If you have any food allergy or a dietary requirement that requires Kosher meals or gluten-free food product, please advise a Norwegian Reservations Agent, or your Travel Agent at the time of booking. Obtaining the product for many of these requests requires 30-days notice prior to sailing, and we want to ensure that we are able to fulfill your request. We cannot guarantee Kosher Meal requests made within 30 days of sail date.
For the protection of all of our guests, it is not permissible to bring aboard any food items that would require preparation by the ship’s staff, or food items that would require cold storage in our kitchen facilities.
All guests must provide key personal information in advance of sailing. Click here for detailed travel documentation information before you complete your Online Check-In form.
Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Or Canada & New England Cruises
For round-trip sailings (cruises that depart from and return to the same U.S. port), you may sail with either a valid passport, proof of citizenship and a valid government-issued photo I.D. (driver's licence with a photo), or any other WHTI compliant document.
Proof of Citizenship examples include:
- State certified U.S. birth certificate
- Original certificate of U.S. naturalization
- Original certificate of U.S. citizenship
- U.S. Consular report of your birth abroad.
- Baptismal paper, hospital certificates of birth and Puerto Rico birth certificates issued prior to 7/1/10 are not acceptable.
- A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 do not require a government-issued photo ID.
For open-jaw sailings (cruises that depart from one U.S. port and return to a different U.S. port), you are required to carry:
- A valid passport
- U.S. passport card
- U.S. or Canadian Enhanced Drivers Licence
- Permanent residents of the U.S. are required to carry their valid ARC cards for boarding AND passport from their country of citizenship, if available.
Note: If you miss your ship at its scheduled U.S. departure port and need to travel outside the U.S. to meet your ship, or should you unexpectedly need to depart the ship from a foreign port prior to the end of sailing, a passport would be required to leave or re-enter the U.S. by air. To that end, Norwegian strongly recommends all guests to obtain a passport for their voyage on any Norwegian vessel.
All Itineraries
All guests must carry a valid passport, and if necessary, a multiple entry visa is required for entry into the United States (i.e. B-2 Visitors Visa), or a visa waiver. Please be sure to check with the proper agencies and authorities (such as your local immigration office) before you sail because we can't board you without the proper documents. Travellers from the 36 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries must have a machine-readable passport to enter the U.S. without a visa. All VWP travellers are required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP.
Hawaii Cruises
There's no need for a passport when you sail on any Hawai'i inter-island cruise. If your ship never sails beyond the islands of Hawai'i, all you need is a government-issued photo I.D. which includes a passport or a valid driver's licence with a photo. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 do not require a government-issued photo ID.
Europe Cruises
A valid passport is required and in some cases, a tourist visa is also required.
When it comes to what to wear, you can go resort casual or get decked-out and look your best - it's your call. That's the freedom of Freestyle Cruising. We even have special "Dress-Up or Not Night." It's the perfect opportunity to get your portrait taken with your family, that special someone or even with the ship's Captain.
Dress cruise casual anytime during the day, in the buffet and in most specialty restaurants. For women, it includes summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or capri pants, shorts, jeans and tops. Khakis, jeans, shorts and casual shirts are fine for men. Swimwear is acceptable at the buffet and outdoor restaurant, but a shirt or a cover-up and footwear are required. Cruise casual is also allowed day and night on embarkation day.
Wear smart casual if you are eating dinner in the aft main dining room (our more formal dining room) and in Le Bistro on cruises longer than five days. For women, it includes slacks or jeans, dresses, skirts and tops. For men, it's jeans or slacks with a collared shirt and closed-toed shoes. Traditional Bermuda shorts along with long socks, loafers and a blazer are all acceptable on a Bermuda cruise.
We want you to be comfortable, but tank tops for men, flip flops, baseball caps, visors and jeans that are overly faded, with holes or tears and worn below the hips are not permitted in main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. Kids 12 and under are welcome to wear nice shorts in all our restaurants. You may want to pack a sweater too-air conditioning can be chilly.
Since your suitcases are collected the night before we return home, don’t forget an overnight bag for prescriptions and need-to-have items.
Passenger is not allowed to bring on board the vessel any intoxicating liquors, or beverages, firearms, weapons of any kind, ammunition, explosive substances or any goods of a dangerous nature, nor animals of any kind, except service or guide animals, provided the passenger notifies Carrier prior to the cruise of his intention to bring such animal and agrees to take sole responsibility for any expense, damage, injuries or losses associated with or caused by such animal.
Arrival at the Cruise Terminal:
For your comfort and convenience, we recommend that guests who have not completed their Online Check-In arrive at the cruise terminal no later than two (2) hours prior to the scheduled embarkation time printed on your cruise documents. Guests who have completed their Online Check-In should arrive at the terminal no later than one (1) hour prior to the scheduled embarkation time printed on your cruise documents. We STRONGLY recommend guests complete their Online Check-In at least four (4) days prior to sailing.
Final Boarding Time:
In order to facilitate the embarkation process and the processing of your eDocs, and to comply with new government regulations governing departure manifest, all guests are required to complete Online Check-In at least one day prior to sailing and must complete check-in at the cruise terminal and be onboard the ship no later than one hour prior to the departure time noted on their cruise documents or they will not be permitted to sail. Please note guests who have not filled out their Online Check-In must arrive at port two (2) hours prior to sailing. Any late arriving guest may join the ship at an approved port of call in the scheduled itinerary. Such guest will be responsible for all applicable fees and travel expenses to that subsequent port of call.
Boarding Time in Ports of Call:
In all ports of call, it is also the guest's responsibility to be back onboard the ship no later than one (1) hour prior to the ship's scheduled departure time. Please be aware that shipboard time may differ from the port of call and it is the guest's responsibility to follow the shipboard time. In the event a guest misses the ship, it will be the guest's responsibility to pay all expenses incurred to rejoin the ship.
Each person is allowed up to two pieces of personal luggage on board, with each piece weighing a maximum of 50 pounds. However, if passengers are travelling by air, they need to check with the airline for specific restrictions.
Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to offering an unforgettable cruise experience for the entire family. Children aboard our ships can enjoy a variety of activities, events and programs including our newly redesigned Youth Program with age specific activities for infants, kids & teens. On most sailings, we offer significantly discounted rates for the 3rd - 8th guests. Infants under six months of age are not eligible for travel on Norwegian ships.
Kid's Crew" is our onboard children's program and it's one of the most comprehensive at sea. Click here for more info on our Kid's Crew Program".
Norwegian Cruise Line offers group sitting for ages 2-12 for a nominal fee with our Youth Program counselors. In addition to our regular sitting hours of 10:30pm - 1:30am, group sitting is available in port from 9 am - 5 pm. Private babysitting is not available. Click here for more info on our Youth Programs.
For details Click here.
A physician and nurse are on each ship to provide medical care and services at customary charges. Commonly used medications are kept on board and may be prescribed by the ship's doctor.
Norwegian will make every effort to accommodate you, providing you have not entered the 24th week of pregnancy when the cruise ends. Please include your cruise details in an email to the Access Desk with a medical certificate establishing your due date prior to your cruise.
Norwegian reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel increase above $65 per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, Norwegian will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. The fuel supplement charge will not exceed $10.00 per passenger per day.
Guests should not feel obliged to offer a gratuity for good service. However, all of our staff are encouraged to "go the extra mile," and so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities entirely at the discretion of our guests who wish to acknowledge particular staff members for exceptional or outstanding service. In other words, there is genuinely no need to tip but you should feel free to do so if you have a desire to acknowledge particular individuals.
Also, certain staff positions provide service on an individual basis to only some guests. We encourage those guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. For example, for guests purchasing bar drinks the recommended gratuity is 15 percent. For guests purchasing spa treatments the recommended gratuity is 18 percent. Similarly, for guests using concierge and butler services, we recommend they consider offering a gratuity commensurate with services rendered.
Why is there a service charge?
The reason there's a fixed service charge is an important one: Our Crew (as are the crew from other lines) is encouraged to work together as a team. Staff members including restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and behind-the-scenes support staff are compensated by a combination of salary and incentive programs that your service charge supports.
How much is the charge?
Onboard Service Charges are additional. A charge of $12 per person per day will automatically be added to your onboard account.
Are service charges across the board for all guests?
All guests 3 years or older.
How do I prepay my service charges?
Contact your travel professional and request that it be added to your cruise reservation. If you have not made final payment this will be included in your final payment amount or if final payment has already been made, we will require full payment at the time it is added.
At what point in the booking process can the prepaid charges be added?
They can be added at anytime up to 24 hours prior to sailing.
Why would I prepay my service charges?
The convenience of pre-paying the service charges allows you to plan your budget prior to your cruise giving you additional freedom while on board.
If I cancel my cruise are the service charges refundable?
Yes! The service charges are 100% refundable.
If there is a service issue can the service charges be adjusted on board?
Guest satisfaction is the highest priority at Norwegian Cruise Line. We have structured a guest satisfaction program designed to handle any concerns about service or on-board product quickly and efficiently. However, in the event a service issue should arise during your cruise please let our on-board guest services desk staff know right away, so that we can address these in a timely manner. It is our goal to reach a satisfactory solution to any issue when it happens and make sure our guests can focus on enjoying their cruise. Should your concerns not be met with satisfaction you can adjust the charges.
For a full list of what's included please click here.
For your convenience, all shipboard expenses are charged to Norwegian's special onboard credit program. Sign up on the first day of your cruise, by establishing your method of payment with a credit card (Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, Diners Club®), travellers checks or cash. If you choose to settle your account with cash, a deposit will be required in advance. Norwegian does not recommend the use of a debit card as payment for your onboard folio. However, if you choose to pay with a debit card, please be advised that Norwegian obtains pre-authorization which some banks may hold for up to 30 days.
Using your debit or ATM card
- Norwegian does not recommend the use of a debit card as payment for your onboard folio.
- Please be advised that multiple holds will be placed on your debit card account based on your onboard purchases.
- After settling your onboard folio, these debit card holds may remain on your account up to 30 days after the cruise ends.
- To avoid overdraft charges from your bank, please make sure that you have enough available funds in your account during this hold period.
- Norwegian will not be responsible for overdraft charges resulting from holds placed on Debit Card accounts.
Cash/Traveler's Checks Procedures
You can deposit cash or US Traveler's Checks into your onboard account. To start, US$100 per person per day is required, although more can be deposited depending on what you plan to spend. If you don't have enough money down to cover expenses, your account(s) will be closed and you cannot purchase anything until more money is deposited. You can deposit as much money as often as you'd like throughout the cruise, however, refunds cannot be made until the day of disembarkation for any excess. US Traveller's Cheques can be cashed onboard and are the same as cash.
**Personal cheques will not be accepted, nor can they be cashed onboard.
You may cash travellers cheques at the Guest Services Desk. Currency exchange, at prevailing rates, is available on some cruises. Travellers cheques and most major credit cards are accepted in the ports we visit. Proper ID is required when cashing travellers cheques. We recommend you carry a small amount of local currency when visiting foreign ports, although credit cards are commonly accepted in shops and restaurants.
Introducing the Freestyle way to earn credit card rewards.Apply for a Norwegian Cruise Line MasterCard® credit card with WorldPoints® rewards and get 10,000 bonus points after your first qualifying transaction.Learn More
United States residents must declare all articles acquired abroad and in their possession when they return to the U.S. This includes items purchased in "duty-free" shops. The duty-free exemption allowed for purchases or gifts for returning U.S. residents varies, depending on how long they have been out of the U.S. and which countries they have visited. The standard exemption for U.S. residents who have been abroad more than 48 hours is $600 - $800, which may include one liter of alcohol (if you are at least 21), 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes.
Residents returning to the U.S. from the U.S. Virgin Islands may bring $1,200 worth of goods duty-free. The duty-free exemption for U.S. residents doesn't need to include items that are mailed back to the U.S.; those will be assessed for duty when they arrive. The duty-free exemption for a package mailed as a gift is $100; the exemption for a package marked for personal use is $200. Non-U.S. citizens should check with their local authorities for customs allowance information. For more specific customs information, be sure to attend the briefing by the Cruise Director before your ship reaches home port. (Check the daily onboard newsletter for time and place.) You can also obtain information before you sail by contacting the nearest U.S. Customs office (look under United States Government, Department of Treasury in your local phone book). You can also visit the U.S. Customs website - www.customs.ustreas.gov - or call 1.202.927.6724 and ask for the brochure "Know Before You Go." Note: Bottles of liquor you purchase on board or ashore will be held in a secure area and delivered to your stateroom at the conclusion of the cruise.
U.S. Citizens and residents are not allowed to bring more than 200 cigarettes into the U.S. if they are produced in the U.S., whether made for export or not.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION POLICY
Passengers must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcohol.
With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii itineraries, Norwegian permits young adults to purchase and personally consume wine and beer only while onboard and with the consent of an accompanying parent. Authorization will be given only when the accompanying parent completes the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form. This form can be obtained and completed at the Guest Services Desk upon embarkation of the vessel. However, passengers 18 years of age or older are permitted to consume beer and wine when sailing on round-trip European voyages without having to complete the Young Adult Alcoholic Beverage Waiver form.
Please note that with the exception of Wine and Champagne, all guests are prohibited from bringing alcohol on board our ships. If you purchase any alcohol at one of our ports-of-call or in our onboard shops, we will safely store your purchase(s) and either on the final night of the cruise or the morning of debarkation it will be available for pick up in a designated area.
Wine & Champagne Policy
Guests may bring bottles of wine and champagne on board. When bottles are brought on board and served or consumed in any restaurant, public room area or in their stateroom, a corkage fee will be charged according to bottle sizes noted below.
750 ml Bottle: $15.00
1,000 ml Bottle: $ 20.00
1,500 ml Magnum: $30.00
Wine or champagne sent directly to the ship by travel agents, friends, family, etc. or from another retail source, are subject to the same fees. Box wines are not allowed on board.
Corkage Fee is not applicable to guest with beverage package.
* Norwegian encourages the responsible use of alcohol and accordingly reserves the right to permanently or temporarily revoke the drinking privileges of any guest who violates Norwegian's Guest Code of Conduct or who is deemed a danger to himself, herself or others by vessel management. Continued abuse of alcohol while sailing and/or violation of Norwegian's alcohol policy may result in immediate disembarkation.
Due to security reasons, unfortunately, no.
Contact us at the following numbers: toll-free 1.800.327.7030; Miami 1.305.436.4000; or visit our "Contact Us" section from the home page.
All facts stated below apply at the time of embarkation.
Infants sailing onboard a Norwegian vessel must be at least six months of age at time of sailing. However, for voyages that have 3 or more consecutive days at sea, the infant must be at least 12 months old at time of sailing.
A minor is defined as an individual under 18 years of age at the time of embarkation.
A young adult is defined as an individual between the ages of 18 and 20.
Company policy dictates that a passenger under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a passenger 21 years of age or older at the time of embarkation.
For passengers under the age of 18 travelling with an accompanying adult, who is not the minor's parent or legal guardian, a PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT RELEASE FORM (PDF) that authorizes the minor's travel and further authorizes medical treatment in case of an emergency must be delivered to a Norwegian representative at the pier during check-in. Failure to produce this letter at embarkation may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of cruise fare provided.
Note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom if they are a married couple and provide proof of marriage to a Norwegian representative at the pier before embarkation.
According to United States Public Health (U.S.P.H.) regulations, no diapers of any kind are permitted in the swimming pools or hot tubs, including those marketed as "swimmers."
Shore Excursions and specialty dining can be purchased by guests sailing on any Norwegian ship. In addition, guests sailing on the Norwegian Epic will have the option to pre-purchase onboard Entertainment and Spa activities.
How do I book my Shore Excursions?
Click here to view the available Shore Excursions. An updated listing of Shore Excursions is available approximately 6 months prior to the first sailing of each cruise destination season. All tours are available to pre-request at My NCL, or you can call 866-625-1167 (US & Canada) or 0845-201-8907 (UK). Once onboard, Shore Excursions can also be purchased at the ship's Shore Excursion Desk.
How do I book my Dining, Entertainment and Spa activities prior to sailing?
Onboard activities can be booked online at ncl.com/myncl; by calling 866-625-1167 (for Shore Excursions) and 800-327-7030 for Spa (Norwegian Epic only), Dining and Entertainment, or by contacting your travel professional.
Who will be asked to purchase cruise activities with a credit card?
Ticketed passengers who (1) purchased the cruise in US dollars, CAN dollars, GBP or Euro's, and (2) do not have a Shore Excursion, Dining or Entertainment reservation on record prior to June 29, 2011. Guests who do not meet all of these criteria will be able to pre-book activities, but will not be asked for payment at the time of booking.
Will my charges to my credit card be refunded if I cancel my bookings prior to sailing?
Cancellations made up to 24 hours prior to sailing will be refunded in full to the credit card on which the purchase was made. To cancel prepaid reservations prior to sailing, please call 866-896-3152 (for Shore Excursions) and 800-327-7030 (for Dining, Entertainment and Spa). Cancellations made after that point will be refunded as an onboard credit. To make a cancellation on board, please visit the Shore Excursion Desk (for Shore Excursions), or the Guest Services Desk (for Dining, Entertainment and Spa, or the Mandara Spa Reception Desk – Norwegian Epic only). For more information, please click here.
What is the cancellation process once I’m on board?
Shore Excursions: Guests that cancel on board more than 48 hours prior to the tour will receive a refund for their purchase in the form of an onboard credit. Tours cancelled by guests less than 48 hours prior to arrival in the port where the tour is scheduled are non-refundable. Please note that certain tours, such as overland tours, customized tours and tours with theatre performances or special events may be subject to different cancellation fees. To make a cancellation on board or for additional details, please visit the Shore Excursion Desk.
Dining/Entertainment: Guests that cancel on board more than 24 hours prior to the booked activity will receive a refund for their purchase in the form of an onboard credit. If a cancellation is made less than 24 hours prior to the activity, no refund will be issued. To make a cancellation on board, please visit the Guest Services Desk.
Spa: Guests that cancel on board more than 24 hours prior to the booked activity will receive a refund for their purchase in the form of an onboard credit. Failure to do so may result in a cancellation charge up to 50% of the treatment price being assessed to your onboard account. To make a cancellation on board, please visit the Guest Services Desk or the Mandara Spa Reception Desk – Norwegian Epic only.
Will there be any cancellation fees if I cancel my onboard activity?
No. There will be no cancellation fees. Click here to review the Cancellation Policy.
How do I make Restaurant Reservations on board?
Reservations are never required or taken for the Main Dining Rooms, Buffet, Blue Lagoon, Cadillac Diner or O'Sheehans; however reservations are recommended for our specialty restaurants. Reservations may be made by phone, in person at the designated Restaurant Reservations Desk, or at any specialty restaurant host desk during dinner service.
To ensure that our guests receive our best service, we can only hold your dinner reservation for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the unclaimed reservation will be released. For dinner reservations made on board, the full cover price per guest will be charged to the guest's account. For pre-paid reservations, no refund will be issued.
The current on board is 110 volts AC. However, some high-voltage hair dryers, electric rollers and electric razors may require a converter.
We want you to be comfortable on board, so public areas throughout all our ships are smoke-free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so on your balcony, in the casino or in the Cigar Bar (where available). If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Also, you can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks (just not around food venues, sports decks, kids' pool areas and other designated nonsmoking areas). Smoking inside your stateroom will result in a $250 cleaning charge added to your onboard account.
If you're 18 through 20 years of age and you have the written consent of your parents or guardian (parent or guardian must be on board), you can purchase beer or wine for yourself only when the ship is sailing in international waters (except on Alaska and Hawai'i cruises where you must be 21 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol of any kind).* If you want to gamble in our casinos, you must have a valid ID showing you are 18 years or older. If a Guest under the age of 18 wins in the casino and cannot provide proof of age, he or she will not be paid the winnings. There is no casino on Pride of America.
Staying connected at sea could be very important to some of us. Click here for more information on Internet Access and Cellular Phone Service & Texting.
All of our ships have Internet Cafés for those of you that need to on online. You can also telephone, telex, radiogram or fax to anywhere in the world and be billed* at applicable ship-to-shore rates. Norwegian guests can also be contacted on our ships by calling 1.888.NCSHIPS (1.888.627.4477) from the USA. For the rest of the world please dial 1.732.335.3280. When guests are contacted with the ship via satellite, they can be reached directly, if they are in their stateroom. If not, a message about the incoming call will be delivered to their stateroom and then they can call back* the shore via satellite. Norwegian guests can also make and receive calls, send and receive text messages and read emails on their own cell phones and mobile devices just as they do on land when the ship is at sea with the Freestyle Cellular Service. Staying in touch with family and friends when cruising has never been so easy. Click here for more information.
Norwegian Ship Telephone & Fax Numbers
When calling from the United States: Dial 1.888.NC SHIPS (627.4477), select the ship, and enter your credit card information. When Calling from outside the United States: Dial 1.732.335.3280, select the ship, and enter your credit card information.
*Please use American Express, MasterCard and Discover Card, only.
You may purchase wine, or bon voyage gifts, such as fruit baskets, champagne, birthday cakes, canapés, flowers or other gifts for your stateroom. Please let us know at least three weeks before sailing. Click here for more information.
Most staterooms and suites have mini-safes. Please note, however, that Norwegian is not responsible for valuables left in staterooms or elsewhere on board.
Beauty parlor and spa services include hair styling, manicures, pedicures, facials
and massages in our Mandara Spa Salon
Gift shops feature duty-free shopping, with fine jewelry, perfumes, clothing, cosmetics and limited drug store items
Laundry & dry-cleaning services
Internet Café
Art auctions
Photographs taken throughout the cruise
BAGS Service available at the following debarkation ports: Miami and Seattle. Why haul suitcases in the last hours of your vacation when our BAGS Program can take care of that headache for you!
What time would you like it to be? Norwegian's exclusive Freestyle Cruising lets you choose. We offer open-seating dining in a variety of restaurants and cafés with individual menus, so it's your choice. You can have lunch or dinner with friends in one of the elegantly appointed restaurants or reserve a table for two in an intimate bistro.
Order an omelette prepared just the way you like it from the breakfast-buffet chef. Indulge yourself with delectable selections from the Chocoholic Buffet." There are special menus for youngsters. Special meals are available including low-calorie, vegetarian, no MSG, low/no sodium and low/no cholesterol meals, as well as sugar-free and fat-free desserts. All of our restaurants are non-smoking. Most specialty restaurants require a per person cover charge or offer a` la carte pricing. Reservations are recommended and can be made on board.