norwegian cruise line restaurant steward

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Restaurant Steward Norwegian Cruise Line

This position is responsible for providing support to the Main Dining Rooms, Buffet and Crew Mess during service and ensuring cleanliness of these areas at the completion of service. Responsible for beverage and table maintenance in an assigned station of the Buffet as directed by management. In order to consistently exceed guest expectations and provide the highest levels of product and services, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Overall Turning over tables and promoting beverage service in the Buffet, in order to assist with the achievement of departmental guest satisfaction targets and food and beverage revenues. Responsible for safeguarding all equipment and materials required for operation, by adhering to proper handling procedures. Turning of tables and capitalizing on beverage service in the Buffet. Performs other related duties as assigned or as directed. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position. Must be familiar with the Safety and Environmental Protection Policy and the SEMS, and carry out the policies and procedures appropriate for his/her position. Main Dining Rooms Escorts guests and/or resets tables as assigned. Assist Waiters and Assistant Waiters with stocking, cleaning and maintaining waiter stations throughout service. Ensures that the restaurants are properly cleaned at the end of each meal period, according to the cleaning schedules; cleaning responsibility must equal or exceed the Company’s established public health standards.

Crew Mess Set up mess rooms with all food, beverage product, condiments, sign stands, utensils, china, glassware and silverware prior to each service. Maintain food line and cleanliness of tables throughout service. Cleans and sanitizes food line, beverage dispensing machines, and restocks all of the china, glassware and silverware at the end of each service. Buffet Set up assigned station with the required amounts of equipment and mis-en-place prior to the start of service. Clean tables in assigned station throughout service. Complies with sequence of service for beverage to ensure timeliness of service to guests in assigned station. Perform side work such as silverware roll-ups, emptying trash, and stocking/cleaning beverage station. Performs other jobs as assigned, to include but not limited to manning non-cooking buffet action stations (i.e. carving station, dessert station).

• Minimum of one year previous restaurant experience in land-based or shipboard operation is required.
• Minimum of one year previous experience selling and serving wine and other beverage products is required.
• Intermediate to Advanced level English verbal and writing skills, including the proper use of English grammar is required.
• Passport or ID card
• Criminal background evaluation

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Cabin steward tipping

By tmal2 , February 25 in Norwegian Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

cruiser2015

47 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:   They are helpful for people who can think on their own. If other people would rather pass that heavy burden onto the masses, my posts will not be helpful.      NCL has... " Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is no required or recommended tipping on our ships for service that is generally rendered to all Guests. "    ...however, if someone decides to tip (I do), there is no recommended amount.      If an automatic charge is added, the person will pay that. If the foreigner wants to tip above that or not, the foreigner isn't wrong no matter what he/she decides. The " fair amount " can only be decided by the foreigner, not by you, me, or by the average amount based on members on the forum.     

I really expect this to be my last comment on this subject.

Anyway, you are twisting my story around. My foreigner was not on a ship - just in America and not aquainted with the tipping customs. Forget "fair" amount - try reasonable or customary. He is clueless and looking for guidelines (like our OP who is further confused by the DSC being involved). Asking for some suggestions is very reasonable, IMHO.

Yes, there's no set amount; it's variable and subject to other factors (like level of service) - that does not preclude a range of amounts.

Anything said is an opinion (like yours and mine here).

Tipping guidelines exist and have been around forever.

Remember the days before DSC (or whatever the other guys call it these days?

The cruise line gave suggested tips for the steward and MDR staff. SUGGESTIONS!

Passengers were free to pay more - or less - as they saw fit.

For those who don't know the history, these suggestions morphed into automatic charges onto your account to save you the trouble of sorting out the different tips in cash and handing them to the crew members. Again, with the choice to change the amounts or opt out and do it the old way - by hand.

This method later became the current DSC.

History of Cruise Tipping 101

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7 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said: Try it and see how the service improves.

We always get great service on a cruise and we seldom if ever tip over and above the tips we pay comprised of the dsc , 20% drink tips and 20% sdp tips.    But we are nice and respectful to the crew and never make unreasonable demands.  

dsc - aka $20 per person per day tips

4 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said: Try it and see how the service improves.

I’ll make sure to report back.  😉 In the mean time, maybe I can start another thread on how I can bring candy or fruit cakes as a show of my appreciation and see how that goes.  🤣  

7 minutes ago, dmwnc1959 said:   My cruise is 25-nights, in a Solo Inside cabin. So, even with no butler or concierge to ‘reward’ and a room ‘Stewart’ I may not see but once a day, the total cost end results for me tipping under those guidelines that you follow would still easily add several hundred dollars on top of the $1100 I’m already being billed.   I’m just 1 of 2000 on the ship, and most likely the easiest to take care of: no special cabin needs, no special dietary requests, not a frequent bar visitor, and very,  very low maintenance. So there’s no real reason that they get to know me, my likes and dislikes, or what makes my day. And I’m fine with that.   And with the 20% service charges/tips already added to my drinks and SDP, I personally see no reason to tip another 20% on top of that. 

I find your position perfectly understandable.

I suggest you just keep an open mind during the cruise and if someone does an exemplary job, consider giving them a (more modest) cash tip. And if you feel the motivation, extend a modest tip to the steward.

I sailed last month on NCL. The steward was very friendly. Introduced himself on the first afternoon.

Always said good morning, (or whatever part of the day) when he saw us; addressed myself & my DW by name and asked how we were doing. The only "extra" thing we asked for was ice (a few days into the cruise). He then brought a fresh bucket every PM (often after the cabin was serviced earlier). I assume this was to give us ice for the evening as we were likely out and about during the heart of the day, especially on port days.

Exceptional - maybe. Likeable - absolutely. Gave him $50 cash.

MoCruiseFan

4 hours ago, tmal2 said: Does anyone tip their cabin stewards in top of the $20 per person per day service charge? How much additional do you give?

Yes a lot of people do and they do so in various amounts.  What someone else tips is no business of anyone else nor is it relevant (neither is the DSC).  Tip who you want what amount you want when you want and be done with it.  EOS

BirdTravels

Tipping is a personal decision. Some people tip. Some people don't. 

FWIW: The $20 covers many more people than your cabin steward. It covers all of the restaurant workers for complimentary restaurants (waiters, busboys, dishwashers, galley staff), forward facing and behind the scenes cruise staff, and many more that help make your cruise memorable. So,,, you steward gets a tiny bit of the $20/day. 

Personally, we like to help those who help us. We tip our cabin steward $10-$20/day. We got off a 3-night cruise earlier this week and tipped our steward $75 because he went out of his way to help us. 

40 minutes ago, BirdTravels said: FWIW: The $20 covers many more people than your cabin steward. It covers all of the restaurant workers for complimentary restaurants (waiters, busboys, dishwashers, galley staff), forward facing and behind the scenes cruise staff, and many more that help make your cruise memorable . So,,, you steward gets a tiny bit of the $20/day. 

One thing I am absolutely not going to do is pay the entire crew’s wages. If bar managers, assistant bar managers, housekeeper chiefs, housekeeper’s managers, and food and beverage managers are getting my money I’ll remove the DSC immediately and tip who I want to. If the cruise lines can’t pay a living wage for those folks you’ve mentioned it’s not my job to do it either. And I’m not tipping anyone and everyone that smiles in my direction or does their job. Our tipping culture and the guilt of obligation to do so is getting WAY out of hand. 

Whether you choose to tip or not, If someone gives you great service, fill out a hero card for them.  This is how they are able to tap into that some of that DSC $$$, in addition to promotions/raises.

ready2cruzagain

2 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said:   My cruise is 25-nights, in a Solo Inside cabin. So, even with no butler or concierge to ‘reward’ and a room ‘Stewart’ I may not see but once a day, the total cost end results for me tipping under those guidelines that you follow would still easily add several hundred dollars on top of the $1100 I’m already being billed.   I’m just 1 of 2000 on the ship, and most likely the easiest to take care of: no special cabin needs, no special dietary requests, not a frequent bar visitor, and very,  very low maintenance. So there’s no real reason that they get to know me, my likes and dislikes, or what makes my day. And I’m fine with that.   And with the 20% service charges/tips already added to my drinks and SDP, I personally see no reason to tip another 20% on top of that. 

I definitely agree with you. There are 2 of us, we do insides for 21 days mostly, last month was three 7 day cruises. Our daily service charge was a total of $840. Our restaurants was around another $70 tip and our drink package was around $900 total tip. The total in tips and gratuities for dining and drinks was approximately $1840.  That is as much as we paid for one week. 

I see no reason why we should tip on top of that considering our cabin cleaning went from twice a day to once a day, ice in the cabin if I reminded the cabin steward everyday and bar staff that were as slow as molasses and rude at times. We keep our cabin clean and all we needed basically was towels and wash clothes. The cabin steward replaced those and made the bed daily. The cabin was not swept the first 2 weeks, I know because I would see the same piece of paper daily and finally had to ask the cabin steward to vacuum the cabin.

One use to get top notch service and we did tip extra. Not lately.

Two Wheels Only

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said: I really expect this to be my last comment on this subject.

^^ I'll also never understand posts that begin like this. ^^

If it's your final post, it's your final post.

If you wish to reply, you will reply.

There's no need to announce that you won't continue to post. 

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said: Anyway, you are twisting my story around. My foreigner was not on a ship - just in America and not aquainted with the tipping customs.

What is expected on a ship is DIFFERENT than what is expected on land, correct? 

I've already posted what NCL has in the FAQ.....

"Additionally, there is an 20% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 20% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 20% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining." - NCL

...which is not applicable to land restaurants nor land bars. 

If anyone wants to tip beyond that (I do), that person cannot give a wrong amount if that person gives what that person feels is appropriate. NOBODY on the forum can give that amount for someone else . Forum members can give what THEY gave as an example but that amount should not determine what amount the next person should give. 

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said: Yes, there's no set amount; it's variable and subject to other factors (like level of service) - that does not preclude a range of amounts.

Again, there is nothing wrong with forum members giving the amounts that THEY tip. What is wrong is the idea that the person asking should base their amount on those other forum members' answers. The person asking makes the decision no matter what forum members answer therefor the person asking already has the ability to answer their own question of " How much should I tip? " even if the question is phrased as " How much do you guys tip? "

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said: Tipping guidelines exist and have been around forever.

No, people giving examples of what THEY believe is the correct tipping amount have been " around forever ". 

2 hours ago, cruiser2015 said: The cruise line gave suggested tips for the steward and MDR staff. SUGGESTIONS !

Suggestions which are NOT given now. 

2 hours ago, cruiser2015 said: For those who don't know the history, these suggestions morphed into automatic charges onto your account to save you the trouble of sorting out the different tips in cash and handing them to the crew members. Again, with the choice to change the amounts or opt out and do it the old way - by hand. This method later became the current DSC.

Which (again) has nothing to do with how much someone should tip their room steward. Each person can/should/will decide for themselves how much to tip their stateroom steward. No other forum members can/should/will make that decision for the person who asks. The person asking should put their big boy/girl pants on and decide entirely on their own instead of worrying about "...I hope that other forum members think that my amount is ok....."

2 hours ago, cruiser2015 said: I find your position perfectly understandable. I suggest you just keep an open mind during the cruise and if someone does an exemplary job, consider giving them a (more modest) cash tip. And if you feel the motivation, extend a modest tip to the steward. I sailed last month on NCL. The steward was very friendly. Introduced himself on the first afternoon. Always said good morning, (or whatever part of the day) when he saw us; addressed myself & my DW by name and asked how we were doing. The only "extra" thing we asked for was ice (a few days into the cruise). He then brought a fresh bucket every PM (often after the cabin was serviced earlier). I assume this was to give us ice for the evening as we were likely out and about during the heart of the day, especially on port days. Exceptional - maybe. Likeable - absolutely. Gave him $50 cash.

So you tipped him $50 extra for being friendly and addressing you by name?

15 minutes ago, dbrown84 said: Whether you choose to tip or not, If someone gives you great service, fill out a hero card for them.  This is how they are able to tap into that some of that DSC $$$, in addition to promotions/raises.

THIS!!! ^ ^ ^ 

1 hour ago, Two Wheels Only said:   ^^ I'll also never understand posts that begin like this. ^^   If it's your final post, it's your final post. If you wish to reply, you will reply. There's no need to announce that you won't continue to post.      What is expected on a ship is DIFFERENT than what is expected on land, correct?    I've already posted what NCL has in the FAQ.....   "Additionally, there is an 20% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 20% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 20% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining." - NCL   ...which is not applicable to land restaurants nor land bars.    If anyone wants to tip beyond that (I do), that person cannot give a wrong amount if that person gives what that person feels is appropriate. NOBODY on the forum can give that amount for someone else . Forum members can give what THEY gave as an example but that amount should not determine what amount the next person should give.      Again, there is nothing wrong with forum members giving the amounts that THEY tip. What is wrong is the idea that the person asking should base their amount on those other forum members' answers. The person asking makes the decision no matter what forum members answer therefor the person asking already has the ability to answer their own question of " How much should I tip? " even if the question is phrased as " How much do you guys tip? "     No, people giving examples of what THEY believe is the correct tipping amount have been " around forever ".      Suggestions which are NOT given now.      Which (again) has nothing to do with how much someone should tip their room steward. Each person can/should/will decide for themselves how much to tip their stateroom steward. No other forum members can/should/will make that decision for the person who asks. The person asking should put their big boy/girl pants on and decide entirely on their own instead of worrying about "...I hope that other forum members think that my amount is ok....."

Okay, you've done it - going back on my last comment prediction. And, I stated that because we had both given opinions, more than once, and I felt it was time to give this tag match a rest.

You had a great time dissecting each of my comments.

I made an analogy  using an off-ship reference, to make a point about trading tipping information NOT being an absurdity.

While your position is certainly rational, it does not mean that your view is the only right one.

You even stressed the point that suggestions for tipping are no longer given - and that is because things have evolved, as we all know.

However, tipping still exists. And while your take on it is fine, we really don't need you telling everyone else with another take (including myself and the OP) that it is somehow completely wrong to do so.

A closing word:

A few months ago, I asked a couple of buddies how much they were tipping their newspaper delivery person. I had been doing it for many years, really, in a vacuum. Turns out that my amount was in line with others. Was I crazy to ask?

A few months later, I ended up increasing the amount by 1/3. Why? With all of the inflation lately and the tough job that it is, I decided to up the ante.

I did that all on my own.

I asked around, put things in perspective, and made a decision.

I expect our OP to do the same.

1 hour ago, ready2cruzagain said:   So you tipped him $50 extra for being friendly and addressing you by name?

He did his job well and made a point to be extra cordial (although nearly every crew member on board exchanged greetings when passing by). There were some longer chats than a simple good morning by him. In all, it enhanced our time on the ship.

I appreciated that and reacted accordingly.

If the cabin was not cleaned appropriately on a daily basis or was otherwise poor in execution, there would have been no additional tip; also would not have cancelled DSC).

37 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: Okay, you've done it - going back on my last comment prediction. And, I stated that because we had both given opinions, more than once, and I felt it was time to give this tag match a rest.

I haven't done anything.  YOU decided to post again. As per usual,  when someone claims that they will no longer post, they return and post.

YOU deciding that you need " a rest " has no impact on when I decide to no longer post.

43 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: And while your take on it is fine, we really don't need you telling everyone else with another take (including myself and the OP) that it is somehow completely wrong to do so.

So....you can decide what " we really don't need ", huh? 🙄

50 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: A few months ago, I asked a couple of buddies how much they were tipping their newspaper delivery person. I had been doing it for many years, really, in a vacuum. Turns out that my amount was in line with others. Was I crazy to ask?

You were looking for affirmation that your amount was similar to theirs. If their amount was 1/4 of yours or was 4x yours, would you have changed your amount?

You have the ability to raise or lower any tip no matter what others do. You don't need to know what others tip in order to do so.

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said: I asked around, put things in perspective, and made a decision.

You could have made that decision without knowing what others tip...because what others tip doesn't make anyone tip more or less.

1 hour ago, Two Wheels Only said:   I haven't done anything.  YOU decided to post again. As per usual,  when someone claims that they will no longer post, they return and post.   YOU deciding that you need " a rest " has no impact on when I decide to no longer post.     So....you can decide what " we really don't need ", huh? 🙄     You were looking for affirmation that your amount was similar to theirs. If their amount was 1/4 of yours or was 4x yours, would you have changed your amount?   You have the ability to raise or lower any tip no matter what others do. You don't need to know what others tip in order to do so.     You could have made that decision without knowing what others tip...because what others tip doesn't make anyone tip more or less.

Yes, I do believe that I can say what "we" need here.

I have total respect for your right to your opinions.

I object to you painstakingly ripping apart every word of someone else's comments, looking for an excuse to say they are wrong..

Of  course, you are convinced you are totally correct, but refuse to allow another view.

You are so bent on disputing every phrase - even the opener here about not doing anything to me. No, you did not - literally. My words were intended as a  light hearted way of saying some of what you responded prompted me to feel a need to respond back again. You just won't yield  a millimeter on anything.

Forgive me, but I would like to throw one more challenge at your logic. A hypothetical:

Say your child approaches you with this question:

I will be taking my date home from the dance tonight by taxi.

I've never been in a taxi. I think that people usually give a tip to the driver.

Is that true? If so, how much should it be, Dad?

If your answer is "sorry, son. It's not appropriate for anyone to tell you what that should be. You need to figure that out on your own" then I feel sorry for that kid.

My whole point - which I think this last example proves clearly, is that if someone is unfamiliar with a topic, it is fair game to inquire of other folks what they think.

No need for you to agree - just allow the rest of us do what WE think makes sense.

As for the newspaper tip, if I found out I was substantially undertipping (or perhaps over) and shorting the carrier - hell yeah, I would have changed the amount. Why? Because there are reasonable norms in this world, even if you refuse to acknowledge it.

7 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said: The answer is that everyone should tip whatever amount that they want to tip

Is there a problem or something wrong with gathering information as part of the process of determining "what they want to tip"?  Your posts sure make it seem like there is something wrong with asking questions and gathering information

7 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said: instead of  " ...whelp, the most common amount is $xxx so I'll tip that amount... "

Who said that's what they were going to do?  If you inferred that, then that is on you.  If that would be your simplistic approach, again, that's on you not the OP.

4 hours ago, Two Wheels Only said: The person asking should put their big boy/girl pants on and decide entirely on their own instead of worrying about "...I hope that other forum members think that my amount is ok....."

Another example of you projecting your thoughts onto the OP.  The OP said nor implied nothing along these lines.   My guess is you have some sort of insecurities related to tipping amounts.

40 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: Yes, I do believe that I can say what "we" need here.

Sure you can post that but that doesn't make it true. 

41 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: I have total respect for your right to your opinions.

Yet, you feel that you can determine when I should stop posting my opinion, right?

42 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: I object to you painstakingly ripping apart every word of someone else's comments, looking for an excuse to say they are wrong.

If you truly respected my right to post my opinion, it shouldn't matter if you agree with those opinions or if you disagree with those opinions. I've never stated that I " don't need you " to post your opinion even when I disagree. 

Did it ever occur to you that there is a reason why it is so easy to point out what is wrong?

45 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: You are so bent on disputing every phrase - even the opener here about not doing anything to me. No, you did not - literally. My words were intended as a  light hearted way of saying some of what you responded prompted me to feel a need to respond back again.

You completely missed my point. I didn't MAKE you respond. You decided entirely on your own to respond. You have that power just like you have that power to decide on how much/little you tip. 

49 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: Forgive me, but I would like to throw one more challenge at your logic. A hypothetical:   Say your child approaches you with this question: I will be taking my date home from the dance tonight by taxi. I've never been in a taxi. I think that people usually give a tip to the driver. Is that true? If so, how much should it be, Dad?

Once again, your example is one for a position that has an expectation of a tip. NCL does not expect people to tip stateroom stewards. There's " no required or recommended tipping " for the position being discussed in this thread. Your deciding to give examples where tips are expected doesn't apply to the subject at hand.

Do people tip their steward? Sure.

Should people tip based on what random forum members tipped? No. 

56 minutes ago, cruiser2015 said: No need for you to agree - just allow the rest of us do what WE think makes sense.

How have I stopped or not allowed anyone from doing what they think make sense?

I don't have the power to make anyone do or not do what they think is correct. 

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said: As for the newspaper tip, if I found out I was substantially undertipping (or perhaps over) and shorting the carrier - hell yeah, I would have changed the amount. Why? Because there are reasonable norms in this world, even if you refuse to acknowledge it.

What if all of your neighbors were " unreasonable " because they tipped a drastically different amount? Would you change just to match them or would you want them to change just to match you? That's the problem with allowing others to decide what is correct instead of you deciding for yourself what is correct. 

37 minutes ago, PATRLR said: Is there a problem or something wrong with gathering information as part of the process of determining "what they want to tip"?  Your posts sure make it seem like there is something wrong with asking questions and gathering information

The question being asked isn't for information. It is for opinion (which is fine to ask). If there was a thread asking " What is your favorite movie? " and 99% of people answered with a movie that you didn't like, would you change your opinion based on the gathered information? No, you probably wouldn't. You would have your opinion and they would have theirs. 

41 minutes ago, PATRLR said: Who said that's what they were going to do?  If you inferred that, then that is on you. 

What other purpose (other than affirmation) would someone have to ask that question? Is it " I just want to know... " or is it " I just want to know in order to adjust accordingly... "?

44 minutes ago, PATRLR said: If that would be your simplistic approach, again, that's on you not the OP.

No, that's NOT my approach. I can think for myself and decide for myself.

Evidently, some people need the opinions of others to decide. That's on them. 

4 minutes ago, PATRLR said: My guess is you have some sort of insecurities related to tipping amounts.

Actually, the insecure ones worry about what others tip in order to fit in with those amounts.

I WANT people to think for themselves. 

8 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said: The question being asked isn't for information. It is for opinion (which is fine to ask).

You might want to go back and read the original post again.  I'll save you the clicks:  " Does anyone tip their cabin stewards in top of the $20 per person per day service charge? How much additional do you give? " OP asked two questions.  First one is answered with yes or no, second with a number.  Both questions are asking for facts, not opinions.   Earlier you mentioned people thinking for themselves.  Unless one is thinking up fantasies, most useful thinking is based on learned facts.  OP is trying to gather those facts and your encouragement of people not providing those facts or telling OP s/he doesn't need those facts is not helpful.

3 minutes ago, PATRLR said: Earlier you mentioned people thinking for themselves.  Unless one is thinking up fantasies, most useful thinking is based on learned facts.  OP is trying to gather those facts and your encouragement of people not providing those facts or telling OP s/he doesn't need those fact is not helpful.

I'll ask again since nobody was willing to answer before.....

If the forum response of a "ballpark figure" was $250 per person per day would you tip that much just to fit in?

Would you ignore that amount and tip an amount that you feel is appropriate?

If the OP's " gathered facts " was an amount that high, would the OP tip based on those " facts " ?

If you believe that the answer is " yes ", then you see the problem with tipping based on what others tip.

If you believe that the answer is " no ", then you see that people can decide on their own what to tip without asking what others tip. 

PartyPlannerLady

10 hours ago, dpepper64 said: I always give the steward a $20 bill to start the cruise

That is not a tip it is a bribe

9 hours ago, phillygwm said: Yes and no.  Every year, around the holidays, there are articles around how much to tip your whoever because people don't know what is expected.  NCL states (paraphrasing because I'm lazy) that anything tipped above DSC is appreciated but not expected.  So there's the short answer.  For me, that means if service is above expectations, I'll tip...but since it isn't expected,  anything >=$0 is fine.     Just don't ask me how much to tip the housecleaner.  I'm still trying to figure that out.  🙂

No tip should be 'expected' by anyone.  Ther is no suggested, normal, customary, or usual amunt to tip.  Each person should simply tip whatevr they wanto to at any time and realize that what otehrs do is completely irrelevant.

7 minutes ago, PartyPlannerLady said: That is not a tip it is a bribe

And they never called it a tip. 

8 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said: Even as a solo this adds well over $700+ to my cruise ON TOP OFF the $1100 I’m already being charged in DSC and dining/drink package gratuities. Yeah, that’s absolutely not even happening. For me personally, that’s excessive.  😳  

If you think it is excessive then simply turn down the free drinks and pay for the unlimited bar as well as paying the 20%.  That should make you feel a lot better!

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• Ultimate Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line's Tipping Policy: Everything You Need to Know

Introduction:

Are you planning a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line and curious about their tipping policy? Look no further, as this ultimate guide will provide you with everything you need to know about Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy. From understanding the recommended tipping amounts to knowing who to tip and when, this comprehensive guide will ensure you are fully informed before embarking on your cruise adventure.

To begin, let’s take a look at the most important points you need to know:

Now that you have a glimpse of the key points, let’s dive deeper into Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy. Understanding the rationale behind tipping, the importance of gratuities for the crew, and how to navigate any tipping-related questions or concerns will enhance your overall cruise experience.

To gather more information on Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy and to ensure accurate and up-to-date details, we recommend visiting the official Norwegian Cruise Line website: [Norwegian Cruise Line’s Tipping Policy](https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#tipping). Additionally, Cruise Critic provides valuable insights and experiences shared by fellow cruisers: [Cruise Critic – Norwegian Cruise Line Tipping Policy](https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=132). Stay informed and enjoy your cruise with peace of mind knowing you are well-versed in Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy.

How much should I tip each person on a cruise?

When it comes to tipping on a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vacation, it’s important to know the appropriate amounts for each service. NCL suggests a daily per-person gratuity of $15 for guests staying in standard staterooms and $18 for those in suites. These amounts cover the cabin steward, restaurant servers, and other crew members who provide exceptional service throughout your trip. Additionally, a 20% service charge is automatically added to all bar purchases, specialty dining, and spa services. It’s worth noting that NCL’s tipping policy is flexible, allowing guests to adjust or remove gratuities as they see fit. For more details and a comprehensive breakdown of NCL’s tipping policy, visit the official Norwegian Cruise Line website.

How much should I tip my cabin steward on a cruise?

When it comes to tipping your cabin steward on a Norwegian Cruise Line, it’s important to consider the exceptional service they provide throughout your voyage. Norwegian Cruise Line recommends a gratuity amount of $15 per person, per day for guests staying in standard staterooms, and $18 per person, per day for guests staying in suites. These recommended amounts can be adjusted at your discretion based on the level of service you receive. It’s worth noting that the suggested gratuity is automatically added to your onboard account, but if you wish to provide additional cash tips, they are welcome. Remember, tipping is a way to express appreciation for the hard work and dedication of your cabin steward, who plays a crucial role in ensuring your comfort and satisfaction throughout your cruise. For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy, you can refer to their official website.

How much do you tip a butler and concierge on Norwegian Cruise Line?

When it comes to tipping a butler and concierge on Norwegian Cruise Line, it’s important to consider the exceptional level of service they provide. According to the Ultimate Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Tipping Policy, the recommended gratuity for these dedicated professionals is $7 per person, per day. This gratuity ensures that your butler and concierge are recognized for their personalized assistance throughout your cruise experience. Remember, tipping is voluntary but highly appreciated, and can be adjusted at your discretion. For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy, visit [insert reliable source link].

Are NCL gratuities mandatory?

Norwegian Cruise Line’s gratuities are not mandatory, but they are highly encouraged. The cruise line automatically adds a daily service charge to guests’ onboard accounts, which covers tips for the dining room staff, stateroom stewards, and other service personnel. However, guests have the option to adjust or remove these charges if they wish to provide their tips independently. It is important to note that while the service charge may seem like a significant amount, it is distributed among the entire crew, including behind-the-scenes staff who contribute to guests’ overall experience. Whether you choose to keep the automatic gratuities or opt for personal tipping, it is essential to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of the crew members who make your cruise memorable. For more detailed information, you can refer to Norwegian Cruise Line’s official website: [source](https://www.ncl.com/faq#!

Can you remove gratuities on ncl

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers the option to remove gratuities, but it is essential to understand their tipping policy. According to the Ultimate Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Tipping Policy, passengers can remove gratuities by visiting the Guest Services desk onboard. However, it is important to note that NCL recommends discussing any concerns regarding service directly with the relevant staff members before considering removing gratuities. Additionally, it is worth considering that gratuities serve as an important part of the crew’s income and removing them may adversely affect their livelihood. To learn more about NCL’s tipping policy and the importance of gratuities, refer to the Ultimate Guide to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Tipping Policy.

In the world of cruising, understanding a ship’s tipping policy is crucial to ensure a smooth and enjoyable vacation experience. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is known for its exceptional service and attention to detail, and their tipping policy is no exception. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into everything you need to know about NCL’s tipping policy, from who to tip, how much to tip, and when to tip.

One of the first things to understand about NCL’s tipping policy is that it operates on a “Freestyle Cruising” concept, which means that there are no set guidelines or mandatory gratuities. This gives passengers the flexibility to determine their own tipping amounts based on their overall satisfaction with the service received. While this may seem liberating, it’s important to remember that the crew members work hard to make your cruise experience memorable, and tipping is a way to show appreciation for their efforts.

When it comes to tipping individual crew members, such as cabin stewards, waitstaff, and bartenders, NCL recommends a gratuity amount of $15 per person, per day. This amount can be adjusted at the passenger’s discretion, depending on the level of service received. It is worth noting that NCL automatically adds a 20% gratuity to all beverage purchases, specialty dining, and spa services. This takes the guesswork out of tipping for these services, as it is already included in the final bill.

If you prefer a more structured approach to tipping, NCL also offers a pre-paid service charge option. This allows passengers to pay a predetermined amount per person, per day, which covers gratuities for all eligible crew members. The pre-paid service charge option can be selected at the time of booking or anytime before the cruise departure date. It is important to note that this charge is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted onboard.

To ensure transparency and clarity, NCL breaks down the pre-paid service charge based on the length of the cruise. For voyages that are three to five days long, the recommended pre-paid service charge is $15 per person, per day. For voyages that are six to nine days long, the recommended pre-paid service charge is $14 per person, per day. For voyages that are ten days or longer, the recommended pre-paid service charge is $14.50 per person, per day. These charges are subject to change, so it is always advisable to check the latest information on NCL’s official website.

While tipping individual crew members and utilizing the pre-paid service charge are the most common ways to show appreciation, some passengers prefer to go above and beyond to recognize exceptional service. If you choose to do so, it is recommended to provide additional cash tips directly to the crew members. This allows you to personally express your gratitude for their outstanding service and is greatly appreciated by the recipients.

It’s important to remember that NCL’s tipping policy is designed to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of gratuities among the crew members who contribute to your overall cruise experience. These dedicated individuals work long hours, often away from their families, to make sure your vacation is memorable and enjoyable. Tipping is a way to acknowledge their hard work and dedication.

In conclusion, understanding Norwegian Cruise Line’s tipping policy is essential for any passenger embarking on an NCL cruise. Whether you choose to tip individual crew members, utilize the pre-paid service charge, or provide additional cash tips, your gestures of appreciation go a long way in recognizing the hard work and exceptional service provided by the crew. Remember to check NCL’s official website for the most up-to-date information on tipping guidelines and amounts. By tipping conscientiously, you contribute to the positive cruise experience for both yourself and the entire crew.

Sources: – Norwegian Cruise Line Official Website: [https://www.ncl.com/faq](https://www.ncl.com/faq) – Cruise Critic: [https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3364](https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=3364) – USA Today: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2015/10/23/norwegian-cruise-line-tipping/74449226/](https://www.usatoday.

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Norwegian Cruise Line food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board

Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to food.

Back in 2000, the company introduced the concept of Freestyle Cruising, and with it, the idea of Freestyle Dining. Guests no longer were assigned to traditional early or late dinner seatings in the main dining rooms on Norwegian Cruise Line's ships, but rather could decide when they wanted to eat and with whom.

The cruise line also began to roll out specialty restaurants — smaller, cuisine-specific dining venues such as the French-themed Le Bistro and Cagney's Steakhouse — that passengers could reserve for an additional cover charge.

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Today, passengers will find more than three dozen dining options, including 21 that require a cover charge or feature a la carte pricing, on board NCL's 17 ships. While the cruise fare covers a number of restaurants, specialty restaurants requiring an extra charge are popular, and new specialty restaurants are introduced with each class of ship.

The onboard restaurant lineup also varies by ship, with those in the Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes having a larger selection than the line's older, smaller ships.

How do you make sense of it all? We've compiled a rundown of all the Norwegian Cruise Line food options, from coffee and gelato shops to a la carte restaurants where the tab can easily top $150 for two. Here's what's included, what you'll pay extra for and the ships that feature each dining venue.

American Diner

Included; lunch and dinner

This 1950s-inspired diner featured on all six ships in NCL's Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes offers quintessential midcentury comfort foods — from cheeseburgers and meatloaf to chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs. Desserts include bread pudding and carrot walnut cake. The food is now all free (Norwegian made this change in early 2024), but if you want to wash it down with a milkshake, you'll need to pay up.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Atrium Cafe

A la carte; coffee and snacks

Atrium Cafe is a coffee and cocktail bar that serves hot and cold beverages along with a selection of cookies, pastries and other snacks. Alternately, some NCL ships feature Starbucks cafes.

Available on : Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun

Cadillac Diner

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

You'll have to head to Hawaii to enjoy the barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches and more served up retro-style in the Cadillac Diner. This venue, with its funky black-and-white checkered floor and vinyl booths wedged between two sections of a vintage red sedan, is found exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. It's open 24 hours a day, and everything is complimentary except for the milkshakes.

Available on : Pride of America

Cagney's Steakhouse

A la carte; dinner

One of NCL's most popular specialty restaurants, Cagney's features a classic steakhouse menu with plenty of options for seafood lovers as well. The stars are the cuts of aged certified Angus beef (rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse and New York strip) with a choice of sauces and side dishes such as truffle mashed potatoes and sauteed garlic mushrooms. Other options include cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Australian lamb chops. Save room for the OMG Caramel-Butterscotch Cheesecake.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Sky)

Related: The best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants

Chinese restaurant

Included; dinner, plus lunch on select days

If you're craving shrimp dumplings or a bowl of stir-fried noodles with beef, a number of older Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a complimentary Chinese restaurant where you can get your fix. Names vary by ship — you'll find Bamboo on Dawn, Shanghai's on Epic, Orchid Garden on Gem, Jasmine Garden on Jade, Chin Chin on Jewel, Lotus Garden on Pearl, Silk on Spirit, Ginza on Star and East Meets West on Pride of America — but the menus are similar.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit and Star

A la carte; snacks and treats

A cross between an ice cream parlor and a candy shop, Coco's features an array of treats — chocolates from around the world, milkshakes, crepes and more — to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss and Encore

Dolce Gelato

When it's midafternoon and the sun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean is blazing, you can head to this takeaway counter on Deck 8 for a cup or cone of irresistibly creamy gelato.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape and Getaway

Food Republic

A la carte; dinner and lunch on sea days

This globally inspired specialty restaurant with an Asian-Latin fusion theme remains popular almost a decade after its debut on Norwegian Escape. You'll want to order multiple dishes to share family-style from Food Republic 's menu sections: Sushi Bar (eight different rolls), Hand Helds (everything from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos), Sharing Is Caring (grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, salt and pepper calamari and more), Noodles/Rice/Soups (shrimp pad thai to Vietnamese Pho Tai) and Sugar Pump (desserts featuring green tea, chocolate and ginger caramel).

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva

Garden Cafe

Sometimes, the buffet is the answer. It's perfect when you get on board the first day and need to grab a quick bite before you explore the ship or when you arrive back after a daylong shore excursion and want to refuel right away without having to change clothes. Garden Cafe offers plenty of options, including carved meats or grilled fish with assorted side dishes, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, and desserts. Most items are precooked and kept warm under heat lamps, so it's not the freshest option, but it's usually packed at breakfast and lunch with guests who like the all-you-can-eat portions.

Available : Fleetwide (except Norwegian Prima and Viva)

Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime

Cover charge; dinner

This is a slightly more elevated version of NCL's Teppanyaki restaurant. You'll be seated with other guests around a grill, and as you dine on edamame, miso soup and seaweed salad, the chef will prepare your entree (a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with great flair. These fresh-from-the-grill proteins are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables, and the dessert that follows is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi.

Available on : Norwegian Prima and Viva

This circular, light-filled space debuted on Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a new main dining room option. It features the same daily rotating menu as the second main dining room, the Commodore Room, but what sets this venue apart is its bright-and-airy ambience, courtesy of 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows.

Indulge Food Hall

This new casual dining concept, also introduced on Norwegian Prima, quickly became a popular alternative to the Surfside Cafe buffet (see below) for both lunch and dinner; at breakfast, it serves a similar but more limited menu as Surfside. The appeal of Indulge Food Hall is the variety — there are more than four dozen menu items from seven vendors: Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie and Tamara — served in small-plate portions. You can enjoy chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered from your table via a tablet.

Related: 11 venues, 32 dishes, 4 days: I tested every eatery at Norwegian Cruise Line's new Indulge Food Hall so you don't have to

La Cucina was Norwegian's sole Italian specialty restaurant until the launch of Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Encore in 2018, and the two restaurants are quite different. La Cucina is the more traditional, featuring classic Italian favorites — caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore and osso buco alla Milanese — while Onda's menu focuses on more finessed modern Italian dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Joy, Pearl, Sky, Star and Sun

Like Cagney's, NCL's French fine-dining restaurant is a longtime favorite that's featured fleetwide (it's called Jefferson's Bistro on Pride of America). Popular with couples for special occasion dinners, Le Bistro features everything from steak tartare and escargot to braised lamb shank and roasted duck breast. With its a la carte pricing, this is among the richest (and costliest) dining experiences on board, especially if accompanied by a bottle of Champagne or other French wine. Le Bistro restaurants on Norwegian Prima and Viva are especially atmospheric, with dramatic large-scale chandeliers and elegant ivory-and-blue decor.

Available : Fleetwide

Vibrant decor and sophisticated Mexican cuisine that goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex fare make Los Lobos an appealing option if you're sailing on one of the six ships that feature it. The guacamole, made fresh tableside, is a must. Other menu options include Mexican-style shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, nopales (cactus) salad, chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil (slow-braised pork). Top it all off with a tres leches cake with coconut cream.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Dawn, Encore, Prima, Sun and Viva

Main dining room

Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature at least two main dining rooms, and sometimes even three. Names vary by ship — although the six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships all feature the Manhattan Room, plus Savor and Taste, and Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva have the Commodore Room and Hudson's. Menus change daily throughout the cruise and feature a selection of American and international dishes.

Moderno Churrascaria

Carnivores can devour their fill of a variety of meats the traditional Brazilian way as gauchos carve and serve cuts of beef, lamb, pork, sausage and chicken right at the table. Those who prefer to limit their meat intake can fill up instead at the salad bar, which features 43 items. White rice, black beans, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca and Brazilian cheese bread are also served as side dishes.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star and Sun

Nama Sushi & Sashimi

Another new restaurant to debut on Norwegian Prima, Nama Sushi & Sashimi doesn't veer too far from its name, serving six different sushi rolls (from yellowtail to rock shrimp), three sashimi options and a variety of appetizers, most of which feature raw fish. Even the dessert — pineapple carpaccio — is uncooked.

Ocean Blue is an elegant seafood restaurant featured on NCL's six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. (It's known as Bayamo by Ocean Blue on Norwegian Escape.) Guests can savor appetizers such as crabcakes, pan-seared scallops and an ahi tuna and avocado tower, followed by steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini or simply grilled fish (salmon, tuna, cod or sea bass) served with a choice of sauces. All Ocean Blue restaurants are located on Deck 8 and feature indoor and outdoor seating on The Waterfront.

Onda by Scarpetta

Modern Italian cuisine is the centerpiece of Onda by Scarpetta, another of NCL's elevated specialty dining options and the sister restaurant to land-based Scarpetta. Introduced in 2019 on Norwegian Encore and more recently rolled out on the line's newest ships (plus at least one older vessel), Onda by Scarpetta indulges with antipasti starters such as burrata, short ribs and braised octopus, a half dozen pasta options (including pappardelle Bolognese and Scarpetta's famous spaghetti with tomato and basil) and finally gets around to secondis such as veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The main question will be: Do you have room for dessert?

Available on : Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit and Viva

O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill

Included; 24-hour dining

This lively and social pub-style eatery overlooks the buzzing three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships and is also featured on seven older NCL ships. It's open 24 hours a day and serves comfort classics such as burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, beef chili and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Star

One of NCL's newest dining venues, Palomar celebrates the Mediterranean with a menu featuring lots of Greek influences. Seafood dishes outnumber meat options and include tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, le puy lentils, clams and pistachio pesto. Desserts include Greek yogurt sorbet with orange custard pie.

Pincho Tapas Bar

This unique Spanish-style tapas bar is found on only one ship in the Breakaway Class and fits in with the ship's overall Miami/Latin-influenced theme. Head to Pinchos if you're looking to enjoy small-plate dishes such as blue crab salad and bacon-wrapped dates, as well as chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops and more served a la plancha. Wash it all down with a Spanish red, a glass of sangria or a signature Matador cocktail.

Available on : Norwegian Escape

Included; casual lunch

Three Norwegian ships feature a pool grill (all with different names) that's open for lunch and late afternoon snacks. The venue serves casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs and french fries.

Available on : Norwegian Dawn, Gem and Pride of America

Q Texas Smokehouse

This barbecue eatery debuted on Norwegian Bliss in 2018, and its menu features smoked meats (pit classics like brisket, pulled pork and beef short ribs), as well as calorific sides (loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings and macaroni and cheese). You can also enjoy live country music and even sweat off the excess calories by dancing (before ordering pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert). A more limited menu is available for free as part of Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva — but you'll need to dance elsewhere.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy

Savor (and Taste)

These two restaurants on all six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships are essentially smaller-scale main dining rooms. They are located across from each other on Deck 6 and feature lunch and dinner menus that change daily.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar

This casual dining venue serves a selection of freshly prepared and wok-fried Asian noodle and rice dishes, from pork pot stickers and steamed vegetable dumplings to Singapore-style rice noodles and udon noodles in broth.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Epic and Getaway

Included; casual pub fare

While most NCL ships, with the exception of Pride of America, have a pub-style complimentary eatery — either O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill or The Local Bar & Grill — one older outlier has Sports Bar. Like the other eateries, this venue is free and features comfort classics such as Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings and fish and chips.

Available on : Norwegian Sun

A la carte; coffee, breakfast and snacks

NCL wasn't the first cruise line to feature the well-known coffee chain (that would be Royal Caribbean), but it now has the most Starbucks cafes on board its ships. Guests can purchase frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews and many of the other coffee, tea and breakfast and pastry items that are available on land.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky and Viva

Surfside Cafe & Grill

With the debut of Norwegian Prima, NCL evolved its buffet-style restaurant (known as Garden Cafe on most ships) to Surfside Cafe & Grill. The Deck 17 space is notably smaller, though, due to the fact that Prima Class ships also feature Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill as complimentary casual dining options. The reduced size does result in some overcrowding, especially at breakfast, with overflow guests directed to find seats in the adjacent Food Republic space.

All but three NCL ships feature Teppanyaki , a Benihana-style Japanese restaurant where the live-action preparation is integral to the experience. You'll be seated around a grill as your chef prepares your entree (either chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with dramatic flair. You'll start with miso soup and seaweed salad, and all entrees are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Dessert is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi. Hasuki replaces Teppanyaki on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Encore, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

The Bake Shop

A sugar rush is practically guaranteed at The Bake Shop, a Deck 8 confectionery selling assorted bonbons (with fillings from passion fruit to praline), cupcakes (more than a dozen options, including red velvet, chocolate-pistachio and lemon merengue) and French macarons in a dozen flavors.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore and Getaway

The Great Outdoors

Included; lunch

This outdoor casual buffet on seven Norwegian Cruise Line ships has a come-as-you-are dress code and serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other items for guests who want to enjoy some ocean scenery with their lunch.

Available on : Norwegian Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Sun

The Haven Restaurant

Included for guests booked in The Haven; breakfast, lunch and dinner

If you book a suite in The Haven, the exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave found on every new NCL ship since it was introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010, you'll enjoy access to The Haven Restaurant. Open only to Haven guests, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus here do not change, but there are generally enough options (a dozen appetizers and 10 entrees at dinner, for example) that you can dine here multiple times without repeating a dish or running out of interesting dishes to try.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy, Prima and Viva

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local Bar & Grill is a favored hangout for sports telecasts and trivia contests, as well as a go-to for guests when anytime-hunger strikes. Like its comfort food sibling O'Sheehans's Bar & Grill, its 24-hour menu features breakfast, all-day and late-night items that include omelets, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish and chips and loaded nachos.

Available on : Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit and Viva

The Raw Bar

Located adjacent to Ocean Blue, this casual option with counter seating serves oysters, clams, shellfish and crudos (salmon tartare, black sea bass ceviche and more), as well as wines by the glass and a selection of desserts.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway

Topsiders Bar & Grill

Included; casual pool grill with varying hours

Five older NCL ships feature Topsiders Bar & Grill, a poolside venue serving burgers, hot dogs, french fries and other takeaway items.

Available on : Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Star

Wasabi (or Sushi)

This contemporary sushi bar — called either Wasabi or Sushi, depending on the ship — is the spot for cocktails, sake and Japanese specialties that include sesame seaweed salad, sushi and specialty rolls, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. On Prima Class ships, you'll find Nama Sushi & Sashimi with a different menu.

Available on : Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Spirit, Star and Sun

FAQs about NCL dining

Is norwegian cruise line's food free.

You can dine for free during your cruise at any of the complimentary dining venues on board NCL ships. There are typically four to six included dining venues per ship, several of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Is there a main dining room?

Yes, all NCL ships feature a main dining room — some have as many as three — and Freestyle Dining means you can choose when to dine (within the specified breakfast, lunch and dinner hours).

Do I need to make reservations?

You do not need to make reservations for the main dining rooms or casual venues like O'Sheehan's or the buffet. However, you can make reservations for the main dining rooms if you'd prefer to eat at a specific time and wish to avoid long wait times during the most popular dinner hours.

Sit-down specialty restaurants always require a reservation. The sooner you can make one, the better. You can book specialty dining online via the cruise line's website or app or by calling Norwegian reservations. You can also reserve when you get on board, but you risk that the more popular eateries will already be fully booked, especially during the peak summer and holiday periods. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available, but you'll likely need to show up early or late to snag a table.

Does Norwegian offer room service?

Yes, NCL offers 24-hour room service, but you will be charged a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per delivery, with the exception of morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests staying in The Haven. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will also be added for noncomplimentary beverages and special occasion items delivered to your room.

How much does specialty dining cost?

It varies by restaurant. At venues with a la carte pricing, such as Cagney's, Ocean Blue, Onda by Scarpetta and Le Bistro, it's easy to rack up a bill of $80 per person, not including beverages. NCL's sushi restaurants are also a la carte, as is Food Republic. Two people with an average appetite can dine at both for around $50 to $60 per person, not including beverages. Other venues, such as Teppanyaki and Moderno Churrascaria, feature a set cover charge of $59 per person.

Does NCL offer specialty dining packages?

Yes and if you like a variety of cuisines and plan to dine at two or more extra-charge restaurants, purchasing a specialty dining package makes sense.

These range in price from $99 per person for a two-meal package to $469 per person for a 14-meal package. The price per meal gets lower the more meals you purchase — from $49.50 per dinner on a two-meal package to $33.50 per dinner for 14 meals. Even the four-meal package at $169 per person is a good deal at $42.25 per dinner, given the a la carte pricing greatly exceeds that (for three courses) at most specialty restaurants and eateries with cover charges are priced at $59 per person.

Also, a select number of specialty dining meals are typically included with NCL's Free at Sea booking promotion .

What about service charges?

A 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will automatically be added to the cost of your specialty dining package when you purchase it or to your onboard dining charge if you pay a la carte or a flat cover charge.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have serious sustainable-food-supply-chain goals — here's how they compare

• Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings aim to source their foods more sustainably.
• Experts say goals such as purchasing more food locally are a step in the right direction.
• This article is part of " The Future of Supply-Chain Management ," a series on companies' manufacturing and distribution strategies.

The hardest decision you make on a cruise vacation is what to eat for dinner.

In 2023, the cruise giants Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings accommodated more than 10.3 million travelers.

That's a lot of mouths to feed — and to do so, their floating hotels have around-the-clock kitchen operations and nearly endless onboard dining options, from buffets to steak houses.

The question is: Where are the companies getting all this food from? And are their promises for more environmentally friendly food sourcing truly sustainable?

Both companies have been increasingly shopping local

Norwegian reported that 37% of its food and drink sourcing in 2022 was local to its global destinations.

Similarly, Linken D'Souza, Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of food and beverage, told reporters in January that the company had spent the past two years shifting its supply chain to Europe to stock its cruises there with less food from the US .

As a result, 86% of the food for Royal Caribbean's European cruises was sourced locally in 2023, its sustainability report from that year said. Last year, the company also stopped supplying its Seattle- and Vancouver-based ships with frozen food shipped from Florida, opting to buy locally instead.

Bambi Semroc, the senior vice president of sustainable lands and waters for the nonprofit environmental group Conservation International, told Business Insider that increasing destination-based sourcing is a step in the right direction, especially if it helps stimulate a developing country's local economy and demand for its sustainably-produced foods.

But it's not always the best choice for the environment — it depends on how the goods are shipped.

Take American wine versus European wine. If you're drinking a California-made wine while in New York City, that bottle was delivered via truck and therefore has a higher carbon footprint than European-produced wine delivered via ship, Ravi Anupindi, a professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, said.

Both companies have similar animal-welfare goals

By 2025, Norwegian wants to buy all its seafood from suppliers certified by groups like the Marine Stewardship Council and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Royal Caribbean has the same deadline for a similar goal: Source 90% of wild seafood and 75% of farm-raised seafood from fisheries certified by the same nonprofits.

Back on land, both cruise giants aim to buy cage-free eggs, gestation-crate-free pork, and chickens exclusively from Global Animal Partnership-certified suppliers by 2025.

However, switching from a trusted supplier to a new, albeit more environmentally friendly, one can be "humongously challenging," Anupindi told BI.

So it should be no surprise that at least one of the companies has had to tweak its deadlines. According to Royal Caribbean's previous sustainability reports, the company has had to push its goals for cage-free eggs and gestation-crate-free pork back by three years and its seafood goals by five years.

Royal Caribbean did not respond to an inquiry about the delays.

Beef sourcing remains a missing sustainability puzzle piece

Beef generates about eight to 10 times the greenhouse-gas emissions as chicken does and has been noted as a cause of deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest .

However, neither of the companies' food-sourcing goals touch on cattle.

Norwegian told BI in a statement that its "net zero [emissions] by 2050" goal "applies to our shipboard and shoreside operations (Scopes 1 and 2) as well as value chain (Scope 3)," adding that beef would be part of Scope 3.

To address this beefy problem, Semroc said, cruise companies could choose beef suppliers that promote more sustainable practices or have committed to " no deforestation, no conversion ."

Or, ideally for sustainability, they could replace steak dinners with more plant-based dishes.

It seems Norwegian has already been following this advice. Its upcoming Norwegian Aqua ship is expected to debut in 2025 with the company's first-ever plant-based-food restaurant. Over the past few years, the cruise giant has rolled out more than 200 vegetable-based meals across its Oceania and Regent Seven Seas fleets.

Royal Caribbean did not respond to an inquiry about its beef initiatives or plans to expand its plant-based offerings.

Evidently, "beefing up" sustainability in the food supply chain can be a complex and nuanced topic, especially for companies that feed as many people as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do. That's not to mention all the heat that cruise companies already take for operating ships that are bad for the environment .

But it's "admirable that they're beginning to think about this," Anupindi said.

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44-Foot Whale Found Dead on Bow of Cruise Ship Coming Into New York

The endangered sei whale, usually found in deep waters, was discovered on the bow of a cruise ship as it arrived at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, marine authorities said.

By Livia Albeck-Ripka

As the cruise ship approached New York on Saturday, it was found to be carrying a grim, and unexpected, catch: The carcass of a 44-foot-long endangered whale, draped across its bow.

The whale, which marine authorities described as a sei whale, is known for its rapid swimming and preference for deep waters, far from the coast. Its body was discovered as the ship neared the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, and the authorities were “immediately notified,” said MSC Cruises, which owns the ship.

A spokeswoman for the company said in an email that it had “comprehensive measures” in place to avoid such collisions, including training deck officers and altering itineraries in certain areas to avoid them. “We will continue to evaluate and update our procedures with our partners and the authorities,” she said.

Marine authorities said that they had towed the animal, estimated to weigh some 50,000 pounds, from the bow, and transferred it by boat to a beach in Sandy Hook, N.J., where they conducted a necropsy on Tuesday.

The investigation is continuing, but preliminary results — broken bones in the whale’s right flipper; tissue trauma along its right shoulder blade; a full stomach and decent layer of blubber — all pointed toward the animal having been in otherwise good health when it was likely struck and killed by the ship, said Robert A. DiGiovanni, the chief scientist of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, which is leading the investigation .

The whale was already “pretty decomposed” by the time scientists began the necropsy, he added, so they worked quickly to collect samples that could be tested for contaminants and other biotoxins that would indicate any other relevant health issues. “It looks like the animal was alive and it was hit by a vessel,” he said, noting that investigators had not ruled out other factors.

Mr. DiGiovanni said that his conservation group, which is federally authorized to respond to marine mammal strandings in New York, had dealt with more than 100 whales over the past several years, many of which had been entangled in nets or struck by vessels. Most of those whales were humpback and North Atlantic right whales, he added, noting that it was more uncommon to come across a sei whale.

Sei whales usually live in subtropical, temperate and subpolar waters and are named after the Norwegian word for pollock, “seje,” because the mammals are often found together with the fish. Their long, sleek bodies are usually dark blue or black with a cream-colored underside, and are often scarred by shark and lamprey bites.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the whales were commercially hunted for their meat and oil, decimating their population, which is now designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act .

Mr. DiGiovanni said that the death was a reminder that humans shared the open water with many other mammals. “When you’re out there, these animals might be there,” he said. “We need to make people more aware about how to operate around these animals.”

A spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said by email that mariners along the East Coast were encouraged to slow down their vessels, stay alert, and report any sightings of dead, injured or entangled whales to the authorities.

Livia Albeck-Ripka is a Times reporter based in Los Angeles, covering breaking news, California and other subjects. More about Livia Albeck-Ripka