Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has unveiled its new 2019-2021 catalog featuring new ships and itineraries. Starting this year, it offers even more flexibility and freedom onboard with the Free at Sea program. For just €99 for a 7-day cruise, guests can upgrade and choose any two of the following options: Beverage Package; Specialty Dining Package; Wi-Fi Package; $50 Shore Excursion Credit per cabin and port; and Friends & Family: The third and fourth guests on a Free at Sea booking pay only the cruise tax, instead of the regular cruise fare.
Looking for something exotic? The South Seas, Madagascar, or the Seychelles are just a click away
If you're looking for something different from the usual, NCL offers even more routes to exotic destinations. In addition to popular destinations in Australia and New Zealand, the company offers exotic South Seas itineraries aboard the Norwegian Joy during the winter. In March 2020, an extraordinary cruise will depart aboard the recently refurbished Norwegian Spirit, which has undergone a multimillion-dollar bow-to-stern refurbishment. The cruise will depart from Dubai, stopping at some of the most iconic destinations in the Indian Ocean, such as the Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion, or along the South African coast to Cape Town. From there, the cruise will continue through the Indian Ocean islands to Southeast Asia over 24 days.
The Great Wall of China on the horizon
Similar routes will be available in spring 2021 aboard the Norwegian Dawn. Beginning in May, the Norwegian Spirit will sail from Tokyo and Hong Kong on 8- to 16-day itineraries with stops in Shanghai and Beijing, Osaka, Okinawa, Fuji/Shimizu, Sapporo and Taipei/Keelung in Taiwan, and Seoul and Busan in South Korea, among others. During these unique itineraries, guests will have the opportunity to witness the historic Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, the Great Wall of China, or the Forbidden City. From May 9 to December 7, 2020, it will sail 9- to 15-day voyages showcasing the best of the region, including five new ports of call for the company. These new ports are Beppu, Kumamoto, Niigata, and Nagoya, Japan; and Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan.
New routes for new ships
The newest ship in the fleet, the Norwegian Bliss, will sail from Seattle to Alaska through at least 2021 during the summer months. Due to high demand for the destination, NCL is also positioning other ships in the region. For example, in 2019 and 2020, the Norwegian Joy, which currently operates in the Western market, will support its sister ship in Alaska. Starting in 2021, the newest ship in the fleet, the Norwegian Encore, will also be serving this incredible destination. The third ship in the Alaskan fleet for the next few years remains the Norwegian Jewel, offering seven-day itineraries from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska, in Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage. For those wishing to stay in the region for more than a week, ten- or eleven-day Alaskan cruises are available on the Norwegian Sun starting in 2020. After a three-year hiatus from the region, the ship returns on May 21, 2020, joining the Norwegian Bliss, Joy, and Jewel. It will offer the most extensive itineraries, with voyages of nine to 11 days from Seattle, calling at Sitka, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Holkham Bay, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. In April 2018, the Norwegian Sun underwent a three-week bow-to-stern refurbishment as part of The Norwegian Edge® program, the company's commitment to raising the bar of excellence across its fleet. Improvements were made to every aspect of the onboard experience. The ship now features renovated staterooms and public spaces, and three new venues, including Los Lobos Cantina, Bliss Ultra Lounge, and Spinnaker Lounge.
A tour of the best of the Baltic: The Norwegian Getaway returns to Europe
A total of six ships will be in Europe during the summers of 2019 and 2020. In addition to the Norwegian Getaway, currently sailing from Copenhagen in the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Escape is returning to Europe and will operate, among other routes, the 2020 and 2021 Baltic Sea itineraries. Sailings in the Mediterranean for the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Dawn are already available for summer 2021.
And the Norwegian Jade too
Beginning September 8, 2020, the Norwegian Jade will offer a variety of 10- to 11-day Greek Island, Italy, and Mediterranean cruises departing from or returning to Barcelona, Spain; Venice, Italy; and Athens (Piraeus), Greece, the company's first-ever port of call. These intensive itineraries offer guests two different ports to explore and the opportunity to discover a new destination each day with stops in Monte Carlo, Monaco; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Messina, Italy; Olympia (Katakolon), Santorini, Rhodes, and Mykonos, Greece; and Kusadasi, Turkey.
