Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service

Norwegian Epic Completes 15 Years of Service

The Norwegian Epic recently completed 15 years of service after being delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on June 17, 2010.

The 150,000-ton vessel was built as a prototype vessel at the STX France Shipyard, currently known as the Chantiers de l’Atlantique, in St. Nazaire, France.

After leaving its building dock, the Norwegian Epic embarked on a series of pre-inaugural cruises before setting sail from Southampton, England, for a seven-night crossing to New York City.

Continuing its maiden season celebrations, the vessel was christened by entertainer Reba McEntire on July 2, 2010.

After additional celebrations in New York City and Miami, the Epic officially embarked on its inaugural season on July 10, 2010.

Sailing from PortMiami, the ship offered a series of alternating seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Ports of call included Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Costa Maya, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas; and Roatán, Honduras.

In 2011, the Norwegian Epic repositioned back to Europe for its first summer season in the Mediterranean, before returning to Miami ahead of the 2011-12 winter season.

Earlier this year, the 4,200-guest ship underwent a significant refit at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France.

As part of the project, the ship debuted new venues, including an expanded Vice Beach Club and a refreshed Kids’ Aqua Park.

Other changes include the addition of eight new staterooms, as well as the debut of a new hot tub and enhanced exterior decks.

After completing its renovation, the Norwegian Epic embarked on a summer season in the Mediterranean.

Sailing from Civitavecchia, a port near Italy’s capital city of Rome, the ship is offering nine- and ten-night cruises to destinations in Greece and Malta.

Ports of call being visited include Valletta, Heraklion, Santorini, Piraeus, Katakolon, Argostoli and Mykonos.

In November, the Norwegian Epic repositions to the Southern Caribbean for itineraries departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Norwegian Epic to Debut Enhancements Ahead of European Season

Norwegian Epic to Debut Enhancements Ahead of European Season

The Norwegian Epic will debut noticeable enhancements ahead of its upcoming summer season in Europe, Norwegian Cruise Line said in a press release.

According to the company, the 2010-built ship is currently undergoing a three-week dry dock, which is set to end on May 8, 2025.

Renovations include eight new cabins, a new hot tub on Deck 18, in addition to a refreshed Kids’ Aqua Park that replaces Splashgolf.

The new space provides more fun-in-the-sun activities for adults and children alike, the company said.

The ship’s Vibe Beach Club is being expanded to offer an additional hot tub, as well as more lounge chairs. Replacing the Posh Beach Club, the adults-only outdoor deck will also offer new private cabanas.

The drydock plans also include the addition of eight new staterooms – a combination of balcony and ocean-view cabins.

“Delivering the best vacation experience for our guests, where they have the freedom and flexibility to do more of what they love, is, and will always continue to be our goal,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“By listening to guests’ feedback, we are excited to provide them with MORE to do on board starting this summer as Norwegian Epic sets sail for Europe,” he added.

After completing its drydock, the Norwegian Epic launches a series of cruises to the Mediterranean and the Greek Isles.

The ten- and 11-night cruises sail from Civitavecchia, the port of Italy’s capital city, Rome, and visit a wide range of destinations, including Mykonos and Santorini.

According to Norwegian, the itineraries also sail to historic cities such as Naples, Catania, and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy.

After its summer deployment in Europe, the Norwegian Epic sets sail to the Caribbean for cruises departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Southern Caribbean itineraries include visits to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Five Cruise Ships and Nearly 20,000 Guests Visit St. Maarten

Five Cruise Ships and Nearly 20,000 Guests Visit St. Maarten

St. Maarten cruise port, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Nearly 20,000 guests visited St. Maarten on Tuesday onboard five different cruise ships. Offering cruises to different parts of the Caribbean, the MSC Seaside, the Harmony of the Seas, the Carnival Magic, the Harmony of the Seas and the Norwegian Epic docked at the Port of Philipsburg.

Wrapping up a season in the Southern Caribbean, the MSC Seaside offers a seven-night voyage in the region.

After sailing from Martinique on April 8, the cruise also features visits to Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbados and Dominica.

Following the round-trip itinerary, the MSC Cruises ship is set to reposition to Port Canaveral – its homeport for the upcoming summer season.

Meanwhile, the Harmony of the Seas offers a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean departing from Miami. The itinerary, which left South Florida on April 8, also includes visits to St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Another ship based in Florida, the Carnival Magic sailed from Port Canaveral on April 8 for an eight-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. In addition to St. Maarten, the Carnival Cruise Line ship is set to visit Grand Turk, San Juan and St. Kitts before returning to its homeport.

Also sailing from the Sunshine State, the Celebrity Constellation visited the Port of Philipsburg as part of a ten-night cruise that departed from Tampa on April 7. Set to be followed by a transatlantic crossing to Europe, the itinerary also features St. Thomas, San Juan, Dominican Republic and Antigua as ports of call.

Based in Puerto Rico, the Norwegian Epic offers a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. The itinerary sailed from San Juan on April 9 and also includes visits to St. Lucia and other destinations in the region.

Set to reposition to the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship offers an additional itinerary in the region before departing on a transatlantic crossing on April 22.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Completes Biofuel Trial

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Completes Biofuel Trial

PRIO, a producer of biofuels in Portugal, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in collaboration with World Fuel Services (WFS) have successfully completed the first trials with sustainable biofuels produced in Portugal, according to a press release.

Following the launch of ECO Bunkers B15 and taking the first step towards the decarbonization of maritime transport in the Iberian Peninsula, PRIO has announced a blend of Biofuels with 30 per cent renewable base material.

This milestone was achieved in collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and the Florida-based energy and services company World Fuel Services.

The new fuel, ECO Bunkers B30, contains a blend of 30 per cent of advanced biofuel from waste raw materials and it is produced at PRIO’s biodiesel plant in Aveiro. This enables the company to scale up production as demand increases and to adjust the percentage of Biodiesel blends (up to a 100 per cent renewable product).

Luis Nunes, a member of PRIO’s Executive Board said: “Advanced biofuels, produced from residual raw materials, i.e., the result of circular economy, are the solution of the present and that allows us to immediately meet the growing needs of our clients. They are “drop-in” solutions, meaning that they did not require any modifications to the engine or tank of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ cruise ships and, in this way, allowed an immediate impact without any need for additional investment in these ships.

“We are at a crucial moment in the world’s response to climate and biodiversity emergencies, so PRIO believes we can already accelerate the energy transition if we increase the contribution of advanced biofuels in the maritime sector,” he added.

PRIO has established itself as the ideal partner for maritime companies on the road toward decarbonization of the sector.

With the help of World Fuel Services, two Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ships were fueled with a total of 400 tons of B30 supplied by PRIO last year.

The Norwegian Star received 200 tons of ECO Bunkers B30 in Lisbon in November.

The following week, the Norwegian Epic, received another 200 tons of ECO Bunkers B30. This has enabled the cruise company to avoid approximately 440 tons of CO2 emissions.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line Confident in Europe 2023 Despite Baltic Limitations

Norwegian Cruise Line Confident in Europe 2023 Despite Baltic Limitations

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is increasing its capacity by six per cent in Europe in 2023, coming at the expense of the Caribbean, according to Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, speaking on the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

He said that yields on ticket prices and onboard revenue for cruises in Europe were “dramatically better.”

And this is in despite of limitations in the Baltic, with ships not calling at Russia’s Saint Petersburg. 

“If you had asked me what is the single city in the world, port in the world that you cannot live without, I'd tell you it's Saint Petersburg, and we lost it,” Del Rio said. “Very, very high yields, incredible shore excursion sales. So onboard revenue was just higher than any other itineraries that I can think of, and it’s a relatively long season. You can get (there) in mid-May and you can leave in mid-September.”

That limitation in 2022 sent one Norwegian ship elsewhere, as the Getaway moved to the Caribbean for the summer sailing from Port Canaveral.

“It did affect load factors and no question, it affected pricing. And the impact on EBITDA has to be in the tens of millions of dollars,” Del Rio explained.

But both the Baltic and the Mediterranean look encouraging for 2023, with Del Rio noting that Americans travelling to Europe book the highest cabin categories earliest.

“This revenge travel or pent-up demand that we've been talking about for months is really alive and well for Americans going to Europe,” he said.

“We believe that Europe is poised for an incredible 2023 season. That's why we increased our capacity there by 6 percentage points of occupancy at the expense of the Caribbean. And I'll take that trade all day long because the yields both on a ticket and on onboard revenue are so dramatically better for European cruises that we'll take that trade.”

Del Rio: Full NCLH Fleet to Operate by Late Spring; Adapt to Situation

Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, spoke on Thursday morning along with Dr Scott Gottlieb, former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Chairman of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council.

Del Rio said the company, which operates the Norwegian, Regent and Oceania brands, had spared no expense to operate safely and he still plans to have the company’s full fleet operating by late spring.

“We have made every effort (and) spared no expense to have the most stringent protocols in the hospitality and leisure space,” he said, on a webinar for media and travel partners. “We will simply not take risks with the well-being of our crew and our guests for the sake of profit.”

Commenting on close-in voyage cancellations, Del Rio said that the virus was spreading quickly, but also disappearing quickly.

“With the rapid spread of Omicron across the globe our industry has gotten a lot of press. Most of it negative press,” he continued. “And all of it has been biased to some degree … taking advantage of the fact that our industry offers robust testing, that we track cases and that we diligently report them to the CDC and other public health administrations.”

Del Rio said the different rules for the cruise industry for public safety had hurt the business. 

“The media and even some politicians turn to this hard data that we provide and they take this news and sensationalize it for a cheap headline. We are the only industry they can pick on because of our honesty,” he continued, adding that the industry had survived two years of “this monster” and told travel advisors it was not time to quit.

Dr Gottlieb stressed that he thought the Omicron wave was peaking in parts of the U.S. and some areas of the country would see the same in a few weeks before cases start going down. That, combined with new treatments, should paint a positive picture of the future.

Onboard, Dr Gottlieb said the cruise industry had the ability to tightly control the environment and noted that Norwegian had invested heavily in onboard therapeutics and testing.

“The cruising environment lends itself to being able to introduce those measures.”

Del Rio admitted that the Omicron timing had a dampening effect on wave season.

Dr Gottlieb mentioned that he felt confident there would be a low prevalence of COVID this summer, people would be back to travelling and consumer confidence would be up.

In light of the past two years, Del Rio said: "Continue to expect the unexpected and adapt."

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line Cancel Sailings as Omicron Cases Surge

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line on Wednesday cancelled sailings amid rising fears of Omicron-related coronavirus infections that have dampened the nascent recovery of the pandemic-ravaged cruise industry.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd called off its Spectrum of the Seas cruise for Jan. 6 after nine guests on its Jan. 2 trip were identified as close contacts to a local Hong Kong COVID-19 case.

The contacts have tested negative but the cruise ship will return to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong on Jan. 5 to test all guests and crew who must take a second test on Jan. 8, the company said.

A similar decision to cancel trips by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd was made against the backdrop of the United States reporting the highest daily tally of any country for new coronavirus infections on Monday.

“Due to ongoing travel restrictions, we’ve had to modify a few sailings and unfortunately have had to cancel,” the 17-ship strong cruise operator said, with the embarkation dates for a few cancelled sailings as far out as late April.

The cruise line, which requires everyone on board to be vaccinated, has also had to cut short a 12-day round trip from Miami on its Norwegian Pearl ship, citing “COVID related circumstances.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had last week advised people to avoid cruise travel after launching investigations into onboard cases on more than 90 ships. The health agency starts scrutiny if at least 0.1% of the guests test positive.

Norwegian Cruise said guests, who were supposed to embark on the cancelled sailings on the eight ships, will receive full refunds and bonus credits for future bookings.

The Omicron-led travel uncertainty is also causing guests on other sailings to cancel their bookings as a few ships have also had to skip ports due to onboard infections.

“We booked the cruise last March and assumed that things would be getting back to normal… by mid-December, I was mentally prepared for a change of plans,” said Holly Bromley, a consulting arborist, who cancelled her booking on Norwegian Epic.

Meanwhile, bigger rival Carnival Corp said it has not cancelled any upcoming voyages, but its shares fell on Wednesday to close down 2.6%. Royal Caribbean lost 2.1% and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings 3.6%. (Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Arun Koyyur)

Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Getaway Return to Cruising in Europe

Norwegian Cruise Line now has a third of its fleet back in cruise service as the Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Getaway are cruising in the Mediterranean. 

The Norwegian Epic, the fourth ship in the company’s fleet to resume operations, successfully completed her first voyage to the most sought-after ports in Spain and Italy from Barcelona.

Among the big news, the company debuted an all-new The Haven by Norwegian aboard Norwegian Epic, following an extensive refurbishment in Marseille, France at the end of 2020.  The recent renovation resulted in 75 reimagined and upgraded suites combined with redesigned experiences, including The Haven Restaurant and The Haven Courtyard Pool and Sundeck. 

“It has been exhilarating to watch our Great Cruise Comeback unfold over these past three months with a third of our fleet now back, offering unforgettable vacation experiences”, said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “The joy of reuniting with our shipboard families and welcoming our guests back on board will never grow old. Being able to return to one of our most popular homeports in Europe, debuting the recently refurbished The Haven by Norwegian™ aboard Norwegian Epic, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the extraordinary quality and elevating the standard of excellence across our fleet.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome NCL back to the Port de Barcelona”, said Jose Alberto Carbonell, managing director of the Port de Barcelona. “During the past 18 months, we’ve worked diligently with the NCL team to ensure a safe resumption of cruising from Barcelona for guests, crew and the citizens of our city. We are glad to finally celebrate the comeback of cruising together.”

The Norwegian Getaway today embarks on her first voyage from Rome (Civitavecchia). Through October 25th, she will sail a mix of 10- to 11-day Greek Isles itineraries, calling to Dubrovnik, Corfu, Katakolon – NCL’s newest embarkation port located on the Peloponnese peninsula –Santorini, Mykonos, Naples and Livorno (Florence/Pisa). 

“Reaffirming our longstanding partnership with NCL, we’re pleased to welcome Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Getaway back to the Port of Civitavecchia this month, and to see both ships embark on their first voyage from our shores in almost two years,” said Pino Musolino, president and chief executive officer of Port System Authority of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. “The cruise industry is an important cornerstone for our country and region, contributing more than €400 million annually to the economy of the territory of Civitavecchia alone and providing for more than 1,800 jobs. As such, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome back both NCL’s crew and guests, and look forward to working closely with the team once again.”

 

NCL INTRODUCES NEW FLY-CRUISE BOOKING TOOL

Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new booking platform for fly-cruise itineraries.

The line claims NCL Air will transform the way agents make bookings of this type.

 

NCL Air offers real-time access and current pricing to flights from the UK and Ireland to departure ports around the world.

 

Agents earn “a minimum 10% commission on the entire flight package”.

The line said: “With NCL Air, agents can offer flight options from a wide variety of regional gateways and can opt for exclusive NCL-contracted fares, which give guests greater flexibility, or restricted fares at more attractive pricing that are subject to payment and cancellation restrictions. It also allows for easy upgrades to premium economy, business and first-class flights.”

Fares include checked baggage and airport and port round-trip transfers as well as a pre-cruise hotel night, can be added.

 

All cabin classes and airlines bookable through Amadeus, including British Airways, Jet2.com, Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet and KLM are available.

 

To mark NCL Air’s introduction, NCL is giving agents the opportunity to win a fly-cruise for two onboard Norwegian Epic or Norwegian Dawn. Agents will be entered into a prize draw for every fly-cruise booking they make using NCL Air before 31 December 2020.

 

As an alternative prize, NCL is offering tickets to hit musical Six, which will tour the UK in 2021.

“This new air tool is precisely what we’ve been looking for as a great addition to the tech made available to us by NCL”, said Dave Mills, vice president global supply director of Iglu.

 

“These days, more than ever, being able to offer customers both choice and reassurance that the holiday they’ve been looking forward to for so long can be tailored exactly to their requirements is a huge benefit. Agents are going to love it."

Norwegian Cruise Line to deploy six ships in Europe in 2019

Norwegian Cruise Line to deploy six ships in Europe in 2019

Norwegian Bliss entering Southampton, photo by Dave Jones

Norwegian Cruise Line will deploy an additional ship in Europe next summer.

The 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl will offer ex-Amsterdam itineraries and sailings from Rome, Barcelona and Venice, having spent the 2018 summer season sailing out of the US.

Pearl will join five other NCL vessels in Europe: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Star and Norwegian Jade.

The sailings will go on sale on July 31, while Norwegian Jade and Spirit’s new 2019 programme will become available to sell on August 6.

NCL will deploy Norwegian Spirit in China from the summer of 2020, but next year it will operate ex-Southampton itineraries.

Nick Wilkinson, NCL’s vice president and managing director of UK & Ireland, said the decision was made in response to customer demand from Europe.

He said: “If you look at the robust demand environment around the world which was demonstrated by Norwegian Bliss – the best selling ship in our history – customers were booking nine, 12 and 18 months in advance.

“The message to the trade is this is our commitment to Europe. There are some great itineraries in the programme which gives agents more choice to offer their clients. The new home port in Amsterdam or Rome, for example.”

The 2,000 passenger-capacity Norwegian Spirit vessel will undergo a bow-to-stern revamp as part of the Norwegian Edge fleet refurbishment.

Spirit’s journey from Europe to Asia will feature sailings which include maiden calls for the line in South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives.

Jade will offer a season of sailings throughout south-east Asia, departing from Singapore and Hong Kong in winter 2019/20.

Ports of call include in-demand locations such as Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Long Bay.

Frank Del Rio, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’s president and chief executive, said: “The booming demand environment in our core markets around the world, coupled with Norwegian Bliss’ record-breaking performance, continue to exceed our expectations.

“As a result, we are leveraging the strategic benefits of our growing fleet to quickly seize sizeable opportunities in overperforming, and unserved markets to meet the demands of our global customer base and drive higher returns for our shareholders.”

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES 2018 & 2019 DEPLOYMENT

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES 2018 & 2019 DEPLOYMENT

Norwegian Escape, Getaway and Breakaway.

Highlights include five ships in European waters, among them Norwegian Breakaway in the Baltic from Copenhagen and Warnemünde, Norwegian Escape sailing to the Caribbean and Bermuda from New York, Norwegian Bliss sailing to Alaska from Seattle and bucket list destinations including Cape Horn and the Panama Canal.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ANNOUNCES 2018 & 2019 DEPLOYMENT

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its summer 2018 and autumn/winter 2018/19 itineraries, featuring exciting new opportunities for guests to set sail to their dream destinations, while unpacking just once and enjoying the most free and flexible cruising experience at sea. Norwegian’s 2018/2019 deployment spans across the globe, from a wide range of cruises in Europe from seven embarkation ports including round-trip cruises from Southampton and Hamburg to the warm waters of the Caribbean, the adventure-filled coasts of South America, the awe-inspiring glaciers of Alaska and beyond. The new itineraries are on sale now for all guests.

Europe

Guest sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line can again look forward to a wide variety in Europe in summer 2018 with two ships in Northern Europe and in the Baltic as well as three ships in the Mediterranean. Norwegian Breakaway will depart New York on April 15 for the first time since her inaugural season in 2013 for a 12-night transatlantic voyage to London (Southampton). Following her arrival in Europe, Norwegian Breakaway will undergo enhancements in dry dock and then journey to her new seasonal homeports of Copenhagen and Warnemünde, where she will sail nine-night Scandinavia & Russia cruises through the summer season. Norwegian Jade will return to Europe in summer 2018 and sail a series of Norway, Iceland and North Cape cruises from Southampton and Hamburg, showcasing the spectacular Norwegian fjords, along with British Isles cruises on select dates. Norwegian Spirit will return as well, sailing longer 10-night Western Mediterranean and 11-night Mediterranean & Adriatic cruises from Civitavecchia. Norwegian Star will reposition from the US West Coast to Venice, sailing a series of seven-night Greek Isles and Adriatic & Greece cruises from The Floating City. Norwegian Epic, which received ship wide enhancements earlier this year during an extensive dry dock will once again sail seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona and Civitavecchia, showcasing the best of Italy, France and Spain. 

In winter 2018/2019, Norwegian Spirit will set sail from Barcelona to the Canary Island & Morocco, on a series of 10- and 11-night cruises that will bring guests looking to escape winter weather to the exotic bazaars of Northern Africa and Tenerife, which boasts the world’s third largest volcano and the highest elevation in all of Spain.

Alaska

In summer 2018, Norwegian will once again offer guests the opportunity to sail through the glacier-filled waters and gaze upon the snowy mountaintops of Alaska on three unique ships, making up the youngest fleet sailing to the region. The brand-new Norwegian Bliss, arriving in June 2018, will lead Norwegian’s 2018 Alaska fleet with her inaugural season to the region, offering seven-night voyages departing each Saturday from Seattle. The largest and most innovative ship sailing in Alaska, Norwegian Bliss will be the first cruise ship custom-built with features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience and the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to make its debut in Seattle. Following an extensive renovation in 2017 as a part of the Norwegian Edge programme, Norwegian Pearl will sail seven-night Glacier Bay Alaska cruises from Seattle departing on Sundays. Rounding out the Alaska fleet, Norwegian Sun will return to Vancouver and Seward to offer her incredibly popular northbound and southbound seven-night Alaska highlights voyages, offering guests the opportunity to combine back-to-back sailings for an immersive 14-night roundtrip cruise.

Caribbean

Guests can set sail to the Caribbean on seven of Norwegian ships, sailing from convenient departure ports including New York, Port Canaveral, San Juan, Miami, New Orleans and Tampa. 

From December 2018 to February 2019, Norwegian Escape will set sail from New York on extended 12- and 14-night Southern Caribbean cruises, as well as 14-night Western Caribbean cruises, which will include a call at Harvest Caye, Belize’s newest resort-style port of call featuring a cruise ship pier for easy access, seven acre white sand beach and 15,000 square foot pool, among other eco-friendly adventures. Norwegian Breakaway will also sail 10- and 11-night Eastern Caribbean cruises from New York, for a sunshine-filled extended getaway including calls in the Virgin Islands during the heart of winter. New for 2018, guests can set sail to the Caribbean from Boston on Norwegian Dawn for a 14-night Eastern Caribbean cruise in October 2018.

Norwegian Gem will reposition to New Orleans, sailing to the Western Caribbean on seven-, 10- and 11-night cruises from the Crescent City. Guests sailing from Miami in winter 2018 can cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Getaway, which will sail seven-night cruises that will also include a call to Harvest Caye. Norwegian Pearl will homeport in Tampa during winter 2018, sailing seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Dawn will seasonally homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico during the winter 2018/2019 season, sailing to the heart of the Southern Caribbean on seven-, 10- and 11-night cruises, with calls in Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and more. Guests can also sail to the Southern Caribbean from Miami on Norwegian Jade, on a 10-night cruise on select dates from November 2018 – April 2019.

Norwegian Epic will again return to Port Canaveral in autumn 2018, sailing alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, along with select longer 10- and 11-night Western Caribbean cruises from November 2018 – January 2019 that will include a call at Harvest Caye. Guests who wish to visit Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay can do so from Port Canaveral in March 2019, as Norwegian Epic will also offer a four-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral and a five-night Western Caribbean cruise that calls in Cozumel and Great Stirrup Cay.

Bermuda

Norwegian will continue its tradition of sailing from both New York City and Boston to the pink sand beaches of Bermuda between April and September 2018. Norwegian’s newest ship, Norwegian Escape, will reposition for the first time since she was christened in 2015, and will sail from New York City to Bermuda on seven-night cruises every Sunday, offering guests a new ship to enjoy, featuring Norwegian’s first brew pub at sea, the Tony-award winning After Midnight and critically-acclaimed For the Record: The Brat Pack, along with two restaurants from Iron Chef Jose Garces and The Cellars, a Michael Mondavi Family Wine bar. Norwegian Dawn, essentially a new ship after bow to stern enhancements this year, will sail seven-night cruises from Boston to Bermuda, departing every Friday.

Bahamas & Florida

In summer 2018, Norwegian Gem will set sail for the Bahamas and Florida each Saturday from New York City, bringing guests the best of beaches, theme parks and sunshine. Norwegian Sky will continue to sail three- and four-night Bahamas cruises from Miami year-round, providing guests a private island escape to, Great Stirrup Cay, which is currently undergoing enhancements that include a luxury lagoon area for Haven guests, along with enhanced facilities, premium cabana furnishings and more family-friendly amenities.

In winter 2018/2019, Norwegian Escape will remain in New York, and bring guests to the tropical beaches of the Bahamas & Florida on seven-night cruises. Norwegian Breakaway will return to New York from Europe and will also sail seven-night Bahamas & Florida cruises from Manhattan during winter 2018/2019.

Canada & New England

Norwegian will offer guests the opportunity for prime “leaf peeping” in Canada &New England on three vessels in autumn 2018. Norwegian Escape will be the company’s largest vessel to bring guests on spectacular autumn foliage cruises, sailing seven-night Canada & New England cruises from New York on select dates in September 2018. For those looking for a summer cruise to the Pinetree State and Great White North, Norwegian Gem will also sail north from the Big Apple in June 2018 on two seven-night cruises, calling in Maine, St. John and Halifax. For those guests looking to explore Canada & New England further, Norwegian Gem will sail extended 10-night cruises from New York that include an overnight in Québec City, while Norwegian Dawn will sail a series of northbound and southbound seven-night cruises between Boston and Quebec, offering the opportunity to combine for the ultimate autumn getaway with a 14-night roundtrip cruises.

Hawaii

The recently refurbished Pride of America will continue to sail her very popular seven-night Hawaii itinerary departing from Honolulu every Saturday through May 2019. Offering more than 100 hours of in-port sight-seeing time, the only ship to sail the islands features an itinerary with calls that include an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawai`i; Kona, Hawai`i; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise past the breath-taking Nãpali Coast.

Panama Canal and Mexican Riviera

A true bucket-list experience, Norwegian will offer one-way and roundtrip Panama Canal cruises on three ships in 2018/2019. Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl will sail 11-night and 14-night roundtrip canal cruises from Tampa and Miami in 2018/19, providing guests with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of the seven wonders of the modern world. For guests looking for an extended Panama Canal cruise, they can embark Norwegian Star from either Miami or Los Angeles during select dates in January – March 2019 for a 14-night one way cruise that includes a day-time transit of the canal. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a one-way 15-night Panama Canal cruise from LA to Tampa in October 2018.

Guests looking for a sun and fun cruise can embark on a seven-night Mexican Riviera sailing from Los Angeles on select dates in December 2018 and March 2019 that features calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.

South America

Norwegian Sun will once again return to South America, sailing a series of alternating westbound and eastbound 14-night itineraries between Valparaiso, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina in Winter 2018/2019, featuring a sail around Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego’s splendid fjords.

Information source: Norwegian Cruise Line

Six Things Experienced Cruisers Would Never Do on a Norwegian Cruise

Experienced cruisers are well prepared. From what to pack, to where to go, to what to do, these guests have traveling down to a fine art. Here are six things you would never catch a seasoned cruiser doing!

1. CALL A NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE VESSEL A "BOAT"

Though both ship and boat seem to be an interchangeable term among guests, seasoned cruisers know that calling these majestic beauties a “boat” is just not right. Due to factors like size and where and how the vessel operates, rightfully classifies our ships as... well ships.

2. NEGLECTING TO REVIEW NAUTICAL TERMS

No matter how you cruise, there will come a time when you lose your sense of direction. If this isn't disorienting enough, try being told “aft, forward, starboard, and port.” Experienced cruisers know to brush up on their nautical terms before setting sail. When your captain announces, “complimentary lobster tails, Deck 15 Aft” you won’t want to miss a beat.

3. FAILING TO SCHEDULE AHEAD

There are two ways guests can go about their cruise, plan it out or play it by ear. Although both are fine options, you will never find an experienced cruiser with a checklist leaving it up to chance. These folks know what they want and they know that their wish list activities fill up fast. Whether it’s a specialty dining venue, a Broadway show, or a shore excursion, it pays to be proactive and book ahead of time!

4. QUESTION THE CAPTAIN

Experienced cruisers are flexible with their travel plans. At any time the Captain can change a port of call due to things like inclement weather. Remember, the Captain has your best interest at heart if he has to reroute you to another destination.

5. PROP THE STATEROOM AND BALCONY DOOR OPEN

Just like a draft can be created in your home, the same can be done onboard a cruise ship. Anyone who has ever stayed in a balcony room or a suite knows to be careful having the stateroom and balcony door open at the same time. With the ship reaching speeds of up to 26 knots (approximately 30 mph!), the right gust of wind could blow your valuables right out the door.

6. AVOID THE "WASHY WASHY" CREW

After a long day at the pool, there’s nothing better than heading over to the buffet for a cool drink and a bite to eat. “WASHY WASHY, HAPPY HAPPY, SMILEY SMILEY” the crew will echo as they greet you at the entrance, cleaning down your hands. Experienced cruisers embrace the “Washy Washy" crew, because they know the importance of cleanliness on a ship

Norwegian Cruise Line to offer ex-UK cruises for first time in seven years

Norwegian Cruise Line to offer ex-UK cruises for first time in seven years

by Hollie-Rae Merrick 

Norwegian Cruise Line will have a UK-dedicated ship sailing from Southampton for the first time in seven years from 2017.

The cruise line will offer a series of 11 Western Europe and three Norwegian Fjords sailings between May 12 and June 20 and August 7 and October 16, 2017. Also available will be two shorter taster cruises.

Norwegian Jade (pictured) will arrive in Europe after a two-and-a-half-week dry-dock. Ports of call featured on its itineraries include Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge, Le Havre, Alesund, Geiranger, and Bergen.

The line’s 2017 programme includes a total of five ships sailing in Europe, the line’s biggest ever European deployment.

Norwegian Getaway, which launched in 2014, will return to Europe to sail on eight or nine-night Baltic Capitals cruises to and from Copenhagen.

Norwegian Epic will sail in the Western Mediterranean; Norwegian Spirit will offer 10 and 11-night voyages between Barcelona and Venice and Norwegian Star will sail between Venice and the Greek Isles.

Norwegian’s managing director for EMEA, Christian Boell, said: “We’re clearly demonstrating our commitment to our European customers, especially cruisers in the UK, with these exciting summer itineraries.

“Not only are we offering the possibility to embark in Southampton but we are also bringing one of our newest and most innovative ships back to Europe.

“We’re convinced that this will encourage continued growth in the UK market, where we have just seen record breaking guest numbers in 2015.”

Northern Europe general manager, Nick Wilkinson, added: “I’m sure these exciting Southampton sailings will be music to our travel partners’ ears.”

New ship Norwegian Escape, which launched in October 2015, will spend summer 2017 sailing alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami on May 6.

THE NORWEGIAN EDGE™

THE NORWEGIAN EDGE™

The Cavern Club

The Norwegian Edge introduces a new standard of excellence that encompasses the entire guest experience, from culinary program enhancements to exclusive destination developments. The program starts with a focus on the heart of Norwegian, our ships. 

Extensive revitalizations have already begun to elevate them with the premium look and feel of the line’s newest and most spectacular ships. When the renovations are complete, our ships will look even better than when they first left the shipyard. We’re investing $400 million to make sure a Norwegian vacation is up to the high standards we’ve set for ourselves – and those that our guests expect from us.

So when you board one of our ships for the fifth time, but she looks as good as the first time you saw her, that’s The Norwegian Edge. When you savor an array of international tastes and gourmet dishes from our new enhanced menus, you’ve tasted The Norwegian Edge. 

If you find yourself surrounded by natural beauty in Harvest Caye, our premier resort-style island in Belize, you’ve found The Norwegian Edge. And finally, when you’re sharing stories (and selfies) from your incredible vacation weeks after your cruise, you know you experienced The Norwegian Edge.

• • Exciting new entertainment venue, The Cavern Club, inspired by the famous Liverpool nightclub of the same name where The Beatles got their big break
• • A complete makeover of La Cucina to create a more authentic Italian atmosphere
• • Upgraded The Haven Courtyard, Lounge and Restaurant to introduce a more modern and clean design
• • Upgraded spaces for the whole family including Entourage, Splash Academy and the new SplashGolf in the Kids’ Aqua Park
• • New library and card room for guests to enjoy while on board
• • Refreshed décor, including new furniture and flooring in several restaurants, bars and lounges to elevate the ambiance as you sip, savor and cheers

HARVEST CAYE

In November, our newest cruise destination in southern Belize will be transformed into a 75-acre resort-style experience featuring an expansive pool, lagoon for water sports, private luxury cabanas and exclusive beach for our guests to discover.

GREAT STIRRUP CAY

We're enhancing our eco-fun paradise in the Bahamas with more of what our guests love: more beaches, more activities, and more places to relax and indulge.

Norwegian Gem, Refurbished November 2015

• • Renovated Bliss Ultra Lounge and introduced a new area for Casino games
  

• • Brand new photo gallery set up with new computer displays, furniture and a more open layout
  

• • Renovated The Haven Courtyard, Lounge and Restaurant to introduce a more modern and clean design
  

• • Refreshed décor, including new furniture and flooring in several restaurants, bars and lounges to elevate the ambiance as you sip, savor and cheers
  

• • Revamped The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck to include more shaded areas, cabanas and loungers

NCL~Dry Dock Schedule

Norwegian Ships	Dry Dock Schedule
Pride of America	Q1 2016
Norwegian Sun	Q2 2016
Norwegian Dawn	Q2 2016
Norwegian Spirit	Q1 2017
Norwegian Sky	Q1 2017
Norwegian Pearl	Q1 2017
Norwegian Jade	Q1 2017