Norwegian Cruise Line Australia Guide

Norwegian Cruises Australia

Discover the Freedom of Freestyle Cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line Australia

Are you dreaming of a holiday where you can explore breathtaking destinations, enjoy world-class entertainment, and savor gourmet dining—all while having the freedom to make your own schedule? Look no further than Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Australia, a pioneer in "Freestyle Cruising" that lets you desgin your perfect vacation at sea. With the fantastic Norwegian Spirit offering cruises down under with departures from Sydney, you can explore Australia, the South Pacific, or New Zealand, NCL offers an unforgettable experience where you are in control of your holiday. Let’s look at why NCL Australia could be the perfect choice for your next cruise adventure!

Why Choose Norwegian Cruise Line Australia?

Founded in 1966, Norwegian Cruise Line has built a reputation for innovation, boasting one of the youngest and most modern fleets at sea. With a commitment to providing unparalleled flexibility, NCL’s Freestyle Cruising concept redefines the traditional cruise experience. Here’s why you should consider Norwegian Cruise Line Australia for your cruise down under:

1. Freestyle Cruising: Your Vacation, Your Way

Unlike traditional cruises with rigid schedules, NCL’s Freestyle Cruising lets you decide when, where, and how you want to enjoy your holiday. There are no fixed dining times, no assigned seating, and no strict dress codes. Want to dine at 9 PM with new friends you met onboard? Go for it. Prefer a casual meal by the pool? You’ve got it. With Freestyle Cruising, you follow your mood, not a timetable.

2. Great and wide choice of Itineraries from Australia

Norwegian Cruise Lines Australia offers a variety of exciting itineraries departing from Sydney and other regional ports, perfect for exploring Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Cruise to the bright blue waters of the South Pacific inlcluding Fiji , visit the stunning fjords of New Zealand’s South Island including Milford Sound. Popular ports of call include the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne, Tauranga, and Wellington, there is so much choice.

3. Award-Winning Entertainment with NCL

NCL’s ships are renowned for their Broadway style shows and wide entertainment options. From musicals like Choir of Man to game shows like Deal or No Deal, there’s always something going on. Norwegian Spirit is currently featuring the country and western themed Blazing Boots show and Ignite the night if you want to dance the night away or at themed parties like the H2 Glow party or the Social Comedy and Night Club.

4. Family-Friendly and Solo Traveler Options

NCL caters to every type of traveler. Children will love the kids clubs - Splash Academy for kids (ages 3–12) and Entourage for teens (ages 13–17), featuring activities like scavenger hunts, sports challenges, and video game lounges. Solo travellers can enjoy purpose-built cabins designed and priced for one, there are few cruise lines that offer this but you need to book early to grab the solo cabins.

5. More at Sea™ Package

Norwegian Cruises More at Sea package is unique and can offer huge value to help you relax on-board and not worry about your on-board spend. Depending on your stateroom, you can enjoy a premium beverage package, included specialty dining, shore excursion credits of $50 per port of call, enhanced high speed Wi-Fi powered by Starlink, and reduced rates for third and fourth guests in the room making that family holiday so much better value.

Norwegian Spirit: cruising the Australia region

The Norwegian Spirit is the main Norwegian cruise ship in the region for the Australian summer season, offering departures from Sydney. The ships 76,000 tonnes and has a guest capacity of 1,972 and crew of 904. Norwegian Spirit is an older ship, built in 1998 but was recently refurbished in 2022. Here’s what you can expect onboard:

- Dining Variety: Choose from multiple dining venues, from casual buffets (The Garden) to specialty restaurants serving everything from Italian (Onda by Scarpetta) to Asian fusion at Silk speciality restaurant. Freestyle Dining means you eat when and where you want, with no reservations required at the Windows restaurant or the fantastic The Local (classic pub fare including fish and chips). Speciality restaurants also include Cagney's Steakhouse and French cuisine at Le Bistro. There really is so much choice of eating on Norwegian Spirit since the refurbishment.

- Activities Galore: Relax by the pool, try your luck at Maharajah’s Casino Bar, try the luxury of Magnum's Champagne and Wine bar or unwind at the Mandara Spa®. For adults you can go to the Ibiza themed Spice H20 adult escape area or Henry's pub. For adventure seekers, the ship offers waterslides, a fitness center, and sports complexes. There are hot tubs, pools, gym and shopping galore.

- Stunning Itineraries: Sail to bucket-list destinations like the South Pacific, New Zealand or the Great Barrier Reef.

Practical Tips for Cruising with NCL Australia

1. Power Adapters: NCL ships have North American (110V) and European (220V) outlets. Australian travellers should bring a travel adapter for their devices.

2. Gratuities: For Australian passengers, gratuities are included in the fare, but additional tips for exceptional service are at your discretion.

3. NCL App: Download the free NCL app to plan your cruise, check restaurant availability, and book shore excursions without needing Wi-Fi onboard.

4. Themed Nights: Some cruises feature themed nights like so check your itinerary on the NCL website or app to pack accordingly.

Why not to cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines Australia?

Some of the onboard prices are high so even more reason to take the More at Sea all inclusive package and some the reviews on the shows since covid have been negative but from what we can see these are starting to improve again. For Aussies outside of Australian ports of call watch out for the tips that will be added per day to your cruise bill.

I would say overall Norwegian Spirit looks a great ship and there are some fantastic Australia departing cruise itineraries - get booking!