It had been over two years since we final sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line. Since then, the cruise line has applied a collection of coverage adjustments which can be reshaping what it’s like for passengers to cruise NCL. So, we determined it was time to hop again onboard to see firsthand how these new insurance policies have an effect on the visitor expertise. Simply again from Norwegian Aqua, we’re sharing our trustworthy ideas.
Key Takeaways: Norwegian Cruise Line Coverage Modifications 2025-2026
- Important Eating Room Price: Norwegian now expenses $5 for every further entree ordered in the primary eating room, although appetizers, soups, salads, and desserts stay limitless. NCL has additionally launched room service ordering restrictions and no-show charges for specialty eating.
- Nice Stirrup Cay Beverage Modifications: Beginning March 1, 2026, onboard beverage packages will not work at Nice Stirrup Cay. A separate island beverage package deal shall be accessible to buy starting January 2026.
- Further Coverage Updates Since Our Final NCL Cruise: Norwegian has eradicated specialty eating packages in favor of fastened cowl expenses, changed Free at Sea with Extra at Sea (eradicating the “Plus” improve possibility), and minimize licensed Broadway reveals.
Norwegian Cruise Line Eating Coverage Modifications
Norwegian Cruise Line has applied a number of eating coverage adjustments just lately that have an effect on each complimentary and specialty eating experiences. From new charges in the primary eating room and restrictions on room service to the elimination of specialty eating packages and a brand new pricing construction at specialty eating places, these adjustments affect how friends have to method onboard eating and price range for his or her cruise trip.
Further Entree Price in Important Eating Rooms
Much like different cruise strains, NCL now expenses a $5 charge for ordering further entrees past the primary in the primary eating room. The charge applies solely to further entrees. Appetizers, soups, salads, and desserts stay limitless at no further cost. The cruise line states this coverage goals to cut back meals waste.
When in comparison with competitor cruise strains, this coverage change is probably the most restrictive. Royal Caribbean solely expenses for added lobster entrees on formal evening, and Carnival Cruise Line solely expenses for third and subsequent entrees.
Whilst you’ll actually by no means go hungry on an NCL cruise, this coverage change could make you rethink your MDR sport plan. One of many advantages of cruising has all the time been the flexibility to attempt new issues, and Don has been identified to order two entrees now and again to pattern a pair totally different objects. In fact, you continue to can; you’ll simply need to price range accordingly.
New Room Service Restrictions
Norwegian has additionally quietly up to date its room service coverage, limiting friends to 1 scorching dish and one chilly dish per particular person, per breakfast supply. Visitors could order two objects per particular person, per supply from the all-day menu. Ordering further objects requires putting a separate order with further supply charges. On a constructive be aware, these supply charges stay the identical, which is $4.95 for breakfast orders and $9.95 for orders from the all-day menu.
With so many further eating choices, we don’t suppose it is a huge deal; nevertheless, it’s simply one other call-out to the “nickel-and-diming” method. Whereas some cruise strains, like Carnival, worth room service objects a la carte, NCL is the primary to position limits on such orders.
No-Present Price for Specialty Eating
Sure, the 2 eating coverage adjustments talked about above could also be a disappointment to some cruisers, however we’re glad to see that NCL is now implementing its $10 no-show charge for friends who make specialty restaurant reservations and fail to cancel prematurely. In actual fact, we don’t know why this wasn’t a factor sooner. This aligns Norwegian with related insurance policies from different cruise strains.
Personally, we really feel it’s simply frequent courtesy to cancel a reservation in case your plans change. This helps liberate tables for different friends who have been unable to get reservations. The cancellation coverage is sort of beneficiant, with friends needing to cancel at least two hours previous to their eating time.
Whereas we have been apprehensive that we couldn’t make any specialty restaurant reservations previous to our Norwegian Aqua cruise, we have been in a position to safe all our desired eating places at our most well-liked instances within the NCL app instantly upon boarding the ship. And we didn’t actually hear any rumblings from different friends concerning this coverage replace.
Elimination of Specialty Eating Packages
With the introduction of Extra at Sea (for sailngs booked October 2024 and past), Norwegian Cruise Line discontinued all specialty eating packages. Beforehand, friends may buy packages at discounted charges to complement meals acquired with the Free at Sea promotion. Beneath the brand new system, every specialty restaurant has a set cowl cost that friends pay per go to, versus the earlier a la carte charges if a visitor didn’t have a meal credit score.
With these new cowl expenses, friends can order as much as three appetizers and desserts for no further charges. Further entree expenses do apply although.
Throughout our Norwegian Aqua crusing, we dined at 4 specialty eating places (two included in Extra at Sea and two cowl expenses). Apart from Sukothai, the quilt cost and allotted menu objects have been greater than ample even when the menus have been streamlined a bit since our final crusing. On the subject of Sukothai, we did suppose the $50 cowl cost was a bit expensive. It might have been good if we may have ordered the pad thai or fried rice as an appetizer; however as an alternative, these dishes depend as entrees and incur a further $25 second entree charge.
Throughout our different eating experiences at Los Lobos, Onda, and Le Bistro, we really saved cash with the quilt cost versus ordering the objects primarily based on previous a la carte costs. Given the menu objects we really ordered, we saved roughly $100 in whole throughout the three eating places.
Norwegian Cruise Line Beverage Coverage Modifications
In one other just lately introduced shake-up, Norwegian Cruise Line has made some adjustments to its beverage package deal coverage, particularly associated to Nice Stirrup Cay.
No Extra Drink Bundle on Nice Stirrup Cay
Beginning March 1, 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line’s onboard beverage package deal will not work at Nice Stirrup Cay, NCL’s non-public island within the Bahamas. It is a huge coverage change that has upset many NCL cruisers as they may now need to pay for all alcoholic drinks bought ashore.
Whereas friends have by no means been in a position to make use of drink packages at NCL’s different non-public island in Belize, Harvest Caye, eliminating this profit at Nice Stirrup Cay now places NCL extra consistent with Carnival’s Celebration Key. Nevertheless, Royal Caribbean’s drink package deal nonetheless works at Excellent Day at CocoCay as does MSC’s at Ocean Cay.
What stays complimentary at Nice Stirrup Cay:
- Water
- Iced tea
- Lemonade
- Choose juices
Norwegian will introduce a brand new, unique Nice Stirrup Cay beverage package deal beginning in January 2026, although pricing and particular particulars haven’t but been introduced.
This coverage change coincides with NCL’s huge $150 million funding to rework Nice Stirrup Cay right into a extra developed vacation spot expertise. The transformation will embrace:
- A multi-ship pier that permits vessels to dock instantly and eliminates tendering
- An expanded pool space
- A brand new waterpark with slides and sights
- Enhanced eating venues and bars
- Upgraded infrastructure all through the island
Discount in Specialty Drink Menus
That is seemingly a minor change for many, however for cruisers who take pleasure in sampling drinks off all of the specialty bar menus, it was a disappointment to be taught that Norwegian Cruise Line has streamlined its beverage choices.
Whereas we’re not sure if it is a fleetwide change, lots of the bars on Norwegian Aqua served the identical menu. Particularly, I missed the bottled cocktails, like All In regards to the Basil, on the Belvedere Bar. Different favorites like a Smoked Peach Margarita and Rebellious Fish have been no the place to be discovered both. In actual fact, the one two bars on the ship which have really distinct menus are the Metropolitan Bar and Whiskey Bar.
Leisure Shifts & Broadway Reveals Lower
Sure, we all know this isn’t a “new” change however it’s new since we final sailed on Norwegian Cruise Line again in the summertime of 2023. Since then, the cruise line has shifted its leisure focus from Broadway and West Finish productions to all unique reveals. We’ve all the time mentioned that Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line had the most effective leisure within the trade, however that’s not likely true anymore.
Within the final couple years, NCL has eradicated a number of licensed reveals from its fleet, together with Summer season: The Donna Summer season Musical, Footloose, Kinky Boots, and Six, amongst others. In our opinion, Choir of Man is top-notch, however apart from that, the shift to Norwegian-produced revues makes the cruise line’s leisure choices extra similar to competitor cruise strains slightly than sustaining its earlier distinctive positioning.
Whereas Norwegian Viva does retain Beetlejuice: The Musical for now, Norwegian Aqua debuted with an unique manufacturing as an alternative. Revolution: A Celebration of Prince is the signature manufacturing on this ship, together with The Worth is Proper Dwell and Components: The World Expanded. Don’t get us flawed, these reveals are entertaining however lower than the extent of leisure on Royal Caribbean’s latest ships. The Prince present is well-produced with a dynamic stage setup and excessive power, nevertheless it isn’t way more than a live performance expertise.
The Actual Worth of Extra at Sea
As of October 1, 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line changed its longstanding Free at Sea promotion with Extra at Sea. With related inclusions, probably the most important change for us is the elimination of the “Plus” improve possibility that existed beneath Free at Sea.
Extra at Sea inclusions:
- Limitless Open Bar (with extra premium manufacturers)
- Specialty eating meals (quantity primarily based on cabin sort and cruise size)
- WiFi minutes (for all friends; minutes primarily based on cruise size)
- Tour credit (first visitor solely)
Beforehand, friends may decide to improve their included perks to Free at Sea Plus for $49 per particular person, per day. This improve tier included the Premium Plus beverage package deal with premium cocktails, specialty coffees at Starbucks, and bottled water, amongst different premium drink choices. Beneath Extra at Sea, no such possibility exists. This implies friends who need inclusions like specialty espresso or bottled water should buy them individually à la carte or by way of standalone packages.
The Free at Sea Plus possibility additionally included two further specialty eating meals, further shore tour credit score, and an improve to limitless WiFi (improve to streaming for a further $10.80 per particular person/day).
Extra at Sea Worth Evaluation
Taking a look at our 5-day Norwegian Aqua crusing, we’d have paid $109 for the drink package deal gratuity ($21.80 per particular person, per day) and $11.80 for the specialty eating gratuity with Free at Sea. For a further $245 pp ($49 per day), we may have upgraded to Free at Sea Plus and paid a further $54 to improve to streaming WiFi.
For a complete of $419.80 per particular person, we’d have acquired 3 specialty meals, the Plus drink package deal (with Starbucks and bottled water included), $50 per port for shore excursions, and limitless streaming WiFi.
With Extra at Sea, we acquired limitless open bar (no Starbucks or bottled water), 2 specialty meals, 75 minutes of WiFi per visitor (full worth to improve to streaming WiFi $39.99 per day), and $50 shore tour credit score per port for visitor 1 solely.
With Extra at Sea, we paid $30 per particular person, per day for beverage gratuity ($150) and $40 for eating gratuity. Plus, we paid $35.99 per day to improve our WiFi to limitless streaming ($179.95), roughly $30 pp for a water package deal, roughly $65 pp over the 5 days for Starbucks drinks, and $48 pp for a further third specialty dinner.
This equates to only beneath $515 per particular person, or simply over $100 extra for comparable choices from the previous Free at Sea Plus. To not point out, this Extra at Sea providing can also be much less $100 shore tour credit score for visitor 2 (however we didn’t use this perk anyway). And, our bottled water and Starbucks purchases weren’t limitless with Extra at Sea.
Whereas solely a modest worth improve, having to pay further for our every day espresso and bottled water did make it really feel much less inclusive when in comparison with different cruise strains. Although, it didn’t actually detract from our general cruise expertise.
Extra at Sea vs. Free at Sea vs. Free at Sea Plus: Our 5-Day Cruise Comparability
| Merchandise | Former Free at Sea | Former Free at Sea Plus | Extra at Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Improve Value | $0 | $245 per particular person ($49/day) | $0 |
| Beverage Bundle Gratuity | $109 per particular person ($21.80/day) | $109 per particular person ($21.80/day) | $150 per particular person ($30/day) |
| Specialty Eating Gratuity | $11.80 per particular person | $11.80 per particular person | $40 per particular person |
| WiFi | Included minutes (75 minutes for 5-day cruise) | Limitless; streaming improve for $54 ($10.80/day) | 75 minutes; streaming improve $179.95 ($35.99/day) |
| Specialty Eating Meals | 1 meal included | 3 meals included | 2 meals included |
| Starbucks | À la carte | Limitless (included) | À la carte or buy a standalone package deal |
| Bottled Water | À la carte | Limitless (included) | À la carte or buy a water package deal |
| Beverage Bundle Tier | Commonplace open bar | Premium Plus (premium spirits, specialty espresso, bottled water) | Commonplace open bar (extra premium manufacturers than previous FAS) |
| Shore Tour Credit score | $50 per port (visitor 1 solely); $100 worth for our 5-day cruise | $50 per port (each friends); $200 worth for our 5-day cruise | $50 per port (visitor 1 solely); $100 worth for our 5-day cruise |
Remaining Ideas
Navigating Norwegian’s new coverage adjustments now requires extra strategic planning and budgeting. With a seamless shift to extra a la carte pricing, prices can add up rapidly. To keep away from sticker shock on the finish of the cruise, friends ought to go into their trip anticipating to pay further for sure issues.
For max value financial savings and worth:
- Make the most of limitless appetizers and desserts in the primary eating room as an alternative of choosing further entrees
- Rigorously select at which specialty eating places you wish to use your Extra at Sea credit
- Buy bottled water packages as an alternative of paying $4.50 for every bottle
- Solely buy a vast Starbucks package deal should you suppose you’ll drink 3+ specialty drinks a day
- Skip room service and go for complimentary choices across the ship like The Native or Indulge Meals Corridor (choices differ by ship)
- Restrict beverage purchases whereas ashore in Nice Stirrup Cay
Regardless of all of the current adjustments, the core NCL cruise expertise continues to be the identical—the ships are well-maintained and chic, the freestyle cruising philosophy supplies final eating flexibility, and pricing continues to be very aggressive.
Nevertheless, for vacationers who beforehand selected Norwegian particularly for its high-caliber leisure and inclusive nature, these adjustments are a notable discount in what makes NCL distinctive within the cruise market.
The underside line is that friends completely can have a good time on Norwegian Cruise Line. They only want to pay attention to these adjustments to keep away from frustration and disappointment as soon as onboard.
With Norwegian Luna debuting in early 2026 and all of the thrilling updates coming to Nice Stirrup Cay, we are able to’t wait to see what else the long run holds for NCL.
Feedback
What do you consider all of the Norwegian Cruise Line coverage adjustments? Do these updates affect your choice to cruise with the model? Drop us an anchor under to share your current NCL cruise experiences.
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