Frequently asked questions
We’ve got answers to your frequently asked questions At NCL, we want planning your holiday to be as carefree as your cruise. Almost everything you need is already taken care of. So relax and read on. It's all in the planning How many suitcases can I take? Will my electrical appliances work on board? What extras do I need to budget for? How can I celebrate a special occasion? How do I organise a cruise for a group? What if I have medical requirements or am disabled? Can you accommodate a special diet? Are NCL cruises suitable for families? What are NCL's age requirements? Embarkation Day Will someone help me with my luggage? I've received an on-board credit - how can I spend it? What do I need to know about life on board Can I phone home from the ship? Is there a doctor in the house? Is there an age restriction for drinking alcohol? Can I bring my own alcoholic drinks aboard? What do I do with valuables on board? How do I book shore excursions? Is there any chance of a rough sailing? Are there any pool restrictions? Disembarkation Day What happens on the last day of my holiday? It's all in the planning What shall I pack?NCL Freestyle Cruising is not too dressy, not too casual. We call it “resort casual”. You’ll call in being on holiday. By day, almost anything goes. Khakis, skirts, jeans, causal tops, shorts, or whatever is fine. Even if you’ve just been at the pool and don’t feel like changing… no worries. Swimwear with a cover-up is fine at the buffet and outdoor restaurant. At night, it’s relaxed all over the ship. When you’re ready for dinner, it’s collared shirts and trousers or nice jeans for men. Trousers or jeans, dresses, skirts and tops are perfect for women. Kids 12 and under are welcome to wear nice shorts in our restaurants whenever. If you want to dress up and add a little glamour when you dine out, feel free – we’ve reserved a dining room just for that. And, remember to pack a sweater – air conditioning can be chilly. Since all suitcases are collected the night before returning home, don’t forget an overnight bag for prescriptions and need-to-have items. Go ahead and toss in a change of clothes, because with Freestyle Disembarkation, you’ll have time in the morning for some last minute sunbathing, or even to grab a quick workout.
How many suitcases can I take? On all NCL ships, you can have up to 45kg of personal baggage per person. But remember, airlines do have their own checked baggage and hand luggage restrictions, so please check with the airline for details.
Medicines in their orginal containers, jewellery, fragile items, valuables and important documents should be carried in your hand luggage in their orginal containers. Please note: all suitcases are collected the night before disembarkation, so be sure to bring a smaller night bag for your essentials.
Will my electrical appliances work on board?Both 110 volts and 220 volts AC sockets are provided, but you will need an adaptor for British appliances. Hairdryers are provided in all staterooms & suites.
Do I need cash?It’s always worth having a small amount of local currency for immediate expenses on arrival at your destination and for any purchases you make at your ports of call. We also recommend you carry a major credit or charge card (American Express, Mastercard or Visa), or sufficient funds in U.S.$ travellers cheques which can be cashed on board. Credit and charge cards are widely accepted at destinations worldwide, but remember that proof of identity may be required in certain countries. Sorry, but personal cheques and £ sterling are not accepted on board. Cash machines, dispensing U.S.$ are available 24 hours a day with a fee of U.S.$5.50 for each transaction (subject to change).
What extras do I need to budget for?Extras on board, which are in U.S.$ include: Plus • Travel Insurance At some airports, departure tax has to be paid personally when you check in for your flight. Click here for more information.
Do I need travel insurance?Absolutely and you can find all the details here.
What about flights? Check out flights for all you need to know.
How can I celebrate a special occasion?Planning for a special occasion on board? We’Il help you celebrate in real style, find out more here.
How do I organise a cruise for a group?It’s easy to do, so if you’re bringing the whole family or any kind of group along find out how here.
What if I have medical requirements or am disabled?We’ll do our best to make special arrangements whenever we can. All we ask is advance notice so we can accommodate you. If, for any reason, you didn’t do this at the time of booking, please call NCL Guest Services on 0845 201 8907 to let us know. Guests who have mobility impairments should travel with someone who will take responsibility for any assistance needed during the cruise and in the event of an emergency. Such guests must sign a statement releasing NCL of any and all responsibility associated with their ability to use shipboard facilities and must provide a letter from their doctor certifying fi tness to travel. All of our ships have designated staterooms with wider doorways and bathrooms that accommodate wheelchairs. Guests requiring wheelchairs will need to bring their own on board and it should be small and collapsible. For hearing-impaired guests, we have staterooms with light alarms and under-pillow vibrating alarms. And for the vision-impaired, we allow registered guide dogs on all NCL ships (airline and international quarantine restrictions may apply and should be checked before booking your cruise). Please note: liquid oxygen is not permitted. One last thing: all guests who require medical equipment to be brought on board must advise NCL Guest Services before sailing. Failure to do so may result in equipment not being cleared before departure. For more infomation about special needs facilities available on our ships, find out more here
Can you accommodate a special diet?Special meals are available, including lowcalorie, vegetarian, gluten-free, no-MSG, low-/no-sodium and low-/no-cholesterol meals, as well as sugar-free and fat-free desserts and kosher meals. Requests for special diets should have been made at the time of booking and at least two months before departure. For any enquiries contact Guest Services on 0845 201 8907. Special diets cannot be guaranteed on flights and tours.
Are NCL cruises suitable for families?Absolutely perfect! We have fantastic children’s and teen’s activity programmes and lots of family friendly accommodation from interconnecting staterooms to Suites and Villas. Click here for more details. Just a couple of things to note for babies: We can provide cots for babies but to qualify for the Infant Fare they must be under the age of two on the day of sailing. And, sorry, we do not accept infants under the age of six months at the time of sailing.
What are NCL's age restrictions?Guests under 21 years of age must be accompanied in the same or connecting stateroom by a guest 21 years or older who agrees to be responsible for the younger guest throughout the cruise. This includes preventing under-age buying or drinking of alcohol, preventing under-age gambling and ensuring they don’t break any of the ship’s rules. Just one thing to remember – if you’re not the parent or legal guardian of the child or children travelling with you, you must obtain a Parent/Guardian Consent & Release Form (pdf) that authorises the minor’s travel and further authorises medical treatment in case of an emergency. This must be given to an NCL representative at the pier and failure to do so may result in boarding being denied, with no refund of the cruise fare. Please note: Two people under the age of 21 may travel together in the same stateroom without someone over the age of 21 in the same stateroom if they purchased the cruise under the family plan and have at least one person who is 21 years or older in the adjoining stateroom. The age limit will be waived for married couples less than 21 years of age provided proof of marriage is presented to an NCL representative at the pier.
Embarkation DayWhen can I get on board?We recommend that you arrive at the cruise terminal no earlier than one hour before the scheduled embarkation time printed on your cruise documents. Because of security regulations, guests may not be allowed Please note guests will not be allowed to board after check-in has been closed. Late arriving guests may join the ship at an approved port of call in the scheduled cruise itinerary. Travel to that subsequent port of call will be at the guests’ expense.
Will somone help me with my luggage?Yes, porters are available at the pier during embarkation and disembarkation hours. The customary tip for porters is U.S.$2.00 per bag in New York (subject to change) and U.S.$1 per bag (or the equivalent in local currency per bag in all other ports).
How do my bags get on board?We’ll take care of that and your luggage will be delivered direct to your stateroom. Just one thing, make sure you put your NCL luggage labels on your bags at the port.
How do I pay for my extras?Oh, this one’s easy. When you check-in you open a shipboard account by registering a major credit, VISA® debit or charge card – VISA®, MasterCard®, American Express®, Discover®, or JCB Card®. If you prefer to pay by cash or traveller’s cheques, you’ll need to lodge a deposit of U.S.$100 per person per day at check-in (subject to change). If using a debit card please be aware that the ship will gain pre-authorisation on the whole deposit amount, which may be held for up to 30 days depending on your length of cruise, from your preferred method of payment. Then, you simply sign for your personal expenses as you go and they will be charged to your account. To make things even easier, if you haven’t paid the service charge in advance this will also be charged to your on-board account. On the last morning of your cruise you can settle your account in cash (U.S.$ only), or if you have registered a card, the total amount will be automatically charged to that card.
I've received an on-board spend- how can I spend it?If you received your on-board spend through a promotion or group booking, it will be automatically added to your shipboard account and can be used towards personal on-board expenses (except the service charge and in the casino). But remember, if you don’t spend the full amount, we are unable to refund the balance.
What about tipping?That’s easy too. You will have either prepaid the service charge on your holiday invoice or it will be charged to your on-board account. In addition, a suggested gratuity of 15% on drink bills and 18% on spa and salon bills will be added automatically and charged to your on-board account. Click here to find out more.
What do I need to know about life on boardCan I phone home from the ship?Believe it or not, if you’ve got a mobile phone, you can probably use it aboard our ships. International roaming charges will apply. And, all of our ships have Internet Cafés with PC’s available to rent at nominal cost. You’ll find a variety of newspapers on board, too. Some ships offer Wi-Fi you can access with your own laptop or a rented one (we suggest sending “wish you were here” emails while you’re tanning by the pool). You can also telephone or fax anywhere in the world and be billed at the usual ship-to-shore rates. Telephone rates can be expensive and billing will commence as soon as you have dialled and the satellite connection is made. (Please refrain from bragging too much when in touch with people who are not currently on an NCL cruise). Friends, family and work associates back home can reach you via the personal email address we have printed on your cruise ticket. They can also dial you directly by calling 1.888.NC.SHIPS (from outside the U.S., dial 001.732.335.3280). NCL Ship Telephone & Fax Numbers When Calling from outside the United States: When calling from the United States: *Please use American Express, MasterCard and Discover Card, only.
Is there a doctor in the house?We hope you don’t need them, but we have a doctor and nurse on board all our ships and a charge will be made for their services. Please note that medical facilities are designed to provide basic medical care and guests may have to be evacuated at their own expense in the event of serious illness.
Is there an age restriction for drinking alcohol?Yes, as a general rule, guests must be 21 or over to buy or drink alcohol on board. However, guests aged 18-20 will be allowed to purchase and personally drink beer and wine on board with the consent of an accompanying parent or legal guardian (Parental Consent) on the same sailing when the vessel is outside the US state territorial waters (3 miles) except aboard ships sailing in Hawaii or Alaska. The parent or guardian must accompany the young adult to the ship's Reception Desk, with proof of their relationship. Complete details and the Special Consent Form are available on board at the Reception Desk. Oh, and just one more thing, children are not allowed in the on-board bars after 11pm, or in the bowling alley aboard Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl or Norwegian Epic after 9pm. So check them into the children’s group babysitting programme it’s open from 10pm to 1am and they’ll have much more fun. Charges apply, hours subject to change.
Can I bring my own alcoholic drinks aboard?Sorry, but we do not allow guests to bring their own alcohol to drink on board. If you purchase alcohol ashore to take home with you, this should be given to the ship’s crew when you get back on board and it will be returned to you at the end of the cruise.
Can I smoke on board?We want you to be comfortable on board, so most public areas throughout all NCL ships are smoke free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so in your stateroom, on your balcony, in the casino or designated smoking lounge (where available). You can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks, (just not around food venues, sport decks, kids’ pool areas and other designated non-smoking areas).
What about gambling on board?There are casinos with table games and slot machines on board all our ships (except Pride of America). So, if you fancy a flutter, be our guest. Just one thing, you have to be 18 or over to gamble. Sorry kids, but that’s the law. Click here for more informaion on Casions.
What do I do with valuables on board?All staterooms and suites have minisafes. But please note that NCL is not and cannot be held responsible for valuables left in staterooms or elsewhere on the vessel.
How do I book shore excursions?Just go to www.ncl.co.uk/shorex and you can browse all the exciting choices available in every port of call. Once you’ve chosen the excursions you want to do, it’s a good idea to pre-request them online and you can do this up to five days before sailing. Alternatively, buy them on board at the ship’s Shore Excursion Desk, or just step ashore and do your own thing.
How do I get ashore?In most ports your ship docks right alongside the quay and you simply walk ashore. At a few ports, shown with an anchor symbol on the itinerary, we drop anchor at sea and you go ashore in the ship’s small boats – called tenders – which offer a complimentary shuttle service to and from the port. Is there any chance of a rough sailing?All NCL ships are fully stabilised for the smoothest possible cruising and we aim to plan our itineraries to sail in regions at the times of year when the seas are at their calmest. NCL adheres to the highest standard of shipbuilding in the world. Our method of construction meets the 1967 Fire Safety Requirements and the 1960 Safety Of Life At Sea Convention regulations. All our ships meet the 2001 SOLAS specifications. Our ships also pass annual inspections by the US Coast Guard, and the Norwegian and Bahamian goverments. 
If you're sailing from New York and your Norwegian Gem, Dawn or Jewel departure is delayed for longer than 12 hours due to weather, you will receive an on-board credit of $100 per person (maximum U.S.$200 per stateroom) on your current departure.
Are babysitters available?Of course. In addition to the complimentary Kid’s Crew programme, group sitting programmes (for kids ages two to 12) are available at a nominal cost from 10pm to 1am each evening and at various times during port days. (Programmes, age groupings and hours of operation are subject to change, check Freestyle Daily for details). During the group babysitting programme hours, youth counsellors will supervise and entertain children with a variety of activities. Sorry, but private or in-room babysitting is not available. Parents with participating children who are not potty trained will be given a beeper and be alerted to return to the poop deck when the child needs to be changed. Beeper range is limited to on board the ship. According to United States Public Health regulations (USPH), no nappies of any kind are permitted in the swimming pools or hot tubs, including nappies marketed as “swimmers.”
Are there any pool restrictions?According to U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) regulations, no nappies of any kind are permitted in the swimming pools or hot tubs, including nappies marketed as “swimmers".
Can I get my laundry done?Sure, for a small charge, laundry and dry cleaning are available on all our ships.
Disembarkation Day - sorry to mention it but all good things must come to an endWhat happens to my luggage?All suitcases are collected the night before disembarkation and will be waiting for you on the pier, so bring an overnight bag for your essentials.
What happens on the last day of my holiday?For our worldwide Fly-Cruise packages, after your cruise we’ll transfer you from your ship to the airport for your flight to the UK. Depending on your flight time, we can organise a day room accomodation or a shore excursion for you (available at a supplement). On European Fly-Cruise and Fly-Cruise & Stay Holidays, we’ll transfer you direct from the ship to the airport. But if you have a later flight, instead of waiting at the airport, why not take one of our great shore excursions and see more of the local city and attractions?
Still want to know more?Just call NCL Guest Services on 0845 201 8907 and we’ll be happy to help.
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