Madrid, July 18, 2018 – Norwegian Cruise Line has announced enhancements to its main 2019 and 2020 itineraries to meet strong demand for its most popular destinations. Continuing its commitment to the European market, the cruise line will deploy six ships on the continent (up from its current five) with the arrival of the Norwegian Pearl. Starting in 2019, the Pearl will offer new and varied itineraries from Amsterdam, a strategic port providing easy access to the city center and Europe's third largest and fastest-growing airport. This 2,400-passenger ship will also offer a variety of Mediterranean cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, and Venice.
The arrival of this ship in European waters reinforces Norwegian Cruise Line's presence in Europe, where the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Spirit already sail. According to Kevin Bubolz, Managing Director for Europe at Norwegian Cruise Line, “The arrival of the Norwegian Pearl to this continent in the 2019-2020 season clearly reflects the company's commitment to the European market. We are delighted to be able to offer such a wide range of itineraries in this region.”.
In April 2019, the Norwegian Joy will depart from Seattle to offer seven-day Alaskan, replacing the Norwegian Pearl as the company's third ship to cruise the region, joining the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Jewel. Prior to its arrival in Seattle, the Norwegian Joy will undergo approximately $50 million in upgrades to bring its facilities up to par with its sister ship, the Norwegian Bliss, currently the newest in the fleet. To complement the Norwegian Bliss's itineraries and provide guests with more opportunities to explore and experience Alaska's natural beauty, the Norwegian Joy will sail a variety of Alaskan itineraries, including visits to Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Holkham Bay, and Icy Strait Point, renowned for their pristine wilderness, rich culture, and fresh seafood. The ship will also call at Victoria, British Columbia.
In this regard, Andy Stuart, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, commented that “Norwegian Cruise Line expanded the Alaskan cruising experience as the first line to sail to the state from Seattle more than 24 years ago.”.
The new Norwegian Joy itineraries will be available for purchase starting July 24, 2018 at www.ncl.com.
The Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Jade strengthen NCL's presence in Asia and Australia
The Norwegian Joy's seasonal cruises from Los Angeles in winter 2019/2020 will allow the Norwegian Jewel, which is due for a refurbishment next fall, to return to Australia/New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific for a third year to operate seasonal cruises from Honolulu, Papeete, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo (Yokohama).
To strengthen the cruise line's presence in Asia, the Norwegian Jade will offer a season of cruises throughout Southeast Asia, departing from Singapore and Hong Kong in the winter of 2019/2020. Key ports of call include popular destinations such as Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), and Ha Long Bay. In addition, this 2,400-passenger ship will also sail several unique itineraries through the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean, with stops in Greece, Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
The deployment of the Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Jade in this region aims to take full advantage of Australia's booming source market, as it is the world's largest cruise market and a top-tier tourist destination.
On the other hand, Norwegian Cruise Line will maintain its commitment to serving the Chinese cruise market and, starting in the summer of 2020, will bring the Norwegian Spirit, a ship with a capacity of over 2,000 passengers, to its waters. Before its arrival in the Asian country, the Norwegian Spirit will undergo a bow-to-stern refurbishment, thanks to the Norwegian Edge® program. In February 2020, its voyage from Europe to Asia will feature several exclusive departures from South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives.
The new itineraries for the Norwegian Pearl, Jewel, and Jade will be available for purchase at www.ncl.com starting July 31, 2018, while those for the Norwegian Spirit will be available starting August 6 of this year.
“The booming demand environment in our core markets around the world, coupled with the record-breaking performance of Norwegian Bliss, continues to exceed our expectations,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “As a result, we are leveraging the strategic benefits of our growing fleet to capitalize on significant opportunities in unserved and underserved markets to meet our customers’ demands globally and generate greater returns for our shareholders,” he concluded.
