Norwegian names homeport for newest ship

Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed that its newest and largest ship, the Norwegian Escape, will homeport year-round in Miami, from where it will sail to the Eastern Caribbean.

Agents will be able to make group bookings on the Escape from March 19. Bookings for the general public open on March 26.

Norwegian also announced it will return to South America with a Jewel-class ship sailing to the Mexican Riviera, and the addition of Port Canaveral in 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 CEO Kevin Sheehan.

 "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 will join the fleet in October 2015 and will offer seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailings from Miami cruising to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The 4,000 passenger Norwegian Epic will offer Europe itineraries from her new year-round homeport of Barcelona, sailing on 10-night Canary Islands & Morocco itineraries, and 10, 11- or 12-night Western Mediterranean itineraries.

Norwegian Getaway will continue to sail year round from Miami on a new seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary departing weekly starting November 15, 2015. Ports of call include Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Gem will sail out of New York, Norwegian Star will cruise from Tampa, Florida and Norwegian Dawn from New Orleans while Norwegian Jade will reposition  from Europe to Houston, Texas to offer seven-night Western Caribbean cruises.

Also returning to the Caribbean from Europe, Norwegian Spirit will offer alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral weekly from  November 2015 until April 2016.

Norwegian Sun will return to South America for the first time since 2010, sailing South American voyages between Santiago and Buenos Aires from November 2015 to April 2016.

Norwegian Pearl will offer alternating 10- and 11-night Panama Canal cruises from November 2015 until January 2016 and from March to April 2016.

Norwegian Jewel will offer two 15-night Panama Canal voyages from Los Angeles to Miami  in January 2016 and two 13-night Panama Canal voyages from Miami to Los Angeles in January and February 2016.

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 October 2015 until April  2016.

Norwegian Sun will also offer three 11-night Mexican Riviera sailings in October 2015 from San Diego, California.

The cruise line will also offer several repositioning cruises during winter 2015/16, including a 10-night transatlantic crossing from Southampton to Miami on the Escape in October 2015, a 16-night transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Port Canaveral on the Spirit in November 2015, and a 16-night voyage on the Jade from Barcelona to Houston in October.