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The Free at Sea package included 300 minutes of Wi-Fi for this entire 12-night cruise, meaning I had to remember to log off to keep from using minutes. My father quickly learned logging off was not the same as just turning off the Wi-Fi on his device after a bunch of his allotted minutes went away fairly quickly when he wasn’t doing anything. Because this cruise was so port-intensive, I didn’t take part in any of the entertainment because all I wanted to do after a day of touring was eat dinner and go to sleep. My parents went to see “The Donna Summer Musical” and “The Price is Right” and thought both were entertaining. The Prima has several bars and lounges scattered throughout the ship.
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The Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Encore is the biggest of them all. Among added features, it includes a 45-minute escape room experience laced with special effects. Themed around a Spanish galleon, it's designed to be played by up to six people at a time.
A Few (Honest) Thoughts on the Bliss to Alaska
One thing you need to know upfront about going on a Norwegian cruise is that there are a lot of extra charges — and sometimes quite high extra charges — on the line's ships, particularly for things like restaurants. Those looking to avoid the crowds can escape to Mandara Spa or the adults-only Vibe Beach Club, or cozy up with a book in the breathtaking Observation Lounge with two-deck high windows at the front of the ship. You may also have the option of upgrading to "Free at Sea Plus" , which would give you extra specialty dining, extra credit towards excursions, unlimited Wi-Fi, and a premium beverage package. Another feature that sets Norwegian Cruise Line apart from other cruise lines is its onboard entertainment. The cruise line offers a variety of shows, ranging from Broadway-style productions to comedy acts and live music. One of the most popular shows on Norwegian Cruise Line is "Burn the Floor" , which is a dance show that features world-class dancers performing to a range of music genres, including ballroom, Latin, and contemporary.
The best Norwegian Cruise Line ship for every type of traveler
On my voyage, I saw violinist Christopher Watkins, who plays well-known songs on a violin adorned with more than 1,000 Swarovski crystals. Norwegian became the first cruise line to charge for mini-golf — free on all other ships that have it — when it launched its Prima Class vessels. A single round at Tee Time on the course's nine holes costs $10 per person, and teams can accommodate up to six people.
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But before I made it to the Observation Lounge, I stopped at my cabin to hair dry my shoes and hang my socks on the handy little wet sock hooks (there obvious purpose on an April Alaska cruise). It occurred to me midway through this process that I should have packed some “poopourri,” not just for its intended purpose, but for the pungent smell of steaming sneakers. These photos could also be used as evidence for why I’m not mature enough to work a real job. The cars that Norwegian uses can hit speeds up to 32 miles per hour. In some cases, the Broadway shows are cut down slightly from the original versions, and the casts aren't quite as seasoned as what you'll find on Broadway. Compare that with the hundreds of dollars you'd spend to take your family to a show in New York City.
Night 6 Dinner at La Cucina
Reaching the second tier, Silver (20 points), would take at the most three cruises if you're doing seven-night trips. Norwegian allows you to bring bottles of your own wine or Champagne on board, but it will charge you a hefty corkage fee of $15 per bottle for the privilege — even if you plan to drink the bottle in your room. Most lines allow passengers to bring at least a bottle or two of their own wine on board at no charge.
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My two experiences with Norwegian Cruise Line have been very positive; however, the two itineraries I’ve sailed on are more unique compared to a standard sailing with the cruise line. Pride of America is the only US-flagged cruise ship and it’s the only vessel the operates inner-island itineraries. There was no set sail party on the first night and there was no main headliner show either. During our first night at dinner, we overheard the lady next to us saying she couldn’t wait to get off the ship and get back home. Hayley and I laughed, especially considering we had literally just gotten onboard a few hours earlier and we were so excited. Guest services indicated that those of us joining for just two nights didn’t have any options for purchasing drink or Internet packages, much to our surprise.
Bars and Beverages
Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences. You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing. If you’re fortunate, as I am, to have visited Alaska many times, the Bliss is awesome on port days when most passengers are off the ship. In fact, on my first cruise on the Bliss with my son, we stayed onboard for the majority of our time in port and practically had the entire ship to ourselves.
No, but you can pay for a Wi-Fi package, which starts at $29.99 per day per device. Earn one point for every night you spend on a sailing and double points in suites or The Haven category accommodations. The full roster of onboard amenities can be found on the Norwegian Cruise Line website. As you accrue nights, you earn elite status that delivers onboard benefits that grow with each status tier. Latitude Rewards awards members with points based on each night they sail, and they can earn bonus nights when booking certain categories of suites. "Freestyle" cruising, a term the line coined, means you can wear just about anything wherever and whenever you'd like.
The first two are videos, one a full ship tour and one a cabin tour. The third takes you to all the dining menus (MDR, specialty, fast casual, room service, and more) I collected onboard. As always, feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences on the Bliss to the comments. The exclusive, keycard-accessed suite complex called The Haven (found on 13 of Norwegian's 19 ships) comes with private lounges, pools and other tony features.
However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. The area is packed with activities, which also means it's packed with people. The Norwegian Getaway casino encircles the area on Deck 7, and smoke drifts to restaurants and clubs on the decks above and below.
Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be fined $250 per occurrence. Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Norwegian vessels recently was priced at $39.99 per person per day, if you bought it in advance. Norwegian also offers a less expensive plan that doesn't allow video streaming for $29.99 per person per day if purchased in advance. If you know you want to eat at several extra-charge restaurants during a single voyage, you can buy one of several dining packages that offer meals at a discount. Also, every ship has a least four and often many more extra-charge eateries.
Another strange flex on Prima Class ships is The Bull's Eye, a suite of semi-private areas that groups of up to six people can rent to play darts for 50 minutes for $20 per person. The underwhelming game area was not crowded when I passed through on my way to Tee Time, which shares the same space. NCL is notorious for charging extra for everything from dining to activities, and Norwegian Viva is no exception. Although nightly entertainment is free, many of the best daytime activities come with an additional price tag. Free daily activities include trivia, murder mysteries, balloon twisting seminars, dance classes and pool games and competitions (such as the Mr. Sexy Legs contest).
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While not the biggest vessels in the Norwegian fleet, these ships will be notably packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and decktop attractions. They also mark a more upscale turn for the line, with more space per passenger than earlier Norwegian ships and lots of suites. The bright multi-deck atrium, complete with a large circular skylight at the top, is the hub of the ship and features three decks of shopping, lounging and learning about your cruise. Four inward-facing glass elevators make for great views of the action below. A midsized ship with less than 2,000 passengers (double occupancy), Norwegian Sun is big enough to offer plenty of onboard amenities and space, yet small enough to not feel overwhelming. Notably, the entire back of each of these ships is dedicated to an upscale luxury zone for the fancy set called The Haven.
Other Norwegian cruise ships, such as Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Sun, have specific features that might make them better options for solo travelers or retirees. Certain Norwegian ships are best for budget travelers, while others are best for luxury travelers. That said, Breakaway is not for everyone, especially those on either extreme of the traditional cruising spectrum. Norwegian claims Freestyle means "what you want when you want it," an appealing concept for those who wish to be spontaneous and in control of their vacation experience. However, to make the most of your time onboard, you really must plan ahead and make reservations before your trip (or early in the cruise), especially when it comes to dining in specialty restaurants or booking spa treatments.
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