7 Norwegian Cruise Line Changes for the Worse

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has long been known for its innovative ships, freestyle dining, and vibrant entertainment options. However, some Norwegian Cruise Line changes for the worse in recent years have left guests feeling disappointed.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know we’re big fans of NCL and sail with them frequently. It’s the cruise line that feels the most like home to us. It’s also the cruise line my friend Kim—aka the Cruising Queen—raved about many years ago, convincing me to try it because of their fantastic food options and entertainment.

Pin

While we still sail with Norwegian Cruise Line, that doesn’t mean we’re oblivious to the frustrating changes they’ve made in recent years. But just because we’re pointing out what’s gotten worse doesn’t mean you should stop sailing with them—we haven’t. We go in with our eyes wide open and decide where and how we want to spend our money.

If you’ve already jumped ship to another cruise line or even stopped cruising altogether, I wouldn’t blame you. When you’re spending your hard-earned money on a vacation, the last thing you want is to pay for subpar quality when you can find better elsewhere.

Let’s get into seven notable changes that many guests aren’t happy about.

1. Rising Costs Without Added Benefits

In recent years, especially after the Big-C, NCL has gradually raised costs while making noticeable cutbacks—all in the name of recovering what they lost during that challenging time. Instead of maintaining the level of service, crew, entertainment, and dining that we were used to, they’ve been taking things away without adding any benefits to make up for it.

For example, NCL has raised the daily service charge to $20 per person per day for Club Balcony Suite and below, and $25 for The Haven and Suites—one of the highest in the cruise industry. They’ve also eliminated turn-down service, which may seem small, but it was one of those touches that added to the overall experience. On top of that, housekeeping services have been scaled back, with many guests now only getting once-daily service instead of the twice-daily refresh we used to expect.

Unfortunately, these changes haven’t improved the guest experience. If anything, they’ve left many cruisers wondering if NCL is still worth the price.

2. Dining and Food Quality: A Decline in Menu Options and Variety

Many cruisers have noticed that NCL’s dining experience isn’t what it used to be. Menu items that were once guest favorites have disappeared, and the overall sense of cost-cutting is hard to ignore. Take the buffet, for example—crepes were once a delightful staple, but now they’re nowhere to be found. Even cookies, a simple treat, are hidden away. On our recent NCL Encore cruise, we had to specifically ask for them because they weren’t put out like they used to be.

The buffet’s quality has noticeably declined, with fewer creative options and a focus on basic, uninspired dishes. Across the main dining rooms and buffets, other small changes stand out—like butter no longer being real butter and milk for coffee now coming in little envelopes instead of proper cream or milk.

Now, I understand the idea of reducing waste—no one wants to see food thrown out—but this feels like more than that. It’s less about sustainability and more about quietly cutting back. These little changes add up and take away from the overall experience, especially when you’re paying for a vacation where food is a highlight.

The main dining rooms have also become repetitive, with menus that only swap out a few appetizers and mains each night. For cruisers who look forward to variety, this lack of rotation can make dinners feel monotonous and dull after a few nights.

Even in The Haven, where you’d expect a higher standard, noticeable downgrades have crept in. The steak and eggs breakfast, for example, used to feature filet mignon but now serves New York strip instead. These little cutbacks are hard to ignore, especially in a space marketed as a luxury experience.

For cruisers who view food as a key part of their vacation, these changes are noticeable with an overall decline in variety and attention to detail.

3. Specialty Dining Changes: From à la Carte to Expensive Cover Charges

Cagney’s Steakhouse, once known for premium dining, no longer lets guests choose their sides—a disappointing change.

NCL’s specialty dining has gone through big changes—and not in a good way. Specialty restaurants used to offer à la carte pricing, which gave guests the flexibility to order what they wanted (unless they were using a dining package). Now, à la carte is gone, replaced by flat cover charges that rival or even exceed what you’d pay at a nice restaurant on land.

What’s worse, the value of these cover charges is shrinking. Portions at many specialty restaurants are smaller, and the overall quality isn’t what it used to be. Take Cagney’s, for example. It used to be a standout steakhouse that offered premium options like Tomahawk steaks as part of the cover charge or with a dining package. Now, Cagney’s feels more like an overhyped Outback Steakhouse. Sides are no longer customizable—you’re given two pre-selected sides with your main, whether you like them or not—all for a whopping $60 per person.

For longtime cruisers, these changes are hard to ignore. If you’re looking to avoid these rising costs, your best bet is to take advantage of NCL’s More at Sea program or buy a specialty dining package before boarding. But even then, the quality just isn’t what it used to be.

Read more: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Specialty Dining Menus

4. The Loss of Free at Sea Plus and the “More at Sea” Trade-Off

NCL’s Free at Sea promotion was a hit among cruisers, but they’ve now replaced it with More at Sea. While NCL promotes More at Sea as a better value because it’s a bundled package, the reality is that it’s just a way to cover up the fact that they’ve taken away options. Yes, it’s more cost-effective than paying full price for each perk individually, but that doesn’t mean guests are truly getting “more.” In reality, they’re getting fewer choices disguised as an upgrade.

The Free at Sea Plus option, which offered more generous and seemingly limitless benefits, has been eliminated entirely—with no More at Sea Plus replacement. And I loved Free at Sea Plus. It was one of those upgrades that felt worth it. I’d end my dinners with an espresso or cappuccino, sip on Pellegrino and Aqua Panna all day, and enjoy unlimited glasses of Veuve Clicquot. It made the cruise experience feel just a little more special. Now, those little luxuries are gone unless you want to pay even more out of pocket.

This change feels like a downgrade for those willing to pay a little extra for added flexibility. NCL may be calling it “More at Sea,” but it feels like less for many guests.

4. Cutbacks on Entertainment Options

In 2023, NCL announced they were “leaning away from Broadway-style shows,” leading to significant reductions in beloved productions like Six, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and more—without offering true replacements. Entertainment used to be a big part of sailing with NCL, and there was always something to do. Now, it’s gone downhill.

There are fewer showtimes, fewer live performances in the theater, and some productions have been replaced with lower-budget alternatives. In some cases, what’s left feels more like an upsell than actual entertainment. Take Wheel of Fortune—sure, you can sit and watch for free, but how is that considered a nightly entertainment option? I love a good Bingo game or Deal or No Deal, but let’s be real—these aren’t replacements for high-quality productions. They’re just another way for NCL to make more money.

This shift has been a major disappointment for cruisers who book NCL partly for its vibrant nightlife and Broadway-style shows.

6. No Turn-Down Service

This one has cruisers divided. Some don’t mind the loss of nightly turn-down service on NCL, while others feel it took away a small but meaningful touch that added a sense of luxury. There’s something about coming back to your cabin after a long day to find fresh towels, a tidied room, your bed turned down for the night—and sometimes being greeted by a whimsical towel animal.

Unless you’re staying in a suite, the stateroom cabin attendant no longer comes in while you’re at dinner or a show to refresh your cabin for the evening. The gradual removal of this nightly perk actually dates back to 2019, when NCL stopped providing towel animals under the guise of being eco-friendly. By April 2023, turn-down service was removed entirely across all fleets, and with it came reduced cleaning services.

This change has also increased the workload for stateroom attendants, who now manage double or even triple the number of cabins compared to the past. And who remembers when cabin stewards had assistants? Those days are long gone.

Read more: Smart Cruise Cabin Tips You Need to Know

7. Altered Itineraries or Shortened Port Times

Pin

Some cruisers, including me, have been pretty frustrated with how itineraries get changed closer to sailing dates or port times are cut short—sometimes so much that you barely get to enjoy the destination. A few weeks before our NCL Breakaway cruise to the Caribbean, they completely removed Tortola from the itinerary. Their excuse? “Fuel efficiency, as part of our commitment to the environment and sustainability efforts.” Let’s be real—I call this an excuse. I was so excited to visit Tortola, and this felt like a huge letdown.

The problem is that they often wait until after the final payment to make these big changes. In my case, it was just one canceled port day, but I’ve seen others deal with entire itinerary changes, including bucket list cruises, and they’re stuck with no way to cancel or switch to another sailing. Unless you have cancel-for-any-reason insurance (which isn’t cheap), you’re locked in once that final payment is made.

And let’s talk about how short port days have gotten. I love itineraries with long days at port, but those are becoming harder and harder to find. Why? My guess is it saves them money on port fees and keeps us on the ship longer, spending more.

For those of us who cruise to explore, these changes are frustrating.

What do you think about these Norwegian Cruise Line changes for the worse? Have you experienced any of these firsthand, or have other changes frustrated you? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!