Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its 2011/12 winter/ spring deployment which includes two new seasonal homeports, including a new base in Europe, and a return to Israel for the first time since 1999.

Norwegian Cruise Line will sail from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, for the first time, offering 11-night Mediterranean and Holy Land cruises along with 10-night Eastern Mediterranean sailings on board Norwegian Jade from 15 October 2011 to 11 April 2012.

Norwegian Cruise Line will also offer cruises from Tampa, Florida on board Norwegian Star, sailing a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary beginning 16 October 2011 through to 8 April 2012.  Guests sailing out of Tampa can use this an ideal opportunity to combine with a land based break in Florida.

Norwegian Epic, NCL’s largest and most innovative ship to date, will return to the Caribbean to sail seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas with three full days at sea to enjoy all of the ship’s amenities and world-class entertainment.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica, has been added as a port of call for Norwegian Pearl’s seven-night Western Caribbean cruise from Miami and Norwegian Dawn will offer 10 and 11-night Southern Caribbean escapes, visiting ports popular with the British market such as the British Virgin Isles, St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbados.

“With the addition of Rome and Tampa as homeports for our 2011/2012 winter/spring cruise season, customers can enjoy winter sun from the moment their holiday begins, and both homeports are excellent for combining with land based stays” says Stephen Park, General Manager, NCL UK. “We are looking forward to returning to Israel for the first time since 1999.  It’s a stunning country to visit, and the addition means that customers sailing on Norwegian Jade will visit five countries in just 11 days.”

UK guests and travel agents will be able to pre-register their interest in winter / spring 2011 / 2012 sailings by visiting http://www.ncl.co.uk/itinerary/advance_reg.html and a Norwegian Cruise Line representative will contact them once more details are available.  

Highlights of Norwegian Cruise Line’s winter / spring 2011 / 2012 deployment include:

Europe
- Norwegian Jade’s 11-night Mediterranean and Holy Land itinerary offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Alanya, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus; Haifa and Ashdod, Israel; Port Said and Alexandria, Egypt, along with four relaxing days at sea.  Featured shore excursions include overnight tours in Israel to Jerusalem, Galilee, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, the Dead Sea and Masada, as well as in Egypt to Cairo’s pyramids and tombs.
- Norwegian Jade’s 10-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) includes the following ports: Olympia (Katakolon) and Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; and an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt, offering two full days to experience all of the ancient treasures.

Caribbean
- Norwegian Star’s seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa will depart on Sundays and include stops in Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; along with two days at sea.
- From Miami, Norwegian Cruise Line will feature its largest and most innovative ship to date, Norwegian Epic, sailing seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas with three full days at sea to enjoy all of the ship’s amenities and world-class entertainment.
- Norwegian Pearl will return to Miami from 16 October 2011 to 8 April 2012, sailing seven-night Western Caribbean cruises with stops in Great Stirrup Cay; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico, along with two days at sea.
- Norwegian Dawn’s 11-night Southern Caribbean cruise includes Samana, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Basseterre, St. Kitts; and three days at sea.

Hawaii
- Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawaii’s main islands.  Pride of America’s seven-night Hawaii inter-island cruises departing from Honolulu are now available through April 7, 2012.  Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; an evening sail by the Kilauea Volcano; Kona, Hawaii; an overnight in Nawiliwili, Kauai; and an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Napali Coast.

Canada & New England
- Norwegian Jewel will sail four seven-night sailings from New York City to Canada & New England from September 17 through October 8, 2011.  Ports of call include Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick; and Portland, Maine.

Repositioning Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line’s repositioning cruises are a great way to visit several cruise regions on one trip and include more sea days offering a relaxing break without back-to-back port calls.
- Norwegian Jade offers a 15-night Best of the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Venice and a seven-night Adriatic & Italy from Venice to Rome.
- Norwegian Pearl offers two 14-night Panama Canal cruises from Miami to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Miami; a seven-night British Columbia & US West Coast from Los Angeles to Vancouver and a five-night Pacific Coastal from Vancouver to Los Angeles.