Embarkation & First Day Tips
Arrive early for embarkation to get a nice indoor seat at the Garden Cafe for lunch; arriving by 10:45 AM is a good time.
Skip the Ship Tour overview talk at the Stardust Theater unless you are new to cruising/NCL.
Don't miss the sail away party right after the mandatory safety drills. There is BBQ & you also get a great view of the port you are sailing away from. For instance when sailing out of New York, you will enjoy the Gem passing by Statue of Liberty and sailing under Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
Get extra minutes by purchasing an internet plan on the first day. Note that if you are on a cruise where there are many ports within your cell phone's data coverage, you may not even need many minutes, or even need to buy any.
Go to the front desk and ask for a free ship pin even if you are not Silver/Gold/Platinum, and they might give you one
Feel free to ask your room steward to provide you with extra towel(s), linen, tissue box, etc.
Food/Dining Tips
Arrive 15 minutes early at the chocoholics buffet to get a seat and be sitting and enjoying while the massive rush of crowd is occurring.
Arrive 10 minutes early for dinner at Grand Pacific or Magenta Dining Room and be seated at a window table with beautiful view.
Don't miss lobster night. Usually it is the first night or the last night. Ask when it is so you know which other day(s) to go to a specialty restaurant.
In Magenta or the Grand Pacific Dining Room, feel free to ask for two appetizers or two main entrees to try dishes that sound delicious.
- The grilled Salmon entree is a tasty and healthy choice and is always available.
Excursions Tips
Save money by planning ahead and determining which places you would like to go in a particular port, and the cost to arrange your own transportation (or even walk there) vs what Norwegian Cruise Line charges. Walking, if you are able, allows you to explore and get a better cultural feel of the port once you are a good distance from the tourists area.
Also research ahead for cost of airport transfers from the ship to the airport; sometimes NCL offers a better price, but other times you can get a more comfortable car for the same price, or a shuttle/taxi for cheaper
