The cruise line NCL will place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in Europe beginning in March 2008. This is the response to the positive reaction of European consumers in respect to the innovative…
The cruise line NCL will place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in Europe beginning in March 2008. This is the response to the positive reaction of European consumers in respect to the innovative Freestyle Cruising concept of the cruise line.
Offering NCL’s largest and most varied European deployment ever, the company prepares for further growth on the Continental European market in 2008. The new-built Norwegian Gem will offer an extended season in the Western Mediterranean with cruises from/to Barcelona while Norwegian Jewel will be the first modern NCL cruise resort (built in 2005) to sail the Baltic Sea.
Additionally, Pride of Hawai’i will be re-flagged into Bahamas registry and re-named Norwegian Jade after a short wet dock in Honolulu in February 2008 and will join her sister ships in Europe. Innovations of the cruise calendar 2008 include cruises towards Norway, up to the North Cape and around the British Isles.
“After continuous growth in Continental Europe over the last few years and with a raise in passengers of 70 percent in 2006, we look forward to offering Freestyle Cruising “par excellence” on board three new vessels along with an extended season in Europe in 2008”, says Michael Zengerle, General Manager NCL Continental Europe. “In particular, Freestyle Cruising gives our guests the freedom and flexibility to explore and make the most of the culture-rich European destinations without worrying about returning to ship for a set dining time.”
Norwegian Gem, NCL’s newest ship which will already sail in Europe this season on eight inaugural cruises as of October 2007, will arrive back in Europe in early May 2008, after her winter season in New York. The new cruise resort will then sail seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Barcelona. Instead of ten departures like in the season 2007, the cruises will take place on 28 departure dates between May and November 9, 2008. The itinerary includes stops in Valetta (Malta), Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome), and Livorno (Florence, Pisa) in Italy as well as Villefranche (Nice) in France.
Returning for her third season in Europe in early May, Norwegian Jewel will replace the smaller Norwegian Dream and thus increase the cruise line’s capacity along the Baltic Capitals by 35 percent. As the first modern NCL vessel to be deployed from/to Dover, Norwegian Jewel will run twelve-night itineraries from May 5 through August 23 with stops in Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemunde (Berlin/Germany), Tallinn (Estonia), two days in St. Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland) and Stockholm (Sweden). Moreover, the ship will offer a two-night sampler cruise from/to Dover (England) on August 9 and a final 13-night sailing departing on September 4 with an additional stop in Oslo (Norway).
Norwegian Jade will be the first NCL cruise ship to arrive in Europe at the end of March 2008, staying through the end of November. On her main routes, the vessel will sail a mix of twelve-, 13- and 14-night Eastern and Western Mediterranean itineraries, beginning with a number of twelve-night cruises departing from Barcelona (Spain), Istanbul (Turkey) and Piraeus (Athens/Greece) with a variety of ports including Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, and Venice in Italy, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Ephesus (Turkey), Mykonos, Santorini, Iraklion (Crete), Corfu and Katakolon in Greece and Alexandria (Egypt).
Norwegian Jade will then reposition from her spring Mediterranean base to Southampton (England) for a series of cruises to the Mediterranean, North Cape, Western Europe and British Isles. The 14-night Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Southampton include stops in Malaga and an overnight in Barcelona (Spain), Villefranche (Nice/France), Livorno (Florence and Pisa) as well as Civitavecchia (Rome) in Italy, Gibraltar (England), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo (Spain).
Norwegian Jade’s twelve-night North Cape itinerary roundtrip from Southampton will cruise the North Sea with several stops in Norway, cross the Arctic Circle and cruise by the Svartisen Glacier. The ship’s 13-night Around the British Isles and Northern Europe itinerary roundtrip from Southampton will visit France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Two 13-night Western Europe itineraries will depart from Southampton to Barcelona or Barcelona to Southampton and visit Villefranche (Nice/France) Livorno (Florence and Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples and Cagliari (Sardinia) in Italy, Malaga (Spain), Gibraltar (England), Cadiz (Seville/Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo in Spain.
Pride of Hawai’i becomes Norwegian Jade
Pride of Hawai`i will continue her seven-night roundtrip Honolulu cruises through to January 28, 2008. The ship will enter wet dock on February 6, 2008 where she will receive modifications including the addition of a casino and new hull artwork. The ship will be re-named Norwegian Jade and will be showcased during inaugural events in both Los Angeles and Miami. After a series of repositioning cruises, the ship will arrive in Barcelona for her first twelve-night cruise beginning on March 30, 2008.
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