On May 28, 2000, NCL ushered in a new era in cruising when it introduced Freestyle Cruising aboard the Norwegian Sky. This innovative cruising concept combines the excitement of sailing the high seas and exploring exotic ports with the relaxed lifestyle of a top-end land-based resort. By providing guests with complete flexibility to choose from a wide variety of options, and non-intrusive service of the highest standards, NCL has eliminated the boundaries of the traditional cruise experience.

Freestyle Service - A ratio of nearly one crewmember per stateroom gives you excellent service from an international staff of caring professionals.  With more crewmembers to care for your needs and indulge your whims, you'll have more time to devote to having a wonderful cruise. More crewmembers also means many public rooms and restaurants can stay open longer, giving you even more opportunity to enjoy them.

Freestyle Activities - New Lifestyle programs let you enrich your mind and your body...  For guests who don't want to waste a minute of their cruise, NCL offers lots of activities, including a new series of programs to stimulate your mind and your challenge your body. Plus, each ship has an Internet Cafe, and our newest ships have in-cabin laptop ports with Internet access as well. So even while you're at sea, you can stay connected to what's happening back home. NCL's Lifestyle and Enrichment Programs are offered both onboard and ashore.  Topics range from computer and cooking classes to yoga and mountain biking.  All the new ships in our fleet, including Norwegian Sky, have Internet connections in every stateroom.  Stay in shape with onboard basketball courts, golf driving nets, jogging tracks, swimming pools and 24-hour fitness centers.

Freestyle Attire - From resort casual to formal wear-you decide.  Dress the way your spirit moves you on NCL's Freestyle ships. From casual attire to formal wear, it's all up to you. Although some occasions may require specific attire (see below), a jacket and tie are typically not required on board. The Freestyle Cruising dress code is now "resort casual." For ladies, resort casual attire in the evening typically includes, but is not limited to, sundresses, blouses, sweaters, slacks and skirts. Resort casual for gentlemen means shirts with collars, such as polo shirts, and khakis or trousers. (Of course, dressing up is always an option for everyone.)  The tradition of mandatory "formal nights" on NCL ships has been changed to optional formal nights. For guests who want to dress to the nines, there are two optional formal nights on cruises longer than seven nights. On these evenings, one of the ship's main dining rooms and possibly some public rooms will be reserved for guests in formal attire. While guests are encouraged to dress comfortably, some dining/public rooms have a "no shorts/T-shirts/jeans" rule after 5:30 PM. (This policy does not apply in casual buffets and restaurants such as the Garden Café on the Norwegian Sky.)

Freestyle Disembarkation - A morning of leisure replaces hours of waiting.  Now you can enjoy a more relaxed final morning on board. No more rushing, then vacating your stateroom and sitting around on the ship waiting to disembark. If you don't have an early flight to catch, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then wait in your stateroom for your disembarkation call.  Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the buffet or in the dining room, or a Continental breakfast served in your stateroom. No more sitting around in public rooms on the ship with all your hand luggage, waiting for disembarkation. No more standing in a long line to leave the ship.  Disembark at your leisure, as late as 10 am in most ports.

Freestyle Gratuities - Tips are automatically added to your onboard credit account.  On traditional cruises, guests waited until the last night to tip room stewards and restaurant servers. You had to get bills in the proper denominations, stuff them in envelopes, then hand them to each individual. For your convenience, NCL has simplified this system by automatically adding the suggested gratuities (US $10 per day per guest, except children under four) to your onboard account.  Enjoy your last night at sea. With Freestyle Cruising there's no more rushing around to get cash in the proper denominations, placing it in tipping envelopes, then distributing them to the proper individuals.  Want to leave more or less than the suggested gratuity? Simply visit the Front Desk and ask to have your account adjusted accordingly.

Freestyle Ships - All ships (with the exception of the S/S Norway) have been converted to Freestyle Cruising. The Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star, NCL's newest ships were designed entirely with Freestyle Cruising in mind.  Between September 2001 and December 2002, NCL will welcome three new ships to our fleet, two of them custom built and one redesigned especially for Freestyle Cruising. These incredible vessels will feature more staterooms with balconies, a dedicated center for Lifestyle/Enrichment programs, and a fantastic variety of restaurants featuring gourmet cuisine to please every palate.