Your Cruise Your Way Cruise Blog

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) made history today after it announced that it will deploy a ship year-round in Europe. The 2,400 passenger Norwegian Jade was formerly the Pride of Hawaii, and was moved from the Hawaii market by NCL to boost profits in that region by regulating supply. The Norwegian Jade has scheduled a variety of itineraries in Europe year-round, extending its inaugural season in Europe that begins later this month. The ship will now remain in Europe full time through to the spring of 2010 instead of the current seasonal deployment that was to end in November 2008. As a result of the decision, NCL is introducing three new European itineraries. A number of 12-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings, some nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco sailings, and a European stalwart, a 14-day Eastern Mediterranean holiday cruise. To make it easier to get there, NCL is scheduling Barcelona as the home port.

“We’ve seen strong growth in Europe and Freestyle Cruising has been a big success with our European guests,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s president and CEO. “Norwegian Jade has been very well received in her first season, and our full three-ship fleet in Europe is doing so well that we are now confident in committing a ship year-round to this strongly growing market. With one of our newest and largest Freestyle Cruising ships in Europe sailing a year-round variety of port-intensive itineraries, we can now offer an exceptional cruise experience any time of the year for our guests who want to enjoy all that Europe has to offer.”

Norwegian Jade’s new European sailings from November 2008 through April 2009 go on sale March 3, 2008. The balance of the new deployment through to spring 2010 will be opened for sale shortly thereafter.

Norwegian Jade’s new 12-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise includes stops in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt; and Valletta, Malta. Highlights of the nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco itinerary include five ports of call: Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; and Granada (Málaga), Spain. In addition, Norwegian Jade will sail a special 14-night Eastern Mediterranean holiday sailing on December 21, 2008, that includes Rome (Civitavecchia) and Naples, Italy; an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt; Rhodes, Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey, Athens (Piraeus), Greece; and Valletta, Malta.

Guests booked on Norwegian Jade’s Transatlantic and New York sailings

For guests booked on Norwegian Jade’s 12-day transatlantic sailing or seven-, 10- or 11-day sailings from New York from mid-December through April 2009, NCL is offering the opportunity to move their reservations to comparable sailings on Norwegian Gem. Guests who make the change will receive full price protection and a $100 on-board credit per person (maximum $200 per stateroom). Additionally, NCL will pay for air changes fees (up to $100 per person) or hotel cancellations fees (up to $50 per room) for guests who booked air or hotels on their own. Air and hotel booked through NCL will be protected at the original rate. Guests who choose to sail on a different NCL sailing (other than the one offered) will receive a $50 on-board credit per person (maximum $100 per stateroom) on another voyage. Guests who instead wish to cancel will receive a full refund.

Guests booked on the December 12, 2008 two-day weekend getaway will receive a full refund and a $25 per person future cruise credit certificate.

NCL representatives are available at 877-474-2960 Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET to assist guests and travel partners with existing reservations on Norwegian Jade’s transatlantic and New York sailings. Travel partners with group reservations should call NCL at 877-474-2968. All changes must be made by March 14, 2008. After that time, all existing reservations will be cancelled.

For more detailed information about Norwegian Jade’s new itineraries, click here.