NCL deploys two ships in Europe for ’06

Norwegian Cruise Line is to offer sailings from the UK and Mediterranean fly-cruises in 2006

New ship Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Dream are to relocate from the US to offer seven and 12 -night cruise holidays next summer.

NCL is to offer six itineraries in Europe from March 2006, five in the Med and one in the Baltics. 

Norwegian Dream returns to Europe after a year and a half cruising the Caribbean and Alaska.  The ship will run a series of 12-night Baltic Capitals cruises from Dover starting next May.

The itinerary includes cruising the Baltic Sea, passing through the Kiel Canal before calling at Warnemünde (for Berlin), Tallinn, Estonia; St Petersburg (for an overnight stop), Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen (for an overnight stop) before cruising the North Sea and returning to Dover.

NCL’s newest ship Norwegian Jewel comes to Europe with five separate itineraries after its inaugural sailings in the Caribbean this winter

The itineraries are: 

• 7-night Western Med: Departing from Barcelona and calling at Messina, Sicily; Naples, Civitavecchia for Rome, Livorno for Florence/Pisa and Villefranche.
• 12-night Classic Med I: Departing from Barcelona and calling at Civitavecchia, Naples, Venice (for an overnight stop), Dubrovnik, Piraeus for Athens and ends in Istanbul (overnight).
• 12-night Classic Mediterranean II: Departing from Istanbul and calling at Piraeus, Dubrovnik, Venice (for overnight stop), Naples, Civitavecchia and ends in Barcelona.
• 12-night Egypt & Greek Isles I: Departing from Istanbul and calling at Izmir, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, cruises the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria for Cairo  (for overnight stop), Corfu, Katákolon and ends in Piraeus.
• 12-night Egypt & Greek Isles II: Departing from Piraeus and calling at Katákolon, Corfu, Alexandria for Cairo (for overnight stop), Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Izmir, and ends in Istanbul.

NCL UK general manager Francis Riley said: “UK consumer demand for cruising is at an all-time high and popular with guests of all ages.

“NCL is delighted to be bringing two ships back to Europe in 2006 and offering its unique Freestyle Cruising on new itineraries and our newest ship the Norwegian Jewel. 

“In addition to our extensive Cruise & Stay programme out of 13 US ports, offering European cruising means that even more UK guests can experience the fastest growing holiday choice of 2005, whether first-time or returning cruisers.”

Report by Phil Davies