Norwegian Escape to Extend Call in NYC to Avoid Hurricane Erin

The Norwegian Escape is extending its visit to New York City due to the impact of Hurricane Erin on the East Coast.

After repositioning from Miami, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship was scheduled to sail from its new homeport on Wednesday.

Initially set to offer a ten-night cruise to the Caribbean and Bermuda, the Escape is now set to remain in New York City for three days before operating a revised itinerary to the Bahamas and Bermuda.

“Due to the impact of Hurricane Erin and the severe weather it’s bringing to the East Coast, we’ve made the difficult decision to change the itinerary for Norwegian Escape’s August 20, 2025, sailing,” the company said in a statement sent to guests.

According to Norwegian Cruise Line, the change prioritises the safety and comfort of everyone onboard the ship.

“As a result, the Norwegian Escape will remain docked in New York until 5:00 PM on August 21, then anchor in the port before officially sailing at 11:59 PM on August 22, 2025,” the company added.

While the cruise’s original itinerary included visits to Puerto Plata, San Juan, St. Maarten, Tortola and King’s Wharf, the Norwegian Escape is now set to head to Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay and King’s Wharf after departing from New York City.

“We understand how disappointing it can be when a long-anticipated vacation is disrupted,” Norwegian added.

“We thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we navigate this situation with your safety and experience in mind.”

According to the statement, shore excursions booked through Norwegian will be automatically cancelled, with full refunds credited to onboard accounts.

Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line also changed the itineraries of the Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Aqua due to the impacts of Hurricane Erin.

 

Norwegian Cancels Most of Jade’s 25-26 Season, Redeploys Ship

Norwegian Cancels Most of Jade’s 25-26 Season, Redeploys Ship

After cancelling 38 cruises onboard three ships, Norwegian Cruise Line also informed guests booked on the Norwegian Jade that many sailings onboard the vessel will no longer go ahead.

In a statement, the company said that all sailings scheduled to depart between Oct. 18, 2025, and Feb. 16, 2026, are now cancelled.

The 2,400-guest ship was set to offer six- to 14-night cruises to the Panama Canal and the Caribbean during the timeframe.

Norwegian said that the cancellations are a result of a fleet redeployment, which will see the Norwegian Jade offering cruises from Southern California.

“The Norwegian Jade will be redeployed and will soon be offering seven-day round trip sailings from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera where guests can explore a blend of stunning coastal landscapes, rich cultural experiences, and unforgettable culinary delights,” the company said.

According to the statement, the ship’s new schedule on the West Coast will be available for booking soon.

A full monetary refund of the fare paid for the canceled cruise will be automatically returned to the original form of payment provided at the time of reservation, Norwegian added.

Reservations paid via a previously issued Future Cruise Credit (FCC) will see the credit returned to the guest.

Affected passengers will also receive a 10 per cent discount in the form of an FCC. The credit can be used towards any of Norwegian’s published sailings through Dec. 31, 2026.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this cancellation may cause,” Norwegian said.

Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line also cancelled the winter schedule of the Norwegian Dawn, the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Jewel.

While the Norwegian Dawn was scheduled to offer itineraries in Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Norwegian Star was set for a season in South America and Antarctica and the Norwegian Jewel was poised to offer itineraries to the Caribbean departing from Tampa.

Norwegian Cancels Nearly 40 Cruises Onboard Three Ships

Norwegian Cancels Nearly 40 Cruises Onboard Three Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line is cancelling a total of 38 cruises onboard three of its ships, according to a statement sent to travel advisors.

Sailing onboard the Norwegian Jewel, the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Dawn, the cruises were scheduled to take place between November 2025 and April 2026.

Cancelled cruises onboard the Norwegian Jewel include all the itineraries that were set to depart between Nov. 23, 2025, and April 5, 2026.

The ship was scheduled to offer a series of 16 five- to 14-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas departing from Tampa.

For the Norwegian Star, cancellations include the ship’s full season in South America and Antarctica, which featured 11 cruises between Nov. 20, 2025, and April 14, 2026.

Sailings onboard the Norwegian Dawn include all cruises previously scheduled to depart between Nov. 2, 2025, and April 12, 2026.

Sailing around Africa and then Asia, the ship was poised to offer 11 cruises during the timeframe, visiting ports in the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and more.

Replacement sailings have yet to be revealed.

According to Norwegian, guests are set to soon receive notification letters outlining the details of the deployment changes.

Affected passengers will receive a full monetary refund to the original form of payment provided at the time of reservation, the company added.

While commissions will be protected for all bookings paid in full, Norwegian will also offer guests a ten percent discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit (FCC).

Norwegian also cancelled sailings onboard the Norwegian Sun and the Norwegian Getaway.

Citing fleet redeployment, the company cancelled a 14-night cruise to the South Pacific onboard the Sun, which was scheduled to depart on Aug. 7, 2025.

Norwegian also cancelled the Aug. 17 and Aug. 21, 2026, cruises onboard the Norwegian Getaway due to a ship charter.

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.”

Norwegian Cancels Six Months of Jewel Sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that all scheduled Norwegian Jewel sailings from September 25, 2020, through February 27, 2021, have been cancelled.

Norwegian cited "a result of changes to the redeployment of our fleet," but did not elaborate on new plans for the Jewel in a statement sent to travel partners.

The ship was scheduled to sail Australia and New Zealand for the 2020-2021 winter season and could be moving closer to home into the North America market.

Norwegian Cancels Sun Alaska Program; Drops Prices On Other Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the Norwegian Sun's summer program, ranging from May 21 to October 18, has been cancelled, citing a fleet redeployment. The ship was poised to sail long itineraries to Alaska. 

Guests booked on Norwegian Sun departures from May 21 to August 12, 2020:will receive a refund in the form of a future cruise credit worth 125% of the fare paid, which will be valid for a period of one year and can be applied to any future published sailing through December 31, 2022. 

Guests booked on cruises from August 13 to October 18 will receive a 100% refund of the fare paid which will be reimbursed to the original form of payment. Additionally, guests who rebook their vacation by April 27, 2020, for any sailing beginning October 1, 2020, will receive a 20% discount off the voyage fare.

"In conjunction with the cancellation of the Norwegian Sun voyages to Alaska, you will notice we have reduced our rates for cruises in July, August and September across the three vessels that will continue to sail Alaska - Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Jewel," the company said, in a letter sent to travel partners. "We urge you to review the pricing on those dates, as you will likely find extremely favourable fares."

Ships still at sea are on cruises to nowhere

Norwegian Jewel.

It’s been five days since CLIA member lines declared a suspension of cruise operations due to the Covid-19 crisis, but several cruise ships are still at sea with passengers, and some are having trouble finding ports to disembark.

CLIA said that as of March 17, about 20% of ships were completing final itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel, currently on a 23-day Australia and French Polynesia itinerary, was supposed to disembark in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 20. Due to multiple port closures in the area, the ship is now scheduled to disembark in Honolulu on March 22.

Holland America Line’s Maasdam this week had to forego plans to dock at Hawaii Island because it has closed to cruise ship calls. The Maasdam does not have any known or suspected cases of coronavirus and now plans to disembark in Honolulu on March 20.

Holland America said the Zaandam had not been allowed to disembark in Punta Arenas, Chile, on March 16, so it left the port and headed for San Antonio, Chile, to pick up fuel and other supplies. The ship is not in quarantine and has no known or suspected cases of Covid-19, the company said. The ship had been on a 14-day sailing in South America scheduled to end March 21. Holland America said it does not currently know where it will disembark. 

Holland American Zaandam

The Amsterdam, currently sailing an around-the-world cruise that started on Jan. 4, was originally scheduled to end the sailing in Fort Lauderdale on May 12. It will now disembark in Fremantle, Australia, on March 21.

The fate of two Silversea ships is up in the air after passengers on both tested positive for Covid-19 on March 14.

Two guests on the Silver Shadow departed the ship for medical reasons in Recife, Brazil, one that subsequently tested positive for the virus; the other was negative, the company said in a statement.

Several guests onboard the Silver Explorer left the ship for medical reasons in Tortel and Castro, Chile, and later tested positive for Covid-19. Parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. declined to say how many passengers had tested positive.

“We are in continuous contact with the various government authorities relating to transport. This work continues,” the company said in a statement.

The cruise line said it has asked guests on both ships “to temporarily remain in their cabins in accordance with our medical isolation protocols.”

“On behalf of our guests, we are in close coordination with the governments and local health authorities to determine next best steps,” the company said.

ASTA CEO Zane Kerby criticized ports for turning away cruise ships.

“Over the course of the past few weeks, a disturbing and anti-humanitarian trend has emerged,” he said in a written statement. “Multiple cruise ships at sea have been denied entry to various ports around the world for fear that some aboard might have or spread the Covid-19 virus.”

The items in blue show where the cruise ships have anchored or on the way.

“While local governments have a responsibility to keep their citizens safe, human decency and common-sense solutions should take precedence during these times of crisis,” he said.

The British ship Braemar, operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has also had a harrowing journey over the last several days.

On March 10, one guest and four crew members tested positive for the virus. Later, one more guest who had originally gotten an inconclusive result was confirmed to be positive. As a result, the Braemar did not get clearance to disembark gusts in Barbados on March 12.

The ship spent three days in the Bahamas with 682 guests before Cuban authorities granted it permission to disembark in Havana and fly back to the United Kingdom.

The Braemar docked in Havana on Wednesday. Three flights were chartered from British Airways to fly guests to London Heathrow in the evening. 

Those who have coronavirus or have displayed flu-like symptoms along with their companions will return on a separate flight arriving at MoD Boscombe, an air force base in Wiltshire, England. Any guests not considered well enough to fly will receive medical treatment in Cuba. 

Fred. Olsen managing director Peter Deer thanked the Cuban government for allowing the ship to dock.

“Other countries would not allow Braemar to dock once we had confirmed cases of coronavirus onboard,” he said.

Norwegian Jewel Set for Sydney Debut After Refit

Norwegian Jewel Set for Sydney Debut After Refit

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced the completion of the refurbishment of Norwegian Jewel as part of The Norwegian Edge program.

Following a two-week drydock in Singapore the Norwegian Jewel will debut in Sydney, Australia on Saturday, Dec. 1, showcasing refreshed venues, updated spaces, premier entertainment and redesigned staterooms, the company said.

The ship will spend her winter 2018 and spring 2019 seasons cruising from Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore, before joining Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy in Alaska for the summer.

“Norwegian Jewel’s complete renovation showcases our dedication to providing guests with quality experiences across the fleet and around the world,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“Not only are we revealing updated designs and accommodations throughout the ship, but guests will also enjoy new venues and three incredibly exciting shows, one of which premieres for the first time on Norwegian Jewel.”

The Norwegian Jewel will feature two new shows – “Rock You Tonight,” and ship exclusive “Velvet." The Australian musical “Velvet" makes its debut at sea with disco classics, a combination of circus acrobatics, cabaret and burlesque elements, and features the talented Brenda Edwards of “X Factor UK” as the lead, with “The Voice” finalist, Frenchie Davis to follow. 

Nearly all dining, bar and lounge offerings on Norwegian Jewel were updated, and two new venues were opened – The Pit Stop and Bliss Ultra Lounge, replacing the Sky High Bar and FYZZ Cabaret Lounge, the company said. Drawing inspiration from the 1950’s, The Pit Stop is an all-American bar retrofitted with vintage license plates, gas station signage and other classic car elements of the era. The Bliss Ultra Lounge offers late-night entertainment in a modern and upscale setting, with more intimate seating options now available.

All 1,188 staterooms were upgraded with new televisions and USB outlets, as well as new carpet, artwork and furniture. The Haven by Norwegian received updates to the courtyard, additional cabanas on the sun deck and new finishes, carpets, tiles, drapes, artwork and furniture for all suites and villas. The ship also now has two new Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suites, at nearly 1,200 square feet and featuring large, 567-square-foot balconies, two private jacuzzies and accommodates up to four guests. 

The Atrium has also been revitalized with an entirely refreshed look centred around a custom-design chandelier and includes updated flooring, refurbished reception and shore excursion desk areas, the addition of relaxed banquette seating and a large TV screen.

Hong Kong Opening Up Bigger Cruise Source Markets

Major development projects will help make it easy for cruise guests to get to their ships at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong.

New rail, bridge and road links will better connect Hong Kong with mainland China.

“The high-speed rail will bring 270 million people within a four-hour ride of Hong Kong, and will also allow pre- and post-tours to major attractions like Guilin,” said Jeff Bent, managing director, Worldwide Cruise Terminals, which runs Kai Tak.

In addition, the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge will open up more opportunities in conjunction with a cruise trip.

In June the port celebrated a major milestone as it marked a passenger record with 15,307 guests in a single day as the World Dream and Ovation of the Seas both docked, coinciding with the modern facility’s fifth year anniversary of being in operation.            

That came just after a busy month of March, with six inaugural calls which saw the Viking Sun, Star Legend, Silver Discoverer, Columbus, Norwegian Jewel and Queen Elizabeth tie up at Kai Tak.

Traffic at Kai Tak will be slightly down year-over-year, with headwinds in North Asia, Bent said.

“South China has benefited from both a more diverse and sustainable distribution model, and increased attention to the Philippines’ newly-rediscovered port-of-call destinations for locally-based ships,” he said.

Near the terminal in Hong Kong, more land is set to be developed as road and other infrastructure improvements are expected to be conducted in the next year.

“Hong Kong has already met the government’s goals for passenger throughput in 2023,” Bent said, noting the just under one-million cruise guests the city served in 2017.

“For significant growth to happen, we need to help make the source market pie bigger. China has been the world’s largest outbound travel market for a number of years, but penetration for cruise is still only a fraction of a per cent. The better we grow the Chinese source market, the more the entire world will benefit.”

Norwegian Jewel Makes Inaugural Call in Shanghai

The Norwegian Jewel made its inaugural visit to Shanghai on March 24, docking at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal.

It also marked the first time the port hosted three ships.

Port officials and local government leaders welcomed the ship’s officers, with a traditional plaque ceremony taking place on the bridge.

The 2005-built ship sails in Alaska this coming summer. 

Norwegian Jewel to Return to Australia

Norwegian Jewel to Return to Australia

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened bookings for the line's 2018/2019 Australia and New Zealand cruises aboard Norwegian Jewel, the ship's second season in Australia and New Zealand.

Following an expansive refurbishment, the Norwegian Jewel will spend a second season down under cruising a set of itineraries taking in the "best of Australia" including Melbourne, Cairns, Hobart; and New Zealand including Milford Sound, Wellington and Tauranga, as well as itineraries to the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, and a transpacific voyage from Vancouver to Tokyo (Yokohama).

In late October 2018, Norwegian Jewel will undergo a three-week dry dock in Singapore, as part of the Norwegian Edge multi-million-dollar revitalization program.

"Norwegian Jewel’s Australia and New Zealand sailings have received a great deal of anticipation and excitement from guests both locally and internationally,” said Andy Stuart president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “The region is a bucket-list destination for many of our guests with a warm culture, lush lands, sandy beaches, action-packed adventure and more. We are thrilled to be returning to this dream destination with the iconic Norwegian Jewel looking as if she were a brand new ship.”

Norwegian Cruise Line honoured

Norwegian Cruise Line honoured once again as “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian is named “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” for the fourth consecutive year and recognized for “World’s Leading Cruise Line Website”

Wiesbaden, December 14, 2015 –Norwegian Cruise Line has once again been named the “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards, marking the fourth consecutive year that the company has been honored with this accolade. In addition, Norwegian won the award for the “World’s Leading Cruise Line Website.”

The awards were presented to Norwegian Cruise Line at the 22st annual World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala, held on December 12, 2015 in El Jadida, Morocco. The annual awards are voted on by thousands of travel and tourism professionals from across the globe and honour travel companies that provide outstanding products and customer service.

In addition to the award for top large ship cruise line worldwide, earlier this year Norwegian Cruise Line was also recognized by the World Travel Awards as “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the eighth consecutive year as well as the “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” for the third consecutive year.

“We are overjoyed to once again be honoured as a worldwide leader in the travel industry, and we thank all of the many travel partners, industry professionals and guests who voted for us,” said Andy Stuart, President and Chief Operating Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are very proud of this incredible achievement, which is a testament to our commitment to excellence across our fleet and our hard-working crew’s dedication to providing our guests with an outstanding holiday experience.”

Norwegian’s fourteen Freestyle Cruising vessels sail a variety of exciting itineraries, from the Caribbean to Panama Canal, South America and Mexican Riviera. The line’s newest ships, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Getaway, cruise the Caribbean year-round from Miami. In addition, Norwegian has six vessels sailing the Caribbean and the Bahamas from convenient locations including New York, Tampa, Port Canaveral (Orlando), New Orleans and Houston. Norwegian Sun is currently sailing alternating 14-night itineraries in South America, while is sailing 7-night itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, Norwegian Epic is sailing the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands from Barcelona this winter, and Pride of America sails weekly inter-island Hawai’i cruises that offer 100 hours of port time.

The World Travel Awards has been recognizing and acknowledging excellence amongst companies involved in the global travel and tourism industries since 1993, and has set high standards for all of their participants.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is an internationally operating cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida with three offices in Wiesbaden, Malta and Southampton overseeing operations in Europe.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 49-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to explore the world on one of 14 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, resort style cruise holiday on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. In September 2015, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the eighth consecutive year, as well as in October 2015, for the third consecutive year, “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards. In addition the company has received the World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” from 2012 to 2015.

The Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the 4.200-passenger Norwegian Escape in October 2015 and has three further 4.200-passenger vessels on order at Meyer Werft with delivery in the spring of 2017, 2018 and autumn of 2019.

Norwegian Star to sail Asia and Australia cruises

Norwegian Star in Cabo San Lucas.

By Jerry Limone 

Norwegian Cruise Line will sail to destinations in Asia and Australia for the first time since 2002, operating voyages from six ports in fall/winter 2016-17 on the Norwegian Star.

Itineraries will depart from Istanbul, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand. Highlights include the line’s first visits to India and the Persian Gulf, a series of Southeast Asia cruises and two Australia/New Zealand voyages (one 12-day and one 19-day cruise). The Southeast Asia cruises feature overnight stays in Bangkok.

Also in winter 2016-17, the Norwegian Epic will return to Florida after more than a year in Europe, sailing eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral. The Norwegian Jade will replace Norwegian Star in Tampa, mainly sailing an itinerary that visits the Mexican Caribbean; Roatan in Honduras’ Bay Islands; and Harvest Caye, Norwegian’s new private destination in Belize.

Starting next summer, the Norwegian Spirit will replace the Epic as the line’s year-round European ship, sailing Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Venice and Istanbul.

In addition to Norwegian’s previously scheduled Panama Canal cruises in February, the line has added two 14-day Panama Canal sailings from Los Angeles and Miami on the Norwegian Jewel, on Feb. 5, 2017, and Feb. 19, 2017. The Caribbean cruises go on sale Aug. 24.

Caribbean sailings for fall/winter 2016-17 will go on sale Aug. 19, and all other destinations go on sale Aug. 24.

Norwegian Jewel first big ship for new port in Honduras

By Tom Stieghorst

Several new cruise ports have sprung up south of the traditional ports of call in the Western Caribbean, bringing that area onto more cruise itineraries, especially from homeports in Texas and Louisiana.

The latest entrant is Banana Coast, which welcomed its first large ship when the Norwegian Jewel called on Oct. 15. Situated in the port town of Trujillo, it is the first cruise port on the mainland of Honduras.

Two other Honduran cruise ports, Coxen Hole and Mahogany Bay, opened in 2008 and 2010, respectively, on the island of Roatan, about 30 miles offshore of the country’s north coast.

Honduran dignitaries turned out to greet the 2,376-passenger Jewel on arrival last week. Six lines are expected to make 29 calls from now until April 20.

They are expected to bring more than 50,000 passengers to the port, said Randy Jorgensen, general manager of Grande Trujillo Autoridad, developer of the 10-acre property.

The Jewel’s Oct. 12 departure from Houston marked Norwegian Cruise Line’s return to that port after seven years away. Banana Coast will be a regular stop on itineraries that also include Cozumel and Belize City.

“It’s key to attract a cruise line of Norwegian’s size and prestige,” Jorgensen said. “It’s extremely powerful in terms of opening the doors to get things done.”

Other lines expected to call this year are Holland America Line, Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, P&O Cruises and Crystal Cruises, Jorgensen said.

Banana Coast was announced in 2011. It opened even though a $35 million pier envisioned as part of the project has not been built. The port has a beach and a shopping village, which includes about half of the 50,000 square feet in original plans.

Jorgensen said further development hinges on attracting more passengers, “when we start getting higher volumes or an actual need for the dock.”

One factor that clouds future plans is the announcement by Norwegian Cruise Line that it plans its own port in the area on Harvest Caye in southern Belize, about 75 miles away.

Jorgensen said 20 to 30 calls are booked for 2015-16, even without Norwegian. “If Norwegian continues to have confidence in us, we’ll probably get another 20 to 30 calls from them, I would think.”

Jorgensen said he believes cruise passengers will want to come to Banana Coast because it is fresh and authentic. The town of Trujillo is a short walk and is rich with Spanish colonial history, he said.

“We haven’t tried to duplicate southern Florida,” he said. “We’ve kept the local culture and the local institutions in place so they can be part of the experience for the passengers.”

Excursions from Banana Coast include horseback riding, kayaking through a wildlife preserve, tours of an animal rescue center focused on scarlet macaws and a snorkel tour of a starfish bay. The project has about 200 direct employees, Jorgensen said.

Grande Trujillo Autoridad includes Jorgensen’s real estate company in Honduras, Life Vision Development, Canadian equity investors and the municipality of Trujillo, which owns 20%. Miami-based Global Destinations Development, headed by Michael Greve, is a development partner.

Scrubbers planned for six more Norwegian ships

Scrubbers planned for six more Norwegian ships

Norwegian Cruise Line sought to restate its commitment to environmental protection this month with the announcement that it will be bringing scrubbers to six more of its ships.

The cruise line's newest ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, have already been fitted with innovative environmental systems, including ballast water treatment and waste fuel oil recycling.

However, it has also committed to bringing green technologies to the rest of its fleet, in order to meet the demanding emissions targets that are coming into effect for the North American cruise industry in the near future.

To this end, it will fit 28 scrubbers, which help to remove sulfur from the ship's emissions, on the Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Sun.

In addition to these efforts, Norwegian Cruise Line is also looking at ways to improve the protection of the ocean through more sustainable environmental practices as part of its Eco-Smart Cruising programme.

This extends to rubbish and waste recycling, and any other way that can be identified to minimise the operational impact of its ships on the environment. Last year, the programme reached the following recycling milestones:
- 1,245 tons of cardboard, saving 23,500 trees and enough for 292 million newspapers
- 2,517 tons of scrap metal
- 2,988 tons of glass
- 669 tons of glass