If cruising is something that you’ve always wanted to experience but held back due to following multiple dress codes, fixed schedules for dining and concerns about what to do onboard the ship, then this blog is the answer you’re looking for. Now imagine a vacation on a multi-storey well-appointed ship cruising to Alaska, Europe or the Bahamas where there no restrictions onboard and you are free to dine and dress as you please and explore the facilities entirely at your will. Yes, all this is possible with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)!

From its very inception in 1966, Norwegian Cruise Line has been known for its innovative ships, wide range of dining and entertainment options, and flexible cruising experience. The cruise line currently has 17 ships in its fleet, including its newest ship, the Norwegian Prima, which debuted in 2022. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a variety of itineraries throughout the world, including Alaska (Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit); the Caribbean (Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Escape); Europe (Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Star); Canada (Norwegian Jewel) and North America (Norwegian Escape).

NCL sets itself apart primarily due to the novel concept of Freestyle Cruising, where it promises an experience where your time is truly your own. Guests have the freedom to explore each destination at their own pace, whether it's taking a guided tour or exploring on their own. Some of its key features of NCL’s unique Freestyle Cruising include:

• Freestyle Dining:  Dining here comes devoid of all precincts, with no fixed timings, seatings or rules related to bookings. Whether you wish to choose to get dressed in your T’s for an elaborate three-course meal, or grab a burger while walking around the promenade or restaurant-hop your way through the ships, the choice is entirely yours. While each ship has its own selection of curated world-class restaurants enough to impress even the most finicky eater, the choice of when and how to spend your evenings rests entirely with you.

• Accommodation: NCL offers a range of accommodations designed specifically to cater to the needs of a discerning traveller. Here you get to see equal credence provided cabins for both for solo-travellers and large family suites. Some of the famed staterooms include the Haven, SPA Staterooms and even Penthouses with child friendly provisions for those travelling with their little ones.

• Entertainment: Norwegian Cruise Line is renowned for its outstanding entertainment offerings, with Broadway-style productions of Rock of Ages the Tony Award winning Musical Million Dollar Quartet, and other world class line-ups to liven up your evenings throughout the duration of the cruise. There’s live music, comedy shows, acrobatic stunners and so much more. With Freestyle Cruising, guests have the freedom to choose which shows they want to see, and when they want to see them.

• Onboard activities: Prepare to be astounded by NCL’s feat of bringing you a piece of Scandinavia a giant moving ship – with the Svedka & Inniskillin Ice Bar – an arctic chamber inspired by Scandinavian ice hotels where pretty much everything (the bar, walls, seats and glasses) is made completely of ice. Your time with NCL will flourish engaging in activities along waterfront promenades, deck parties and mind-boggling contraptions designed to enrapture travellers with sights both within and outside. Not to mention the impetus given to fitness and relaxation. If getting a massage or a session of self-pampering at a Spa appeals to you more, there’s more than enough choice at your disposal.

• Destinations: Norwegian Cruise Line offers a wide range of itineraries to some of the world's most exciting destinations, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and beyond. For 2023 alone, NCL has a line-up of ten ships cruising through the Mediterranean and five to Alaska. These cruises have diverse itineraries to popular and off-beat destinations, long luxurious trips and shorter ones too. To say it simply, whatever floats your boat (or ship) NCL has got it for you!

September ‘2022 was a new milestone in NCL’s journey in the cruise industry by the launch of Norwegian Prima, the first of six in NCL’s line-up of Prima Class ships. It’s sister, the Norwegian Viva will begin her debut sail in August this year. Prima Class ships come with the promise of elevating guests’ every expectation with wider spaces, stunning designs and newer itineraries.

Norwegian Prima: This ship has caught the fantasy of anyone wanting to cruise through Northern Europe because of its enviable design blessing it with the most outdoor deck space of any new cruise ship including more total pool deck space than any other ship in NCL's fleet. Other noteworthy features include its 13 categories of suites in Accommodations, a larger Waterfront promenade, the Indulge Food Hall – an upscale open-air marketplace and two Oceanwalk glass bridges to stun guests with the majesty of their surroundings.

From May to September of this year, the Norwegian Prima is set to sail to the land of fire and ice – Iceland, with scheduled ten, eleven or fourteen night cruises embarking from London. The varied itineraries cover different destinations in and around Iceland and even Norway. Beginning from October, the calendar shifts with the change of season to explore western Europe in all it’s autumnal glory with cruises lined up for France, Spain, Italy and the Mediterranean till the end of the year.

Norwegian Viva: Norwegian Viva’s highlight is a uniquely designed 44,000ft. outdoor walkway called the Ocean Boulevard that will allow guests the opportunity to walk all around the ship across a glass bridge. Further, there are a plethora of indoor and outdoor dining venues, the adults-only Vibe Beach Club with a full service bar and infinity hot pools, flying simulators, the sports at sea abode in the form of the Splash Academy and the unmissable opportunity to see the Greek Isles and Croatia over the summer.

Norwegian Viva, and the 3,000 passengers fortunate enough to travel with her, will be launching in August 2023 in Europe – with cruises scheduled to the Greek isles, Croatia, Italy, France and Florence. These cruises range from nine to ten night duration with varied and rich itineraries exploring some of the world’s most famous and photographable locations. From December, she moves to the Caribbean with week-long cruises till well into March of next year.

To encourage you to get onboard, NCL is giving 35% off on its cruises along with ‘Freedom at Sea’ offers that includes Free Open Bar, Free Speciality Dining, Free Excursions, Free Wifi and Free Extra Guests. CruiseBay’s trained cruise consultants will help you plan the perfect NCL cruise vacation for you. For more details on over 150 NCL cruises this summer along with the current NCL Offers, please visit Cruisebay's NCL page

Norwegian Cruise Line’s endeavour has always been to add a touch of freedom to cruising in order to make it even more appealing to travellers while consistently delivering the best in terms of class, service and style.  Extending its global presence, NCL has four more Prima Class ships in the pipeline and also newer offerings in their existing fleet every year.  Over the last five decades, NCL has won numerous awards and accolades and currently operates one of the youngest fleets among the major North American crise lines.

Customise your dream holiday in some of the world’s dreamiest places this year. Pick, choose and deliberate, but do not, in any way, miss out on this vacation of a lifetime. And you obviously will have Cruisebay along all the way, for cruise tips, resources, information and the most exciting offers!