Cascades Bar

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Cascades Bar Review: Poolside Pours, Poolside Problems

Introduction. Cascades Bar is a pool-area bar found on select Norwegian ships, serving the pool deck crowd with tropical cocktails and cold beers. It's an outdoor or semi-covered bar positioned near the main pool, handling the highest volume of any bar on the ship during sea days. Drinks are standard pricing or covered by the beverage package.

Drinks & Service

Frozen cocktails dominate — the Bahama Mama and Miami Vice (half Piña Colada, half Strawberry Daiquiri) are the top sellers and they come from machines. They're sweet, cold, and exactly what you want poolside. Draft beer flows fast: Bud Light, Heineken, whatever's on tap. The Mojito is serviceable but premixed. If you order anything requiring actual muddling or layering, you'll wait. The daily cocktail special is usually a themed frozen drink — worth trying once. Don't order wine here; the plastic cup and pool splash don't pair well with Chardonnay.

Service

Volume is the name of the game. Bartenders are pouring fast and moving through lines efficiently. On sea days in the Caribbean, expect 5-10 minute waits from noon to 3 p.m. — it's the busiest bar on the ship. Cocktail servers also work the pool deck chairs, which is convenient. Don't expect craft; expect speed. They're good at what they do — high-volume pours with consistent results.

Atmosphere

Sun, chlorine, and Jimmy Buffett covers from the poolside musician — that's the atmosphere. The bar is open-air or semi-covered depending on the ship, positioned right at the pool's edge. Expect wet floors, towel-draped chairs, and sunscreen-scented everything. The energy is vacation-mode peak: kids splashing, adults lounging, the cruise director running poolside trivia on a mic. It's chaotic and fun during sea days, nearly deserted during port days. Shade is limited — arrive early to claim a covered bar stool. At night, the pool deck transforms with colored lighting and fewer crowds, making it a surprisingly pleasant spot for an after-dinner drink.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.4/5. Cascades Bar does what a pool bar should — cold drinks, fast service, tropical vibes. The frozen drinks are fine, the beer is cold, and the bartenders are efficient. It's not a cocktail experience; it's hydration with alcohol. Tip: Order two drinks at once during peak hours — it saves you from getting back in line 20 minutes later.

Exploring more venues? Return to the Restaurants hub →