European cruises year round from NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise ship Norwegian Jade will be based in Europe all year round from this month when cruise holidays begin from the port of Southampton.

The cruise liner was due to return from Southampton to the US in the winter, but from November 2008 will offer cruises from Barcelona. This is the first time in NCL’s history that it has deployed a ship in Europe year round.

"We've seen strong growth in Europe and Freestyle Cruising has been a big success with our European guests," says NCL president and CEO, Colin Veitch. "Norwegian Jade has been very well received in her first season, and our full three-ship fleet in Europe is doing so well that we are now confident in committing a ship year-round to this strongly growing market.”

Cruise holidays on Norwegian Jade beginning in November go on sale from today. Itineraries include a 12 day Eastern Mediterranean cruise with stops in Civitavecchia (for Rome), Athens, Ephesus in Turkey, Alexandria in Egypt, and Valletta in Malta.

Norwegian Jade will also offer nine day Canary Islands and Morocco cruise holidays from Barcelona. Ports of call include Casablanca and Agadir in Morocco, Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Funchal in Madeira, and Granada in Spain.

“With one of our newest and largest Freestyle Cruising ships in Europe sailing a year-round variety of port-intensive itineraries, we can now offer an exceptional cruise experience any time of the year for our guests who want to enjoy all that Europe has to offer," says Veitch.

Guests who have already booked cruise holidays on Norwegian Jade sailing from New York from December 2008 until April 2009 will be able to transfer their bookings to the Norwegian Gem.

NCL plans to build two new Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery by 2010. It recently launched the 2,400 passenger capacity Norwegian Gem.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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