Norwegian's Official Travel Blog

There are few occasions better suited for a party than New Year’s Eve. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the ending of a year while expressing hope for the future and allows us to gather with millions of other world citizens celebrating the same occasion. Needless to say, New Year’s Eve is a celebratory event deserving of proper planning and preparation. As you begin the countdown to midnight this year, check out some of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world.

If you’re taking your family on a Norwegian Caribbean Cruise for the holidays, you are one awesome person. I hope you won’t hesitate to tell your family I said so.

Sure, there are some holidays when there is nothing more essential than the gift of staying at home, surrounded with creature comforts, familiar family traditions, or an important pilgrimage to visit distant relatives.

And still, there are other times, when you simply must seize the opportunity to celebrate in the most unconventional, yet entirely monumental ways: A Caribbean cruise full of the most festive islands, exuberant onboard activities, and unlimited opportunities to drench in the sun. So long, snowy, slush-filled traffic snarls and Netflix binges! Say hello to the carols of the Caribbean! Here are just a few gifts awaiting you under the sun:

While there’s plenty of shopping you can do on board Norwegian Cruise Line ships, you’ll be amazed at all the shopping opportunities to be had as you cruise through the gorgeous Caribbean to top duty-free shopping havens like St. Thomas and St. Maarten. But even though you may have items on your personal shopping list, do you know what you’ll buy for friends and family back home?

The holiday season in December is the perfect time to plan a Christmas cruise. Avoid crowded shopping malls, fighting over limited parking spaces and the stress of planning Christmas dinner. You’ll be sunbathing with an eggnog by the pool. Never worry, Santa will find you on your Christmas cruise down in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and other sunny vacation destinations! The day after Christmas you might even catch him working on his tan. Christmas is where you make it, and what better place than a holiday cruise.

If you’re taking a holiday cruise this year, then you’re about to receive the most celebratory gift of all. But if you’re like me, then you might ask, Why stop there? Just because you’re reduced to a few suitcases doesn’t mean you have to forego the seasonal tradition of exchanging shiny, wrapped presents.

Surely you’ve heard that the best things come in small packages, so maybe you were already thinking of squeezing a few jewelry boxes or gift cards into your bags to exchange with your family. But rather than bring your gifts to your cruise, turn it around and bring your cruise into every gift of the season! Here are a few suggestions for creative cruise presents to make the most memorable holiday celebrations at sea:

A Christmas cruise through Europe is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays in many different countries and cultures. Learn to sing Christmas carols in Spanish, French, Danish and more. Enjoy many variations on Christmas dinner. Meet the different incarnations of Santa Claus. A cruise makes Christmas an adventure.

While I hate to keep repeating myself, I must say it again: cruising is one of todays’ best vacation values for your hard-earned dollars. But having said that, you can still take advantage of additional cost saving measures. Let’s take a look at how to get a good deal on a cruise!

An international holiday cruise is not for travelers seeking escape from traditional festivities, but rather, for those who want to enhance their celebrations with global culture, food, and flavor.

The Caribbean is a part of me. It’s my favorite silver-and-topaz earrings coveted in St. Lucia, and the Jamaican mango-salsa recipe I’ve shared with my entire family. Most of all, the Caribbean sings inside my living spaces. The trinkets and treasures collected on my travels turn keepsakes into expressions of island spirit.

Cruising to South America, rounding Cape Horn like an early explorer, is a once in a lifetime experience. Stopping in many ports along the way, you’ll want to see the best of what each destination has to offer. To aid you on your southern adventure, we’ve assembled a list of South American highlights.

Nothing complements an Alaskan cruise like a visit to Vancouver. Considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a stay in Vancouver should be near the top of any globetrotter’s bucket list. With a bounty of outdoor activities and attractions, it’s a great place to stretch your legs before or after an Alaskan adventure. As if you needed more convincing, we’ve assembled a list of the top things to see and do in Vancouver.

What’s it like to cruise the Caribbean with your kids in tow? For starters, the exact opposite of a cross-country car-trip trekking nightmare. In fact, for families, sailing the Caribbean will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life – and I mean that in the very best of ways.

I’ve always maintained that cruising is the best vacation value for your hard earned dollars. In fact, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), taking a cruise can cost as little as $40 per day! Where else can you get an all-inclusive vacation for such an amazing low price?? So, how much is a cruise? Let’s take a look!

With so many selections, spa virgins and pampered princesses alike will appreciate a shorthand guide to Mandara Spa's most popular and sophisticated selections.

With no passport required for US citizens, it’s no wonder the US Virgin Islands are one of the ten most visited destinations in The Caribbean. Offering an enticing combination of tropical beaches, cultural diversity and historical significance, St. Thomas is so much more than just a duty-free shopping haven. Where do the locals go on St. Thomas? Let’s take a look!

Once you’ve found that special someone, there’s nothing more exciting that planning your dream wedding, especially if it’s a cruise wedding. But, with so many things to consider during the planning stages, it can easily get overwhelming. So, what to do? Let the experienced wedding coordinators at Norwegian Cruise Line take care of everything, of course!

A cruise wedding is just as easy to plan as a land-based ceremony, plus it’s fully customizable. It’s also an affordable way to combine your reception and honeymoon all in one amazing vacation package, often with significant savings over a land-based wedding ceremony and reception.

Here are 5 things to consider when you’re planning your cruise wedding, and some tips to ensure it’s smooth sailing all the way!

When it comes to cruise vacations, I like to believe it's all about the journey rather than the end destination. This is why books that celebrate the cultures and lore of storied port cities are my compass, treasure maps, and constant sailing companions.

Don't get me wrong: I love to geek out on travel guides, too. When cruising the Caribbean, I want to know the Cayman Islands’ ideal snorkel spots and the Bahamas’ best duty-free jewelry stores. But a juicy book, whether it's a non-fiction narrative or an epic novel, offers a five-senses feast for the imagination. It inspires a trip you hadn't previously considered, and adds deep context to an itinerary already plotted.

Whether you're seeking great escape or deep exploration, here are some must-read books that capture the spirit of the Caribbean islands. What’s more, they’re sure to enhance your excursions.

Did you know the number one reason for travel within the US is to visit relatives? And while todays' technology makes it easy to stay in touch, there’s nothing quite like seeing each other in person - remember how much fun you had when you last visited? Maybe it’s time for another get together! Here are my tips on how to organize a family reunion cruise.

Thanksgiving happens to be one of my favorite Holidays. It’s a time where families come together, share a delicious meal, and are thankful for all of the good things that the year has brought. The only thing that I, and I’m sure many others could do without, is the stress that comes along with that day. All the cooking, decorating, hosting, and scrambling for those Black Friday deals- leave it all behind this year. Here are some new traditions to start on your Thanksgiving cruise.

When you’re packing for your cruise vacation, here are 5 essential items no cruiser should be without! Okay, I’ll admit this list has way more than 5 items but I like to be thorough, so I’ve narrowed my cruise essentials down to 5 categories. Let’s take a look!