the purchase of a voyage-long pass -- is one of the more dramatic at sea. A hydrotherapy pool offers both fresh and saltwater plunges, bordered by a two-story mural and situated in a space accented with a sweeping staircase at the aft end, and comfortable loungers forward. It, oddly, lacks the metal grates to lay on that other hydrotherapy pools offer, but we found wading in this oasis of bubbly water, heated to a refreshing temperature, was just as relaxing. Most of the large-scale production shows -- like the ship's signature performances of Beetlejuice, The Musical -- take place in the Viva Theater and Club situated on Decks 6, 7 and 8 forward.
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Norwegian Viva Activities
Some third-party operators will customize a tour for you or your group, so you can spend more time at the places you most want to see. Sometimes these tour groups are also smaller than the large cruise ship tours — which can carry 30 to 60 people in a bus — so you will spend less time waiting for everyone. I use many factors to decide whether to take a ship's tour, book an independent excursion or explore on my own in port. However, if you're a novice traveler, you might want to book ship tours exclusively because they're the simplest, easiest and most convenient options. Much of the other upper-deck space aboard Norwegian Viva is inaccessible to passengers -- at least, most of them.
That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. Unveiled in 2019, Norwegian Encore is, notably, the 23rd biggest cruise ship in the world as of this story's publishing (it will drop in the rankings over the coming years as additional megaships debut). Only Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have significantly more bigger vessels. 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. More than half of its fleet is comprised of vessels that, by today's standards, are considered almost midsize.
If you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of included-in-the-fare choices for dining and entertainment. If money is no object, you can follow a different "journey" through the ship, as Norwegian executives like to say, to a far more high-end vacation. That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise (there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process — trust us) we recommend you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.
Called Guppies, the program offers parents a place to play with their youngest children, with occasional youth staff-led activities and games. As is typical for big-ship cruise lines, Norwegian has an extensive children's program, with programs and activities for children as young as 6 months through the age of 17. As is the case with the Galaxy Pavilion attractions mentioned above, the go-kart and laser tag experiences on Norwegian ships don't come cheap. You'll pay $15 per person for an eight-lap romp on the go-karts.
Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Epic, for instance, have the Cavern Club, a reproduction of the British club that gave rise to the Beatles. It comes complete with a cover band that plays the group's greatest hits. As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round.
What you'll find on the top decks of Norwegian ships will vary quite a bit depending on the vessel. The line's smaller ships will have at least one or two pools, sunning areas and usually a sports court area — but not all that much else. In addition, several Norwegian ships offer dinner theater venues with circus-type productions, and one vessel, Norwegian Getaway, features a magic-infused dinner theater show in a steampunk-inspired space called The Illusionarium. Also, every ship has a least four and often many more extra-charge eateries. Two found across the entire fleet are Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse, and Le Bistro, a fine French restaurant. Every ship also has an Italian restaurant, called Onda by Scarpetta or La Cucina.
Once on board a Norwegian ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance. Some onboard activities such as go-karting also come with an extra charge. What's included in the fare is your lodging, meals (in non-extra-charge restaurants) and most entertainment.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Finally, the Mandara Spa and Salon offers a full-service salon that comes complete with a menu of favorites designed for men and women alike, from haircuts and shaves for the men to manis and pedis for the ladies. As the night wears on, Karaoke becomes the mainstay entertainment, lasting until well after midnight at Improv at Sea.
Choose the best option based on your budget and interests, and remember to look at both ship-sponsored and independent tour and activity options. And if you feel like staying on board one day while your ship is docked in a port that doesn't interest you, that's okay, too. Whether you're on a cruise line sponsored or independent shore excursion, a best practice is to tip your tour guides at the end of the tour. Exceptions are if tips are included in the price or if you're visiting a country with a non-tipping culture, where offering cash would be awkward.
Typically, you’ll be going on Shore Excursions with like-minded people who enjoy the same interests as you. You might meet some new acquaintances to hang out with once you return to the ship, or maybe you’ll make some new life-long friends. As you accrue nights, you earn elite status that delivers onboard benefits that grow with each status tier.
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