Norwegian Looks to Ditch Paper Freestyle Daily

September 21, 2025 Randy Young

For years, the Freestyle Daily has been a staple of Norwegian Cruise Line’s experience. Every evening, the printed schedule arrives in your stateroom, laying out everything happening on the ship the next day. From trivia times to production shows, it’s been the one-stop guide to planning your cruise. Now Norwegian is moving toward phasing it out, pushing guests to rely on the mobile app instead, in what is clearly a cost saving measure.

A Move Away From Paper

According to several reports we received from guests on board of several ships, Norwegian has started limiting printed versions of the Freestyle Daily and encouraging guests to download the line’s app. Guests who want a paper copy will have to go to guests services each day to get a copy.

The app does include daily activities, but it can be slow to load, glitchy, and hard to scan at a glance. Many guests liked keeping the paper copy in their pocket or circling activities for the day. Without that, the flow of information becomes less convenient.

It should be noted, in the past year, Norwegian has already tried reformatting their newsletter in a smaller format, going down from the 8 page version to a more manageable size.

Carnival Already Tried This

Norwegian is not the first line to attempt moving away from printed schedules. Carnival Cruise Line experimented with eliminating its daily printed Fun Times during the restart of cruising in 2021. The line directed guests to the Carnival Hub app instead.

The backlash was swift. Guests complained about unreliable Wi-Fi, dead phone batteries, and frustration at having to dig through menus to find simple information like show times. Within months, Carnival reinstated the printed Fun Times as a standard option. Today, the paper copy is delivered to staterooms again, alongside the app version.

Why the Change Matters

Cruise ships are complex resorts at sea, with dozens of activities happening at the same time. Having a clear and reliable schedule is not just convenient, it is essential. If Norwegian removes the Freestyle Daily, many guests will miss events simply because they did not see them in the app.

Older passengers or those without smartphones may be left behind entirely. And even tech-savvy travelers know that ship Wi-Fi is not always dependable. A printed daily is the kind of low-tech solution that works for everyone.

It’s Not About Sustainability

While defenders of this policy are quick to say this in the name of sustainability, it should be pointed out that Norwegian still uses single-use plastic cups on many of the bars of the ship. Unlike paper, plastic products aren’t biodegradable and cannot be recycled. If Norwegian wanted to be more “green,” that would be a larger move.

Risking Guest Satisfaction

Norwegian markets its product as “Freestyle Cruising,” emphasizing flexibility and choice. Ironically, removing the Freestyle Daily could reduce that freedom by making it harder to see everything at once. If Carnival’s failure is any indication, Norwegian could find itself walking back this decision quickly.

My Thoughts: Apps Are No Replacement for Printed Schedules

Cruise lines are always looking for ways to cut costs and go digital, but some traditions exist for good reason. Guests expect to find a daily schedule waiting for them at turndown service, and it remains one of the most useful tools onboard. Carnival learned the hard way that eliminating printed schedules creates more frustration than savings. Norwegian may soon learn the same lesson.