Dining Onboard NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rule-breaker when it comes to food.

Back in 2000, they shook things up with their Freestyle Cruising idea. Freestyle Dining means instead of being stuck with the usual early or late dinner times in the main dining rooms, guests got to choose when and with whom they wanted to eat. 

They also started adding in specialty dining restaurants—like the French-inspired Le Bistro and Cagney’s Steakhouse.

Onboard dining includes over 30 places to grab a bite, including 10 complimentary dining and 20 spots where you’ll need to shell out extra cash or pick from a menu. This is true on their 19 ships currently sailing and the new one coming soon (Norwegian Aqua).

While your cruise ticket covers some eateries, the fancy ones that cost more are super popular, and they keep adding new ones with every ship class that comes out.

Dining on board changes depending on the ship. The newer Prima, Breakaway, and Breakaway Plus classes have way more choices compared to the older, smaller ships in the fleet.

So, how do you keep track of all this? We’ve put together a list of all the food options on Norwegian Cruise Line, from coffee and gelato joints to those a la carte restaurants. Here’s the scoop on what’s included, what’ll cost you extra, and which ships have each dining spot.

To keep things easy, everything is in alphabetical order.

American Diner – Free

This retro diner, inspired by the ’50s, is on all six of NCL’s Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships. It serves up classic comfort foods like cheeseburgers, meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and spaghetti with meatballs. For dessert, you can grab some bread pudding or carrot walnut cake. The best part? The food is now totally free (NCL switched it up in early 2024). Just a heads up, though—if you’re craving a milkshake, you’ll have to shell out some cash for that!

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Atrium Café – a la carte

Atrium Cafe is a chill spot where you can grab coffee and cocktails, plus some yummy hot and cold drinks, cookies, pastries, and other snacks. Some NCL ships also have Starbucks cafes if you’re in the mood for that!

Ships: Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun

Cadillac Diner – Free

If you wanna dig into some awesome barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches, and other tasty bites, you gotta check out the Cadillac Diner. This place has a cool retro vibe with its black-and-white checked floor and vinyl booths squeezed between two parts of a classic red car. You can only find it on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America. Plus, it’s open 24/7, and everything’s free—except for the milkshakes, those you gotta pay for!

Ship: Pride of America

Cagney’s Steakhouse – Chargeable

One of NCL’s fave spots to eat is Cagney’s, which has a classic steakhouse vibe and tons of tasty seafood choices too. The real highlights at this speciality restaurant are the aged certified Angus beef cuts—think rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse, and New York strip—plus you can pick from some awesome sauces and sides like truffle mashed potatoes and sautéed garlic mushrooms. If you’re in the mood for something different, they’ve got cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Aussie lamb chops. And hey, don’t forget to save some space for the OMG Caramel-Butterscotch Cheesecake—it’s a must-try!

Ships: Fleetwide

Coco’s – a la carte

Coco’s is like the ultimate hangout spot that mixes an ice cream shop with a candy store. They’ve got tons of goodies like chocolates from everywhere, delicious milkshakes, crepes, and a bunch of other sweet stuff to totally hit the spot for your cravings.

Ships: Norwegian Bliss and Encore, plus a small version on Prima

Dolce Gelato – a la carte

When it’s that hot mid-afternoon vibe and the sun’s blasting down in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, swing by this takeout spot on Deck 8 for a delicious cup or cone of super creamy gelato.

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Breakaway and Getaway

Food Republic – a la carte

This awesome restaurant that mixes Asian and Latin flavours has been a hit since it opened up on the Norwegian Escape. You’ll definitely want to grab a bunch of dishes to share with your crew from Food Republic’s menu. Check out the Sushi Bar with eight different rolls, Hand Helds that range from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos, Sharing Is Caring with tasty bites like grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, and salt and pepper calamari, plus Noodles/Rice/Soups featuring shrimp pad Thai and Vietnamese pho tai. And don’t forget to save room for dessert at the Sugar Pump, where you can indulge in treats with green tea, chocolate, and ginger caramel!

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva

Garden Café Buffet – Free

Sometimes, hitting up the buffet is just what you need. It’s super convenient when you first board the ship and want a quick snack before checking everything out, or when you get back from a long day of exploring and just want to chow down without changing your clothes. The Garden Café has tons of choices, like carved meats, grilled fish, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, plus some sweet desserts. It opens for breakfast nice and early too.

Ships: All ships except Norwegian Prima, Viva and Pride of America

Hasuki – Chargeable

This is like a fancier take on NCL’s Teppanyaki spot. You’ll chill with other folks around a grill while munching on edamame, miso soup, and seaweed salad. The chef will whip up your main dish—pick from chicken, beef, seafood, teriyaki tofu, or one of four combos—putting on quite a show. The juicy meat come with garlic fried rice and grilled veggies, and for dessert, you can choose between a green tea cake or some fruity sashimi.

Ships: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua

Hudson’s – Free

This bright, round space popped up on the Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a fresh dining spot. It has the same daily changing menu as the Commodore Room, the other main dining area, but what makes this place special is its chill vibe, thanks to those awesome 270-degree windows that let in tons of light.

Ships: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua

Indulge Food Hall – Free

This new chill dining spot on the Norwegian Prima has really taken off as a go-to choice instead of the Surfside Cafe buffet for lunch and dinner.  Some cruise ship buffets are a bit boring.  But not here.  At breakfast, it offers a similar but toned-down menu compared to Surfside. What makes Indulge Food Hall so awesome is the variety—there are over 50 different dishes from seven different vendors: Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie, and Tamara, all served in small plate sizes. You can munch on chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada, and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered straight from your table using a tablet. Plus, the Norwegian Aqua’s Indulge Food Hall is set to feature a plant-based food station called Planterie.

Ships: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua

La Cucina – a la carte

La Cucina used to be Norwegian’s only spot for Italian food until they introduced Onda by Scarpetta on the Encore in 2018, and the vibe at these places is pretty different. La Cucina sticks to the classics, serving up things like caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore, and osso buco alla Milanese. On the flip side, Onda’s menu leans toward more polished, modern Italian eats.

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

Le Bistro – Chargeable

Just like Cagney’s, NCL’s French fine-dining spot is a classic that’s been around for ages. It’s a hit with couples looking to celebrate special moments. Le Bistro serves up everything from steak tartare and escargot to tender lamb shanks and roasted duck. With its a la carte menu, it’s one of the priciest dining options on the ship, especially if you’re sipping on some Champagne or a nice French wine. Open for dinner, The Le Bistro locations on Norwegian Prima and Viva have a super cool vibe, decked out with big fancy chandeliers and classy blue-and-white decor.

Ships: All

Los Lobos – a la carte

If you’re cruising on one of the six ships that have it, Los Lobos is a super cool spot with bright decor and some seriously fancy Mexican food that’s way more than just your average Tex-Mex. You’ve gotta try the guacamole they whip up fresh right at your table—it’s a total must! The menu’s got awesome stuff like shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, cactus salad, chicken mole enchiladas, and cochinita pibil (which is basically super tender pork). And don’t forget to save room for a slice of tres leches cake with coconut cream — it’s the perfect way to end your meal!

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Dawn, Prima, Sun, Viva and Aqua

Main dining room – Free

Norwegian Cruise Line ships have at least two main dining complimentary spots.  Some even have three main dining rooms. The names differ from one ship to another — but all six of the Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships include the Manhattan Room, along with Savour and Taste. The menus switch up every day during the cruise and offer a mix of American and international eats in the main dining restaurants.

Ships: All

Moderno Churrascaria – Chargeable

Meat lovers can chow down on all sorts of delicious meats the classic Brazilian style, with gauchos slicing and serving up beef, lamb, pork, sausage, and chicken right at your table. If you’re not super into meat, no worries—you can hit up the salad bar, which has 43 different options. Plus, there are tasty sides like white rice, black beans, sautéed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca, and Brazilian cheese bread to round out your meal.

Ships: Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star, Sun and Gem

Nama Sushi & Sashimi – a la carte

There’s a fresh spot opening up on the Norwegian Prima called Nama Sushi & Sashimi, and it sticks pretty close to what you’d expect from the name. They’ve got six kinds of sushi rolls (like yellowtail and rock shrimp), three sashimi choices, and a bunch of apps, most of which are all about that raw fish goodness.

Ships: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua

Ocean Blue – a la carte

Ocean Blue is a fancy seafood spot found on NCL’s Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships (it’s called Bayamo by Ocean Blue on the Norwegian Escape). You can munch on tasty starters like crabcakes, pan-seared scallops, and an awesome ahi tuna and avocado tower. For the main course, dig into some steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini, or just some grilled fish (like salmon, tuna, cod, or sea bass), all with your choice of sauces. 

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Onda by Scarpetta – a la carte

Onda by Scarpetta is where it’s at for modern Italian eats, making it a top pick among NCL’s fancy dining spots, and it’s like the chill sibling of the original Scarpetta. Launched in 2019 on the Norwegian Encore and now popping up on the newest ships (and at least one older one too), Onda serves up delicious starters like burrata, short ribs, and braised octopus. They’ve got a solid lineup of pasta dishes, including pappardelle Bolognese and their famous spaghetti with tomato and basil. And let’s not forget the mains, like veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The big question is: Can you fit in dessert?

Ships: Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit, Viva and Aqua

O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill – Food is free

This fun and friendly pub-style spot has a great view of the lively three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships, and you can also find it on seven of the older NCL ships. It’s open 24 hours serving up classic comfort food like burgers, fish and chips, chicken wings, beef chili, and loaded nachos.

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

Palomar – a la carte

One of the latest spots to eat at NCL, Palomar, is all about that Mediterranean vibe, packed with Greek flavours. You’ll find way more seafood than meat on the menu, including tasty dishes like tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, lentils, clams, and pistachio pesto. For dessert, don’t miss out on the Greek yogurt sorbet paired with orange custard pie!

Ships: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua

Pincho Tapas Bar – a la carte

This cool Spanish-style tapas spot is only on one ship in the Breakaway Class, and it totally vibes with the whole Miami/Latin theme of the ship. If you’re in the mood for tasty small plates like blue crab salad and bacon-wrapped dates, plus chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops, and other goodies grilled to perfection, you gotta check out Pinchos. And don’t forget to grab a Spanish red, a refreshing glass of sangria, or one of their signature Matador cocktails to wash it all down!

Ships: Norwegian Escape

Q Texas Smokehouse – a la carte

This barbecue joint kicked off on the Norwegian Bliss back in 2018, serving up a tasty lineup of smoked meats like brisket, pulled pork, and beef short ribs. They’ve got some seriously indulgent sides too, like loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings, and mac and cheese. You can vibe out to live country music and work off some of those calories by hitting the dance floor (just save room for dessert like pecan pie or peach cobbler later!). Over on the Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva, and Norwegian Aqua, they offer a smaller menu for free at the Indulge Food Hall, but if you want to dance, you’ll have to find another spot.

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy

Savor (and Taste) – Free

These two spots on every Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ship are kinda like mini main dining rooms. They’re right across from each other on Deck 6 and have lunch and dinner menus that switch up every day.

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy

Starbucks – Chargeable

NCL might not have been the first cruise line to bring in the famous coffee chain (that honor goes to Royal Caribbean), but they’ve got the most Starbucks cafes on their ships now. Passengers can grab frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews, and a bunch of other coffee, tea, breakfast, and pastry goodies just like you’d find on land.

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky, Viva and Aqua.  Starbucks is served on the other ships in the cafes. 

Surfside Café & Grill – Free

When the Norwegian Prima came out, NCL switched up its buffet restaurant (which is usually called the Garden Cafe) and turned it into Surfside Cafe & Grill. This spot on Deck 17 is a lot smaller, mainly because the Prima Class ships also have Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill for free casual dining. The smaller size can lead to some crowding, especially during breakfast, and extra guests are asked to find seats in the nearby Food Republic area.

Ships: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua

Teppanyaki – Chargeable

One of the best dining experiences at sea.  Most of the NCL ships have Teppanyaki, which is this awesome Japanese spot like Benihana where the whole cooking show is part of the fun. You’ll chill around a grill while the chef whips up your meal—choose from chicken, beef, seafood, teriyaki-glazed tofu, or a combo of those. You kick things off with some miso soup and seaweed salad, and every meal comes with garlic fried rice and grilled veggies. For dessert, you can grab either a green tea cake or some fruit sashimi. Just a heads up, Hasuki takes the place of Teppanyaki on the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

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

The Local Bar & Grill – Food is free

The Local Bar & Grill is a popular spot for catching sports games and testing your trivia skills, plus it’s the perfect place to grab a bite whenever you’re feeling hungry. Just like its buddy O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, it’s open 24 hours a day with a menu packed with tasty comfort food. You can dig into breakfast anytime, or snack on all sorts of goodies like omelettes, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish and chips, and loaded nachos whenever the craving hits.

Ships: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit, Viva and Aqua

The Raw Bar – a la carte

Right next to Ocean Blue, this laid-back spot with counter seating dishes out oysters, clams, shellfish, and crudos like salmon tartare and black sea bass ceviche. They’ve also got wine by the glass and a bunch of tasty desserts to choose from.

Ships: Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway

Wasabi (or Sushi) – a la carte

This modern sushi joint—called either Wasabi or Sushi, based on the ship—is the go-to place for cocktails, sake, and tasty Japanese dishes like sesame seaweed salad, sushi and special rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and yakitori. If you’re on a Prima Class ship, check out Nama Sushi & Sashimi, which has a whole different menu.

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

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