Buckle up for another salty (in more ways than one!) adventure with yours truly! This time, I’m setting sail on uncharted waters (well, almost) with Norwegian Cruise Line! With nearly 100 cruises under my belt, there are just three of the mass-market lines that sail from North America that I haven’t experienced yet. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Princess Cruises, and Virgin Voyages – these three have stubbornly remained unchecked on my cruise line bucket list for a while, but hat’s about to change!
The first of those three I’m going to check off is NCL, followed by a Princess cruise over the Christmas holidays. I tend to book most of my trips very last minute, and list my upcoming trips here on my site. But enough of that, let’s talk about the Freestyle fun on Norwegian!
Norwegian Cruise Line: Where Freedom Reigns Supreme
NCL’s claim to fame? Freestyle Cruising where you get to ditch the rigid schedules! With Freestyle, you’re the captain of your own cruisey destiny. Dine whenever your heart (or stomach) desires at whichever specialty restaurant tickles your fancy. No more pre-assigned seating or fixed meal times – it’s all about flexibility and creating your perfect cruise experience.
Did you know they used to have American-flagged ships cruising around the Hawaiian islands? They weren’t just dipping their toes into the island paradise – they used to have a whole fleet specifically designed for the Hawaiian market!
Built for American passengers and crewed by American sailors, they even had a special name: “Pride of America” class ships and there were two of them, Pride of America and Pride of Aloha (remember that name!). Sadly, things changed, and NCL eventually downsized their Hawaiian operation leaving just Pride of America to sail year-round in Hawaii, offering inter-island adventures. So, while NCL doesn’t quite have the same Hawaiian footprint it once did, the legacy lives on in this lone ship.
Now, back to our current adventure!
Setting Sail on the Storied Norwegian Sky
My upcoming Caribbean cruise will be aboard the Norwegian Sky, a seasoned sailor launched back in 1999. Don’t let her age fool you though – the Sky has quite the travelogue! Now the second-oldest ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, the Sky has a storied past that’s as intriguing as the destinations it sails to.
The story of the Norwegian Sky begins in the mid-1990s when it was originally ordered by Costa Cruises, an Italian cruise line, and named Costa Olympia. However, due to financial difficulties faced by the shipyard, the construction was halted, and the incomplete hull sat idle for a few years. Norwegian Cruise Line saw an opportunity and purchased the hull, completing the ship at another shipyard and renaming it Norwegian Sky.
She was officially launched in 1999, marking the beginning of its journey as a cruise ship. With a passenger capacity of around 2,000, the ship was designed to offer a comfortable and enjoyable experience, featuring numerous dining options, entertainment venues, and leisure facilities. The ship quickly became a favorite among cruisers for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse amenities.
In 2004, the Norwegian Sky underwent a significant transformation and was rebranded as… remember that name I told you to remember… Pride of Aloha. The ship was refitted to reflect Hawaiian culture and aesthetics, and it began sailing seven-day inter-island cruises in Hawaii. However, the Pride of Aloha faced several challenges, including crew issues and financial difficulties, leading to its withdrawal from the Hawaiian market in 2008. The ship was then refurbished and reverted to its original name, Norwegian Sky, returning to its roots in the Caribbean and other popular cruise destinations.
Despite its age, the Norwegian Sky has undergone multiple refurbishments to ensure it meets modern standards of comfort and entertainment. The most recent major refit was in 2019, during which the ship received significant updates to its public areas, cabins, and dining venues.
How well is she’s maintained and is she’s too dated when compared to today’s much more modern cruise ships? I’m looking forwarding to finding out!
A Last-Minute Birthday Bash with a Surprise Cabin
This 9-day Caribbean round trip from Miami was a bit of a birthday surprise! Looking for a celebratory escape, I stumbled upon this itinerary with a price tag that practically screamed “book me!” The only snag? The only rooms available were guaranteed inside staterooms. So, the exact location of my cabin remains a mystery until I board, and maybe a birthday upgrade to at least an ocean view is in the cards!
While Norwegian Sky doesn’t have dedicated solo staterooms like some of their newer ships do, a promotion took 70% off the price of the second person in the stateroom, so unlike the normal 200% single supplement when booking a double occupancy stateroom, this was 130% which is practically unheard of these days.
Plus, the promotion came with Open Bar, one specialty dining credit, 150 minutes of non-streaming WiFi, and a $50 shore excursion credit. All that and more will be covered in my daily trip reports, especially my thoughts on the crazy dumb WiFi inclusion.
Island Hopping Through the Caribbean Paradise
This itinerary is jam-packed with port stops, leaving just two days out of 9 at sea as we sail to these ports:
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
- St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
- St. John, Antigua
- St. Maarten
- San Juan
- Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (NCL’s private island)
Hoping for the Best with Norwegian Sky
Even though it’s one of their older vessels, I’m looking forward to experiencing NCL for the first time. I’m eager to see how NCL stacks up in terms of service, entertainment, and dining compared to the other line’s mega-ships I usually frequent. Plus, a smaller ship with around 2,000 passengers sounds like a welcome change.
Stay tuned for daily reports throughout this exciting adventure! Where I’ll dive deeper into the “Free at Sea” package (open bar, anyone?), explore the hidden gems of the Norwegian Sky, and share my thoughts on this old lady of the sea.