Norwegian Cruise Line

Founded in 1966, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), part of global cruise company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (which also owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises), is the third-largest cruise line in the world in terms of cruise passengers. NCL has become well-known for its colourful ships featuring a pop-icon style painted hull.

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1

San Antonio

San Antonio greets you with its serene landscapes, from the sun-kissed River Walk to the historic Alamo, setting the stage for a genuine local experience. The warm, inviting climate year-round enhances the area's unique charm, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the true essence of Texan life. Here, tradition thrives in the bustling markets and lively festivals, offering a vivid display of authentic Texan customs and a departure from typical tourist destinations. A unique fact about San Antonio is that it hosts the largest mariachi festival in the world every year, a true spectacle of local sound and color.

Day 2

At sea

Day 3

Puerto Montt

Welcome to Puerto Montt, where the majestic Andes meet the serene waters of the Pacific. This gateway to Patagonia is famed for its breathtaking landscapes, such as the Osorno Volcano and the emerald waters of Todos los Santos Lake. The climate here is a temperate rainforest, offering a unique blend of misty mornings and crisp, clear days, perfect for those who wish to experience nature as it's meant to be. Puerto Montt is a celebration of Chilean traditions, from vibrant local handicraft markets to the spirited cueca dance. A hidden gem in this picturesque locale is the Angelmfish market, where the age-old bartering practices still thrive.

Days 4-5

At sea

Day 6

Ushuaia

Ushuaia, famously known as the southernmost city in the world, offers a gateway to the untouched landscapes of Tierra del Fuego. It's more than a mere departure point; it's where the raw spirit of Argentina comes alive amidst rugged coastlines and pristine sub-polar forests. The climate here, cool and temperate, invites visitors into a world far removed from the bustling tourist centers, presenting a rare glimpse into the authentic heart of the country. Cruises utilizing this port offer scenic views of the Beagle Channel and the Martial Mountains, each narrating the epic saga of explorers who first charted these remote territories. Uniquely, Ushuaia's latitude allows for extended daylight hours in the summer, giving travelers more time to soak in its spectacular natural beauty.

Day 7

At sea

Day 8

Day 9

Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands

Day 10

San Antonio

Day 11

Port Stanley

Port Stanley, with its distinctly British charm, beckons like a quaint postcard from another era, where the fusion of modern life with traditional values creates a comforting yet intriguing ambiance. The climate, mild and often kissed by sea breezes, complements the landscape beautifully, offering an authentic escape from the crowded tourist destinations. Visitors often find themselves immersed in a community that celebrates and lives its true traditions every day, making it a living showcase of the countrys authentic lifestyle. A unique aspect of Port Stanley is its love for maritime events, which are celebrated with the same fervor as any national festival.

Day 12

Puerto Montt

Day 13

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn, a gem where Argentina's past meets the vibrancy of today, beckons to those who cherish authenticity and a milder climate perfect for exploration. Originating from the 1865 Welsh settlement, this town offers a palpable sense of history interwoven with modern-day Argentine life. It's a retreat from the tourist-heavy locales, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the local environment and community. Cruise lines highlight Puerto Madryn not just as a stop but as an invitation to experience Argentina in its truest form, with coastal treasures and wildlife encounters that stand out globally. Intriguingly, this is also where orcas have been observed intentionally beaching themselvesa rare natural phenomenon.

Day 14

At sea

Day 15

Ushuaia

Day 16

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, with its storied past woven into the very fabric of the city, beckons those who seek to immerse themselves in the authentic spirit of Argentina. Famous for its birthplace of tango, this vibrant city offers a glimpse into the local life far removed from the usual tourist paths. With a temperate climate that favors exploration year-round, Buenos Aires presents an exceptional setting for those looking to experience genuine local flavors and traditions. Cruise lines treasure this port for its ability to display the heart of Argentina, culminating in unique excursions that reveal secrets only known to locals. An intriguing fact about the city is its famed Recoleta Cemetery is the resting place of Eva Per.

Day 17

Day 18

Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands

Day 19

At sea

Day 20

Port Stanley

Day 21

At sea

Day 22

Puerto Madryn

Day 23

At sea

Day 24

Montevideo

As you stroll along Montevideo's picturesque Rambla, the endless horizon of the Atlantic whispers tales of explorers who once admired these same views. Here, the climate is as mild as the greetings from locals, with temperate seasons offering a refreshing respite from harsher extremes. Montevideo, a city untouched by the clamor of mainstream tourism, cherishes its authenticity, showcasing Uruguay's deep-rooted traditions through vibrant street arts, local festivals, and intimate tango cafes. A curious fact to delight: Montevideo is home to the longest carnival in the world, inviting visitors to experience over a month of cultural festivities unique to this spirited city.

Day 25

Buenos Aires

Day 1

San Antonio

Day 2

At sea

Day 3

Puerto Montt

Days 4-5

At sea

Day 6

Ushuaia

Day 7

At sea

Day 8

At sea

Day 9

Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

At sea

Day 15

Ushuaia

Day 16

Buenos Aires

Day 17

Buenos Aires

Day 18

Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands

Day 19

At sea

Day 20

Port Stanley

Day 21

At sea

Day 22

Puerto Madryn

Day 23

At sea

Day 24

Montevideo

Day 25

Buenos Aires

2298

Passengers

1031

Crew

2001

Launched

2021

Last refit

91740t

Tonnage

294m

Length

32m

Width

25kts

Speed

Decks

USD

Currency

Norwegian Star

As one of our mid-size ships, Norwegian Star® offers a wide range of incredible amenities in a relaxed atmosphere.

Inclusions

Outbound flight

23rd January 2028

From: London

Inbound flight

18th February 2028

From: London

Customer reviews

Reviews

Excellent Ship great staff

A beautiful ship with plenty of top class entertainment and activities if you want them . Good choices are first class and the itinerary on t hi s cruise was just what I wanted

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Viva

Reviews

The scenery made up for the shortfalls of the actual cruise experience

It was largely what we were expecting - re: accommodation and entertainment. We thought the food offerings were not very good. As it was an Alaskan cruise we were expecting at least a salmon and crab evening. I thought the buffet would be a bit like the Las Vegas offerings but standard was pedestrian. However, food cooked well and presented nicely. Enjoyed being able to eat in three speciality restaurants and our favourite was the French restaurant - that we really liked. Staff on board all brilliant. Entertainment very loud so we avoided the shows after the first night. Evening music in the main bar was excellent when it was a guy called Randon, otherwise not so good. Port side tours were good. Organisation and communication excellent - never felt left to find out important information for ourselves - daily newspaper listing all activities. Very impressed with that. We would probably not choose an American cruise company again. We are definitely European and our cultures seem so different!

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Jade

Reviews

Great Getaway on Norwegian Getaway

Fantastic round trip cruise from New York up to Halifax. The entertainment was good and the cruise co-ordinator made sure everyone was having a great time. We missed the Beatles bar that Epic had and there wasn't quite the same amount of choices when it came to watching tribute bands/entertainment, but Staff were really friendly and accommodating and did their best to make our trip an enjoyable one. The stops were really interesting and we saw plenty of wildlife - would definitely go back to Boston as a separate trip too as we simply didn't have enough time to see everything. Gave us a taste of that side of America and Canada and we would definitely recommend the cruise and the location. Just booked our 4th cruise with Norwegian around the Med and back on Epic so looking to compare our last few trips and see what has changed.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Getaway

Reviews

Less than impressive, NCL could do much better

British Isles, France, Netherlands and Belgium 11-night cruise Having had more than 35 cruises across several cruise lines (including Holland-America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, P&O, Marella and others), this for me was one of the worst. The quality of main dining-room meals at dinner was poor with a sluggish service to match (often two-and-a-half hours for a three-course serving). So the service was so poor that towards the end of the cruise, I gave up and decided to eat in the buffet! Very many of the on-board activities seemed aimed at extracting as much money as possible from guests. And the entertainment was hit-and-miss. A good British magician/illusionist but a less-than-funny comedian. Edinburgh and Dublin were good destinations, but both involved time-consuming tenders as well as transport from harbour to city centre. Docking at Belfast, too, was a bus or taxi ride from the city centre, or even the Titanic Exhibition (which was one of the highlights of the cruise for me).

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Sky

Reviews

Cruise from port of Jacksonville

Had another fantastic cruise with Norwegian, great staff, entertainment, brilliant food, with a disappointment in the Bahamas. So as typical Norwegian, staff and food fantastic, the shows are brilliant, however our 1 island stop was a disaster with everything on the Island closed for Good Friday. Everyone was boarding taxis to the town centre and getting there to find everything closed, so felt a bit of a rip off with none of the drivers saying so. Went to Norwegian's private island for the first time also which was amazing definitely would return there. All in all it was a great cruise with a great company in Norwegian.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Gem

Reviews

A mixed experience

The cruise was from Auckland to Sydney with ports in NZ and Tasmania en route. The ship itself was smaller size and older but very nicely refurbished. Weather was mainly fine en route except for 2 very rough days in the Tasman sea. I am a single traveller and the Norwegian website would not allow me to book the 3 speciality restaurants as encouraged pre embarkation. The package of Freedom at Sea was dining time and table size as required daily so there were no pre booked tables for singles. The meetings for the 35 or so sole travellers were at 5 pm every day which didn’t really suit me. Similarly the fitness classes tended to be very early morning too. The two main restaurants were fine in terms of food quality but the menu was rather repetitive. The speciality restaurants offered variety of choice. I avoided the buffet as even though staff were encouraging passengers to sanitise their hands, many just walked past and ignored them. I have been on larger ships where buffet items were served rather than hundreds of people using the utensils. The staff were invariably pleasant and helpful with the exception of some excursion staff who yelled instructions at people patronisingly and made the waiting experience needlessly stressful. My main concern was the lack of any dress code at all save that men must wear long trousers in the French restaurant.In the lounges and at dinner, many passengers had not even changed from daytime casuals and shorts ,caps and t shirts were considered acceptable. I guess this was just the wrong cruise line for me as I had made an erroneous assumption that it would be like Olsen. The vast majority of passengers were American and Canadian who perhaps prefer a more informal atmosphere. The entertainment on this American owned liner was very poor indeed to my mind though seemingly enjoyed by others. Two poorly choreographed and screechy song and dance shows plus Mr Penguin, a magician and an unfunny comedian. The lounge entertainment was dire too with the exception of Leon , an excellent young entertainer. So I chose this cruise for the itinerary but the anything goes atmosphere on board just didn’t suit me. Norwegian have some great cruise routes but the onboard experience was disappointing and I would be very hesitant to travel with NCL again.

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Spirit

Reviews

First time, probably last

Ship was spotless and crew were fabulous. Entertainment lacklustre, food only OK. Itinerary 8 out of ten, however port timings disappointing. Booked complete package including hotels and transfers, these were all very good. Also had more at sea which worked very well for us, very good value for money overall

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Spirit

Reviews

Alaska and the Inside Passage

This was our 5th cruise with NCL (all on different ships) and whilst we had a good time, we were slightly disappointed with the Joy. The food was not as good as we have had on previous NCL cruises and the entertainment on offer was decidedly "underwhelming"

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Joy