Discover the Best of Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line offers an incredible array of onboard amenities and activities to keep you entertained and relaxed throughout your voyage.

Their ships feature a wide range of dining options, including the complimentary Garden Café, which serves up delicious breakfast and lunch buffets.

From fine dining at Cagney's Steakhouse to casual eats at the poolside buffet, you'll never go hungry on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

With over 20 dining venues to choose from, you're sure to find something that suits your taste and budget.

Norwegian Cruise Line was founded in 1966 by Norwegian Knut Kloster and Israeli Ted Arison.

The company was initially known as Ensign Cruises and operated the 8,666-ton cruise ship Sunward, which sailed between Southampton UK and Gibraltar for one season.

Knut Kloster later acquired additional ships for Caribbean service, renaming the line Norwegian Caribbean Lines.

In 1987, the company changed its name to Norwegian Cruise Line to reflect an expanded route structure.

The company made a groundbreaking maiden voyage in 1966 with 550 passengers, changing how the world viewed holidays at sea.

This maiden voyage marked a shift from simply a means of transportation to a destination unto itself, offering guests an exciting, affordable alternative to land-based resorts.

The company introduced a fleet of sleek, new "white ships" in the late 1960s and early 1970s, expanding its capacity and itineraries over the next two decades.

Throughout the 1990s, the company continued to expand its fleet with newer and larger vessels built to replace the now retired "white ships".

Norwegian Cruise Line operates a fleet of 19 cruise ships, with eight more on order, as of April 2024.

All of its ships are flagged to the Bahamas, except for the Pride of America, which is flagged and registered in the US.

The company has previously owned or operated 19 other ships, showcasing its extensive experience in the cruise industry.

Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled its South America itineraries for 2025-2026, and no cruise ships are scheduled to sail to those destinations for at least the next two years.

The only South America cruises remaining on Norwegian's schedule are two Peru and Latin America voyages on Norwegian Jade in early 2026.

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Norwegian Cruise Line operates 19 cruise ships as of April 2024, with eight on order. This number is impressive, but it's worth noting that they've previously owned or operated 19 other ships.

Their fleet is a mix of new and old ships, with some vessels having been transferred from Star Cruises. The Norwegian Sun, for example, was one of the first ships to be transferred from Star Cruises to Norwegian in 2001.

Here's a breakdown of their current fleet:

The Norwegian Epic is a ship that's had its fair share of twists and turns. It was originally intended to be the first of two Epic-class ships, but a dispute between NCL and STX resulted in the construction of both ships being put on hold.

The sole remaining ship, Norwegian Epic, was delivered to NCL on June 17, 2010. This was a significant milestone for the company.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been expanding its fleet with new ship launches. The latest addition is the Norwegian Encore, which debuted in 2019.

The Norwegian Encore features an impressive Aqua Park with three water slides, including the Free Fall drop slide that sends riders plummeting 10 stories down. This is a great option for families or thrill-seekers.

Norwegian Cruise Line has also been investing in its entertainment options, with the introduction of the Broadway show "Kinky Boots" on several of its ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line is set to introduce several new ships in the coming years, including the Prima-class vessels. These ships are expected to be among the largest in the fleet.

The first Prima-class ship, Norwegian Luna, is scheduled to debut in 2026 with a gross tonnage of 156,000 and carrying 3,571 passengers. Two more Prima-class ships are set to launch in 2027 and 2028, with identical specifications.

A new class of ship, also known as the Prima Plus subclass, will debut in 2030 with a gross tonnage of 225,000 and carrying 5,100 passengers. This class will comprise the largest vessels ever commissioned for Norwegian Cruise Line.

Here is a summary of the upcoming Prima-class and Prima Plus ships:

Norwegian Cruise Line is moving away from South America and Antarctica, at least for the next couple of years. Norwegian Star's final season in the region has just ended.

The ship sailed to ports in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, as well as Antarctica, but those itineraries are now canceled for 2025-2026. Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled Norwegian Dawn's deployment to Africa and the Indian Ocean for the same period, opting for Caribbean itineraries from Tampa instead.

If you're set on exploring South America and Antarctica, consider Norwegian's sister cruise line Oceania Cruises, which offers a variety of itineraries in the region. Two Peru and Latin America voyages on Norwegian Jade will still be available in early 2026, sailing along the West Coast.

Norwegian Aqua will sail a season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. featuring calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas.

The ship will make stops at these ports before heading north to sail a series of five and seven-day cruises to Bermuda from New York City in August 2025.

Norwegian Aqua will return to Miami in October 2025 to begin another season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami, calling again to Great Stirrup Cay with the new cruise ship pier and enhancements introduced during the christening celebration.

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Norwegian Cruise Line owns two private islands in the Caribbean: Harvest Caye in Belize and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

Great Stirrup Cay is getting a major upgrade, set to be completed in late 2025, with a new multi-ship pier and a 28,000-sq.-ft. heated pool with swim-up bars.

The island will also feature a family splash zone and poolside cabanas, as well as a new relaxation area that complements the island's Bahamian beach vibe.

A convenient island-wide tram service and a new welcome center will also be added.

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The upgrades will bring passenger-favorite areas from Norwegian Cruise Line ships to the island, including the adults-only Vibe Beach Club outdoor lounge area and Horizon Park, a recreation area featuring lawn games and gathering space.

Norwegian expects to welcome more than one million passengers to Great Stirrup Cay in 2026, up from about 400,000 in 2024.

In March 2020, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings implemented a suspension of all cruise voyages across its three brands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The suspension was concurrent with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuing a No Sail Order for cruise ships on March 14, 2020.

All 28 ships in port or at anchor were disembarked by March 28, 2020.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings faced a liquidity crisis and had to secure $2.2 billion of additional liquidity in oversubscribed capital markets transactions by May 6, 2020.

This was done at a price, including issuing $400 million in common stock at $11 per share and $675 million in senior secured notes due 2024 at a 12.25% interest rate.

The company was able to secure enough liquidity to potentially get through 18 months of zero revenues and may resume cruising later in 2020.

In anticipation of sailing again, Norwegian is implementing new health and safety measures, including installing H13 HEPA air filters.

The company is also working with the CDC and the new color-coding system to indicate each ship's COVID-19 status, and to repatriate Norwegian crews still stuck aboard their vessel.

The Norwegian Escape is a stunning breakaway-plus style cruise ship with a capacity of 4,266 passengers. It has a variety of entertainment and activities, including live music, a casino, Kid's Aqua Park, and more.

Norwegian Cruise Line is cracking down on chair-hoggers on the Escape, which is a welcome change for many cruisers. Several cruise lines have attempted to stop this annoyance, but NCL is taking extra steps to enforce the rules.

The line is marking unoccupied chairs and pulling towels and personal effects, making it easier for passengers to find available seats. This new approach has been well-received by cruisers, who appreciate the commitment to enforcing the rules.

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Here are some notable reactions to NCL's chair-hogging rule:

The Aqua will be sailing seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, visiting Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Norwegian's private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay.

In the future, the Aqua will head to New York City to sail cruises to Bermuda, and then return to Miami to begin another season of Eastern Caribbean cruises.

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Norwegian Cruise Line is cracking down on chair-hoggers on the Escape. The ship has a capacity of 4,266 passengers and offers a variety of entertainment and activities.

The line is marking unoccupied chairs and pulling towels and personal effects to discourage hogging. This is a welcome change for cruisers who have had to deal with the frustration of finding their reserved spot taken.

Several users have praised the new policy, with one saying it's "good, it was ridiculous" on the Encore ship in February. Another cruiser appreciated the change, saying "I would definitely give preference to a cruiseline that bothered to enforce this type of common sense rule."

The Norwegian Escape launched back in August 2015, and it's great to see the line making efforts to improve the passenger experience. Cruisers can now enjoy the ship's amenities without worrying about their reserved spot being taken.

Other top cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line have also addressed chair-hogging in the past.

Norwegian Cruise Line has a rich history of subsidiary and affiliate lines that have played a significant role in shaping the company's current status.

Royal Viking Line was one of the earliest subsidiary lines, operating from 1984 to 1994.

Royal Cruise Line was another notable subsidiary, in operation from 1989 to 1996.

Norwegian Cruise Line also had a subsidiary called Norwegian Capricorn Line, which existed from 1997 to 2001.

Orient Lines was a subsidiary that operated from 1998 to 2008.

The company also had a subsidiary called NCL America, which was in operation from 2004 to 2008.

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In recent years, Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded its portfolio to include Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, both of which have been part of the company since 2014.

Here is a list of some of the notable subsidiary and affiliate lines of Norwegian Cruise Line: