Editor’s note: The Fairmont Golden Prague provided TPG with complimentary meals and a spa treatment to get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.
The view from Zlata Praha restaurant at Fairmont Golden Prague. LYNDSEY MATTHEWS/THE POINTS GUY
When the InterContinental Prague opened on the banks of the Vltava River in 1974, it marked one of the first American investments behind the Iron Curtain. After a 5-year, multimillion dollar renovation, this nine-story brutalist hotel in Prague’s Old Town reopened on April 15 as the Fairmont Golden Prague.
In addition to preserving the landmark reinforced concrete structure, the renovation also salvaged original interior elements like wooden sculptures, stained glass windows and golden light fixtures designed by celebrated late 20th-century Czech artists — earning it a spot onTPG’s list of the most exciting hotels of 2025.
First impressions
Guests enter the expansive lobby through sliding glass doors just off tony Parizska Street. Friendly bellmen will guide you to the check-in and concierge desks to the right, or to the lounge area where other guests quietly mingle around a fireplace to the left. A wall of sculpted glass versions of icons found on buildings around Prague — from pretzels to crowned snakes and ostriches — is a new addition to the lobby by local artist Martin Janecký. Keen eyes will spot original elements dating back to the ‘70s, like the undulating wooden wall by Czech sculptor Josef Klimeš behind the lobby bar, Coocoo’s Nest.
The rooms
LYNDSEY MATTHEWS/THE POINTS GUY
The Fairmont Golden Prague has 320 guest rooms and suites across nearly two dozen categories, including Fairmont, deluxe and signature rooms, with either one king or two twin beds and also the option for a river view. Fairmont Gold offers a hotel within a hotel concept on floors seven and eight, with a 24-hour lounge featuring complimentary canapes, breakfast and an honor bar. In addition to a 1,614-square-foot presidential suite, there are also one-bedroom suites with sofa beds ideal for families.
Each room is decorated in an elegant modernist style with dark wood floors and walls, leather headboards and knotted glass pendant lamps.
I stayed in a signature river view king room, which had a spacious bathroom, walk-in closet and a king-size bedroom with views of the Vltava River and Letna Park. The corner room had a chaise lounge situated for enjoying the view and a small round table that could be used for in-room dining or as a small writing desk.
My favorite detail in the room was the sculptural glass wall between the bedroom and walk-in closet by the Bohemian design house Lasvit.
The bathroom had double sinks and a deep soaking tub, as well as a separate rain shower and water closet. Rooms come stocked with Le Labo Rose 31 bath amenities.
Meanwhile, the hotel stocks its minibars with soft drinks and Champagne, Czech wine and local Pilsner Urquell beer. Complimentary Nespresso coffee and Jing tea are also on hand.
Dining at Fairmont Golden Prague
The Fairmont Golden Prague has three restaurants, two bars and a spa cafe, as well as 24-hour in-room dining.
Greenhouse, the hotel’s ground-floor beer garden-style restaurant, is accessible through the lobby as well as directly from the riverfront side of the hotel. It’s open every day from 12 to 11 p.m. It serves classic Czech beer hall dishes like beef goulash with bread dumplings for 440 crowns ($19.73), plus several plant-based options like a tomato tartare for 260 crowns ($11.66). In addition to a full Central European wine menu, it has two classic Czech beers on draught: Pilsner Urquell and Kozel Dark. You can order a third of a liter for 64 crowns ($2.87) or half a liter for 78 crowns ($3.50).
Kafka Brasserie serves breakfast daily from 6:30 to 11 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to noon on weekends. (It is named after the artist Čestmír Kafka, not the writer.) A continental breakfast buffet of bread, meat, cheese, fruit and more is available for 500 crowns ($22.51), while made-to-order dishes like Czech hemenex (310 crowns or $13.95) — which is ham and eggs — and short rib eggs Benedict (390 crowns or $17.56) are served a la carte. Look for original details like the coffered wood ceiling and stained-glass window, and choose a window seat for castle views.
The lobby bar Coocoo’s Nest is an homage to Czech director Miloš Forman’s 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (notice the pill-shaped chandelier over the bar). Signature cocktails are also on-theme, like the Negroni Nest made with Plymouth gin, Dolin Rouge vermouth, Campari, cedar and sandalwood (305 crowns or $13.67). Drinks are served with complimentary snacks like green olives, smoked almonds and potato chips.
Both rooftop establishments on the eighth floor — Zlata Praha and Golden Eye — were closed the Monday night I stayed at the hotel, but I was able to peek my head in during a tour to admire the views. Facing the riverfront and Prague Castle, Golden Eye draws on Asian influences for both its decor and cocktail menu. The hotel’s fine dining venue, Zlata Praha, has floor-to-ceiling windows with arguably the best views of Old Town Square and its iconic spires. It serves contemporary Czech cuisine using local ingredients a la carte (510 to 810 crowns or $23 to $36 per dish) or as an 11-course tasting menu for 2,990 crowns ($135). The gilded globe light fixtures are original to the restaurant and were designed by Czech artist Hugo Demartini in the late 20th century. Both rooftop venues are open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 p.m.; Zlata also has an outdoor terrace that serves drinks in the afternoon and evening.
Amenities and service
From the front desk staff to the servers at each bar and restaurant, the service was friendly and the staff was eager to help. Each time I entered the lobby, the bellmen greeted me with a short conversation, and I usually got a friendly wave from the concierge.
Located off the sunken garden below street level, the spa is quiet and full of natural light. I enjoyed the 90-minute Lavender Dreams Journey treatment, which combined a full-body scrub with a hot-stone massage. The name is apt: I was so relaxed, I nodded off toward the end.
At the far end of the spa level is the L-shaped indoor-outdoor pool. There’s also a hot tub outside and a communal sauna and steam room in the indoor section. Meanwhile, just down the hall from the spa is the 24-hour gym, which has a yoga studio and a separate room with Technogym treadmills, weight machines and spin bikes.
Location and logistics
LYNDSEY MATTHEWS/THE POINTS GUY
Fairmont Golden Prague is where luxury-shop-lined Parizska Street meets the Vltava River in Prague’s historic Jewish Quarter. The bustling Old Town Square is just a six-minute walk away, but the streets around the Fairmont are blissfully quiet.
Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is a 20-minute drive west of the hotel. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt are available and cost between 400 to 600 crowns ($18 to $27).
Prague’s main train station is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Expect to pay about 135 crowns ($6) for a ride-hailing service.
Prague has an extensive metro, tram and bus network, but there’s an extra fee to bring large luggage aboard.
What it costs to stay at the Fairmont Golden Prague and how to book
The lobby. LYNDSEY MATTHEWS/THE POINTS GUY
Rates at the Fairmont Golden Prague start around $500 per night.
Fairmont hotels are part of the Accor Live Limitless loyalty program, which is free to join. Members with entry-level Classic status can book the Fairmont Golden Prague directly through Accor to save 10% with the members’ rate and earn 25 points per 10 euros ($11) spent. Redemptions can be made in increments of 1,000 points to save 20 euros ($22) on hotel bills.
Accessibility
LYNDSEY MATTHEWS/THE POINTS GUY
The Fairmont Golden Prague has 16 accessible guest rooms designed with wider entrance doors and lowered light switches and beds, as well as spacious bathrooms outfitted with grab bars near the toilets and showers.
The entrance to the hotel has no steps and wide automatic sliding doors for ease of access. Though there are elevators to all floors, including the spa and pool on the lower garden level, the pool itself did not feature a lift.
Bottom line
The Greenhouse restaurant is located above the garden-level pool. LYNDSEY MATTHEWS/THE POINTS GUY
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Prague, the Fairmont is an excellent and centrally located addition to the high-end hotel market in the Czech capital. Its rooms are spacious, quiet and well worth the price. Even if it’s outside your budget, fans of brutalist architecture and Czech art and design should prioritize visiting the Fairmont Golden Prague for a drink or meal to see how beautifully done the renovation is.
Right now, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) has a fantastic welcome offer for new applicants. New cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG’s May 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth $1,650.
At a minimum, new cardholders will have 110,000 AAdvantage miles after meeting the minimum spending requirement and earning the welcome bonus. You can earn a lot more miles if you make purchases in your card’s bonus categories while working toward the minimum spending requirement.
This is quite the generous welcome offer and can be used for several economy tickets, if you’re a thrifty traveler. However, if you’re looking to redeem your miles for more luxurious options, this welcome bonus can also help with that.
Here are seven of the best ways you can redeem your AAdvantage miles to get the most out of the 100,000-mile welcome bonus.
AAdvantage program basics
The AAdvantage program has both an award chart and dynamic pricing for redemptions. If you’re looking to redeem miles for American Airlines-operated flights or Fiji Airways-operated flights, you’ll encounter dynamic pricing. Most of the pricing for those flights isabsurdly expensive.
Instead, you’re better off redeeming your hard-earned welcome bonus and AAdvantage miles with Oneworld airlines or partner airlines (some exceptions are noted below). Award flights on American Airlines, Oneworld airlines or partner airlines can easily be booked through American’s website or via its mobile app. About 90% of the time, I check for award availability through the mobile app as it’s easy to navigate and works smoothly.
AAdvantage also has off-peak pricing for economy tickets for two regions: the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada, and Europe. Main Cabin off-peak dates for Europe are Jan. 10- March 14 and Nov. 1-Dec. 14. Redemptions during off-peak dates will run you 22,500 miles one-way.
Fly economy to Europe
Whether you’re looking to explore Buckingham Palace or the historic streets of Rome, take advantage of off-peak pricing for economy award tickets to Europe.
You can fly any Oneworld airline, like Finnair, British Airways or Iberia, to Europe during off-peak dates, and it’ll cost 22,500 AAdvantage miles each way or 45,000 miles round-trip.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
The welcome bonus from the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card is enough for a round-trip vacation for two people. For thrifty travelers looking to keep costs low, try to avoid flying British Airways over the Atlantic as the carrier passes on fuel surcharges and fees.
Fly business class to Tokyo on Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines is a great Oneworld airline. In my experience, it often releases more business-class seats to AAdvantage than any other Oneworld partner. Japan Airlines flies nonstop to several U.S. cities, including:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Japan and Korea are part of the AAdvantage program’s Asia Region 1. You can fly from the U.S. to Tokyo or Osaka nonstop for only 60,000 AAdvantage miles (plus minimal taxes and fees). Japan Airlines often releases award seats sporadically throughout the year, so it’s always worth a shot to check from time to time. I’ve had great luck getting last-minute tickets a few days before departure.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
If you plan your purchases and combine the miles you earn from them with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card’s welcome bonus, you could have a round-trip ticket to Tokyo for 120,000 miles.
In addition, Japan Airlines is flying its new Airbus A350 with business-class suites to JFK and DFW year-round and to LAX from June 2025 to October 2025. If you earn the welcome bonus soon, start searching for availability to experience its latest business-class seat.
Having flown Japan Airlines from the U.S. several times, I know that’s the next redemption I’m eyeing with my AAdvantage miles.
Hands down, my favorite redemption of AAdvantage miles is to use them for a Qsuite redemption. Qatar Airways’ Qsuite is an amazing product and a pioneer in the field: It was the first business-class seat to offer doors for privacy and the ability to create a double bed in the sky.
I have flown nearly a dozen times in Qsuite by redeeming my AAdvantage miles.
QATAR AIRWAYS/FACEBOOK
For just 75,000 AAdvantage miles, you can fly from Qatar’s U.S. gateways to various African destinations (excluding Egypt). All flights from the U.S. to Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) are equipped with Qsuite.
Depending on your destination in Africa, you could also fly in Qsuite from Doha to places like Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).
Australia is a great place to visit. But it’s a long flight away for many travelers,so if you’re going to book an award ticket, it’s best to book a seat in business or first class. Luckily, you have a few options if you’re looking to travel to Australia.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Your first option is to fly American Airlines from the U.S. to Australia for anywhere between 65,000 and 80,000 AAdvantage miles. When flying American, you’re subject to dynamic pricing, which means a nonstop flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney Airport (SYD) could be 65,000 miles, but a flight connecting domestically through LAX and onward to Sydney will be 80,000 miles.
In my experience, flying Qantas is a much better option. A nonstop flight from LAX to SYD will cost you 80,000 miles. I know it’s a bit more, but flying on the Airbus A380 and in (in my opinion) a much more comfortable business-class seat is well worth it.
This was my experience in 2023, and everything from the Qantas pajamas to the meal service and customer care was on point and better than on American Airlines.
If you’ve dreamed of visiting the riads of Marrakech or the greenery of northern Morocco and the Tangier Kasbah, then the welcome bonus of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card can help you get there. Interestingly, Morocco is classified as part of Europe within AAdvantage’s award charts.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
You can fly for 57,500 miles one-way from the U.S. to Morocco or 115,000 miles round-trip. If your journey starts in the Midwest or the West Coast, this is a great deal, seeing how much distance you have to cover.
Your route options include flying directly from the East Coast to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) on Royal Air Maroc. Some one-stop options include flying on British Airways via London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) or on American Airlines and connecting in cities that both American and Royal Air Maroc service.
A family trip to Hawaii
Sometimes, if you have a large family, it can be challenging to trek halfway across the globe. Luckily, visiting Hawaii doesn’t require a passport.
Flights from the contiguous 48 states to Hawaii only cost 22,500 miles per person in Main Cabin. The welcome bonus on the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card is enough for a family of four to fly one-way to destinations like Honolulu or Maui.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Although the welcome bonus is not enough to get a larger family to and from Hawaii entirely on miles, it should definitely help reduce travel costs, which can he quite high during peak travel months.
Dynamic pricing is not always bad news. In the case of American Airlines, it could offer a cheap way to visit the Southern Hemisphere.
The AAdvantage program splits South America into two regions.
South America Region 1: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Manaus (Brazil), Peru and Suriname.
South America Region 2: Argentina, Brazil (excluding Manaus), Chile, Falkland Islands, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela
A one-way business-class ticket from the contiguous U.S. to South America Region 1 is 30,000 miles one-way or 60,000 miles round-trip.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Meanwhile, a one-way business-class ticket from the contiguous U.S. to Argentina will run you 50,000 miles one-way or 100,000 miles round-trip.
You’re limited to flying American Airlines or Gol Airlines to South America, but remember that GOL does not operate any wide-body aircraft. So if you’re flying to South America, opt for an American Airlines flight as it flies several wide-body aircraft, allowing you to enjoy a lie-flat seat during your journey.
Whatever your travel goals, the 100,000-mile welcome bonus from the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card is enough to get you there.
Depending on your travel preferences, you can get one amazing redemption of a lifetime or several redemptions from just a single welcome bonus. In my opinion, AAdvantage has one of the best award charts in the world of points and miles, so new cardholders should not have an issue getting the most value out of it.
As we approach the 15th anniversary of The Points Guy, I look back at how far the business has come since I started it as a side hustle while working on Wall Street. So much has changed in the last 15 years, but one thing remains constant: the power of points and miles to transform travel experiences.
Before I became “The Points Guy,” I really was a Points Kid — and my first job was booking travel for my dad. Travelocity had just launched, and while he thought using it was a long and complicated process, I thought it was a simple task. I handled all of his bookings and only charged him $10 each.
By the time I was 12, my dad had accumulated so many frequent flyer miles from his work travel that he challenged me to book a trip for our family of six using only airline miles and credit card points. Challenge accepted. I went big and decided on Grand Cayman. (I may have had a little inspiration from the John Grisham novel, “The Firm.”) The whole time, my dad thought I was planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, so he was surprised to discover I had planned a trip to the Caribbean.
While he and my siblings flew on a nonstop flight, I booked my mom and me on a flight through Miami International Airport (MIA). I was panicked, thinking this would either be an epic win or an epic fail. If it were the latter, I could be grounded for a very long time. But when we landed, my dad met us at the plane with the biggest smile and assured me that I knocked it out of the park.
BRIAN KELLY/THE POINTS GUY
This was the trip that sparked my love of travel planning — and points and miles.
After college, when I went to work as a corporate recruiter for Morgan Stanley, I traveled all over the country racking up credit card points and frequent flyer miles while trying to convince college students to work in technology. This was during The Great Recession, and I was points-rich but cash-poor. (My boss used to joke that my bonus was not getting fired.) It was actually cheaper for me to fly first class, stay at a hotel and enjoy the perks of free breakfast than to go grocery shopping or eat out in New York City.
In 2010, my then-boyfriend encouraged me to turn my passion for travel and points and miles into a business. I originally started TPG as an online form where people could submit information about their points and where they wanted to travel. For just a $50 fee, I would then give them personalized advice and help them book a trip using points.
I started blogging about travel and points and miles that same year, with my first-ever story publishing on June 7, 2010. The site really took off after an interview (that almost didn’t happen) with Seth Kugel, the “Frugal Travel” columnist at The New York Times.
Clicking away at my new blog in 2011. BRIAN KELLY/THE POINTS GUY
I actually found an email from him in my spam folder requesting an interview with me, but it was a month old. He was a staunch opponent of frequent flyer miles and credit cards, even going as far as referring to them as “useless” in his original email. I emailed him back and asked to take him to lunch so I could change his mind. During that lunch, I actually helped him book a trip to Brazil to see his long-distance girlfriend. His eyes lit up, and I knew that his entire outlook on points and miles might have changed in that instant.
After his trip to Brazil, Seth wrote an article about how reading TPG should be a key step for anyone who wants to get into the points and miles game. He linked directly to the TPG website (which temporarily crashed it!) and gave the website valuable credibility in the eyes of Google.
His endorsement of me, “The Points Guy,” as a travel expert forever changed the trajectory of the site. Nine months later, I quit my job at Morgan Stanley and became “The Points Guy” full-time.
Today, TPG has a headquarters in New York City and nearly 150 employees worldwide. They bring you the latest news in loyalty programs, points and miles, travel and more.
Looking back over the past 15 years, many things have changed in the travel and credit card industries. Today, I have credit cards that didn’t exist in 2010. New loyalty programs have been created, and new airlines have taken to the skies. I’ve also gone through changes in my personal life. I’m now the father of two boys, Dean and Cooper, and it’s been such a thrill to begin showing them the world.
I really think we are in the “platinum age of travel” — not only from an elite status and credit cards point of view, but also because of how airlines continue to innovate. The race to create the best airport lounges and most luxurious inflight experiences continues, but these products (and travel in general) are very accessible — especially if you take advantage of the loyalty ecosystem. And that’s something with staying power.
Throughout my career (and really my entire life), points and miles have been there, allowing me to make memories with my family, build a successful business and share my passion with millions of TPG readers across the globe. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
My biggest piece of advice is simple: Find value in your everyday spending, no matter whether it’s cash back in your pocket or transferable rewards to unlock luxury travel. Points are built into virtually everything we do, so if you’re not getting a return on every dollar you spend, you’re missing out.
Thank you for helping make The Points Guy what it is today — and here’s to the next 15 years!
Norwegian Cruise Line has always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to food.
Back in 2000, the company introduced the concept of Freestyle Cruising, and with it, the idea of Freestyle Dining. Guests no longer were assigned to traditional early or late dinner seatings in the main dining rooms on Norwegian Cruise Line‘s ships. Instead, they could decide when they wanted to eat and with whom.
The cruise line also began to roll out specialty restaurants — smaller, cuisine-specific dining venues such as the French-themed Le Bistro and Cagney’s Steakhouse — that passengers could reserve for an additional cover charge.
Today, passengers will find more than three dozen dining options, including 20 that require a cover charge or feature a la carte pricing, on board NCL’s 20 currently operating ships. While the cruise fare covers a number of restaurants, specialty restaurants requiring an extra charge are popular, and new specialty restaurants are introduced with each new class of ship.
The onboard restaurant lineup also varies by ship, with those in the Prima, Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes having a larger selection than what is available on the line’s older, smaller ships.
How do you make sense of it all? We’ve compiled a rundown of all the Norwegian Cruise Line food options, from coffee and gelato shops to a la carte restaurants where the tab can easily top $150 for two. Here’s what’s included, what you’ll pay extra for and the ships that feature each dining venue.
American Diner
American Diner aboard Norwegian Encore. JIM HUGHES PHOTOGRAPHY/NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Included; lunch and dinner
This 1950s-inspired diner featured on all six ships in NCL’s Breakaway and Breakaway Plus classes offers quintessential midcentury comfort foods — from cheeseburgers and meatloaf to chicken pot pie and spaghetti and meatballs. Desserts include bread pudding and carrot walnut cake. The food is now all free (Norwegian made this change in early 2024), but if you want to wash it down with a milkshake, you’ll need to pay up.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy
Atrium Cafe
A la carte; coffee and snacks
Atrium Cafe is a coffee and cocktail bar that serves hot and cold beverages along with a selection of cookies, pastries and other snacks. Alternatively, some NCL ships feature Starbucks cafes.
Available on: Norwegian Escape, Jewel, Spirit, Star and Sun
Cadillac Diner
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
You’ll have to head to Hawaii to enjoy the barbecue pulled pork sliders, pretzel bites, Reuben sandwiches and more served up retro-style in the Cadillac Diner. This venue, with its funky black-and-white checkered floor and vinyl booths wedged between two sections of a vintage red sedan, is found exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America. It’s open 24 hours a day and everything is complimentary except for the milkshakes.
Available on: Pride of America
Cagney’s Steakhouse
Cover charge; dinner
One of NCL’s most popular specialty restaurants, Cagney’s features a classic steakhouse menu with plenty of options for seafood lovers as well. The stars are the cuts of aged certified Angus beef (rib-eye, filet mignon, porterhouse and New York strip) with a choice of sauces and side dishes, such as truffle mashed potatoes and sauteed garlic mushrooms. Other options include cedar-plank steelhead trout and double-cut Australian lamb chops. Save room for the OMG caramel-butterscotch cheesecake.
If you’re craving shrimp dumplings or a bowl of stir-fried noodles with beef, a number of older Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature a Chinese restaurant where you can get your fix. Names vary by ship, but the menus are similar. You’ll find Bamboo on Dawn, Shanghai’s on Epic, Orchid Garden on Gem, Jasmine Garden on Jade, Chin Chin on Jewel, Lotus Garden on Pearl, Silk on Spirit, Ginza on Star and East Meets West on Pride of America.
Available on: Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit and Star
Coco’s
Coco’s. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
A la carte; snacks and treats
A cross between an ice cream parlor and a candy shop, Coco’s features an array of treats — chocolates from around the world, milkshakes, crepes and more — to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Available on: Norwegian Encore. A smaller version also is on Norwegian Aqua and Prima within the Indulge Food Hall.
Dolce Gelato
A la carte; snacks and treats
When it’s midafternoon and the sun in the Caribbean or Mediterranean is blazing, you can head to this takeaway counter on Deck 8 for a cup or cone of irresistibly creamy gelato.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Breakaway, Getaway and Pride of America
Food Republic
Cover charge; lunch on sea days and dinner
This globally inspired specialty restaurant with an Asian-Latin fusion theme remains popular almost a decade after its debut on Norwegian Escape. You’ll want to order multiple dishes to share family-style from Food Republic‘s menu sections: Sushi Bar (eight different rolls), Hand Helds (everything from pork belly bao buns to kanpachi wonton tacos), Sharing Is Caring (grilled shishito peppers, spicy Korean fried chicken, salt and pepper calamari, and more), Noodles/Rice/Soups (shrimp pad Thai to Vietnamese pho tai) and Sugar Pump (desserts featuring green tea, chocolate and ginger caramel).
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Escape, Joy, Prima and Viva
Garden Cafe
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
Sometimes, the buffet is the answer. It’s perfect when you get on board the first day and need to grab a quick bite before you explore the ship, or when you arrive back after a daylong shore excursion and want to refuel right away without having to change clothes. Garden Cafe offers plenty of options, including carved meats and grilled fish with assorted side dishes, a salad bar, soups, pasta, burgers and fries, and desserts. Most items are precooked and kept warm under heat lamps, so it’s not the freshest option, but it’s usually packed at breakfast and lunch with guests who like the all-you-can-eat portions.
Available on: Fleetwide (except Norwegian Aqua, Prima, Viva and Pride of America)
This is a slightly more elevated version of NCL’s teppanyaki restaurant. You’ll be seated with other guests around a grill, and as you dine on edamame, miso soup and seaweed salad, the chef will prepare your entree (a choice of chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu, or one of four combinations) with great flair. These fresh-from-the-grill proteins are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables, and the dessert that follows is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi.
Available on: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua
Hudson’s
Hudson’s restaurant aboard Norwegian Prima. NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
This circular, light-filled space debuted on Norwegian Prima in 2022 as a new main dining room option. It features the same daily rotating menu as the second main dining room, the Commodore Room, but what sets this venue apart is its bright and airy ambience, courtesy of 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows.
Available on: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua
Indulge Food Hall
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
This new casual dining concept, also introduced on Norwegian Prima, quickly became a popular alternative to the Surfside Cafe buffet (see below) for both lunch and dinner; at breakfast, it serves a similar but more limited menu as Surfside. The appeal of Indulge Food Hall is the variety. There are more than four dozen menu items from seven vendors — Tapas, The Garden, Nudls, The Latin Quarter, Q Texas Smokehouse, Seaside Rotisserie and Tamara — all served in small-plate portions. You can enjoy chicken korma, pad thai, pulled pork, crispy fried okra, a mushroom tostada and bacon-wrapped medjool dates, all ordered from your table via a tablet. Norwegian Aqua’s Indulge Food Hall also has a plant-based food station called Planterie.
La Cucina was Norwegian’s sole Italian specialty restaurant until the launch of Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Encore in 2018, and the two restaurants are quite different. La Cucina is the more traditional, featuring classic Italian favorites — caprese salad, fried calamari, spaghetti carbonara, pizza, chicken cacciatore and osso buco alla Milanese — while Onda’s menu focuses on more finessed modern Italian dishes.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Pride of America, Star and Sun
Le Bistro
Cover charge; dinner
Like Cagney’s, NCL’s French fine-dining restaurant is a longtime favorite that’s featured fleetwide (it’s called Jefferson’s Bistro on Pride of America). Popular with couples for special occasion dinners, Le Bistro features everything from steak tartare and escargot to braised lamb shank and roasted duck breast. Le Bistro restaurants on Norwegian Prima and Viva are especially atmospheric, with dramatic large-scale chandeliers and elegant ivory-and-blue decor.
Available on: Fleetwide
Los Lobos
Los Lobos. ANDREA ROTONDO/THE POINTS GUY
Cover charge; dinner
Vibrant decor and sophisticated Mexican cuisine that goes beyond the usual Tex-Mex fare make Los Lobos an appealing option if you’re sailing on one of the six ships that feature it. The guacamole, made fresh tableside, is a must. Other menu options include Mexican-style shrimp ceviche, grilled mahi-mahi tacos, nopales (cactus) salad, chicken mole enchiladas and cochinita pibil (slow-braised pork). Top it all off with a slice of tres leches cake with coconut cream.
Available on: Norwegian Encore, Dawn, Prima, Sun, Viva and Aqua
Main dining room
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
Norwegian Cruise Line ships feature at least two main dining rooms, and sometimes even three. Names vary by ship — although the six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships all feature the Manhattan Room, plus Savor and Taste. Menus change daily throughout the cruise and feature a selection of American and international dishes.
Available on: Fleetwide
Moderno Churrascaria
Cover charge; dinner
Carnivores can devour their fill of a variety of meats the traditional Brazilian way as gauchos carve and serve cuts of beef, lamb, pork, sausage and chicken right at the table. Those who prefer to limit their meat intake can fill up instead at the robustly stocked salad bar. White rice, black beans, sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, fried yucca and Brazilian cheese bread are also served as side dishes.
Available on: Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Star, Sun and Gem
Nama Sushi & Sashimi
Cover charge; dinner
Another new restaurant to debut on Norwegian Prima, Nama Sushi & Sashimi doesn’t veer too far from its name, serving six different sushi rolls (from yellowtail to rock shrimp), three sashimi options and a variety of appetizers, most of which feature raw fish. Even the dessert — pineapple carpaccio — is uncooked.
Available on: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua
Ocean Blue
Cover charge; dinner
Ocean Blue is an elegant seafood restaurant featured on NCL’s six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. (It’s known as Bayamo by Ocean Blue on Norwegian Escape.) Guests can savor appetizers such as crabcakes, pan-seared scallops and an ahi tuna and avocado tower, followed by steamed or grilled lobster, seafood linguini, or simply grilled fish (salmon, tuna, cod or sea bass) served with a choice of sauces. All Ocean Blue restaurants are located on Deck 8 and feature indoor and outdoor seating on The Waterfront.
Available on: Norwegian Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy
Onda by Scarpetta
Onda restaurant aboard Norwegian Encore. JIM HUGHES PHOTOGRAPHY/NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Cover charge; dinner
Modern Italian cuisine is the centerpiece of Onda by Scarpetta, another of NCL’s elevated specialty dining options and the sister restaurant to land-based Scarpetta. Introduced in 2019 on Norwegian Encore and more recently rolled out on the line’s newest ships (plus at least one older vessel), Onda by Scarpetta indulges with antipasti starters such as burrata, short ribs and braised octopus; a half dozen pasta options (including pappardelle Bolognese and Scarpetta’s famous spaghetti with tomato and basil); and finally gets around to entrees such as veal Milanese and grilled branzino. The main question will be: Do you have room for dessert?
Available on: Norwegian Encore, Prima, Spirit, Viva and Aqua
O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill
Included; 24-hour dining
This lively and social pub-style eatery overlooks the buzzing three-deck Atrium on Breakaway Class ships and is also featured on seven older NCL ships. It’s open 24 hours a day and serves comfort classics such as burgers, fish-and-chips, chicken wings, beef chili and loaded nachos.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl and Star
Palomar
Cover charge; dinner
One of NCL’s newest dining venues, Palomar celebrates the Mediterranean with a menu featuring lots of Greek influences. Seafood dishes outnumber meat options and include tuna crudo, grilled prawns, Mediterranean sea bass with chickpeas and saffron puree, and sea scallops with prosciutto, le puy lentils, clams and pistachio pesto. Desserts include Greek yogurt sorbet with orange custard pie.
Available on: Norwegian Prima, Viva, Aqua, Bliss and Breakaway
Pincho Tapas Bar
Cover charge; dinner
This unique Spanish-style tapas bar is found on only one ship in the Breakaway Class and fits in with the ship’s overall Miami/Latin-influenced theme. Head to Pincho if you’re looking to enjoy small-plate dishes such as blue crab salad or bacon-wrapped dates, as well as chorizo, calamari, shrimp, scallops and more served a la plancha. Wash it all down with a Spanish red, a glass of sangria or a signature Matador cocktail.
Available on: Norwegian Escape
Pool Grill
Included; casual lunch
Three Norwegian ships feature a pool grill (all with different names) that’s open for lunch and late-afternoon snacks. The venue serves casual fare such as burgers, hot dogs and french fries.
Available on: Norwegian Dawn, Gem and Pride of America
Q Texas Smokehouse
A Q Texas Smokehouse pulled-pork sandwich from Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Viva. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Cover charge; dinner
This barbecue eatery debuted on Norwegian Bliss in 2018 and its menu features smoked meats (pit classics like brisket, pulled pork and beef short ribs), as well as calorific sides (loaded fries, crispy fried okra, onion rings, and macaroni and cheese). You can also enjoy live country music and even sweat off the excess calories by dancing (before ordering pecan pie or peach cobbler for dessert). A more limited menu is available for free as part of Indulge Food Hall on Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Aqua — but you’ll need to dance elsewhere.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore and Joy
Savor (and Taste)
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
These two restaurants on all six Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships are essentially smaller-scale main dining rooms. They are located across from each other on Deck 6 and feature lunch and dinner menus that change daily.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy
Sports Bar
Included; casual pub fare
While most NCL ships, with the exception of Pride of America, have a pub-style complimentary eatery — either O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill or The Local Bar & Grill — one older outlier has Sports Bar. Like the other eateries, this venue is free and features comfort classics such as Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings, and fish-and-chips.
Available on: Norwegian Sun
Starbucks
Starbucks on Norwegian Viva. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
A la carte; coffee, breakfast and snacks
NCL wasn’t the first cruise line to feature the well-known coffee chain (that would be Royal Caribbean), but it now has the most Starbucks cafes on board its ships. Guests can purchase frappuccinos, lattes, cold brews and many of the other coffee, tea and breakfast and pastry items that are available on land.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Sky, Viva and Aqua. All other Norwegian ships serve Starbucks coffee though they don’t have stand-alone cafes.
Surfside Cafe & Grill
Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner
With the debut of Norwegian Prima, NCL evolved its buffet-style restaurant (known as Garden Cafe on most ships) to Surfside Cafe & Grill. The Deck 17 space is notably smaller, though, due to the fact that Prima Class ships also feature Indulge Food Hall and The Local Bar & Grill as complimentary casual dining options. The reduced size does result in some overcrowding, especially at breakfast, with overflow guests directed to find seats in the adjacent Food Republic space.
Available on: Norwegian Prima, Viva and Aqua
Sukhothai
Cover charge; dinner
Norwegian Aqua introduced NCL’s first Thai restaurant at sea when it debuted in 2025. Diners can begin with appetizers that include chicken satay and pepper prawns, before moving on to main courses such as roasted duck curry and pad thai. Cap off the meal with fried bananas, mango sticky rice or another sweet treat. This restaurant replaces what would have been Food Republic, found on other ships.
Available on: Norwegian Aqua
Teppanyaki
Cover charge; dinner
All but three NCL ships feature Teppanyaki, a Benihana-style Japanese restaurant where the live-action preparation is integral to the experience. You’ll be seated around a grill as your chef prepares your entree (chicken, beef, seafood or teriyaki-glazed tofu or one of four combinations) with dramatic flair. You’ll start with miso soup and seaweed salad, and all entrees are served with garlic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Dessert is either a green tea cake or fruit sashimi. Hasuki replaces Teppanyaki on Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Aqua.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Dawn, Encore, Epic, Escape, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Joy, Pearl, Pride of America, Spirit, Star and Sun
The Bake Shop
A la carte; snacks and treats
A sugar rush is practically guaranteed at The Bake Shop, a confectionery selling assorted bonbons (with fillings from passion fruit to praline), cupcakes (more than a dozen options, including red velvet, chocolate-pistachio and lemon meringue) and French macarons in a dozen flavors.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape and Getaway
The Great Outdoors
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Included; lunch
This outdoor casual buffet on seven Norwegian Cruise Line ships has a come-as-you-are dress code and serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and other items for guests who want to enjoy some ocean scenery with their lunch.
Available on: Norwegian Epic, Gem, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Sun
The Haven Restaurant
Included for guests booked in The Haven; breakfast, lunch and dinner
If you book a suite in The Haven, the exclusive ship-within-a-ship enclave found on every new NCL ship since it was introduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010, you’ll enjoy access to The Haven Restaurant. Open only to Haven guests, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menus here do not change, but there are generally enough options (a dozen appetizers and 10 entrees at dinner, for example) that you can dine here multiple times without repeating a dish or running out of interesting dishes to try.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Joy, Prima, Viva and Aqua
The Local Bar & Grill
Included; 24-hour dining
The Local Bar & Grill is a favored hangout for sports telecasts and trivia contests, as well as a go-to for guests anytime hunger strikes. Like its comfort food sibling O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, its 24-hour menu features breakfast, plus all-day and late-night items such as omelets, cheeseburgers, chicken wings, fish-and-chips and loaded nachos.
Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Prima, Sky, Spirit, Viva and Aqua
The Raw Bar
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Cover charge; dinner
Located adjacent to Ocean Blue, this casual option with counter seating serves oysters, clams, shellfish and crudos (salmon tartare, black sea bass ceviche and more), as well as wines by the glass and a selection of desserts.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway
Topsiders Bar & Grill
Included; casual pool grill with varying hours
Five older NCL ships feature Topsiders Bar & Grill, a poolside venue serving burgers, hot dogs, french fries and other takeaway items.
Available on: Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Sky and Star
Wasabi (or Sushi)
Cover charge; dinner
This contemporary sushi bar — called either Wasabi or Sushi, depending on the ship — is the spot for cocktails, sake and Japanese specialties that include sesame seaweed salad, sushi and specialty rolls, nigiri, sashimi and yakitori. On Prima Class ships, you’ll find Nama Sushi & Sashimi with a different menu.
Available on: Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Epic, Gem, Getaway, Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Sky, Spirit, Star and Sun
FAQ about NCL dining
Is Norwegian Cruise Line’s food free?
You can dine for free during your cruise at any of the complimentary dining venues on board NCL ships. There are typically three to four included dining venues per ship, several of which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Is there a main dining room?
Yes, all NCL ships feature a main dining room — some have as many as three — and Freestyle Dining means you can choose when to dine (within the specified breakfast, lunch and dinner hours).
Do I need to make reservations?
You do not need to make reservations for the main dining rooms or casual venues like O’Sheehan’s or the buffet. However, you can make reservations for the main dining rooms if you’d prefer to eat at a specific time and wish to avoid long wait times during the most popular dinner hours.
Sit-down specialty restaurants always require a reservation. The sooner you can make one, the better. You can book specialty dining online via the cruise line’s website or app or by calling Norwegian reservations. You can also reserve when you get on board, but you risk that the more popular eateries will already be fully booked, especially during the peak summer and holiday periods. Walk-ins are permitted if space is available, but you’ll likely need to show up early or toward the end of service to snag an impromptu table.
Does Norwegian offer room service?
Yes, NCL offers 24-hour room service, but you will be charged a convenience fee of up to $9.95 per delivery, with the exception of morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests staying in The Haven. A 20% gratuity and beverage service charge will also be added for noncomplimentary beverages and special-occasion items delivered to your room.
How much does specialty dining cost?
It varies by venue. At top-tier options like the steakhouse, Teppanyaki, Hasuki, Le Bistro and seafood restaurants, you’ll pay a $60 per-person cover charge. Restaurants such as Moderno Churrascaria, Food Republic and Sushi cost $50 per person. Meanwhile, Norwegian’s more casual eateries that include Italian, Q Texas Smokehouse, Pincho and Los Lobos are $40 per person.
Does NCL offer specialty dining packages?
Norwegian’s More at Sea program allows cruisers to select an inclusion of their choice, such as specialty dining, unlimited open bar and shore excursions, upon booking. Those who choose specialty dining can enjoy multiple meals gratis throughout their sailing. During each meal, diners can order up to three appetizers and three desserts in addition to their main course.
The number of restaurants covered in More at Sea depends on the length of sailing and cabin category. For example, on a weeklong itinerary, passengers staying in a balcony cabin or above can dine at three restaurants, while those in a studio, inside or ocean-view cabin get one.
Cruisers who want to dine at specialty restaurants beyond what’s included in their More at Sea package, or for those who did not select specialty dining as their inclusion, can expect to pay cover charges for most.
What about service charges?
Norwegian’s standard 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will be automatically added to the cost of your specialty dining, whether the meals were included in your More at Sea package or purchased separately.
More information on Norwegian Cruise Line dining options is available on Norwegian’s website.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition of the tournament in history, with 48 teams (up from 32 in previous years) and 104 mat...
"Green Horizons Traveler" is your go-to blog for sustainable and eco-friendly travel. We explore the world’s most stunning natural wonders while focusing on responsible tourism. Through inspiring stories, tips, and guides, we help you discover breathtaking destinations that prioritize conservation. Whether hiking through forests or relaxing on pristine beaches, we show you how to travel mindfully and make a positive impact. Join us on a journey to protect our planet while experiencing its beauty.
