Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews - 22

Avoid this company

Avoid this company! They gave me one price, but when my family called, they were told it was way more. The agent won't call back, and when I tried to reach management, they hung up on me three times. Terrible customer service!

This was our 9th cruise, 7th with Norwegian.

This was our 9th cruise, 7th with Norwegian. Out of the last five, four had issues. But the latest, meant to go from Reykjavik, Iceland to NYC, NY, was a real mess. The ship changed the whole itinerary THE NIGHT BEFORE WE WERE TO BOARD! We got $50.00 each for the trouble. The new plan had 5 days at sea, instead of two. Plus, the available excursions were limited and poor. They filled up fast because there weren’t many! I understand that long cruises on big ships can have problems. But this time, the cruise line kept everything hidden, leaving customers helpless!! And, the customers could do nothing. There was no compensation for what we missed. Not even an apology. Be very cautious with Norwegian!!! After 7 cruises with them, we are done!!!

This cruise company is terrible.

This cruise company is terrible. Stay away. I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I did. There's nothing good to say about them. NCL is just after money, no care for customers. They promise one cruise and give another. Ports like St. Richards Bay are unfit for cruises. If they said it was a coal depot, no one would go - so they don't! Food is awful. Bedding is old. Towels are worse. Entertainment is terrible. It's crucial not to use this company. As long as people keep booking, they'll keep taking advantage of customers.

Just got back from my

Just got back from my first cruise with NCL and it was amazing! Our cabin was in the perfect spot, super convenient. The cabin steward and all the staff were so friendly and helpful. The food was delicious, especially with all the speciality restaurants to choose from. Some of the shows we saw could easily be on the West End, they were that good. NCL really knows how to do cruising right. Can't wait to book my next trip with them!

I reached out to NCL

I reached out to NCL because I needed to switch my cruise voucher from British pounds to US dollars for a discount. Got connected with Kim, who was super professional and kept checking in on me while I was on hold. They mentioned it might take up to 72 hours, but Kim sorted it out right away. Super impressed with how quickly everything was handled. Thanks, Kim and NCL, for the awesome service!

Booked a cruise from Tampa

Booked a cruise from Tampa to Key West and Stirrup Cay, paid it off late September. Today, I get an email saying they dropped Key West and extended the stay at Stirrup Cay, a port they own. Feels like bait and switch, can't see it any other way.

My wife and I decided

My wife and I decided to try out NCL Gem for a Panama Canal cruise in March 2024. We have a lot of cruising experience with various lines like Royal Caribbean and Princess, and while we’ve always found NCL to be just “average,” this trip was particularly disappointing. The embarkation process was a nightmare. We stood in line for hours in the sun, and it was so bad that some elderly guests fainted. There was no staff to assist, and it was complete chaos. Disembarkation was just as bad. Then there were the cocktails—so watered down they were almost undrinkable. On top of that, a huge piece of window-washing equipment blocked our balcony view for the Panama Canal portion of the trip. Complaints were brushed off, and we only got a partial refund after a series of emails post-cruise. Service was lacking, and it felt like there was no leadership. Overall, this was a pretty poor experience. I can’t see myself choosing NCL again unless they drastically improve or offer something truly unique.

Just got back from a

Just got back from a cruise on the NCL Dawn and, well, mixed feelings about it. We thought we had two specialty dining packages sorted before we boarded, but turns out they weren't included. After a long back-and-forth with customer service, we found out it was never entered by the booking agent. That meant we had to shell out $96 per meal, plus unexpected gratuity charges! Our pre-paid tip package didn’t cover it. Communication was rough too—the staff at the desk barely spoke English, leaving us more frustrated. But, shoutout to Andreas Gomez, one of the cocktail servers. This guy was incredible! He really made an effort to ensure we had a good time. If it weren't for him, the trip might've been a total bust.

Just got back from an

Just got back from an amazing cruise last month, seriously five stars all the way. But dealing with their customer service? Oh boy, that's a whole different story. They can't seem to figure out what happens to people who paid for Free at Sea Plus this year but are cruising next year. Ask them about dinners or water, and they’re clueless. They're not rude or anything, just not helpful at all. Felt like talking to a brick wall. The cruise itself was fantastic, but they need to seriously up their game with training their customer service team. It's like night and day between the actual cruise experience and trying to get some straight answers.

I sailed on NCL Jade,

I sailed on NCL Jade, Star, and Dawn, and each trip got worse. The food? Terrible. Cold stuff at the buffet, the same Tex-Mex four times in five days, and cheap casseroles. By day three, I couldn't eat it. Entertainment? Hardly any. Just a couple of shows in a week-long cruise. Everything else is passenger-led like karaoke and games. Boring. And the "Free at Sea" deal? Total joke. Only well drinks unless you order something specific. I'm a Sapphire member, but I'm done with NCL for now. Overrated marketing, poor product. I'd choose Royal Caribbean or Carnival over them any day. NCL feels like MSC now. Beware!

I was just about to

I was just about to book a cruise with NCL, and then I heard they’ve been canceling ports to save fuel. Honestly, that feels pretty unfair. If it was due to bad weather, I could get it, but canceling ports after folks have already paid? That’s not cool. Seems like they give limited notice too, which makes it worse. The cruise I was eyeing had only three stops, so losing even one would have been a huge deal. Glad I found out before I booked—would have been such a letdown. Just makes you think twice about planning with them.

We were so excited for

We were so excited for our first trip with NCL to celebrate our 10th anniversary in Alaska, but it turned into a disaster. The entertainment options were lackluster; bingo and fruit carving just weren't our idea of fun. We paid $75 for three rounds of bingo, which was ridiculous. However, the Icons show and Anthony the pianist were enjoyable, and Mervan and Ravi at the district brew pub were fantastic. The food was another letdown. The buffet was repetitive and tasteless. The main dining hall was even worse; my husband’s surf and turf was dry and tough. We left before dessert after waiting over two hours. Port cancellations were frustrating, especially since other boats made it to the stops we missed. We floated in rough waters instead, which felt unsafe. Guest services offered a laughable $150 and 15% off a future trip, which just added to our disappointment. This experience was far from the Alaskan adventure we had hoped for.

Celebrating our 5th anniversary with

Celebrating our 5th anniversary with NCL in the Haven penthouse should have been special, but it was a mess. The hot tub was broken right from the start, and we were asked to leave our room for 8 hours on day one. We chose the room to relax, not go on excursions. They promised a $500 credit, then took it back, claiming it was a pre-trip credit for everyone with a hot tub. For the next two days, workers were in and out for hours fixing the tub. We would have preferred no hot tub over constant interruptions. The General Manager was dishonest, and our complaints were ignored. Instead of enjoying our suite, we were constantly displaced. Staff were nice and understanding, but management was rude and deceitful. Our neighbors even thought the room was empty due to all the work being done. The compensation given was a joke, just a tiny fraction of what we paid. Our anniversary was ruined by their lies and lack of customer service.

Thinking about taking a Norwegian

Thinking about taking a Norwegian Cruise? Let me share our experience. We sailed on the Breakaway through New England and Canada in October 2024, our first cruise ever. From the get-go, it was disorganized. There were no signs for onboarding or excursions, which made everything stressful. One of our excursions got canceled last minute, leaving us to figure things out on our own. It took three requests and eight hours just to get a robe for the hot tub. Popular events were always full, so we never found seats. Announcements were inaudible, and we struggled to understand basics like keeping a credit card in the switch to keep lights on. The worst part? We booked transport to the airport after the cruise, but due to a marathon, no vehicles could get through. We had to drag our suitcases several blocks to find a taxi, only to be denied a refund because we didn’t get a receipt. It was a nightmare. Avoid Norwegian Cruise Line.

Just booked a 12-day Transatlantic

Just booked a 12-day Transatlantic cruise on the Norwegian Encore, starting December 3, 2024, from London to Miami. Got a letter yesterday, October 31, saying parts of the ship will be under renovation. Teppanyaki’s closed, no Laser Tag, and the new Spice H2O won't be ready. They offered no compensation for the inconvenience, just an apology. I'm worried about overcrowding and safety with construction going on. Called customer care today, and they said if I cancel, I'd lose 75% to 100% of my fare. The supervisor was no help, just told me to cancel if I wasn't happy. It’s frustrating. NCL should have taken the ship out of service for renovations. This isn't the first time they’ve pulled a last-minute change. Had a similar issue in 2022 with a Greenland-Iceland cruise. I think I'm done with NCL. If you're planning a cruise, maybe consider another line.

Taking a 25-day cruise on

Taking a 25-day cruise on the NCL Jade from Tampa to Alaska was supposed to be an adventure, but it ended up being a series of unfortunate surprises. Boarding took forever in the Tampa heat, and things just went downhill. First, they canceled our Nicaragua stop due to ongoing issues, which was understandable but disappointing. But then, they cut Cabo for maintenance, trapping us overnight in LA with no customs. The real kicker was skipping Cartagena because of some seaweed issue, without even refunding our port fees. And the Hubbard Glacier visit? Delayed and rushed with no proper narration. Food was on a loop, and entertainment was repetitive. WiFi was outrageously priced, and selling tactics were relentless. This cruise felt more like a cash grab than a vacation, leaving us questioning if we'll ever sail with NCL again.

We booked a 12-day Caribbean

We booked a 12-day Caribbean cruise with Norwegian for January 2025, our third cruise with them. We were excited, having already paid for everything, including the Premium Beverage Package, Specialty Dining, and Unlimited Wi-Fi. But Norwegian canceled our packages, forcing us into their new More@Sea promotion. This new plan adds an extra $1,434.96 for things we already paid for. When I called customer service, they were unhelpful, saying their terms allow them to change anything. I asked to speak to a manager, but the supervisor just hung up on me. They wouldn’t refund us fully, saying we’d lose $2,10.84 if we canceled. Norwegian, this is not how you treat loyal customers. We’re stuck going on this cruise, but we won’t be back. Choose another cruise line—Norwegian doesn’t care about its passengers.

I'm on NCL Pearl for

I'm on NCL Pearl for a 12-day cruise, and it's been a rough start. On the first day, my grandson was nearly attacked by two dogs in the food court. I reported it to the General Manager and head of security around 5 pm on 11/11/2024. They said they'd review the security footage and get back to me. By noon the next day, I hadn't heard anything, so I asked the GM again. He said security was handling it. Later, I bumped into the head of security who said they reviewed the tape and spoke to the owner but let the dogs stay on board. What’s worse, this incident happened right in front of the buffet, and the food was awful. If you don't mind aggressive dogs and bad food, then NCL's your cruise line. I'm stuck here for 10 more days.

We thought Norwegian was the

We thought Norwegian was the best since our 2005 cruise, so we were excited to sail with them again this past July. Big mistake. Apparently, their server crashed two weeks before our trip, and all our tickets got canceled and rebooked without us knowing. We lost all our package deals we'd bought over a year ago. We didn’t even find out until we were already on the ship and started getting charged for drinks. Guest services asked for our receipts and then refused to honor them, claiming we had changed our reservation, which we hadn’t. Back home, I called their corporate office, and they admitted the server issue but did nothing to help. Never sailing with Norwegian again.

I've been a loyal cruiser

I've been a loyal cruiser with NCL for years, but my recent trip on the Viva was just disappointing. The ship was dirty, from the cabins to the common areas, and the staff seemed uninterested and unmotivated. To make matters worse, they tried to slap a $500 charge on us for cleaning up a minor spill in our cabin. We cancelled our gratuities to offset that ridiculous fee, which we later found out the crew doesn't even see. The food was a major letdown, totally bland and uninspired. It's sad to see such a decline in quality. NCL needs to focus on cleanliness and service, not just shiny new ships. Definitely not cruising with them again.

Before even setting sail, I

Before even setting sail, I was bombarded by endless emails from the cruise line. Warnings, danger alerts, helpful tips – it felt like they were preparing me for a disaster, not a vacation. This was supposed to be a relaxing getaway, but the constant stream of messages, especially in the last two weeks, was just too much. We booked an expensive suite, expecting first-class service, but so far, it's been a letdown. The overall rating of this cruise isn't high, and it’s not just me who thinks that way. I had high hopes, but right now, it's looking more low-class than anything. Seriously, what even is a bot?

Booked a Panama Canal cruise

Booked a Panama Canal cruise for January 2025, and paid the full amount. Just a few days later, they informed us that they were dropping the stops at Acapulco, Panama City, and Grand Cayman. The new ports they added were nowhere near as exciting. They offered a $50 onboard credit as a goodwill gesture, but since it's all-inclusive, there's nothing I needed to spend it on. When I called to complain, they didn’t seem to care at all and refused to offer any better compensation. Really disappointed and wouldn't recommend them. Feels like they just don’t care about their customers.