Metropolitan 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.

Metropolitan Bar Review: Smart Setting, Standard Sips

Introduction. Metropolitan Bar is a cocktail lounge found on select Norwegian ships, positioned as an upscale-leaning bar for the pre-dinner and after-dinner crowd. It serves the standard NCL drink menu in a more polished setting than the casual bars. Drinks are standard pricing or covered by the beverage package.

Drinks & Service

Same NCL bar card as everywhere else — Margaritas, Mojitos, Long Islands, draft beer, Mondavi wine. No signature cocktails, no curated menu, nothing that says "metropolitan." The bartender has the skill and the setting to make a proper Cosmopolitan or Sidecar, but you have to ask for it off-menu. A classic Martini or Manhattan is the right call here — the pace allows for proper preparation. Wine by the glass is average; cocktails are reliable. Don't expect anything inventive unless you direct the bartender yourself.

Service

Bartenders are professional and polished — the service matches the setting even if the drink menu doesn't. They'll make off-menu requests and take their time with preparation. The pace is relaxed, waits are minimal, and the staff are genuinely engaging. It's a pleasant bar to sit at, which counts for something.

Atmosphere

Clean lines, contemporary décor, and a slightly elevated sophistication that sets it apart from the pool bar crowd. Think upscale hotel lobby bar: marble or granite bar top, mood lighting, comfortable seating, and a soundtrack of soft jazz or bossa nova. The crowd is well-dressed, particularly on formal nights, and the energy is conversational rather than celebratory. It's the kind of bar where you meet for a drink before dinner and end up staying for two. Space is moderate — not too intimate, not too open. On ships where it's near the theater, it gets a pre-show and post-show rush.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.4/5. Metropolitan Bar offers a refined atmosphere for a drink — the setting and service are above average, but the drink menu is identical to every other bar on the ship. It's the bar equivalent of a well-decorated room with basic furniture. Tip: Come here for a pre-dinner Martini at 6 p.m. — the crowd is well-dressed, the bartender has time, and it sets the right tone for the evening.

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