NCL restaurants by ship: complimentary dining, specialty venues and changes
Compare Norwegian Cruise Line restaurants by ship, with verified included food, specialty dining, cabin access, refit dates and links to detailed CruiseGem guides.
Jump to a section
Norwegian’s Freestyle dining system does not mean every restaurant is included. The current ship pages distinguish complimentary food, cover-charge restaurants and à-la-carte purchases, and some familiar Asian restaurants now carry a charge. This guide covers the 20 operating Norwegian ships plus announced Norwegian Aura.
The tables separate included meals, charged restaurants and Haven-only dining. Check the menu for premium items and your booking terms for specialty dining benefits. Aura’s future restaurants are labeled as announced plans.
What matters for your decision
- A full Asian restaurant and a separate noodle bar can have different cost rules on the same ship.
- Current American Diner listings are complimentary on the ships shown below; old paid-menu advice can be out of date.
- Palomar has replaced older concepts on some ships, while Getaway and Joy still list Ocean Blue.
Included restaurants, dining benefits and Haven access
Included restaurants serve meals during published hours; drinks may cost extra. Cover-charge and à-la-carte venues appear together in the paid rows, although an eligible dining benefit may cover a meal. The Haven Restaurant and Courtyard Grill are restricted to eligible accommodation. Escape’s Private Room at Taste requires separate arrangements.
| Priority | Ships to compare | Why this matters |
|---|---|---|
| Included food hall | Prima, Viva, Aqua or Luna | Indulge adds multiple cuisines without a specialty cover; Aura has its own announced future version. |
| Thai specialty dinner | Aqua or Luna | Sukhothai differs from Prima and Viva’s Food Republic roster. |
| Mediterranean seafood specialty | Bliss, Breakaway or Encore | Current pages list Palomar; check refit-era reviews carefully. |
| A Hawaii-focused dining plan | Pride of America | Match reservations to shore evenings and the ship’s distinctive Cadillac Diner / Jefferson’s Bistro roster. |
Norwegian Aqua
Aqua has the charged Thai restaurant Sukhothai and the included Indulge Food Hall. Hudson’s and The Commodore Room provide included seated dinners, while The Local and Surfside serve casual meals. The Haven Restaurant is restricted to eligible Haven guests.
Compare Norwegian Aqua sailings and fares. For venue-by-venue meal choices, read the Norwegian Aqua dining guide.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; Surfside Café; Hudson's; The Commodore Room; Indulge Food Hall; Surfside Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Le Bistro; Los Lobos; Palomar; Hasuki; Nama; Onda by Scarpetta; Sukhothai |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Aura — announced dining
Aura is scheduled to begin sailing on May 21, 2027. Announced additions include the included Panorama Room and Tamara, a charged Indian restaurant. Its nine-station Indulge Food Hall will offer included Mexican food inspired by Los Lobos, alongside a new Middle Eastern counter. This Los Lobos outlet has different cost terms from the separate specialty restaurants on other ships.
Compare Norwegian Aura sailings and fares.
Official ship information. Additional official dining evidence.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Launch status | Announced future ship; final venue operation and menus subject to confirmation |
| Included standard food | Panorama Room; Hudson’s; The Local; Surfside Café; Indulge Food Hall: nine announced counters including Los Lobos |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Tamara Indian restaurant; Cagney’s Steakhouse; Le Bistro; Sukhothai; Palomar; Onda by Scarpetta; Hasuki; Nama |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Bliss
Bliss currently lists Palomar rather than the older Ocean Blue concept found in past restaurant guides. American Diner is marked complimentary, giving families another included alternative to the main dining rooms and Garden Café. If seafood is the paid priority, inspect Palomar’s Mediterranean menu before booking; it is a different purchase from Q Texas Smokehouse or Food Republic.
Compare Norwegian Bliss sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; American Diner; Garden Café; Savor; Taste; The Manhattan Room |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Q Texas Smokehouse; Food Republic; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Palomar |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Breakaway
Breakaway’s updated restaurants include Palomar and Silver Screen Bistro, a charged dinner-and-movie venue. Shanghai’s Noodle Bar and American Diner are included. Check the film, menu and dining-benefit terms before reserving Silver Screen Bistro.
Compare Norwegian Breakaway sailings and fares. For venue-by-venue meal choices, read the Norwegian Breakaway dining guide.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; American Diner; Garden Café; Savor; Taste; The Manhattan Room; Shanghai's Noodle Bar |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Palomar; The Raw Bar; Wasabi; Silver Screen Bistro |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Dawn
Dawn offers Aqua and Venetian as its included main restaurants, plus O’Sheehan’s and casual grill choices. Bamboo—A Taste of Asia is currently marked Cover Charge on NCL’s ship page, so older advice calling the Asian restaurant complimentary can understate the budget. Los Lobos Cantina and Moderno create two different paid choices beyond the usual steak, French and Italian lineup.
Compare Norwegian Dawn sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Aqua; Venetian; Bimini Grill; Topsiders Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Los Lobos Cantina; Bamboo- A Taste of Asia; Java Café with The Bake Shop Treats; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi |
Norwegian Encore
Encore has Palomar for Mediterranean seafood, Onda by Scarpetta for Italian food and Q Texas Smokehouse for barbecue. American Diner and The Local provide included casual meals. Food Republic, Teppanyaki, Cagney’s and Le Bistro add other paid choices.
Compare Norwegian Encore sailings and fares. For venue-by-venue meal choices, read the Norwegian Encore dining guide.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; American Diner; Garden Café; Savor; Taste; The Manhattan Room |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Q Texas Smokehouse; Food Republic; Teppanyaki; Le Bistro; Palomar; Gelato; Onda by Scarpetta; The Bake Shop |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Epic
NCL lists Shanghai’s Noodle Bar as complimentary and Shanghai’s Restaurant with a cover charge on Epic. Check the exact venue when making a reservation. Taste, The Manhattan Room, Garden Café and O’Sheehan’s are included; the Haven Restaurant and Courtyard Grill require eligible Haven accommodation.
Compare Norwegian Epic sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Taste; The Manhattan Room; Shanghai's Noodle Bar; The Great Outdoors |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Moderno Churrascaria; Shanghai's Restaurant; Wasabi |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests; The Haven Courtyard Grill: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Escape
Escape retains Bayamo by Ocean Blue, Pincho Tapas Bar and Moderno, making its specialty choices different from Encore’s newer roster. American Diner is included. The Private Room at Taste appears in the ship’s dining list, but a private room is not an extra walk-in restaurant for every passenger; check arrangements if planning a group occasion. Food Republic and Pincho are worth comparing for guests who prefer varied small dishes to a steakhouse evening.
Compare Norwegian Escape sailings and fares. For venue-by-venue meal choices, read the Norwegian Escape dining guide.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; American Diner; Garden Café; Savor; Taste; The Manhattan Room |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Food Republic; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Atrium Café with The Bake Shop Treats; Bayamo by Ocean Blue; Dolce Gelato; Moderno Churrascaria; Pincho Tapas Bar; The Bake Shop |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Private Room at Taste: private arrangements; confirm booking access; The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Gem
Gem’s included dining rooms are Grand Pacific and Magenta; The Great Outdoors provides another casual setting when conditions suit. Orchid Garden is now marked Cover Charge in the official ship listing. If a past trip shaped your expectation of free Asian dinner, check the current booking menu before sailing. Moderno, sushi and Teppanyaki are separate paid experiences alongside Cagney’s, Le Bistro and La Cucina.
Compare Norwegian Gem sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Grand Pacific; Magenta; Bali Hai; The Great Outdoors; Topsiders Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Moderno Churrascaria; Orchid Garden; Sushi |
Norwegian Getaway
Getaway retains Ocean Blue and Moderno, while sister ship Breakaway has Palomar and Silver Screen Bistro. Shanghai’s Noodle Bar and American Diner are included on Getaway. The Raw Bar is separately charged and has its own menu.
Compare Norwegian Getaway sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; American Diner; Garden Café; Savor; Taste; The Manhattan Room; Shanghai's Noodle Bar |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Ocean Blue; Dolce Gelato; Moderno Churrascaria; The Bake Shop; The Raw Bar; Wasabi |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Jade
Jade’s included main restaurants are Alizar and Grand Pacific, with O’Sheehan’s and The Great Outdoors offering casual meals. Jasmine Garden has a cover charge. Moderno serves Brazilian-style meat selections, while Teppanyaki combines dinner with cooking at a shared grill table.
Compare Norwegian Jade sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Alizar; Grand Pacific; The Great Outdoors; The Pit Stop; Topsiders Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Jasmine Garden; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi |
Norwegian Jewel
Jewel has Azura and Tsar’s Palace for included seated meals, plus O’Sheehan’s, Garden Café and outdoor casual areas. Chin Chin carries a cover charge in the current listing. Its other specialty choices include Moderno, Teppanyaki, La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney’s.
Compare Norwegian Jewel sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Azura; Tsar’s Palace; The Great Outdoors; Topsiders Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Chin Chin; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi |
Norwegian Joy
Joy retains Ocean Blue, unlike Bliss and Encore’s Palomar. The Local and American Diner are included, while Q Texas Smokehouse and Food Republic cost extra. Compare the restaurant names as well as menus when choosing between these ships.
Compare Norwegian Joy sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; American Diner; Garden Café; Savor; Taste; The Manhattan Room |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Q Texas Smokehouse; Food Republic; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Ocean Blue |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Luna
Luna has Sukhothai for a charged Thai dinner and Indulge Food Hall for included casual food. Hudson’s and The Commodore Room serve included seated meals. The Local and Surfside add casual choices; the Haven Restaurant requires eligible Haven accommodation.
Compare Norwegian Luna sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; Surfside Café; Hudson's; The Commodore Room; Indulge Food Hall; Surfside Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Le Bistro; Los Lobos; Palomar; Hasuki; Nama; Onda by Scarpetta; Sukhothai |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Pearl
Pearl’s included main restaurants are Indigo and Summer Palace. The Great Outdoors adds an outdoor buffet, and O’Sheehan’s serves pub-style food. Lotus Garden carries a cover charge, alongside the ship’s other specialty restaurants.
Compare Norwegian Pearl sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Indigo; Summer Palace; Sky High Bar & Grill; The Great Outdoors; Topsiders Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Lotus Garden; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi |
Norwegian Prima
Prima includes Indulge Food Hall, Hudson’s, The Commodore Room and several casual venues. Food Republic and Los Lobos are separate charged restaurants, and Coco’s desserts are sold à la carte. Indulge’s included food does not make every purchase within the space complimentary.
Compare Norwegian Prima sailings and fares. For venue-by-venue meal choices, read the Norwegian Prima dining guide.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; Surfside Café; Hudson's; The Commodore Room; Indulge Food Hall; Surfside Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Coco's; Food Republic; Le Bistro; Los Lobos; Palomar; Hasuki; Nama; Onda by Scarpetta |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Norwegian Spirit
Spirit has Windows and Taste for included seated meals, plus The Local, Garden Café and outdoor casual areas. Onda by Scarpetta is its Italian specialty restaurant. Silk Asian Restaurant also carries a charge.
Compare Norwegian Spirit sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Taste; Windows; Bier Garten; The Great Outdoors |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; Le Bistro; Atrium Café with The Bake Shop Treats; Onda by Scarpetta; Silk Asian Restaurant; Sushi |
Norwegian Star
Star includes Aqua and Versailles for seated meals, along with O’Sheehan’s and Garden Café. Ginza has a cover charge. Moderno, Teppanyaki, La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney’s provide other charged dinner options.
Compare Norwegian Star sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; Garden Café; Aqua; Versailles; Topsiders Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Atrium Café with The Bake Shop Treats; Ginza; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi |
Norwegian Sun
Sun lists complimentary food at Sports Bar, Four Seasons, Seven Seas, Garden Café and The Great Outdoors. Los Lobos Cantina and Moderno add charged Mexican and Brazilian meals. Check bar menus separately for drink prices.
Compare Norwegian Sun sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | Sports Bar; Garden Café; Four Seasons; Seven Seas; The Great Outdoors |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Le Bistro; Los Lobos Cantina; Atrium Café with The Bake Shop Treats; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi Bar |
Norwegian Viva
Viva has Food Republic, while Aqua offers Sukhothai. Viva’s included meals come from Indulge Food Hall, Hudson’s, The Commodore Room and its casual restaurants. If using a specialty dining benefit at Food Republic or Nama, check the applicable item allowance.
Compare Norwegian Viva sailings and fares. For venue-by-venue meal choices, read the Norwegian Viva dining guide.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | The Local Bar & Grill; Surfside Café; Hudson's; The Commodore Room; Indulge Food Hall; Surfside Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Food Republic; Le Bistro; Los Lobos; Palomar; Hasuki; Nama; Onda by Scarpetta |
| Access or meal-specific conditions | The Haven Restaurant: eligible Haven guests |
Pride of America
Pride of America’s Hawaiian itinerary makes shore time central to dining decisions. Cadillac Diner, Aloha Café, Liberty and Skyline provide included choices around excursions. Jefferson’s Bistro is the French specialty name here; East Meets West now carries a cover charge in the current list. Before reserving several dinners, check which evenings you plan to eat ashore and whether an onboard reservation would shorten that visit.
Compare Pride of America sailings and fares.
| Cost / access | Verified venue selection |
|---|---|
| Included standard food | Cadillac Diner; Liberty; Skyline; Aloha Café; Key West Bar & Grill |
| Paid specialty / à-la-carte | Cagney's Steakhouse; Teppanyaki; La Cucina; Dolce Gelato; East Meets West; Jefferson's Bistro; Moderno Churrascaria; Sushi |
Separate the restaurant choice from the dining benefit
If you want an Asian meal on Epic, first distinguish the complimentary noodle bar from the cover-charge Shanghai’s Restaurant. On Dawn, Bamboo is listed as a paid restaurant. This affects how you use a limited dining benefit: check the booking’s qualifying venues and menu limits before spending a meal on an outlet you assumed was included. Our Free at Sea specialty-dining guide explains why booking-date terms matter.
Indulge Food Hall is included on Prima, Viva, Aqua and Luna. American Diner is also included on Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy. Use current menu classifications when calculating the cost of additional meals.
Fit Freestyle reservations around the itinerary
On Pride of America, choose specialty evenings after checking your Hawaii port plans. A reservation loses value if it shortens a shore day you care about. On Breakaway, decide whether the dinner-and-movie format at Silver Screen Bistro is the experience you want, then compare its actual offer with a conventional restaurant. Open dining arrangements still require attention to popular reservation times.
Haven dining belongs in the accommodation comparison, while specialty meals belong in the fare-plus-extras comparison for an ordinary cabin. Read the Norwegian dress guide for venue-specific attire and the reservation guide before paying for additional meals beyond your booking benefit.
Your decision checklist
- Find the exact ship and departure date before using a restaurant list
- Identify included seated and casual options for the days you will be aboard
- Check launch or refit dates against the sailing
- Reserve the specific restaurant format, especially sushi versus teppanyaki
- Confirm package exclusions, repeat-visit limits and cabin access
- Compare the fare plus chosen food purchases on CruiseGem
Questions travelers ask
Are NCL Asian restaurants complimentary?
Some noodle bars are, but several full Asian restaurants are currently marked Cover Charge. On Epic, Shanghai’s Noodle Bar and Shanghai’s Restaurant have different classifications. Check the exact venue on the exact ship.
Is American Diner still a paid NCL restaurant?
The current ship pages in this guide list American Diner as complimentary on Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Getaway and Joy. Drinks and premium exceptions still need their own menu check.
Does a Free at Sea dining benefit cover every listed restaurant and item?
No. Free at Sea provides a limited number of qualifying meals, with venue-specific item allowances and exclusions. Check the terms for your booking and sailing before ordering premium dishes or additional courses.
Official sources and further reading
Sources checked September 20, 2026. Explore the original policies, destination guidance and provider information behind this article. Each description explains what you will find at the source.
- Norwegian Aqua official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Aura official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Aura additional dining evidenceVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Bliss official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Breakaway official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Dawn official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Encore official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Epic official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Escape official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Gem official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Getaway official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Jade official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Jewel official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Joy official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Luna official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Pearl official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Prima official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Spirit official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Star official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Sun official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Viva official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Pride of America official ship diningVessel-specific venue roster, current inclusion details or dated launch/refit evidence checked September 20, 2026.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Cruise promotion termsNorwegian's offer-specific eligibility, booking restrictions and rules for combining advertised promotions.