Why a Norwegian Spirit cruise is the perfect summer holiday

Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing adult-centric itineraries Down Under for summer.

Norwegian Spirit is 28 years old, making it the most ‘mature’ ship to homeport in Australia. But does the age of a cruise ship really matter? Or, for that matter, the cruisers?

I used to say absolutely, but now I am not so sure.

I am starting to wonder if ships are like wine and people. As long as they are well cared for, routinely attended to and refurbed like Norwegian Spirit was in 2020, they age beautifully.

And it is often only an educated (experienced) few who can truly appreciate the depth and beauty of the ageing process.

To travel with kids, or not?

Spice H20 on Norwegian Spirit — Sometimes it’s better to leave the kids at home.

Ask my cruise-crazy kids, and they are unequivocally in pursuit of the latest and greatest. It’s the exuberance of youth. Their dopamine-hungry brains need to be constantly stimulated by every conceivable activity; dodgem cars, basketball court, electronic game consoles, wave pool, rock climbing wall, indoor sky-diving, go-karts, laser tag, water slides…the list goes on.

And then there is the food aspect: 24-hour pizza, ice cream on tap, a buffet of sugar as far as the eye can. My youngest once had six soft serves on a single day (world’s worst Dad, here).

And the final ingredient, a gang of similarly sugar and dopa-crazed maniacs (I mean friends) to go plundering and pillaging with, trying their best to evade the attention of security.

We (my wife and I) insist on one meal together as a family every two days. Reasonable right? But even that’s exhausting as they agitate incessantly to finish the meal so they can return to their gang of new friends.

And when the cruise ends and we return home to normal life, they are over-stimulated, over-tired, joyous (hardly) humans to be around. The come-down is a good three days. No wonder once a year with the kids is enough for us.

Is Norwegian Spirit adult-friendly?

Norwegian Spirit sailing out of sydney harbour — It’s not adults-only, but it’s certainly adult-centric.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opted for the complete opposite with Norwegian Spirit. Taking a 28-year-old ship and spending $100m US on a complete refurb, they have delivered an almost new ship without the mania of marauding kids.

It is not adults-only – kids are welcome to sail – but they are not the centre of attention, nor are they directly catered for. So there’s no kids’ club.

NCL call it adult-friendly. I call it adult, relaxed, and easy. This is calm and comfortable cruising with some more elevated options.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

What we loved on board Norwegian Spirit

The refurb brought 14 new venues to Norwegian Spirit. But before we delve into the specifics, it is worth looking at the totality.

Norwegian Spirit carries fewer than 2000 passengers with more than 14 dining options and 9 bars and lounges. That’s a lot of choice and room, particularly when there are few kids to compete with.

And now for an overview of our favourites.

Onda by Scarpetta

The most elevated space on Norwegian Spirit, this intimate specialty dining restaurant is the signature Mediterranean meal across the NCL fleet; it is by far the most sophisticated restaurant experience onboard..

The Local

My go-to lunch spot for the Reubens (yes, I rate it up there with Katz’s Deli in NYC). On Norwegian Spirit is a simple space off the main Atrium on deck seven. It is a little small and simple, but it is still serviceable, and I will forgive a lot for that Rubens.

Magnums Champagne & Wine Bar

Champagne Bar on Norwegian Spirit — Stop by for a sip of Champagne.

You had me at Champagne. Magnums is on deck eight, at the main bar of the old fashioned Atrium. Perched at the bar for a pre or post-dinner glass of bubbles, this is the relaxed yet elegant atmosphere Aussies love.

Spice H20

Spice H20 (deck 10) is one of the ultimate stops for sun worshippers and lounge lizards. The aft pool and bar is surrounded by tiered seating and loungers, creating an amphitheatre that spans two deck and connects easily to the Garden Cafe (deck 12).

Add two plunge pools perched on the aft corners and the gorgeous wake views, and this is the ideal sunset hang. The lounge area transforms into a cocktail lounge and open-air nightclub at night.

Spinnaker Lounge

The indoor bow lounge is another of those discreet, calm spaces for books, cards, tea and coffee. In a sign of some people forgetting they were not at home (that’s how laid-back Norwegian Spirit is), some of our Aussie cruisers took relaxing to new levels with bare feet perched on the balustrades.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Mandara Spa

You can be old, but investing in a sizable modern spa reiterates that age is only a number. Mandara Spa has added a thermal suite with an extensive steam room, sauna and shower experience, as well as luxuriously warm heated-tile loungers that are positioned to enjoy the endless ocean vistas.

Norwegian Spirit rooms

Balcony Stateroom on Norwegian Spirit — All rooms are well designed.

The room size is unchangeable so the only place where one might notice an older sensibility is in the stateroom size.

The rooms are a little smaller perhaps the latest ships. It is barely noticeable and doesn’t impact the experience particularly as the furniture and fittings are all outstanding, the bathroom design smart and spacious.

Norwegian Cruise Line in Australia

NCL is getting serious about its Australian customers. Not only has it invested the $100m to keep Norwegian Spirit at the premium end of the market, but the company is changing up itineraries locally, and pricing globally.

Norwegian Spirit Australian sailings

Spice H20 on Norwegian Spirit in sydney harbour — Start and end your trip in Sydney.

From 2027, Norwegian Spirit will introduce a lot more shorter sailings designed for the local market.

In previous seasons, they were focused on Trans-Tasman ‘Open Jaw’ (embark Sydney, disembark Auckland) sailings that suited the inbound international market, to whom arriving in Sydney and departing from Auckland is a plus.

While NCL have maintained some of these itineraries, it has inserted many shorter four-day taster cruises, South Pacific cruises and domestic-only cruises. And they’re all round-trip from Sydney.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new pricing

Famous for their Free at Sea value added pricing (where wifi, specialty dining, drinks packages and other benefits were included), NCL have now introduced a more basic (and cheaper!) fare without any of these inclusions.

This makes it a more apples-to-apples comparison to cruise competitors.

The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

1. Check in

aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter — Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

2. Hunt for treasure

couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral — Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum — Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

4. A taste of France

table spread at Lucette bowral — Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

5. Indulge in a tipple

Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter — Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

6. Blend your own gin

Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

7. Go for a walk at dawn

Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

8. Cosy up by the fireplace

A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.

Why Norwegian Spirit may be the summer holiday you’ve been looking for

Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing adult-centric itineraries Down Under for summer.

To travel with kids, or not?

Is Norwegian Spirit adult-friendly?