Did I miss anything?? What tip would YOU give for NCL???

I have been on 5 NCL Cruises this year as a solo traveller both with and without Free at Sea. Honestly, for me, it was cheaper to NOT get Free at Sea and just buy drinks when I was in Port or the occasional drink on board. Say I had a couple of glasses of wine a day - including tip, around $30. I don't drink everyday so let's say $15 a day. If I was going to get my money's worth from the purchased beverage package I would have to drink 7 glasses of wine a day just to break even - sorry, my liver can't handle that. Free at Sea will be less than half of that but still - I am not going to be drinking 5 drinks a day for a 15 day cruise! As for the excursions, I like to do my own thing as an experienced traveller so I usually just walk into the Port city from the ship and spend - almost NOTHING! As for the Specialty Dining - I am by myself so why do I need to go to a specialty restaurant on board when the regular food is free and very good - also if I really want a nice meal I will do it in Port where it is more memorable. Finally Inetrnet - you only get 150 free minutes with Free at Sea which is nothing so, depending on the cruise, I either just use free internet in port or if it is a transatlantic or very long cruise I will fork out for the unlimited internet which is worth it IMHO. So you can save a TON of money by not getting Free at Sea, especially if you are solo like me and follow my tips - but if you are with a group it might be worth it - especially if you don't travel much and want to have a really special experience - but I travel all the time and would rather do my own thing and enjoy the ports. Different strokes for different folks.

Just booked my first Norwegian Cruise. can not wait!

As a solo traveler who’s traveled on Norwegian 3 times, I absolutely love their solo program. The lounge, activities, and getting to meet fellow solo travelers is unmatched. But beware!! The cost for a regular cabin is often less than the designated solo cabins when booking close to departure. And you have way more room in a regular cabin. Also, if you are looking at one of their larger ships, I’d highly recommend the Breakaway Plus class due to the added observation lounge. (Bliss, Encore, Joy, Escape). It’s beautiful and is a quiet retreat which isn’t found on the the Getaway or Breakaway. I first sailed on the Breakaway and I found it way too busy and crowded and there was absolutely nowhere to read a book and relax. But the Encore was a breath of fresh air with its observation lounge. Irs like a classy hotel lobby lounge in a very hectic ship. I loved it!!

You can get Free at Sea and remove the drink package. We do this because we are not drinkers. It saves you those gratuities, but we still get the specialty dining, internet, and shore excursion credit (if we choose to use it).😊

Thank you for explaining the Perks on NCL to first-time cruisers! We love NCL! The only thing I would add is that the Casinos At Sea perks are awesome. After our first sailing, we were invited back with a cabin comp! We play anyway... If you do play, get a card like you would like at any casino. You will receive points, just like a casino. You can exchange them for free play OR use them on the very last night towards your cabin charges. Oftentimes, the credit you receive will be higher than the cash value. This means you may have $25 in free play, but you will receive an onboard credit for $35 or more! Also, don't be surprised if you are invited back in the future for a free cabin! You must pay taxes, port fees, and gratuities. You can even pay a bit and get an upgraded cabin. If you enjoy playing in the casino and will gamble anyway, get the players card!

Wow. This is one of the best detailed rundowns of a cruise and cruise line I’ve ever seen. And I really want to try Breakaway. Thank you so much for this clear and informative review / how-to. thanks!

One thing I noticed as people explain the Free at Sea perks, they have always forgotten some significant details of the drink package. Two things that set them apart: a) It is unlimited drinks, unlike the Carnival brands that limit you to 15 per 24 hours. b) You can order "doubles" if you want. To me, I like this. I love a black rum float on my Mai Tai. I want a double shot of Bailey's in my coffee. The FREE AT SEA program is a great option, even if you are paying gratuities for the 🍸 and specialty dinning 🍽, as well as the slight increase in room rates over the Sail Away prices.

Tip #16 - NCL credit card. No annual fee. 25,000 sign-up bonus. Low qualifying cost - your cruise will be enough. Multiple points for NCL purchases. Each point is 1 cent, therefore they pay you $250 (25000 points) to get the card ! Points are good for other travel perks, not just NCL OBC

Thank you for this awesome positive review of NCL. I am sapphire level, mostly Haven,passenger. It’s refreshing after all the negative comments that have been circulating lately. You brought back to mind all of the wonderful reasons why we love NCL. Getting ready to head out next week on Prima for the 2nd time and then Encore the week after⚓

I actually followed your advice and bid on an upgrade to balcony. Got accepted and saved 😂a bunch, thanks to you 😊

I've been out of town and not online, but I really appreciate the time you took to put this together. It's everything I would tell someone about sailing Norwegian. We love it too. No formal nights, the laid back vibe, it's so nice. And it doesn't cost more like people think. You just have to know what kind of cruiser you are. Do you need free at sea or not? That makes a big difference like you said. If you add those things to the other lines rates, it's pretty similar. All the lines make it difficult to compare apples to apples, but I did do the math on a couple of our cruises to try to compare as close as I could and there just wasn't enough difference to give up what we like. NCL usually has better itineraries too. We compare but always end up on NCL.

We are platinum latitude members with Norwegian and stock owners. You gave absolutely the best tips for NCL! Cruise likes Norwegian! Pearl is next!

I love the Waterfront on the newer ships. Especially having outdoor dining on a warm evening...

And this is why we prefer you over the other cruise bloggers...glass always half full with you!

I’ve traveled with Norwegian about 7 times. I’ve followed your channel for a few years. This has to be the best video I’ve enjoyed from you! Very informative! Thank you and keep up the great work!

I'm about to go on the Gem for the 2nd time and I love the smaller ships. I don't need all the bells and whistles. I'm looking to relax, not schedule every minute of my days.

a couple things. the $50 excursion credit is not limited to one excursion per port. It is applied only to passenger one on the reservation but if you are able to do multiple excursions in one port, the $50 discount will apply to all of them. Totally agree, do the air deviation at least for embarkation. fly in a day or two early to make sure, even if the airlines screw up, you still make your cruise. Note: you must schedule the deviation at least 75 days pre cruise. after that NCL will not let you schedule the deviation. Love the specialty dining promo. Le Bistro is always our favorite!!!

We removed the ‘free’ drink package from our recent cruise on NCL Joy and it dropped our price down on our trip even more, by quite a bit. So run the figures both ways to see if it really makes sense.

Excellent informative video. I am a regular Royal CCL cruiser and have diamond status on that cruise line. I had been on NCL several times previously and booked it last year for a cruise out of New Orleans. We paid more for a balcony room on Breakaway and I was very disappointed. The room and balcony we tiny. There was a foot between the bed and the closet. We were told the newer ships are roomier. When we went to the dining room there was a sign that Prime Rib was being served in the Garden Buffet. I expected to be able to get it in the dining room but no it was not available. We finished our mediocre meal and went to the buffet for the Prime Rib. I have always preferred having dinner in the dining room but found the food choices better in the buffet., not my first choice for dinner meals. We regularly went to the buffet after going to the dining room for crepes or other options not available in the dining room. We also had a problem with our toilet not flushing. Needless to say this was more than a regular inconvenience. After the cruise we were give a Future Cruise Credit which we have decided to use. The positives were the entertainment and deck parties were great! We didn’t take the Free at See. We don’t drink more than 2 drinks a day. We bought cheap drinks on shore and treated ourselves to the Vodka Ice Bar one day. I do prefer the Newer Ships of Royal Caribbean but probably would have preferred a newer NCL. On Royal I get 4 drinks a day for free with my diamond status, which I share. I would suggest people trying different cruise lines to see which one they find is best for them. People who drink a lot would probably be happiest with the NCL Free at Sea. Happy cruising!

Alisa... what a great informative video. I owned a Cruise Ship Centre travel agency back in the late 80s At the time the "Norway" was the largest cruise ship in the world. It was always my dream to go on it. I was also a waiter at the Keg & Cleaver restaurant. I was able to block 10 cabins and took all my co-workers on the cruise to the Caribbean for $999 dollars and that included airfare. I am from Vancouver Canada and it was winter at the time so what an adventure it was for us to all cruise on the largest cruiseship in the world. The service was great, the food was great... it was a very memorable cruise for all of us since we were all in our twenties. I was 27. It is nice to see that NCL has progressed so much forward today to accomodate everyone's needs. I was in tears when the Norway was beached and torn apart about 10 years ago. Thank you so much for such a great video to where NCL is going now,

Just got off my 4th NCL Cruise. Did a 11 night southern Caribbean cruise on the Dawn. Love that ship. Perfect size and less crowded. Sadly the fares on the smaller ships are higher than the larger ones. But that makes sense given the economics of business. Overall I like the free at sea, the wine selection being the only miss.

Just got back from Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Bliss, it was a blast. My first time is unforgettable experience. From housekeeping to the mtd, I was just blown away. They all gave us tips and show us the way. I want to try solo on September, already make deposit for next year with my daughter. Got a peak of their suite and thats what I want next time around.

I’m a 1st time cruiser on Norwegian. Thanks for the insight!

I'm book on the jewel for 12 days. 1st cruising with Norwegian. You had some great tips really enjoyed it.

Gosh swim forward! What a great tip. After 4 cruises I’m still always lost. This top is gonna be super helpful. Thanks

Great information! I have looked at NCL before but was always confused. Love watching you guys and appreciate the great content.

You are 100% right that using NCL's flights usually means a less-than-optimum time for the flight home. We usually do a flight deviation both *to* and *back* and spend a day in the port city on both ends. Reduces stress on both "ends"...but it does add the cost of hotel stays.

My daughter and I are sailing with spirit in march leaving Sydney Australia and it’s a 15 day trip to all the pacific islands end in Tahiti

I just booked NCL Bliss going to Alaska in October. We have never sailed NCL but from this video and others, I think I made the right decision.

We love that you pick what time you disembark.

Great tips! I'm single so love the NCL solo travelers program. Studio cabins are the perfect size (no unneeded space), private lounge is convenient, and have our own activities director. Unfortunately, not all ships offer this option. Just subscribed to your channel. Cruising on the JOY this November (US Marine Corps Birthday Cruise). I do take advantage of the military discount (retired Marine).

The excursion credit is $50 for the first person in the cabin. It used to be for the cabin.

It's very pleasant listening to you, you guys are excellent at thoroughly explaining the things that me and my wife are interested in, thank you so much

I am planning my first cruise and am leaning towards Norwegian. Your videos are so helpful! Your Hawaii trip has me motivated

Excellent video. Thanks so much for sharing these tips. My husband and I are new cruisers. After watching this video, I do believe that we are going to give NCL a try.

Very informative video!! Very interested in cursing with NCL and this video was extremely helpful. Thank you

On our Alaska cruise we booked a thermal suite cabin it was only about $200.00 more than a balcony cabin, it's a little bit cool to use the pools in Alaska

Hey! I'm an avid cruise goer. I planned my buddies bachelor party on an NCL cruise for February. It will be my first NCL, thank you so much for this video. You're delivery is great and you can really tell you enjoy cruising!

Before I ate at teppanaki, I was thinking to myself yuck. And that I was gonna go one deck below when I was done to get a milkshake. But after that meal (which was the best meal I had on the encore) I was way to fully get the shake. I just loved it

I just returned from a trip to Bermuda. It was very enjoyable. I definitely would use Norwegian again. Veronica Bikofsky Speiser

I had no idea there were travel agents still!! You are definitely knowledgeable and I will absolutely check back with you when we get our new passports. I’m subscribing!

I just go off the Getaway, my first time on NCL, out of New York, a 12 day Caribbean cruise, with 35 cruises on Princess. I watched numerous videos about the ship so I would have some ideas about the layout. Since an inside stateroom I found out was cheaper than my booked studio & my inside was the difference as day & night compared to an inside on Princess, & I took the free upgrade. Here’s some of my observations. I chose to not book my airfare through NCL, partly because I would not have any control of my flights as I was coming from San Francisco, plus I was arriving 3 days early & would have had to book my hotel with them, I found out through my agent $1,000, which I said no. Some things you just have to experience at the terminal & once you’re on the ship. I arrived at the terminal at 8:30 am & a short time latter I was checked in & was given boarding group #22. I saw people outside the terminal that looked like they were boarding the ship & then realized they were in the Haven Class which meant lots more $ to board before anyone else. I questioned as to my boarding number, as I had checked in real early, & was told it because of the level you are in. Once on board I noticed a long line for dinning reservations, plus a line for show reservations. I realized much later that there was large screens near the elevators where you could do the same thing. I ate most of my dinners in the tropicana dinning room & found that where you sat the service was either great or so-so. One night I waited 45 minutes for my drink order. I’m not a picky eater but a lot of the dinner meals were fair but on Princess they were usually great. I was surprised when I was told that they had no shared tables, but other people were asked if they would like to share a table. The staff onboard were great. I feeling that another layout might have made a difference as you mentioned. They cut out all of the Broadway shows as they are having financial problems. I was amazed as to the size of the Atrium & if I wanted a seat for a event I needed to be there 90 minutes before to get a seat otherwise I would be standing. I had a printed schedule in my stateroom every night without having to ask so perhaps it depends which shop you’re on. Thanks for your video.

Thanks for this very interesting video with great advice and tips for a first time cruiser like myself who’s looking for a good cruise line.

And do not forget if you wait to get on the ship to make reservations you will be waiting in long lines

Thank you. Your videos are so helpful. I just booked a solo Alaska cruise on the Bliss. You tour of ship and restaurant recommendations videos are very informative. I used my a local travel agent. No "Free at Sea" offered. I did get one specialty dining, but being one person, not a great value. Don't dink much but might get the soda package for $80.

I have looked at no less than 30 videos to figure out the Encore / NCL experience this is the BEST BEST BEST!!!!

Great comprehensive video! Thank you for doing it :-) I do have a few comments: 1. As (an often) solo traveler (especially cruising), I appreciated the specific section on solo travel. I would like to point out that in some instances (like when the single supplement is 0%), a regular cabin may be cheaper. It pays to investigate the different options. 2. As a general rule, is the Solo Lounge available to any solo cruiser, even if they're not in a solo studio? 3. An upgrade may be to a less desirable location, and you can't change your mind once your bid is accepted and you're assigned the new cabin! 4. One doesn't have to accept all of the Free At Sea choices -- you can opt out of the ones you don't want and the respective gratuity charges will disappear. I'm looking forward to my August cruise on Jewel!

Love Norwegian. Going to make a travel series in August we love the drink package and other upgrades

This is a great video!!!!! I am cruising for the 1st time on Escape in April as a solo. This was very informative. I actually got 50% off my airfare because I was solo which was great..

This video is 100% pure value, thanks.

What a great video Alisa. You hit it out of the park!

Thanks for all the tips! Really helpul

i booking with you next week for Norwegian Escape in March of 24. Sarah from EECC is great in answering all my questions.

I am amazed at the drinks package prices that you quoted. I sailed on Ovation of the Seas here in Australia for a 14-night cruise, and the premium package was $165/day. The cruise fare includes gratuities here, and maybe the drinks package reflects that in the price.

Very good tips❣️ Just went through my travel agent to book my Alaska cruise for 2025.

Thankyou! I'm going to check Norwegian out now!

The cost effectiveness of the drink package depends upon how much you drink. I never drink more than 2/day, and it is usually less than that. Even with the "free" drink package offer, the gratuities add up to more than I would spend if I just bought drinks and generously tipped for drinks individually so I don't get a drink package. If I were to drink more than 2/day, the free package would be worth it. Also, be aware of what is included in your drink package.

My first Norwegian cruise is scheduled on the Dawn in June of 2024. It starts in Stockholm and ends in Oslo. The cruise was chosen due to the itinerary but it's a busy itinerary of a new port every day. I'm looking forward to sailing with Norwegian

Cruised both private Islands, Harvest Cay has the best lifeguards ever! Not just cruise islands but best ever! A station every 60 feet, and if you stumble coming out of the ocean they will jump and run to help!

Just booked my first cruise on NCL Gem for this December transatlantic from Italy with France, Spain, Portugal, SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!😊😊😊😊

We have done flights with NCL twice now, it has saved us a ton of money. Only downside is it’s always a red-eye flight getting there. The flight home is always fine.

It's worth pointing out if your are purchasing from the UK (and probably Europe) Free at Sea includes all the gratuities. You pay nothing extra for your drinks for the whole cruise. This is also true for the speciality dining, no gratuities. One thing I noticed about the excursion credit on my Alaska cruise this year is the credit often brought the excursion price down to the price of booking direct or close to it.

Thanks for the tips! I wish I had used a travel agent, which I thought when I first called Norwegian I could get one. BUT now I see I get someone different every time I call! Will definitely look for a travel agent next time!

Great tips but the one thing you left out when talking about the sail away rate is NCL controlling the location. This is similar to guaranteed cabins on other cruise lines. If not being under the pool deck or under a restaurant is important to you, it’s best to not go this route. Some times you will luck out and get a great location but it’s a roll of the dice.

We also had paper schedules left in our cabin every day.

So we are sailing on the Prima April 28th!!! And like you, we are no strangers to NCL!! Love it!! I think this is our 14th Norwegian cruise!! I will tell you, though, I went on the app a few days ago and was able to book Donna Summer Musical, and Price is Right. Also booked Hasuki, Food Republic and Los Lobos. Was not, however able to book any other specialties at this point but I was happy to be able to secure the entertainment and some of the restaurants!!!❤

Nice job Alisa! Enjoyed your commentary. You are very informative and pleasant to listen to. Appreciate your tips. We loved discovering the fish going north on the hallway carpet, especially the 1 or 2 little red guys going south, made us laugh! Thankyou!

This Is Great information, I have cruised Norwegian before. I really enjoyed your video. Thank You 😊

Thank you!! Your information was so perfect for a first time NCL cruiser (in May!)! Keep up the GREAT videos!!! Next cruise we're booking with you guys!!

One thing with flights too is you can't make any modifications once they book it. So no upgrading to a better seat or changing times if you see a better flight. It's a good deal if you don't mind that but if you want some control (like me), it may not be worth it.

Thank you for the information, I'm cruising with NCL Jade in July 2023 this will be my second cruise with NCL. Thank you again.

We just got off first ovation RCL and our 6th cruise been on p&o, carnival, Genting and now RCL I love the Indian and we are booked again for carnival and princess for a 35 night from Sydney Australia to Fiji and Hawai and Tahiti and New Zealand and back to Sydney . Love you guys you have kept me sane and wanting to cruise when we were here in lockdown for three years in Oz for cruising❣️

We are sailing on the NCL Sun 10/30/23 for 20 nights! Seattle to Port Canaveral will be awesome! Sailed NCL Joy this past April and it's a great ship!

Nice video. Great info. Thanks for all the tips.

My girl friends from high school and I are cruising on POA in June of next year. This video has been very helpful for me. Thank you.

Your advice is awesome especially #13

Thank you for all the info. We are embarking on our first NCL cruise this fall. I was wondering why NCL had not asked us about dining times and now I know why.

Glad to hear you liked the Prima, have a repositioning booked for April and seen a lot of negative about it.

Tips if you are cheap like us: If you don't drink alcohol, the Free At Sea isn't worth it. You will be charged $20. per adult, per day for anything you use on the FAS. Also, when we talked on the phone with a Norwegian rep., they didn't do the flights except in a certain time period. I don't remember what the time period was. As for drinks, we'll be drinking ice tea mostly, & buying occasionally a soda. That's a LOT cheaper than buying a soda package. There are so many free dining options, we didn't want specialty dining. We're so glad there are no formal nights!!! Who can afford taking extra suitcases just for formal nights?

We are on the Jewel from Panama to San Diego beginning March 21. So I think just before yours. We got a pretty good deal I believe, inside cabin with air for 3600 with the free at sea package.

I loved your overview of NCL. We usually sail with royal Caribbean and wanted to try a new cruise line to see the differences for the better. 😀

All great tips. Just got off Bliss to the Western Caribbean. Going to the Eastern Caribbean just after Easter, where I will become platinum.

GREAT TIPS! Thank you- I'm sailing on the Viva and I cant wait to enjoy Norwegian's newest ship

The flight times have been horrible. Thanks for letting me know about adjustments to day before and after flight

Going on Prima next Feb, so really appreciated seeing this video. You do such a good job of looking at the camera. Something I’m working with on.

Thanks for the tips! Going as first timers this fall to Alaska on NCL.

I am going on the Escape in July. We are platinum and my parents are ambassodors. Always have had an amazing cruise

Great tips! Thank you! I just spoke with my PCC today. Show reservations will be reservable prior to boarding beginning March 4th. He said to check daily because I might have to wait till 21 days prior, but I sail on the Bliss April 22nd, so I have time. I have booked Teppanyaki for my birthday, Le Bistro, and Cagney’s. All at 5:30. Not fond of early dining, but I wanted to be sure I can see first shows. I can always get a late snack at the Local if hungry again. I think I’d rather do a massage and facial versus the thermal suite. I get bored too easily lol. I need to dig out my “You Can’t Do That in Television” tee for the 80s party and spot my fellow Xennials! I have a studio with a lowball bid for a balcony, but Haven is chartered and spa is sold out, so I’ll see. April for Alaska is off season, so never know! If I don’t get it, I love that I have a private lounge and hallway for the studio. I just wish NCL would eventually follow RCCL and make studios with balconies down the line.

Most people fail to realize that even though gratuities are automatically placed on your sign and sail receipt, they are NOT mandatory. You can opt out and pay what ever you deem necessary to each worker during your stay instead of letting the cruise line force you to pay a predetermined amount. Tipping culture has conditioned people to feel obligated to tip for nearly everything or be shamed for not doing so. The cruise lines use this as leverage to charge "automatic" gratuity fees. This not only serves as a means to pad their profit margin by not paying their workers a livable wage but also to shame their customers into mitigating their unfair compensation policies. Being an accountant for 2 major cruise lines, I know that only 20 - 25% of the pool of gratuity payments actually go to the workers. The rest is kept by the cruise line as miscellaneous profit to be paid for expense accounts and bonuses. Also, note that cruise lines charge a gratuity fee for EVERYTHING you purchase outside of your inclusive package . One executive at Royal Caribbean, told me that the gratuity system is set up to pay for executive bonuses. An executive at Carnival told me that it was a "fools" tax for the customer. Cruise spokespeople like to mention the hard work of the crew and if you don't agree to pay the gratuity that you are cheating the workers out of a living. DON'T BELIEVE THIS NONESENSE. The bulk of the gratuity is going to the executives; not the workers. So, the next time you book a cruise and see the option to "pre-pay" for gratuities or see it on your final bill, you will know that only a small portion of it is actually going to the worker and that you are indeed paying a "fools" tax. If you choose to tip your worker, do it DIRECTLY and according to the level and quality of service given.

I'd never do NCL again, but the one tip that I would have liked to have known is that you can bid to upgrade your cabin. We paid $600 for the thermal suite when we could have bid on an upgrade for a club balcony suite which included the thermal spa.

Great VLOG as always! After hearing a number of mixed reviews on NCL this definitely helps!

We have never sailed NCL n don’t plan to BUT…. Just luv all ur videos so I had to watch. N who knows, might change my mind after this.

Thank you so much for this video! My cousin and I are going on our first Norwegian cruise, May 2024 to Alaska on Norwegian Bliss. We got the free at sea package with all the extra goodies and this was a great explanation for us. How do I go about buying stock in Norwegian? Do I need to contact a broker? Thank you again, so informative!!! ❤

Sailed on the Escape on January. There were some good things. The staff was great. The perks were nice. But leadership/management was poor, at best. All 3 of us came away saying never Norwegian again. And we are pretty easy going. I plan to stick with Royal.

Best deals are last minute booking..request the time off work and then later book your cruise 30 days out or earlier

Thank you I watch your channel and did a search on NCL perks. Very helpful. We always sail celebrity but going on vacation next May 11 days from Lisbon to Rome on viva. With family. Any additional tips you can pass along would be great thank Lisa again enjoy watching you adventures

This was very informative!! I love it. I have never cruised outside HAL but am interested in exploring other cruise lines now. This with your other videos has NCL on my radar !

I’m Australian- when I am ready to sail from a USA port (likely 2024) will be sure to use your services! Love your channel ❤😊 I was on the Jewel just before Australia closed boarders for Covid - thankful I didn’t take advantage of the really cheap offer to stay onboard & head to USA - they got stuck at sea for 30 days not knowing when they would ever dock! Strange times indeed! Let’s hope that never happens to the world of cruise ever again

Great video with great tips! I’ve yet to cruise with Norwegian and look forward to in the future. I’ve never used a travel agent, but will be sure to give you a call when I’m ready to book my next vacation.