Norwegian Cruise Line

Time to Ditch the Rolex
Sometimes you just don’t want to follow the rest of the crowd. In everyday life, you follow a certain routine – get up at 6:30, arrive at work at 8:30, lunch at noon, leave at 6, and dinner at 8. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a vacation where you don’t have to be a slave to the clock? Well, wait no more because NCL’s Freestyle cruising may be just what the doctor ordered.

The sleek cruise ships of NCL deliver modern, contemporary cruising with a unique twist. Instead of fixed dining times, NCL offers Freestyle cruising which allows you to dine when and with whom you please in a variety of restaurants. You can select from up to 13 restaurants on board. All meals in the main restaurants are included in your fare. But most passengers choose to dine at the specialty restaurants several times during their cruise. The cover charge in the specialty restaurants is very modest in light of the dining experience – ranging between $10 and $20 per person. Options include a steakhouse, Teppanyaki (think Benihana), French Country Bistro, Italian Trattoria, Asian Fusion, All You Can Eat Sushi Bar, Tapas and Tex Mex. Advance reservations are available or you can call for same day arrangements. In the event that the restaurant of your choice is full, the maitre d’ can suggest alternatives using the ship’s computerized system or you can elect to take a pager that will alert you when your table is ready.

Norwegian Cruise Line has carefully arranged the entertainment and activity schedules to complement the Freestyle dining approach with extra shows and more convenient timing of activities. In addition to the Freestyle features, NCL has not left out any of the traditional trappings found on conventional cruises – large casinos, vast pool decks, complete spa and workout areas, internet cafes, shopping arcades and more. And on their newest ships, they’ve thrown in something not found anywhere else at sea – regulation bowling alleys in a vibrant entertainment complex.

NCL operates a fleet of 14 ships to destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Europe, Bermuda, and (under sister brand NCL America) inter-island Hawaii cruises.