I've been on over 30 cruises, but I'd never taken a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise until now. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to sail on the Norwegian Getaway when I was visiting the brand-new Great Tides Waterpark at Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay. I spent four nights on the Norwegian Getaway.
The Getaway is a great-sized ship, offering an ideal mix of a smaller, intimate ship and a larger, overwhelming one. Read about our experience on the Norwegian Getaway and what you need to know if you want to book a cruise on this ship.
Disclosure: My trip and sailing on the Norwegian Getaway was complimentary for the Great Tides Waterpark media preview. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. A purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Guide to the Norwegian Getaway Cruise Ship
Overview of the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway was introduced in 2014. She has a gross tonnage of 145,655 with an overall length of 1,068, and can accommodate over 3,900 guests (double occupancy). The ship was refurbished in 2024.
Sailings on the Norwegian Getaway
When I sailed on the Norwegian Getaway, we departed Miami and sailed to Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau (with a day at sea). However, in October 2026, the ship will sail from Port Canaveral and then from New Orleans, Louisiana, in November 2027.
Sailings include Western and Eastern Caribbean sailings, Mexico sailings, and Bahamas sailings. Stops include Cozumel, the Dominican Republic (Puerto Plata), Roatan, and Harvest Caye.
Norwegian's FreeAtSea Package
When you purchase your Norwegian Cruise fare, you'll see an add-on package called FreeAtSea. While this is optional, it can be a great deal if you'll use the inclusions. FreeAtSea includes the following:
- Unlimited open bar, which can also be used at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's Private Island
- Specialty dining (the number offered varies by the length of cruise)
- 150-minute WiFi package (one device per guest)
- $50 excursion credit at each port for guest 1 (for eligible excursions)
There's another option, called FreeAtSea Plus. That includes everything in the regular FreeAtSea package, plus:
- Top-shelf spirits plus premium wine and Champagne
- Unlimited Starbucks (1 drink per visit)
- Energy drinks and juices
- Bottled water at bars and restaurants
- Unlimited streaming Wi-Fi (one device per guest)
- Daily service charges
- 50% off specialty dining beyond the free credit(s)
These options are always subject to change, so check before booking.
Amenities on the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway offers a variety of fantastic amenities and activities for families. These include:
- Waterslides
- Kids' Aqua Park
- Ropes Course
- Video arcade
- Sundecks
- Under-3 playroom
- Entourage teen lounge
- Walking track
- Photo gallery
- Card room/library
- Art gallery
- Hot tubs
- Pools
- Casino
- Illusionarium theater
- Headliners Comedy Club
- Getaway Theater for larger-scale shows
- Cigar lounge
- Three-story sports complex
- Splash Academy youth center
- Spa and salon
- Fitness center
- Bowling lanes
- Spice H2O adult-only sundeck area
- The Waterfront (outdoor dining area)
The three-story ropes course is the largest at sea, offering over 40 elements and five Sky Rail zip tracks along with a kids' ropes course. If you want to experience the ropes course, you should know that the height requirement is at least 48 inches for the Sky Trail (without a chaperone), with a maximum of 48 inches for the kids' ropes course (with a chaperone). Maximum weight is 300 lbs. You must also wear a shirt with sleeves and closed-toe athletic shoes.
Kids' Clubs on the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway offers three separate clubs/areas for kids to enjoy.
The Guppies Under 3 Playroom isn't a kids' club. Instead, it's a play area where parents can take kids under 3 to play while they are parent-supervised. It's a nice option if you have toddlers and want to help them burn off energy.
The Splash Academy Youth Center is a 2-story drop-off club for kids aged 3-12. It offers structured activities and other fun activities, including video games, sports, and creative play. Hours vary by day, so check with the club when you arrive.
For older kids aged 13-17, Entourage offers a space to play video games and do other activities. There are fewer structured activities here.
Mandara Spa & Salon on the Norwegian Getaway
The Mandara Spa and Salon is your spot on board for wellness and relaxation. The spa offers a number of treatments and services for an additional cost, including:
- IV treatments
- Fitness classes
- Acupuncture
- Facials
- Salon services
- Massages
- Body treatments
- Body contouring
- Personal training
- Wellness seminars
- Filler and DYSPORT
If you aren't looking for a specific treatment, but do want to relax, the Thermal Suite is a great option. When you arrive on the ship, you can tour the area and purchase a voyage pass valid for your entire sailing.
The Thermal Suite includes a sauna, steam room, salt room, therapy pool, heated loungers, hot tub, and rain showers. I especially loved sitting in the therapy pool. It was the perfect warm temperature, with relaxing jets.
We purchased the Voyage Pass and used the Thermal Suite three times. While it was busy during our day at sea, it was quiet at other times. I had some neck pain when I arrived on the ship, and the combination of treatments really helped me ease the pain.
Pools and Water Activities on Board
The Norwegian Getaway offers lots of different water activities and pools. On deck 15, you'll find the pool deck, offering sun loungers, hot tubs, and pools.
The Aqua Park is a multi-story area with five water slides and pools, including a family slide. It's not nearly the size of the new Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, but it is very impressive for a cruise ship water park.
There's also the Kids' Aqua Park, which is a pirate-themed kids' splash area. It offers a variety of water features, including cannons and a mini slide.
Entertainment on Board the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway offers many different entertainment options on the ship in several fantastic venues. These include the following:
- The Atrium - the main gathering spot for the ship and where many of the game shows were hosted
- The Getaway Theater - the large theater on board, offering main stage shows and larger game shows
- Syd Norman's Pour House - a rock-music themed bar offering live entertainment with their own band
- Illusionarium - a magic and illusions-themed venue. We played the Murder Mystery Game here.
- Headliners Comedy Club - hosted both comedy routines and dueling piano shows
Additional entertainment is offered on the pool deck and at the various bars on the ship.
While we were on board, we saw three of the shows.
Syd Norman's Tribute to Rumours was held in the Getaway Theater and featured the Syd Norman band performing the entirety of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Between songs, they explained some of the internal struggles the band faced while writing and recording this groundbreaking album.
Bring Back the 90s is a show featuring some of the best songs from the 90s. It was held in the Getaway Theater and was my favorite show on the ship. The entertainers on board the ship are so talented and put on a great show.
Syd Norman's Pour House was home to Syd Norman's Rock the Prom. This 80s throwback show features music and outfits that you would have heard and seen if you went to prom in the 80s. This show was very popular, and seats in the small venue were gone within a few minutes of the doors opening.
Dining on the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway offers several main dining options, as well as specialty dining venues.
Included in your cruise fare are the three main dining rooms: Taste, Savor, and the Manhattan Room. The Garden Cafe buffet is also included. You won't have a specific dining time, and you can go to any of these during open hours whenever you want to eat. Other included dining venues include the American Diner, Shanghai Noodle Bar, and O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill.
You'll also find numerous specialty dining options. You'll want to book this as far in advance as possible to get the best time options and an additional cost applies (although you can get some discounts/complimentary meals with the FreeAtSea options). Specialty dining includes:
- Cagney's Steakhouse
- La Cucina Italian
- Teppanyaki
- Le Bistro French cuisine
- Moderno Churrascaria
- Ocean Blue
- Wasabi
- The Raw Bar
During our sailing, we ate at two main dining venues and two specialty venues. We chose La Cucina and Teppanyaki because they are our favorite cuisines among the options.
La Cucina is a great option if you like Italian food. I enjoyed everything I had here, and the desserts were especially delicious. Teppanyaki was our favorite. All of the food was delicious, and the chefs were so entertaining. Portions are also large, and neither of us could finish our plates.
The Norwegian Getaway also has a Starbucks on board. This costs extra, unless you have the FreeAtSea Plus package.
Bars on the Norwegian Getaway
The ship has lots of fun, unique bars and lounges throughout. These include:
- Atrium Bar
- Spice H2O (adults-only)
- Sugarcane Mojito Bar
- Waves Pool Bar
- Bar 21 (at the casino)
- Bliss Ultra Lounge
- Mixx Bar
- O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill
- Prime Meridian
- Skyy® Vodka Ice Bar (extra charge applies)
As someone who loves mojitos, I got most of my drinks at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. They offer lots of different options, although my favorite was the tropical-flavored Coco Loco.
Shops on the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway offers several different shops on board. On the ship, you can find things like pre-owned handbags, EFFY jewelry, Park West artwork, Swarovski products, premium watches, clothing, beauty products, duty-free products, and Norwegian Getaway merchandise. If you left any essentials at home, you can find some at the Sandbar shop and at a small vending machine in the shopping area.
The Haven
The Haven is Norwegian's premium ship-within-a-ship experience. When you book a Haven room, you'll have access to this exclusive area, which includes a private dining area, private lounge, and separate pool.
The Haven also comes with some major perks, including access to a butler and concierge, priority embarkation and disembarkation, and priority reservation access to restaurants, shows, and spa appointments.
It's a great luxury experience and a fantastic option if you are looking for a special premium experience.
Staterooms on the Norwegian Getaway
The Norwegian Getaway offers several stateroom types to suit your preferences and budget.
I had a balcony stateroom with a beautiful balcony where I could sit outside, read, and relax. This room included a couch, a bed (which could be split into two single beds), a television, a large closet, and plenty of drawer space.
Stateroom options on the Norwegian Getaway include:
- Aft-Facing Balcony
- Family Balcony
- Large Balcony
- Solo Balcony
- Aft-Facing Club Balcony Suite
- Family Club Balcony Suite
- Club Balcony Suite with Larger Balcony
- Club Balcony Suite
- Family Oceanview
- Oceanview with Picture Window
- Solo Oceanview
- Family Inside
- Inside
- Solo Inside
- Solo Studio
- The Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony
- The Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite with Balcony
- The Haven 2-Bedroom Family Villa with Balcony
- The Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse with Master Bedroom & Large Balcony
- The Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse with Master Bedroom & Balcony
Solo rooms are designed for solo travelers and include access to the Studio Lounge, which is exclusive to solo travelers.
Tips For Sailing on the Norwegian Getaway
Planning a trip on the Norwegian Getaway? Here are some of our top tips based on my experience on the ship.
- Book any specialty dining reservations as early as possible because they can and do fill up
- Consider the FreeAtSea and the FreeAtSea Plus options if you will use the inclusions. Having it can really make things easier.
- Go to your muster station as soon as you board, then watch the video in your room so you can start having fun immediately.
- Pack swimsuits in your cruise day bag if you think your kids will want to use the water park/pools immediately
- Don't forget sunscreen in your day bag
- Pack shirts with sleeves and closed-toe shoes if you want to use the ropes course.
The Norwegian Getaway is a great ship for families, especially those who enjoy water parks and ropes courses. The water features on this ship are fabulous and are some of the best I've seen on a ship. We found the service on the ship to be fantastic, and I really loved the flexible dining options.
To learn more about the Norwegian Getaway, visit their website.
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