Culture Discovery Cruises
An infinity pool looking out to sea aboard a Norwegian ship
Popular Cruise Line

Norwegian

Freestyle cruising with no fixed dining times, no assigned seats and no dress code to speak of.

The line

The line that freed the cruise schedule

Norwegian Cruise Line built its identity around freedom. Its Freestyle Cruising concept did away with fixed dinner times, assigned tables and strict dress codes, and let guests eat, play and relax on their own schedule. That flexibility still defines the experience.

Founded in 1966 as Norwegian Caribbean Line and based in Miami, NCL is the namesake brand of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also owns the premium line Oceania and the luxury line Regent Seven Seas. NCL itself is a contemporary, mainstream line rather than a luxury one.

The fleet runs to around twenty ships, led by the Prima and Prima Plus classes, with recent additions Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna. Many ships feature The Haven, a keycard-only suite complex that acts as a quiet retreat within the larger ship.

Style
Freestyle, casual
Fleet
About 20 ships
Guests
Roughly 2,000 to 3,600
Fares
Cruise only
Sails to
Worldwide
Founded
1966, Miami
In a word

Norwegian is the line for people who do not want a schedule, and its Haven suites hide a calm little world at the top of a busy ship.

A Norwegian stateroom with a sea view

From studios to The Haven

Norwegian offers one of the widest cabin ranges at sea, from solo-friendly studio cabins built for single travelers to family staterooms and spacious balcony rooms. It was the line that made cruising alone genuinely affordable.

At the top sits The Haven, a private, keycard-only enclave of suites with its own lounge, restaurant, pool and concierge. Like a ship within a ship, it gives guests a quiet, upscale base while the rest of the vessel buzzes below.

A Norwegian top-deck venue lit up at night

Eat when you like, do what you like

Freestyle dining means no set times and no assigned tables. Ships carry many restaurants, from included main dining rooms and buffets to specialty venues spanning steak, sushi, French and more, and you decide when and where each night.

Entertainment matches that variety, with Broadway-caliber shows on some ships, go-kart tracks, laser tag, water slides and lively bars and nightlife. The atmosphere is casual and up to you to shape.

A sprawling top deck aboard a Norwegian ship

A fleet that sails almost everywhere

Norwegian sails a broad map, from the Caribbean, Alaska and Bermuda to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Hawaii and beyond. Pride of America, based year round in Hawaii, is one of the few ways to island-hop the islands by ship.

Many Caribbean sailings call at Great Stirrup Cay, the line private Bahamas island. With so many ships and regions, we help you match the right ship, cabin and route, including whether The Haven is worth it for you.

Since Norwegian sails the Italian coast, it is easy to add a week in the Tuscan countryside before or after your cruise.

Booking Norwegian with CDV

Why book through us

Exclusive Norwegian value

Group amenities and onboard credit on Norwegian sailings that you will not find booking direct.

Combinable offers

Our exclusive value can usually be layered with Norwegian's current promotions, plus full loyalty credit.

Cruise specialists

Advisors who know the fleet and match the right ship, cabin and itinerary, Haven or not, to you.

Seamless land and sea

Because we run our own tours ashore, we make it easy to add a Culture Discovery land tour where your voyage begins or ends.

Pair your voyage with a land tour

Sail the Mediterranean, then settle into Tuscany

Norwegian runs a full Mediterranean season, with sailings that often touch Italian ports. Add a week ashore with Culture Discovery and you can turn a fast port call into a real stay in the Tuscan countryside, among its food, wine and hill towns.

Frequently asked questions

What is Norwegian Cruise Line known for?

Norwegian is known for Freestyle Cruising, its flexible approach that drops fixed dining times, assigned seating and formal dress codes. It is also known for innovative big ships, a huge choice of restaurants and bars, and The Haven, a private suite retreat within the ship.

Is Norwegian a luxury cruise line?

No. Norwegian is a contemporary, mainstream line, not a luxury one, though The Haven suites offer a genuinely upscale experience within the ship. Its parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, owns the premium line Oceania and the luxury line Regent Seven Seas separately.

How many ships does Norwegian have?

Norwegian operates around twenty ships as of 2026. The newest belong to the Prima and Prima Plus classes, including Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, with more on order.

What is The Haven?

The Haven is Norwegian ship-within-a-ship, a keycard-only complex of suites with a private lounge, restaurant, pool, sun deck and concierge and butler service. Guests enjoy the wider ship when they like but have a quiet, upscale base to return to.

Is Norwegian good for solo travelers?

Yes. Norwegian pioneered the studio cabin, a compact room designed and priced for one person, often with access to a shared studio lounge. It remains one of the best mainstream lines for cruising alone without paying a heavy single supplement.

Where does Norwegian sail?

Norwegian sails a broad map, including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Bermuda, Mexico, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Hawaii. Pride of America sails Hawaii year round, and many Caribbean routes visit Great Stirrup Cay, the line private island.

What is included in a Norwegian fare?

A Norwegian fare covers your stateroom, main dining and buffet meals and most entertainment and activities. Specialty dining, drinks packages, wifi, excursions and gratuities are extra, though NCL often runs Free at Sea style promotions that bundle several of these in. We confirm exactly what your fare includes.

How much does a Norwegian cruise cost?

Fares vary by ship, cabin, length and season, and promotions can change what is bundled in. Rather than quote a misleading number, we price your specific sailing and secure the best available CDV value. Request a complimentary quote and we will lay out the real numbers.

Ready to sail with Norwegian?

Complimentary quote, exclusive CDV value, and a specialist who plans it around you.