Best Norwegian Cruise Line Ships for 2022

By Kimberly Coyne

Best NCL Ships for 2022 - *Photo by Norwegian Cruise Line*

Based on review data collected since the return to cruising, our members have fallen in love with Norwegian ships. Ranked on a 5-point scale, members have rated the overall ship quality, cabins, food and dining, service and staff, onboard activities, and entertainment. We have loads of reviews on all of the 19 ships in the Norwegian fleet, so don’t be shy; click here to explore them all. For this article, we are highlighting the top 5 rated ships for each category.

It’s no surprise that several newer Norwegian ships rank highly in all categories. There are a few surprises from some of the older vessels in the fleet that deliver high marks. Not to spoil the fun, check out the top 5 rated Norwegian ships and what our members have to say about their experience onboard.

Overall Quality

The overall cruise experience leaves travelers with memories that last a lifetime. Norwegian’s top 5 ships that impressed our members the most are very close in rating and separated by hundredths or, in two cases, thousandths of a point. All the ships deliver a great product, which is certainly reflected in the overall high marks and close competition between the ships.

Norwegian Joy 4.592
Norwegian Bliss 4.5845
Norwegian Encore 4.5835
Norwegian Sky 4.582
Norwegian Breakaway 4.555

What Our Members Say

“The ship was amazing. Just awesome and the cleanliness was excellent” - dannocam review of Norwegian Joy

“Everything was very clean and well maintained.” - sharbassi review of Norwegian Encore

“We traveled NCI because they are known for their cleanliness and care...especially during Covid!” - fbocksch review of Norwegian Breakaway

Our Thoughts

The surprise that jumped out at us was seeing the Norwegian Sky ranked in 4th position. As one of the older ships in the fleet at 22 years old, we didn’t expect to see such a high overall rating. But, clearly, the Norwegian Sky meets and exceeds cruisers' expectations overall and across several categories. It just goes to show that an oldie is a goodie, and the Norwegian Sky is no exception.

Cabins

While some cruisers profess that the cabin isn’t important to them as they don’t spend much time there, others view the cabin as their private oasis. From inside (no-view) to luxurious suites in The Haven (Norwegian’s ship-within-a-ship area), there are a variety of cabin categories to fit every budget. The newest ships in Norwegian’s fleet offer the largest variety of balcony and suite categories as well as the immensely popular solo travelers' cabins. The top 5 ranked ships for cabins include:

Norwegian Escape 4.467
Norwegian Bliss 4.466
Norwegian Breakaway 4.464
Norwegian Joy 4.422
Norwegian Sun 4.418

What Our Members Say

Balcony Cabin Number 15756 on Norwegian Escape: “Love this stateroom, location, balcony is just a little larger due to its location. Just down the hall about 3 staterooms from stairs and elevators.” - Pavs01

Suite Number 14808 on Norwegian Bliss: “Excellent. We were three adults in the stateroom and had no problems. Loved the bathroom.” - luyano728

Inside Cabin Number 8315 on Norwegian Sun: “We were amazed at how spacious it was and the large amount of storage. Nice bathroom.” - jrsneller

Our Thoughts

For every type of traveler, there is a cruise ship and a cabin category that is a great fit. Of course, the wrong cabin can ruin a cruise experience, but Norwegian ships maintained high marks for cabins across a variety of ships in varying sizes and ages. We expected Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss to be top-ranked but were a bit surprised to see Norweigan Sun break into the top 5.

Food and Dining

Eat, Drink and Be Merry! That is the motto of most cruisers, and nothing could be more accurate on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Food is a social aspect for many and an element of a cruise that can make or break a vacation experience. Consistently Norwegian Cruise Line receives high marks from guests for dining with their top 5 ships, again separated by tenths or hundredths of a point.

Norwegian Escape 4.418
Norwegian Encore 4.319
Norwegian Gem 4.310
Norwegian Bliss 4.281
Norwegian Joy 4.248

What Our Members Say

“We stayed in the Haven. The Haven food was always very good. Also ate at Cagney's and Le Bistro. The food in those restaurants was also very good.” - txskier review of Norwegian Escape

“I really enjoyed the food. I particularly enjoyed the special nights and the specialty restaurants, however the buffets were always good and desserts to die for.” - wadzanaigarwe review of Norwegian Gem

“Enjoyed all the venues we dined at” - mothermary119 review of Norwegian Encore

Our Thoughts

It’s no surprise that Norwegian ships rank highly for food and dining, with many dining options available. From specialty options to the main dining room, there is undoubtedly something for everyone. Norwegian’s ‘Free at Sea’ promotion that runs virtually all year long, where specialty dining, and other typical extra cost amenities are included in the cruise fare. These extras can add up quickly on other cruise lines, so having them included means significant savings. The Free at Sea promotional offer is hard to beat when looking at total value, and being able to experience Cagney’s, Le Bistro, and other dining venues is the cherry on top!

Service and Staff

Service can be a very subjective experience - one person loves it, and another complains. Many times crew members leave an older ship for the newer ones which can leave a gap in service levels. To see Norwegian ships of various ages rank so highly is a sign that the training and care that goes into delivering an outstanding experience is of paramount importance across the entire fleet. Also important to note that, again, these top 5 ships rank virtually the same if the numbers were rounded up. An impressive 4.7 across the board is a rating not easily attained by many ships.

Norwegian Bliss 4.722
Norwegian Dawn 4.716
Norwegian Sky 4.713
Norwegian Epic 4.688
Norwegian Gem 4.684

What Our Members Say

“Room steward was first class, waiters and other ship personnel were always friendly and help full.” - luyano728 review of Norwegian Bliss

“Everyone on the staff was amazing and friendly. I left my room to grab a quick breakfast and I was gone for maybe 30 minutes. When I returned, my cabin steward had made my bed and emptied the trash bins! So fast, efficient and the nicest person!” - ymskehen review of Norwegian Sky

“Norwegian crew members are the best in the business. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful.” - kostia review of Norwegian Dawn

Our Thoughts

The first thing that jumps out is that Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Dawn both debut in the top 5 of all the categories. For that debut to be for Service and Staff, an area that most cruisers are highly critical of makes us happy to see these two ships getting some love…and giving that love right back! Also of the top 5, the Norwegian Bliss is the newest ship on this list, with her inaugural voyage in 2018. The remaining vessels have an average age of almost 12 years, with the oldest on the list, Norwegian Sky, having sailed for 22 years. We find this surprising as the newer ships usually receive the highest ratings. It just goes to show that sometimes, newer isn’t always better.

Onboard Activities

Rating onboard activities can be challenging as most cruisers are looking for lots of action, but that can mean anything from dancing the night away to bingo, a poolside limbo or belly flop contest, or trivia. Generally speaking, most cruisers look for various activities to choose from during the day and into the evening. When the weather is good, it’s easy to have a plethora of activities to choose from, but the cruise staff's true test is when the weather is bad, and all cruisers are indoors. So how do they find enough activities in the indoor public spaces to satisfy everyone? The answer is it’s not easy, but apparently, these Norwegian ships offer many options, rain or shine.

Norwegian Bliss 4.072
Norwegian Encore 4.052
Norwegian Sky 3.982
Norwegian Breakaway 3.925
Norwegian Sun 3.903

What Our Members Say

“Enjoyed various trivia games. Cruise Next presentations were very good.” - bonniecarter review of Norwegian Encore

“Game shows, bingo & karaoke” - jkenjeri review of Norwegian Sky

“The fitness center is great! They had a good variety of activities! Even for rainy days, they did a great job at having some kind of activity for all ages.” - kristicassador8 review of Norwegian Sun

Our Thoughts

Like all the other categories, rating the onboard activities is personal based on preferences. People line up for bingo and trivia, while others run from both activities. Pool games and on-deck dance parties always get a lot of participation, but for some, these can be cringe-worthy. Picking the right cruise line and ship is very important to the overall experience, and learning what to expect can ensure a great experience ahead of time. If you are looking for quiet solitude to enjoy a book while soaking up the sun, perhaps a Norwegian cruise isn’t the best choice. However, for those looking for various activities during the day and evening, Norwegian Cruise Line ships offer a great escape and will keep you as busy as you want.

Entertainment

Sit back, relax and enjoy the show. From Broadway-style production shows to guest entertainers to original programming, there is no shortage of options each evening. Shows such as Jersey Boys and Tony award-winning Kinky Boots to the foot-stopping fun of Footloose or the tunes of New Orleans speakeasy at Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical, the Norwegian ships know how to set the bar high for entertainment. Exclusively onboard Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Escape, guests are treated to the high-energy show, The Choir of Man, making it no surprise these two ships ranked the highest.

Norwegian Encore 4.290
Norwegian Escape 4.187
Norwegian Sky 4.179
Norwegian Bliss 4.160
Norwegian Joy 4.125

What Our Members Say

“Performances were spot on” - clog review of Norwegian Escape

“Comedian, bands and game shows were all great and very entertaining” - jnavaret7 review of Norwegian Sky

“World class shows - Jersey Boys. Better than Last broadway show we went to.” - chalkpgc review of Norwegian Bliss

Our Thoughts

Norwegian Cruise Line ships certainly deliver a variety of entertainment onboard their ships. The ratings seem a little low given the high caliber of shows and the type of entertainment options available. We expected ratings in the mid to higher four range, similar to service and staff. Interestingly, the newer Norwegian ships made the top 5, with the only exception being the Norwegian Sky. At 22 years of age, the ole girl certainly delivers on entertainment and across several other categories. Now that the Norwegian Sky is of legal drinking age, we expect a few bad decisions to be made soon! Joking! The ship rates highly with new and experienced cruisers alike, and we love seeing an older ship make the top 5 in many categories!