norwegian cruise 3 day

Best 3 Day Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line

Find the Best Norwegian Cruise to take you on the perfect  3-Day  Cruise vacation. Easily compare prices and find out when to book your next weekend cruise with our cruise search to get the lowest price.

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3 Night Caribbean Eastern

La Romana, Dominican Republic; Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic; Miami, Florida

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3 Night Bahamas

Port Canaveral; Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; Port Canaveral

Miami, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas; Miami, Florida

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The 7 best 3-day cruise itineraries for 2024.

Plan a long weekend getaway aboard a cruise for fun, scenery and entertainment.

The Best 3-Day Cruise Itineraries

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Hop aboard the Carnival Radiance for a short but fun-filled cruise weekend.

Whether you're short on vacation days or you only have a long weekend to spare, three-night cruises offer a fun and affordable way to get a change of scenery. These shorter sailings from the U.S. often amount to a weekend cruise and only depart from Florida and California for now. However, short cruises still let you dine and dance on board, enjoy world-class entertainment, and visit nearby destinations like Nassau in the Bahamas; Key West, Florida; or Ensenada, Mexico.

If you're looking for short cruises that pack a lot of good times into a weekend vacation, you should know that many cruise lines offer these trips, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Read on to find out which short cruises we recommend, where they depart from, and everything you can see and do over the span of three incredible nights.

3-Day Cruises From Florida

Norwegian sky from miami.

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Dates: Aug. 2 to 5, 2024

Departure port: Miami

Stops: Key West, Florida; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $399 per person

This three-night cruise on Norwegian Sky departs from Miami in August 2024 with stops at two iconic tropical destinations. The vessel's first stop is Key West , where cruise passengers will have the day to visit the southernmost tip of the United States, book a snorkeling or kayaking tour, or bar hop along the world-famous Duval Street. From there, the cruise stops at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, which is a private island paradise that's only for cruise passengers. Here, visitors can enjoy some beach time, plan a WaveRunner adventure or snorkel the clear waters to watch out for wildlife.

When not at port, passengers on Norwegian Sky can enjoy the ship's 10 dining options, onboard spa, casino at sea, and variety of pools and hot tubs. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel even has a sushi bar and a Starbucks onboard, and it was completely renovated from top to bottom in 2019.

Book a Norwegian cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral

Conrad Schutt | Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Dates: Multiple dates in November and December 2024

Departure port: Port Canaveral, Florida (Orlando)

Stops: Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Starting price: $169 per person

This three-night cruise on MSC Seashore departs from Port Canaveral near Orlando and takes passengers to two tropical destinations in the nearby Bahamas . The first is the island of Nassau, which is known for its luxury resorts (including the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas), huge casinos and powder white sands. After that, guests can spend a second day at port at MSC Cruises ' private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This island offers a perfect beach retreat for people who just want to relax, including several expansive white sand beaches with ample seating, an interior ocean lagoon for swimming, and beach bars and eateries dotted throughout.

MSC Seashore features huge pools, an onboard water park for kids, the expansive MSC Aurea Spa and 11 distinct dining venues for passengers to choose from. The ship also boasts the exclusive "ship within a ship" Yacht Club area, which offers the best of everything for discerning guests.

Find an MSC Cruises deal on GoToSea.

Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Dates: Ongoing in 2024

Departure port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Stops: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas

Starting price: $273 per person

This three-night cruise on Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection departs from Fort Lauderdale and leaves for two days in the sunny Bahamas. The first stop gives guests a full day to enjoy at Perfect Day at CocoCay, a cruise line private island that's typically reserved for Royal Caribbean guests. This island paradise features an exclusive beach club, idyllic white sand beaches for swimming and floating, a water park, a zip line, and plenty of places to eat and drink all day. The next stop is Nassau: Visitors can dine and shop their way through the port area or book a fun day pass to the Baha Bay water park, which is located at resort Baha Mar and features waterslides, an expansive lazy river and incredible cuisine options right at the park.

Celebrity Reflection was recently refurbished in 2022. It features an incredible array of included dining options, eight specialty and exclusive dining establishments, and bars and lounges throughout the ship. The Retreat, a VIP ship-within-a-ship concept, is also offered on board for those who want an elevated cruising experience.

Explore Celebrity Cruises on GoToSea.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Disney Dream from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Dates: Nov. 6 to 9, 2024

Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $1,973 per stateroom

This three-night Bahamian cruise on Disney Dream stops at two exclusive destinations in the Bahamas – Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, then Disney Castaway Cay. The first stop offers incredible beaches with play areas and crystal-clear water for swimming, as well as the Bahamian Arts and Culture Pavilion for families who want to learn something about the local culture on vacation. At Disney Castaway Cay, families can relax the day away on white sand beaches, go biking or kayaking, ride two waterslides, and more. Both destinations even have adults-only beach areas for cruisers who are traveling kid-free.

Disney Dream holds a maximum of 4,000 passengers and has everything you would expect on an exclusive Disney Cruise Line vessel, including kids and family areas, adults-only dining options and pools, and two large theaters. The ship also has several supervised kids clubs as well as dedicated clubs for teenagers and tweens .

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Stops: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Starting price: $263 per person

Royal Caribbean International also boasts a Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale that stops in Nassau and at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In Nassau, cruisers get the chance to explore one of the most popular cruise ports throughout the Caribbean, where you can book an excursion to a local beach, plan a snorkeling adventure or play in one of the two biggest casinos throughout the region at Atlantis or Baha Mar. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, families can stay active with waterslides, book a kayaking tour or ride a hot air balloon up to 450 feet in the air.

Liberty of the Seas is also an ideal ship for families thanks to fun features like a huge onboard water park with slides, an ice skating rink with shows and the Broadway at Sea theater. The Royal Caribbean vessel also has nearly a dozen different dining venues, including Cupcake Cupboard, Johnny Rockets, a pizza kitchen and an old-world Italian eatery called Giovanni's Table.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

3-Day Cruises From California

Navigator of the seas from los angeles.

Dates: Throughout 2024

Departure port: Los Angeles

Stops: Ensenada, Mexico

Starting price: $282 per person

Royal Caribbean offers a three-night West Coast adventure on Navigator of the Seas that includes a fun day at sea and a full-day stop in Ensenada, Mexico. This Mexican destination is known for the many activities that can be enjoyed along its rugged shores, which can include leisurely days at nearby Estero and Mona Lisa beaches, hiking experiences, exploration of Baja California's wine region, whale watching and more.

Dates for this sailing are offered throughout 2024, and the ship itself has plenty to keep passengers enthralled while at sea. For example, Navigator of the Seas features the longest waterslide at sea, enlarged pool deck areas for relaxation, ice skating shows and shopping – not to mention Broadway-style shows with dancers, acrobats and singers. There are also 12 unique dining options onboard, including Starbucks, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver and Johnny Rockets.

Carnival Radiance from Los Angeles

Dates: Jan. 26 to 29 and Sept. 24 to 27, 2024

Departure port: Long Beach (Los Angeles)

Starting price: $244 per person

Carnival Radiance also embarks on three-night journeys to Mexico from Los Angeles throughout the year, including in January and September 2024. This Carnival Cruise Line itinerary includes a fun day at sea and a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can plan a sightseeing trip, nosh on the unique Baja cuisine the area is known for, shop for silver jewelry and other keepsakes, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.

Carnival Radiance itself serves as the perfect floating vessel for this fun weekend vacation, with onboard amenities that span the Cloud 9 Spa and WaterWorks water park with slides to a comedy club and special clubs for kids and teens. The ship also boasts an adults-only solarium and 10 different bars to choose from.

Book a Carnival cruise on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer and cruise expert who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 40 times across most of the major cruise lines in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate the itineraries for this article.

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• Cruise Packing List
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• Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line
• First-Time Cruise Tips
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Find the best norwegian cruise, why should i book a norwegian cruise.

If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation, Norwegian cruises are a perfect choice. Norwegian is one of the best cruise lines in the industry, with a successful history of providing excellent service and luxurious experiences. The Norwegian cruise vacations take you to some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating destinations. They’re sure to have features to please everyone in your group.

How to find the best Norwegian cruise deals?

There are many different Norwegian cruise deals to choose from depending on your destination and the experiences you would most like to enjoy. These deals let you include additional features for a lower price to make your vacation even more comfortable. You can find the best deals by searching for your destinations, and filtering by your desired cruise lines. This way only the companies you wish to travel with will appear. You can also sort your results by price and length of time.

How to choose your cruise with Norwegian?

If you want to book aNorwegian cruise there are plenty of amazing Norwegian cruise deals available. Add your destination, cruise vacation, and number of travelers. Then you can sort your results by price, duration, and departure date. You can also filter by cruise line, cruise ship and cabin type. You’ll find different amenities to suit your vacation needs on each Norwegian cruise. For example, youth programs, fitness facilities, and spa facilities.

What do I need to look out for when booking a Norwegian cruise?

When booking your 2025 Norwegian cruise it’s important to consider a few practical tips. Check what the cost covers, and what you may need to budget for or need insurance for. Think about any amenities or onboard service you’ll require, depending on the length of the Norwegian cruise. For example, youth programs, entertainment, fitness facilities, spa facilities, and room service. Secondly, research the weather conditions for your journey and destination. In some locations, summer and winter weather can vary a lot. Another tip is to go over the ship layout to see where you’d like to pick a cabin. Don’t forget to check visa requirements and any flight logistics.

When is the best time to book a Norwegian cruise?

You can book a Norwegian cruise as early as you like depending on availability. There’s a higher chance of finding cheaper Norwegian cruise prices by booking between 6 months to 12 months in advance. But there are also lots of last-minute cruise deals closer to your preferred departure date, but this will depend on your flexibility.

Are last minute deals available with Norwegian?

Yes, you can find last-minute Norwegian cruises on Expedia. Add your travel dates to the cruise finder and sort your results to find the best price available. Cruise deal discounts are indicated by a green box above the Norwegian cruise price.

How do I book a cruise with Norwegian?

To book a Norwegian cruise on Expedia select your Norwegian destination and filter by cruise line. You can also browse our extensive selection of pre-selected cruise deals and find the perfect cruise for you. Once you have found the one you want, choose your dates and the port of departure. You can also refine your search by cabin experiences, or cruise ship. Each ship will have amenities to suit your needs including room service, spa facilities, and fitness facilities.

Is Norwegian great value for money?

Norwegian cruises are excellent value for money if you're looking for an enjoyable and relaxing cruise vacations. A Norwegian cruise offers a high standard of service, a great selection of dining, modern amenities, friendly staff, and exciting activities. The exceptional quality of the experience is worth the price.

Can I cancel a Norwegian cruise booking?

Yes, you can cancel your Norwegian cruise. We all have unfortunate circumstances where we need to cancel a booking, so Expedia makes it easy to do so. All you have to do is head to your My Trips page on Expedia and click on the cancellation button. Another option is to contact customer service, where you’ll receive help with cancelling. Do make sure that you’re aware of the refund policy that applied to your booking, to see if you’re entitled to a full refund.

Norwegian Cruise Guide

Norwegian Cruise Line's "Freestyle Cruising" allows guests to cruise at their own pace and have complete control over their vacation. There are daily itineraries created by Norwegian but guests can choose what to do, whether it's freestyle dining at one of the many complimentary or specialty dining options, or grabbing food from the buffet and catching one of the many award-winning shows onboard including Kinky Boots and Footloose. Don't forget to join in on the nightly deck parties with various themes such as White Hot, Caliente, Glow, and Nashville Nights. Norwegian has many unique amenities that you won't find on any other cruise lines, such as open-air laser tag courses on the Norwegian Joy, Bliss, and Encore, or The Waterfront, which is a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade. Another Norwegian exclusive is The Plank, which extends 8 feet over the side of the ship. The newest ships on the fleet, The Breakaway Plus Series, feature even more innovative activities. For example, the Norwegian Bliss has the largest race track at sea and an expanded three-story Ropes Course. With so much fun on board, it comes as no surprise that the cruise line has been voted Best Family Experience by Travel Weekly. Each ship is inspired by the departure ports and destinations that they sail to, like the Miami-inspired Norwegian Getaway or the New York City-inspired Norwegian Breakaway ship. Norwegian's Pride of America ship is also an industry favorite for having authentic Hawaiian itineraries available year-round. There's a wide assortment of staterooms, ranging from studios that have been specifically built for solo travelers, to connecting staterooms that can accommodate entire groups. There are also luxurious suites like The Haven, which offers an all-inclusive experience at the very top of the ship, equipped with a 24-hour butler service and a personal concierge.

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Looking to save big and get the best deal on your next cruise? Check out Norwegian's latest promotion.

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Norwegian Articles

6 REASONS NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE MIGHT BE THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU

Heather McManus - July 16, 2019

Discover what makes Norwegian Cruise Line unique and determine if it’s the right fit for your travel style!

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YOUR GUIDE TO WHEN CRUISES WILL RESUME SAILING

Expedia - April 16, 2021

Cruise lines continue to adapt their sailing plans to these measures with diligence and enthusiasm and are beginning to announce sailings dates for a return to the sea. Want to be prepared to sail too? Here is everything you need to know about the restart of cruising.

Norwegian Ships

• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Spirit
• Pride of America
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade

More Cruise Lines to Explore

• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Azamara Club Cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruise Lines
• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• MSC Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Uniworld River Cruises
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Viking River Cruises

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Fuel supplement may apply. Savings advertised are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings.

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Complete Guide to Sailing Norwegian Cruise Line (What It’s Like)

What is it like to sail on Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)?

The experience can vary from ship to ship, but expect to have a great time. While the cruise line is the third of the “Big Three” in size among rivals Carnival and Royal Caribbean, it doesn’t mean that its cruises lag compared to its larger competitors.

If you haven’t yet sailed Norwegian, you might not be sure what to expect. The name of the cruise line makes it sound like it is Nordic, however, as you’ll see below, the experience is anything but.

Today the cruise line of about 18 ships sails worldwide, including cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, and Asia. In total, Norwegian carries millions of passengers each year, making it among the largest cruise lines in the world.

For those unfamiliar with sailing NCL and who aren’t sure what the cruise line is all about, we’ve put together the following guide to help familiarize you with everything you need to know.

In This Article...

Overview of Norwegian Cruise Line

Founded in the 1960s, NCL is the smallest of the big three cruise lines — but it is no slouch. However, in recent years it has made a big push with a lineup of huge new ships. In total, the line has seven new ships in the past decade, with another newbuild on order each year through 2027. 

Like competitors Carnival and Royal Caribbean , Norwegian is what we call a mass market cruise line. This means it offers mega ships designed to appeal to all types of passengers. You’ll find options for everyone from families with kids to couples on romantic holidays, young, old, and in between.

Not the sort of person who likes huge ships? It is also making an effort to offer more exclusive service and a smaller ship atmosphere with “The Haven” on many vessels.

The Haven is a luxurious, high-end “resort within a resort” experience with dedicated space and amenities like a pool, restaurant, and bar that are only open to The Haven guests.

While the cruise line sails globally, North America — and the United States — is its largest market. You can find all types of sailings from the U.S., ranging from quick trips to the Bahamas (including Norwegian’s private island), to Alaskan cruises to Hawaiian cruises.

In short, no matter what you look for in a cruise, Norwegian likely has something for you.

Atmosphere of Norwegian Cruise Lines

In general the atmosphere that you’ll find on Norwegian’s ships is on par with other mass market cruise lines, although it does seem to focus on a more luxury and and upscale vibe. It is still warm, inviting, and comfortable. After all, you’re there to have a fun vacation.

You’ll find plenty of friendly staff, ready to welcome you to the ship and help with anything you need. And because Norwegian is known for its “Freestyle Cruising,” that means you can set your own schedule for dining — taking some of the rigid atmosphere out of mealtime.

Ships can vary, but with a relatively new fleet, the décor and atmosphere is modern. You’ll see bright colors painted on the ship’s hull, but the interior is more subdued with lots of wood and metal finishes.

The style seems more in line with a high-end hotel than a classic cruise ship. That said, the people — both crew and passengers — keep things friendly and down-to-earth.

If you are looking for more exclusivity and a higher-end experience, then Norwegian offers “The Haven.” Mentioned above, this is a separate area of the ships with access only for The Haven guests. It includes higher-end cabins, your own restaurant, pool, and more.

Price of Cruising

With a wide range of cruise options from quick Bahamian getaways to Alaskan cruises, and also sailings worldwide, it can be a little tricky to nail down exact pricing.

As well, there’s a wide range for prices even within a region depending on the ship you sail and the length of journey.

During the height of summer, we found prices starting around $80-120 per day on cruises from Miami on Norwegian Sky (an older ship in the fleet). For example, a five-day cruise on the Sky to Key West and the Bahamas ran $599 per person for an interior room in a recent search.

Longer trips and newer ships are usually more expensive. The summer season sees 7-day cruises from Miami to the Caribbean aboard Norwegian Escape (a newer ship, but not the newest) running around $899 per person.

However, what you spend on cruise fare is just a portion of what you’ll spend on your entire cruise. Norwegian is big on generating onboard spending.

The cruise line charges for many amenities on the ship, and at prices higher than you’ll find on other lines.

For example, while Carnival charges around $60 per day for its drink package, NCL charges $99 per day. The highest tier of wi-fi service costs about $40 per day on the ship. The cruise line also has a heavy focus on specialty restaurants that are an extra charge, as well as charges for some things to do on the ship like laser tag and go-karts.

Don’t like extra charges? Norwegian offers a “Free at Sea” sale that can give you certain perks for free, including free drinks, Internet, shore excursions, and specialty dining. For some passengers this can save money, just be aware that the rate for a cabin with these perks included is usually higher than the base price for the room.

Ports of Departure

As we’ve mentioned, Norwegian sails around the world. You can board a cruise anywhere from London to Lisbon to Los Angeles. In total, the cruise line has sailings from more than 40 ports worldwide.

In the United States Norwegian has a smaller presence than bigger lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival. That means the cruise line is more limited when it comes to U.S. departure ports. Smaller ports typically don’t have as many sailing options as you will find with larger lines.

All told, Norwegian sails from the following U.S. ports:

• Los Angeles
• New Orleans
• Port Canaveral

Ports of Call and Itineraries

No matter where on the planet you want to go, if it has a coastline then Norwegian likely sails there. This includes exotic destinations like the Greek Isles, Scandinavia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and Alaska.

Sailings include everything from short three-day getaways all the way to three-week tours of entire regions. This includes numerous trips to The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska. 

Two specific ports of call deserve special mention: Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas) and Harvest Caye (Belize). These two spots are Norwegian’s private islands for the exclusive use of NCL’s passengers.

Great Stirrup Cay features ziplining, several stretches of white-sand beaches, and beautiful blue water. If you’ve ever wanted to spend your day in a postcard-perfect island, this is your chance. Located about 140 miles due east of Miami, the island is a regular on itineraries that go to the Bahamas.

Harvest Caye is located in Belize and is often visited on cruises to the western Caribbean. Like Great Stirrup Cay, the island’s big draw is the beach and water. As well, Harvest Caye has a large freshwater pool, as well as a number of bars and restaurants, wildlife exhibits, ziplining, and more to do.

One other unique thing about Norwegian is that it has the Pride of America — a U.S.-flagged cruise ship. This allows it to sail U.S.-only itineraries around the Hawaiian islands. Foreign flagged ships (which most are) must incorporate a stop in a foreign port before they return to the United States. So if you’ve ever wanted to cruise Hawaii, NCL is your choice.

Things to Do on Norwegian

Over the past several years, Norwegian has put a major emphasis on things to do on its ships.

As with other lines, the newest and largest cruise ships will have the most — and latest — things to do. Older ships are more limited in what they offer, but still offer plenty of basics including pools, spas, casinos, and shows.

Here are a number of things to do that you’ll find on Norwegian’s newest ships:

Speedway (Go-Karts) Available on NCL’s newest and largest ships like Bliss, Joy , and Encore , the speedway is the only racetrack at sea. The electric carts race around a custom-built track that twists and turns around the top decks of these ships. It’s one of the most unique experiences you can have at sea and a lot of fun. You have to pay to ride, but it is definitely worth the price for a turn.

For more, see our guide to the go-karts on Norwegian .

Laser Tag Along with go-karts, Norwegian has made a name for itself with outdoor laser tag games. Suit up and use your gun to blast the other team. The sets that are built are immersive and extremely impressive. Our suggestion is to sign up to play at night when the laser colors and lights are easier to see.

Evening Shows Norwegian has put a big emphasis on its entertainment onboard the ship, and that means bringing Broadway shows to sea. The biggest-name shows are on their newest ships, including Choir of Man, Kinky Boots, and Footloose. Considering that people normally pay hundreds to watch these performances on Broadway, but they are free on the ship, it’s a great deal and a can’t miss.

Mandara Spa Want to pamper yourself? Check out the Mandara Spa on Norwegian ships. Here you can get any treatment under the sun, from a massage to a haircut. A day in the spa can also come with access to many unique areas, including the heated loungers, a salt therapy room, whirlpools, and a snow room.

Galaxy Pavilion A newer feature on some ships, the Galaxy Pavilion is a virtual reality playground. You can walk a plank above the city, race an F1 car, outrun dinosaurs, and blast zombies — all virtually, of course. It does cost money to play and some things (like the driving simulator) are extra on top of that.

Casino Every cruise ship in the fleet will have a casino — except for Pride of America. Gambling on cruises is always popular, and NCL is no different. Casinos on older ships are usually more closed, separate areas. On newer ships the cruise line has built them to be open and airy, which is a nice touch.

All your favorite games will be here, including slots, tables games, craps, roulette, and even a few games you won’t see on land like “claw games” where you try to maneuver the claw to pick up money.

Outdoor Dining One of the unique things about Norwegian is that they’ve placed a lot of focus on connecting people to the outdoors. Despite a cruise ship being at sea, so much takes place indoors.

Norwegian puts a big focus on outdoor dining. It may not seem like a big deal, but with the sun and wind, eating outdoors on a cruise ship can be a pain.

Instead, NCL has done thoughtful design for outdoor eating with covered spaces and windbreaks to make it pleasant to sit out and enjoy your meal. The cruise line definitely focuses on bringing people closer to the sea.

Daily Activities There is never a shortage of things to do on the ship, and what we’ve covered above is just a taster of all the things going on while you sail. (For more see our 25+ Fun Things to Do on a Norwegian Cruise .)

In addition, there are plenty of activities put on by the staff. Below is a sample of the activities on board a ship in just a single morning:

Norwegian Ships

All told, NCL offers 17 different ships, but with six new ships in the past seven years, much of its fleet consists of newer vessels. Its oldest ship, Norwegian Spirit, was built in 1998 and last refurbished in 2020.

To us, there is a big difference between the cruise line’s ships. While older ships still have plenty to love, its newer ships are much more modern in both amenities and atmosphere and have more things to do.

We’d prefer to sail on the biggest and newest vessels. That said, the lower prices for sailing older ships can be tough to ignore. You can sail largely the same trip for potentially hundreds of dollars less on an older, smaller ship.

Here’s a breakdown of all ships for NCL:

• Spirit Class (1 ship, built 1998) Norwegian Spirit
• Sun Class (2 ships, built 1999-2001) Norwegian Sky Norwegian Sun
• Dawn Class (2 ships, built 2001-2002) Norwegian Star Norwegian Dawn
• Pride of America Class (1 ship, built 2005) Pride of America
• Jewel Class (4 ships, built 2005-2007) Norwegian Jewel Norwegian Jade Norwegian Pearl Norwegian Gem
• Epic Class (1 ship, built 2010) Norwegian Epic
• Breakaway Class (2 ships, built 2013-2014) Norwegian Breakaway Norwegian Getaway
• Breakaway-Plus Class (4 ships, built 2015-2019) Norwegian Escape Norwegian Joy Norwegian Bliss Norwegian Encore
• Prima Class (6 ships, built 2022-2027 Norwegian Prima Norwegian Viva Unnamed #3 Unnamed #4 Unnamed #5 Unnamed #6

Food & Restaurants

Norwegian takes its food seriously. While you don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate a good meal, even diners with high expectations should be pleased.

Specialty Restaurants Most eateries on the ship are specialty restaurants. Just like a restaurant on land, you’ll have a full menu with a la carte prices. Specialty restaurants range from steakhouses, to Italian, seafood, Japanese, Mexican, BBQ, French, and more.

We’d suggest planning to eat in a specialty restaurant at least a couple of times during your cruise. Not only is the food great, but you can pick a style that fits your taste buds.

While we have yet to try every specialty restaurant on Norwegian, the ones we have had were fantastic. We were especially surprised by Q Texas Smokehouse — a BBQ restaurant on a handful of ships. Being from Texas, we’ve grown up on BBQ and what we had would fit right in back home.

Other favorites that earn strong reviews are Food Republic (a fun spot where you order small dishes that are Asian and Mexican inspired) and Onda by Scarpetta — a high-end Italian spot.

Keep in mind that the restaurants on your specific ship will vary. Here is a list of what’s available:

• Ocean Blue (seafood)
• Onda by Scarpetta (Italian)
• La Cucina (Italian)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse
• Food Republic (Asian fusion)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese)
• Los Lobos (Mexican)
• American Diner
• Le Bistro (French)
• Q Texas Smokehouse
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian)

Included Dining As far as number of options, you have a lot fewer spots to eat that are included with your fare. That doesn’t mean you will go hungry. There is plenty to eat, all around the clock.

Main Dining Room Just as with any other cruise line, Norwegian has the classic main dining rooms. With its famous “Freestyle Cruising,” one thing you don’t have to worry about is a set dining time. Simply show up when you’re hungry.

Expect classic cruise classics like steak, chick, pasta, and lobster, all served in white tablecloth atmosphere.

Garden Cafe Garden Cafe is NCL’s main buffet. (There are sometimes other spots that serve the same food in different locations on the ship.) You’ll get the classic buffet fare like burgers, dogs, entrees, salads, and desserts for lunch and dinner. In the morning, breakfast is served.

The buffet is fine, but you certainly don’t want to eat it for every meal for a week. That’s why we suggest trying breakfast in the main dining room and checking out specialty restaurants during your cruise.

The Local/O’Sheehans No matter when you get hungry, The Local or O’Sheehans will have you covered. Each ship will have one or the other, but they fill the same space — a spot to grab a bite to eat 24 hours a day. They feature sit-down dining where you eat your fill with classics ranging from burgers to salads and more.

While most people won’t stay in The Haven during their cruise, it is an important differentiation between Norwegian and other cruise lines. As well, it’s also a sign of the more upscale atmosphere that NCL has for passengers.

As mentioned, you can think of The Haven as a “resort within a resort.” So passengers staying in these rooms can get the experience of sailing on a large cruise ship with all the amenities and activities it offers, but also have the small-ship, exclusive experience.

Not every ship has this area, but many — especially newer vessels — do. To put simply, staying at The Haven makes you a VIP. Rooms are more luxurious than the rest of the cabins, and you are given access to an area reserved only for The Haven guests. Amenities include a private pool, bar, and restaurant. You also earn priority status for boarding, tendering, and even restaurants and entertainment. 

Passengers staying here also have a 24-hour butler and personal concierge. In short, if you’re looking for the most upscale experience on NCL, then you’ll find it in The Haven.

Gratuities on Norwegian

Like other cruise lines, Norwegian charges a daily gratuity (the cruise line calls it a “service charge”).

The daily rate is $16.00 for most passengers who book interior, oceanview, or balcony cabins. Guests in The Haven, Concierge or Suites pay $20 per person, per day. The rate is charged to all guests three years and older.

A couple staying in a balcony cabin would pay $32 per day in total. A week’s cruise would cost a little over $220 in these service charges.

You can pay the amount ahead of time (so you don’t have to worry about the charge during your trip) or you can have it charged to your account each day that you sail. 

As well, NCL charges a 20% gratuity on things like drinks, spa treatments, and specialty restaurants.

Plan to have a drink… or ten… on your cruise? You’re not alone. Alcohol is popular on a cruise, but it’s also expensive. Expect to pay $6-8 for a beer and $10-12 for a cocktail.

If you want to better budget your cruise, then you might want a drink package. These offer all-you-can-drink for a set daily price. This way, you don’t have to worry about a surprise bill at the end of your cruise.

Norwegian offers several different packages, for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages:

Premium Beverage Package | $109 per day + 20% gratuity The Premium Beverage Package is the base package for alcoholic drinks. It offers your choice of beverages, from water to soda to beer, wine, and cocktails. The package covers drinks on board up to $15 per glass.

Premium Plus Beverage Package | $138 per day + 20% gratuity The Premium Plus Beverage Package is made for those with higher-end tastes. It includes practically any drink on the ship as it has no dollar limit on the price of the drink. So if you are someone with top-shelf preferences, then this might be the deal for you.

Corks and Caps Package | $65 per day + 20% gratuity Beer or wine drinker? This less-expensive package could be a better deal for you. It offers up beers, wine, sodas, and more, but not cocktails.

Soda Program | $6-8 per day + 20% gratuity If you have kids or simply like to drink soda, then you can get the Soda Program. Prices vary by age. Older kids and adults pay $8 per day, while younger kids are charged $6. The program gives you your fill of any sodas on the ship.

Before you purchase a beverage package, there are a number of things to know. For example, if you purchase the package for one adult in the cabin, all adults in the cabin must buy it. For more on what you need to know, see our guide to Norwegian’s drink packages here .

What Norwegian Cruise Line Does Well

Norwegian Cruise Lines has a lot to like. In fact, it’s among our favorite lines. New ships are especially modern and gorgeous, and the newer things to do like the go-kart track are lots of fun.

In our opinion, Norwegian is a great all-around cruise line. We like the upscale, yet welcoming feel of the ships. We also like how NCL has taken special effort to bring people closer to the water with outdoor eating and outdoor promenades. Entertainment and shows are also top-notch.

Solo cruiser? Norwegian is one of the few lines that takes special effort to cater to you. Many ships have solo cabins that aren’t charged a single passenger supplement. They also feature solo-cruiser lounges for socializing with your other solo passengers.

What Norwegian Cruise Line Could Improve

That’s not to say that the cruise line is perfect. While we haven’t sailed every ship in the fleet, there is a big difference between the newest ships and older ships we’ve seen (just like on many other lines). Your impression of the line may vary based on whether you sail an older ship or the newer fleet.

What we’d like to see improved is pricing of things on the ship. Norwegian seems to price at a premium, which means the costs you see can be higher than what you’d find on rival lines, especially with drink packages. 

As well, there are charges for many things to do on the ships (such as Galaxy Pavilion and go-karts), which we’d like to see reduced or eliminated altogether.

We certainly don’t mind spending money on vacation, but seeing charges for items that are considerably less expensive on other cruise lines is hard to swallow sometimes.

More on Sailing Norwegian Cruise Lines

• 17 Tips & Tricks for Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian’s Private Island)
• 27 Fun Things to Do on a Norwegian Cruise
• Norwegian Cruise Tips & Tricks
• Complete Guide to Norwegian Drink Packages

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

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CocoCay in Cozumel? Royal Caribbean Announces New Destination in Mexico

Los angeles & long beach cruise parking (where to park), this cruise line is taking a page from southwest airlines’ playbook (and it’s great for customers), hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

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Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

If you’ve never cruised, a good way to get a glimpse into this revolutionary vacation style is by taking a cruise to nowhere – especially with Norwegian Cruise Line. These cruises are usually between one to three days long, giving you just a sample of what life onboard is like. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a handful of these sailings each year, leaving from popular ports like New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans. If you find that cruising is something you can get used to, be sure to book a future cruise onboard – just let the onboard staff know to coordinate with your Cruise Web consultant, and you’re set. These cruises are also great for those in need of a quick break. Once you board your ship, even if it’s just for one night, you’ll leave all your troubles on land and let your mind and body move to the sway of the ocean. You may not be gone long, but you’ll still get that much needed break.

Things to Do on a Cruise to Nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line

Just because you won’t be stopping in any ports doesn’t mean you won’t have a packed schedule. Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise ships have lots of activities and venues to visit. Featured below are some of the best ways to make the most of your cruise to nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line:

• Specialty Dining You’ll never go hungry on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship; there are several dining venues on board, from hot dog carts on some ships to fancy dinner theaters. Norwegian also pioneered the specialty restaurant, so you’ll find a wide array of options onboard.  

• Get Active Balance your meals with a game of basketball or a Zumba class. Many of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships have mini golf courses and state-of-the-art gyms, and some even have obstacle courses that will really get your blood pumping.  

• Laugh it off Get in some good laughs at the ship’s comedy club. Most sailings have a comedian onboard who performs a couple of times each night. Select Norwegian cruise ships also have The Second City improv comedy troupe.  

• Get Lucky Once the ship has set sail, you can take advantage of the casino. Each ship has a large selection of slot machines and table games. Whether you bet on red or black, you’ll have a blast.  

• Pamper Yourself Feel the stress melt away as you enjoy a massage, facial or body treatment at the ship’s spa. You can also get gussied up at the ship’s salon with a mani/pedi, new hairstyle or makeover.  

• Sightseeing  Before or after your cruise, be sure to spend at least an afternoon touring the city in which your ship docks. If it’s New York, you can’t go wrong seeing a Broadway show; if you’re in Los Angeles, head to the Getty Museum in Malibu; if it’s New Orleans, the French Quarter is always a blast. Each port has something special to offer.  

Top 10 Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

Norwegian cruise line cruises to nowhere departure ports.

Learn more about each of the possible departure ports for a cruise to nowhere cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Your Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to nowhere cruise could leave from any of the following cities:

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

Check out our photo gallery of cruise to nowhere cruising photos from Norwegian Cruise Line. Keep in mind, this is just a sample of the sights waiting for you on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to nowhere cruise vacation.

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The 7 Best 3-Day Cruise Itineraries for 2024

W hether you're short on vacation days or you only have a long weekend to spare, three-night cruises offer a fun and affordable way to get a change of scenery. These shorter sailings from the U.S. often amount to a weekend cruise and only depart from Florida and California for now. However, short cruises still let you dine and dance on board, enjoy world-class entertainment, and visit nearby destinations like Nassau in the Bahamas; Key West, Florida; or Ensenada, Mexico.

If you're looking for short cruises that pack a lot of good times into a weekend vacation, you should know that many cruise lines offer these trips, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Read on to find out which short cruises we recommend, where they depart from, and everything you can see and do over the span of three incredible nights.

3-Day Cruises From Florida

Norwegian sky from miami.

Dates: Aug. 2 to 5, 2024

Departure port: Miami

Stops: Key West, Florida; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $399 per person

This three-night cruise on Norwegian Sky departs from Miami in August 2024 with stops at two iconic tropical destinations. The vessel's first stop is Key West , where cruise passengers will have the day to visit the southernmost tip of the United States, book a snorkeling or kayaking tour, or bar hop along the world-famous Duval Street. From there, the cruise stops at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, which is a private island paradise that's only for cruise passengers. Here, visitors can enjoy some beach time, plan a WaveRunner adventure or snorkel the clear waters to watch out for wildlife.

When not at port, passengers on Norwegian Sky can enjoy the ship's 10 dining options, onboard spa, casino at sea, and variety of pools and hot tubs. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel even has a sushi bar and a Starbucks onboard, and it was completely renovated from top to bottom in 2019.

Book a Norwegian cruise on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

MSC Seashore from Port Canaveral

Dates: Multiple dates in November and December 2024

Departure port: Port Canaveral, Florida (Orlando)

Stops: Nassau and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, Bahamas

Starting price: $169 per person

This three-night cruise on MSC Seashore departs from Port Canaveral near Orlando and takes passengers to two tropical destinations in the nearby Bahamas . The first is the island of Nassau, which is known for its luxury resorts (including the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas), huge casinos and powder white sands. After that, guests can spend a second day at port at MSC Cruises ' private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This island offers a perfect beach retreat for people who just want to relax, including several expansive white sand beaches with ample seating, an interior ocean lagoon for swimming, and beach bars and eateries dotted throughout.

MSC Seashore features huge pools, an onboard water park for kids, the expansive MSC Aurea Spa and 11 distinct dining venues for passengers to choose from. The ship also boasts the exclusive "ship within a ship" Yacht Club area, which offers the best of everything for discerning guests.

Find an MSC Cruises deal on GoToSea.

Celebrity Reflection from Fort Lauderdale

Dates: Ongoing in 2024

Departure port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Stops: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas

Starting price: $273 per person

This three-night cruise on Celebrity Cruises ' Celebrity Reflection departs from Fort Lauderdale and leaves for two days in the sunny Bahamas. The first stop gives guests a full day to enjoy at Perfect Day at CocoCay, a cruise line private island that's typically reserved for Royal Caribbean guests. This island paradise features an exclusive beach club, idyllic white sand beaches for swimming and floating, a water park, a zip line, and plenty of places to eat and drink all day. The next stop is Nassau: Visitors can dine and shop their way through the port area or book a fun day pass to the Baha Bay water park, which is located at resort Baha Mar and features waterslides, an expansive lazy river and incredible cuisine options right at the park.

Celebrity Reflection was recently refurbished in 2022. It features an incredible array of included dining options, eight specialty and exclusive dining establishments, and bars and lounges throughout the ship. The Retreat, a VIP ship-within-a-ship concept, is also offered on board for those who want an elevated cruising experience.

Explore Celebrity Cruises on GoToSea.

Raw HTML : Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Disney Dream from Fort Lauderdale

Dates: Nov. 6 to 9, 2024

Stops: Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Disney Castaway Cay, Bahamas

Starting price: $1,973 per stateroom

This three-night Bahamian cruise on Disney Dream stops at two exclusive destinations in the Bahamas – Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, then Disney Castaway Cay. The first stop offers incredible beaches with play areas and crystal-clear water for swimming, as well as the Bahamian Arts and Culture Pavilion for families who want to learn something about the local culture on vacation. At Disney Castaway Cay, families can relax the day away on white sand beaches, go biking or kayaking, ride two waterslides, and more. Both destinations even have adults-only beach areas for cruisers who are traveling kid-free.

Disney Dream holds a maximum of 4,000 passengers and has everything you would expect on an exclusive Disney Cruise Line vessel, including kids and family areas, adults-only dining options and pools, and two large theaters. The ship also has several supervised kids clubs as well as dedicated clubs for teenagers and tweens .

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Liberty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale

Stops: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Starting price: $263 per person

Royal Caribbean International also boasts a Bahamas cruise from Fort Lauderdale that stops in Nassau and at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. In Nassau, cruisers get the chance to explore one of the most popular cruise ports throughout the Caribbean, where you can book an excursion to a local beach, plan a snorkeling adventure or play in one of the two biggest casinos throughout the region at Atlantis or Baha Mar. At Perfect Day at CocoCay, families can stay active with waterslides, book a kayaking tour or ride a hot air balloon up to 450 feet in the air.

Liberty of the Seas is also an ideal ship for families thanks to fun features like a huge onboard water park with slides, an ice skating rink with shows and the Broadway at Sea theater. The Royal Caribbean vessel also has nearly a dozen different dining venues, including Cupcake Cupboard, Johnny Rockets, a pizza kitchen and an old-world Italian eatery called Giovanni's Table.

Compare Royal Caribbean International cruises on GoToSea.

3-Day Cruises From California

Navigator of the seas from los angeles.

Dates: Throughout 2024

Departure port: Los Angeles

Stops: Ensenada, Mexico

Starting price: $282 per person

Royal Caribbean offers a three-night West Coast adventure on Navigator of the Seas that includes a fun day at sea and a full-day stop in Ensenada, Mexico. This Mexican destination is known for the many activities that can be enjoyed along its rugged shores, which can include leisurely days at nearby Estero and Mona Lisa beaches, hiking experiences, exploration of Baja California's wine region, whale watching and more.

Dates for this sailing are offered throughout 2024, and the ship itself has plenty to keep passengers enthralled while at sea. For example, Navigator of the Seas features the longest waterslide at sea, enlarged pool deck areas for relaxation, ice skating shows and shopping – not to mention Broadway-style shows with dancers, acrobats and singers. There are also 12 unique dining options onboard, including Starbucks, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver and Johnny Rockets.

Carnival Radiance from Los Angeles

Dates: Jan. 26 to 29 and Sept. 24 to 27, 2024

Departure port: Long Beach (Los Angeles)

Starting price: $244 per person

Carnival Radiance also embarks on three-night journeys to Mexico from Los Angeles throughout the year, including in January and September 2024. This Carnival Cruise Line itinerary includes a fun day at sea and a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can plan a sightseeing trip, nosh on the unique Baja cuisine the area is known for, shop for silver jewelry and other keepsakes, or spend the day relaxing on the beach.

Carnival Radiance itself serves as the perfect floating vessel for this fun weekend vacation, with onboard amenities that span the Cloud 9 Spa and WaterWorks water park with slides to a comedy club and special clubs for kids and teens. The ship also boasts an adults-only solarium and 10 different bars to choose from.

Book a Carnival cruise on GoToSea.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer and cruise expert who has covered family travel and cruises for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 40 times across most of the major cruise lines in destinations throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate the itineraries for this article.

You might also be interested in:

• Cruise Packing List
• Beach Packing List
• Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Copyright 2023 U.S. News & World Report

3-Day Norwegian Voyage | Bergen to Trondheim

• Detours to Geirangerfjord in summer or Hjørundfjord in autumn
• See 8 coastal communities as we sail during the day and the night
• Explore the beautiful town of Ålesund, famous for its architecture

The highlight of this short voyage will either be UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord if sailing with us in summer or hidden Hjørundfjord in autumn. In winter and spring, you’ll spend most of the second day getting to know the town of Ålesund, admiring its range of Art Nouveau architecture or joining one of several optional excursions.

• Day 1 Bergen
• Day 2 Florø - Molde
• Day 3 Trondheim

DAY 1 : Bergen

All Aboard!

Your voyage starts in Bergen , the second largest city in Norway and gateway to the fjords. Founded in 1070 AD, Bergen boasts architecture influenced by prosperous 14th century German trading organisation, the Hanseatic League.

If you’ve time before your ship departs, visit the UNESCO-listed wharfs of the colourful Bryggen district, now an artisan quarter complete with cobblestone streets. Just across the street is the famous Fish Market which serves delicious seafood. There’s also the Fløibanen funicular which whisks you up Mount Fløyen for lovely views of the city.

To get the most out of your visit to Norway, don’t forget that we can also help you to arrange tours before or after your voyage, such as the  Norway in a Nutshell programme.

Your voyage begins

Before boarding, you can relax in our comfortable guest lounge at the terminal. Once aboard, enjoy the first of many delicious meals made from fresh coastal produce as we depart Bergen and sail the old Viking route along Hjeltefjord.

You’ll also meet your ship’s Coastal Experts who will be your guides as we cruise Norway’s coastline, organising lectures, onboard activities, and optional hikes.

DAY 2 : Florø - Molde

Iconic Architecture and Fantastic Fjords

Enjoy early morning in the breathtaking Nordfjord near Torvik. We then sail past West Cape for our approach to Ålesund.

Art Nouveau city

Ålesund is renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and Atlanterhavsparken, one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums. If you’re travelling with us in spring or winter, you’ll have most of the day to explore this picturesque town.

Into the fjords

In the summer, from June to August, we set course for UNESCO-listed  Geirangerfjord . This is a protected and preserved piece of paradise with towering mountain cliffs and waterfalls like the famous Seven Sisters cascading into the fjord.

In spring, from April to May*, and in autumn, from September to October, your ship will sail to  Hjørundfjord , hidden away in the Sunnmøre Alps. There’ll also be a call at the scenic village of Urke to gaze at the view of thousand-year-old farms, the fjord, and the lush mountainsides.

*Only on voyages departing in 2025-26. 

Mountains and roses

The last port of the day is Molde . In summer, there might just be enough daylight to see the amazing view of 222 mountain peaks across the fjord, called ‘the Molde Panorama ’.

From mid-June to late August, the streets and gardens here will be adorned with the sight and scent of roses of all shades, living up to Molde’s nickname as ‘ The City of Roses ’.

• Geiranger With Trollstigen Pass A scenic bus journey from Geiranger village brings you to Eidsdalsvatnet Lake and continues to the Norddalsfjord for a ferry ride. We rejoin the bus and travel to Gudbrands Gorge and down the winding Trollstigen Pass to Molde.
• Art Nouveau Walk (Spring & Winter) Join us on a guided walking tour through Ålesund and discover the history and culture of this elegant Art Nouveau town.
• Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium and Mount Aksla Get a bird´s-eye-view of the Art Nouveau town of Ålesund from a nearby mountain before visiting the expansive saltwater Atlanterhavsparken aquarium.
• Art Nouveau Walk (Autumn) Ålesund is best known for its vibrant Art Nouveau architecture. Join us on a walking tour to discover the hidden charms of this Norwegian coastal town.
• Hjørundfjord - tastes and traditions Explore the beautiful Hjørundfjord aboard a vintage ship and treat your tastebuds to a delicious four-course meal in a 16th century guesthouse in the village of Sæbø.
• A Taste of Norway A beautiful fjord, narrow valleys, an ancient settlement, historic hotel, and tiny village – join us for this highly popular journey through spectacular Norwegian nature.
• Mountain Hike in the Hjørundfjord Admire the spectacular views of Hjørundfjord, the Sunnmøre Alps, Sæbø and Urke villages on this mountain hike. There’s even time for a coffee break midway.
• Hike with a Visit to a Shieling Join us for a pleasant hike up from the fjord through lovely meadows to a summer grazing site at Haukås where we learn about traditional farming and taste local delicacies.
• Hjørundfjord, Geiranger, and Ålesund This excursion takes you through Norangsdalen valley, on a ferry ride on UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, up steep Eagle Road, and then to the Art Nouveau city of Ålesund.
• Kayaking in Ålesund Join us on a guided kayaking tour through the elegant town of Ålesund and learn more about its history and Art Nouveau influence.
• Alnes Lighthouse Explore the ancient islands of Giske and Godøy and enjoy the fantastic coastal scenery at Alnes Lighthouse.

DAY 3 : Trondheim

City of Kings and Palaces

We arrive at Trondheim just after breakfast. Your short voyage with us concludes here. If you’ve got some time before your onward journey, you might like to explore the city’s sights.

Magical, medieval, and modern

Founded by Viking king Olav Tryggvason in 997, Trondheim today is Norway’s third largest city and a mix of historic buildings and a buzzing student population.

A must-see site of the city is  Nidaros Cathedral , nicknamed “Norway’s Notre Dame” for its Gothic style and considered the most sacred building in all of Norway. Next door to the cathedral is the  Archbishop’s Palace  where Norway’s crown jewels are on display.

Nearby, the old city bridge  Gamle Bybro  sits over Nid River, marking the entrance to the old Hanseatic district of  Bakklandet . The neighbourhood’s colourful wooden wharves propped up on stilts by the river’s edge now house trendy eateries. Up from Bakklandet is  Kristiansten Fort  which affords beautiful panoramas of the city and fjord.

What’s included

• Cruise with Hurtigruten in an unspecified cabin Your cabin will be allocated when you check in

Not included in your voyage

• Flights & transfers
• Travel insurance
• Optional excursions
• Luggage handling
• Prices are in EUR per person based on two people travelling together sharing a twin cabin
• Not all cabin categories are available for all departures
• Single cabin pricing available on request
• Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled and subject to availability.

Hurtigruten

• Norway Fjords Cruise
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Norwegian Cruise Line food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board

Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to food.

Back in 2000, the company introduced the concept of Freestyle Cruising, and with it, the idea of Freestyle Dining. Guests no longer were assigned to traditional early or late dinner seatings in the main dining rooms on Norwegian Cruise Line's ships, but rather could decide when they wanted to eat and with whom.

The cruise line also began to roll out specialty restaurants — smaller, cuisine-specific dining venues such as the French-themed Le Bistro and Cagney's Steakhouse — that passengers could reserve for an additional cover charge.

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Today, passengers will find more than three dozen dining options, including 21 that require a cover charge or feature a la carte pricing, on board NCL's 17 ships. While the cruise fare covers a number of restaurants, specialty restaurants requiring an extra charge are popular, and new specialty restaurants are introduced with each class of ship.

The onboard restaurant lineup also varies by ship, with those in the Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes having a larger selection than the line's older, smaller ships.

How do you make sense of it all? We've compiled a rundown of all the Norwegian Cruise Line food options, from coffee and gelato shops to a la carte restaurants where the tab can easily top $150 for two. Here's what's included, what you'll pay extra for and the ships that feature each dining venue.

American Diner

Included; lunch and dinner

This 1950s-inspired diner featured on all six ships in NCL's Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes offers quintessential midcentury comfort foods — from cheeseburgers and meatloaf to chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs. Desserts include bread pudding and carrot walnut cake. The food is now all free (Norwegian made this change in early 2024), but if you want to wash it down with a milkshake, you'll need to pay up.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Atrium Cafe

A la carte; coffee and snacks

Atrium Cafe is a coffee and cocktail bar that serves hot and cold beverages along with a selection of cookies, pastries and other snacks. Alternately, some NCL ships feature Starbucks cafes.

Available on : Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun

Cadillac Diner

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

You'll have to head to Hawaii to enjoy the barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches and more served up retro-style in the Cadillac Diner. This venue, with its funky black-and-white checkered floor and vinyl booths wedged between two sections of a vintage red sedan, is found exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. It's open 24 hours a day, and everything is complimentary except for the milkshakes.

Available on : Pride of America

Cagney's Steakhouse

A la carte; dinner

One of NCL's most popular specialty restaurants, Cagney's features a classic steakhouse menu with plenty of options for seafood lovers as well. The stars are the cuts of aged certified Angus beef (rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse and New York strip) with a choice of sauces and side dishes such as truffle mashed potatoes and sauteed garlic mushrooms. Other options include cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Australian lamb chops. Save room for the OMG Caramel-Butterscotch Cheesecake.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Sky)

Related: The best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants

Chinese restaurant

Included; dinner, plus lunch on select days

If you're craving shrimp dumplings or a bowl of stir-fried noodles with beef, a number of older Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a complimentary Chinese restaurant where you can get your fix. Names vary by ship — you'll find Bamboo on Dawn, Shanghai's on Epic, Orchid Garden on Gem, Jasmine Garden on Jade, Chin Chin on Jewel, Lotus Garden on Pearl, Silk on Spirit, Ginza on Star and East Meets West on Pride of America — but the menus are similar.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit and Star

Coco's

A la carte; snacks and treats

A cross between an ice cream parlor and a candy shop, Coco's features an array of treats — chocolates from around the world, milkshakes, crepes and more — to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss and Encore

Dolce Gelato

When it's midafternoon and the sun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean is blazing, you can head to this takeaway counter on Deck 8 for a cup or cone of irresistibly creamy gelato.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape and Getaway

Food Republic

A la carte; dinner and lunch on sea days

This globally inspired specialty restaurant with an Asian-Latin fusion theme remains popular almost a decade after its debut on Norwegian Escape. You'll want to order multiple dishes to share family-style from Food Republic 's menu sections: Sushi Bar (eight different rolls), Hand Helds (everything from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos), Sharing Is Caring (grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, salt and pepper calamari and more), Noodles/Rice/Soups (shrimp pad thai to Vietnamese Pho Tai) and Sugar Pump (desserts featuring green tea, chocolate and ginger caramel).

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva

Garden Cafe

Sometimes, the buffet is the answer. It's perfect when you get on board the first day and need to grab a quick bite before you explore the ship or when you arrive back after a daylong shore excursion and want to refuel right away without having to change clothes. Garden Cafe offers plenty of options, including carved meats or grilled fish with assorted side dishes, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, and desserts. Most items are precooked and kept warm under heat lamps, so it's not the freshest option, but it's usually packed at breakfast and lunch with guests who like the all-you-can-eat portions.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Prima and Viva)

Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime

Cover charge; dinner

This is a slightly more elevated version of NCL's Teppanyaki restaurant. You'll be seated with other guests around a grill, and as you dine on edamame, miso soup and seaweed salad, the chef will prepare your entree (a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with great flair. These fresh-from-the-grill proteins are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables, and the dessert that follows is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi.

Available on : Norwegian Prima and Viva

Hudson's

This circular, light-filled space debuted on Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a new main dining room option. It features the same daily rotating menu as the second main dining room, the Commodore Room, but what sets this venue apart is its bright-and-airy ambience, courtesy of 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows.

Indulge Food Hall

This new casual dining concept, also introduced on Norwegian Prima, quickly became a popular alternative to the Surfside Cafe buffet (see below) for both lunch and dinner; at breakfast, it serves a similar but more limited menu as Surfside. The appeal of Indulge Food Hall is the variety — there are more than four dozen menu items from seven vendors: Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie and Tamara — served in small-plate portions. You can enjoy chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered from your table via a tablet.

Related: 11 venues, 32 dishes, 4 days: I tested every eatery at Norwegian Cruise Line's new Indulge Food Hall so you don't have to

La Cucina was Norwegian's sole Italian specialty restaurant until the launch of Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Encore in 2018, and the two restaurants are quite different. La Cucina is the more traditional, featuring classic Italian favorites — caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore and osso buco alla Milanese — while Onda's menu focuses on more finessed modern Italian dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Joy, Pearl, Sky, Star and Sun

Like Cagney's, NCL's French fine-dining restaurant is a longtime favorite that's featured fleetwide (it's called Jefferson's Bistro on Pride of America). Popular with couples for special occasion dinners, Le Bistro features everything from steak tartare and escargot to braised lamb shank and roasted duck breast. With its a la carte pricing, this is among the richest (and costliest) dining experiences on board, especially if accompanied by a bottle of Champagne or other French wine. Le Bistro restaurants on Norwegian Prima and Viva are especially atmospheric, with dramatic large-scale chandeliers and elegant ivory-and-blue decor.

Available : Fleetwide

Vibrant decor and sophisticated Mexican cuisine that goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex fare make Los Lobos an appealing option if you're sailing on one of the six ships that feature it. The guacamole, made fresh tableside, is a must. Other menu options include Mexican-style shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, nopales (cactus) salad, chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil (slow-braised pork). Top it all off with a tres leches cake with coconut cream.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Dawn, Encore, Prima, Sun and Viva

Main dining room

Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature at least two main dining rooms, and sometimes even three. Names vary by ship — although the six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships all feature the Manhattan Room, plus Savor and Taste, and Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have the Commodore Room and Hudson's. Menus change daily throughout the cruise and feature a selection of American and international dishes.

Moderno Churrascaria

Carnivores can devour their fill of a variety of meats the traditional Brazilian way as gauchos carve and serve cuts of beef, lamb, pork, sausage and chicken right at the table. Those who prefer to limit their meat intake can fill up instead at the salad bar, which features 43 items. White rice, black beans, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca and Brazilian cheese bread are also served as side dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star and Sun

Nama Sushi & Sashimi

Another new restaurant to debut on Norwegian Prima, Nama Sushi & Sashimi doesn't veer too far from its name, serving six different sushi rolls (from yellowtail to rock shrimp), three sashimi options and a variety of appetizers, most of which feature raw fish. Even the dessert — pineapple carpaccio — is uncooked.

Ocean Blue is an elegant seafood restaurant featured on NCL's six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. (It's known as Bayamo by Ocean Blue on Norwegian Escape.) Guests can savor appetizers such as crabcakes, pan-seared scallops and an ahi tuna and avocado tower, followed by steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini or simply grilled fish (salmon, tuna, cod or sea bass) served with a choice of sauces. All Ocean Blue restaurants are located on Deck 8 and feature indoor and outdoor seating on The Waterfront.

Onda by Scarpetta

Modern Italian cuisine is the centerpiece of Onda by Scarpetta, another of NCL's elevated specialty dining options and the sister restaurant to land-based Scarpetta. Introduced in 2019 on Norwegian Encore and more recently rolled out on the line's newest ships (plus at least one older vessel), Onda by Scarpetta indulges with antipasti starters such as burrata, short ribs and braised octopus, a half dozen pasta options (including pappardelle Bolognese and Scarpetta's famous spaghetti with tomato and basil) and finally gets around to secondis such as veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The main question will be: Do you have room for dessert?

Available on : Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit and Viva

O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill

Included; 24-hour dining

This lively and social pub-style eatery overlooks the buzzing three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships and is also featured on seven older NCL ships. It's open 24 hours a day and serves comfort classics such as burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, beef chili and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Star

One of NCL's newest dining venues, Palomar celebrates the Mediterranean with a menu featuring lots of Greek influences. Seafood dishes outnumber meat options and include tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, le puy lentils, clams and pistachio pesto. Desserts include Greek yogurt sorbet with orange custard pie.

Pincho Tapas Bar

This unique Spanish-style tapas bar is found on only one ship in the Breakaway Class and fits in with the ship's overall Miami/Latin-influenced theme. Head to Pinchos if you're looking to enjoy small-plate dishes such as blue crab salad and bacon-wrapped dates, as well as chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops and more served a la plancha. Wash it all down with a Spanish red, a glass of sangria or a signature Matador cocktail.

Available on : Norwegian Escape

Included; casual lunch

Three Norwegian ships feature a pool grill (all with different names) that's open for lunch and late afternoon snacks. The venue serves casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs and french fries.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Gem and Pride of America

Q Texas Smokehouse

This barbecue eatery debuted on Norwegian Bliss in 2018, and its menu features smoked meats (pit classics like brisket, pulled pork and beef short ribs), as well as calorific sides (loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings and macaroni and cheese). You can also enjoy live country music and even sweat off the excess calories by dancing (before ordering pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert). A more limited menu is available for free as part of Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva — but you'll need to dance elsewhere.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy

Savor (and Taste)

These two restaurants on all six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships are essentially smaller-scale main dining rooms. They are located across from each other on Deck 6 and feature lunch and dinner menus that change daily.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar

This casual dining venue serves a selection of freshly prepared and wok-fried Asian noodle and rice dishes, from pork pot stickers and steamed vegetable dumplings to Singapore-style rice noodles and udon noodles in broth.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Epic and Getaway

Included; casual pub fare

While most NCL ships, with the exception of Pride of America, have a pub-style complimentary eatery — either O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill or The Local Bar & Grill — one older outlier has Sports Bar. Like the other eateries, this venue is free and features comfort classics such as Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings and fish and chips.

Available on : Norwegian Sun

A la carte; coffee, breakfast and snacks

NCL wasn't the first cruise line to feature the well-known coffee chain (that would be Royal Caribbean), but it now has the most Starbucks cafes on board its ships. Guests can purchase frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews and many of the other coffee, tea and breakfast and pastry items that are available on land.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky and Viva

Surfside Cafe & Grill

With the debut of Norwegian Prima, NCL evolved its buffet-style restaurant (known as Garden Cafe on most ships) to Surfside Cafe & Grill. The Deck 17 space is notably smaller, though, due to the fact that Prima Class ships also feature Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill as complimentary casual dining options. The reduced size does result in some overcrowding, especially at breakfast, with overflow guests directed to find seats in the adjacent Food Republic space.

All but three NCL ships feature Teppanyaki , a Benihana-style Japanese restaurant where the live-action preparation is integral to the experience. You'll be seated around a grill as your chef prepares your entree (either chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with dramatic flair. You'll start with miso soup and seaweed salad, and all entrees are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Dessert is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi. Hasuki replaces Teppanyaki on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Encore, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

The Bake Shop

A sugar rush is practically guaranteed at The Bake Shop, a Deck 8 confectionery selling assorted bonbons (with fillings from passion fruit to praline), cupcakes (more than a dozen options, including red velvet, chocolate-pistachio and lemon merengue) and French macarons in a dozen flavors.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore and Getaway

The Great Outdoors

Included; lunch

This outdoor casual buffet on seven Norwegian Cruise Line ships has a come-as-you-are dress code and serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other items for guests who want to enjoy some ocean scenery with their lunch.

Available on : Norwegian Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Sun

The Haven Restaurant

Included for guests booked in The Haven; breakfast, lunch and dinner

If you book a suite in The Haven, the exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave found on every new NCL ship since it was introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010, you'll enjoy access to The Haven Restaurant. Open only to Haven guests, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus here do not change, but there are generally enough options (a dozen appetizers and 10 entrees at dinner, for example) that you can dine here multiple times without repeating a dish or running out of interesting dishes to try.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy, Prima and Viva

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local Bar & Grill is a favored hangout for sports telecasts and trivia contests, as well as a go-to for guests when anytime-hunger strikes. Like its comfort food sibling O'Sheehans's Bar & Grill, its 24-hour menu features breakfast, all-day and late-night items that include omelets, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish and chips and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit and Viva

The Raw Bar

Located adjacent to Ocean Blue, this casual option with counter seating serves oysters, clams, shellfish and crudos (salmon tartare, black sea bass ceviche and more), as well as wines by the glass and a selection of desserts.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway

Topsiders Bar & Grill

Included; casual pool grill with varying hours

Five older NCL ships feature Topsiders Bar & Grill, a poolside venue serving burgers, hot dogs, french fries and other takeaway items.

Available on : Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Star

Wasabi (or Sushi)

This contemporary sushi bar — called either Wasabi or Sushi, depending on the ship — is the spot for cocktails, sake and Japanese specialties that include sesame seaweed salad, sushi and specialty rolls, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. On Prima Class ships, you'll find Nama Sushi & Sashimi with a different menu.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

FAQs about NCL dining

Is norwegian cruise line's food free.

You can dine for free during your cruise at any of the complimentary dining venues on board NCL ships. There are typically four to six included dining venues per ship, several of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Is there a main dining room?

Yes, all NCL ships feature a main dining room — some have as many as three — and Freestyle Dining means you can choose when to dine (within the specified breakfast, lunch and dinner hours).

Do I need to make reservations?

You do not need to make reservations for the main dining rooms or casual venues like O'Sheehan's or the buffet. However, you can make reservations for the main dining rooms if you'd prefer to eat at a specific time and wish to avoid long wait times during the most popular dinner hours.

Sit-down specialty restaurants always require a reservation. The sooner you can make one, the better. You can book specialty dining online via the cruise line's website or app or by calling Norwegian reservations. You can also reserve when you get on board, but you risk that the more popular eateries will already be fully booked, especially during the peak summer and holiday periods. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available, but you'll likely need to show up early or late to snag a table.

Does Norwegian offer room service?

Yes, NCL offers 24-hour room service, but you will be charged a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per delivery, with the exception of morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests staying in The Haven. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will also be added for noncomplimentary beverages and special occasion items delivered to your room.

How much does specialty dining cost?

It varies by restaurant. At venues with a la carte pricing, such as Cagney's, Ocean Blue, Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro, it's easy to rack up a bill of $80 per person, not including beverages. NCL's sushi restaurants are also a la carte, as is Food Republic. Two people with an average appetite can dine at both for around $50 to $60 per person, not including beverages. Other venues, such as Teppanyaki and Moderno Churrascaria, feature a set cover charge of $59 per person.

Does NCL offer specialty dining packages?

Yes and if you like a variety of cuisines and plan to dine at two or more extra-charge restaurants, purchasing a specialty dining package makes sense.

These range in price from $99 per person for a two-meal package to $469 per person for a 14-meal package. The price per meal gets lower the more meals you purchase — from $49.50 per dinner on a two-meal package to $33.50 per dinner for 14 meals. Even the four-meal package at $169 per person is a good deal at $42.25 per dinner, given the a la carte pricing greatly exceeds that (for three courses) at most specialty restaurants and eateries with cover charges are priced at $59 per person.

Also, a select number of specialty dining meals are typically included with NCL's Free at Sea booking promotion .

What about service charges?

A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will automatically be added to the cost of your specialty dining package when you purchase it or to your onboard dining charge if you pay a la carte or a flat cover charge.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Hurtigruten Expeditions is now HX!

• Inspiration

Norway | Fjords and Historic Cities

3-Day Norwegian Voyage | Bergen to Trondheim

Regular departures

Voyage overview

You only need a few days to enjoy some great experiences. Travel from Bergen to Trondheim and see the most beautiful fjords and cities along the coast of Western Norway. In summer we sail into the Geirangerfjord , and in the fall we sail into the Hjørundfjord , which is known to be the most beautiful fjord in Norway.

Detours to Geirangerfjord in summer or Hjørundfjord in fall

See 8 coastal communities as we sail during the day and the night

Explore the beautiful town of Ålesund , famous for its architecture

The day-by-day program will give you some ideas about what you can see during your voyage, but bear in mind that this itinerary is just an indication. After all, this is a sailing where the elements rule and weather conditions might vary.

Welcome Aboard!

Your voyage starts in Bergen , Norway’s second-largest city and a gateway to the fjords. Founded in 1070 A.D., Bergen boasts architecture influenced by the prosperous 14th-century German trading organization, the Hanseatic League.

If you have time before your ship departs, visit the UNESCO-listed wharfs in the colorful Bryggen district, now a neighborhood with artisan’s shops, complete with cobblestone streets. Just across the street is the famous fish market, which serves delicious seafood. The Fløibanen funicular can also take you up to the top of Mount Fløyen for views of the city.

Your voyage begins

Before boarding, relax in our comfortable guest lounge at the terminal. Once aboard, enjoy the first of many delicious meals made from fresh coastal produce as we depart Bergen and sail the old Viking route along the Hjeltefjord.

You’ll also meet your ship’s Coastal Experience Team , who will be your guides as we sail Norway’s coastline. They’ll organize lectures, onboard activities, and optional hikes.

Time in port:

Bergen : 2:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Iconic Architecture and Fantastic Fjords

Enjoy early morning in the Nordfjord , near Torvik. Then we’ll sail past the West Cape for our approach to Ålesund.

Art Nouveau city

Ålesund is renowned for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and Atlanterhavsparken, one of northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums. If you’re traveling with us in spring or winter, you’ll have most of the day to explore this picturesque town.

Into the fjords

In the summer, from June to August, we set course for UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord . This is a protected and preserved piece of paradise with towering mountain cliffs and waterfalls like the famous Seven Sisters cascading into the fjord.

In spring, from April to May*, and in fall, from September to October, your ship will sail to Hjørundfjord , hidden away in the Sunnmøre Alps . There’ll also be a call at the scenic village of Urke to gaze at the view of thousand-year-old farms, the fjord, and the lush mountainsides.

*Only on voyages departing in 2025-26. 

Mountains and roses

The last port of the day is Molde . In summer, there might just enough daylight to see the amazing view of the 222 mountain peaks across the fjord, called the ‘ Molde Panorama’.

And from mid-June to late August, the streets and gardens are adorned with roses of all shades and scents, all solidify Molde’s nickname as the ‘City of Roses’.

Florø : 2:45 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.

Måløy : 5:15 a.m. - 5:30 a.m.

Torvik : 8:20 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

(11.01-03.31) Ålesund : 9:45 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

(4.1 – 5.31* & 9.1-10.31) Ålesund: 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

(4.1 – 5.31* & 9.1-10.31) Urke: 12:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

(6.1-8.31) Ålesund: 9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

(6.1-8.31) Geiranger: 2:25 - 2:45 p.m.

Molde : 10:35 p.m. - 11:05 p.m.

City of Kings and Palaces

We arrive at Trondheim just after breakfast. Your voyage with us concludes here. If you’ve got some time before your onward journey, you might like to explore the city’s sights.

Founded by Viking king Olav Tryggvason in 997, Trondheim today is Norway’s third-largest city and a mix of historic buildings and a vibrant student population.

A must-see site of the city is  Nidaros Cathedral , nicknamed “Norway’s Notre Dame” for its Gothic style and considered the most sacred building in all of Norway. Next door to the cathedral is the  Archbishop’s Palace  where Norway’s crown jewels are on display.

Nearby, the old city bridge  Gamle Bybro  sits over Nid River, marking the entrance to the old Hanseatic district of  Bakklandet . The neighborhood’s colorful wooden wharves propped up on stilts by the river’s edge now house a variety of eateries. Up from Bakklandet is  Kristiansten Fort  which offers beautiful panoramas of the city and fjord.

We have several ships in the fleet that we travel with.

MS Kong Harald

Norway’s reigning monarch, a seasoned sailor, lends his name to this remarkable hybrid vessel.

MS Nordkapp

MS Nordkapp is named after the northernmost point on mainland Europe: North Cape (71ºN) - one of the geographical highpoints you can visit on a Hurtigruten voyage.

Both the name and the interior design of this modern ship are inspired by the spectacular Northern Lights.

About your trip

What's included.

Cruise with Hurtigruten in an unspecified cabin ( Your cabin will be allocated when you check in )

What's Not Included

Flights and transfers

Travel protection

Optional seasonal excursions

Baggage handling

Prices are in USD per person based on two people traveling together sharing a twin cabin

Not all cabin categories are available for all departures

Single cabin pricing available on request

Hurtigruten has a flexible pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled and subject to availability.

Know before you go

• FAQ: The Coastal Express
• Meet the team on our Coastal Express ships
• What to pack for a Norwegian cruise

Optional Excursions

Explore your destination even further with our wide range of exciting excursions. The excursion program presented is an indication of some of the excursions that may be available during your voyage.

Geiranger with Trollstigen Pass

Starts from

The Geirangerfjord

Summer (Jun - Aug)

Art Nouveau Walk (Spring & Winter)

Spring (Apr - May), Winter (Nov - Mar)

Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium and Mount Aksla

Art Nouveau Walk (Fall)

Autumn (Sep - Oct)

1 hour 30 minutes

Hjørundfjord – Tastes and Traditions

6 hours 30 minutes

A Taste of Norway

The Hjørundfjord

2 hours 15 minutes

Mountain Hike in the Hjørundfjord

2 hours 45 minutes

Hike with a Visit to a Shieling

Hjørundfjord, Geiranger, and Ålesund

Kayaking in Ålesund

Alnes Lighthouse

3 hours 30 minutes

Home » Cruise » Norwegian Cruise Line » Norwegian Encore » Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review

In our signature day-by-day Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise review, we detail our time sailing the region with NCL.

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Ship overview.

Having just returned from Alaska on Princess Cruises , we were eager to explore more of the region on this trip. It had been a while since we sailed on a Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway-Plus Class ship. We attended the 3-day naming ceremony for Norwegian Encore back in 2019 and we also sailed Norwegian Bliss to Alaska back in 2018.

Norwegian Encore is the final ship in the Breakaway-Plus Class, with a gross tonnage of 169K and accommodating just under 4,000 guests at double occupancy. She is one of five Norwegian Cruise Line ships sailing in Alaska this year, along with sister ship, Norwegian Bliss.

Norwegian Encore boasts all the bells and whistles of modern mega-ships making it an attractive option for families and multi-generational groups. From a 1,100 foot long racetrack at the top of the ship, to the largest and most immersive laser tag arena at sea, and the Galaxy Pavilion VR gaming area, there is plenty to keep the kids and teens entertained between ports of call.

Not to mention, the ship features the forward-facing Observation Lounge perfect for Alaska, two pools and whirlpools, a spa and thermal suite, and the deck 8 Waterfront promenade. There’s also everybody’s favorite production show, Choir of Man; Beatles tribute bands in The Cavern Club; comedy shows in The Social; and all your other typical cruise activities from trivia to a silent disco and the GLOW party.

When it comes to dining, Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator of the Freestyle approach. Thus, Norwegian Encore features several specialty restaurants including the signature steakhouse Cagney’s, Onda by Scarpetta, Le Bistro, and more. There’s also three complimentary main dining rooms, The Local Bar & Grill, and the Garden Café buffet. When you get thirsty, there’s plenty of bars to grab a drink too, including two of our favorites, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and the District Brewhouse.

Don’t worry, Norwegian’s Free at Sea has you covered with a free open bar, specialty dining, and even more perks. This offer features a Premium Beverage Package and 2-meal specialty dining package for a 7-day cruise (balcony and above). It is important to note that guests still need to pay the 20% gratuity on these free perks at the time of booking.

Since our last sailing on Norwegian Encore back in 2019, not much has changed. The ship is still in great condition and you can find all your NCL favorites on board. The one noticeable difference is that Kinky Boots is no longer a main theater production show, which is a bit of a disappointment as it was great.

This Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was a 7-day roundtrip cruise from Seattle including a stop in Glacier Bay. Additionally, it included four ports of call: Juneau; Skagway; Ketchikan; and Victoria, BC. As always, in our signature day-by-day review below, we detail our sailing in the region on Norwegian Encore.

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Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 1

A pre-cruise night.

For this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review, we flew into Seattle a day early as we always recommend. Booking a hotel stay at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, we were in a prime location to get to Pier 66 on embarkation day .

Feeling a bit tired from all our recent travels, we didn’t do much in Seattle this time around. With the beautiful weather, we did manage to walk around the waterfront area a bit and grabbed some food at Elliott’s Oyster House.

The Seattle Marriott Waterfront is literally across the street from NCL’s docking location in Seattle. Checking out of the hotel by 11 AM, we simply walked across the street, dropped our bags with the porters, and were onward to the terminal check-in process in no time.

Welcome Aboard Norwegian Encore

Given priority embarkation by NCL, we breezed through this process and were onboard in about 20 minutes. We decided to immediately proceed to our muster station to check-in for this mandatory safety briefing. Much like other cruise lines, you can watch the safety video on your stateroom television or smartphone and just simply need to stop by your actual assembly station for a quick overview.

Since we were being hosted by the cruise line on this sailing, we then met with our onboard contact before beginning our typical embarkation day routine. This took us up to the top of the ship where we began taking photos and videos for about the next 1.5 hours. This included areas like the pool deck, fitness center, Vibe Beach Club, the Encore Speedway, laser tag, and the Seattle skyline.

Approaching 2 PM, and the cabins still not ready, we decided to grab some lunch at The Local Bar & Grill. This sit-down venue is a great complimentary option and alternative to the buffet. I sampled the chicken salad sandwich, while Don devoured some of what he calls the best chicken wings at sea.

By the time we finished lunch, the cabins were ready. So, we decided to grab some Starbucks and head upstairs to drop off our carry-on items . Of note, Starbucks is included in the Premium Plus beverage package on NCL!

Our cabin was 12718, a Category BA cabin located pretty far forward on the starboard side of Deck 12. This cabin looked in really good shape still considering the ship is a few years old now. It had modern décor and was a pretty standard size and layout when it comes to balcony cabins.

The bathroom and shower did feel a bit more spacious, whereas the balcony itself is somewhat smaller when compared to other cruise lines. Nonetheless, we still recommend a balcony cabin especially in Alaska.

The layout of the room had the desk and sofa closer to the entrance and the bed closer to the balcony, which is our preferred layout. We also liked that there were USB outlets near the bed for charging our phones at night.

Given that sail away was not until 5 PM, we took some time to get photos and videos of our cabin and begin some unpacking.

Come Sail Away

Taking a break around 4 PM, we headed outside to scout out a spot for the sail away. Perched over the pool deck, we had a great vantage spot of the ship with the Space Needle on one side and Mount Rainier on the other side. After a bit, we also headed down to the pool deck to catch some of the sail away party. It was certainly more lively than our recent sail away on Princess Cruises.

While it was a gorgeous day in Seattle, as the ship pulled away and starting picking up some speed, it got noticeably windier and colder. Thus, we headed back inside to prepare for our first evening on Norwegian Encore. With a busy Alaska itinerary, we needed to make good use of our time to ensure we still got to experience everything on the ship.

Back to the cabin, we finished unpacking and got ready for dinner. Tonight, we were dining at Cagney’s our first of seven specialty dinners.

Our First of Many Specialty Dinners

Surprisingly, Cagney’s is one cruise line’s steakhouse that does not offer any chicken or vegetarian option on the menu. Thus, I had to make a special request, with which the manager was happy to oblige.

Starting off the meal, I sampled the baked onion soup and the wedge salad, while Don ordered the shrimp cocktail and ahi tuna tartare. All were pretty typical steakhouse appetizers; though, I would have to admit that the soup did not live up to the famous black and blue onion soup at the Crown Grill on Princess Cruises.

For entrees, the chef grilled me up some chicken breasts, and Don enjoyed his filet mignon. Perhaps the highlight of the meal though was the aptly named OMG caramel-butterscotch cheesecake.

With dinner taking a solid two hours this evening, we made a brief stop at the Social to check out the silent disco before heading to the theater for the first show of the cruise at 9:30 PM. The two comedians, who would perform multiple sets over the course of the week in the more intimate Social Comedy Club, had an introductory show in the theater tonight.

The two comedians on this sailing were Travis Nelson and Lucas Bohn. Of the two, we thought Lucas was funnier and definitely the edgier comedian. Let’s just say a couple may have stormed out of the theater because they didn’t agree with his material.

Following the comedy show, we made one more stop of the night at my favorite bar on the ship, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. We had to start the cruise off right with a Raspberry-Guava and Jalapeno Cucumber mojito.

Chatting and enjoying our drinks, we decided to call it a night around 11:30 PM.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 2

Our first sea day.

Day 2 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was a sea day. Since Don was working his full-time job again during this trip, we were up around 5:30 AM. Don headed out to grab our morning Starbucks along with some photos and videos around the ship before jumping on some conference calls by 7 AM. This is about the only time that the Observation Lounge was relatively empty.

Around 10 AM, we took a break to attend the This is Alaska presentation in the theater. Unfortunately, this was a glorified shore excursions talk with some Alaska facts interspersed. Curated Alaska programming is definitely one thing we missed on NCL.

Attempting to head outdoors on the Waterfront, it was extremely windy, so we decided to stay indoors instead. Exploring more of the ship, we decided it was time for lunch around 12:30 PM. The fusion restaurant, Food Republic, was open for lunch on this sea day. So, what better time to grab some tapas than right now.

An Afternoon Feast

We think the Food Republic is a hidden gem, but for some reason the venue is never busy. With the specialty dining package, cruisers can order 4 plates off the menu. This makes it a great dining option with friends as you can share multiple plates.

Don ordered the tiger rolls, pastrami and sauerkraut dumplings, kimchee fried rice, and salt & pepper calamari. He enjoyed all these selections and still stands by this being his favorite NCL restaurant. I ordered the Thai chicken lettuce wraps, chicken teriyaki, Korean fried chicken, and liege waffle for dessert. While all were good, my favorite was the Korean chicken.

This feast did take 90+ minutes, so by now, we were in need of our afternoon coffee. Back to Starbucks, we stumbled upon a Deal or No Deal game starting soon in the Atrium. Why not stick around and play? We purchased two cards for $49. While always fun to watch, we weren’t very lucky this time. We won an instant play ticket which resulted in a whopping $1.

By now, it was after 3:30 PM. Thus, we headed back to our cabin for a little work and scenic cruising before dinner. Tonight’s dinner was at 7 PM in Le Bistro; it was also the line’s Dress Up or Not Night.

Dinner and a Show

To dinner right on time, tonight’s specialty dining experience also lasted just about 2 hours. While our meal was good, Le Bistro is probably our least favorite restaurant on the ship.

Don started with the escargot and endive salad, while I did the goat cheese croquettes salad. For an entrée, I ordered the coq au vin and Don did the lamb chops. For dessert, we tested out the chocolate marquise and fraisier cake. Of all the items, the coq au vin was the standout dish of the evening.

With the Not So Newlywed game show occurring at 9 PM and our Choir of Man reservation at 10 PM, we made our way to the Atrium after dinner for the first half of this game show. While always a good time, a rather tipsy contestant made the show even funnier.

Honestly, we don’t really like that many of these game shows and activities take place in the Atrium as opposed to the theater or another entertainment venue as it’s almost impossible to ever score a seat.

Around 9:30 PM, we walked over to the theater for Choir of Man, the signature production show on Norwegian Encore. This show does require reservations, which can be made pre-cruise or upon boarding the ship. Cruisers can also go standby if they don’t get a reservation.

We highly recommend that you do see this show as it is a lot of fun. The 75-minute production is a high-energy singing and dancing spectacle. Set in The Jungle (also known as the local pub), the talented cast perform everything from classic rock hits to sing-a-long favorites. So, leave your worries behind and toast along with the lads during this award-winning show.

After the show, we felt it was only proper to round out our night at the District Brewhouse. If the Sugarcane Mojito Bar is my favorite, this is definitely Don’s favorite. The Brewhouse has one of the largest beer selections on any cruise ship. Thus, we grabbed a final drink and listened to the guitarist and piano vocalist, Ryan.

When his set wrapped up, so did we. Tomorrow was our first port of call.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 3

A late call into port.

Day 3 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was our first port of call in Juneau. Though, it was a late day stop with our time in port scheduled for 2:30 to 11 PM. We also gained an hour of sleep last evening to align with Alaska time which is 4 hours behind EST.

Still, Don had work meetings beginning at 10 AM EST. This meant another early morning for us. Following this call, he met our onboard contact to check out the Studio Lounge and the Mandara Spa. The rest of the morning was mostly consumed with work and some sightseeing from our balcony. Though, it was pretty foggy out.

Since today was a late port of call, the main dining room was open for lunch. Thus, we decided to grab a bigger lunch since we didn’t know how long we’d be out in Juneau or what our dinner plans would be.

As our first meal in the main dining room this cruise, we were pleasantly surprised. Historically, we have not been very impressed with NCL’s MDR, but this meal might have changed our mind. I ordered the chicken parm and Don did the rotisserie chicken. Both options were very good and probably some of the best we’ve had at sea. The peanut butter cheesecake dessert was also quite tasty.

An Evening in Juneau

Finishing lunch around 2 PM, we headed back to our room for a bit before meeting for a tour of the Haven at 3:15 PM.

Securing the necessary photos and videos, we were finally ready to go ashore around 5 PM. About 2 hours after the ship was cleared, there were no lines or waits to get off the ship or secure a shuttle to the downtown area.

By the time we booked this cruise, most of the excursions were already sold out. So, we decided to take a ride on the Goldbelt Tram and then just walk around the area afterwards. Even though it was foggy and misty most of the day, it did clear up a bit in time for our tram ride.

Taking the approximately six-minute trip up Mount Roberts from the lower terminal, we ascended to a height of about 1,800 feet. At the top, there are viewing platforms where you can look down onto Juneau and several of the docked cruise ships.

There is also a small theater with a video about the Tlingit people, a gift shop, a restaurant, and walking trails. The trails were rather wet and muggy, so we decided not to venture far beyond the viewing platforms. Still, we spent about 75 minutes exploring before getting in line to take the tram back down.

To our surprise, we were greeted with a long line of others also waiting to take the ride to ground level, which ending up taking about 45 minutes. While a ticket entitles you to ride anytime during the day, make sure you give yourself plenty of time for the roundtrip so you don’t miss your all-aboard time.

A Walk Along the Waterfront

We then spent the next hour or so walking along the boardwalk in Juneau. This took us past Tracy’s Crab Shack and some other shops. We then continued to a great vantage point of the cruise ships, where we took some photos of Norwegian Encore, Ovation of the Seas, and an Un-Cruise vessel.

We ventured along the Juneau Seawalk to The Whale Project which is just over a mile away from Downtown. Despite popular belief, our amazing photo of a whale breaching was just this sculpture. It is a great depiction of a humpback with intermittent water spraying up from the fountains.

While Don debated grabbing something to eat at Tracy’s, it was getting a bit chilly so we just headed back to the ship instead. Back onboard, we b-lined directly to the dining room to ensure we could get sat before it closed.

Tonight on the menu for Don was Asian spareribs summer roll, bang bang chicken & shrimp, and the lava cake. I did the potato soup, chicken madeira, and brownie s’more. While still better than our original expectations, we did enjoy today’s lunch better than dinner.

Out of dinner past 10:30 PM, we were exhausted so decided to call it a night. Tomorrow was a long day and shore excursion in Skagway.

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Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 4

Welcome to skagway.

Day 4 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review had us calling into Skagway for a full day. We also had a comprehensive tour booked for today, the aptly named Best of Skagway shore excursion.

Up around 6:30 AM, Don headed out to continue collecting photos and videos while I got ready. He had to meet our host this morning for access to the Galaxy Pavilion and the kids areas.

We had placed an order for room service breakfast the night before to be delivered between 8 and 8:30 AM, but it ended up arriving a few minutes early, even before Don returned to our cabin.

Enjoying our breakfast and doing a little morning work, we then headed out for the day. We made our way ashore to meet our tour at the assigned location on the pier. This tour included a stop at Liarsville, a ride on the White Pass Rail, and a visit to the Red Onion Saloon.

Traveling Back in Time to the Gold Rush

Boarding a large tour bus from the pier, we arrived at our first stop right around 11:30 AM. Liarsville is a replica of a Gold Rush trail camp where we watched a short show then got to try our hand at panning for gold. Let’s just say that we didn’t strike it rich!

After collecting our earnings, we had a few minutes to explore the area before it was time for the salmon bake. The included lunch consisted of a buffet of side dishes along with freshly prepared salmon.

Around 1 PM, we re-boarded our bus to head back into town for our visit to the Red Onion Saloon. Here, one of the madams gave us a “quickie tour” of the former brothel along with some insight into what it was like living and working here during the gold rush times. There are also some props on display from the era. Be sure to be on the lookout for the resident ghost as well.

Now, it was time for the highlight of the tour–our trek up the Klondike Highway into Frasier to board the White Pass Rail. During this nearly 3,000 foot climb in elevation, we made a couple stops for photo ops.

Once on the train, we took the approximately 2 hour, 27.7 mile scenic ride back to sea level in Skagway. Along the way, we admired the beautiful vistas and other landmarks like the Trial of ’98, the steel bridge, inspiration point, bridal veil falls, and more.

If you are taking the train from Frasier down to Skagway, you will want to sit on the right side as this is where most of the landmarks are located. However, if the weather allows, passengers can also venture outside on to the platforms for sightseeing and photos.

Upon arriving back into Skagway around 5 PM, we decided to walk back to the ship given the nice weather. We strolled through Downtown, taking some photos along the way. Unfortunately, the fudge store was closed and Starbucks was no longer in existence. So, we had to wait until we got back to the ship for our afternoon dose of caffeine.

Time to Mangia!

Back onboard, it was straight to Starbucks then back to our room to relax for a few minutes and change up for dinner. Tonight, we were dining at one of our favorite Italian specialty restaurants as sea, Onda by Scarpetta, at 7 PM.

You can always tell how good an Italian restaurant is going to be by its bread basket, and this one did not disappoint. Although, we wanted to make sure to save enough room for all the additional delicious courses too.

I started with the burrata, while Don ordered the fritto misto. We also split the Marcellaio pizza which featured a ricotta stuffed crust. For entrees, we both opted for a pasta dish. I did the Mezzalune and Don the Scialatielli. Everything at Onda was just at flavorful as we remembered. Although, we would probably stick with the Margherita pizza in the future.

Saving just a tiny bit of room for dessert, we finished off the meal with the butterscotch budino and tiramisu. After this nearly 2-hour feast, we waddled our way up to the Observation Lounge for some music by the Lemon Duo, one of the live music acts we had yet to see. After about a half hour, we continued on our music tour to the Cavern Club.

The Cavern Club, inspired by the Liverpool landmark, typically hosts Beatles tribute bands. However, we were told that one of the members of the group was sick, so the ship’s rock band mostly played this venue during our sailing. Still, the Cavern Club was packed with fellow cruisers rocking out to Royal Flush.

Following this set, we ended our evening in the Sugarcane Mojito Bar with some drinks and live Latin music. Tomorrow were were cruising through Glacier Bay early in the morning, and we certainly did not want to miss it.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 5

A morning of glaciers.

Day 5 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was another “sea day” with scenic cruising into Glacier Bay National Park.

Up at 6:30 AM again this morning, Don grabbed some morning coffee as we interspersed getting ready and some sightseeing from our balcony. We were also listening to the narration on the bridge cam that was pointing out landmarks, wildlife, and such.

During a cruise through Glacier Bay, there is the opportunity to typically see 5 glaciers depending on the weather. Thus, our first, and probably longest, glacier visit was Margerie Glacier around 9 AM.

One of the nice things about Norwegian Encore, when compared to our recent Princess cruise, was the abundance of spaces to glacier view.

Normally a crew area, the ship’s helipad was open today for guests to marvel at these glaciers. We started our day here, accessing it through a hallway on Deck 8 near the District Brewhouse. Honestly, we weren’t all that impressed with the view from here, especially being short like me.

In search of the best spot on the ship, we walked back to the Waterfront. From here, we were able to walk around this 1/3-mile long promenade keeping up with the glacier as the Captain made his first 360′ turn.

Where’s the Best View?

Wanting to see what the view was like from our balcony, we then hurried our way up to our cabin in time to catch the view on the starboard side. If you are not crazy like us, there is no need to hustle from one location to the other, as all guests will get a view regardless of whether they are on the starboard side or portside of the ship.

What did throw off our timing a bit was the sequence this Captain took compared to our previous visits. While all ships spend about an hour admiring this glacier, our previous trips on Princess and Holland America spent about a half hour on one side before turning and spending about a half hour on the other side. However, our Captain on Norwegian Encore completed three full turns.

After our balcony, we ended up spending the rest of our glacier viewing time between the Vibe Beach Club and the pool deck. The Vibe Beach Club, while an up-charge, is a hidden gem even in Alaska. This outdoor space provided uninterrupted views with fewer crowds and great views from the hot tubs.

Along the way, there’s also opportunity to see the Lamplugh Glacier, Grand Pacific Glacier, Reid Glacier, and the John Hopkins Glacier. During this time of year, cruise ships are not allowed past Jaw Point, meaning the John Hopkins Glacier is about 6 miles away. Still, on a clearer day, the views are fantastic.

With most of the glacier viewing done around noon time, we made our first (and only) visit to the Garden Café for lunch all week. The selections were pretty typical of a cruise ship buffet, with nothing really wow’ing us.

From here, it was down to the theater to catch the 1 PM presentation by the Park Ranger. If your cruise ship is calling in Glacier Bay, a park ranger will board the vessel to provide commentary while cruising the area and will also give an informational presentation either before or after your sightseeing.

Each presentation is different as it not only includes facts and figures but also some personal narrative. Ranger Rachel’s talk was interesting as she first visited Glacier Bay as a child on a cruise ship!

With a busy morning, we decided to head back to the room to rest a bit before our busy afternoon.

Testing Out All the Thrills

On Norwegian Encore, you can be as chill or as thrill as you want. But if you want to do both, you end up with a schedule something like ours!

We had reservations for the Encore Speedway at 4:30 PM followed by the laser tag. For an up-charge of $15, cruisers can set off on an 8-minute race to the finish. Where else can you race family and friends with views like these?

This course covers over 1,100 feet with 10 turns and 4 points that extend up to 13 feet over the side of the ship. There is also a viewing area where bystanders can watch the race and provide a temporary speed boost to their favorite drivers.

Let’s just say that thanks to a tween driver who caused a 5-car crash, Don came out victoriously in this race!

Next up was laser tag, which I decided to bow out of and capture the photos and videos instead. I didn’t need another loss on my scorecard. So, Don and our friend Adam suited up for a battle on this most intricate laser tag course at sea. The lost city of Atlantis laser tag course is $9.95 for a 10-minute game and is a fun activity for all ages.

Dinner and Some Laughs

Following laser tag, it was time to change up for dinner. Tonight’s dinner was at Los Lobos, the Mexican specialty restaurant on Norwegian Encore, for 7 PM.

Of course, we had to start the meal off right with some tableside-prepared guacamole. We may have also ordered the queso fundido as an appetizer alongside some margaritas. What’s Mexican without margaritas?

For entrees, I decided to order the appetizer-portion of chicken quesadillas with the Mexican corn and Don ordered the cochinita pibil. Everything we ordered was great up until the dessert. The fried beignets were the weakest portion of this meal and did not compare to the similar option we had on Norwegian Prima last year.

Rushing out of dinner rather abruptly, we made it to the Social comedy club just in time for the 9 PM show. Besides Choir of Man, this is the other show that requires reservations. There are two comedians featured here with several showings throughout the week. So, we made sure to reserve one of each comedians’ sets. Tonight was Lucas Bohn.

Lucas was certainly the funnier of the two comedians. Though, we actually enjoyed his material from the theater on the first night more.

Following the comedy show, we headed over to Q for Nashville Nights and Lights. This pretty much consisted of a country line dance class followed by live music and dancing. It’s too bad there wasn’t a country band featured in this venue as there was in pre-COVID times.

Sipping the signature smoked peach margarita, we stayed for a bit before calling it a night. Tomorrow was our next port of call in Ketchikan.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 6

A short stay in ketchikan.

Day 6 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was our next port of call into Ketchikan. This stop was a short, early morning stop, with us only in port from 7 AM to 1:15 PM, which meant all aboard was 12:45 PM.

Knowing that Norwegian Cruise Line ships dock in Ward Cove, which is about a 20 minute drive from the Downtown area, we decided to book an organized shore excursion to avoid the hassle of taking the shuttle back and forth in this short amount of time. In fact, the last shuttle from Downtown was scheduled for 11 AM!

Thus, we were up early and headed ashore by 8 AM to meet our tour in the main terminal building. This building is quite large but is basically just a gift shop and tour meeting area.

Today’s tour consisted of a visit to the Totem Bight state park and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Our tour, and tour guide, for Totem Bight was much more organized than our one a few weeks prior to Saxman Village.

Our guide gave us a brief tour of the grounds with some narrative about the poles, as well as visiting a replica clan house and a restoration building with some artifacts. After some free time to walk around on our own and visit the gift shop, we were off to Downtown for our lumberjack show.

While we have seen this show before, it’s always a good time. Starting a bit late, due to a medical emergency that happened to occur right beside me, this show lasted just about an hour. It featured two teams of lumberjacks, Spruce Mill and Dawson Creek, competing in a series of challenges. Alas, our team did not take the victory. Still, it was fun to watch the competitions including axe throwing, speed climbing, sawing challenges, log rolling, and more.

A quick lumberjack photo later, we immediately took the quick walk back to our bus which got us back to Ward Cove around 1 PM. This is one of the benefits of booking shore excursions with the cruise line. Even if your tour is delayed, the ship will not leave without you.

Arriving to a line of other cruisers still waiting to get back onto the ship as well, it was about 20 minutes later when we actually got back onboard. We did hear that the shuttle back to the ship was a bit of a disaster as well. So, needless to say, the ship did not depart Ketchikan on time today.

Given the time, we decided to grab a quick lunch at The Local to hold us over until our dinner at Q Texas Smokehouse this evening. With some coffee in hand, we went back to the room after lunch to get some work done before our 7 PM reservation.

Another Night of Dinner and Comedy

While NCL fans give Q mixed reviews, we enjoy this BBQ specialty restaurant. It’s a casual atmosphere with good food and good drinks. We started off the night with the Lone Star chili and deviled eggs. Then, I opted for the smoked turkey breast, and Don went all in on the Pitmaster. The turkey breast was better than I remember, and the Pitmaster featured it all–brisket, spare rib, chicken, and sausage.

For desserts, I went with my go-to at this venue, the mason jar banana pudding, while Don tried something new, the bread pudding. Both were great choices.

Scurrying out of dinner by 8:45 PM, we grabbed seats for the 9 PM comedy show in the Social. Tonight’s show was with comedian Travis Nelson. Unfortunately, at least 75% of his show was the same material from the first night’s welcome aboard comedy show in the theater. Oh well.

After the comedy show, we ended up running into a couple that we knew and grabbed drinks and chatted for a while before taking the conversation back to the Social for the night’s GLOW Party.

Always a popular event, there was a crowd dancing along to all the hits. We decided to make our exit around 11:30 PM. Tomorrow was already the last day of the cruise and we were losing an hour of sleep tonight to get back on to Pacific Time.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 7

Let’s make it a sea day.

Day 7 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was our final day with an evening call into Victoria, BC. This was a short stop from 8 to 11:59 PM but mandatory for this roundtrip Seattle cruise.

Given the short amount of time in port, we decided to make this our own sea day , tying up some loose ends and enjoying more of the ship’s amenities.

With nothing concrete on the agenda, we slept in until around 8 AM this morning. Don walked around collecting the remaining photos and videos returning with our morning dose of Starbucks.

We finally headed out around 10:30 AM to check out the Galaxy Pavilion. While we had walked through here earlier in the week, we had yet to test out any of the attractions. At the Galaxy Pavilion, cruisers have the option to pay per attraction, per hour, per day, or purchase a week-long pass. We opted for the hour pass which was $29 per person.

The venue was actually pretty quiet so we were able to knock out most of the games during this one hour. We tried the Walk the Plank, Descendant, the car racing, the Jurassic Escape, two different games in the 7D cinema, and more.

Of note, the virtual escape room is extra money and does require reservations. By the time we realized it, the game was already sold out for the week.

After all this gaming, we had worked up an appetite, so we headed to lunch at the American Diner. This venue is an up-charge, where you can either pay a la carte or use a specialty dining credit. Since we had already used all our credits, we paid a la carte. Unfortunately though, this was the worst meal we had all week and not worth an up-charge in our opinion.

Now for Some Relaxation

With the afternoon to ourselves, we decided to catch a little of two different events occurring at 1:30 PM. First, we stopped by the Atrium for the All About Alaska trivia session, and then we stopped into the theater for the Ocean Music Fest. This show was basically a compilation of most of the ship’s musicians playing in one show.

Then, we stopped in at the shops to use our remaining onboard credit on a ship model and t-shirt.

Since we were docking in Victoria this evening, only one bar per deck was allowed open on the ship. This meant that we wouldn’t be able to grab final drinks at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar this evening. So naturally, this meant we stopped by for a drink now before it closed.

Next on our list was to finally spend some time in the thermal suite beyond just taking photos and videos of it. We spent just under 1.5 hours here, alternating between the heated loungers and the experiences. My personal favorite is the salt room, while Don enjoys the sauna. The snow room was a bit too cold and icy for us.

This thermal suite on Norwegian Encore is quite large and features several padded and heated stone loungers. So, even though it was fairly busy, we had no issues finding a spot to call our own. Even in the sauna and salt room, there were only a few other cruisers with us. The therapy pool was the only spot that seemed crowded.

Cruisers can purchase week-long passes, or day passes on port days pending availability, to this thermal suite. However, there are only a total of 200 passes provided, so be sure to book early.

While we wished we could have stayed longer, we did have an early 5:30 PM dinner at Teppanyaki tonight. Thus, it was back to the room to get ready for our final specialty dinner.

Our Final Night on Norwegian Encore

The dinner and a show experience at Teppanyaki is always a good time, and this visit was no different. Our chef served up the grilled veggies, garlic fried rice, and our entrée of choice with a side of humor. Of course, I opted for the Chicken Yaki Udon and Don did a combo of steak and calamari. Everything was well-prepared and flavorful.

Stuffed from dinner, we made our way up to the Observation Lounge to catch some of Archie’s set, this was the only musical act on the ship that we hadn’t seen yet. So, we enjoyed the music, views of Victoria, and some espresso martinis.

About an hour later, we decided it was time for the worst part of the cruise–packing. We packed up our two larger suitcases and placed them outside our door. While we usually do self-assist walk-off, we were in no rush tomorrow as our flight wasn’t until 3:40 PM.

After packing, we snuck into Coco’s right before it closed at 9:30 PM. I justified this by saying that we didn’t really have dessert at Teppanyaki. After all, we couldn’t go a whole week on Norwegian Encore without indulging on something at Coco’s. We opted to share the Nutella and Milk Chocolate ice cream sundae. Yum!

Speaking of something else we hadn’t done all cruise, that was get a mango meltdown, one of NCL’s signature frozen drinks. So, in the name of research, we headed outside to the Surf Bar to do just that. Then, given our limited bar options this evening, we grabbed out final drinks of the cruise at the A-List Bar before calling it a night around 11 PM.

Today was the perfect ending to a fabulous week on Norwegian Encore in Alaska!

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Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Disembarkation

Time to say goodbye.

Just like that our Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise review had come to an end. It was already disembarkation day.

NCL had provided us with priority disembarkation which meant that we did not have to leave the ship until around 9 AM, but we needed to be out of our cabin by 8:30 AM. So, we set an alarm for 6 AM to get ready, grab some coffee, and finish packing.

Around 8:30 AM, we headed off to our meeting spot where we were escorted to a separate line with Haven guests to get scanned off the ship. This took no time at all for us; though, it didn’t look like there was a long line for other guests either at this point.

Off the ship, in an Uber, and to the airport, we made ourselves comfy and did work until our late afternoon flight. Thankfully, we made it home without any real delays.

Now, we have some time at home until our next trip, which isn’t until August at the moment.

Did you enjoy our Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise review? Do you have plans to cruise to Alaska this year? Drop us an anchor below to share your recent cruise reviews!

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Hello! I really enjoyed this review. Where can I find an index of all your cruise reviews? Thank you! Jade

You accepted yet another free cruise from the cruise line? I hope you don’t think your reviews can be accepted at face value. Maybe that’s why you barely discussed all the cuts in service by NCL.

I read about this cruise in https://www.google.com/ news

this is really good news

DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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Norwegian Cruises from Miami

Departing from Miami, Florida , Norwegian Cruise Line offers cruises to some of the world's most exotic locations and ports around the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Imagine setting sail on a voyage with Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami, your gateway to the unparalleled beauty and vibrant culture of the Caribbean. You will be captivated by the emerald waters, golden sandy beaches, diverse marine life, and the soul-soothing rhythm of the islands. From the allure of the Bahamas to the mystery of the Panama Canal, Norwegian Cruise Line offers experiences that will engrave lasting memories. Each trip is an opportunity to discover new horizons, explore fascinating locales, and embrace the serenity of island life.

Norwegian Cruise Line is a top-tier player in the cruise industry, renowned for its 'Freestyle Cruising' concept which emphasizes flexibility and freedom. For Caribbean cruises departing from Miami, Norwegian deploys an array of stunning ships, including the top-rated Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Breakaway. While offering a premium cruise experience, Norwegian Cruise Line caters to a variety of budgets, promising a perfect blend of luxury and value. The line's reputation for innovation, award-winning entertainment, and a plethora of dining options has earned it a loyal following among discerning cruise-goers.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

On Norwegian Bliss , Norwegian Breakaway , Norwegian Encore , Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Joy , Norwegian Pearl , Norwegian Prima , Norwegian Sky , or any other ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, there is always something fun to do. Onboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, every day is filled with exciting possibilities. You can attend a Broadway-style show, enjoy fine dining in one of many restaurants, or simply bask in the sun by the pool. The ships also feature cutting-edge fitness centers, relaxing spas, and vibrant nightclubs. And for younger travelers, there are a plethora of engaging activities and dedicated play zones.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers an assortment of package options, ensuring every aspect of your Caribbean journey is personalized to your preferences. From a variety of dining and beverage packages to Wi-Fi and spa treatments, there are ample opportunities to upgrade your cruise experience. Offshore, you can engage with the local culture, history, and nature through an extensive array of shore excursions, ranging from thrilling water sports to captivating guided tours.

Cruises from Miami

Norwegian Cruise Line operates from the bustling Port of Miami, one of the world's leading cruise ports. This vibrant port is nestled within Miami, a city known for its stunning beaches, eclectic arts scene, and distinctive Latin influence. Before or after your cruise, you can indulge in Miami's renowned cuisine, shop in upscale boutiques, or simply soak in the city's unique culture and vibrant energy.

Norwegian Cruise Line from Miami itineraries and cruise ship schedule

Embarking on a Norwegian Cruise Line voyage from Miami is more than just a journey; it's an invitation to discover the limitless wonder of the Caribbean. You'll create a tapestry of experiences woven from captivating destinations, exciting onboard activities, and the unparalleled freedom that Norwegian Cruise Line offers. As your ship charts its course through the azure Caribbean Sea, you'll experience the vacation of a lifetime, marked by unforgettable moments, breathtaking sights, and the pure joy of exploration.

7-day Western Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Norwegian breakaway, norwegian cruise line.

Date: May 5, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Miami; View Itinerary

3-day Bahamas from Miami, Fl

Norwegian pearl, norwegian cruise line.

Date: January 17, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Great Stirrup Cay, Nassau, Miami; View Itinerary

Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Cruise Line

Date: November 16, 2024

9-day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Date: March 5, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, Tortola, Antigua, St. Maarten, San Juan, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Cruise Line

Ports of Call: Miami, Grand Turk, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

7-day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Norwegian encore, norwegian cruise line.

Date: February 2, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: August 3, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Maarten, San Juan, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: February 12, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Great Stirrup Cay, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, San Juan, Puerto Plata, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: October 26, 2024

Date: March 16, 2025

18-day Panama Canal from Miami, Fl

Date: April 7, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Panama City, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Francisco; View Itinerary

Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Cruise Line

Date: December 28, 2024

Date: July 28, 2024

Date: June 6, 2024

Date: March 15, 2025

Date: January 11, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, Bridgetown, Antigua, San Juan, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: February 15, 2025

5-day Western Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Date: March 3, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Great Stirrup Cay, Cozumel, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: March 22, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Key West, Cozumel, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

14-day Southern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Norwegian gem, norwegian cruise line.

Date: December 20, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Bonaire, Aruba, Bridgetown, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, San Juan, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: October 19, 2024

4-day Bahamas from Miami, Fl

Date: December 30, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay, Nassau, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: December 21, 2024

Date: May 23, 2024

Date: July 21, 2024

Date: June 16, 2024

Date: July 7, 2024

Date: August 11, 2024

Date: May 26, 2024

11-day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Date: December 1, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Tortola, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Ship Schedule from Miami

Date: March 8, 2025

Date: January 20, 2025

Date: July 14, 2024

Date: January 19, 2025

Date: January 26, 2025

Date: June 24, 2024

Date: December 22, 2024

15-day Panama Canal from Miami, Fl

Ports of Call: Miami, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Panama City, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles; View Itinerary

21-day Panama Canal from Miami, Fl

Ports of Call: Miami, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Panama City, Puerto Quetzal, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Francisco, Victoria, Seattle; View Itinerary

11-day Panama Canal from Miami, Fl

Ports of Call: Miami, Ocho Rios, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puerto Limon, Harvest Caye, Cozumel, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: August 30, 2024

11-day Southern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Norwegian prima, norwegian cruise line.

Date: April 16, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Great Stirrup Cay, La Romana, Aruba, Curacao, St. Thomas, San Juan, Puerto Plata, New York; View Itinerary

Date: November 2, 2024

12-day Transatlantic from Miami, Fl

Date: February 7, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Ponta Dagada, Ponta Dagada, Barcelona; View Itinerary

Date: May 12, 2024

Date: January 3, 2025

Ports of Call: Miami, Grand Cayman, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puerto Limon, Harvest Caye, Cozumel, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: August 21, 2024

Date: July 3, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay, Grand Bahama Island, Miami; View Itinerary

Date: February 23, 2025

Date: May 14, 2024

Date: May 2, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami; View Itinerary

9-day Panama Canal from Miami, Fl

Date: December 2, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Puerto Plata, Catalina Island, Curacao, Aruba, Panama Canal, Panama City, Panama City; View Itinerary

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Youngest Fleet Cruising to Bahamas.

There's a beach with your name on it once you plan a Bahamas cruise holiday. Slip away for a 3-, 4- or 5-day cruise from Miami or Tampa, or cruise from Orlando (Port Canaveral) if you're in need of a quick getaway. Visit Great Stirrup Cay , where you can swim with stingrays, kayak, or enjoy island cocktails in your own private cabana. Whether you're looking for a tropical adventure, a little romance, or just a great time with the kids, we've got plenty of Bahamas cruises to choose from. Add in Freestyle Cruising with our award-winning dining, entertainment, and accommodations and you have the perfect Bahamas holiday. Do it all or nothing at all – that’s the beauty of a Bahamas cruise with Norwegian.

^Buy an air ticket and the 2nd guest flies for free. *View for full terms and conditions.

The Perfect Getaway: Weekend Cruises

If you are looking for a worry-free vacation and don’t have many days to spare, a weekend cruise is the perfect option. Our recently renovated ship, Norwegian Sun offers the ultimate onboard experience as it whisks you away to the always sunny Bahamas. And with the added perks of Free at Sea, all you have to do is pack your bags and show up for a good time.

Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island

Set sail for the Bahamas and get ready for some fun in the sun! All of our Bahamas cruises feature a whole day visit to Great Stirrup Cay, an idyllic island paradise reserved only for our guests. Swim with dolphins, snorkel with exotic fish, or just stroll the white sand beaches. This eco-fun paradise offers something for everyone!

Bahamas Cruise Image Gallery

Great stirrup cay.

• Stingray City
• Relax in the Bahamas
• Snorkel with the whole family
• WaveRunner on Great Stirrup Cay
• Get to know the locals
• White sand beaches of Great Stirrup Cay
• Tropical drink in the Tropics
• Kayaking in the Bahamas
• Unwind in the crystal-clear Bahamian waters.

Explore Bahamas Cruise Ports

Featured Bahamas CRUISE ITINERARIES

Best bahamas excursions.

We know the destinations you'll be visiting and what there is to see, do and experience. We offer you a variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit.

Atlantis Aquaventure

Aquaventure, Atlantis Paradise Island’s Water Park, is a one-of-a-kind 141 acre waterscape. ...

Wave Runner Tour - Single (Driver Only)

Take a 45-minute guided adventure through the Berry Islands, neighboring Great Stirrup Cay. After a safety briefing and orientation, you’ll board your Wave Runner for an informativ...

Kennedy Space Center

Located just minutes from Port Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of mankind's most fascinati...

PIRATES COVE BEACH GETAWAY

Enjoy a spectacular day at the beachfront Pirate’s Cove doing most anything you please. With no schedule to follow, you can genuinely relax in style at your own pace. Feel free to ...

Bahamas HOTELS

New York Marriott Marquis

There is no city quite like New York City, and no hotel quite like New York Marriott Marquis. Set in the heart of Times Square on West 46th Street and Broadway, our iconic hotel lets you experience all the magic of New York from the moment you arrive. Feel the energy all around you, both within the hotel and as soon as you step outside. Inside our towering hotel, you'll find some of New York City's largest hotel rooms and suites, multiple restaurants - including the only revolving restaurant in the city and our new outdoor lounge -100,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a knowledgeable staff to help you navigate this expansive and ever-changing city.

There is no city quite like New York City, and no hotel quite like New York Marriott Marquis. Set in the heart of Times Square on West 46th Street and Broadway, our iconic hotel lets you experience all the magic of New York from the moment you arrive. Feel the energy all around you, both within the hotel and as soon as you step outside. Inside our towering hotel, you'll find some of New York City's largest hotel rooms and suites, multiple restaurants - including the only revolving restaurant in the city and our new outdoor lounge -100,000 square feet of meeting and event space and a knowledgeable staff to help you navigate this expansive and ever-changing city. Whether visiting for a family holiday, romantic getaway or attending a conference, the New York Marriott Marquis is truly the perfect hotel for your stay in New York City.

• Distance/Airport: 20 miles (JFK) / 12 miles (LGA) / 20 miles Distance/Pier: 1.5 miles
• Room and room tax Bellman gratuities Transfers between Hotel and Pier

Important Note: Accommodations are based on double occupancy per room. Some accommodation will allow triple and quad guests in a room and are subject to availability and surcharge will apply. Additional hotel rooms to accommodate triple and quads may be required, and surcharge will apply.

Read THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT Bahamas Cruises

Come explore our exclusive private island experience, Great Stirrup Cay.

Cruise The Bahamas Without a Passport

Did you know its possible to cruise without a passport? Learn more about cruising to The Bahamas without a passport.

Chase the Thrill

Swim with dolphins or parasail over the ocean. These are just two of the thrilling things you can do in The Bahamas.

Drink it In

Bahama Mama or Goombay Smash? The choice is yours with our list of must-try Bahamian cocktails.