We've cruised with Norwegian three times in the past couple of years, and number four is coming up in September on the new Norwegian Breakaway. The first one of them was a paid ticket, on the Norwegian Gem, and since then we have cruised for free (other than Taxes and Fees), with a number of great perks along the way. I estimate that our comps have come in at over $7000 thus far from these guys, and I am very excited to be cruising from New York again, and hopefully making it to Bermuda this time around.
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Norwegian Cruise Lines Latitudes Rewards
Latitudes is NCL's loyalty program, available to all guests and interestingly based upon a combination of cruise duration and revenue dollars. It might be something we see in the future with Airline programs. The good thing with this is that you can quickly rack up good points with them on discounted cruises, but should you be cruising in a higher category of stateroom (suites and above) you earn additional points. In Venice we upgraded from an Inside Cabin to a Penthouse Suite (quite the bump up let me tell you) and earned double Latitudes points for our troubles.
I got a card in the mail yesterday from Twin River Casino in Rhode Island for a free cruise on NCL. Did anyone else get this? At first I thought it might be one of the time share type 'free cruise' scams. But, those never actually list the cruise line and this says there will be reps from NCL on hand to make reservations. You're going to find all the NCL advice you've ever wanted! Read these 30 Norwegian Cruise Line Tips and Tricks to help you out and get you prepared for your next cruise vacation with NCL.
Once you achieve status with NCL their perks are quite attractive, we are currently at the Silver Level, and I think the really good things start from Gold, and get a lot better at Platinum.
Some of the things that don't seem so obvious but are really quite nice is the ‘Exclusive Gathering with Ships Officers' which is 30mins-1hr of complimentary drinks and passed canapes whilst you get to sit and chat with the officers about whatever tickles your fancy, we typically have quite a lot to talk about since I spent many years at sea myself during my youth. Also, the cocktail reception (that apparently isn't happening on the Breakaway, boo!) means that you get two free evenings of drinks and socializing which are both pleasant experiences and a good way to save on your bar tab.
Casinos at Sea: Players Club
Casinos as Sea is the Gambling Loyalty Program of Norwegian Cruise Lines; without a doubt it is the most generous of all the Cruise Ship Gambling Programs. They track both slot and table play, and based upon how much you Play, not how much you win or lose, you gain status with them. I am at their lowest Tier; Lucky! But I have also experienced things beyond that such as unlimited drinks of any kind in the Casino, multiple free dinners at any of the Paid Restaurants such as Cagney's the Steakhouse. This is because I was a Table Player, they have more of a fluffy rule for Table Players than Slot Players, and tend to give more when you are nice to the staff and are generous with your tips. On one occasion after leaving a particularly generous tip the Manager comped my dinner at Cagney's two nights running, along with whatever I wanted to drink from the bar.
Stacking the Bonuses and Benefits of Casinos at Sea and Latitudes Rewards
By being a member of both Latitudes and Casinos at Sea you can earn benefits above your tier level – some things that only a Latitudes Platinum would receive, such as Wine in Stateroom, comes as Standard with Casinos at Sea, so as a lowly Latitudes Silver I get the free booze. Also, some things double up, such as the Meet and Greet events, since you get invited as a Latitudes member for one type of event, and as a Casino VIP for others.
Free Cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line
Firstly, Free means $25 per person per day plus taxes, and there is a group tipping charge of $12 per person per day. So you will still be paying something for the ‘free' cruise, but even with these fees its a fantastic bargain!
I'd love to share with you the level that you get a comped cruise at, but unfortunately it is a secret – I do know that I am currently regarded as their lowest level of player as a Casinos at Sea Lucky Level, and I get comped, but I do really play. So don't expect that if you just put $5 in a slot machine you will be comped for life.
However, and this is just a guess, I would imagine if you can reach Tier 2 play, the Hot! Level, you should be good for Free cruises. It is worth noting that the type of cabin you get for free will vary based upon your importance to the cruise-line and the popularity of the vessel. That said, you can upgrade at a reasonable price. For example, we cruised on the Norwegian Epic for New Years Eve, and we would only be offered an Inside Stateroom. I upgraded us to an exceptional Balcony Cabin (rear facing) for $600 prior to departure.
For our cruise to Bermuda on the Norwegian Breakaway this year they offered us a Balcony Cabin for free, which I actually paid another $50 to double the size of the Balcony, since there will be lots of Sea Days on this cruise and I wanted to be able to sit outside on a lounge chair.
Also, you will notice that I highlighted the Payment line of $250 by Voucher. This is a great offer that NCL has to retain customers: if you purchase a voucher for $250 onboard your current cruise you can use it as payment against any 6 day or longer cruise in the next 4 years. In doing so they credit your account with $100 for the current cruise. So basically you are getting $100 off the already reduced ‘free' cruise price. You can use this voucher with Casinos at Sea, or any other form of booking, I believe that includes third parties also, though please double check onboard.
Upgrading Onboard
We did this on the NCL Jade last year, went from an Inside Cabin to a Penthouse Suite. In doing so we earned Suite level perks, which further stacked on top of the Casinos at Sea and Latitudes Silver, basically filling in the blanks – they included: Priority Tender, Concierge, Priority Dining/Shows. So in essence once we were in the Penthouse, even as the lowest level Casinos at Sea, and second lowest Latitudes we had full Top Tier benefits of the Latitudes program! The total cost to upgrade was $1400 onboard, the cruise originally cost $600 so we paid $2000, for an itinerary that had a book price of $6000 and a discounted third party price of $5200. Very pleased indeed.
If you want to upgrade onboard please be nice about it – the typical first night of the cruise is like the Gate at an airline, swamped with people asking for a free upgrade. It isn't going to happen! Don't be a PITA about it. Your best bet is to ask to be put on a paid upgrade list, they will contact you on night two of the cruise. They will not typically assign upgrades on night one just in case regular cabin swaps are required due to problems with the paid cabin a person has. Secondarily they don't know how many no-shows there are until a while after embarkation, so let them figure out all the details and get back to you.
Norwegian Cruise Line Casino Reservations Confirmation
Norwegian has a smaller fleet than Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but that doesn't mean choosing one of their seventeen ships is an easy task. To simplify the process, we crunched the ratings from every Norwegian review we received last year to help you choose the perfect ship for your 2020 cruise. Here are the top Norwegian ships for dining, cabins, service, and more!
Norwegian Cruise Line Casino Reservations Packages
Cabins
1. Norwegian Encore - 4.47
2. Norwegian Joy - 4.43
3. Norwegian Bliss - 4.38
4. Norwegian Jewel - 4.37
5. Norwegian Gem - 4.34
6. Norwegian Escape - 4.34
7. Norwegian Jade - 4.34
8. Norwegian Breakaway - 4.30
9. Norwegian Sun - 4.29
10. Norwegian Spirit - 4.28
11. Norwegian Star - 4.27
12. Norwegian Getaway - 4.26
13. Norwegian Pearl - 4.23
14. Pride of America - 4.22
15. Norwegian Dawn - 4.18
16. Norwegian Sky - 4.12
17. Norwegian Epic - 4.06
What We Expected: Newer ships generally receive better cabin ratings, and that was exactly the case here as Norwegian's three newest ships topped the list. Encore's cabins had a lot of buzz so we weren't surprised when it vaulted to #1, nor were we shocked when Epic finished last yet again, thanks to its odd layouts with the shower and sink in the main part of the cabin.
What Surprised Us: Even though Norwegian Escape is the newer ship, two of the older Jewel-class ships edged it out, taking fourth and fifth place while Escape came in sixth.
What Changed From Last Year: Breakaway went up from 4.17 to 4.29, likely because of a dry dock in mid-2018 that updated cabin fixtures and furnishings, marking the first of many improvements for a ship that struggled last year.
Food & Dining
1. Norwegian Encore - 4.26
2. Norwegian Joy - 4.21
3. Norwegian Bliss - 4.17
4. Norwegian Jewel - 4.13
5. Norwegian Gem - 4.10
6. Norwegian Jade - 4.10
7. Norwegian Spirit - 4.09
8. Norwegian Epic - 4.09
9. Norwegian Escape - 4.08
10. Norwegian Breakaway - 4.06
11. Norwegian Sky - 4.05
12. Norwegian Pearl - 4.05
13. Norwegian Sun - 4.04
14. Norwegian Getaway - 3.99
15. Norwegian Star - 3.97
16. Pride of America - 3.96
17. Norwegian Dawn - 3.92
What We Expected: Norewgian Joy vaulted to the top of the pack along with Bliss, showing that these newer ships are doing something right in the culinary arena.
What Surprised Us: Sometimes it takes a little while for new ships to gain their footing and operate smoothly, and dining is no exception. However, the brand-new Encore dominated the dining category and it's only been in service for about two months. In less positive news, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian's #1 ship for dining last year, fell to 9th.
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What Changed From Last Year: Just like with cabins, Norwegian Breakaway showed major improvements, jumping from dead last to 10th place.
Service & Staff
1. Norwegian Encore - 4.62
2. Norwegian Spirit - 4.57
3. Norwegian Joy - 4.53
4. Norwegian Jewel - 4.52
5. Norwegian Gem - 4.51
6. Norwegian Jade - 4.47
7. Norwegian Escape - 4.46
8. Norwegian Pearl - 4.43
9. Norwegian Sky - 4.41
10. Norwegian Sun - 4.39
11. Pride of America - 4.35
12. Norwegian Star - 4.34
13. Norwegian Bliss - 4.33
14. Norwegian Getaway - 4.33
15. Norwegian Epic - 4.31
16. Norwegian Dawn - 4.31
17. Norwegian Breakaway - 4.30
What We Expected: Norwegian Breakaway and Epic have historically performed poorly in this category and not much has changed this year.
What Surprised Us: Newer ships tend to struggle with service and logistics (as we can see in the case of Bliss), which is why were floored when Encore (launched in 2019) performed as well as it did.
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What Changed From Last Year: Norwegian's average service score rose from 4.36 to 4.42. It may seem like a small increase, but considering that most scores only range from 4.0 to 4.6, that kind of improvement in just one year is nothing to scoff at.
Onboard Activities
1. Norwegian Encore - 4.09
2. Norwegian Jewel - 4.04
3. Norwegian Joy - 4.01
4. Norwegian Gem - 3.96
5. Norwegian Jade - 3.92
6. Norwegian Bliss - 3.92
7. Norwegian Pearl - 3.89
8. Norwegian Escape - 3.88
9. Norwegian Spirit - 3.87
10. Norwegian Breakaway - 3.87
11. Norwegian Star - 3.86
12. Norwegian Sun - 3.86
13. Norwegian Sky - 3.84
14. Norwegian Epic - 3.84
15. Pride of America - 3.82
16. Norwegian Getaway - 3.81
17. Norwegian Dawn - 3.73
What We Expected: Cruise ships launched within the last few years have more activities than most travelers can experience in a single sailing, so newer ships usually have a big advantage in this category. Norwegian Encore (2019) and Joy (2017) have the best lineup of activities in the fleet, leading both of them to a top 3 finish.
What Surprised Us: Norwegian Jewel turns 15 years old this year, so we didn't expect it to finish second in the activities category, especially when many other newer Norwegian ships have so much more to do onboard.
What Changed From Last Year: Breakaway showed yet more improvements, rising from dead last to 10th (3.69 to 3.87). Meanwhile, Escape fell from first to 8th and dropped .12 points. La roche posay casino restaurant.
Entertainment
1. Norwegian Encore - 4.31
2. Norwegian Joy - 4.26
3. Norwegian Jewel - 4.24
4. Norwegian Gem - 4.22
5. Norwegian Bliss - 4.22
6. Norwegian Getaway - 4.17
7. Norwegian Star - 4.15
8. Norwegian Spirit - 4.14
9. Norwegian Epic - 4.13
10. Norwegian Jade - 4.13
11. Norwegian Breakaway - 4.12
12. Norwegian Dawn - 4.09
13. Norwegian Escape - 4.09
14. Pride of America - 4.08
15. Norwegian Pearl - 4.03
16. Norwegian Sun - 4.01
17. Norwegian Sky - 4.01
What We Expected: Cutting-edge venues can help the entertainment score, but at the end of the day, it's the performers that make or break a ship's entertainment. Norwegian Encore and Joy appear to have nailed both sides of the entertainment coin, finishing head and shoulders above the rest of the fleet.
What Surprised Us: Breakaway improved in yet another category, climbing from dead last with 3.91 to the middle of the pack with 4.12. This could partially be due to the 2018 dry dock which replaced the jazz bar and lounge with a much more popular rock ‘n' roll-themed one.
High spur slot canyon. What Changed From Last Year: Norwegian Bliss made significant progress, improving 0.21 points to move into the top 5.
Children's Programs
1. Norwegian Jade - 4.05
2. Norwegian Encore - 4.04
3. Norwegian Joy - 4.00
4. Norwegian Escape - 3.98
5. Pride of America - 3.90
6. Norwegian Jewel - 3.87
7. Norwegian Epic - 3.85
8. Norwegian Star - 3.83
9. Norwegian Getaway - 3.81
10. Norwegian Breakaway - 3.81
11. Norwegian Pearl - 3.80
12. Norwegian Bliss - 3.80
13. Norwegian Sky - 3.80
14. Norwegian Spirit - 3.78
15. Norwegian Dawn - 3.69
16. Norwegian Gem - 3.61
17. Norwegian Sun - 3.60
What We Expected: Newer ships almost always have better children's amenities, so it made sense that Encore, Joy, and Escape finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. New isn't everything though, and a good staff that has a great rapport with the kids can make older ships competitive, which is what we saw with Norwegian Jade winning for the second year in a row, and the even older Pride of America finishing 5th.
What Surprised Us: Norwegian Epic actually ranked fairly high considering its low marks in other categories. We were also a bit disappointed to see Bliss ranking at #12, considering it's the fleet's third newest ship with very modern children's programs.
What Changed From Last Year: Breakaway improved in yet another category, jumping from the poor score of 3.56 to a respectable 3.81.
Ship Quality
1. Norwegian Encore - 4.46
2. Norwegian Joy - 4.45
3. Norwegian Bliss - 4.43
4. Norwegian Jewel - 4.41
5. Norwegian Gem - 4.34
6. Norwegian Jade - 4.34
7. Norwegian Escape - 4.33
8. Norwegian Sun - 4.29
9. Norwegian Pearl - 4.27
10. Norwegian Breakaway - 4.27
11. Norwegian Star - 4.26
12. Norwegian Sky - 4.26
13. Norwegian Spirit - 4.25
14. Pride of America - 4.21
15. Norwegian Getaway - 4.20
16. Norwegian Dawn - 4.16
17. Norwegian Epic - 4.05
What We Expected: Ship quality measures things like design and cleanliness, so it was no surprise when Norwegian's newest ships (Encore, Joy, and Bliss) easily cleaned up the top 3 spots. Epic, universally maligned for a number of poor design choices, came in last for the third year in a row.
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What Surprised Us: Getaway dropped from 9th to 15th place, which is surprising because the ship underwent a dry dock in mid-2019.
What Changed From Last Year: Escape fell slightly like it did in other categories, scoring lower than several older ships.
What We Learned
- Encore and Joy are now the ships to beat in the Norwegian fleet. Even though Bliss didn't perform quite as strongly, Norwegian couldn't have hoped for a better performance from its newest offerings.
- Bliss may not have performed as well as Encore and Joy, but despite poor scores for service and children's programs it's still a solid option overall.
- After dominating 2019 with several first place finishes, Norwegian Escape struggled and saw performance drops across the board.
- Even though it's a newer ship, Norwegian Getaway had difficulty breaking into the top 50th percentile, often finishing towards the bottom.
- Epic continued its struggles from last year, but Breakaway wowed us with notable improvements in multiple categories. It still finished last for service, but someone is definitely turning that ship around. (Although it did still finish last for service).
2019 Winners
Ship Quality:Norwegian Bliss
Cabins:Norwegian Escape
Food & Dining:Norwegian Escape
Service & Staff:Norwegian Jewel
Onboard Activities:Norwegian Escape
Entertainment:Norwegian Getaway
Children's Programs:Norwegian Jade
