Are you looking for the most megaresort-like, activity-packed Norwegian Cruise Line ships at sea? If so, you’ll want to get on one of the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are, almost by definition, the Norwegian Cruise Line ships with the most “stuff” — the most pools, waterslides and other deck-top attractions (even go-kart tracks), as well as the most onboard restaurants, bars and showrooms. They have the biggest spas and casinos among vessels in the Norwegian fleet and the most cabins and suites — as well as the most variation in suite and cabin types.
With room for 4,000 or more passengers, the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are among the most massive resorts you’ll find at sea from any cruise line and are comparable to some of the biggest resorts on land, too. If you’re in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to a resort experience, these are the Norwegian Cruise Line ships for you.
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Still, Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t just operate giant vessels. The world’s fourth-biggest cruise line also has quite a few relatively small cruise ships that carry just 2,000 or so people and provide a more intimate feel. In some cases, these vessels are just half the size of Norwegian Cruise Line’s biggest ships. These are vessels that, notably, have fewer deck-top activities and interior venues than the biggest Norwegian cruise ships.
The smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are best for vacationers who like a less crowded, more intimate resort experience.
Related: The 8 classes of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, explained
To ensure you end up on the right Norwegian Cruise Line ship for you, it pays to understand which Norwegian Cruise Line ships are the biggest and which are the smallest before booking.
Here, every Royal Caribbean ship currently in operation is ranked from biggest to smallest.
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1. Norwegian Encore
Maiden voyage: 2019.
Size: 169,116 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,998.
2. Norwegian Bliss
Maiden voyage: 2018.
Size: 168,028 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,004.
3. Norwegian Joy
Maiden voyage: 2017.
Size: 167,725 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,804.
4. Norwegian Escape
Maiden voyage: 2015.
Size: 164,998 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,266.
5. Norwegian Epic
Maiden voyage: 2010.
Size: 155,873 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 4,100.
6. (tied) Norwegian Getaway
Maiden voyage: 2014.
Size: 145,655 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,963.
6. (tied) Norwegian Breakaway
Maiden voyage: 2013.
Size: 145,655 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,963.
8. Norwegian Prima
Maiden voyage: 2022.
Size: 143,535 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 3,099.
9. Norwegian Jade
Maiden voyage: 2006.
Size: 93,558 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,402.
10. (tied) Norwegian Gem
Maiden voyage: 2007.
Size: 93,530 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,394.
10. (tied) Norwegian Pearl
Maiden voyage: 2006.
Size: 93,530 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,394.
12. Norwegian Jewel
Maiden voyage: 2005.
Size: 93,502 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,376.
13. Norwegian Dawn
Maiden voyage: 2002.
Size: 92,250 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,340.
14. Norwegian Star
Maiden voyage: 2001.
Size: 91,740 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,348.
15. Pride of America
Maiden voyage: 2005.
Size: 80,439 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,186.
16. Norwegian Sun
Maiden voyage: 2001.
Size: 78,309 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 1,936.
17. Norwegian Sky
Maiden voyage: 1999.
Size: 77,104 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,004.
18. Norwegian Spirit
Maiden voyage: 1998.
Size: 75,904 gross tons.
Passenger capacity: 2,032.
What is the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?
The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship is the 4-year-old Norwegian Encore. While not quite as big as the biggest ships from rival lines Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Encore still is firmly in the pantheon of the world’s cruising giants.
At 169,116 tons, Norwegian Encore is bigger than all but 21 other cruise ships in the world, 15 of which are operated by the three lines mentioned above. It regularly sails with more than 4,000 passengers on board.
The biggest of four vessels in Norwegian’s Breakaway-Plus class of ships, Norwegian Encore is the Norwegian ship most packed with restaurants, bars, entertainment and over-the-top attractions. It’s home to one of the biggest go-kart tracks on a cruise ship, the biggest laser tag area on a Norwegian ship and an unusually large virtual reality zone called Galaxy Pavilion, to name a few of its biggest attractions. There’s also plenty of room to spare for multiple pools, waterslides and a kiddie splash zone.
Additionally, Norwegian Encore offers big-name shows in big, state-of-the-art theaters; a sprawling spa; a casino that fills half a deck; a dedicated children’s play zone; and more than 2,000 rooms.
What is the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship?
The smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship is Norwegian Spirit. At 75,904 gross tons, Norwegian Spirit is less than half the size of Norwegian Encore, the line’s biggest ship. It carries just 1,966 passengers — more than 2,000 fewer than Norwegian Encore.
Unveiled in 1998, Norwegian Spirit is not only the smallest Norwegian Cruise Line ship but also the oldest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. At 25 years old, it’s likely to be phased out of the Norwegian fleet in the coming years.
Norwegian Spirit, notably, was not built for Norwegian Cruise Line but for Asia-based Star Cruises. Its original name was SuperStar Leo. It was transferred to Norwegian and renamed in 2004.
In part because of its smaller size, Norwegian Spirit offers fewer venues and attractions than newer Norwegian vessels, but it still offers a lot. In all, you’ll find 13 food outlets on Norwegian Spirit, including two main restaurants, a casual buffet eatery, and versions of the line’s signature Cagney’s Steakhouse and French eatery Le Bistro. There are more than half a dozen bars and cafes.
Deck-top attractions on Norwegian Spirit include several pools, whirlpools, waterslides, a basketball court and a jogging track. The ship also has a casino, spa, nightclub and theater.
Are bigger Norwegian Cruise Line ships coming?
The answer isn’t clear. Norwegian Cruise Line currently has five new cruise ships on order, and all were originally designed to be smaller than the biggest Norwegian ships currently at sea. However, Norwegian recently announced that some of the ships will be redesigned to be as much as 20% bigger.
Depending on how much bigger Norwegian makes these ships, they might become the biggest ships in the Norwegian fleet.
The five ships on order for Norwegian are all sister ships to the recently unveiled Norwegian Prima, which is Norwegian’s eighth biggest ship. The first of the five ships, Norwegian Viva, is scheduled to begin sailing in August 2023 with the four other new vessels arriving between 2025 and 2028.
Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line
The five new ships are all part of what Norwegian is calling the Prima class of ships. The first ship in the series, Norwegian Prima, measures 143,535 gross tons, which is about 15% smaller than Norwegian Encore, Norwegian’s biggest ship.
The second ship in the Prima-class series will be similar in size to Norwegian Prima, while the last four ships in the series, as noted, are being redesigned to be bigger than the first two ships in the series.
Norwegian executives said the smaller size of the new Prima-class ships would give the line more options in designing itineraries, as the vessels would be able to access smaller ports around the world than some of the bigger Norwegian ships can.
What’s the difference between bigger and smaller Norwegian Cruise Line ships?
To put it simply: The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships have room for more onboard venues and attractions than the line’s older vessels.
On Norwegian’s giant Breakaway-Plus-class vessels (Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Escape), for instance, you’ll find multiple pools, waterslides, a kiddie splash zone and — on most of the ships — a sprawling go-kart racing track. Each of the vessels also offers Broadway shows in giant theaters; sprawling spas; large casinos; expansive children’s play zones; and more than 2,000 rooms.
Additionally, two of the biggest ships in the series, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy, have what may be the largest and coolest gaming and virtual reality zones at sea.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian ship
Norwegian’s smaller ships, by contrast, lack many of the above features. Because of their smaller size, they have a much more intimate feel, at least when compared to the biggest cruise ships at Norwegian and other mass-market lines, and they hold far fewer people. While Breakaway-Plus-class ships can hold around 4,000 passengers, based on double occupancy, the line’s smallest vessels are only designed to carry about 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.
Norwegian’s smallest ships are a good choice for vacationers who aren’t eager to travel with the huge crowds that are common on the world’s biggest cruise ships. They appeal to a subset of Norwegian fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don’t mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail on, on a per-day basis.
Related: Don’t miss out on these Norwegian loyalty perks
Additionally, because of their size, the smallest ships at Norwegian are able to operate itineraries to places that aren’t as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Norwegian Encore.
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