NCL commits three ships to Europe in 2008

Norwegian Cruise Line is to make its biggest European deployment next year with three ships based in the region.

Pride of Hawaii is to be renamed Norwegian Jade and sail a mix of European itineraries including several designed specifically for the UK market from Southampton.

The line joins P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International in increasing Eurorpean capacity next year.  

Norwegian Jade will join sister ships Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel in Europe from March 2008.

The ship will initially sail from Barcelona, Athens and Istanbul before repositioning to Southampton for a series of itineraries covering the Mediterranean, North Cape, Western Europe and British Isles.

These include a pair of two-night sampler cruises and four 14-night western Mediterranean cruises with stops in Granada(Malaga), Spain; an overnight in Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Gibraltar; Lisbon, Portugal; and Vigo, Spain. 

Norwegian Jade’s 12-night North Cape itinerary from Southampton will cruise the North Sea with several stops in Norway, cross the Arctic Circle and cruise by the Svartisen Glacier. 

The ship’s 13-night Around the British Isles and Northern Europe itinerary from Southampton will visit France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Holland and Belgium. 

Two 13-night western Europe itineraries will depart from Southampton to Barcelona or Barcelona to Southampton and visit Nice (Villefranche), France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; Granada (Malaga), Spain; Gibraltar; Seville (Cadiz), Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Vigo, Spain.

NCL’s newest ship Norwegian Gem arrives in Europe in May to sail seven-night western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona until November 9. The itinerary includes stops in Valletta, Malta; Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; and Nice (Villefranche), France.

Returning for a third season in Europe in early May, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Dream, sailing a Baltic Capitals 12-night itinerary from Dover until mid-September. The 12-night sailings will operate from 5 May to 23 August with stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; two days in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden. 

On August 9 the ship will offer a two-night sampler cruise from Dover specifically designed for the UK market.  A final 13-night sailing departing on September 4 will include a stop in Oslo.

NCL UK general manager Francis Riley said: “The combination of our new and varied itineraries and the choice of three new sister ships, along with an extended season will make for an unforgettable NCL Freestyle Cruising holiday for guests who explore Europe with us in 2008.

“For those in the UK, we created itineraries geared specifically to appeal to the local market and are offering them during June, July and August which are ideal times for family travel because of school holidays. In addition, we are introducing three mini-cruises to allow first-time cruisers to experience NCL Freestyle Cruising.”

by Phil Davies

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