norwegian cruise flight

Air Reservations

If you plan to fly to your embarkation port, you must decide whether to arrange airline tickets on your own or use the AIR/SEA program offered by the cruise line. Here are the main considerations to help you with your decision.

Advantages of Arranging Your Own Airline Tickets The main advantages of securing your own airline tickets are that you will be able to select the airline you fly and you will have control over the timing and routing of your flights. You may wish to fly a particular airline to use or earn frequent flyer miles, or because that carrier has nonstop service to your port city. If you arrange your own airline tickets you will have more control over these variables. If you utilize the cruise line's AIR/SEA program, you may be given an air schedule with an overnight flight, multiple connections or in some cases, a forced overnight stay at your expense. For these reasons, we recommend that you arrange your own airline tickets. Advantage of Using the AIR/SEA Program The main reason to book flights through the cruise line is the added protection you receive with your purchase. Unexpected events can affect travel plans. Flight delays or cancellations, changes in cruise ship arrival or departure times and cancellation of sailings altogether can force you to rebook for a later time or date or seek a refund for your air tickets. If you secure your air tickets through the cruise line, some lines will assist you in working with the airline to make alternate flight plans or apply for a refund.

Norwegian Cruise Line

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Find a Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its fun, laid-back ambiance and inventive "freestyle cruising" concept, which features no enforced dress codes, no fixed dining times, and a plethora of onboard entertainment and family-friendly activities. Norwegian's 19-ship fleet sails all over the world, with itineraries lasting anywhere from three to 21 days. The cruise line is also planning to add longer sailings, fewer sea days and more days in port in the winter 2024 and 2025 seasons and in the summer of 2025. Norwegian’s destinations include Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and more.

During your voyage, you can catch live shows like "The Choir of Man," the award-winning musical “Six”  and “Beetlejuice: The Musical” on the line’s newest ship, Norwegian Viva.  Meanwhile, youngsters and teens can spend time at onboard aqua parks, race tracks, and kids clubs, and play virtual reality games at Galaxy Pavilion.

When it comes to dining, Norwegian's options are varied. The cruise line's Freestyle Dining program allows you to nosh in globally inspired eateries, such as a French-style bistro, a Brazilian Steakhouse and a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant. You can also choose to have your meals at a traditional cruise buffet or dine in a formal dining room. Notably, the main dining rooms don't feature fixed dining times or assigned seating. Guests on board the new Prima class ships, Norwegian Prima and Viva, will also find Indulge Food Hall. The complimentary internationally inspired venue features dishes from India, Italy and Latin America along with comfort food like hearty Texas barbeque.

Norwegian Cruise Line's ships are large mass-market ships, carrying between 1,936 and 4,266 passengers, but they also offer an element of luxury, especially in The Haven, the line’s ship-within-a-ship concept. While Norwegian's vessels can feel crowded in certain venues, such as the main pool deck and at the buffet restaurant, they maintain a ratio of approximately one staff member per every two or three passengers – even when ships are filled at double occupancy.

U.S. News Insider Tip: For time away from the kids and the crowds, look for adults-only or mostly adult venues (these vary by ship) like Vibe Beach Club, Spice H2O, Infinity Beach (Prima class ships) and Mandara Spa. If you book accommodations in The Haven (the line’s ship-within-a-ship concept), the Haven Sundeck is reserved for guests 16 and older. – Gwen Pratesi, Contributor

Pros & Cons

No fixed dress codes

Wide variety of onboard restaurants, entertainment and activities

Some ships offer stateroom options designed for solo travelers

Long lines may occur at dining venues and venues for evening entertainment

Some onboard activities are not included in cruise rates

Meals at specialty restaurants cost extra

• Expert Rating » 3.9
• Traveler Rating » 3.8
• Health Rating » 4.6

Norwegian Cruise Line has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 4 in Best Cruise Lines for Families
• # 8 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• # 8 in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
• # 9 in Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean

Explore Photos

Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

Norwegian Joy

Norwegian Jewel

Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Prima

Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Sky

Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Sun

Norwegian Spirit

Norwegian Viva

Pride of America

Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Star

Norwegian Epic

Before You Book

• Deposits for Norwegian cruises vary by cruise length and cabin category. Final payments for all cruises must be made 120 days prior to sailing.
• Cancellation policies vary greatly by room type, cruise length and timing. All requests for refunds must be made in writing to Norwegian Cruise Line. For more information about cancellation policies, visit  ncl.com . 
• Passengers with medical issues or special needs should notify Norwegian between 90 days (for those who need an interpreter) and 45 days prior to departure. Those with service dogs must notify the cruise line at least two weeks in advance. You can call 1-866-584-9756 or email [email protected] for more information.

Before You Board

• You must provide all necessary travel documents depending on the itinerary, including a passport valid for six months after the completion of your cruise or a government-issued photo ID coupled with a birth certificate, an original certificate of naturalization or an original U.S. citizenship certificate if you are visiting non-U.S. ports of call. If your port of call requires a visa, it is your responsibility to secure it beforehand. It’s important to know that even on a close-looped cruise (a cruise sailing roundtrip from a U.S. port) if you had to depart unexpectedly from a foreign port, you would need to have a passport. Refer to NCL’s website to make sure you have the proper documentation before booking your cruise.
• You must complete your online check-in at least three days prior to sailing to view and print your eDocs. The documents will no longer be available within 72 hours of your sailing. Vaccinations may be required for travel to certain international destinations. For updated information on required immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  and  World Health Organization . 
• You should arrive no earlier than one hour before your scheduled embarkation time and should board the ship at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure time (both times will be noted in your eDocs). You can complete your online check-in and reserve your port arrival time as early as 21 days prior to your sail date. Keep in mind that check-in must be completed prior to arriving at the terminal.
• Norwegian allows cruisers to bring up to two pieces of luggage on board. Suitcases may not exceed 50 pounds each. Be sure to have luggage tags attached that are clearly marked with your name, address and contact information.
• You can pre-request shore excursions up to six months in advance of your scheduled sail date on Norwegian Cruise Line's website or by calling 1-866-625-1167.
• You can make reservations at specialty restaurants on Norwegian's website starting 90 days before you board.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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What’s the Earliest You Should Schedule a Flight After a Cruise?

What time should you book your flight home after a cruise? Our rule of thumb is to schedule your flight home no earlier than five hours after your ship docks at its homeport . But there are cases where you can make a flight that departs much earlier.

Why so much time? Truth is, there’s a dramatic difference between the day you get on the ship and the day you get off.

On cruise day, everyone is excited to board. Lots of passengers arrive early, standing in line for the opportunity to board early and be among the first on the ship. Show up early and it might take some time to get aboard. But show up later in the day and the boarding process can take just minutes and you’ll hardly see another person in the terminal.

Debarkation day is completely different.

At that point, people can’t wait to get off the ship. They wake up early and stand in line for hours to get off the ship first and head back home. The result can be long lines and waits in some cases, meaning if you are in a rush to catch a flight, the stress can be high.

The Process of Getting Off a Cruise Ship 

In our experience, getting off the ship once a cruise has ended is much more time-consuming than boarding.

That’s because before the ship can let passengers off, it has to be cleared by authorities to start debarking. And even then, once you depart the ship you now have to go through customs and immigration to declare anything you bought while you were abroad and be checked back into the country. Combine this delay with thousands of people trying to leave at once and you’ve got a recipe for long waits.

The good news is that many ports are speeding up the debarkation process .

First, ships have “self-assist” debarkation. This allows passengers who can carry all their luggage with them to depart first. So if you have an early flight and can carry all your bags, then you can be among the first to get off the ship.

The major issue is that most people seem to opt for this method, instead of waiting to leave later in the morning and not carry their luggage. We’ve seen lines around the ship first thing in the morning that took 1.5 hours to get off the ship and out of the terminal.

Other passengers wait for their selected debarkation time (the ship will assign a time to all passengers the day before the ship arrives home). While this means you won’t get off the ship first, the process of actually leaving is usually faster since the lines are shorter by that time.

Second, most ports have switched to a facial recognition technology that dramatically speeds up getting through the terminal. It used to be you had to wait in line to meet with a border agent who would check your citizenship documents. 

These days, you can often just take a photo that documents you leaving the ship and then walk right off. Note that if you are traveling with a birth certificate instead of a passport, this option isn’t always available.

When to Schedule Your Flight Home

What this all means is that getting off the ship can sometimes take literally minutes. Other times, if can take hours. The good news is that debarking these days tends to be relatively quick.

In any case, given that it can take a considerable amount of time to get off the ship, what time should you book your departing flight?

We recommend scheduling a flight no earlier than five hours after your ship arrives back at home for most cruise ports . However, the absolute bare minimum should be no more than three hours before the ship returns (though we definitely suggest more time).

So if your ship is scheduled to get back home at 7:00 a.m., your flight shouldn’t leave any earlier than 12:00 p.m. to give you plenty of time. There will be times that this five hours gives you a ton of extra time at the airport. However, it’s important that you leave yourself a cushion should anything go wrong.

If your ship returns at 7:00 a.m., the absolute earliest we think you can make your flight is 10:00 a.m., but that will be tight. 

For some ports, we think you need to allow more time given the distance from the cruise port to the closest major airport.

Things That Could Delay You Getting To Your Flight

Unfortunately, getting off the ship isn’t just as simple of having it dock and then rolling your suitcase off. There are a number of factors that can delay things, which is why we recommend an ample cushion before your flight.

Weather Delays One of the biggest headaches for a cruise ship is fog. Early morning arrivals in humid port cities are a perfect recipe for delays due to fog. It’s not unheard of for a ship to have to wait off the coast for several hours while the fog lifts before making it to port — especially spots like Galveston, which is notorious for fog in the winter months.

Debarkation Delays We mentioned earlier how there can be huge lines to get off the ship first. With such a rush of people trying to debark at once, it can take up to two hours to make your way off the ship and collect your luggage. Thankfully, that’s a rare occurrence. 

If you don’t want to physically wait in line, you can debark later in the day. While that saves you the hassle of just standing around, it doesn’t get you off the ship any earlier.

Customs & Immigration Anything to declare? Even if you don’t, you’ll have to go through customs and immigration. This is another reason why it can take so long to get off the ship.

We’ve seen ports where it’s a breeze to go through, taking almost no time at all. In fact, you literally take a picture as you leave the ship and walk right out. We’ve also seen ports where it’s a major delay that forces you to stand in line for an eternity. Sometimes it seems there are too few agents working, leading to longer delays to get off the ship.

One tip: Many ports have now implemented facial recognition technology for passengers. You simply take a photo, and you are on your way within seconds. Meanwhile, we’ve noticed those with birth certificates sometimes (not always) still have to stand in line and meet with an officer, which takes much longer. Having your passport could save you considerable time .

Getting to the Airport Getting to the airport after your cruise can take 15 minutes or more than an hour. It really depends on the cruise port you are sailing from and traffic.

Cruise ports such as Port Canaveral and Galveston are far away (about an hour drive) from the closest airports. Others like Miami are right near the airport.

If you are flying out of a distant port, remember to add drive time to your schedule. You should also factor in time to get picked up if you are taking a shuttle or other transportation to the airport. This can add an extra 10-15 minutes to your trip.

Airport Security We don’t have to remind you of the potential for long security lines in airports these days. You’ll want to be sure to add in plenty of buffer time to your trip to account for potential delays getting through security and to your flight. This is where services like TSA Pre-Check can save you a lot of time .

You Might Have Plenty of Time at the Airport, But Why Stress?

Ultimately, we think the best thing you can do is pick a flight time that you are comfortable with making. You don’t want to be stressed as you try to make it to the airport. The five-hour cushion should be good if you plan to get off the ship right when it arrives.

If you’d like to plan to have lunch before your flight or take your time arriving at the airport, then plan a little more time.

Passengers sailing from ports with airports close by (meaning a short commute) could likely catch a flight that’s earlier, but keep in mind that adds more risk to catching your plane.

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Great info! I’m wondering if there is any other reason to book a later flight – in terms of how you feel physically. I’ve never been on a cruise before but I imagine I might feel happy to be on land for a beat before flying. Does that make sense? I’m trying to determine if I should stay overnight in my disembarkation city or if that’s overkill 🙂

Definite overkill. Most cruises you don’t even feel the ocean. If you do feel it, then it’s only occasional.

I actually find I feel the motion of an airplane much more than a cruise ship afterward.

Thank you for the quick reply! I failed to mention I’m going on an Antarctic cruise lol! So there is a good chance of feeling it. But even so, the more I think about it, I’d prefer to just get home rather than wait around that long.

Thanks for the info, Tanner. We are arriving back in Orlando at 6am on the Wonder of the Seas and have an 11am flight scheduled out of MCO. Do you think this will be enough time? Thanks!

If you have TSA Pre-check, I’d think you’re alright. If not, do your best to be the first off, be first on the shuttle, and first off. I think you should be able to do it, but hopefully there are no delays. MCO is actually the airport that convinced me to get pre-check because the regular lines there always seemed long.

If everything goes smoothly, you’ll likely be off the ship and out of security by 8/8:30 a.m., and to the airport by 9:30/10, assuming no delays. That would be plenty of time to get through security and to the plane.

Perfect. Thank you for the quick reply and info!

The cruise ll end its journey on Saturday 6am at Miami and the flight back to Europe is at 11.35am. Do you think it is doable without stress? And what is the best way to go to Miami airport form Miami port?

Thanks in advance Keith

Flying international should be doable at that time, but obviously it will take a touch longer. You’ll likely be off the ship at 8-9 a.m. and then can catch a taxi or Uber/Lyft to the airport and be there by 9:30.

Our HAL cruise docks at 7:00 am in Fort Lauderdale on a Sunday. Do you think an 11:35 am flight from MIA doable?

I think that should be possible.

I think you have already covered this, but to be sure. We get in to Fort Lauderdale Port at 7am and we have a 10:50am flight. Do you think that gives us enough time? The next flight isn’t until 6:20pm and I don’t really want to wait around that long

If flying from Fort Lauderdale, that’s plenty of time. If flying from Miami, it’s tighter, but I think still doable.

Awesome, thank you. We have quite a few in our group and I planned the flight schedule, I don’t want to have a mob on my hands if I chose poorly 🙂

We are going on a closed loop cruise from FLL to the Bahamas. Will we go through customs upon arrival back in Fort Lauderdale?

Well, it’s customs but it’s not like you might find in an airport. Typically you just walk off the ship, take a photo at the kiosk and you are on your way.

Does this apply for Barcelona cruises, where all ports of calls (Spain, France & Italy) are Schengen countries and EU members as well?

Honestly, we’re not familiar with ports in that region. However, if anything getting to the airport should be easier there where public transportation is more widely available.

Getting a lot of information from your comments. Question: We are returning from an Alaskan Cruise into Seattle on July 22nd (6:00 AM) We are thinking of taking an 11:50 AM flight. Doable? Thanks for the info!

I think that should be plenty of time.

Our airline has changed our flights 3 times. We are currently booked for an 11:35 out of Miami on Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. Carnival has us arriving back at 8 am. We will be taking our luggage off ourselves. Is this doable?

I think so. I’d be sure to be up early on the morning of disembarkation and start making your way down. Still, should be enough time.

Thanks for the information. I read this yesterday and booked our flights for 6:15 pm on the day we disembark. (Which is at 7 am). The latest flights besides this was 10:50 am and it is Port Canaveral so I was worried we wouldn’t make our flight. Anyway, now I’ve realize that we have another problem. What are we going to do with all of our luggage for 8 plus hours? We could explore the area but with luggage for 8 people and Ubering, I can’t see how that will work. Any ideas? Thanks so much!!

You mighhhht be able to make a 10:50 a.m. flight, but that’s cutting it very close in my opinion. Do you have a plan for what you want to do on the day you get back? Many large attractions (theme parks, etc.) should have a spot where you can keep your bags.

So this will be an “odd” one – we plan on taking the TRAIN down from Richmond Virginia (or Newport News – haven’t 100% decided yet) to Miami, the departure from Miami will be 11:40am – we are sailing on Virgin their arrival is at 6:30. We are sailing as Mega Rockstars so transportation to/from train station isn’t an issue. Do you think the 11:40 departure is cutting it too close on our arrival back to port day? Also WHERE is the train station IRT the port? I’ve already looked into the hotel for the day before sailing, I’m just curious how far it will be from the hotel (near the port – NOT booked yet) we don’t sail until October this year (2023).

This is our FIRST time cruising – so yeah nerves gaLORE

Thank you for your help

Yep, never heard that one! Google shows the Miami Amtrak station about 10 miles northwest from the cruise port in Hialeah. As for the departure time, I think that would be no issue whatsoever since trains don’t have the same security process & long boarding as planes do. If you already have tickets, I assume it would be as long as you’re there at 11:39, you’re good to go, right?

Yeah, I think you are right – hubs and I did the train from Newport News to NYC (and back) and it was a “hurry and and wait” at the train station (unlike European trains that tend to run “on time”) – I’ll just ensure we are in once of the first groups to depart the ship when we pull in.

Thanks for the map help too.

Hi Tanner. Thanks for all of the great information. Our cruise iteniary states arriving in Miami at 6AM on a Sunday morning (Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas). We will be flying out of Fort Lauderdale. We will self disembark and also have “my key”, not sure if that allows us to get off faster or not.

Do you think a 10:30AM flight is doable? They have a 12PM, but it’s a lot more expensive for my family. I definitely don’t want to miss a flight.

10:30 a.m. from Fort Lauderdale would be doable IF everything goes right, but it’s cutting it extremely close in my opinion. Even with a 6 a.m. arrival, disembarkation beginning at 7:30 is more realistic (it takes time to clear the ship before people can get off). Say you get through quickly, that means you are out the terminal by 8 a.m. Then you’ll need a ride (45-60 minutes), plus adding in time to wait for the ride.

So I would think the earliest you could be at FLL would be 9 a.m. That’s plenty of time to catch the flight, but if there are delays anywhere in that process then it could cause trouble.

Honestly, I’d likely keep the 10:30 flight simply because you say there is a 12 p.m. flight after it that you could maybe be re-booked onto if you miss the earlier time. Most times things go off without a hitch. It’s when there’s an issue that having a little extra time is nice.

We come back to New Orleans on a Sunday and right now NCL has us on 6pm flight is it worth time to see if NCL would move us to a 3pm flight ?

Yes, unless you plan to go explore New Orleans. That’s a pretty late flight.

HI, WE WILL BE ARRIVING TO MIAMI PORT AT 6AM AND MY PLANE DEPARTURES TIME IS 10AM IN FORT LAUDERDALE. SHOULD I CHANGE MY FLIGHT?

Yes, I would suggest a flight time of 11 a.m. at the absolute earliest. Noon would be better.

If I am traveling from Port Canaveral, Fl to the Orlando airport, would it be too early to schedule a flight at 10:25? Carnival stated on the itinerary that we would be arriving at port at 8 AM.

Yes, I think that would be too early. Even if you got off the ship at 8:30, it’s about an hour to the airport and then you still have to get through security.

Hello: I plan on booking a flight out of Tampa that leaves at 10:20. The RCCL ship docks at 7:00. Do you think I can make it? This would happen in April.

Oh, that is borderline. I would lean yes, but it would be very tight.

We are cruising Royal Caribbean out of Fort Lauradel , we come back on 11/11 and says boat will arrrive at 6am to FLL, our flight leaves at 11:10 a.m. are we cutting ourselves too close to make our flight?

If sailing out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and flying out of Fort Lauderdale, that should be plenty of time.

We are cruising Carnival out of New Orleans, we come back on the 16 our flight leaves out of MSY at 11:45 a.m. are we cutting ourselves too close to make our flight?

That should be perfectly fine.

NCL has scheduled flight from seattle at 11:35 am (Aug 24) going to Toronto via Vancouver. Do you think this is feasible given today’s airport issues.

So you are flying from Seattle at 11:35 a.m. after a cruise? I think that should be fine. If you got off the ship at 9 a.m. and it took 45 minutes to get to the airport (usually shorter), then you’d still have more than 1.5 hours.

Our flight from Miami to Toronto, canada has been changed to 11:10am. Do I have enough time.

Should be plenty, although dealing with international travel can sometimes take a little longer. I think you should be fine, however

Our flight home from Seattle got pushed back an hour, from 2pm to 3pm PDT, so now with the time change coming home, we’ll be arriving at 10pm EDT. There is an earlier flight that leaves at noon PDT in Seattle. Is that cutting it too close?

You should be able to do noon. I think you’re good.

We are getting off our Alaskan cruise in Vancouver at 7:00AM . Our flight from Vancouver is at 4: 15 PM. That is a lot of time. Any suggestions what we can do?

Are you sure that you’re getting off at 7 AM or the ship returns then? Normally ships return around 7 AM and then it’s a couple of hours to get off the ship. With the port right downtown, you can explore that area if you like. Near the airport is River Rock Casino. Stanley Park is beautiful and right near the cruise ship.

Our MSC cruise arrives in Miami at 7:00am on a Saturday morning and we fly out of Ft. Lauderdale. The airline just changed my flights and we’re now scheduled to fly out at 12:50pm. Is that enough time, or should I try to reschedule our flights? Thanks for the help!

I think that should be fine. Definitely use the option to carry your bags off unassisted to be among the first off the ship.

What airport should we fly home from on Disney Cruise NY (Manhattan cruise terminal)? With a 7:30 arrival, what is the earliest flight?

The Newark and LaGuardia airports are both about half an hour away. JFK is about an hour. We’d suggest making your flight no earlier than noon.

Thanks, I also didn’t tell you it is also a Monday (probably more commuters too).

how do you get from southampton england to gatwick airport. we do not have time problems because we fly out the next day. we are staying at the gatwick hilton close to tbe south terminal.

Unfortunately, we are focused on North American ports. Not sure about sailing in Europe.

You can get the train from the airport,and it takes about 2 hours to S/hampton,then a cheap taxi/uber to your terminal..its A LOT cheaper to book in advance..www.thetrainline.com

We will only fly out the next day. Our ship was fogged in at Galveston and instead of arriving at the port at 8:00 a.m. we arrived at 4:00 p.m. Hence, we were unable to make our 5:00 p.m. flight. It cost us $370 a person to rebook our flight. Lesson learned.

I want to fly from Houston to Seattle for an Alaskan cruise. Should I book a hotel room so I won’t be stressed when returning?

Flying back from Seattle after your cruise? We think that any flight after noon on the day you get back home would be fine. We do suggest coming in a day early for departure.

Our cruise is schedule to port at 5am. I want to book a flight that departs at 2:50pm. I don’t want the stress, but I don’t want another hotel stay either. I know we want to get home. I’m nervous though.

What port are you sailing from and what airport? A flight at 3 p.m. should be plenty of time to make your plane.

We’ll be taking a Europe river cruise in May. At the end of the cruise we arrive in Mainz Germany by 8:30am and fly out of Frankfurt, about 15 minutes by train to reach the airport. What time should we book a flight out on the same day?

We’d suggest nothing earlier than noon.

I am in total agreement that flights should not be scheduled soon after cruises. In fact, I actually prefer scheduling the flight for the day after I debark from the cruise ship. This way I have some time to relax and don’t have to worry about the lines on the cruise ship. It also means that I don’t often have to worry about the ship being delayed. All of this translates to less stress and an easier time arranging transportation to the airport.

That what a friend and I are doing. We are flying into Miami so that we have one full day in miami beach to sitesee and stay until the next day after our cruise. Just less stress.

That’s a great idea. We’ve done the same — a day/night at South Beach and then head to the cruise port the next day. It’s a fun way to start the trip!

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NCL's Free at Sea promotion: What to know before you book

Want a more inclusive experience on a large cruise ship filled with dining choices and activities? If so, Norwegian Cruise Line 's Free at Sea promotion might be just the ticket. This promo provides a number of "free" perks to guests based on the length of their cruise and the stateroom category booked ... but what does the fine print say? Are the perks really free?

In this piece, we're diving into everything you need to know about Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion so there are no surprises when it comes time to book your cruise.

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Overview of Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea promotion

Norwegian's Free at Sea promotion offers guests several perks covered by the cruise fare, with the number often dependent upon the length of the cruise and the stateroom category chosen.

The choice of perks occasionally changes, but Norwegian typically offers the following five: a free drinks package, free specialty dining, free shore excursions, free Wi-Fi and free third and fourth guests in a cabin. Occasionally, free airfare or a 50% air credit for the second person in a cabin is also a Free at Sea option.

The Free at Sea promotion runs almost constantly, with the exact inclusions varying depending on which version of the promotion NCL is running at the time. Currently, you can book and receive all of the Free at Sea perks, though you can decline any you do not wish to receive.

Previously, you could choose the number of Free at Sea perks based on your cabin category. For example, if you booked a studio or interior cabin, you could only choose one perk. Oceanviews, balconies and minisuites could pick a few, while suites and The Haven staterooms received all perks. This version of the deal could come back, but we've been seeing it less frequently than we used to.

Note that this promotion only applies to voyages three nights or longer, and all passengers sharing a cabin must choose the same offers (if there is a choice). Those booking a "Sail Away" (guarantee) cabin are ineligible for Free at Sea. Charter sailings are ineligible as well.

What's included in NCL's Free at Sea promotion?

Let's take a look at what each Free at Sea perk entails and dive into the fine print, so you know exactly what you are (and aren't) getting.

Free Unlimited Open Bar package

The Unlimited Open Bar Package is Norwegian Cruise Line's base drinks package . The drinks package typically costs $109 per person, per day, plus a 20% gratuity, so it is by far the most popular perk chosen with the Free at Sea promotion (when a choice is offered).

The package includes unlimited soda and juice, beer and wine by the glass worth under $15, and select premium cocktails and spirits worth under $15. A 20% discount applies to bottles of wine and Champagne, wine and spirit experiences, tastings and flights purchased on board.

Related: Are cruise line drinks packages worth it?

The package does not include Starbucks, ice bars, room service, bottled water, beer buckets, designated "super" premium brands, minibar purchases, freshly squeezed juices, wine dispensers or energy drinks.

Here's what you need to know before you choose a beverage package as one of your Free at Sea offers: It's not really "free." You still have to pay the 20% gratuity on the full value of the package. This means that if you're 21 or older, you'll have to pay $21.80 per person, per day for "free" drinks. (That's $152.60 for a seven-night sailing.) If you're the first or second guest in a cabin and under 21 (meaning you have the soda package), you must pay $1.59 per person, per day.

If you drink alcohol and plan to enjoy it during your cruise, chances are good that choosing this perk will be well worth the daily gratuity you're charged. If you don't think you'll drink $22 worth of extra-fee beverages, alcoholic or not, per day, choose another perk or flat-out decline this Free at Sea offer. You'll end up saving money in the long run.

The drink packages extend to Norwegian Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas , Great Stirrup Cay. They do not extend to the line's private destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.

This Free at Sea perk is available to the first through eighth guests on a reservation who are ages 21 and older. If the first and/or second guest in a cabin is under 21, they will receive Norwegian Cruise Line's Unlimited Soda Package (valued at $9.95 per person, per day) as a substitution. If additional guests and beyond are under 21, they will not receive a substitution for this perk. If you're 21 or older but do not drink, you cannot opt for the soda package instead.

Free specialty dining

With the free specialty dining Free at Sea perk, you'll get an included dining package, which lets you dine in one or more specialty restaurants without having to pay the per-person cost and without having to buy the package separately.

Through Free at Sea, the dining package applies to the first and second guests on a reservation who must be at least 2 years old. Here's a breakdown of how many specialty restaurant meals you get if you choose this perk, based on the length of the cruise and the cabin category you have.

You are subject to a 20% gratuity (based on NCL's assessment of the package's value), so as with the beverage package, the package isn't technically "free."

• Three- to six-night cruise, any cabin: one meal ($59 value, $11.80 gratuity/package)
• Seven- to 11-night cruise, studio, inside or oceanview cabin: one meal ($59 value, $11.80 gratuity/package)
• Seven- to 11-night cruise, balcony cabin or above: two meals ($99 value, $19.80 gratuity/package)
• Twelve-night cruise or longer, studio, inside or oceanview cabin: two meals ($99 value, $19.80 gratuity/package)
• Twelve-night cruise or longer, balcony cabin or above: three meals ($139 value, $27.80 gratuity/package)

Restaurants that you can use your specialty dining perk toward include Cagney's Steakhouse, La Cucina, Food Republic, Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, Q Texas Smokehouse, Teppanyaki, Los Lobos, Ocean Blue, Bayamo and Onda by Scarpetta.

At a la carte restaurants, the dining package limits you to one appetizer, one soup or salad, one main course and one dessert. At Cagney's and Le Bistro, you are also limited to one main course per person (in addition to starters and desserts). Additional main courses are charged at the a la carte menu price.

Related: 5 reasons you should splurge on a cruise ship specialty restaurant

Harvest Caye restaurants, The Bake Shop, the Ice Cream Bar, gelato, specialty items in the Asian restaurant, Jazz Brunch, and Wine Lovers and Murder Mystery lunches are not included as part of the specialty dining packages.

Free shore excursions

If you plan to book shore excursions through the cruise line, this perk will likely be well worth it.

You don't necessarily get free excursions, though. Instead, you get a $50 shore excursion credit for the first guest on the cruise reservation in each port. Unlike some Free at Sea offers, this perk does not apply to the second guest. If the tour costs less than $50, no refund is issued. If it costs more than $50, you must pay the difference.

The credit does not apply to Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye equipment rentals. Pre-cruise and post-cruise land tours, private tours and custom shore excursions are not eligible for this promotion; however, group debarkation-day tours are eligible. The first guest may redeem the $50 credit on more than one shore excursion per port but not tickets for them and a travel companion on the same tour.

If a port call or shore excursion is canceled, you'll be refunded the amount you paid. This means that if your shore excursion costs more than $50, you'll only be refunded the amount you paid above $50; you won't be refunded for the credit.

Related: Avoid these 10 mistakes when booking cruise shore excursions

The free Wi-Fi perk does not give you unlimited internet access for the entire cruise. Instead, you get a number of free minutes, depending on the length of your sailing.

For a voyage that's three to six nights long, you get 75 minutes of internet per person. Seven- to 11-night cruises include 150 minutes of internet per person, while 12-night or longer sailings include 300 minutes of internet per person. Choosing Wi-Fi as one of your Free at Sea offers is actually free, as it includes the activation fee.

This offer applies to the first and second guests in a stateroom. Two logins are provided per stateroom, with each package able to be used on one device at a time. It does not allow for streaming.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

If you think you'll need more internet, you can upgrade to Unlimited Wi-Fi or Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi (with streaming) for a discounted price as compared to the outright cost of those internet packages. This discount is thanks to a "credit" of the value of the minutes that are included in Free at Sea.

Free 3rd and 4th passengers in a cabin

This perk is not available on every sailing, so check before you book if you wish to take advantage of this freebie. Voyages during popular family cruise times (such as school breaks and summer) will not usually have this perk as an option.

The third and fourth guests staying in a cabin will either be free or pay $99 each with the first two guests paying full fare. No deposit is required for the third and fourth guests, but they do have to pay taxes and port fees. The exact charge for these taxes and fees varies based on the cruise length and itinerary but can be over $200 per person on some seven-day voyages.

Related: Kids cruise free: 7 cruise lines offering family deals

If there are five to eight passengers on a reservation, those additional guests are required to pay the prevailing fares.

Can I opt out of Free at Sea?

If your cruise booking comes with more Free at Sea perks than you want, you do not have to choose the amount you are allotted; you can decline any or all Free at Sea perks. For example, if your booking includes all current Free at Sea offers, but you know you won't drink enough soda, specialty beverages or alcohol to warrant the daily gratuity on the Free Open Bar package, you can decline that perk altogether.

If you choose to decline perks, remember that you can't transfer them to anyone else and won't receive any monetary value for giving them up.

Travelers on a tight budget who don't feel the need to take advantage of the Free at Sea perks can also consider booking a "Sail Away" (guarantee) cabin. Booking a guarantee cabin means choosing a cabin category but not a specific cabin on the ship. Closer to the sail date, the cruise line will assign you a cabin within the chosen category. Guarantee cabins are cheaper than booking a specific stateroom and are excluded from the Free at Sea promotion.

What is Free at Sea Plus?

If you want even more perks, you can upgrade to Free at Sea Plus for $49 per person, per day. If the second guest is a child, their upgrade is $29 per day.

Here's what you get with Free at Sea Plus:

• The Unlimited Open Bar Package is upgraded to the Premium Plus Beverage Package. It includes all top-shelf cocktails and spirits; all beer, Champagne and wine by the glass; unlimited soda and juice; unlimited still and sparkling bottled water; all Starbucks coffee and specialty drinks; and energy drinks. It also includes select premium bottles of wine and Champagne with dinner, as well as 40% off all other bottles.
• Two additional specialty dining meals for the first and second guests
• A shore excursion credit of $50 for the second guest
• Unlimited Wi-Fi (no streaming) for the first and second guests

The third guest on a reservation and beyond must purchase the Premium Plus Beverage Package if the first and second guests purchase Free at Sea Plus. They receive it at a reduced rate of $34.80 per person, per day, including gratuity.

If the second guest is a child, they get the same perks except for the Premium Plus Beverage Package; they would still receive the soda package.

Guests who upgrade to Free at Sea Plus can upgrade their unlimited Wi-Fi package to include streaming for an additional $10 per person, per day (applicable to the first and second guests only).

Frequently asked questions about NCL's Free at Sea

Still have a question about Free at Sea that hasn't been covered yet? We address additional concerns below.

Does Free at Sea include daily gratuities?

Sometimes, free daily gratuities pop up as a Free at Sea perk option, but not often. Most of the time, you'll have to pay the daily service charge as normal. It's $20 per person, per day for Club Balcony Suite staterooms and below, and $25 per person, per day for those staying in suites or The Haven. Babies and toddlers ages 2 and under are not subject to the daily service charge.

Does Free at Sea include airfare?

Occasionally, one of the Free at Sea perks is free airfare for the second guest on a reservation when the first guest also books airfare through Norwegian Cruise Line. This offer applies to seven-night or longer voyages and provides economy, round-trip flights from select departure gateways.

Solo travelers paying 200% of the voyage fare qualify for free airfare when offered. You are not eligible for the free air promotion if you book at the last minute (reservations must be made more than 110 days prior to sailing to qualify) or if you choose a Sail Away (guarantee) cabin.

If considering this perk, keep in mind that choosing it puts your air travel arrangements in the hands of Norwegian Cruise Line. While the flights they choose may be convenient and what you would choose yourself, they could also involve less-than-ideal timing, routing and layovers that you could avoid by booking your own air travel.

While this is a perk to consider if you want the cruise line to handle as much of your vacation as possible or you're looking to save on flights, it isn't one we'd recommend you choose.

Do Pride of America cruises offer the same perks?

Hawaii voyages aboard NCL's Honolulu-based ship, Pride of America, offer the same Free at Sea inclusions but have a beverage package perk that's a bit different from the traditional Free at Sea Open Bar package.

The Hawaii Beverage Package perk applies to the first through eighth guests on the reservation and includes a variety of drinks worth up to $15. Those who choose this perk must pay the gratuities, which are $19.80 per person, per day. The retail value of the Hawaii Beverage Package is $99 per person, per day.

The terms and conditions say, "The purchase of any alcoholic drinks within the Hawaii Beverage Package may, in certain individual circumstances, be restricted in accordance with Hawaii's Intoxicating Liquor Law and applicable local rules and regulations."

In addition to alcoholic beverages, the Hawaii package includes fountain soda, fresh juice, bottled water, nonalcoholic beer and specialty coffee ordered in the dining rooms only. It doesn't include specialty coffee outside the restaurants, room service, minibar purchases or vending machine purchases.

The main difference between the Hawaii Beverage Package and NCL's normal beverage package is that the Hawaii package includes specialty coffee in the main dining rooms while the normal one does not.

What else must I know about the NCL's Free at Sea promotion?

Here are some terms and conditions of the Free at Sea promotion:

• Free at Sea selections must be chosen at least 24 hours prior to sailing and cannot be changed once on board.
• For bookings made within 24 hours of departure, Free at Sea perks are chosen at the time of booking.
• Solo travelers paying 200% of the per-person voyage fare qualify for Free at Sea.
• Free at Sea is a cruise-only offer — it does not apply to the land portion of Cruisetours.

Bottom line

If you book a specific cabin with Norwegian Cruise Line, some form of the Free at Sea promotion is almost guaranteed to be included in your reservation. Free at Sea is a great value if you plan to fully take advantage of each perk. If some inclusions work for you but others do not, carefully consider whether the value is worth the cost (i.e., gratuities). Don't be afraid to decline any perks you don't want.

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Why should i book a norwegian cruise.

If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation, Norwegian cruises are a perfect choice. Norwegian is one of the best cruise lines in the industry, with a successful history of providing excellent service and luxurious experiences. The Norwegian cruise vacations take you to some of the world's most beautiful and fascinating destinations. They’re sure to have features to please everyone in your group.

How to find the best Norwegian cruise deals?

There are many different Norwegian cruise deals to choose from depending on your destination and the experiences you would most like to enjoy. These deals let you include additional features for a lower price to make your vacation even more comfortable. You can find the best deals by searching for your destinations, and filtering by your desired cruise lines. This way only the companies you wish to travel with will appear. You can also sort your results by price and length of time.

How to choose your cruise with Norwegian?

If you want to book aNorwegian cruise there are plenty of amazing Norwegian cruise deals available. Add your destination, cruise vacation, and number of travelers. Then you can sort your results by price, duration, and departure date. You can also filter by cruise line, cruise ship and cabin type. You’ll find different amenities to suit your vacation needs on each Norwegian cruise. For example, youth programs, fitness facilities, and spa facilities.

What do I need to look out for when booking a Norwegian cruise?

When booking your 2025 Norwegian cruise it’s important to consider a few practical tips. Check what the cost covers, and what you may need to budget for or need insurance for. Think about any amenities or onboard service you’ll require, depending on the length of the Norwegian cruise. For example, youth programs, entertainment, fitness facilities, spa facilities, and room service. Secondly, research the weather conditions for your journey and destination. In some locations, summer and winter weather can vary a lot. Another tip is to go over the ship layout to see where you’d like to pick a cabin. Don’t forget to check visa requirements and any flight logistics.

When is the best time to book a Norwegian cruise?

You can book a Norwegian cruise as early as you like depending on availability. There’s a higher chance of finding cheaper Norwegian cruise prices by booking between 6 months to 12 months in advance. But there are also lots of last-minute cruise deals closer to your preferred departure date, but this will depend on your flexibility.

Are last minute deals available with Norwegian?

Yes, you can find last-minute Norwegian cruises on Expedia. Add your travel dates to the cruise finder and sort your results to find the best price available. Cruise deal discounts are indicated by a green box above the Norwegian cruise price.

How do I book a cruise with Norwegian?

To book a Norwegian cruise on Expedia select your Norwegian destination and filter by cruise line. You can also browse our extensive selection of pre-selected cruise deals and find the perfect cruise for you. Once you have found the one you want, choose your dates and the port of departure. You can also refine your search by cabin experiences, or cruise ship. Each ship will have amenities to suit your needs including room service, spa facilities, and fitness facilities.

Is Norwegian great value for money?

Norwegian cruises are excellent value for money if you're looking for an enjoyable and relaxing cruise vacations. A Norwegian cruise offers a high standard of service, a great selection of dining, modern amenities, friendly staff, and exciting activities. The exceptional quality of the experience is worth the price.

Can I cancel a Norwegian cruise booking?

Yes, you can cancel your Norwegian cruise. We all have unfortunate circumstances where we need to cancel a booking, so Expedia makes it easy to do so. All you have to do is head to your My Trips page on Expedia and click on the cancellation button. Another option is to contact customer service, where you’ll receive help with cancelling. Do make sure that you’re aware of the refund policy that applied to your booking, to see if you’re entitled to a full refund.

Norwegian Cruise Guide

Norwegian Cruise Line's "Freestyle Cruising" allows guests to cruise at their own pace and have complete control over their vacation. There are daily itineraries created by Norwegian but guests can choose what to do, whether it's freestyle dining at one of the many complimentary or specialty dining options, or grabbing food from the buffet and catching one of the many award-winning shows onboard including Kinky Boots and Footloose. Don't forget to join in on the nightly deck parties with various themes such as White Hot, Caliente, Glow, and Nashville Nights. Norwegian has many unique amenities that you won't find on any other cruise lines, such as open-air laser tag courses on the Norwegian Joy, Bliss, and Encore, or The Waterfront, which is a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade. Another Norwegian exclusive is The Plank, which extends 8 feet over the side of the ship. The newest ships on the fleet, The Breakaway Plus Series, feature even more innovative activities. For example, the Norwegian Bliss has the largest race track at sea and an expanded three-story Ropes Course. With so much fun on board, it comes as no surprise that the cruise line has been voted Best Family Experience by Travel Weekly. Each ship is inspired by the departure ports and destinations that they sail to, like the Miami-inspired Norwegian Getaway or the New York City-inspired Norwegian Breakaway ship. Norwegian's Pride of America ship is also an industry favorite for having authentic Hawaiian itineraries available year-round. There's a wide assortment of staterooms, ranging from studios that have been specifically built for solo travelers, to connecting staterooms that can accommodate entire groups. There are also luxurious suites like The Haven, which offers an all-inclusive experience at the very top of the ship, equipped with a 24-hour butler service and a personal concierge.

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YOUR GUIDE TO WHEN CRUISES WILL RESUME SAILING

Expedia - April 16, 2021

Cruise lines continue to adapt their sailing plans to these measures with diligence and enthusiasm and are beginning to announce sailings dates for a return to the sea. Want to be prepared to sail too? Here is everything you need to know about the restart of cruising.

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This Norwegian Cruise sailing takes you on a bucket list adventure: What it's like aboard

F or Kylie Herd, an Australian passenger on Norwegian Dawn’s Feb. 25 southern Africa itinerary, cruising has been the best way to check places off her bucket list.

“I just go with whatever cruise line has the itinerary that I want to do at the time that I’m available. It tends to be Norwegian, and when I saw that Norwegian had all these African cruises, I just thought, ‘I’m going to spend summer in Africa,’ because it’s an amazing itinerary,” she told USA TODAY.

When it comes to cruising, most Americans probably think of bopping around the Caribbean or checking out the wilds of Alaska if they’re feeling especially adventurous, but that’s really just scratching the surface. Cruise lines are increasingly offering diverse itineraries including expedition cruises to remote parts of the globe and introductory sailings to help travelers explore countries and regions they might never visit otherwise.

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Madagascar was the real draw for months of consecutive cruises on the Dawn for Herd.

“I’ve been trying to go to Madagascar for years. I always wanted to go there way before the movies ever came out. It’s one of those places that’s really difficult to get to,” she said. “When I saw Madagascar on a cruise itinerary I was like, ‘I have to do it.’ ”

Although the Feb. 25 sailing had to skip Madagascar for logistical reasons after a delay departing Mauritius, Herd said that she was able to visit the country earlier on her trip and that it was a real highlight.

Norwegian’s Africa itineraries had various changes and missed ports throughout the season. Passenger contracts give cruise lines some leeway to alter itineraries on short notice for reasons including weather or conditions on the ground that prevent ships from reaching or being accommodated safely in a scheduled port. Such changes can be especially common in regions prone to political unrest or that lack sophisticated port facilities.

Even so, Herd said she understood why passengers who missed out would be frustrated, but she encouraged her fellow travelers to keep an eye on the positive. “I understand the disappointment. I was disappointed, too, but we’re still having a great time.”

The Feb. 25 cruise still stopped at Reunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, which has an active volcano, as well as ports in South Africa where travelers could spot local wildlife.

Safari from a cruise

Norwegian Dawn stopped at four ports in South Africa, three of which offered safari experiences as shore excursions.

▶ From Richard’s Bay, passengers could visit the iSimangasilo Wetland Park , home to elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, zebras and other classic African big game. The park is about an hour and a half drive from the port, and Norwegian’s shore excursion included two game drives, snorkeling and a traditional South African braai, or barbecue.

Just as cruise itineraries can sometimes be subject to last-minute changes, safaris are at the whim of wild animals. Sightings are not guaranteed, but patience and vigilance are often rewarded.

▶ In Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Norwegian Dawn’s passengers could visit Addo Elephant National Park, also about an hour and a half drive from the port.

As the name suggests, Addo is home to a huge and docile population of more than 600 elephants. These animals often congregate around watering holes accessible from well-worn safari tracks.

Even after a strong rainfall the night before the excursion, which allowed elephants to retreat into the bush and temporarily lessen their reliance on overtaxed wells, dozens of the creatures greeted visitors coming from the ship for two-hour game drives.

▶ In Mossel Bay, passengers could also access private game reserves, which often have a higher concentration of wildlife roaming free but can include animals that are not directly indigenous to the area.

Cape Town and the winelands

There’s more to Africa than safaris, and Cape Town is an especially good place to experience metropolitan life and other kinds of outdoor activities on the continent.

South Africa’s legislative capital offers excellent hiking, a great foodie culture, beautiful (if slightly chilly) Atlantic beaches, penguins and more.

For travelers willing to explore beyond the city, South Africa’s wine country is close at hand in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and many vineyards offer tastings and meal experiences. One Norwegian excursion took passengers to the Blaauwklippen wine estate in Stellenbosch, which is best known for its Zinfandel.

Is an Africa cruise worth it?

From a financial standpoint, a cruise around Africa can be an excellent way to explore. For American travelers, however, flights to and from the ship are often more expensive than the cruise itself.

For example, a 13-day Norwegian itinerary that begins in Cape Town on Dec. 7 and ends in Mauritius on Dec. 20 has prices that start at $899 per person for an inside stateroom, but flights can be well over $1,000 round trip. The current cheapest itinerary from Detroit, for example, is a 42-hour slog on multiple airlines via Montreal and Dubai to Cape Town. The return trip is a bit shorter, at 31 hours, also via Dubai and Montreal. That routing would cost $1,694 per person in economy as of March 18, according to Google Flights.

Logistically speaking, though, it can be much easier to book a cruise and rely on the line’s shore excursions to expand one's horizons than to coordinate one's own safari.

“With multiple diverse ports of call within one coastal continental area, our Africa voyages provide our guests the opportunity to explore lush rainforests or volcanoes, experience captivating wildlife tours, learn about the rich culture on the South African coastline, indulge in Cape Town’s incredible wine regions, and so much more,” Brian Gilroy, vice president of revenue management and itinerary planning for Norwegian Cruise Line, said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The one thing to keep in mind is that the African cruise market is less mature than the Caribbean – at many ports, there just aren’t comparable facilities to handle big ships. That doesn’t mean the cruises can’t or don’t happen, just that sometimes the operation is a little less fluid than the well-oiled Miami machine.

“Our 11- and 12-day cruises start and end in either Cape Town, South Africa, or Port Louis, Mauritius, and include an overnight stay in one of those magnificent cities, giving our guests the chance to fully explore what these regions offer. The variety of adventures our guests can experience in these destinations are endless, which makes for a truly unforgettable cruise experience," Gilroy said.

Travelers may be more likely to encounter a hiccup on their Africa cruise, but that’s all part of traveling to a new and exciting place. A missed port or an extra sea day can be a great time time to take stock, focus on the highlights, enjoy the experience of unlocking a new destination, and maybe take another sip of the wine your onboard sommelier recommended.

Just take a page out of Herd the Australian’s book. Despite some schedule changes, she said, “I’ve loved every single thing.”

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Norwegian. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This Norwegian Cruise sailing takes you on a bucket list adventure: What it's like aboard

• Norwegian Cruise Line

Can you upgrade NCL airfare offer?

By TimbersfanOR , March 28, 2020 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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TimbersfanOR

My wife and I are traveling on NCL later this year (until it’s cancelled) and our booking includes reduced airfare through NCL.  Does anyone know if we can pay the difference to upgrade to economy plus?

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I believe once you have the reservation number for the flights you should be able to go to the airline website, pick your seats and pay whatever upgrade costs might be associated with those seats.

You can definitely pick seats, I was able to.

All-ready2cruise

Exactly what hallux has stated.  Once you've got the info for your flights you can contact the airline and upgrade to whatever you want.  I had done this for my flight which would have been today  😢 Oh well... life goes on. 

I should add that you can also pre-pay for baggage if the airline charges for such and allows you to do that.  I believe I did that for my cruise in October.

NCL books your airfare but not your seats. You can upgrade your seats as per the policy of the selected airline. This is listed in the T&Cs or FAQs for the program. 

Last summer on United friends paid for the upgrade to Premium Economy. I had status with United so we were automatically offered Premium Economy seats to select from as complimentary upgrades. I booked seats live with an agent. 

smileyjannie

7 hours ago, TimbersfanOR said: My wife and I are traveling on NCL later this year (until it’s cancelled) and our booking includes reduced airfare through NCL.  Does anyone know if we can pay the difference to upgrade to economy plus?

We were able to on Delta.  Now that said, I don't know if we will get our money back of the cruise gets cancelled.

33 minutes ago, smileyjannie said: We were able to on Delta.  Now that said, I don't know if we will get our money back of the cruise gets cancelled.

Delta has a pretty lenient policy at the moment. You can probably get it as a Delta credit depending on the timeline. 

Nebr.cruiser

On our (cancelled) cruise we were supposed to take in March, we bought the NCL air--$149 RT to Tahiti and back from Hawaii!

A few weeks later NCL sent emails offering upgrades; lt was $249pp for premium economy and $499 for

business for just the LA to Tahiti portion.  I seem to remember that there was an earlier offer that was higher.  

2 hours ago, Nebr.cruiser said: On our (cancelled) cruise we were supposed to take in March, we bought the NCL air--$149 RT to Tahiti and back from Hawaii!   A few weeks later NCL sent emails offering upgrades; lt was $249pp for premium economy and $499 for business for just the LA to Tahiti portion.  I seem to remember that there was an earlier offer that was higher.    

In this particular instance, it was a chartered flight, so NCL handled the upgrade for the charter portion.

Normally you would upgrade through the airline once the flight is actually ticketed - you can pick your seats, upgrade, pay luggage fees. I've upgraded before, usually just to get additional legroom.  In that case, the upgrade also included the checked luggage fees, so the upgrade wasn't much of an additional cost, so it definitely pays to check.  Also, the upgrade fees seem to change the closer to your flight day (went down for me) but of course if you wait, there are no guarantees.

Thank you all!

4 hours ago, julig22 said: In this particular instance, it was a chartered flight, so NCL handled the upgrade for the charter portion. Normally you would upgrade through the airline once the flight is actually ticketed - you can pick your seats, upgrade, pay luggage fees. I've upgraded before, usually just to get additional legroom.  In that case, the upgrade also included the checked luggage fees, so the upgrade wasn't much of an additional cost, so it definitely pays to check.  Also, the upgrade fees seem to change the closer to your flight day (went down for me) but of course if you wait, there are no guarantees.

Very true, that was a chartered flight.  We have upgraded before, using Princess air, on our own after the flights were ticketed.  I am sure it would be the same with NCL.

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