Some cruise traces — Viking, as an example — have fleets the place lots of the ships have the identical primary design. Norwegian Cruise Line isn’t one in every of them.
In case you’re pondering of reserving a Norwegian cruise, an essential factor to know is that there’s extensive variation within the measurement and elegance of the vessels within the line’s fleet.
4 of Norwegian’s 20 ships — Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Pleasure and Norwegian Encore — are among the many 35 greatest ships on this planet. As such, they’re loaded with enormous numbers of cabins, eating places, bars, showrooms and deck-top amusements.
They’re, in a nutshell, floating megaresorts.
However the line additionally operates smaller vessels that hardly crack the highest 100 checklist of greatest cruise ships. These vessels typically have fewer venues and points of interest than the larger ships. Nevertheless, they nonetheless provide rather a lot for cruisers. Norwegian is a line recognized for packing oodles of eating places, bars and leisure on its vessels — even its smaller ones.
The excellent news for these of you attempting to get a deal with on all of the choices throughout the Norwegian fleet is that the road’s 20 ships could be bunched into simply 9 teams of vessels with comparable facilities. If you already know one member of the group, you already know all of them.
Every of those teams — referred to as “courses” in cruise trade lingo — is made up of ships that have been constructed across the identical time in the identical primary design.
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An introduction to Norwegian Cruise Line ships
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Certainly, Norwegian is basically two cruise traces in a single. The road’s 10 latest ships are huge, bustling floating megaresorts that may carry upward of three,000 to 4,000 passengers at double occupancy (much more with each berth crammed). At round 144,000 to almost 170,000 tons, all 10 presently rank among the many 50 greatest cruise ships on this planet (though their rankings will shift downward as extra huge ships debut).
Norwegian’s 10 older ships, against this, are rather more modest in measurement, measuring round 75,000 to 94,000 tons and carrying nearer to 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Norwegian thus appeals each to cruisers who like a large resort vibe and people who choose a resort expertise that’s extra modest. The important thing, relying in your tastes, is getting on the appropriate ship within the fleet for you.
On the big-ship finish of the spectrum, Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus vessels — Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Pleasure and Norwegian Escape — are the road’s premier choices.
One step down in measurement from the Breakaway Plus ships are the still-quite-large Breakaway Class ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — and one-of-a-kind Norwegian Epic.
The smallest of the road’s huge ships are lately unveiled Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima. They’re the primary two of a brand new collection of six Prima Class vessels which might be reworking the model. Measuring about 143,500 tons apiece, these two new ships are about 17% smaller than Norwegian’s greatest vessels.
A 3rd vessel on this collection, Norwegian Aqua, debuted in March. At round 156,000 tons, it’s greater than the primary two Prima Class ships. Norwegian is referring to it as a “Prima Plus” vessel to distinguish it from the smaller vessels within the class.
Norwegian’s 10 smaller vessels break down into 5 courses, although many are roughly the identical measurement and provide comparable facilities.
Prima Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Prima (2022), Norwegian Viva (2023), Norwegian Aqua (2025) and Norwegian Luna (2026)
Measurement: 143,535 to 156,300 tons
The Prima Class of ships is the newest and best at Norwegian Cruise Line — the vessels that each NCL fan desires to e-book.
The primary two ships within the collection (Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima) debuted in 2022 and 2023, respectively, they usually’ve simply been joined by a 3rd vessel, Norwegian Aqua, which is sort of 10% greater than its predecessors. Three extra ships within the collection that will even be greater than the primary two are on order for supply by 2028.
Whereas all these vessels might be comparable of their design and format, Norwegian refers back to the new Norwegian Aqua and its coming sisters within the collection as “Prima Plus” ships on account of their greater measurement, they usually do have some variations.
At 143,535 tons, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima are notably smaller than the ships the road has been including in recent times — an element that may give them entry to smaller ports all over the world.
That mentioned, they’re nonetheless comparatively huge ships that pack quite a lot of over-the-top facilities. Each Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima have ridiculously huge go-kart tracks unfold over three decks (a signature Norwegian attraction now on 5 of the road’s vessels). The ships even have The Drop, a 10-story dry slide that the road says offers extra g-force than an accelerating System One race automobile.
Moreover, these first two vessels within the collection are every house to a three-deck theater that converts right into a Las Vegas-style nightclub, together with a listing of interactive, real-life sport reveals, together with at-sea variations of “The Value Is Proper,” “Deal or No Deal” and “Press Your Luck.”
Nonetheless, these first two ships within the Prima Class collection, in addition to Norwegian Aqua, are about greater than flashy leisure and actions. They mark a extra upscale flip for the road. The vessels provide the most important number of suite classes (13) for a big ocean ship, the most important three-bedroom suites of any new cruise vessel and the model’s largest-ever inside, ocean-view and balcony cabins.
Your complete again of every ship is devoted to an upscale “ship-within-a-ship” non-public suite space known as The Haven that rises eight decks excessive and contains 107 suites, a sprawling non-public indoor lounge space, non-public outside lounge and pool areas and a non-public restaurant. Different vessels function Haven areas, however none as huge as this one.
Moreover, the general public areas of those vessels really feel extra spacious than lots of the 17 different ships within the Norwegian fleet. And, certainly, they’re. The Prima Class ships are being constructed with the next ratio of house to passengers, which itself is an upscale contact.
Norwegian Cruise Line additionally says the Prima Class vessels provide probably the most outside deck house of any new cruise ship — together with extra whole pool deck house than another ships within the model’s fleet.
As famous above, the brand new Norwegian Aqua has a barely completely different mixture of venues, as will its coming sisters, that are on account of debut between 2026 and 2028.
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Among the many greatest modifications to Norwegian Aqua’s lineup of venues is the addition of what Norwegian is touting as the primary hybrid curler coaster and waterslide at sea. Dubbed the Aqua Slidecoaster, the three-story-high attraction incorporates twin slides and a magnetic elevate that propels riders by way of two completely different programs. The slides, notably, twist across the ship’s funnel as riders careen throughout the highest deck of the ship excessive above the ocean.
Along with the watery coaster expertise, Norwegian Aqua has a new-for-the-line digital sports activities advanced known as Glow Courtroom, which options an interactive LED ground. By day, it is house to quite a lot of interactive visitor actions and transforms right into a nightclub within the night.
Norwegian Aqua additionally has the most important Haven advanced of any Norwegian ship and probably the most spacious lodging the road has ever provided.
The Haven advanced on Norwegian Aqua contains 123 suites that function the road’s first three-bedroom duplex Haven suites. There are 4 of the latter in whole — all two tales excessive with separate dwelling and eating areas, three bogs, a sprawling balcony and three bedrooms. Two of the bedrooms have a king-size mattress, with the first bed room providing floor-to-ceiling home windows for gorgeous ocean views.
Norwegian Aqua additionally has the primary Thai restaurant at sea.
Breakaway Plus Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Encore (2019), Norwegian Bliss (2018), Norwegian Pleasure (2017) and Norwegian Escape (2015)
Measurement: 164,998 to 169,116 tons
These are the Norwegian ships you go on if you happen to’re a fan of megaresorts.
Whereas not fairly as huge as Royal Caribbean’s big Oasis Class and Icon Class ships, Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class vessels are firmly within the pantheon of the world’s cruising giants. They’re the Norwegian ships most filled with eating places, bars, leisure and over-the-top points of interest. There are such a lot of of these items that you just will not have the ability to do all of it in a single weeklong cruise.
The Breakaway Plus ships are so huge, in reality, that they’ve room for big go-kart tracks on their prime decks (on all of the vessels within the collection besides Norwegian Escape). There’s additionally loads of room to spare for a number of swimming pools, waterslides and a kiddie splash zone.
Every of the vessels additionally presents flashy reveals in huge state-of-the-art theaters, sprawling spas, casinos that fill half a deck, devoted kids’s play zones and greater than 2,000 rooms.
Moreover, the latest ship on this collection, Norwegian Encore, has a big gaming and digital actuality zone known as the Galaxy Pavilion.
For meals, you will discover at the least 20 venues on every of those ships, together with a number of primary eating rooms and a buffet that include no additional cost and such extra-charge eateries as a teppanyaki restaurant, a steakhouse, a high-end French restaurant and an Italian restaurant.
With plenty of family-friendly points of interest, such because the go-kart tracks and waterslides, these ships attraction closely to households with kids, significantly teenagers, however they draw quite a lot of {couples}, too. They’re additionally common with solo vacationers, due to their unusually giant complexes of cabins for one (one thing you will discover on the Breakaway and Epic courses of ships, too).
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All 4 of the Breakaway Plus ships have giant, non-public, two-deck-high suite enclaves known as The Haven that include their very own pool areas, eating places and lounges. They’re a number of the most spectacular suite complexes anyplace at sea.
The largest of those ships, Norwegian Encore, measures 169,116 tons, making it the 18th-biggest cruise ship on this planet as of this story’s publishing (it would drop within the rankings over the approaching years as extra megaships debut). That is greater than all however one Carnival ship and each Princess Cruises ship. Solely Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have a big variety of greater vessels.
Breakaway Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Getaway (2014) and Norwegian Breakaway (2013)
Measurement: 145,655 tons
These vessels are much like the Breakaway Plus Class ships however barely smaller. Or, put one other manner, the Breakaway Plus Class ships are stretched variations of the Breakaway Class ships.
You will discover lots of the identical eateries, bars, lounges and leisure venues on the Breakaway Class ships that you will discover on the Breakaway Plus Class vessels. The marginally smaller measurement of those vessels means there’s only a tad much less “stuff” on board.
The highest decks of the Breakaway Class ships have two pool areas and water parks with waterslides, as an example — similar to the Breakaway Plus Class ships. Nevertheless, they do not have go-kart tracks or laser tag programs. As an alternative, you will discover an adults-only pool space known as Spice H2O behind the vessels. At night time, it transforms right into a dance membership.
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The Breakaway Class ships even have full-size ropes programs on their prime decks. Certainly, they have been the primary cruise ships to have such a function. Different top-deck options embody miniature golf programs on each vessels and basketball courts that double as volleyball courts.
On the leisure entrance, each ships provide reveals of their primary theaters. They’re additionally house to “Howl on the Moon” dueling piano reveals and a model of the Latin-themed dance present “Burn the Flooring.”
Just like the Breakaway Plus vessels, the Breakaway ships have giant complexes for solo vacationers and enormous, non-public Haven suite complexes.
Basically, as with the Breakaway Plus ships, these vessels are greatest for vacationers who like a megaresort-type expertise, they usually attraction closely to households with kids who love all their top-deck points of interest. Every of the 2 ships on this collection — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — holds about 4,000 passengers at double occupancy.
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Epic Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Epic (2010)
Measurement: 155,873 tons
Norwegian Epic is an outlier within the Norwegian fleet. Unveiled in 2010, it was initially imagined to be the primary of a collection of as much as three comparable vessels. Nevertheless, after disagreements with the shipyard that constructed it, Norwegian ultimately canceled an order for a second ship within the collection and an choice for a 3rd, leaving Norwegian Epic in a category of 1.
Whereas roughly comparable in measurement to the Breakaway Plus and Breakaway Class ships (it is a bit smaller than the previous vessels and a bit greater than the latter), Norwegian Epic has a notably completely different design that features some distinctive options.
Maybe most notably, balcony cabins on the ship have an uncommon design that features curved partitions, rounded mattress corners, and a sink and vainness space that’s in the primary dwelling house — for all to see — separate from a closed-off rest room space. The bathroom space is behind a translucent door that some cruisers discover much less non-public than that they had hoped.
Norwegian Epic can be house to the one tube-and-bowl waterslide at sea and has such rare-for-cruise-ships points of interest as a rappelling wall and a three-lane bowling alley. It additionally options an ice bar the place prospects put on parkas whereas sipping drinks.
Nonetheless, Norwegian Epic additionally presents many acquainted options to Norwegian followers, together with the road’s signature eating places, bars and leisure.
Standout options on Norwegian Epic embody a water park with a number of the most over-the-top waterslides at sea (together with the aforementioned tube-and-bowl slide). It additionally presents a model of the “Burn the Flooring” dance present that performed on Broadway and within the West Finish in London, in addition to a “Howl on the Moon” piano bar idea and a recreation of the Cavern Membership nightspot in Liverpool, England, the place the Beatles bought their begin — full with a Beatles cowl band.
Moreover, Norwegian Epic has the road’s greatest solo cabin advanced (with 128 rooms for one) and a large Haven non-public suite advanced.
At 155,873 tons, Norwegian Epic presently ranks because the thirty eighth greatest cruise vessel on this planet. Notably, it was the world’s third-largest ship when it debuted in 2010. That tells you simply how a lot the cruise trade has grown in recent times.
Norwegian Epic carries 4,100 passengers at double occupancy.
Jewel Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Gem (2007), Norwegian Jade (2006), Norwegian Pearl (2006) and Norwegian Jewel (2005)
Measurement: About 93,500 tons
In case you are uncertain if you wish to sail on a megaship with 4,000 or extra folks however nonetheless need a vessel with a very good quantity of options and actions, the Jewel Class ships stands out as the good answer.
At 93,500 tons, the 4 vessels within the collection are practically 50% smaller than the road’s Breakaway Plus Class ships however nonetheless large enough to supply rather a lot.
Every of the vessels has greater than a dozen meals venues, together with two primary eating places, an informal buffet, a steakhouse, a French restaurant and a teppanyaki eatery.
You will additionally discover a number of swimming pools on every of the ships, together with whirlpools, basketball courts and golf driving nets. Every of the ships has a theater, a spa, a on line casino and a number of bars and lounges as nicely.
What you will not discover on the ships, due to their smaller measurement, are all of the gee-whiz points of interest resembling go-kart tracks, laser tag programs and enormous water park areas that Norwegian has placed on its greater vessels. If you cannot dwell with out these kinds of options on a cruise ship, then the Jewel Class most likely is not for you.
Notice that Norwegian Gem does have a climbing wall and a single waterslide. Norwegian Pearl has a climbing wall however no waterslide. Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Jade have neither of those points of interest.
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Every of the Jewel Class ships holds round 2,400 passengers at double occupancy (plus a number of hundred extra with each berth crammed). That is about 40% fewer passengers than you will discover on the largest Norwegian ships.
That makes them good for cruisers who need to get away from the type of crowds which might be on the largest megaships with out giving up lots of the facilities that huge ships have to supply.
Satisfaction of America Class
Ships in school: Satisfaction of America (2005)
Measurement: 80,439 tons
Like Norwegian Epic, Satisfaction of America is an outlier within the Norwegian fleet. In reality, it is maybe a fair greater outlier than the previous vessel.
Sporting a patriotic American theme (you will discover venues named after Thomas Jefferson and John Adams) and a definite array of lounges and leisure, it is a ship particularly designed to sail year-round in Hawaii — the one one in every of its form at any line.
Satisfaction of America notably flies a U.S. flag and operates with a largely American crew, in line with laws governing cruise itineraries that embody solely U.S. ports. That is a giant distinction from another huge cruise vessel on this planet.
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It is also the one Norwegian vessel with no on line casino, in line with native Hawaii laws.
In case you sail on Satisfaction of America, you will discover such one-of-a-kind eateries because the traditional American car-themed Cadillac Diner. You will additionally discover a few of Norwegian’s signature choices, together with a Cagney’s steakhouse and Italian eatery La Cucina. The ship’s different onboard points of interest embody a showroom, lounges, bars and a prime deck with in depth open-air pool and solar lounging areas.
Due to its possession of Satisfaction of America, Norwegian is the undisputed chief in Hawaii cruises. Most cruise traces that provide sailings to Hawaii solely provide a restricted variety of such journeys throughout a number of months every year. Norwegian, against this, presents sailings across the Hawaiian Islands each week of the 12 months — the one cruise line on this planet to take action.
An iconic presence in Hawaii, Satisfaction of America has been completely devoted to the archipelago since its debut in 2005. It presents a repeating seven-night itinerary that begins every Saturday in Honolulu and brings the possibility to go to 4 completely different Hawaiian Islands on a single seven-night journey.
Starting and ending on the island of Oahu, the itinerary contains two days every on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. The 2-day go to to Maui entails an in a single day keep on the port of Kahului. The 2-day go to to Kauai entails an in a single day keep on the port of Nawiliwili. The 2-day go to to Hawaii is break up between a name at Hilo and a name at Kona.
Daybreak Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Daybreak (2002) and Norwegian Star (2001)
Measurement: 92,250 and 91,740 tons
The Daybreak Class ships are much like the Jewel Class ships in measurement and facilities, with a number of variations.
Just like the Jewel Class vessels, the Daybreak Class ships have round a dozen food-serving venues, together with two primary eating places, an informal buffet, a Brazilian churrascaria (barbecue) restaurant, a French restaurant and a teppanyaki eatery.
You will additionally discover a number of swimming pools on every of the ships, whirlpools, basketball courts and golf driving nets. Every of the ships additionally has a theater, a spa, a on line casino and a number of bars and lounges.
Just like the Jewel Class ships, the Daybreak Class vessels lack the type of huge points of interest like go-kart tracks and enormous water parks discovered on greater Norwegian vessels. Moreover, there aren’t any Broadway musicals on Daybreak Class ships, they usually do not have a non-public Haven suite space (although they do have a number of big suites known as Backyard Villas that measure greater than 6,000 sq. toes).
If you cannot dwell with out these kinds of options on a cruise ship, then the Daybreak Class most likely is not for you.
Solar Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Solar (2001) and Norwegian Sky (1999)
Measurement: 78,309 and 77,104 tons
Courting to 2001 and 1999, respectively, Norwegian Solar and Norwegian Sky are among the many smallest ships at Norwegian. They provide fewer onboard points of interest and facilities than is typical for the road’s vessels.
Basically, they attraction to cruisers in search of a extra intimate expertise on a cruise ship than what you will discover on the large Norwegian ships. Additionally they draw cruisers who care extra in regards to the locations that they go to on a cruise than onboard points of interest.
On every of the vessels, you will discover greater than half a dozen eateries, together with a number of primary eating rooms, an informal buffet, a diner-style pub, a steakhouse, an Italian trattoria and a French bistro.
On their prime decks, the ships have swimming pools (one on Solar, two on Sky), whirlpools, basketball courts that double as volleyball courts, golf driving nets and jogging tracks. The ships even have casinos and theaters with nightly reveals.
In contrast to most greater Norwegian ships, neither of the vessels has a non-public Haven suite advanced.
Spirit Class
Ships in school: Norwegian Spirit (1998)
Measurement: 75,904 tons
Courting to 1998, Norwegian Spirit is Norwegian’s smallest and oldest ship, and — like the road’s Solar Class ships — it typically appeals to cruisers in search of a extra intimate expertise than what’s obtainable on the large Norwegian ships.
At 75,904 tons, Norwegian Spirit is lower than half the dimensions of Norwegian’s greatest ships, and it carries simply 1,966 passengers — greater than 2,000 fewer than the Norwegian biggies.
It additionally presents fewer (however nonetheless fairly a number of) venues and points of interest. In all, you will discover 13 meals shops on board, together with two primary eating places, an informal buffet eatery and variations of the road’s signature Cagney’s steakhouse and French eatery Le Bistro. There are greater than half a dozen bars and cafes.
Different points of interest embody a number of swimming pools, whirlpools, waterslides, a basketball courtroom and a jogging monitor. The ship additionally has a on line casino, a spa, a nightclub and a theater.
Of notice, Norwegian Spirit was initially constructed for Asia-based Star Cruises, the place it was known as SuperStar Leo.
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