Norwegian Cruise Line From New York
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126
800-327-7030
www.ncl.com | View Ships and Itineraries

Company Overview

Norwegian Cruise Line is credited with launching “Homeland Cruising” when post 9/11 Americans were skittish about boarding planes to take a cruise.  NCL moved Norwegian Dawn to New York for year-round Bahamas/Florida Cruises.   If any cruise line is credited with revitalizing the port of New York as a major cruise ship hub, it is NCL.  The cruise line offers New York cruises to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas/Florida and Canada/New England itineraries aboard three ships in 2008, including Norwegian Gem, which joined the fleet in December 2007.  

In 2008, NCL will offer Caribbean and Bahamas/Florida cruises from New York on it’s newest ship, the 93,502-ton Norwegian Gem.  In addition, cruises to Bermuda and Canada/New England are scheduled aboard Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Dawn.  All ships depart from the Manhattan cruise terminal located at 12^th Ave. and 55^th Streets.

The NCL Experience

 NCL created it’s own niche with the introduction of “Freestyle Cruising” which means you can dine when and with whom you please.  To facilitate this, ships entering service in the last eight years have up to ten restaurants.  Three require reservations and have a surcharge but the remaining offer a choice of different cuisine every night of the week.  “Freestyle” also means there are no scheduled formal nights and you may dress as you like.  At night women get a bit gussied up and many men don a sports jacket and tie or with open shirt.

NCL attracts many first time cruisers seeking a low- to mid-price cruise vacation.  These ships have lovely interiors, many entertainment options and extensive children’s activities, which attract many families during school vacation period (June-September).   You’ll find state-of-the art fitness equipment, a jogging track, basketball and volleyball court, sports bar with live ESPN, full casino and wi-fi Internet throughout the ship. 

While the staff is normally warm and friendly, NCL’s weakness has been the quality of food served in restaurants, although efforts are underway to improve it. Staterooms are generally smaller than those found aboard the other cruise lines. 

Taking The Kids

NCL's "Kid Crew" is available on all ships except on Europe sailings for Junior Sailors, ages 2-5; First Mates ages 6-8; Navigators, ages 9-12 and Teens ages 13-17. Note that staff members do not change diapers. If your Junior Sailor is not potty-trained, you will be given a beeper so the staff can notify you when you need to change your child's diaper. Cribs are available.

There is no longer any in-cabin private babysitting on NCL however group babysitting for ages 2 to 12 is available from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. each evening and on port days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a fee. NCL has a policy of restricting casino admission to passengers 21 years of age and older.

Tipping

NCL automatically adds a fixed service charge to your shipboard account, which covers all service personnel. The amount is $10 per person per day for passengers age 13 and over; $5.00 per day for children age 3 - 12 and no charge for children under the age of three. Further tipping is not necessary, however, NCL recommends a 15 percent gratuity for bar service and suggests those receiving concierge or butler services consider offering a gratuity for services rendered. Additional gratuities are at the passenger's discretion.

2008/09 Norwegian Cruise Line Itineraries