Today, NCL Corporation announced that it will place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in Europe beginning in March 2008 in response to increased consumer demand for European cruises. The company will re-flag Pride of Hawai`i into the Bahamas registry and re-name her Norwegian Jade after a short wet dock in Honolulu in February 2008. Norwegian Jade will join her sister ships Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel in Europe in 2008 offering NCL’s largest and most varied European deployment ever. Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel itineraries will go on sale April17 and Norwegian Jade’s itineraries will go on sale April 24.
“The combination of our new and varied itineraries, the choice of three new sister ships, along with an extended season, will make for an unforgettable Freestyle Cruising experience for guests who explore Europe with us in 2008,” said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. “In particular, Freestyle Cruising gives them the freedom and flexibility to explore and make the most of the culture-rich European destinations without worrying about returning to the ship for a set dining time.”
Norwegian Jade will be the first to arrive in Europe at the end of March 2008, staying through the end of November. The ship will sail a unique mix of 12-, 13- and 14-day Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises, beginning with a number of 12-day cruises departing from Barcelona, Istanbul, and Athens (Piraeus) with a variety of ports including Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Venice, Italy, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Ephesus, Turkey, Mykonos, Santorini, Iraklion, Crete, Corfu and Katakolon, Greece, and Alexandria, Egypt.
Norwegian Jade will then reposition from her spring Mediterranean base to Southampton in the UK for a series of cruises to the Mediterranean, North Cape, Western Europe and British Isles .
In an NCL first, Norwegian Jade will offer several sailings out of the UK designed specifically for the local UK market, departing roundtrip from London ( Southampton ). These include a pair of two-day sampler cruises and four 14-day Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from London (Southampton) with stops in Malaga (Cordoba), Spain, an overnight in Barcelona, Nice (Villefranche), France, Florence,Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Portugal, and Vigo, Spain.
Norwegian Jade’s 12-day North Cape itinerary roundtrip from London (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-day Around the British Isles and Northern Europe itinerary roundtrip from London (Southampton) will visit France , England , Ireland , Scotland , Germany , the Netherlands and Belgium . Two 13-day Western Europe itineraries will depart from London (Southampton) to Barcelona or Barcelona to London (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.
Norwegian Gem, NCL’s newest ship, complete with bowling alley, arrives in Europe in early May after her winter season in New York and will sail seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Barcelona through November 9, 2008. The Western Mediterranean itinerary includes stops in Valletta, Malta, Naples , Rome ( Civitavecchia ), and Florence,Pisa (Livorno), Italy, and Nice (Villefranche), France .
Returning for her third season in Europe in early May, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Dream, sailing a Baltic Capitals itinerary roundtrip from London ( Dover ) through mid-September. The 12-day sailings will run from May 5 through August 23 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-day sampler cruise from London ( Dover ) specifically designed for the UK market. A final 13-day sailing departing on September 4 will include a stop in Oslo, Norway.
Pride of Hawai`i becomes Norwegian Jade
Pride of Hawai`i will continue her seven-day roundtrip Honolulu cruises through the January 28, 2008 cruise. The ship will enter wet dock on February 6 where she will receive modifications including the addition of a casino and new hull artwork. The ship will be re-named Norwegian Jade and will be showcased during inaugural events in both Los Angel es and Miami . After a series of repositioning cruises, the ship will arrive in Barcelona for her first 12-day cruise beginning on March 30, 2008.
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