Norwegian Cruise Line has officially commemorated its long-awaited return to the sea with a double debut: the Norwegian Jade has not only been the first of its fleet of 17 ships to receive guests after 500 days of suspension, but has also made NCL history as the first ship based in Athens (Piraeus).
Through November 2021, guests sailing aboard the Norwegian Jade's immersive Greek Islands itinerary will wake up in a new destination every day and can spend eight to nine hours exploring some of Greece's most picturesque islands, including luxurious Crete, bustling Mykonos, historic Rhodes, and iconic Santorini.
“Welcoming our guests and crew aboard has been one of the most memorable moments of my 30-plus-year career,” said Harry Sommer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are thrilled to embark on the grand return of cruising with an all-new itinerary and homeport for our company, offering our guests an even wider selection of unique vacations at sea.”.
“We are delighted to welcome the Norwegian Jade and its guests to Greece. The planned itineraries will offer unique experiences that combine our rich history, vibrant culture, and renowned cuisine,” said Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis.
The deployment of the Norwegian Jade to Athens is part of a long-term strategy to further increase NCL's presence in Europe, one of the line's most popular cruise destinations. By 2023, the company plans to have nine ships based in the region, with the Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Gem, Jade, and Star all scheduled to sail to Greece.
“Norwegian Jade’s first voyages to the Greek islands sold out shortly after we announced our return to the sea,” Sommer added. “With such strong demand, we are pleased to expand our offering in Greece with seven ships through 2023, giving our guests a range of ships and innovative itineraries to choose from.”.
The Norwegian Jade is the first ship to resume sailings as part of the company’s efforts to return to the sea. On August 7, 2021, the Norwegian Encore will be the first ship to return to service from the U.S., debuting in Seattle for its inaugural Alaskan cruise season. The fleet-wide redeployment will continue in partnership with local governments and will be guided by the company’s robust Sail Safe health and safety protocols, a cornerstone of which is that all crew and guests must be fully vaccinated to embark on sailings through October 31, 2021. In collaboration with leading experts from the Sail Safe Global Health and Wellness Council, the protocols will be regularly evaluated and modified as needed, with science-based decisions to protect guests, crew, and the destinations visited.
Peace of Mind Cruise Line's cancellation policy remains in effect for voyages with embarkation dates through October 31, 2021. Guests who have booked these voyages have the flexibility to cancel their cruise 15 days prior to departure and receive a full refund in the form of a credit that can be applied to any voyage through December 31, 2022.
