Wiesbaden – Norwegian Cruise Line announced that its newest and largest ship to date, Norwegian Escape, will homeport year-round at PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world, sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Along with the previously announced move of Norwegian Epic sailing year-round from Barcelona, the line’s 2015/16 winter deployment includes its return to South America cruises, a larger Jewel-class ship sailing to the Mexican Riviera, as well as the addition of Port Canaveral, Florida as a seasonal homeport.
“Norwegian Escape’s arrival to Miami coincides with Norwegian Epic’s year-round Europe deployment, demonstrating the balanced approach we used to develop our winter 2015/16 deployment and ensuring that we had a varied offering of premium destinations that would be exciting to our guests,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “Much of this deployment was designed based on feedback from our guests and travel partners, and we know they will be happy with the changes and enhancements we have made.”
Norwegian Escape
Norwegian’s newest and largest ship to date Norwegian Escape, at approximately 163,000 gross tonnes and 4,200 passenger berths, will join the fleet in October 2015. Beginning 14 November 2015, Norwegian Escape will offer seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailings from her year-round home port of Miami cruising to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship will boast all of the exciting and innovative features found on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences that are yet to be announced.
“PortMiami looks forward to welcoming Norwegian Escape in 2015 - the ship will be a fabulous addition to our fleet,” said PortMiami Director Bill Johnson. “We are thrilled that this impressive vessel will make her debut at PortMiami - the Cruise Capital of the World - and will be the third Norwegian Cruise Line ship to homeport here year round.”
Europe
As previously announced, the 4,000 passenger Norwegian Epic will offer Europe itineraries from her new year-round homeport of Barcelona, Spain. From 29 November 2015 until 7 April 2016, Norwegian Epic will set sail from Barcelona on 10-night Canary Islands & Morocco itineraries, and 10, 11- or 12-night Western Mediterranean itineraries.
Caribbean
Miami’s Ultimate Ship, Norwegian Getaway, will continue to sail year round from Miami on a new seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary departing weekly starting 15 November 2015. Ports of call include Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Guests cruising to the Caribbean from the Big Apple can cruise on board Norwegian Breakaway or Norwegian Gem. Norwegian Breakaway, the ship that brings the best of NYC to sea, will return to the Southern Caribbean during the autumn and winter offering four 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries: 29 November 2015; and 3, 17 and 31January 2016. Ports of call on this sun-drenched itinerary include: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Norwegian Gem will offer 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruises from New York from 10 October 2015 until 11 April 2016, cruising to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. This new itinerary provides a full day in San Juan, Puerto Rico, giving guests more time to explore this flavorful island or experience its world famous El Yunque rainforest.
Cruising from Tampa, Norwegian Star will offer one six-night Western Caribbean Sailing on 19 October 2015 followed by a series of seven-night Western Caribbean cruises until 10 April 2016. Norwegian Star will be the first ship in Norwegian’s fleet to visit the line’s new destination in Belize: Harvest Caye. In addition, Norwegian Star will visit ports of call includingRoatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Cruisers looking to depart from New Orleans can sail on one of Norwegian Dawn’s seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries. Departing weekly from 15 November 2015 until 24 April 2016, Norwegian Dawn will visit tropical ports of call including Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Norwegian’s all new destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.
Norwegian Jade repositions from Europe to Houston, Texas and will sail seven-night Western Caribbean cruises. From 14 November 2015 until 9 April 2016, guests will have the opportunity to visit Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Norwegian’s brand new destination, Harvest Caye, Belize.
Also returning to the Caribbean from Europe, Norwegian Spirit will offer alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral weekly from 21 November 2015 until 16 April 2016. Norwegian Spirit’s Eastern Caribbean itinerary visits Nassau, Bahamas; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The ship’s Western Caribbean itinerary will include stops in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.
South America
Norwegian Sun will return to South America for the first time since 2010, sailing South American voyages between Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina from November 2015 to April 2016. Ports of call include Puerto Montt, Chile; Puerto Chacabuco, Chile; Punta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay. Guests on board will also enjoy a scenic cruise through the Chilean Fjords, Strait of Magellan and around Cape Horn.
Panama Canal
Guests who would like to experience the Panama Canal without disembarking in a different port will have the opportunity to embark on a round-trip Panama Canal voyage from Miami on board Norwegian Pearl. Offering alternating 10- and 11-night Panama Canal cruises from 9 November 2015 until 1 January 2016 and 18 March 2016 until 8 April 2016, guests will visitOranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Colón, Panama; and Puerto Limón, Costa Rica.
Norwegian Pearl will also offer a 17-night Panama Canal voyage from San Francisco to Miami on October 1, 2015. Ports of call include Los Angeles, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Colombia.
Norwegian Jewel will offer two 15-night Panama Canal voyages from Los Angeles to Miami on 3 January and 31 January 2016 and two 13-night Panama Canal voyages from Miami to Los Angeles on 18 January and 16 February 2016. Ports of call on the 15-night itinerary include Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; daylight transit of the Panama Canal; Cartagena, Colombia and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Guests cruising on the 13-night itinerary will visit Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; daylight transit of the Panama Canal; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Mexican Riviera
For the first time, Norwegian will base a Jewel-class ship in Los Angeles for the winter season. Norwegian Jewel will sail 22 seven-night Mexican Riviera itineraries from 4 October 2015 until 24 April 2016, visiting ports of call including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Norwegian Sun will also offer three 11-night Mexican Riviera sailings in October 2015 from San Diego, California. Ports of call include Manzanillo, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Mazatlan, Mexico; Pichilingue (La Paz), Mexico; an overnight in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Ensenada, Mexico.
Bahamas and Florida
Norwegian Breakaway will offer seven-night Bahamas & Florida itineraries from New York City from 25 October until 22 November 2015, from 13 December until 27 December 2015 and from 14 February until 17 April 2015. Ports of call includePort Canaveral (Orlando); Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay; and Nassau, Bahamas.
Repositioning Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line will also offer a host of repositioning cruises during the 2015/2016 autumn and winter seasons.
Norwegian Escape will offer a 10-night Transatlantic from Southampton (London), England to Miami, Florida, on 29 October 2015 giving guests 10 nights to explore and discover all of the exciting dining and entertainment that will be found on board the line’s beautiful new vessel.
Norwegian Spirit will offer a 16-night Transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Port Canaveral (Orlando) on 5 November 2015. Ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; St. John’s, Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Norwegian Star will sail a 13-night Transatlantic voyage from Dover (London), England to Tampa, Florida, on 6 October 2015 visiting Ponta Delgada, Azores and Miami, Florida.
Norwegian Jade’s 16-night Transatlantic from Barcelona, Spain to Houston will set sail on 29 October 2015 and ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Miami, Florida.
Norwegian Dawn will sail a 14-night Caribbean Adventure from Boston, Massachusetts, to New Orleans on 30 October 2015. Ports of call include San Juan, Puerto Rico; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.
For a shorter repositioning cruise option, Norwegian Jewel will offer a five-night Pacific Coastal cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles, California on 29 September 2015 visiting Victoria, British Columbia and Astoria, Oregon.
Norwegian Pearl will also offer a Pacific Coastal cruise, a three-night itinerary from Vancouver, British Columbia to San Francisco, California on 28 September 2015, visiting Astoria, Oregon.
Open for Sale
Norwegian Escape’s itineraries will open for Travel Partners to book groups on 19 March and for general bookings on 26 March 2014. The remaining winter itineraries will be open starting 8 April, 2014.
To book any of these exciting itineraries, contact a travel professional or visit www.ncl.eu.
