Cruise Ships Reviews

Norwegian Cruise Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been owned by the Kloster family since the turn of the century although it adopted its current corporate name in 1996. It operates 7 Norwegian cruise ships. Norwegian introduced Caribbean cruises out of Miami in 1966 on the Norwegian cruise ship Sunward. In an ownership dispute, one of the original owners and operators of the fleet of Norwegian cruise ships left the company to form Carnival Cruise Lines.

From 1968 to 1971, NCL introduced three more Norwegian cruise ships. The first was the Starward in 1969 followed by the Skyward in 1969 and the Southward in 1971. All three Norwegian cruise ships were intended to bring the cruise experience to upper middle class and middle class America. Historically, passengers received numerous meals, tons of food, continuous activities and entertainment, several popular ports of call, adequate service and accommodations, and the excitement of a cruise at a reasonable price. All three Norwegian cruise ships were replaced with newer vessels in the 1990s.

The dinner menus on NCL ships are varied, featuring different theme nights with international offerings. Although there is quantity and variety, food preparation is simple and not gourmet. The cabin stewards and waiters are a mixture of Caribbean, Asian, or Central and South American. They are generally competent and efficient, but not on par with a European crew. Recently the NCL ships have introduced Le Bistro, and alternative open-seating, first-come, first-served Italian restaurant at no additional charge.

The itineraries have shifted over the years, but they normally cover three or four ports including a beach party at one of NCL's privately owned paradises in the Bahamas. In addition, all NCL ships feature a Dive In program where passengers receive instruction and supervision in snorkeling, both aboard ship and while ashore.

NCL purchased the original SS France in 1979 and transformed her from a grand two-class transatlantic queen into the modern Caribbean mega ship, the Norway. How's that for the name of a Norwegian cruise ship? More than $100 million was spent on the original conversion which was supervised by a Danish naval architect.

The public areas include Fifth Avenue and the Champs Elysees, two separate promenades on opposite sides of the International Deck lined with shops, lounges, on ice-cream parlor, an outdoor cafe, the information/purser's office, and the tour desk.

There is sufficient outside deck space to offer two outdoor swimming pools, lido bars adjoining the pool, the Great Outdoor restaurant where optional breakfast and lunches are served, basketball courts, a jogging track, and golf-driving and trap shooting facilities.

On the Dolphin deck, the lowest passenger deck, is Norways' Roman Spa, with marble floors and columns featuring eight massage rooms, and aquacise pool, a Jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms, hairdressers, state-of-the-art exercise equipment, herbal therapy, body wraps, and skin foliates. These Norwegian cruise ships allow you to travel in style with all the luxuries.