THE NORWEGIAN EDGE™

Posted on 21 January, 2016 by Spacejunkie2

THE NORWEGIAN EDGE™

The Cavern Club

The Norwegian Edge introduces a new standard of excellence that encompasses the entire guest experience, from culinary program enhancements to exclusive destination developments. The program starts with a focus on the heart of Norwegian, our ships.

Extensive revitalizations have already begun to elevate them with the premium look and feel of the line’s newest and most spectacular ships. When the renovations are complete, our ships will look even better than when they first left the shipyard. We’re investing $400 million to make sure a Norwegian vacation is up to the high standards we’ve set for ourselves – and those that our guests expect from us.

So when you board one of our ships for the fifth time, but she looks as good as the first time you saw her, that’s The Norwegian Edge. When you savor an array of international tastes and gourmet dishes from our new enhanced menus, you’ve tasted The Norwegian Edge.

If you find yourself surrounded by natural beauty in Harvest Caye, our premier resort-style island in Belize, you’ve found The Norwegian Edge. And finally, when you’re sharing stories (and selfies) from your incredible vacation weeks after your cruise, you know you experienced The Norwegian Edge.

• Exciting new entertainment venue, The Cavern Club, inspired by the famous Liverpool nightclub of the same name where The Beatles got their big break
• A complete makeover of La Cucina to create a more authentic Italian atmosphere
• Upgraded The Haven Courtyard, Lounge and Restaurant to introduce a more modern and clean design
• Upgraded spaces for the whole family including Entourage, Splash Academy and the new SplashGolf in the Kids’ Aqua Park
• New library and card room for guests to enjoy while on board
• Refreshed décor, including new furniture and flooring in several restaurants, bars and lounges to elevate the ambiance as you sip, savor and cheers

HARVEST CAYE

In November, our newest cruise destination in southern Belize will be transformed into a 75-acre resort-style experience featuring an expansive pool, lagoon for water sports, private luxury cabanas and exclusive beach for our guests to discover.

GREAT STIRRUP CAY

We’re enhancing our eco-fun paradise in the Bahamas with more of what our guests love: more beaches, more activities, and more places to relax and indulge.

Norwegian Gem, Refurbished November 2015

• Renovated Bliss Ultra Lounge and introduced a new area for Casino games

• Brand new photo gallery set up with new computer displays, furniture and a more open layout

• Renovated The Haven Courtyard, Lounge and Restaurant to introduce a more modern and clean design

• Refreshed décor, including new furniture and flooring in several restaurants, bars and lounges to elevate the ambiance as you sip, savor and cheers

• Revamped The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck to include more shaded areas, cabanas and loungers

NCL~Dry Dock Schedule

Norwegian Ships	Dry Dock Schedule
Pride of America	Q1 2016
Norwegian Sun	Q2 2016
Norwegian Dawn	Q2 2016
Norwegian Spirit	Q1 2017
Norwegian Sky	Q1 2017
Norwegian Pearl	Q1 2017
Norwegian Jade	Q1 2017

There’ll be booze in the blender on Norwegian Escape

Posted on 8 December, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Singer Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant will make its cruise debut on Norwegian Escape as part of an exclusive deal, Norwegian Cruise Line said.

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan made the announcement at a company rally in Miami where Buffet entertained employees.

In a news release, Norwegian said its exclusive partnership with Margaritaville Holdings extends to Norwegian’s island destinations, including the new Harvest Caye in Belize and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, as well as other ships in the fleet.

There are currently over a dozen Margaritaville locations in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, including one at the Grand Turk Cruise Center developed by Carnival Corp.

For cruising, a low-key start to hurricane season

Posted on 8 July, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

By Tom Stieghorst

Consider Hurricane Arthur a kind of warm-up exercise for the 2014 hurricane season, which has five months to go.

Cruise lines had to pay serious attention to Arthur, but didn’t have to do much in the end.

Unlike many Atlantic hurricanes, the storm was never a threat to the Caribbean, and Florida barely had time to get worried about it before Arthur departed for points north.

But hurricanes tend to conform to patterns in a given season, pushed by atmospheric and climate conditions. So the cruise ports up and down the East Coast might want to do a little extra planning now in case another Arthur forms. *TomStieghorst

For what it’s worth, hurricane experts are forecasting a relatively mild season due to cooler than normal tropical Atlantic sea temperatures and the ongoing formation of an El Nino current in the Pacific Ocean.

One atmospheric scientist, Robert Gray of Colorado State University, is calling for 10 named storms, four hurricanes and one major hurricane in the Atlantic this season, which stretches officially until Dec. 1.

Gray rates the probability of a major hurricane (category 3,4 or 5) striking the U.S. East Coast this year at 22% (the average is 31%) and the chance for a Gulf Coast strike at 23% (the average is 30%).

He says the chance of a major hurricane tracking through the Caribbean is 32%, compared with a 42% average for the past century.

Of course, Gray and other forecasters had egg on their faces last year when the stronger-than-expected season they forecasted failed to materialize. Gray predicted before the season that nine hurricanes would form, but only two showed up.

Arthur’s progress up the East Coast prompted some minor itinerary shuffling. The Carnival Splendor called in Bermuda rather than St. John over the weekend. The Norwegian Gem did an overnight in Nassau rather than calling on Great Stirrup Cay, to sail back to New York ahead of the weather.

But it’s worth pointing out that no one had their cruise vacation ruined by Hurricane Arthur, unlike the estimated 250,000 folks who planned to spend their Independence Day weekend in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

The next named storm, according to the World Meteorological Association’s list for 2014, will be Bertha. Let’s hope she’s neither big nor bad.

And should the 2014 be a repeat of 2013, with only 13 named storms, the last one this year will be named Marco. Of course, if we only get to Josephine, Gray’s 2014 forecast will be right on the money.