If you’re going on a Norwegian cruise, you might be wondering if Vibe Beach Club is worth it?
Although Vibe Beach Club comes at an additional cost, this popular cruise add-on certainly has it’s perks. Whether you’re a new cruiser, or an experience cruiser, it’s worth understanding the benefits of Vibe Beach Club before you decide whether or not to book it on your NCL cruise.
On a recent cruise onboard Norwegian Joy, I had a chance to try out Vibe Beach Club for the first time.
In this post, I share what you can expect in NCL Vibe Beach Club areas, as well as my thoughts on if Vibe is worth it or not.
What Is Vibe Beach Club?
Vibe Beach Club is Norwegian Cruise Lines’s adult-only sun deck. This exclusive area is pay-to-enter, and there are limited passes available.
Available on select Norwegian cruise ships, Vibe Beach Club offers a luxurious experience. At Vibe Beach Club, you can indulge in the comfort of plush loungers, day beds, and a private bar. Furthermore, you won’t have to check out towels, and they offer snacks and complimentary citrus water.
Although layouts vary depending on which NCL ship you are on, all Vibe areas feature hot tubs, a bar area, and lounge chairs. Onboard Prima Class cruise ships, you’ll find infinity-style hot tubs that overlook the ocean.
Since spaces are limited, Vibe Beach Club often sells out on Caribbean sailings and other itineraries with warmer weather. So, booking Vibe right away is a good idea if you’re heading to a tropical location.
How Much Does Vibe Beach Club Cost?
Prices for Vibe Beach Club onboard NCL cruise ships vary depending on the cruise’s length. Passes for a seven-day sailing start at $229 per person. However, these prices can vary from voyage to voyage.
It’s important to note that day passes to NCL Vibe Beach Club are not available. If you want to purchase the Vibe, you’ll have to purchase a pass that lasts for your entire cruise vacation.
Vibe Beach Club passes are sold per person (not per cabin) and are not sharable.
Which Norwegian Cruise Ships Have Vibe Beach Club?
You’ll find Vibe Beach Club on these eight Norwegian cruise ships:
- Norwegian Bliss
- Norwegian Encore
- Norwegian Escape
- Norwegian Breakaway
- Norwegain Getaway
- Norwegian Joy
- Norwegian Prima
- Norwegian Viva
5 Things I Really Liked About Vibe Beach Club
1. Comfortable Lounge Chairs and Day Beds
When you purchase a pass to Vibe Beach Club, you’ll have exclusive access to comfortable lounge chairs and day beds. One of the benefits of being in Vibe is that you will never have to worry about finding a chair.
Since Norwegian Cruise Line limits the amount of Vibe Beach Club passes, there will always be ample space for Vibe passengers.
Umbrellas and Cabanas
Furthermore, there will be umbrellas that provide shade on those sunny days at sea. For guests that want extra shade, cabanas were available to book at approximately $100 more per guest.
You’ll also have access to unlimited pool towels when you’re in Vibe. This is handy since normal passengers have to check out their towels at the towel booths on the Lido deck.
2. Intimate Atmosphere
One of the benefits of purchasing Vibe Beach Club is the intimate atmosphere. Since there’s a limited amount of passengers in Vibe, you’ll become familiar with the other Vibe guests and even the bartenders and crew members.
It was always a nice feeling walking into Vibe and seeing familiar faces. Throughout the week, I created friendships with the other Vibe members, and the bartenders would always greet me by my name.
This intimate atmosphere was a nice experience and enhanced my cruise vacation. Plus, while it’s not The Haven, this is one small way to get a little bit of VIP treatment on a cruise.
3. Adult-Only Area
Since Norwegian is a family-friendly cruise line, plenty of kids may be onboard, especially if you’re cruising during school break. If you enjoy relaxing on a lounge chair and a quiet, kid-free environment, then you’ll enjoy Vibe Beach Club.
On busier Norwegian Cruise Line sailings, it can be hard to find a calm, quiet, and relaxing area since the atmosphere is so fun. However, Vibe is an adults-only area with dedicated “quiet areas” for those who want to relax in a calmer atmosphere.
Furthermore, there are exclusive hot tubs for Vibe guests, so you’ll never have to worry about being in a hot tub with kids splashing around!
Although Vibe doesn’t offer large meals, they offer cookies and fruit skewers. These little snacks are a nice touch and come in handy if you want a snack throughout the day.
As someone who is not a big fan of breakfast, I loved heading to Vibe in the morning and having coffee and fruit skewers. This was the perfect way to start my day!
Additionally, you’ll get sparkling water with fresh oranges and mint whenever you enter the Vibe. This is a nice and refreshing beverage to enjoy throughout the day.
5. Private Bar Area
You’ll have access to a private bar at Vibe Beach Club. This means you’ll never have to wait for drinks, you can easily find a seat at the bar, and you’ll get to know the bartenders throughout your voyage.
The Norwegian Joy had only two bar areas on the Lido deck. In contrast, there were two separate bars at Vibe Beach Club.
If you’re someone who values the convenience of getting a drink quickly, then you’ll appreciate the private bar areas in Vibe. In addition to the bartenders, there are pool butlers that help to attend to guests.
Related: 10 Ways to Get Treated Like a VIP on a Cruise Ship
3 Things I Didn’t Like as Much About Vibe Beach Club
1. Missing Out on Activities
One of the downsides to being in Vibe Beach Club is that you are a bit disconnected from the rest of the cruise ship. This means you’ll miss out on the fun poolside activities, live music, and other onboard attractions.
Although the Vibe Beach Club pass has many benefits, it’s important to check the Freestyle Daily to ensure you’re not missing out on any fun sea day events.
If you’re someone that enjoys participating in onboard activities on cruise ships, you may want to balance your time between Vibe Beach Club and the Lido deck. This way, you can relax in Vibe and have fun on the Lido deck!
2. Lack of Food Options
Another downside of being in Vibe Beach Club is a lack of food options. Vibe offers fruit skewers and cookies.
So, if you’re looking for plentiful food options, you’ll have to head to the buffet or one of the onboard casual dining restaurants. At times, I’d get hungry throughout the day, and I really did wish I could just order food in Vibe.
Fortunately, the buffet was only two floors below Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Joy. Often, I would head down to the buffet, get a plate of food, and enjoy it in Vibe.
3. Limited Availability
A drawback to Vibe Beach Club is its limited availability, and it can be very popular, especially on Caribbean or Bermuda cruises.
Since Vibe only allows a limited number of cruise passengers to purchase passes, there’s a chance you can’t get into Vibe. Furthermore, if you’re traveling as a large family or group, certain passengers may get Vibe Beach Club, and others may not.
It’s important to note that cruise passengers without Vibe Beach Club passes are not permitted to enter the area. This means that if you make friends onboard the cruise ship who do not have Vibe passes, they will not be able to join you in the club.
Related: What’s Included on Norwegian Cruise Line and What Is Not
Is Vibe Beach Club Worth it?
NCL’s Vibe Beach Club is worth it for cruisers who enjoy a quieter, adult-only area with comfortable seating and a private bar. It is worth the price on Caribbean cruises where guests can use the Vibe daily.
However, it may be harder to justify the cost on colder sailings like an Alaska cruise as it won’t be ideal for relaxing all day outside.
In my experience, Vibe Beach Club was worth the cost as I used it every day of my cruise. Since the pool deck got quite busy and finding a lounge chair mid-day was a challenge, I spent a lot of time relaxing at Vibe Beach Club.
Furthermore, having a private bar with friendly waiters certainly enhanced the guest experience. I also enjoyed getting to know the other passengers in Vibe, as I would see the same people every day during my cruise vacation.
How to Get Vibe Passes on NCL?
Vibe Beach Club passes can be purchased through the NCL App in the entertainment sections, on the NCL website, or over the phone. The price for Vibe Beach Club can vary depending on how full the booking is. Furthermore, cruisers can try purchasing Vibe Beach Club onboard at guest services. However, there is limited availability.
Can Haven Guests Use Vibe Beach Club?
If Haven guests want to use Vibe Beach Club, they must still purchase a pass. However, passengers sailing in the Haven have exclusive access to the Have Sundeck, which is reserved for cruise passengers staying in the Haven Suites. Vibe Beach Club sells a limited number of passes for each sailing, and they are available on select NCL ships.
Does NCL Vibe Beach Club Have a Pool?
Onboard Prima-class cruise ships, Vibe Beach Club has an infinity pool, comfortable lounge chairs, and a private bar area. However, on other NCL ships, Vibe Beach Club will have hot tubs instead of a pool.
If you want an escape from the main pool, consider purchasing a Vibe Pass. Onboard NCL Aqua, Prima, Viva, and Luna cruise passengers will enjoy their private infinity pool when they purchase a Vibe Beach Club access pass.
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Final Thoughts on Is Vibe Beach Club Worth it on Norwegian Cruise Line?
Norwegian Cruise Lines Vibe Beach Club offers a unique experience many cruisers enjoy. It’s hard not to love a private sun deck with hot tubs, comfortable loungers, and exclusive bar areas!
Would you try Vibe Beach Club or have you in the past? Please let me know your tips and questions in the comments below.
Happy Cruising!
Ethan
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Ethan Schattauer, a seasoned cruiser since the age of four, has gone on over 40 cruises with his family. Drawing from his extensive travel experiences, Ethan offers a fresh and youthful perspective on the world of cruising. He also writes about cruise cuisine, onboard experiences, and practical tips, providing valuable insights for cruise travelers worldwide.