NCL just broke the news this morning that the Norwegian Jewel will be heading west and the Norwegian Star East. The Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s Inside Passage along with the Norwegian Pearl from Seattle for the 2012 season. The Norwegian Star will take the Jewel’s place out of New York doing the 7-night Bermuda trips all summer long.
NCL’s Presser after the break
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its 2012/2013 deployment and itineraries for Alaska, Bermuda, Hawai`i and short cruises to the Bahamas. For the first time, the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s Inside Passage joining Norwegian Pearl which is sailing to Glacier Bay from Seattle. In Bermuda, the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star will sail to Bermuda for the first time from her new homeport in New York City.
“The 2012/2013 season is filled with new and exciting Freestyle Cruising choices. Whether it’s our ships cruising different destinations, disembarking from new homeports or sailing new itineraries, we offer the most freedom and flexibility when it comes to cruise travel,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “We are pleased to bring Norwegian Jewel to Alaska and Norwegian Star to Bermuda, along with continuing our popular Hawai`i inter-island cruises and short cruises to the Bahamas through early 2013.”
In Alaska, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Star and cruise from Seattle for the first time on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. Norwegian Jewel’s weekly Sawyer Glacier cruises will depart on Saturdays from May 26, 2012 to September 8, 2012 sailing through Alaska’s Inside Passage with ports of call including: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Jewel will also sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 19, 2012 and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on September 15, 2012. Families will have the slime of their lives on board with Norwegian Jewel’s Nickelodeon at Sea year-round programming which includes live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, including: SlimeTime LIVE! with Nick’s signature slime; Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; character breakfasts and meet and greets; Nick-themed dance parties; and more. Nickelodeon-themed elements are also incorporated into Norwegian’s Kids’ Crew program.
Norwegian Pearl will return to Seattle sailing her weekly seven-day Glacier Bay cruises departing on Sundays from May 13, 2012 to September 9, 2012 and will sail through Alaska’s Inside Passage with ports of call including: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 6, 2012 and a Seattle to Vancouver cruise on September 16, 2012.
Norwegian will continue its commitment to Bermuda, sailing two ships from the Northeast to Bermuda weekly from April through October calling on King’s Wharf. Norwegian Star will sail from New York on Sundays to Bermuda, staying for three full days. The 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will sail her Bermuda itinerary departing on Fridays from Boston with three days in Bermuda.
Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawai`i’s main islands. Pride of America’s seven-day Hawai`i inter-island cruises departing from Honolulu are now available through April 7, 2013. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; an evening sail by the Kilauea Volcano (weather permitting); Kona, Hawai`i; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.
For a shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami through April 15, 2013. The three-day Bahamas cruise departs on Fridays and includes stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas. On Mondays, the ship departs Miami on a four-day Bahamas cruise with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island; and Nassau, Bahamas.