Norwegian Cruises

Okay guys, so we have been on quite a lot of cruises lately (Joe & I have been on 4 in the last 18 months), so many of the travel posts will probably be about cruises.  Forgive me. 

Me, joe, my mom, dad, brother Ty, sister Chelsea, Aunt Heidi, and Uncle John went on an Alaskan cruise this summer, and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

The cruise was amazing, like them all, but I definitely have a list of recommendations and another list of things that I would skip if we cruised again with Norwegian.

10 Recommendations for Norwegian Cruises

1.  Do not get a set dinner time.  It is so easy to free-style cruise, and we hardly ever waited for a table even though there was 8 of us.

2.  The more stops and the longer stops the cruise boat has, the worse the shows are.  Plan accordingly. 

3.  Don't play Bingo.  Don't get the "Show Me The Money" Package, because it does not show you the money.  Bingo is expensive, and there are a lot of better options out there.

4.  Do not plan excursions from the boat.  It is much cheaper to plan them before you go, or you can just get off the boat and wing it in most places.  Unless you want to be pushed into lines with name tags on and off the boat and shuttle buses, do not do the boat excursions.  It will be like a 4th grade field trip all over again.  

5.  The comedy shows are HILARIOUS typically.  Go to them.

6.  The game shows are lots of fun.  Norwegian definitely has the better game shows than other cruise lines.  

7.  Order as many appetizers, dinners, and desserts as you would like.  It is vacation- you can work off the calories when you get home.

8.  If your boat has a Spa Pass, get it.  You pay ~$120, and you get unlimited access to a spa lounge with jacuzzis, saunas, lounge chairs, cold/hot tubs, and much more.  Also you get the best views on the boat.  So whether you want to just lounge in silence and read a book or you want to relax in a non-crowded jacuzzi, the spa pass is for you.  You have to be 16 or 18 to get a pass, and they only sell a limited number for each cruise, so it does not get overcrowded.  The size of the spa varies per cruise, and some of the boats do not have one, so just check it out on the first day.

9.  Go on a spa/massage tour on the first day, but do NOT purchase a massage.  Take note which ones that you like, because throughout the week they will bring massage special papers to your room.  Do one of those- you get the best deal and a lot of them are combinations that they do not regularly offer. 

10.  Have fun- it is vacation.  Volunteer to go on stage.  Wave your napkin during the dinner chef parade.  Cry during the last day when you go to the Norwegian finale.  & most of all continue to say "Washy Washy" to everybody even when you get off the boat. Do it.  You won't regret it! :)

Norwegian Peal-July 2012.  Alaskan Cruise

Stay tuned for more details about this cruise and all of our amazing stops. 

Taylor