What’s the perfect Norwegian Cruise Line ship? Through the years, I’ve sailed on all however two of Norwegian’s 18 vessels, and my private favourite is the brand new Norwegian Prima. I like its fashionable design and upscale really feel, in addition to its broad mixture of eateries, bars and leisure.
Nonetheless, Norwegian Prima is not essentially the perfect Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you. Whether or not you will have a greater time on one of many different 17 vessels within the Norwegian fleet will rely quite a bit on the kind of traveler you might be.
Norwegian has some vessels, corresponding to Norwegian Encore, which are loaded with family-friendly sights corresponding to waterparks and go-kart tracks which are excellent for households with teenagers and tweens. To me, Norwegian Encore is an excellent better option than Norwegian Prima for households with school-age youngsters.
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Different Norwegian cruise ships, corresponding to Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Solar, have particular options which may make them higher choices for solo vacationers or retirees. Sure Norwegian ships are greatest for funds vacationers, whereas others are greatest for luxurious vacationers.
In brief, the perfect Norwegian cruise ship for you’ll rely on a bunch of things, and which ship is greatest for a visit with your loved ones may not be your prime decide for a pair’s cruise or girlfriends’ getaway.
Right here we checklist our prime picks for the perfect Norwegian cruise ships for 5 various kinds of vacationers.
Norwegian Encore: Greatest for households
One of the best Norwegian Cruise Line ships for households, arms down, are the 4 big, activity-packed ships of its Breakaway-Plus class: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Pleasure and Norwegian Escape. Of those, Norwegian Encore is our prime decide.
At 169,145 tons and carrying 3,998 passengers, Norwegian Encore is the biggest ship within the Norwegian fleet. Which means it has essentially the most house for the various over-the-top household enjoyable zones which are on the core of the 4 Breakaway-Plus vessels — a collection of ships that was particularly designed with households in thoughts.
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For starters, Norwegian Encore is house to among the most thrilling waterslides at sea, in addition to a kiddie splash zone that can have your little ones squealing with delight. However these are simply the appetizers in the case of household enjoyable on the highest deck of the ship.
Norwegian Encore can be the setting for one of many largest go-kart racing tracks at sea. (Sure, this can be a factor — Norwegian debuted the idea on its Breakaway-Plus-class ships and now has a go-kart monitor on 4 vessels.) Two decks excessive and almost 1,150 ft lengthy, the Norwegian Encore Speedway contains 4 sections that reach as much as 13 ft over the edges of the vessel. The racecourse additionally includes a middle-of-the-track remark space the place your loved ones and pals can cheer you on to victory — and even shoot you with “lasers” that’ll offer you a lift of energy.
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As well as, Norwegian Encore has a big laser tag space on its prime deck (one which I can let you know from private expertise is a blast) and an enormous indoor gaming and digital actuality zone known as the Galaxy Pavilion. Each are tween and teenage favorites.
That is all on prime of devoted youngsters’s play areas, swimming pools and family-friendly leisure that can maintain your loved ones busy from morning to nighttime.
In brief, there are such a lot of family-friendly issues to do on Norwegian Encore that you just and your youngsters seemingly will not have the ability to do all of it in a single, weeklong cruise.
Norwegian Prima: Greatest for luxurious lovers
Luxurious lovers not too long ago acquired a brand new best choice within the Norwegian fleet: Norwegian Prima.
Unveiled in 2022, the three,215-passenger vessel is the primary of a brand new class of Norwegian ship that the road has designed to be extra upscale than its earlier vessels. (A sister vessel, Norwegian Viva, is debuting this yr.) An “elevation” of the model is how executives describe it.
The upscale flip included loading Norwegian Prima with the biggest number of suites (13 classes in all) of any ship within the NCL fleet, together with the biggest three-bedroom suites of any new cruise vessel. If it is swanky digs you are after (and you’ve got the cash to spend), you will discover loads of choices on this ship.
Additional suite classes are simply the beginning of what makes Norwegian Prima the perfect Norwegian cruise ship for luxurious lovers.
Notably, your entire again of the ship is devoted to an upscale luxurious zone for the flowery set known as The Haven. Rising eight decks excessive, it is house to 107 of the aforementioned suites, a sprawling personal indoor lounge space, personal out of doors lounge and pool areas, and a personal restaurant — all solely for the usage of the deep-pocketed biggies who pay up for one in every of its suites.
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We have seen these personal The Haven suite areas on Norwegian ships earlier than however by no means on this scale. If it is dwelling massive on a Norwegian ship that is your purpose, you are not going to search out something higher than this.
Outdoors of The Haven, your entire ship has a extra elegant really feel of the type you discover within the fleets of Norwegian’s higher-end sister manufacturers, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — albeit on an even bigger scale.
The entryway to the ship, as an illustration, deposits you on the three-story-high Penrose Atrium, which would be the most lovely atrium of any massive ship at sea. It has a curvy, sculptural really feel as if your entire house had been an artwork piece.
It is a look that carries over to a bevy of high-end eateries, together with Nama, a new-for-Norwegian sushi restaurant with a design that’s as refined because the sushi it serves. Additionally hanging is Norwegian Prima’s model of Le Bistro, Norwegian’s signature French eatery. It is constructed round three large crystal chandeliers costing almost $100,000 that grasp right down to the ground — a showstopper of a design aspect. Gold-leaf wallpaper traces its sales space seating.
Notably, the general public areas that embody these eating places really feel extra spacious than lots of the different ships within the Norwegian fleet. Certainly, they’re. Norwegian Prima was constructed with a better ratio of house to passengers, which itself is an upscale contact. The ship additionally has a better crew-to-passenger ratio than many Norwegian ships, main to raised service.
In brief, that is the Norwegian ship to e-book whenever you need to take issues up a notch.
Norwegian Sky: Greatest for funds vacationers
Norwegian Sky is the Norwegian ship to choose whenever you’re in search of a low-cost, easy-to-do getaway — no less than in the summertime months.
Based mostly in Miami for a lot of the yr, the 24-year-old vessel operates a mixture of brief three- to five-night voyages to the Bahamas and longer journeys to the Caribbean from spring to fall which have one factor in widespread: They’re unusually reasonably priced on a per-night foundation.
In lots of instances, Norwegian Sky sailings out of Miami will begin underneath $100 a day per particular person, although it is dependent upon the week. We generally see the ship’s shorter sailings beginning as little as $249 per particular person for your entire cruise.
Certainly, the ship usually is on the prime of the checklist whenever you type cruises by lowest worth on Norwegian’s web site.
For would-be Norwegian cruisers, Norwegian Sky’s shorter sailings out of Miami function a type of “take a look at the road” alternative. Their brief timeframe and low pricing imply you are not out quite a bit in time or cash in the event you do not find it irresistible as a lot as you hoped. These shorter sailings cater closely to first-time cruisers and Florida locals who can e-book on brief discover and drive into the port for a fast escape.
One among two ships within the line’s Solar class that date to the flip of the millennium, Norwegian Sky is way from the snazziest ship within the Norwegian fleet. That is each due to its age but additionally its dimension. At 77,104 tons and carrying 2,002 passengers, it is simply half the scale of Norwegian’s largest ships and has far fewer venues, from bars and eating places to leisure areas. There isn’t a big water park on its prime deck or a go-kart monitor to maintain the children busy all day, so it isn’t the perfect Norwegian Cruise Line ship for households.
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That stated, Norwegian Sky has its allures, one in every of which is that it has a way more intimate really feel than the road’s larger vessels. It is an awesome selection for adults on a funds who’re happy with the fundamentals.
Norwegian Epic: Greatest for solo vacationers
Relating to the perfect Norwegian cruise ship for solo vacationers, one ship stands out above all of the others: Norwegian Epic.
Unveiled in 2010, Norwegian Epic caters to solo vacationers like no different massive cruise ship at sea — from any line, not simply Norwegian — with an unusually massive personal zone for solo vacationers that has its personal two-story lounge for solo mixers in addition to particular solo cabins.
Tucked away in the midst of the ship, this “studio” zone is basically a personal escape for solos, with extra solo cabins — 128 — than you will discover on another ship at sea.
The cabins measure simply 100 sq. ft however are fantastically designed to maximise cupboard space. They’re additionally clustered across the unique Studio Lounge, which has its personal personal bar and a tv space the place solo vacationers can mingle at each day hosted completely happy hour gatherings.
Solely solos staying within the solo cabins (by way of keycards) can entry the Studio Lounge, that means that you just and your new solo pals can have the place to yourselves.
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Norwegian Epic was the primary Norwegian ship with an unique solos zone, and it was such successful the road later added them to 6 extra vessels. However not one of the latter zones are as massive because the one on Norwegian Epic.
The larger Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss all have an 82-cabin solo advanced, whereas two older ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — have solo areas with 59 cabins. The road’s latest vessel, Norwegian Prima, has a 72-cabin solo advanced unfold over two decks.
Norwegian additionally gives 4 solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Delight of America.
Having sailed in one in every of Norwegian Epic’s cabins for one, I can confidently declare them among the many coolest solo digs at sea. I significantly love the “Jetsons” futuristic-style design and the multicolored temper lighting.
One massive caveat: They’re all inside cabins with out an ocean view, though most have a window that appears out onto a hall.
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A much bigger caveat, maybe, is that these solo cabins have grow to be so fashionable they usually promote out far upfront and at costs that are not significantly better than reserving a cabin for 2.
Norwegian Solar: Greatest for retirees
For older vacationers in search of a Norwegian ship that is not crammed to the gills with youngsters, Norwegian Solar is the proper possibility.
Relationship to 2001, Norwegian Solar is one in every of Norwegian’s oldest and smallest vessels, and it lacks lots of the family-focused onboard sights which are typical for the road’s newer and greater vessels. You will not discover massive waterparks, go-kart racing tracks or laser tag zones on this ship.
Norwegian Solar’s prime deck largely includes sunning areas, with a single pool and whirlpools, as is typical for ships constructed greater than twenty years in the past.
In consequence, it attracts far fewer households than a lot of the vessels talked about above and caters extra to an older crowd of largely {couples}.
Norwegian Solar is also the ship that Norwegian deploys on a few of its longest and most destination-focused itineraries, the sort that significantly appeals to retirees trying to see extra of the world.
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Over the subsequent two years, as an illustration, Norwegian Solar is crusing a number of lengthy voyages out of such less-common house ports as Tokyo; Seoul, Korea; Laem Chabang, Thailand; Lisbon, Portugal; and Haifa, Israel.
The sailings out of Tokyo, Seoul and Laem Chabang will supply the possibility to go to such Asian nations as Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand in-depth, with most departures starting from 11 to fifteen nights and filled with port stops — the type of cruise that appeals extra to older {couples} than households.
The sailings out of Lisbon and Haifa, each on the longer facet, will supply in-depth explorations of Northern Europe and the Jap Mediterranean, respectively.
Norwegian Solar can be one of many smallest and least kid-focused of the 5 ships the road deploys to Alaska in summer time, making it a sensible choice for retirees wanting to go to that vacation spot. Households with youngsters naturally gravitate to the 2 big, activity-packed vessels Norwegian sends to Alaska every summer time — Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss.
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At 78,309 tons, Norwegian Solar is lower than half the scale of the largest Norwegian ships, and it holds simply 1,976 passengers at double occupancy. (Examine that to greater than 4,000 for Norwegian’s largest vessels.) Anticipate a much more intimate expertise than what you will discover on a lot of the ships talked about above.
Be aware that because of the ship’s small dimension, a few of Norwegian’s signature options, together with a personal The Haven suite advanced and solo cabins, aren’t discovered on the ship. Nonetheless, you will discover greater than half a dozen eateries, together with a number of major eating rooms, an off-the-cuff buffet, a diner-style pub, a steak home, an Italian trattoria and a French bistro in addition to a showroom with nightly reveals, a on line casino, a multipurpose basketball/volleyball court docket, golf driving nets and a jogging monitor.
Backside line
Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet consists of 18 ships that are available a variety of sizes and have differing mixes of venues and actions. Some are jampacked with enjoyable zones that make them excellent for households, whereas others are geared towards {couples} and retirees. Some ships have attributes that make them stand out for luxurious, solo or funds vacationers.
In the event you’re contemplating a Norwegian cruise, it pays to review not simply the itineraries which are accessible from the road however the particular ships which are working the itineraries. You need to be sure to find yourself on the perfect Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you.
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