10 Things to Do Before Your Next Norwegian Cruise Line Voyage
Are you cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line? You are in for a treat! Before you set sail, check out our top ten recommendations of things to do before your cruise.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a fantastic option for various types of travelers. The cruise line offers a range of ship sizes with various onboard amenities sure to suit the preferences of all members of your party. NCL has nineteen cruise ships that sail to destinations worldwide, so you have many options when choosing to cruise with them.
To make the most of your next cruise, we recommend spending time before your vacation to plan your time onboard the ship and in port. Over the past ten years of Cruiseline.com, we’ve received thousands of Norwegian Cruise Line reviews from our members and learned a lot along the way. The top ten things we recommend you do before your next Norwegian Cruise Line vacation.
1. Research The Ship
Before you get onboard - check out anything everything your ship has to offer! This is one of the top tips we recommend to all cruisers.
When it comes to NCL’s vessels, this is especially important when you consider the size and numerous activities found on most of the cruise line’s ships. Before you cruise, research ship deck maps to locate your cabin, dining venues, and all the onboard amenities you want to see.
An excellent resource for researching NCL ships is the reviews on Cruiseline.com. Here, you can check out the feedback from other travelers who have previously sailed on that same ship and use the comments and suggestions to help plan your trip. Our reviews encompass the entire cruise travel experience so that you can learn more about your ship’s staterooms, service, dining, activities, and more.
Explore ship reviews here and select ‘Norwegian Cruise Line’ from the dropdown menu. Next, select your ship and then explore the tips from fellow community members.
2. Download Shipmate
Shipmate is the #1 cruise app for cruisers. It has all the tools you need to plan your dream Norwegian Cruise Line vacation. One of the top features you can use as an upcoming cruiser is to add your voyage to the ‘My Cruises’ section of the app to plan your cruise and save it forever in the cruise history.
Once you’ve added the sailing, you can view or share your Cruise Countdown, sign up for a Roll Call (we will explain later!), use tools to explore your ship and ports of call, and see photos from fellow cruisers. On Shipmate you can also book shore excursions for your ports of call, find deals on future cruises, as well as read/write cruise reviews.
If you haven’t downloaded Shipmate, do it now! Available for iOS here or on Android here.
3. Figure Out What to Pack
Pro-tip - essential documents should be the number one item on your packing list. Pack any required documents first, and ensure you have them before leaving the house for your cruise! Should you forget the required documents (like passports, birth certificates, or other paperwork), you may miss out on your trip and be denied boarding at embarkation. Keep essential documents and passports in your carry-on luggage (especially if you are flying to the cruise). Never put these items in checked baggage in case they are lost in transit.
Next, pack personal items like medications, swimwear, rain gear, chargers, kids' items, sunscreen, and more. Most NCL ships offer a spot onboard where you can buy small personal goods, however prices tend to be expensive so we recommend coming with items at hand.
When considering packing clothing, make sure you have what you will need for the number of days you will be onboard and the type of climate you will be traveling in.
Check out more FAQs from Norwegian Cruise Line on what to pack for your cruise.
Looking for more tips on what to pack for your vacation? Consult these resources:
- What to Pack For Your Caribbean Cruise
- Top 12 Packing Must-Haves for Your First Cruise
- 8 Handy Items Most Cruisers Don't Pack
- What should I pack for a Mediterranean cruise?
- 10 Things to Pack for Your First Alaska Cruise
4. Learn About Cruise Ports & Sign-Up for Shore Excursions
Don’t forget to take some time before your cruise to decide what you want to do on port days and what you want to see during your visit to the destinations your NCL voyage stops in! You don’t want to miss out on seeing sites or fun activities because you did not plan beforehand.
A great resource for research is Cruiseline.com’s cruise port explore feature. These pages are organized by destination, where you can read reviews from fellow cruisers, see photos, and explore more expert advice. We also offer tools where you can find and book excursions (at great prices!) from our trusted partners.
Similar port research tools are also found on the Shipmate app. Shipmate offers port reviews, member photos, excursion booking, and tools to chat with other users about ports.
If you are lucky enough to be traveling to NCL’s private destinations, Harvest Caye in Belize or Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, here are some additional resources:
How to Spend a Day on Great Stirrup Cay
Tips for Visiting a Cruise Line Private Island
Guide to Cruise Line Private Islands
5. Plan Your Dining Schedule
Don’t forget to check out dining options as you do your pre-cruise research! NCL was the first mainstream line to pioneer the ‘freestyle’ method of dining, meaning you can dine when and where you want, with no fixed dining times or pre-assigned seating. This gives you much more flexibility when planning your day and dining schedule.
Most of the cruise line’s ships offer a good variety of included and specialty eateries. We recommend going into your cruise with an idea of what restaurants you want to check out and budget accordingly if you plan to spend extra to dine in specialty venues.
NCL allows guests to make dining reservations before the cruise at select. Take advantage of this option if you know you want to eat at a certain venue, that way you know you will have a guaranteed spot at the restaurant and can get a table at a desired time.
Not sure where you want to eat onboard? Check out Norwegian Cruise Line ship pages on Cruiseline.com to research the dining venues on your ship. These reviews offer recommendations and photos from fellow travelers who have previously dined at the eateries, and you can use these tips to plan your own dining experience.
6. Join a Roll Call
The Roll Calls on Cruiseline.com and Shipmate act like forums where passengers sailing on the same cruise can chat with one another. They are a great place to ask questions, share ship tips, or meet with others on your voyage.
Do you want to organize a meet-up at the comedy club or a zipline excursion? Just sign up for the Roll Call of your NCL cruise sail date, make a post, and get to know your fellow sailors!
Read More: What is a Roll Call
7. Download the Cruise Norwegian App
Before you cruise, download the official Cruise Norwegian App. This is NCL’s app developed specifically for guests. We recommend you download the app before embarkation to start planning your cruise and have it ready for all the features it will offer while on the ship sailing.
The Cruise Norwegian app can be used before the sailing to pre-book onboard activities, make dining reservations, book shore excursions, learn more about the entertainment on your sailing, purchase gifts, and view your itinerary and account summary. The app can also be used to check in online before your sailing.
On the day of sailing, the Cruise Norwegian app can access the e-docs you will need to present at check-in. While onboard your ship, use the app to see the daily schedule, review your account, call or message other guests (extra fee), learn about the future cruise program, and access details needed for disembarkation.
Read more on the Cruise Norwegian app here.
8. Explore and Book Beverage Packages
Some Norwegian Cruise Line voyages currently offer their ‘Free at Sea’ promotion, which covers unlimited open bar for all passengers (of required age). However, if your cruise does not include this offer, we recommend researching beverage packages, which will come with an extra fee. You can take advantage of pre-cruise savings (if available) and get a good idea of what drinks cost during the sailing should you decide not to purchase a full package.
NCL’s most basic beverage package is for Unlimited Sodas. This includes all Coca-Cola products, as well as tonic and soda water. Also offered is an Unlimited Starbucks package, applicable for all drinks at the ship’s onboard Starbucks locations.
For guests looking for something a bit stronger, NCL offers the Unlimited Open Bar package, which includes premium cocktails & spirits (under $15), beer and wine by the glass (under $15), 20% off all bottles of champagne and wine, and unlimited soft drinks/juices. A step up from this is NCL’s Premium Plus Beverage Package, which includes all top-shelf cocktails & spirits, all beer, and wines, select premium bottles of wine with dinner (+ 40% off all other bottles), unlimited soft drinks/juices, still and sparkling water, energy drinks, as well as all Starbucks drinks.
Drink packages are priced per day and must be purchased for the full duration of the cruise. Age restrictions apply, and guests cannot share packages.
Learn more about Norwegian Cruise Line’s beverage package offerings, costs, and exclusions here.
9. Explore Onboard Activities and Entertainment
There’s a lot to do on every NCL ship! Use the Cruise Norwegian app or the line’s website for booked guests to explore the activities and entertainment options on your sailing. There will be offerings you can pre-book ahead of the cruise so you know you will get a spot during your time onboard.
A large chunk of NCL activities are free and open to all, however, there will be some which require an extra cost. We recommend exploring which activities have an extra cost so you will know how to budget.
We also recommend using our Ship Reviews to read fellow community members’ feedback about the activities and entertainment options on your NCL ship.
10. Ask Questions & Get Answers!
Cruiseline.com and Shipmate are among the best resources you will find to ask your most pressing Norwegian Cruise Line questions. Our community of thousands of seasoned sailors is standing by to help you plan your trip and make recommendations on what to do (and what not to do) on your ship.
New Q&A features for ships and ports have made this even easier. Here are some resources on the Q&A features offered by Cruiseline.com and Shipmate:
Got Cruise Questions? Try the Ship and Destination Q&A Feature
New Q&A Feature Comes to Shipmate
Wishing You Smooth Seas Ahead!
We hope you have a great Norwegian Cruise Line voyage cruise and have found these tips helpful! If you are looking for even MORE resources on Norwegian Cruise Line, check out:
Top Norwegian Cruise Line Ships for 2023
Carnival vs. Norwegian: Smackdown!
6 Things You Can Only Do on Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian vs. Royal Caribbean: Smackdown!
Share your experience! Don’t forget to write a review of your NCL cruise when you return.
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