HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL
Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to food.
Back in 2000, the company introduced the concept of Freestyle Cruising, and with it, the idea of Freestyle Dining. Guests no longer were assigned to traditional early or late dinner seatings in the main dining rooms on Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships, but rather could decide when they wanted to eat and with whom.
The cruise line also began to roll out specialty restaurants — smaller, cuisine-specific dining venues such as the French-themed Le Bistro and Cagney’s Steakhouse — that passengers could reserve for an additional cover charge.
For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.
Today, passengers will find more than three dozen dining options, including 21 that require a cover charge or feature a la carte pricing, on board NCL’s 17 ships. While the cruise fare covers a number of restaurants, specialty restaurants requiring an extra charge are popular, and new specialty restaurants are introduced with each class of ship.
The onboard restaurant lineup also varies by ship, with those in the Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes having a larger selection than the line’s older, smaller ships.
How do you make sense of it all? We’ve compiled a rundown of all the Norwegian Cruise Line food options, from coffee and gelato shops to a la carte restaurants where the tab can easily top $150 for two. Here’s what’s included, what you’ll pay extra for and the ships that feature each dining venue.
merican Diner
American Diner aboard Norwegian Encore. JIM HUGHES PHOTOGRAPHY/NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Included; lunch and dinner
This 1950s-inspired diner featured on all six ships in NCL’s Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes offers quintessential midcentury comfort foods — from cheeseburgers and meatloaf to chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs. Desserts include bread pudding and carrot walnut cake. The food is now all free (Norwegian made this change in early 2024), but if you want to wash it down with a milkshake, you’ll need to pay up.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy
trium CafeA la carte; coffee and snacks
Atrium Cafe is a coffee and cocktail bar that serves hot and cold beverages along with a selection of cookies, pastries and other snacks. Alternately, some NCL ships feature Starbucks cafes.
Available on: Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun
Cadillac Diner
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
You’ll have to head to Hawaii to enjoy the barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches and more served up retro-style in the Cadillac Diner. This venue, with its funky black-and-white checkered floor and vinyl booths wedged between two sections of a vintage red sedan, is found exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America. It’s open 24 hours a day, and everything is complimentary except for the milkshakes.
Available on: Pride of America
Cagney’s Steakhouse
A la carte; dinner
One of NCL’s most popular specialty restaurants, Cagney’s features a classic steakhouse menu with plenty of options for seafood lovers as well. The stars are the cuts of aged certified Angus beef (rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse and New York strip) with a choice of sauces and side dishes such as truffle mashed potatoes and sauteed garlic mushrooms. Other options include cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Australian lamb chops. Save room for the OMG Caramel-Butterscotch Cheesecake.
Available: Fleetwide (except Norwegian Sky)
Related: The best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants
Chinese restaurant
Included; dinner, plus lunch on select days
If you’re craving shrimp dumplings or a bowl of stir-fried noodles with beef, a number of older Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a complimentary Chinese restaurant where you can get your fix. Names vary by ship — you’ll find Bamboo on Dawn, Shanghai’s on Epic, Orchid Garden on Gem, Jasmine Garden on Jade, Chin Chin on Jewel, Lotus Garden on Pearl, Silk on Spirit, Ginza on Star and East Meets West on Pride of America — but the menus are similar.
Available on: Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit and Star
Coco’s
Coco’s. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
A la carte; snacks and treats
A cross between an ice cream parlor and a candy shop, Coco’s features an array of treats — chocolates from around the world, milkshakes, crepes and more — to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss and Encore
Dolce Gelato
A la carte; snacks and treats
When it’s midafternoon and the sun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean is blazing, you can head to this takeaway counter on Deck 8 for a cup or cone of irresistibly creamy gelato.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape and Getaway
Food Republic
A la carte; dinner and lunch on sea days
This globally inspired specialty restaurant with an Asian-Latin fusion theme remains popular almost a decade after its debut on Norwegian Escape. You’ll want to order multiple dishes to share family-style from Food Republic‘s menu sections: Sushi Bar (eight different rolls), Hand Helds (everything from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos), Sharing Is Caring (grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, salt and pepper calamari and more), Noodles/Rice/Soups (shrimp pad thai to Vietnamese Pho Tai) and Sugar Pump (desserts featuring green tea, chocolate and ginger caramel).
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva
Garden Cafe
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
Sometimes, the buffet is the answer. It’s perfect when you get on board the first day and need to grab a quick bite before you explore the ship or when you arrive back after a daylong shore excursion and want to refuel right away without having to change clothes. Garden Cafe offers plenty of options, including carved meats or grilled fish with assorted side dishes, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, and desserts. Most items are precooked and kept warm under heat lamps, so it’s not the freshest option, but it’s usually packed at breakfast and lunch with guests who like the all-you-can-eat portions.
Available: Fleetwide (except Norwegian Prima and Viva)
Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime
Hasuki
Cover charge; dinner
This is a slightly more elevated version of NCL’s Teppanyaki restaurant. You’ll be seated with other guests around a grill, and as you dine on edamame, miso soup and seaweed salad, the chef will prepare your entree (a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with great flair. These fresh-from-the-grill proteins are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables, and the dessert that follows is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi.
Available on: Norwegian Prima and Viva
Hudson’s
Hudson’s restaurant aboard Norwegian Prima. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
This circular, light-filled space debuted on Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a new main dining room option. It features the same daily rotating menu as the second main dining room, the Commodore Room, but what sets this venue apart is its bright-and-airy ambience, courtesy of 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows.
Available on: Norwegian Prima and Viva
Indulge Food Hall
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
This new casual dining concept, also introduced on Norwegian Prima, quickly became a popular alternative to the Surfside Cafe buffet (see below) for both lunch and dinner; at breakfast, it serves a similar but more limited menu as Surfside. The appeal of Indulge Food Hall is the variety — there are more than four dozen menu items from seven vendors: Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie and Tamara — served in small-plate portions. You can enjoy chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered from your table via a tablet.
Available on: Norwegian Prima and Viva
Related: 11 venues, 32 dishes, 4 days: I tested every eatery at Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Indulge Food Hall so you don’t have to
La Cucina
A la carte; dinner
La Cucina was Norwegian’s sole Italian specialty restaurant until the launch of Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Encore in 2018, and the two restaurants are quite different. La Cucina is the more traditional, featuring classic Italian favorites — caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore and osso buco alla Milanese — while Onda’s menu focuses on more finessed modern Italian dishes.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Joy, Pearl, Sky, Star and Sun
Le Bistro
A la carte; dinner
Like Cagney’s, NCL’s French fine-dining restaurant is a longtime favorite that’s featured fleetwide (it’s called Jefferson’s Bistro on Pride of America). Popular with couples for special occasion dinners, Le Bistro features everything from steak tartare and escargot to braised lamb shank and roasted duck breast. With its a la carte pricing, this is among the richest (and costliest) dining experiences on board, especially if accompanied by a bottle of Champagne or other French wine. Le Bistro restaurants on Norwegian Prima and Viva are especially atmospheric, with dramatic large-scale chandeliers and elegant ivory-and-blue decor.
Available: Fleetwide
Los Lobos
Los Lobos. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
A la carte; dinner
Vibrant decor and sophisticated Mexican cuisine that goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex fare make Los Lobos an appealing option if you’re sailing on one of the six ships that feature it. The guacamole, made fresh tableside, is a must. Other menu options include Mexican-style shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, nopales (cactus) salad, chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil (slow-braised pork). Top it all off with a tres leches cake with coconut cream.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Dawn, Encore, Prima, Sun and Viva
Main dining room
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature at least two main dining rooms, and sometimes even three. Names vary by ship — although the six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships all feature the Manhattan Room, plus Savor and Taste, and Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have the Commodore Room and Hudson’s. Menus change daily throughout the cruise and feature a selection of American and international dishes.
Available: Fleetwide
Moderno Churrascaria
Cover charge; dinner
Carnivores can devour their fill of a variety of meats the traditional Brazilian way as gauchos carve and serve cuts of beef, lamb, pork, sausage and chicken right at the table. Those who prefer to limit their meat intake can fill up instead at the salad bar, which features 43 items. White rice, black beans, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca and Brazilian cheese bread are also served as side dishes.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star and Sun
Nama Sushi & Sashimi
A la carte; dinner
Another new restaurant to debut on Norwegian Prima, Nama Sushi & Sashimi doesn’t veer too far from its name, serving six different sushi rolls (from yellowtail to rock shrimp), three sashimi options and a variety of appetizers, most of which feature raw fish. Even the dessert — pineapple carpaccio — is uncooked.
Available on: Norwegian Prima and Viva
Ocean Blue
A la carte; dinner
Ocean Blue is an elegant seafood restaurant featured on NCL’s six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. (It’s known as Bayamo by Ocean Blue on Norwegian Escape.) Guests can savor appetizers such as crabcakes, pan-seared scallops and an ahi tuna and avocado tower, followed by steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini or simply grilled fish (salmon, tuna, cod or sea bass) served with a choice of sauces. All Ocean Blue restaurants are located on Deck 8 and feature indoor and outdoor seating on The Waterfront.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy
Onda by Scarpetta
Onda restaurant aboard Norwegian Encore. JIM HUGHES PHOTOGRAPHY/NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
A la carte; dinner
Modern Italian cuisine is the centerpiece of Onda by Scarpetta, another of NCL’s elevated specialty dining options and the sister restaurant to land-based Scarpetta. Introduced in 2019 on Norwegian Encore and more recently rolled out on the line’s newest ships (plus at least one older vessel), Onda by Scarpetta indulges with antipasti starters such as burrata, short ribs and braised octopus, a half dozen pasta options (including pappardelle Bolognese and Scarpetta’s famous spaghetti with tomato and basil) and finally gets around to secondis such as veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The main question will be: Do you have room for dessert?
Available on: Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit and Viva
O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill
Included; 24-hour dining
This lively and social pub-style eatery overlooks the buzzing three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships and is also featured on seven older NCL ships. It’s open 24 hours a day and serves comfort classics such as burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, beef chili and loaded nachos.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Star
Palomar
A la carte; dinner
One of NCL’s newest dining venues, Palomar celebrates the Mediterranean with a menu featuring lots of Greek influences. Seafood dishes outnumber meat options and include tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, le puy lentils, clams and pistachio pesto. Desserts include Greek yogurt sorbet with orange custard pie.
Available on: Norwegian Prima and Viva
Pincho Tapas Bar
A la carte; dinner
This unique Spanish-style tapas bar is found on only one ship in the Breakaway Class and fits in with the ship’s overall Miami/Latin-influenced theme. Head to Pinchos if you’re looking to enjoy small-plate dishes such as blue crab salad and bacon-wrapped dates, as well as chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops and more served a la plancha. Wash it all down with a Spanish red, a glass of sangria or a signature Matador cocktail.
Available on: Norwegian Escape
Pool Grill
Included; casual lunch
Three Norwegian ships feature a pool grill (all with different names) that’s open for lunch and late afternoon snacks. The venue serves casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs and french fries.
Available on: Norwegian Dawn, Gem and Pride of America
Q Texas Smokehouse
A Q Texas Smokehouse pulled pork sandwich from Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Viva. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
A la carte; dinner
This barbecue eatery debuted on Norwegian Bliss in 2018, and its menu features smoked meats (pit classics like brisket, pulled pork and beef short ribs), as well as calorific sides (loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings and macaroni and cheese). You can also enjoy live country music and even sweat off the excess calories by dancing (before ordering pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert). A more limited menu is available for free as part of Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva — but you’ll need to dance elsewhere.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy
Savor (and Taste)
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
These two restaurants on all six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships are essentially smaller-scale main dining rooms. They are located across from each other on Deck 6 and feature lunch and dinner menus that change daily.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy
Shanghai’s Noodle Bar
Included; lunch and dinner
This casual dining venue serves a selection of freshly prepared and wok-fried Asian noodle and rice dishes, from pork pot stickers and steamed vegetable dumplings to Singapore-style rice noodles and udon noodles in broth.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway, Epic and Getaway
Sports Bar
Included; casual pub fare
While most NCL ships, with the exception of Pride of America, have a pub-style complimentary eatery — either O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill or The Local Bar & Grill — one older outlier has Sports Bar. Like the other eateries, this venue is free and features comfort classics such as Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings and fish and chips.
Available on: Norwegian Sun
Starbucks
Starbucks on Norwegian Viva. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
A la carte; coffee, breakfast and snacks
NCL wasn’t the first cruise line to feature the well-known coffee chain (that would be Royal Caribbean), but it now has the most Starbucks cafes on board its ships. Guests can purchase frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews and many of the other coffee, tea and breakfast and pastry items that are available on land.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky and Viva
Surfside Cafe & Grill
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
With the debut of Norwegian Prima, NCL evolved its buffet-style restaurant (known as Garden Cafe on most ships) to Surfside Cafe & Grill. The Deck 17 space is notably smaller, though, due to the fact that Prima Class ships also feature Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill as complimentary casual dining options. The reduced size does result in some overcrowding, especially at breakfast, with overflow guests directed to find seats in the adjacent Food Republic space.
Available on: Norwegian Prima and Viva
Teppanyaki
Cover charge; dinner
All but three NCL ships feature Teppanyaki, a Benihana-style Japanese restaurant where the live-action preparation is integral to the experience. You’ll be seated around a grill as your chef prepares your entree (either chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with dramatic flair. You’ll start with miso soup and seaweed salad, and all entrees are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Dessert is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi. Hasuki replaces Teppanyaki on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Encore, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun
The Bake Shop
A la carte; snacks and treats
A sugar rush is practically guaranteed at The Bake Shop, a Deck 8 confectionery selling assorted bonbons (with fillings from passion fruit to praline), cupcakes (more than a dozen options, including red velvet, chocolate-pistachio and lemon merengue) and French macarons in a dozen flavors.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore and Getaway
The Great Outdoors
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Included; lunch
This outdoor casual buffet on seven Norwegian Cruise Line ships has a come-as-you-are dress code and serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other items for guests who want to enjoy some ocean scenery with their lunch.
Available on: Norwegian Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Sun
The Haven Restaurant
Included for guests booked in The Haven; breakfast, lunch and dinner
If you book a suite in The Haven, the exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave found on every new NCL ship since it was introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010, you’ll enjoy access to The Haven Restaurant. Open only to Haven guests, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus here do not change, but there are generally enough options (a dozen appetizers and 10 entrees at dinner, for example) that you can dine here multiple times without repeating a dish or running out of interesting dishes to try.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy, Prima and Viva
The Local Bar & Grill
Included; 24-hour dining
The Local Bar & Grill is a favored hangout for sports telecasts and trivia contests, as well as a go-to for guests when anytime-hunger strikes. Like its comfort food sibling O’Sheehans’s Bar & Grill, its 24-hour menu features breakfast, all-day and late-night items that include omelets, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish and chips and loaded nachos.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit and Viva
The Raw Bar
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
A la carte; dinner
Located adjacent to Ocean Blue, this casual option with counter seating serves oysters, clams, shellfish and crudos (salmon tartare, black sea bass ceviche and more), as well as wines by the glass and a selection of desserts.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway
Topsiders Bar & Grill
Included; casual pool grill with varying hours
Five older NCL ships feature Topsiders Bar & Grill, a poolside venue serving burgers, hot dogs, french fries and other takeaway items.
Available on: Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Star
Wasabi (or Sushi)
A la carte; dinner
This contemporary sushi bar — called either Wasabi or Sushi, depending on the ship — is the spot for cocktails, sake and Japanese specialties that include sesame seaweed salad, sushi and specialty rolls, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. On Prima Class ships, you’ll find Nama Sushi & Sashimi with a different menu.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun
FAQs about NCL dining
Is Norwegian Cruise Line’s food free?
You can dine for free during your cruise at any of the complimentary dining venues on board NCL ships. There are typically four to six included dining venues per ship, several of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Is there a main dining room?
Yes, all NCL ships feature a main dining room — some have as many as three — and Freestyle Dining means you can choose when to dine (within the specified breakfast, lunch and dinner hours).
Do I need to make reservations?
You do not need to make reservations for the main dining rooms or casual venues like O’Sheehan’s or the buffet. However, you can make reservations for the main dining rooms if you’d prefer to eat at a specific time and wish to avoid long wait times during the most popular dinner hours.
Sit-down specialty restaurants always require a reservation. The sooner you can make one, the better. You can book specialty dining online via the cruise line’s website or app or by calling Norwegian reservations. You can also reserve when you get on board, but you risk that the more popular eateries will already be fully booked, especially during the peak summer and holiday periods. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available, but you’ll likely need to show up early or late to snag a table.
Does Norwegian offer room service?
Yes, NCL offers 24-hour room service, but you will be charged a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per delivery, with the exception of morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests staying in The Haven. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will also be added for noncomplimentary beverages and special occasion items delivered to your room.
How much does specialty dining cost?
It varies by restaurant. At venues with a la carte pricing, such as Cagney’s, Ocean Blue, Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro, it’s easy to rack up a bill of $80 per person, not including beverages. NCL’s sushi restaurants are also a la carte, as is Food Republic. Two people with an average appetite can dine at both for around $50 to $60 per person, not including beverages. Other venues, such as Teppanyaki and Moderno Churrascaria, feature a set cover charge of $59 per person.
Does NCL offer specialty dining packages?
Yes and if you like a variety of cuisines and plan to dine at two or more extra-charge restaurants, purchasing a specialty dining package makes sense.
These range in price from $99 per person for a two-meal package to $469 per person for a 14-meal package. The price per meal gets lower the more meals you purchase — from $49.50 per dinner on a two-meal package to $33.50 per dinner for 14 meals. Even the four-meal package at $169 per person is a good deal at $42.25 per dinner, given the a la carte pricing greatly exceeds that (for three courses) at most specialty restaurants and eateries with cover charges are priced at $59 per person.
Also, a select number of specialty dining meals are typically included with NCL’s Free at Sea booking promotion.
What about service charges?
A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will automatically be added to the cost of your specialty dining package when you purchase it or to your onboard dining charge if you pay a la carte or a flat cover charge.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise shipA beginners guide to picking a cruise lineThe 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise shipThe ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruiseA quick guide to the most popular cruise lines21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly15 ways cruisers waste moneyThe ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabinTitle: Norwegian Cruise Line food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/guide/norwegian-cruise-line-food-restaurants/
Published Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:30:07 +0000
No comments:
Post a Comment