ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

9-Day Norwegian Cruise Line Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Caribbean: Great Stirrup Caye and Dominican Republic – 7 Ports in 9 Days!

Explore breathtaking views on your 9-day cruise aboard the newly refurbished Norwegian Sky. Discover one of the most breathtaking harbors in the world as you hop off in the beautiful St. Thomas, where you’ll find perks such as pristine beaches and duty-free shopping. Continue your vacation in our very own Great Stirrup Cay, home to the new Silver Cove lagoon and upgraded oceanfront cabanas. An excursion like no other awaits.

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

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Get 50% Off Most Cruise Fares when you book by January 31, 2024! Receive exclusive up to $200 Onboard Credit per stateroom

  • Ship: Norwegian Sky
  • Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
  • Sail Date: June 6, 2024
  • From/To: Roundtrip Miami
  • Length: 9-Days

Interior Stateroom From

Oceanview stateroom from ($50 onboard credit), balcony stateroom from ($150 onboard credit), penthouse suite ($200 onboard credit).

Add Free-At-Sea and receive: ~Beverage Package ~Specialty Dining Package ~Internet Package ~$50 (USD) Shore Excursion Credit ~Third & Fourth Guest Sail Free or for $99 (USD) on select sailings and in select cabins

Ask about Norwegian’s air promotion and other sailings and itineraries that are availabile!

Puerto Plata (or officially known as San Felipe de Puerto Plata) is the ninth largest city in the Dominican Republic and the capital of the province of Puerto Plata. For spectacular city views, take a ride up the Pico Isabel de Torres mountain which stands over 2,600 feet high. History buff? Visit Fortaleza San Felipe, which was built in the 16th century and served as a prison under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Or head to the Amber Museum, a museum filled with a unique collection of valuable Dominican amber which is semiprecious tree sap that has hardened for millions of years capturing many fossils of plant and insect life.

The town of Charlotte Amalie has one of the most breathtaking harbors in the world. Once home to pirates of long ago, today visitors find treasures of a different kind, for now beautiful beaches and bountiful duty-free shopping are truly its claim to fame.

Bask in the grand sight of the city’s skyline, dominated by the white baroque towers of St. John’s Cathedral. Sample local cuisines, visit the Botanical Garden, witness the magnificent Antigua Lighthouse, the historical Fort James and much more as you discover this grand city.

With an area of only 37 square miles, the island of St. Maarten is the smallest landmass in the world to be divided between two governments. The southern Dutch half offers casinos, duty-free shopping and island culture. The French half is all subdued sophistication.

Founded in 1521, San Juan’s picturesque cobblestone streets, plazas and chapels reflect its Spanish heritage. But the second oldest city in the Americas also boasts fine beaches, lush rainforests, verdant mountainsides, imposing forts and a lovely tropical climate. Looking for a cruise to San Juan? 

All our cruises to the Bahamas feature a whole day visit to Great Stirrup Cay, our idyllic island paradise reserved just for our guests. Stroll along soft, white-sand beaches and enjoy the many activities we have to offer. Snorkel and see underwater delights, kayak in crystal-clear water, then get revved up on a WaveRunner® adventure. The fun is endless here. Grab a bite at our new 8,500- square foot beach buffet and simply relax in your private beachfront cabana. This tropical paradise is just for you. Take advantage.

From the moment you step aboard, you’ll see that Norwegian Sky, refurbished from bow to stern in 2022, offers something for everyone. On our Bahamas cruise your options are nearly limitless with over 10 dining options, a wide variety of bars and lounges, an onboard spa, and a cruise casino that has all of your favorite games and slots. The popular Norwegian Sky offers 3- and 4-day cruises to the Bahamas from Miami.  And, if you decide to bring the kids, we’ll keep them entertained all day, while you lounge by the pool, play in the casino, or enjoy dinner at one of many restaurants.

Prices are per person based on double occupancy, availability and subject to change without notice. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional at approximately $319.61 per person but varies depending on sailing. Promotion is for 3+ night sailings and excludes inaugurals. Promotion is capacity controlled by the cruise line and can be pulled at any time without notice. Promotions are not for cabin categories IX, OX, BX or MX. Air promotion is buy one and get one free from select gateways in select categories on 7+ night sailings. Free-at-Sea is for select categories on 3+ night sailings. Other restrictions may apply. Ship’s registry: Bahamas

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

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9-day Caribbean Round-trip Miami: Dominican Republic & Antigua

Norwegian Sky

By Norwegian Cruise Line

DEPARTURE FROM

  • Miami, Florida

DEPARTURE DATE

August 1st, 2023

Miami, Florida, Puerto Plata, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Philipsburg, +4 more

Norwegian Sky

About the cruise

Completely Refurbished from Bow to Stern

From the moment you step aboard, you'll see that Norwegian Sky, refurbished from bow to stern in 2019, offers something for everyone. On our Bahamas cruises your options are nearly limitless with 10 dining options, a wide variety of bars and lounges, an onboard spa, and a cruise casino that has all of your favourite games and slots. The popular Norwegian Sky offers 3- and 4-day cruises year-round to the Bahamas from Miami. And, if you decide to bring the kids, we'll keep them entertained all day, whilst you lounge by the pool, play in the casino, or enjoy dinner at one of many restaurants.

NEW! The Most Extensive Ship Refurbishment of 2019

We’ve made extensive enhancements to provide you with an all-new, elevated experience. From fully renovated staterooms to new dining options, bars and lounges, there is plenty to rediscover. When the sun goes down, head up to the top of the ship to the all-new Pinnacle Lounge & Sushi Bar for fresh sushi rolls, signature cocktails and gorgeous sunset views. Swing by the new, high-energy Bliss Ultra Lounge to show off your dance moves. Craving a Venti with an extra shot and double whip to keep you going all day? Well, now we have a full-service Starbucks® on board! So, come join the celebration and get to know the all-new, Norwegian Sky.

Great Stirrup Cay, Your Own Private Island

Set sail for Bahamas & Florida and get ready for some fun in the sun! All of our Bahamas & Florida 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!

PORTS OF CALL

  • Puerto Plata
  • San Juan (Puerto Rico)
  • Philipsburg
  • Saint John's
  • Saint Thomas
  • Great Stirrup Cay

Stateroom Options

  • Inside FROM £1028 pp
  • Oceanview FROM £1229 pp
  • Balcony FROM £2341 pp

Day 1 Miami, Florida

Day 2 At Sea

Day 3 Puerto Plata

Day 4 San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Day 5 Philipsburg

Day 6 Saint John's

Day 7 Saint Thomas

Day 8 At Sea

Day 9 Great Stirrup Cay

Day 10 Miami, Florida

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Cagney's Steakhouse

Premium cuts are the standard at our American steakhouse serving Certified Angus Beef®. Sip your favorite cocktail and don’t forget to order our famous Parmesan dusted truffle fries!

Price Per Person: À la carte

Stunning in design with ocean views, this Main Restaurant offers traditional cuisine to please every palate.

Garden Café

Whatever you’re craving, chances are you will find it at the Garden Café. This complimentary, indoor buffet restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner

Il Adagio Restaurant

Where to go when you know you want something delicious? This restaurant features contemporary Italian cuisine in a modern setting with floor to ceiling views.

Romance is in the air at our signature French restaurant. Elegant interiors, crisp white linens and attentive servers make this an intimate dining experience. By the end of your meal, you might just be proclaiming c'est magnifique!

One of our two Main Restaurants serving a variety of culinary delights with a contemporary flair.

Room Service

Available 24 hours a day, simply pick up the phone and order breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night munchies. A room service fee may apply.

Price Per Person: Room Service Fee may apply.

Great Outdoors Café

Come as you are, even in your swimsuit, to this casual, buffet bar serving grilled favourites like burgers, hot dogs and great ocean views.

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local offers classic pub fare in a relaxed atmosphere. With popular dishes like the Reuben Sandwich and Fish n' Chips, The Local has all your favourite comfort foods. So try one of our beers or cocktails on tap and catch a game with us!

Topsiders Bar and Grill

Enjoy casual dining to suit every taste. From grilled burgers to hot dogs, come as you are and eat as you like after a night out or before your day begins.

Buona Sera! Enjoy the finest ingredients at our vibrant Italian ristorante. Dine on Italian classics and indulge with a rich homemade Tiramisu. Your good evening just got better.

Price Per Person: Á la carte

Pinnacle Lounge and Sushi Bar

In the mood for sushi? Take a seat at this contemporary sushi bar for some traditional Japanese culinary bites.

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

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9 Night Eastern Caribbean - Miami (Mia/Mia)

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered freestyle cruising with a variety of specialty dining restaurants, entertainment and onboard activities, including go-kart racing!

Magnificent days at the beach, tasty fare, and sun-soaked excursions lie awaiting you in the Eastern Caribbean.

In Miami, you’ll enjoy a small taste of the tropical weather many of you will experience during your cruise, and you’ll see why Miami is one of the most popular places to live in America.

  • Norwegian Sky - Passenger Capacity: 2,004 (double occupancy) Year Built: 1999 Last Refurbished: 2022

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Norwegian Sky

Miami, Florida

Departing From

Eastern Caribbean

Destination

Eastern Caribbean

Ports of Call

Miami, Florida , Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic , St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands , St. John's, Antigua , Philipsburg, St. Maarten , San Juan, Puerto Rico , Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

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9 Night Eastern Caribbean - Miami (Mia/Mia) sailing on the Norwegian Sky

Departure dates: may 2024 - aug 2024.

From $1,049

From $1,099

From $1,079

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Cruise fare rates & offers are subject to select dates & categories, cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, in US Dollars, & include NCCF. Government Taxes, Port Expenses & Fees are additional. All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary.

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Home » Blog » Ultimate Guide to a Caribbean Cruise with NCL

Ultimate Guide to a Caribbean Cruise with NCL

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our Disclosure Policy  for details.

adventure couple snorkeling with underwater sculpture at clifton heritage national park in the carribean

Whether you’re a tropical destination lover, or you’re just trying to escape the winter snow, a Caribbean cruise should be added to you adventure bucket list. We had both never been on a cruise together, and never really considered ourselves avid cruise fans, but after this week on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Encore, we definitely agree that cruising is an awesome way to go about adventure travel.

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Getting on the Ship from Miami

Covid testing & cruising requirements .

It’s important to note, every cruise line and every port of call is handling embarkation procedures with the pandemic differently and requirements are constantly changing. Make sure to keep your eyes on the updated regulations as your cruise dates near. As of our Caribbean cruise dates back in early December 2021, everyone on board the ship was required to be vaccinated. 

Norwegian Cruise Line had partnered with CVS at the Miami port as well where everyone received a rapid COVID-19 Test before embarking. We didn’t have to wear masks as the whole cruise was vaccinated, however, requirements are changing in 2022 where you will have to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status in January. 

You simply fill out the paperwork when completing your e-documents once you purchase your cruise to schedule your on port appointment. Once you take your test, you wait for about 10-15 minutes for your results and then you finish up the embarkation process. It was super easy and seamless! 

Sailing on the Norwegian Encore 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Our Favorite Caribbean Cruise Shore Excursions & Activities 

For our exact cruise itinerary, check out NCL’s website . They have an incredible array of options available in the Caribbean alone, let alone other destinations. We did the 7 Day Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Tortola Sailing from Miami along the Norwegian Encore, the newest ship in their fleet. Check out the full list of available shore excursions for this cruise itinerary here . 

Day #1: Embarkation in Miami (Half Day)

We highly recommend booking your Caribbean cruise shore excursions as the first thing you do once you get on the ship if you didn’t do so already! They fill up really quickly. Then, once you get all your bags to your rooms, we’d highly suggest walking around the whole ship and getting yourself acquainted with the layout of everything. Make sure to head up to the pool deck areas for Sail Away! 

Day #2: Nassau, Bahamas

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

We opted to take our own adventure for our first day at port from Nassau, Bahamas, Right next to the cruise ship, there are tons of options for transportation via taxi, scooter, etc. but we decided to rent a car from Budget Car Rental and drive to the other side of the island to Clifton Heritage National Park. If you make the trek over to this side of the island, make sure to allot yourself about 30-45 minutes of driving time each way. We decided to split a rental car so we knew we could get back to the cruise port with no problems, and it actually was cheaper than taking a taxi between four of us. 

Most Caribbean cruises stopped offering this area as a shore excursion a few years ago due to an oil spill in the area, but the park is back and better than ever. It even has new conservation efforts in place to help save the remaining coral reefs and bringing about new ones through sinking sculptures. Although there’s no official excursion, it’s definitely easy to get over to the national park yourself!

Clifton Heritage National Park

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Clifton Heritage National Park is home to the largest underwater sculpture in the world. It also has some incredible cliff jumping, pristine beaches, and some of the bluest water in the world for snorkeling and swimming. We absolutely loved the staff at Clifton Heritage National Park, the guides there were a highlight of our visit. This was probably our favorite shore adventure throughout our whole cruise. If you get the chance, we’d definitely recommend checking out this National Park.

There is an entrance fee to enter and park. If you want to snorkel at the underwater sculpture park, you will have to pay an additional fee to go out there with a guide. You are no longer allowed to bring your own snorkel equipment and take off from their beach for a self guided tour since the water conditions can be dangerous. Even if you bring your own gear, you will have to pay the full snorkel tour fee, and you will be required to have a life safety device with you. You definitely need to be a strong swimmer to be able to be wading out in the ocean for an hour and for the 5-10 minute swims in and out from the beach.

Make sure to bring lots of sunscreen, a towel, water, swimsuits, and if you are wanting photos in the underwater sculpture garden, bring a GoPro or a waterproof phone case! 

For all of our camera gear we brought with us on this trip, check out our camera gear blog .

Day 3 & 6 – Best Things to Do On Your Caribbean Cruise Sea Days

If you ever get the chance to take a trip along the Norwegian Encore for your Caribbean cruise, you are in for a special treat. The ship is the newest from NCL and has such a variety of activities on board that you almost forget you’re on a ship moving in the middle of the ocean on your sea days. On top of all the amazing Cruise Director led activities throughout everyday, we loved the specialty activities all throughout the ship. 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Go-Karting 

The Go-Karting on board was honestly so cool. It’s pretty crazy to think you can just go go-kart racing in the middle of the ocean. We did about 3 rounds together around the race track and it was so much fun. You can watch from above on the Observation Deck even if you aren’t racing and shoot lasers at the karts to slow them down as they go by too. 

Speaking of lasers, our favorite specialty activity they had on board hands down was Laser Tag. The NCL Encore has an outdoor Laser Tag arena that’s fairly large in size with a ton of cool areas to hide and sneak around. We opted to make our reservations at sunset which was so cool to watch the clouds light up while out playing laser tag with all of our new friends on board. 

Visit the Spa for a Massage

Stephen and I opted to get a Couple’s Hot Rock Massage while on board and it was magical. We’d definitely recommend checking out the spa. But, beware, as the staff will try to hard sell you on things after you are all done. 

Check out the Thermal Spa 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

The Thermal Spa reminded us so much of the Sky Lagoon in Iceland. It features jacuzzis, hot chairs to relax, two different saunas, a steam room, a salt room, and a snow room. It’s almost impossible to not feel relaxed in the Thermal Spa on the Encore. 

Ride the Waterslides (*Free)

The waterslides are not only for the kids! The NCL Encore has two on board, one that is more for those that like thrills, and one that is a relaxing tube slide. Giselle got stuck on the extreme one, but they do have an emergency door if for some reason you get stuck on the slide (aka you don’t have enough momentum going into the turns). Overall, Stephen rode these things like 10 times and loved every time.

Participate in a Game Show (*Free) 

Although we didn’t get selected for the couples game show on board, we were drawn to participate in a Trivia Game Show in the ship’s Atrium. Every night, they always have some sort of game show or quiz/trivia activity in the main gathering area. 

Our Favorite Restaurants & Bars On Board the Ship 

When dining on board a cruise ship, the nice thing is that it’s an all inclusive dining package for the most basic buffet (which includes A LOT of really great food!). The one thing we loved about NCL was how amazing the food and drinks were consistently. We would highly recommend investing in the Premium Plus Beverage Package because you can really get a bang for your buck on a 7 day cruise. We also bought the 7 day specialty dining package, so we could try 1 specialty restaurant on board per day. Here were our favorites!

Teppanyaki Grill 

This was by far our favorite restaurant on board. The energy of the chefs was contagious and the food was so delicious. Come hungry, you’ll get a ton of food! 

Food Republic 

This is the Norwegian Encore’s sushi restaurant on board and it did not disappoint. The dishes are served tapas style so you will not have a shortage of food to choose from. You get 5 items included in your Specialty Dining package if you choose to buy one, and there’s a range of selections from edamame, rolls, teriyaki chicken, and more. 

French Restaurant

This restaurant is a little bit fancier than the other specialty restaurants, so it makes for a nice date night dinner. I had the French Onion Soup and the Chicken and Stephen had the Escargot and Veal and it was all amazing. We would recommend going here over the Steakhouse on Board if you’re looking for delicious, flavorful meat that melts in your mouth. 

Mojito Bar 

The Mojito Bar was probably our favorite bar on board. They have a variety of flavor options and everyone we tried was fantastic. We highly recommend trying the Jalapeno Cucumber, Pineapple, and/or the Classic Mojito. 

Although Starbucks is available on land, it was so nice to have on board. The best part was if you have the Premium Plus Beverage Package, you can get as many Starbucks drinks as you want on board the ship without any additional cost. This was the most fun way to be able to try a ton of different new drinks without having to feel bad about paying the extra penny each time you get a coffee.

Day #4: St. Thomas

St. Thomas is a gem of the Caribbean. It’s definitely our favorite island in terms of things to do along our Caribbean cruise itinerary. We’d highly recommend checking out a snorkel, Discovery Scuba, or SNUBA shore excursion with NCL on this island. St. Thomas has some of the bluest and warmest water in the world so it’s the perfect spot to jump in the water. 

Checkout NCL’s St. Thomas Shore Excursions Here

If you are looking for more of a day of relaxing, St. Thomas has a plethora of incredible beaches for you. 

Top Beaches in St. Thomas

Magens Bay was probably our favorite beach to snorkel around St. Thomas. There were tons of people there since it’s a very popular beach, but if you walk all the way down to the end of the beach, you will basically have it all to yourself! You can either visit through one of Norweigian’s Shore Excursions, or, you can rent a car and drive over to the beach by yourself. 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Coki Beach definitely had the most beautiful water on the whole island that we encountered, BUT it was also the most busy beach we went to. Make sure to get there right away when you disembark if you want to find a spot to chill out and lounge all day. We arrived after we checked out Magen’s Bay and it was really packed. The water is to die for though. The clarity is truly something else and it’s so warm for swimming and snorkeling around. They offer tons of activities off of this beach like snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Sapphire Beach

Sapphire Beach was really nice for snorkeling as well. It was much less busy than Coki Beach and Magen’s Bay when we visited too. 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Or, if you have hitting the beautiful beaches of U.S. Virgin Islands National Park on your bucket list, you can take a short ferry over to the neighboring island of St. John to go explore over there!

Other Things To Do in St. Thomas

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Take A Ride Up The Sky Tram

If you want great views without the extra effort of a hike or drive around the island, check out the St. Thomas Sky Tram! It provides incredible panoramic views of the whole island, especially for sunset.

Enjoy the Views at Drake’s Seat

Drake’s Seat is one of the tallest points on the island and also makes for a great overlook for sunset and photos. You can either rent a car or get a taxi up here. 

Day #5: Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Top 2 things to do in tortola.

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Check out the Virgin Gorda Baths

We didn’t get the chance to make it out to Virgin Gorda Baths because the Shore Excursion was so popular it was booked before we could do so. However, it’s an incredible national park area with stunning water and cool rock formations.

Sail out to Treasure Island (aka Norman Island) & Snorkel 

We had a great time on our Sail & Snorkel Excursion at Tortola. As we were sailing, we booked this one through the Shore Excursion Desk last minute and were really happy we ended up going! It took about an hour to sail out to Treasure Island, but it was beautiful sunny weather all the way out there. We got to snorkel in about 3 caves and then made a second stop at a private cove where we snorkeled with turtles and stingrays!

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Day 7: Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s Private Island

Snorkel out to ncl’s own underwater sculpture garden.

Similar to the underwater sculpture garden in Nassau, NCL has their very own one right in the island’s backyard! It’s about a 5 minute snorkel from the shore to get out to the garden. If you don’t bring your own snorkel equipment (which we highly recommend you do, it saves you a ton of money throughout your cruise), you can rent some from the shore excursions desk on land! We highly recommend doing this and there’s no additional fee, plus, you can see tons of fish and even stingrays. 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

SUP & Kayak Around the Cay

For those that aren’t as keen on snorkeling and swimming, NCL offers SUP and Kayak rentals as well! Enjoy the pristine turquoise waters of the island via paddling around!

Go Swimming with the Pigs

This was a super fun, family-friendly experience on Norwegian’s Private Island. You take a short little water taxi from Great Stirrup Cay to the other side of the island where there is a pig sanctuary. You can feed them apples and swim around with them for about an hour! It was honestly pretty crowded and there were only 9-10 pigs, but we still had a great time and if you love animals, you’d have a lot of fun on this shore excursion . 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Rent a Cabana or Villa

Chill out in luxury with one of the private Cabanas or Villas on the island. There are tons of chairs on the public beaches as well, but you will have more access to the other lagoons on the island with a cabana rental.

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Check out the Moet & Chandon Bar

For a range of delicious cocktails and ultimate relaxation, order a drink from the Moet & Chandon Bar! 

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Disembarkation in Miami

Disembarkation of our Caribbean Cruise was super smooth. Everyone gets off the ship based on luggage tag colors and the process was really seamless. We had our last breakfast on board the ship and said goodbye to a wonderful week at sea. 

Overall, we had an amazing experience on our 7 Day Miami to Caribbean Cruise and would absolutely recommend anyone who is looking to explore the Caribbean islands to book a cruise with NCL for a guaranteed fun time. 

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Norwegian Sky

Former name: costa olympia.

Norwegian Sky cruise ship

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

  • Miami (Florida)
  • La Romana (Dominicana)
  • Lisbon (Portugal)

Norwegian Sky current position

Norwegian Sky current location is at Caribbean Sea (coordinates 14.21320 N / -61.24307 W) cruising at speed of 10.4 kn (19 km/h | 12 mph) en route to ROSEAU,DOMINICA. The AIS position was reported 2 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Sky

Norwegian Sky current cruise is 14 days, round-trip Caribbean Barbados, Curacao Aruba . The itinerary starts on 26 Feb, 2024 and ends on 11 Mar, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Sky

  •   Itineraries
  •   Review
  •   Wiki

Norwegian Sky Itineraries

Norwegian sky review, review of norwegian sky.

The 1999-built Norwegian Sky cruise ship is NCL's first Sky-class vessel, with sisterships Norwegian Sun and Costa Victoria (1996-2021).

The vessel (IMO number 9128532) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308865000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania and RSSC-Regent .

NCL Norwegian Sky cruise ship

The 2000-passenger ship Norwegian Sky started operations on August 9, 1999, with the inaugural 4-day roundtrip from Dover to Norway's Fjords. The cruise ship was refurbished and changed her name several times. She is designed in beautiful tropical colors. NCL Sky was originally ordered by Costa Cruises as Costa Olympia, but later the company refused the vessel. In the period 2004-2008, it was operated by NCL America and sailed as "Pride of Aloha" - USA- flagged , but owned by GHK-Genting Hong Kong.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Sky staterooms (1002 total, in 27 grades) include 15x Suites, 245x Balcony, 319x Oceanview and 423x Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 120-150 ft2 (11-14 m2). The largest accommodations are the Owners Suites (350 ft2 / 32 m2, with terrace sized 300 ft2 / 28 m2).

The boat has 12 decks , of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Just as Norwegian Sky has changed since her launch, so has Freestyle Cruising. The program is simply considered as the choice to dine where you want, when you want, and take part only in those activities that interest you. Cruisers can have a good time with freestyle dining onboard Norwegian Sky and a lot of options to choose from. They can try gourmet cuisine or go to Le Bistro to taste innovative dishes. Norwegian Sky offers two main dining rooms for the passengers seeking traditional dining experience: Crossings and Palace, both very flexible. Guests can make reservations for the same time each night, or choose different times, based on their schedule. Both MDRs are open nightly for dinner. Each day, one of the two provides open-seating breakfast and lunch. Compared to the cuisine and service in the specialty restaurants, the dining rooms experience doesn't lag. Service in Crossings and Palace is better than that of bigger cruise ships.

NCL Norwegian Sky cruise ship

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Sky restaurants and food bars.

  • Palace Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
  • Le Bistro (French dinner-only specialty restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
  • La Cucina (classic Italian fare)
  • The Crossings Restaurant (aft-location Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
  • Il Adagio (Italian specialty restaurant; cover charge US$15, reservations-only)
  • Great Outdoor Cafe (complimentary lido buffet restaurant)
  • Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
  • The Local Bar & Grill (pub-style eatery)
  • Pinnacle Lounge and Sushi Bar
  • Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations); Kid's Cafe.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Norwegian Sky's guests will each be able to find their own way to relax: drink a favorite cocktail at the pool; indulge in luxurious body procedures at the spa or enjoy a challenging workout in the fitness center while kids are being entertained by activities at their private area. When the night comes, passengers can go to the Star Dust Lounge or try their luck at the casino. Expect to hear music everywhere. You'll be able to listen to Frank Sinatra tunes and island steel drums, hearty soul and piano classics, lots of salsa and rock and roll. Guitar and piano, as well as a Caribbean group, are staples in the variety of lounges. Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Sky tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day). Norwegian Sky cruise ship weddings are held in the onboard chapel.

NCL Norwegian Sky cruise ship

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Sky lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

  • Stardust Theatre (1000-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand shows per night)
  • Captain Cook’s Cigar Bar; Plantation Club; Champs Bar; full-service Starbucks licensed store
  • Dazzles Disco & Nightclub; Outrigger Lounge & Disco
  • Java Cafe; Breakers Bar; Longboard Bar; Sugarcane Mojito Bar; Topsiders (pool bar)
  • Sky Atrium (midship hub area with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
  • Atrium Cafe & Bar (specialty tea & coffee bar); The Coffee Bar
  • Internet Cafe (24-hour); Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop
  • Sky Club Casino
  • Spinnaker Lounge and Bliss Ultra Lounge late-night venues
  • Galleria Shops (tax and duty-free shops); Colombian Emeralds International (precious stones, jewelry, watches)
  • Body Waves Spa & Fitness Centre (Spa treatment rooms, sauna, herbal steam room, thalassotherapy pool, Beauty Salon; Body Waves Fitness Centre); 2 swimming pools, 5 Whirlpools, tennis tables
  • Kid’s Corner Club; Splashes (kids pool); The Zone Teen Club & Disco; Video Games Arcade
  • Combined sports court; Jogging Track; Golf Nets.

Itineraries

Norwegian Sky itinerary program is based on 3- and 4-day short Bahamas cruises from Miami Florida . Feature port destinations include Nassau and NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay Bahamas .

  • NCL Sky's 2017-2018 itinerary program offered 4-night voyages from Miami to Cuba with Havana overnights (May through December 2017). The itinerary also visited Great Stirrup Cay.
  • With Norwegian Sky, NCL's first-ever ship call at Havana was on May 2, 2017 (overnight). NCL Sky's Cuban cruise prices started from USD 700 per person (inclusive of unlimited drinks).
  • In 2018, NCL expanded the Cuba program to a total of 63 itineraries, most of which with Havana overnights. The season (4-day Miami roundtrips) started on March 26, 2018. The number of previously scheduled 2018 NCL Cuba cruises was 30 (through December 2017).
  • NCL's Cuban cruise program was based on two Florida-homeported liners - Norwegian Sky (from Miami) and Norwegian Sun (from Port Canaveral). Following the US Gov's June 2019-issued ban on group travel to Cuba from the USA, NCL revised all its scheduled itineraries visiting Cuban seaports. All planned departures beyond September 2 (2019) were auto-canceled. Cuba-visiting itineraries prior to September 2nd were modified to exclude Havana and visit other Caribbean ports - including in Bahamas ( Great Stirrup Cay Island , Freeport , Nassau ) and Florida ( Key West Florida ).

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the NCL Sky ship was paused for 2 years (March 2020 thru 2022), restarting on March 2nd with 3-4-5-day roundtrips from Miami to the Bahamas.

The ship's 2023 schedule (September-October) has a mini-season based on homeporting in Baltimore MD (at Cruise Maryland Terminal). The program includes 10-11-day Canada and New England itineraries between USA and Canada ( Baltimore and Quebec City ) visiting Halifax, Bar Harbor, Shelburne Harbour, Oak Bluffs Marina, Baie-Comeau.

Norwegian Sky - user reviews and comments

Photos of norwegian sky.

NCL Norwegian Sky cruise ship

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

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

Norwegian Sky Wiki

Norwegian Sky is of the Sky-Class NCL liners, with sisterships NCL Sun and Costa Victoria . Vessel's construction started as an order from Costa Cruises (Costa Crociere) placed to Bremer Vulkan AG (1893-1997 / bankruptcy, a shipbuilding company, Bremen Germany) as the 2nd in a pair of Costa newbuilds . The ship name in this order was "Costa Olympia". Due to Vulkan's financial problems at that time, Costa Olympia's construction was suspended with only ~1/3 of the vessel completed. On October 5, 1996, Olympia's incomplete hull was floated out from drydock.

Costa didn't pay for the incomplete vessel, so it was laid up until December 1997, when NCL purchased it and re-designed it as "Norwegian Sky" (using the services of Tillberg Design, Sweden). NCL Sky's construction was continued at Lloyd Werft's shipyard in Bremerhaven (another major German shipbuilder) to where the hull was towed on March 8, 1998. The ship was officially acquired by NCL on July 29, 1999. The Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was on August 9, 1999 (Norway Fjords from Dover England ), also featuring 20th century's last total solar eclipse. Ship's inaugural USA season started from homeport Boston MA to Canada-New England (Sept 18, 1999) and from homeport Miami FL to Caribbean (Nov 14, 1999).

Ship's godparents were its entire crew. The liner was christened during the August 9 cruise (1999). As "Norwegian Sky", it was operated between 1999-2004. On July 4, 2004, the vessel left drydock in San Francisco CA as "Pride of Aloha".

Pride of Aloha ship's godmother was Margaret Awamura Inouye - wife of US Senator Daniel Inouye (Hawaii). The liner operated exclusively Hawaiian Islands cruises in 2004-2008. During that period, it was US- flagged and operated by the "NCL America" brand (NCLH's subsidiary). In NCL America's fleet, Aloha was joined in 2006 by the sistership Pride of Hawaii (now Norwegian Jade).

NCL originally planned to sell the vessel to Star Cruises (GHK-owned company). Later a decision was announced to sell it to Pullmantur ( RCL-Royal Caribbean brand in Spain). In May 2008, NCL announced that the ship stays in the fleet. After being re-flagged to the Bahamas, it re-entered service as "Norwegian Sky". The second "Maiden Voyage" (now as NCL Sky) was on July 14, 2008.

In early-2009, NCL Sky was sold to GHK (Genting Hong Kong). NCL operated the vessel under one-year charter, with the options to extend the charter, but also to buy the vessel during the charter period. On June 1, 2012, NCL exercised the option and bought the ship for ~USD 260 million.

Norwegian Sky was the first ever passenger liner with an Internet Cafe (via satellite connection). At that time, this venue had 9 PC terminals for going online at sea. List of services (available 24 hours a day, at US$20 per hour or 33 cents per min) included emailing, PC games, photo imaging, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps, printing. Sky is also NCL's first ever ship equipped with "Bridge Cam" (digital camera offering 24-hour real-time views from the bow / updated every 15 min).

Since January 2016, all NCL Sky passengers leaving from Miami FL enjoy free unlimited drinks (including alcohol - beers, wines, premium spirits). All onboard beverages (normally priced up to USD 11) are included in cruise fares. The list includes cocktails, premium spirits, bottled beers, draft beers, wines by the glass. Passengers 3 to 20 years of age also enjoy unlimited drinks - soda and juices. Being the oldest in the fleet, Norwegian Sky operates on short cruises (3- and 4-day Miami roundtrips) to the Bahamas - the whole year-round. The all-inclusive cruising experience includes unlimited beverages also on NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay , which is paired in the itinerary together with Nassau .

In 2017, Sky became NCL's first liner with itineraries visiting Cuba. The Cuban cruise program (May through December 2017) offered 4-day roundtrips from PortMiami (Monday departures) with Havana overnights. The itinerary also visited NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay . Bookings on NCL's Cuban cruises opened on February 21, 2017.

The next table shows NCL Sky's first cruise to Cuba (itinerary May 1-5) with the port times.

The 4-day roundtrip Miami cruise prices started from USD 950 pp (double occupancy inside cabin rates).

During drydock refurbishment 2017, the ship was retrofitted with new "scrubbers" (exhaust gas cleaning systems). The new scrubber technology reduces the equivalent of approx 1500 tons of the poisonous gas Sulfur Oxide. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise company retrofitting with a scrubber hybrid system vessels while in service. The new in-line scrubbers (5 units) are lightweight and able to operate in a dry mode, as well as in open and closed loops.

During drydock 2019 (Jan 25 - Feb 6, done at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport Bahamas ), renovations were made to the pool deck and some lounges, also the Starbucks Coffee Bar was added.

Drydock 2022 (Jan 5 - Feb 7) was conducted in France, at Damen Shiprepair Brest .

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9-day cruise from Miami

Norwegian Cruise Line

9-day Cruise Lines and Destinations

Cruises from Miami , are plentiful and a terrific opportunity to escape for a 9-day cruise holiday. Discover the sun-drenched shores of the Eastern Caribbean , Panama Canal , Western Caribbean , on one of the world's luxury cruise ships and enjoy pure white sand beaches, quaint seaside villages, and spectacular natural wonders on a 9-day cruise departing from Miami. Some of the cruise lines that depart from Miami on a 9-day cruise include Crystal Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line , among others.

Find and plan your next 9-day cruise from the port of Miami

A wonderful tropical holiday can be had by setting sail from Miami on a 9-day cruise. Take a 9-day tropical cruise out of Miami and explore the islands in the Eastern Caribbean , Panama Canal , Western Caribbean , all while soaking up the laid-back island vibe.

Norwegian Cruise Line Eastern Caribbean 9-day route

9-day Eastern Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Norwegian gem, norwegian cruise line.

Date: March 12, 2024

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

Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Cruise Line

Date: May 5, 2024

Date: May 14, 2024

Date: May 28, 2024

Date: June 6, 2024

Date: June 15, 2024

Norwegian Cruise Line Eastern Caribbean 9-day route

Date: June 24, 2024

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

Date: July 7, 2024

Date: July 16, 2024

Date: July 25, 2024

Date: August 3, 2024

Date: August 12, 2024

Date: August 21, 2024

Crystal Cruises Eastern Caribbean 9-day route

Crystal Serenity, Crystal Cruises

Date: November 9, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, Iles Des Saintes, Castries, Kingstown, Bridgetown; View Itinerary

Norwegian Cruise Line Panama Canal 9-day route

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

Crystal Cruises Western Caribbean 9-day route

9-day Western Caribbean from Miami, Fl

Date: December 29, 2024

Ports of Call: Miami, Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman, Key West, Miami; View Itinerary

Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line

Date: January 2, 2025

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

Date: January 11, 2025

Date: January 20, 2025

Date: January 29, 2025

Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Cruise Line

Date: February 12, 2025

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

Date: March 5, 2025

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

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INSIDER

I went on my first solo cruise to the Caribbean and worried about getting bored on the ship. I ended up having more fun than expected.

Posted: February 4, 2024 | Last updated: February 4, 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I recently took a solo cruise on the Norwegian Sky from Miami to the Dominican Republic.</li><li>I worried I might feel <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-things-everyone-should-know-before-going-to-antarctica-review-2022-12">trapped on the ship</a> during the three-day sailing, but found the opposite.</li><li>There were plenty of activities to do onboard, and I ate as much as I wanted, guilt-free.</li></ul><p>As Business Insider's aviation reporter, I typically spend as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/air-india-business-class-boeing-777-review-photos-2024-1">much of my time on airplanes as possible.</a></p><p>However, on a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I thought it might be fun to switch it up and take a cruise down to the Caribbean instead of flying.</p><p>Taking a solo cruise had always been a bucket list item of mine. So, for only about $300, I booked myself into an interior room on a one-way sailing from Miami to La Romana, Dominican Republic, on the Norwegian Sky. (La Romana is about the halfway point between Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.)</p><p>I'm no stranger to traveling alone, but I was curious how going solo in giant cities or mountain towns translated to a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-luxurious-1000-per-person-stateroom-inside-new-norwegian-prima-2022-10#norwegian-cruise-lines-newest-cruise-ship-the-norwegian-prima-finally-completed-its-first-us-sailing-in-early-october-after-seeing-record-breaking-demand-in-2021-1">cruise with a set itinerary</a>. I prefer having more room for randomness in my schedule.</p><p>But, to my relief, I didn't feel trapped on the ship, and I still got to enjoy the same freedom of choice thanks to the myriad activities throughout the three-day voyage.</p><p>Here's why I'd book another solo cruise.</p><div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-solo-cruise-norwegian-caribbean-loved-it-review-2024-2">Business Insider</a></div>

  • I recently took a solo cruise on the Norwegian Sky from Miami to the Dominican Republic.
  • I worried I might feel trapped on the ship  during the three-day sailing, but found the opposite.
  • There were plenty of activities to do onboard, and I ate as much as I wanted, guilt-free.

As Business Insider's aviation reporter, I typically spend as much of my time on airplanes as possible.

However, on a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I thought it might be fun to switch it up and take a cruise down to the Caribbean instead of flying.

Taking a solo cruise had always been a bucket list item of mine. So, for only about $300, I booked myself into an interior room on a one-way sailing from Miami to La Romana, Dominican Republic, on the Norwegian Sky. (La Romana is about the halfway point between Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.)

I'm no stranger to traveling alone, but I was curious how going solo in giant cities or mountain towns translated to a cruise with a set itinerary . I prefer having more room for randomness in my schedule.

But, to my relief, I didn't feel trapped on the ship, and I still got to enjoy the same freedom of choice thanks to the myriad activities throughout the three-day voyage.

Here's why I'd book another solo cruise.

<p>I'm a very restless person by nature, so I find just lying around a pool extremely unsatisfying.</p><p>From my only other NCL cruise way back in 2014, I knew most of the main activities were at night, but I couldn't recall if I enjoyed the sea days' events.</p>

I had a few hesitancies in booking a solo cruise. My main worry was being bored.

I'm a very restless person by nature, so I find just lying around a pool extremely unsatisfying.

From my only other NCL cruise way back in 2014, I knew most of the main activities were at night, but I couldn't recall if I enjoyed the sea days' events.

<p>I've traveled solo on backpacking trips through Europe, Asia, and South America — though I typically <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stayed-in-boeing-747-converted-hotel-would-book-again-review-2022-12">stayed in hostels</a> where meeting people tends to be easier than what I was anticiapting on the boat.</p>

On the myriad other solo trips I've been on, I can always find a museum or hike a new trail when I feel like I've run out of tourist hot spots.

I've traveled solo on backpacking trips through Europe, Asia, and South America — though I typically stayed in hostels where meeting people tends to be easier than what I was anticiapting on the boat.

<p>Technically, my Norwegian trip was the first solo sailing I've taken on a large vessel with all of the bells and whistles of what people think of when they hear "cruise" — like a casino, fancy pools, and multiple dining rooms.</p><p>Before that, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/antarctica-i-do-not-regret-visiting-cruise-expensive-review-2023-12">I went alone on a 200-person expedition ship to Antarctica</a>. It was a physically tough experience, and I wouldn't equate that to a relaxing ride to the Caribbean.</p>

This concern also stemmed from my boredom on the expedition ship I took to Antarctica in 2022, which had no casino, fancy dining, or shows.

Technically, my Norwegian trip was the first solo sailing I've taken on a large vessel with all of the bells and whistles of what people think of when they hear "cruise" — like a casino, fancy pools, and multiple dining rooms.

Before that, I went alone on a 200-person expedition ship to Antarctica . It was a physically tough experience, and I wouldn't equate that to a relaxing ride to the Caribbean.

<p>There were several at-sea days of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/antarctica-i-do-not-regret-visiting-cruise-expensive-review-2023-12">sailing between Argentina and Antarctica</a> — four of which were across the Drake Passage, where waves constantly rocked the boat.</p><p>I mostly entertained myself by watching downloaded movies, going to science lectures, or playing board games with other passengers, but there were definitely spans of time where I felt time passing way too slowly.</p>

The small Antarctic vessel was made for rough waters, so it was pretty barebones — and it was hard to keep occupied.

There were several at-sea days of sailing between Argentina and Antarctica — four of which were across the Drake Passage, where waves constantly rocked the boat.

I mostly entertained myself by watching downloaded movies, going to science lectures, or playing board games with other passengers, but there were definitely spans of time where I felt time passing way too slowly.

<p>The 12-deck <a href="https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship">Norwegian Sky</a> is the company's second-oldest and second-smallest ship.</p><p>I have been on only a few cruises, so I don't really have much to compare the Sky to — yet. But I can imagine cruise fanatics would care a lot about the boat.</p>

I didn't worry too much about lacking amenities on the Norwegian Sky, despite it being one of NCL's oldest and smallest ships.

The 12-deck Norwegian Sky is the company's second-oldest and second-smallest ship.

I have been on only a few cruises, so I don't really have much to compare the Sky to — yet. But I can imagine cruise fanatics would care a lot about the boat.

<p>My cruise departed on Friday, January 26. I selected a 9:30 a.m. check-in so I could board as quickly as possible, and I ended up in Group 1 and was on the boat by noon — meaning I still had a day's worth of time to fill.</p><p>And, to my surprise, the safety briefing was just going to my assembly station to get a yellow sticker on my room key. That saved time.</p>

Fortunately, my worries were put to rest quickly after boarding when I finally got the day's itinerary and found plenty to look forward to.

My cruise departed on Friday, January 26. I selected a 9:30 a.m. check-in so I could board as quickly as possible, and I ended up in Group 1 and was on the boat by noon — meaning I still had a day's worth of time to fill.

And, to my surprise, the safety briefing was just going to my assembly station to get a yellow sticker on my room key. That saved time.

<p>Games like Bingo, Wheel-of-Fortune, and Deal-or-no-Deal <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-industry-business-model-changing-bad-news-for-travelers-2023-4">cost extra</a>. These seemed fun but not worth the money.</p>

NCL's daily schedule was packed from morning until late at night with events like trivia, comedy, and bingo.

Games like Bingo, Wheel-of-Fortune, and Deal-or-no-Deal cost extra . These seemed fun but not worth the money.

<p>There were other themed trivia throughout the weekend, like car logos and "airlines of the world."</p><p>I go to a lot of pub trivia at home, and there are never any aviation-themed questions — so I was thrilled to see airlines.</p>

I attended travel-related things like an "airlines of the world" trivia and a "where in the world am I" game show.

There were other themed trivia throughout the weekend, like car logos and "airlines of the world."

I go to a lot of pub trivia at home, and there are never any aviation-themed questions — so I was thrilled to see airlines.

<p>My one-way cruise to the Dominican Republic was a repositioning sailing to get the Sky to La Romana in order to situate the ship for a proper 11-day trip island-hopping around the Caribbean.</p><p>Some people, like me, got off in La Romana, but a lot of passengers were booked to stay the entire 14 days.</p>

My favorite entertainment, though, was easily the nightly theater performances, which I didn't expect to be as good for a repositioning cruise.

My one-way cruise to the Dominican Republic was a repositioning sailing to get the Sky to La Romana in order to situate the ship for a proper 11-day trip island-hopping around the Caribbean.

Some people, like me, got off in La Romana, but a lot of passengers were booked to stay the entire 14 days.

<p>The first show was a sing-off style performance, while the other was a series of rock song covers.</p><p>I'm no theater expert, but I personally thought the singers were incredible, as well as the dancers — and the cruise director, Will, dancing along with the crew was quite entertaining, too.</p>

As a Broadway fanatic, I love musicals, so the two shows were exactly what I'd see on a night out at home.

The first show was a sing-off style performance, while the other was a series of rock song covers.

I'm no theater expert, but I personally thought the singers were incredible, as well as the dancers — and the cruise director, Will, dancing along with the crew was quite entertaining, too.

<p>The NCL Sky is small, so the lounges and social spaces are not as grandiose as other ships.</p><p>The lobby on the Sky is particularly tiny, which is the only area I found annoyingly crowded.</p>

The activities were mostly held in the lounges and bars scattered throughout the ship, while the shows were in the Stardust Theater.

The NCL Sky is small, so the lounges and social spaces are not as grandiose as other ships.

The lobby on the Sky is particularly tiny, which is the only area I found annoyingly crowded.

<p>My sailing was apparently close to full, but I was surprised by the crowd control even though there were up to 2,000 guests onboard.</p><p>There was always an open chair outside, and getting an elevator was typically easy.</p>

Fortunately, I never found myself fighting for a seat — which I do think is sometimes easier when you're solo, though.

My sailing was apparently close to full, but I was surprised by the crowd control even though there were up to 2,000 guests onboard.

There was always an open chair outside, and getting an elevator was typically easy.

<p>All of these are an additional cost, though Starbucks can be included in the drink package.</p><p>Personally, I skipped the package because there's no way I could consume enough coffee and alcohol to justify the $200+ price, though I know plenty of people who could.</p>

There was also a casino, spa, Starbucks, jewelry and alcohol stores, and a gift shop onboard.

All of these are an additional cost, though Starbucks can be included in the drink package.

Personally, I skipped the package because there's no way I could consume enough coffee and alcohol to justify the $200+ price, though I know plenty of people who could.

<p>I'm extremely busy at home when I'm not traveling, so I don't have a lot of time for sit-down meals or cooking and end up eating a lot of takeout — so the restaurant-grade food was a nice change.</p>

Probably the best part of cruising solo was there was nobody to hold me back from eating as much as I wanted.

I'm extremely busy at home when I'm not traveling, so I don't have a lot of time for sit-down meals or cooking and end up eating a lot of takeout — so the restaurant-grade food was a nice change.

<p>The specialty restaurants cost extra, while the dining rooms have rotating menus, and you can order as many appetizers, entrées, and desserts as your heart desires.</p><p>The buffet and restaurants have set hours, while the pub has food available nearly all night, opening at 6 p.m. and closing at 3 a.m.</p>

There was a buffet, free dining rooms, specialty restaurants, pizza, and a late-night pub.

The specialty restaurants cost extra, while the dining rooms have rotating menus, and you can order as many appetizers, entrées, and desserts as your heart desires.

The buffet and restaurants have set hours, while the pub has food available nearly all night, opening at 6 p.m. and closing at 3 a.m.

<p>The main dining rooms were only available during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours, but I could still eat in between because the buffet and pizza bar were open between noon and 4 p.m.</p><p>That may make me sound like a slob, but part of the fun of vacation is guilt-free eating.</p>

I enjoyed the buffet food between main meals and took advantage of the option to sit outside.

The main dining rooms were only available during breakfast, lunch, and dinner hours, but I could still eat in between because the buffet and pizza bar were open between noon and 4 p.m.

That may make me sound like a slob, but part of the fun of vacation is guilt-free eating.

<p>The sushi option was one of the cheaper specialty meals available, and I tried it just for fun.</p><p>While the food was good, it wasn't worth the money when there were plenty of free meals all around the ship.</p>

I did pay $50 extra for sushi and Sake at an a-la-carte specialty restaurant. The add-on meal wasn't worth it, though.

The sushi option was one of the cheaper specialty meals available, and I tried it just for fun.

While the food was good, it wasn't worth the money when there were plenty of free meals all around the ship.

<p>I'm not sure if slow service is common on cruise ships, but my food took 45 minutes on two separate occasions.</p><p>I personally didn't mind, I enjoyed being in the restaurant and able to look out at the water. I regularly got a window table, which was nice.</p>

The dining room definitely had the overall best food out of everywhere I ate. But the service was much slower.

I'm not sure if slow service is common on cruise ships, but my food took 45 minutes on two separate occasions.

I personally didn't mind, I enjoyed being in the restaurant and able to look out at the water. I regularly got a window table, which was nice.

<p>Other cruise lines with scheduled dining will sometimes put solo travelers at the same table as strangers in the dining rooms, which is not something I'd be comfortable with.</p><p>I like NCL's freestyle dining because I could go to the restaurant anytime I wanted, not at a set time. This meant I could get my own table and not have to navigate any social situations.</p>

Granted, sitting alone in a sea of couples and families at mealtimes was a little awkward at first, but I quickly realized nobody cared.

Other cruise lines with scheduled dining will sometimes put solo travelers at the same table as strangers in the dining rooms, which is not something I'd be comfortable with.

I like NCL's freestyle dining because I could go to the restaurant anytime I wanted, not at a set time. This meant I could get my own table and not have to navigate any social situations.

<p>I walked around the pool deck when I wanted some fresh air or to read, but I've never been a pool person. And I don't consider myself a party animal or a big drinker.</p><p>And that's all fine. There was plenty of other stuff that interested me.</p>

The one thing I didn't do was spend much time by the pool. I'm also not interested in the deck parties or gambling.

I walked around the pool deck when I wanted some fresh air or to read, but I've never been a pool person. And I don't consider myself a party animal or a big drinker.

And that's all fine. There was plenty of other stuff that interested me.

<p>Cruise ships have to cater to people of all ages, genders, and personalities, and I think Norwegian did a good job despite having less living space to work with on the Sky.</p>

That's one of the best things about cruises — there's something for several different types of travelers.

Cruise ships have to cater to people of all ages, genders, and personalities, and I think Norwegian did a good job despite having less living space to work with on the Sky.

<p>The one-way cruise left Miami on Friday, had an at-sea day on Saturday, was in port most of Sunday, and disembarked on Monday morning.</p>

As far as ports, the cruise only had one stop in a coastal city called Puerto Plata on the northern side of the Dominican Republic.

The one-way cruise left Miami on Friday, had an at-sea day on Saturday, was in port most of Sunday, and disembarked on Monday morning.

<p>The port had pools, a beach, restaurants, a bar, shopping, and even a lazy river, all a short walk from the boat.</p><p>It all looked really nice, actually, and I wish I had time to explore this area more.</p>

Passengers could either book an excursion, stay on the ship, or relax in the port.

The port had pools, a beach, restaurants, a bar, shopping, and even a lazy river, all a short walk from the boat.

It all looked really nice, actually, and I wish I had time to explore this area more.

<p>Booking an excursion with the cruise line will ensure you get back to the boat on time. If you go out and about on your own, make sure to watch the clock, or the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2-cruise-ship-passengers-stranded-on-dock-after-missing-departure-2023-8">ship could leave without you</a>.</p><p>The tour took me into the mountainous area of the island, which is more my style since I love hiking and adventurous activities.</p>

I wanted to see some of the island while I was there, and I had a $50 excursion credit, so I booked a zipline and waterfall tour through NCL.

Booking an excursion with the cruise line will ensure you get back to the boat on time. If you go out and about on your own, make sure to watch the clock, or the ship could leave without you .

The tour took me into the mountainous area of the island, which is more my style since I love hiking and adventurous activities.

<p>My group was about 25 people, so I was kind of forced to chat. I'm glad I did, though.</p><p>And I loved meeting the locals, who were great tour guides.</p>

Here, I decided to socialize a bit with the other travelers after keeping to myself most of the at-sea day, and I'm glad I did.

My group was about 25 people, so I was kind of forced to chat. I'm glad I did, though.

And I loved meeting the locals, who were great tour guides.

<p>Part of the reason I love solo traveling, in general, is all of the interesting people I meet. And I'm happy the cruise was no different.</p>

I ended up making friends with another cruisegoer, and we actually went to dinner and a show together that night.

Part of the reason I love solo traveling, in general, is all of the interesting people I meet. And I'm happy the cruise was no different.

<p>NCL puts a daily solo meetup on the schedule. I went the first night, but it was awkward, with no clear indication of who was solo or any type of icebreaker game.</p><p>This may have just been my experience, though. My new friend said she had a great time at a solo meetup on a previous NCL cruise to Alaska.</p>

Meeting her was a nice relief after an underwhelming solo meetup on the first night.

NCL puts a daily solo meetup on the schedule. I went the first night, but it was awkward, with no clear indication of who was solo or any type of icebreaker game.

This may have just been my experience, though. My new friend said she had a great time at a solo meetup on a previous NCL cruise to Alaska.

<p>I personally like cruising because of the opportunity to explore the boat and go to the shows and events. The concept just allures me.</p>

Overall, I ended up liking the boat more than the port — which I think is the main draw for many cruise lovers, anyway.

I personally like cruising because of the opportunity to explore the boat and go to the shows and events. The concept just allures me.

<p>I definitely needed to keep up with my morning workout, given how much I was eating. The gym was a good size and overlooked the water.</p>

My days were spent getting up early and going to the gym, participating in the day and evening events, and going to bed by 10:30 p.m.

I definitely needed to keep up with my morning workout, given how much I was eating. The gym was a good size and overlooked the water.

<p>When I travel alone, I love that I don't have to compromise with anyone on what to do or where to eat. Simply, there's no drama.</p>

It's exactly how I wanted to spend my weekend cruise, and I had a lot of fun doing what I wanted — there was no one I had to accommodate.

When I travel alone, I love that I don't have to compromise with anyone on what to do or where to eat. Simply, there's no drama.

<p>The comedy headliner was named A-Train, and I saw his first act on Friday evening.</p><p>He was truly hilarious, and I was a little bummed I missed his adult comedy on Saturday night — but it was playing at 11 p.m., and that was just too late for me.</p>

The early bedtime meant I missed the evening comedy, karaoke, and parties. But I don't really regret getting extra sleep.

The comedy headliner was named A-Train, and I saw his first act on Friday evening.

He was truly hilarious, and I was a little bummed I missed his adult comedy on Saturday night — but it was playing at 11 p.m., and that was just too late for me.

<p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-rooms-windows-balconies-not-worth-it-frequent-cruiser-2024">inside cabin was the cheapest option</a>, and for the short trip, I didn't want to spend another few hundred to upgrade.</p><p>I was happy I didn't because I slept so well, and I'll keep booking an inside cabin on future cruises.</p>

Plus, my inside cabin made sleeping easy because it was completely blackout. I think this could bother some people, but I loved it.

The inside cabin was the cheapest option , and for the short trip, I didn't want to spend another few hundred to upgrade.

I was happy I didn't because I slept so well, and I'll keep booking an inside cabin on future cruises.

<p>The all-inclusive aspect is the biggest difference between solo cruising and hostel-hopping in places like Eastern Europe, which is where I spent my early 20s.</p><p>I liked that everything — food, excursions, and hotel — was already paid for when I boarded, minus the few beers I ended up buying.</p>

Plus, unlike solo trips to other countries, this all-inclusive trip meant all my entertainment and food was pre-paid and pre-planned.

The all-inclusive aspect is the biggest difference between solo cruising and hostel-hopping in places like Eastern Europe, which is where I spent my early 20s.

I liked that everything — food, excursions, and hotel — was already paid for when I boarded, minus the few beers I ended up buying.

<p>We docked next to a giant Royal Caribbean ship with slides and other amenities poking out of its deck.</p>

Granted, the Sky has just the basic expectations and lacks the water slides, go-karts, and malls present on many modern ships.

We docked next to a giant Royal Caribbean ship with slides and other amenities poking out of its deck.

<p>A large number of passengers stayed for the full 14 days, though I don't think the Sky is amenity-heavy enough for me to commit to a two-week voyage.</p>

Personally, I think the Sky is perfect for three or so days. I probably wouldn't be able to stay for the next 11.

A large number of passengers stayed for the full 14 days, though I don't think the Sky is amenity-heavy enough for me to commit to a two-week voyage.

<p>Business Insider's Brittany Chang sailed on the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-norwegian-cruise-line-new-1-billion-prima-cruise-ship-2022-10">billion-dollar Norwegian Prima</a> in 2022 with 18 decks, a 10-story slide, and a three-level go-kart track.</p><p>These amenities take cruising to the next level, and experiencing a longer sailing on an even bigger ship is next on my bucket list.</p>

A larger ship with more to do, see, and explore might offer more to keep me occupied on an extended sailing.

Business Insider's Brittany Chang sailed on the billion-dollar Norwegian Prima in 2022 with 18 decks, a 10-story slide, and a three-level go-kart track.

These amenities take cruising to the next level, and experiencing a longer sailing on an even bigger ship is next on my bucket list.

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Royal Caribbean's 9-month world cruise rerouted amid Red Sea attacks

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean International is rerouting its nine-month world cruise amid continued attacks in the Red Sea.

The line’s Ultimate World Cruise, currently sailing on the line’s Serenade of the Seas ship, was set to transit through the Suez Canal in May. The vessel will now sail one of two alternate routes – and passengers get a say.

“In keeping with the adventurous spirit of our guests, we are engaging them for their thoughts and preference between two alternative itineraries that will take them on an epic adventure to Africa,”  a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “They will receive compensation for the adjustment, and guests who prefer to not sail on the updated itinerary will receive a full refund and support for their travel arrangements.”

The spokesperson did not immediately respond to an additional question about how much passengers would be compensated.

The news comes as luxury line Crystal made similar changes to avoid the Red Sea, canceling a March 27 cruise on Crystal Symphony from Mumbai to Piraeus. The line is also rerouting multiple segments of Crystal Serenity’s 2024 world cruise , though the sailing’s length and its June 8 end date will remain the same.

“We are in the process of notifying all impacted guests on both ships,” Crystal said in a statement on Friday. “We greatly appreciate our guests and crew for their understanding and patience during this process.”

Was your cruise itinerary changed?: Here's what to do next

The Iranian-backed Houthis have launched repeated attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas war . The Yemen-based militants have claimed they are showing solidarity with the Palestinians, but experts say there is more to their motivations .

Many other lines, including Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises and Silversea Cruises, have recently canceled or rerouted sailings away from the area.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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9-Month Cruise Passengers Officially Pick New Route After Middle East Unrest Canceled Plans: See the Winner

Passengers on the 'Serenade of the Seas' were asked to vote on their next destination, after Royal Caribbean decided to reroute the 9-month-long cruise due to conflicts in the Red Sea and Suez Canal

Charlotte Phillipp is a Weekend Writer-Reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024, and was previously an entertainment reporter at The Messenger.

ncl 9 day caribbean cruise

Peter Bischoff/Getty

The passengers on the Serenade of the Seas have selected their new route after a tumultuous few weeks of uncertainty.

After Royal Caribbean announced earlier this month that its viral 9-month cruise would be forced to reroute due to the ongoing unrest in the Red Sea and Suez Canal, its passengers had a vote on what to do instead.

“We’re going to Africa!” cruise passenger and podcaster Brandee Lake confirmed in a TikTok post Thursday. “Excited was … the word that I had when I heard Captain Kjell come across the speaker system and say that ‘Itinerary 1: Immersive Africa’ was exactly what was gonna happen for the Serenade of the Seas .”

In celebration of the reveal that The Ultimate World Cruise was indeed going to make several stops around the continent and surrounding islands, Lake showed off her “African outfit,” featuring flowing pants and a white and blue print. She also gave the Serenade of the Seas’ African crew members a chance to shine, showing off their dance moves and including flag emojis for each of their home countries — including those of Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mauritius and South Africa.

“Less than 5 minutes after the announcement, I changed into my African outfit and danced my way through the ship ALL DAY LONG with my African brothers and sisters who work on the ship,” she said. “I also had a dance lesson with a fellow passenger, Auntie, and learned a few moves from Jamaicans on board as well.”

“What an AMAZING way to close out #blackhistorymonth!” she finished her caption.

“This trip and experience is truly a blessing and now it's even better as we will truly see the entire world including places on sub Saharan Africa where our ancestors came from," she told PEOPLE.

Lake previously broke down the two options passengers would vote between for PEOPLE.

The first was “Immersive Africa," which includes stops in Senegal and Ghana, plus nearby islands including the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius. However, this choice excludes some previously planned stops in Turkey and a long stay in Greece.

The second route that guests could vote for included more time in Egypt, Turkey, and Greece — closer to the ship’s original itinerary — but involved many more consecutive days at sea in order to navigate around Africa as quickly as possible, Lake said previously.

The 160-destination voyage left from Miami nearly three months ago and has already traveled through multiple parts of the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina and Peru, and is set to end on Sept. 10, 2024. The next leg of the cruise in Asia will go on as planned.

The news of a major itinerary change first came on Feb. 9, when The Ultimate World Cruise responded to rumors about rerouting its third leg — which was set to head for the Middle East and Mediterranean in May — due to the conflict in Israel and Palestine , issues in the Suez Canal and U.S. military activity in Yemen.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority, and we are monitoring what is taking place in and around the Red Sea,” Royal Caribbean told PEOPLE at the time.

The Ultimate World Cruise — which went viral on TikTok when it embarked on its long journey in December 2023 — has had its fair share of ups and downs since the beginning of the month. Rough seas canceled several planned ports of call around South America, and unrest in certain areas of South America forced Royal Caribbean to skip others. On Feb. 12, reports began to circulate online that the cruise had had its first death . World cruiser and content creator Adita, who goes by @aditaml2759 on TikTok , confirmed the news.

"Some sad news," she said on TikTok while the ship was docked in Los Angeles. "We had our first death on the Ultimate World Cruise. A lady passed away last night. She was an elderly lady, and the reason why I know is because I was coming to my room when they were taking the body out." 

"I'm thinking it was probably a heart attack. But I don't have much news other than it was a female elderly patient, or guest, that passed away," she continued, adding that it was "very, very sad" to have witnessed.

Royal Caribbean confirmed her report to PEOPLE shortly afterwards, writing in a statement that “A guest sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas has sadly passed away.”

“We are actively providing support and assistance to the guest's loved ones at this time. Out of the privacy of the guest and their family, we have nothing further to share at this time," the statement read.

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    Day 7: Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's Private Island. Snorkel out to NCL's own Underwater Sculpture Garden. Similar to the underwater sculpture garden in Nassau, NCL has their very own one right in the island's backyard! It's about a 5 minute snorkel from the shore to get out to the garden.

  15. Norwegian Cruise Line

    NCL Viva will operate 7-8-9-day Caribbean roundtrips from Puerto Rico (San Juan). (2025-2026) Norwegian Viva homeports in Galveston, Texas, from December 2025 to April 2026, with 7-day Western Caribbean itineraries and a 14-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary featuring George Town in the Cayman Islands. NCL America. Pride of America. Honolulu Hawaii.

  16. 9 Night Caribbean Dominican Republic and Antigua Cruise on Norwegian

    See details and pricing for the Norwegian Sky 9 Night Caribbean Dominican Republic and Antigua Cruise sailing May 8, 2023 from Miami. Book Norwegian Cruise Line online or call 1-800-427-8473 - iCruise.com. Save up to $100 on your next cruise. Sign In | Register. ... Day 2 - Tuesday - May 9, 2023. Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas: Arrive: 7:00 am:

  17. Cruises to Caribbean on Norwegian Sky

    50% Off All Cruises. FREE Airfare^. 3rd & 4th Guest for $99. Free 3rd & 4th Guests. 2-For-1 Deposits. Risk- Free Cancellation. View Cruise. VIEW DATES & PRICES. + Taxes, fees and port expenses $146.83 USD.

  18. Norwegian Sky Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

    9 days, round-trip Caribbean Barbados, Curacao Aruba ... is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966 ... NCL Sky tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day). Norwegian Sky cruise ship weddings are held in the onboard chapel. Follows the complete list of Norwegian Sky lounges ...

  19. NCL Freestyle Daily

    Cruises. We recently sailed on the Norwegian Getaway for a 7 Night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida. Norwegian Cruise Line calls their daily activities schedule the "Freestyle Daily". The Freestyle Daily is delivered each night to your cabin during turn down service, as well as digitally on the NCL app.

  20. 9-day Cruise from Miami

    9-day Cruise Lines and Destinations. Cruises from Miami, are plentiful and a terrific opportunity to escape for a 9-day cruise holiday. Discover the sun-drenched shores of the Eastern Caribbean, Panama Canal, Western Caribbean, on one of the world's luxury cruise ships and enjoy pure white sand beaches, quaint seaside villages, and spectacular natural wonders on a 9-day cruise departing from ...

  21. Norwegian Sun Cruise: Expert Review (2023)

    2,167 reviews. Norwegian Star. 2,579 reviews. Norwegian Dawn. 3,012 reviews. Norwegian Spirit. 2,122 reviews. Our expert Norwegian (NCL) Norwegian Sun review breaks down deck plans, the best rooms ...

  22. Norwegian Viva Unveiled and Itineraries Released

    Norwegian Cruise Line unveils the second Prima-class cruise ship, Norwegian Viva, which will sail inaugural cruises in the Mediterranean in 2023. ... Puerto Rico with 7- and 9-day Caribbean ...

  23. Western Caribbean

    Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Norwegian Cruise Line's 10 Day Western Caribbean beginning and ending your journey in New Orleans. 1000 season departures. ... Caribbean Cruises Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises Group Tours. Canada & New England . 11 Days Quebec City New York. Operated By: Norwegian Cruise Line . From 2,336. Save 16.

  24. I went on my first solo cruise to the Caribbean and worried about ...

    My one-way cruise to the Dominican Republic was a repositioning sailing to get the Sky to La Romana in order to situate the ship for a proper 11-day trip island-hopping around the Caribbean.

  25. Red Sea crisis: Royal Caribbean alters 9-month world cruise itinerary

    Royal Caribbean International is rerouting its nine-month world cruise amid continued attacks in the Red Sea.. The line's Ultimate World Cruise, currently sailing on the line's Serenade of the ...

  26. 9-Month Royal Caribbean Cruise Passengers Vote for New Itinerary Around

    Passengers on the 'Serenade of the Seas' were asked to vote on their new itinerary, after Royal Caribbean decided to reroute the 9-month-long cruise due to conflicts in the Red Sea and Suez Canal.