Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews 1,347

Awful food, same thing every single day and most inedible. Not enough outdoor seating. Uncomfortable seating only meant for looks. Everything is an extra fee. Do not waste your time or money on this awful cruise line.

Let me start by saying we are frequent cruiser’s. We decided to try NCL Getaway last minute. We were part of the “Haven” but were not in the Haven courtyard. To start with, our room dirty when we arrived….ok, it happens, but things just went down from there. Our Buttler did everything possible to avoid doing anything for us. We bought the premium drink package to find out that’s limited and you have to buy premium plus to get top shelf but you still need to pay taxes on drinks when your in port. The ship was filthy over crowded and overall disgusting. The food was so bad, even in the haven which was supposedly the best restaurant. I actually got sick the last night. The ship had a smell of dirty water. The staff was less than friendly. We have been on older ships before on different cruise lines and had a much more upscale experience. We paid for top of the line service and it was a week of just wanting to go home. Do not waste your money, Norwegian Getaway was a total nightmare. I do not know if newer ships on the NCL are better but after this experience I will never find out. One last thing, they buckle and dime you with everything.

I am extremely disappointed with Norwegian Cruise Line.

I booked a full package holiday (flights + cruise) departing from Brussels. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to complete the trip.

Despite contacting them immediately and following up multiple times, I have received no meaningful assistance, no responsibility, and no compensation.

As a package travel provider, Norwegian Cruise Line is legally responsible for the entire trip, yet they completely failed to support their customer.

This feels like being ignored in the hope that I will just give up. Very poor customer service and not what you expect from a global company.

Food was below par everywhere except in the Specialty restaurants. Limited variety, very poor presentation and overcooked. The buffet was mediocre and never hot.
The manager in the main dining room said the food quality was not as good in order to encourage guests to use the Specialty restaurants.
The seating provided is very uncomfortable.

The entertainment is below their previous standard and a little lack lustre.

Main pool area was not filled despite calm seas and in port.

NCL does not have an avenue to deal/escalate customer complaints. You are kept transferring in a circle of not me, nor have we have never had any response from our letters. After 5 cruises with NCL, we have finally said NO more, even though we are 2 points short of Platinum. The Spirit is “tired”.

I was on the Dawn 3/8-3/15/26. The cruise was terrible, black mold on 6th floor windows, ship was dirty, poor service, food was terrible, took 2.5 hours to get off the ship, and the staff was rude. I have been on 12 other cruises with no complaints. I reached out to the cruise line before I left this review. They said I had nothing to substantiate my complaints. Lol. This was my first and last on Norwegian.

I booked a group cruise for 8 people spending over $20,000.00. Offers that were supposed to be part of the purchase either were not honored or they fell short of being fulfilled. Stay away from their new plus package if you have a 21 year old adult and a person between the age of 19 and 21 in a shared room. Double check all confirmations you are sent. Take no one's word for anything. Check out all rooming policies on your own before trusting them to make the reservations. Bring copies of all paperwork with you and make sure your cruise travel agent is knowledgeable and not a newbie. Do not expect any help from the on ship customer service. They will tell you to contact Norwegian main office when you get home and your trip is a bad memory to the person who paid for it.

This is not the first time I write about the spas operated by One World / London Wellness Academy. They employ professionals without a doubt but each experience i have had is filled with fear and trepidation by the therapist or hairstylist....one can feel their desperation....I asked my therapist on NCL Getaway if it was fun to work on board...the response was 100% negative...forced to scream and shout over hordes of embarking passengers to fill one's booking columns or face degradation by management...adults being treated with no respect whatsoever my therapist almost broke down but I gave a hug which seemed to help...spa revenue personnel frequently visit the vessel or call the spa and berate the employees using foul language....is this why Steiner changed its name and is now in different clothing. I will NEVER support this side of NCL again...disgusting avaricious attitude permeates the air the moment one enters the spa.....wellness is about just that ...wellness. .not greed. One day I hope customer service and satisfaction supersedes monetary gain at the expense of dignity.

My husband and I had a terrible experience with Norwegian. We booked flights through their NCL Air program, hoping it would ensure timely arrival at the ship. They scheduled our flights for the same day of embarkation. When our first flight was delayed due to weather, the airline rebooked our connecting flight to the next morning, causing us to miss the sailing. We repeatedly contacted Norwegian’s emergency hotline, facing dropped calls and long queues, while sitting at the airport panicking about missing our vacation. When we finally reached NCL, they offered an absurd option to down-line and meet the ship three days later, with multiple connections and overnight stays in various airports. Specifically, they wanted to fly us from Toronto to NYC, then to Atlanta, then to Miami (stay overnight), then to Honduras (stay overnight). They refused to cover a direct flight to the second port which would have allowed us to salvage 4 of the 7 days of our cruise. As mature travellers with health issues, we can’t endure long hours in multiple airports. It was beyond disappointing. We expected Norwegian to offer reasonable alternatives, but received empty apologies and unreasonable options. They only refunded gratuities and drink packages (about 25%) and refused to offer any credit for another cruise. In other words, they took no responsibility. This would have been our third NCL cruise in a year. As we enter retirement, planning annual cruises, Norwegian will never be our choice again.

NCL booked our flights to board the ship in Rome. We were delayed in Canada for 5 hours and the ship left without us. This was one of many disappointments. NCL told us to get new flights and transportation to the next port. They did not offer to pay any of it. It was not their fault but it was because of the tight connections. We had a group of 8 with us. It was a nightmare, trying to get everything setup in a foreign country to make it to the next port to catch the boat. We meet lots of others in the same boat that missed it.
I will NEVER go on another cruise with NCL. It was a VERY stressful vacation!!!

My husband and I recently sailed on the Norwegian Encore from March 7–14 for our first cruise experience, traveling with a group of 17 family members. Unfortunately, our vacation was significantly impacted by multiple service failures, health concerns, and unresolved onboard issues. I am writing to formally document our experience and request appropriate compensation and review of these concerns.
Dining & Service Issues
Our experience at Cagney’s Steakhouse was disappointing due to poor customer service. I had a voucher for two complimentary meals, and the waiter refused to honor it at our table, claiming it was assigned to another table. That table was actually part of our family group that had been separated due to party size. Rather than assisting or offering a solution, the interaction was handled rudely and created unnecessary stress.
Dining service overall was extremely slow and disorganized. At the Manhattan Restaurant, we waited approximately two hours for appetizers and an additional hour for our entrées. This occurred twice on separate evenings. Additionally, most restaurants — including the buffet — closed very early, leaving limited dining options for guests later in the evening.
Food Safety Concern
During our first night at Teppanyaki, the chef referred to the chicken being prepared as “salmonella chicken.” While initially assumed to be a joke, my husband, myself, and several members of our group became ill the following day. This raises serious concerns regarding food handling and safety practices onboard.
Stateroom Conditions
Our stateroom had a persistent sewage odor throughout the entire cruise. Despite reporting the issue, it was never properly resolved, making our cabin uncomfortable and negatively affecting our stay.
Inconsistent Staff Information
We received incorrect information from multiple staff members regarding the location of the smoking room on Deck 8, both stating it did not exist when it did. Guests should be able to rely on crew members for accurate guidance.
Additionally, smoking accommodations were extremely limited, with only two small designated sections available for a ship carrying over 4,000 passengers.
Overcrowded Amenities
The adults-only pool area was far too small for the number of passengers onboard, accommodating approximately 26 people and remaining constantly overcrowded. This made it nearly impossible to enjoy an advertised adult relaxation space.
Lack of First-Time Guest Support
As first-time cruisers, we were surprised that no orientation or ship tour was offered to help guests familiarize themselves with the ship’s layout and amenities.
Crew Morale
Aside from one exceptional crew member, most staff appeared disengaged and unhappy, which noticeably impacted the onboard atmosphere.
Positive Recognition
We would like to recognize our room steward, Gilbert, who provided outstanding service. He was attentive, professional, and consistently ensured our needs were met. He was the highlight of our experience and deserves recognition.
Given the number and severity of these issues — including illness, unresolved cabin sanitation concerns, poor service experiences, and overcrowded amenities, and constant hidden charges — our vacation did not meet reasonable expectations for a Norwegian Cruise Line experience. We may never cruise with this cruise line again. We were not the only people to complain about these things there were multiple people we spoke to on the very same cruise that had the same complaints and more.

We have been NCL cruisers since 2012. But it is sad to say we are ready to move our loyalties to another line. Based on the last cruise we took and our experience booking our next one:
>Inconsistent communication
>Poor communication
>App needs updating
>Food has gone down in quality
>Cabins are outdated
>NCL-sponsored excursions not organized
>Entertainment lack luster or not there at all
>Inconsistent service from cruise consultant

If it weren't for the friendly staff service on the ship itself, we would have given a lower rating.

Sadly, the next cruise we already booked will probably be our last on the NCL company.

Just got on the ship today and it’s horrible. I’m sick I’m stuck on this boat for a week. Horrible service, and they charge you for everything! 10.50 for 2 12 oz waters! Everything in the room is broken, you think you are paying for unlimited stuff but you are not. Just horrible

We had a wonderful time. Mexican Riviera 7 day cruise. The Bliss was beautiful. My one concern was the scam run by the fitness/spa offering metabolism advice. In reality they are selling supplements. We asked that NCL refund the 100 dollar charge. We hope they are responsive and will update review if they are.still giving 5 stars for food, facilities, service, and experience. Just don't let them rope you into high pressure sales. I believe NCL will take action to care for their customers as they made the rest of our trip stellar.

We booked a 5 day cruise on Norwegian Gem on March 4. We decided to upgrade to a 7 day cruise on March 7 to the Norwegian Joy. This trip would cost us 1,000 more than the original. You would think that would be a good business decision for them to allow this. Unfortunately after calling and speaking to management twice, we were still denied the opportunity to switch. Customer service could care less about telling us no. Just no exceptions is all they could say. Very disappointing. Will NEVER sail NCL again. Be careful ....read all the other reviews and then book RCL. We've been on many cruises and you will find much better customer service with other ships.

Worst cruise ever. Paid for 3 specialty meals,good luck getting reservations unless you want to eat at 9:30. Same with entertainment,early show full. Food was mediocre at best. Drinks were mostly water. Signed up for an open top bus tour,spent most of the tour in town stuck in heavy traffic and loud horns when it was supposed to be of forest and greenery. Two hours to get off ship as tenders were not ready and first one broke down half way to port.Only upside was the ship staff.

My issue is with the customer service travel agent. I signed up with a large group. I was promised 100.00 ship credit. When I was onboard cruise I realized I did not receive it. I emailed my agent ( Chris Riesgo) and was informed he was on vacation. I went to customer serviceon ship and they said I had to talk to agent. I called ncl office and they said they could due nothing and said I had to talk to supervisor. Meanwhile I am in Mexico and they put me on hold to where I had to finally had to hang up. I filled out after cruise form to complain and they responded they could do nothing for me. Bottom line is do not use ncl travel agents .
Karen

NCL Joy December 2025 sailing to Bahamas.
Buffet was inedible - chicken had an after taste, food was flavorless and stale.

18+ area had one hot tub which was gross - while sitting in it we had long pieces of someone else's hair tangled in our fingers and toes.

Our balcony suite had an overflowing non-functional toilet for the last day. Despite notifying the guest services desk multiple times, it was not fixed. We ended up having to relieve ourselves in the public washrooms. Eventually we were offered a 111 USD refund per person for the toilet not working. I signed a piece of paper on board agreeing to recieve the amount. The final tab reflected only 80USD refunded per person. Continuous follow up with their customer service for an explanation re: the discrepancy has been futile. I have been asking them to honor the amount I signed for and they have been refusing to do so. Spend your hard earned money elsewhere.

On the Norwegian Encore, played blackjack with the King’s Bounty side bet in their casino. Rules were printed in two places largely on the table. The side bet pays 1000:1 for two kings of spades versus the dealer’s blackjack. I bet $15 (maximum bet of $100 is allowed), hit the long shot, and they only paid me $5,000. The Pit Boss said it was “their policy.” No reasonable person would ever know that, especially with all the rules and payouts printed twice on the table. Very unjust and intentionally misleading.

On the Escape New Orleans round trip ... at 70 it was our first cruise and was full of hope... this was Mardi Gras Week so beware taxis not easy to find to the port and a 90 minute queue once there !Breakfast on board was ok but evenings its hard to find a show which isn't cancelled or changed be alert. Not many dining options unless you want to pay more... we paid £200 each for the vibe which was very noisy !! not impressed. Balcony was dirty and covered in old paint chips. Not easy to get evening drink without queuing at bars... wifi was next to hopeless... then 2 out of the 4 stops cancelled due to weather... however... the Viva was in port at Roatan ? Costa Maya the Carnival boat was in port ? so 50% cancelled. Staff were great but by now I was stir crazy... experienced cruisers said it was the worst line to choose... last gripe is disembarkation only Starbucks open... yes you pay for it.. No thanks NCL

Not my kind of cruise line, lack of professionalism. Cruise line needs lots of help with restaurants, activities and bands.