Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its ground-breaking summer 2017 deployment for Europe with for the first time in company history five ships sailing in European waters in the summer season and exciting news for guests looking to set sail from the UK. In addition the company revealed details on Norwegian Escape’s 2017 summer cruises to the Caribbean.
Marking Norwegian’s return to offering regular cruises from England for the first time since 2010, Norwegian Jade, one of the company’s four Jewel-Class ships, will feature brand new cruises from Southampton in 2017. From 12 May – 20 June and 7 August – 16 October 2017, UK guests can embark on a series of 11 Western Europe and three Norwegian Fjords sailings from/to Southampton, as well as two mini cruises for those looking for a shorter cruise experience, taking in many European highlights.
In addition, the cruise line will bring Norwegian Getaway, the second newest ship in the fleet, back to Europe for the first time since its delivery in 2014, giving guests the opportunity to experience the ultimate in freedom and flexibility on eight- or nine-night Baltic Capitals cruises from/to Copenhagen.
Three further ships will sail European waters in 2017, including the recently refurbished Norwegian Epic with her popular seven-night Western Mediterranean itinerary departing from Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome) or Marseille; Norwegian Spirit sailing alternating 11- and 10-night Grand Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Venice and Norwegian Star, which after her return from Australia will spend the summer cruising from Venice to the Greek Isles as well as the Adriatic, Greece & Turkey. The new itineraries go on sale in mid-February 2016 for all bookings.
“We’re clearly demonstrating our commitment to our European customers, especially cruisers in the UK, with these exciting summer itineraries. Not only are we offering the possibility to embark in Southampton but we are also bringing one of our newest and most innovative ships back to Europe”, says Christian Boell, Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa for Norwegian Cruise Line. “We’re convinced that this will encourage continued growth in the UK market, where we have just seen record breaking guest numbers in 2015.”
Nick Wilkinson, General Manager Northern Europe and Middle East and Africa, Norwegian Cruise Line, added: “We are delighted to be returning to the UK for a series of departures on board a fantastic ship. I’m sure these exciting Southampton sailings will be music to our travel partners’ ears, who are now able to offer their customers ex-UK sailings with Norwegian in 2017. These new itineraries are yet another demonstration of our commitment to our Partners First pledge to ensure the success of our travel partners through support and being easy to do business with.”
Norwegian Jade will arrive in Europe looking resplendent after a two-and-a-half-week dry dock to begin her regular cruises from Southampton on 12 May 2017 with a series of seven-night Western Europe itineraries visiting Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge (Brussels/Bruges) and Le Havre (Paris), offered from 12 to 26 May and from 17 August to 21 September 2017. In addition there will be two nine-night cruises to the Norwegian Fjords on 2 and 11 June 2017 with stops in Hamburg as well as Ålesund, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Flåm and Bergen along with a 10-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on 7 August 2017 which also includes a visit to the Orkney Islands. A longer Western Europe itinerary of nine nights is offered on 28 September and 7 October 2017 with additional stops in St. Malo and Brest. On 30 July 2017, Norwegian Jade sets sail from Hamburg for an eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise ending in Southampton.
Norwegian Getaway will return to Europe and sail one eight- and a series of nine-night Baltic Capitals cruises from Copenhagen from May to October 2017 with stops in Warnemünde (Berlin), Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm, including on the nine-night cruises an overnight stay in St. Petersburg, giving guests the opportunity to see all the splendour of the imperial capital of Russia in two days and add in a ballet performance or folklore show at night.
As the second newest ship in Norwegian’s fleet, Norwegian Getaway brings the ultimate freedom and flexibility to the Baltic. Guests can choose from 27 dining options, whether looking for fine dining in one of 11 complimentary restaurants or something different in one of the many speciality restaurants such as Teppanyaki, French bistro cuisine or spectacular seafood in Ocean Blue. And the freedom and flexibility doesn’t end with the dining options. Guests can also enjoy Broadway shows Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor, five multi-storey waterslides and a two-storey ropes course. There’s a wide range of accommodation on board, including the luxurious ship-within-a-ship suite complex The Haven by Norwegian® as well as Studios, designed and priced for solo travellers; and many options for families, multi-generational groups, spa enthusiasts and more.
The recently refurbished Norwegian Epic will arrive in Barcelona on 14 April 2017, beginning her Europe season with a nine-night Canary Islands & Morocco cruise before resuming her popular seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises with stops in Naples (Pompeii), Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Cannes and Marseille. In addition to Barcelona, guests can opt to embark in Civitavecchia or Marseille. From Barcelona the cruise is offered every Sunday from 23 April to 1 October 2017. From 8 to 29 October 2017 Norwegian Epic sets sail for two alternative seven-night cruises between Barcelona and Civitavecchia which can be combined to a 14-night cruise visiting Palma, Mallorca; Sete; Marseille; Cannes; Livorno (Florence/Pisa); Civitavecchia (Rome); Naples (Pompeii); Cagliari; Granada (Málaga); Cartagena and Valencia.
Norwegian Spirit follows up her 2016/17 European winter cruises with alternating 11- and 10-night summer cruises in the Mediterranean between Venice and Barcelona. The 10-night cruises from Barcelona to Venice visit Monte Carlo, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Santorini, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Piraeus (Athens) and Split and start on 4 May 2017, whereas calls on the 11-night cruises from Venice to Barcelona which start on 28 May 2017 are Dubrovnik, Piraeus (Athens), Kusadasi (Ephesus), Santorini, Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence/Pisa) and Marseille. On 14 May 2017 Norwegian Spirit visits the Holy Land on a 14-night cruise from/to Venice which includes an overnight stay in Haifa as well as stops in Zadar, Kotor, Heraklion, Limassol, Alanya, Piraeus (Athens) and Split.
From 16 April to 22 October 2017 Norwegian Star will call Venice her home for the summer after her return from her long journey to Australia, and will set sail on alternating seven-night cruises to the Greek Isles and the Adriatic, Greece & Turkey, stopping in Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Ravenna (Greek Isles cruise) and Dubrovnik, Piraeus (Athens), Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Katakolon (Olympia) (Adriatic, Greece & Turkey cruise). On 9 July Norwegian Star visits Corfu, Santorini, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Piraeus (Athens) and Split on an eight-night cruise, followed by a six-night cruise on 17 July calling at Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu and Ravenna. On 29 October 2017, guests can look forward to a 10-night cruise from Venice to Istanbul including stops in Split, Kotor, Corfu, Messina, Valletta, Santorini and Kusadasi (Ephesus).
Norwegian Escape, Norwegian’s newest ship launched last October, will spend summer 2017 sailing alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, starting on 6 May. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes stops in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas, whereas the Western Caribbean cruises visit Roatán, Honduras; Norwegian’s private destination Harvest Caye, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico and Cozumel, Mexico.
