Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - 16:22 by ce-press
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will launch regular cruises from the UK next year for the first time since 2010. Norwegian Jade, with 2,400 double occupancy, will sail from Southampton from May 12 to October 16 with embarkation also in Hamburg.
Following a major drydock in Freeport Bahamas, she will sail a series of seven-night itineraries calling Hamburg, Amsterdam, Zeebrugge and Le Havre as well as two nine-night cruises calling Hamburg, Alesund, Hellesylt/Geiranger, Flam and Bergen along with a 10-night Norwegian Fjords cruise which also includes a visit to the Orkney Islands. In late September a longer nine-night Western Europe itinerary adds St Malo and Brest to the mix.
Norwegian Getaway, the second newest ship in the fleet, will move back to Europe for the first time since 2014 to offer one eight and a series of nine-night Baltic Capitals cruises from Copenhagen. From May to October, the itinerary includes Warnemunde, Tallinn, St. Petersburg overnight, Helsinki and Stockholm. Replacing Norwegian Star and carrying 4,000 passengers, NCL capacity to the region will increase by 141% on 2016.
With respect to the ports chosen, general manager NE/MEA NCL Nick Wilkinson said: “We try to ensure a real cross-section for our customers. We listen to what people have liked and what they want to see next.”
CE managing director Jens Skrede comments: “I am absolutely delighted for our member ports. This demonstrates once again the attractiveness of the CE region.”
Harry Sommer, executive vice president international business development NCL, commented: “Bringing Norwegian Getaway to Europe next summer reflects our commitment to the growth we have had in the European market. In the last few years it has been astronomical."
The UK is the largest European source market for NCL with a 20% growth in bookings last year and the goal to double UK business by 2020.
The company announced last week that it is investing $400m in its Norwegian Edge project which includes the complete renovation of nine ships as well as into its private islands, Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye.
