Norwegian has an exceptional military program for active duty and veterans. Use your ID.me ahead of time to receive an additional 10% of your cruise on top of whatever cruise discounts you already receive. Only one 10% applies per cabin so if you are both military, you will only receive the discount once. Be sure to use your VA healthcare ID, commissary ID or driver’s license with veteran designation in all ports as most of the ports we have visited through all cruises have done 10-15% off at many of their port businesses and resultants. This is not a guarantee, but in certain other countries, they honor military/veterans from any visiting country’s military. 

Once we got to our stateroom, I received a “Mission” envelope. “For your eyes only” is your classified orders directing you to sleep in or don’t; work out or work on your tan; don’t make your bed, we’ve got you. It was a cute little “directive” informing you that it’s time to relax! Included with your mission orders was a Norwegian Challenge Coin, military appreciation pin, and your “duty station” patch. You can receive a patch for all of the different Norwegian ships that you vacation on. It’s a nice little packet that the military/veteran team at Norwegian has put together for all “Heroes of the Sea.” 

Included in your packet will be an invitation to a private party for military and veterans while on the cruise. On the Jade, this was a Wednesday night at 5:30pm at the Spinnaker Lounge that included complimentary drinks. There was entertainment provided as well as a chance to just chat with other military personnel/veterans. We met people from all branches of service and the invitation included a plus one. There was an opportunity to have your pictures taken while you’re dressed in your finest. You did not have to dress up for this event though so don’t be intimidated thinking you need to pack a ball gown and tux. Jason and I went in our hoodies and hats while other’s dressed up a little more with slacks and blouses. It was about your comfort level. Easily half of the people we met were wearing clothing from Til Valhalla or Nine Line and their branch hat. I, of course, could not resist the urge to turn on my VSO life and encourage every veteran there to apply for their benefits as well as encourage the active duty personnel to go to sick call, but that was another key part of this get together, to share information among other veterans. I learned a lot and was able to educate a lot in this two hour meeting, including a veteran group who were taking the ultimate vacation. 

On our ship was a group of veterans who were sailing together for several months! Their travel agent had put together a package for them with the best deal possible. When we met the group, they had already been on the boat for 34 days! They started in Miami, Florida, sailed through the Panama Canal, up the west coast, and were completing the Alaskan coast before switching ships and sailing over to Asia where they would sail around Southern Asia to the North African Coastline, into the Mediterranean, to Europe, and eventually catch a ship from the UK “across the pond” and back to the United States. They would disembark sometime in November, just in time for Thanksgiving. This is available to any Norwegian client however, this group of veterans decided to do this amazing trip together.