Tag Archives: Greece

Norwegian Breakaway Resumes Service From New York City

Posted on by
1

With its sixth ship resuming service today, Norwegian Cruise Line is returning to New York City. Sailing from Manhattan, the Norwegian Breakaway is welcoming guests back for a Bermuda cruise after an 18-month operational pause.

Through Oct. 31, the 145,000 ton-vessel is set to sail from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal every Sunday, offering its week-long Bermuda voyages.

With an overnight call in King’s Wharf – Bermuda’s main cruise port – and four days at sea, the cruises also offer plenty of time to enjoy the ship.  

Built-in 2013, the Norwegian Breakaway is known for its dining and entertainment options, which includes 678 Ocean Place.

A central complex on Decks 6, 7 and 8, the area is the hub of the ship, featuring several dining options, a selection of bars and lounges, an 18,000 square foot casino, entertainment venues and retail outlets.

On its top decks, the 4,000-guest ship offers the Aqua Park, a complete waterpark with five full-size water slides. Another open-air feature is a three-story sports complex that includes the largest ropes course at sea, a nine-hole miniature golf course, basketball court, rock climbing wall and more.

After a drydock in 2018, the vessel debuted refreshed public areas and introduced a new bar and lounge concept to the fleet with Syd Norman’s Pour House.

Modelled after influential rock houses such as CBGB’s, The Rainbow and others, Syd Norman’s features a vintage look, diner-style seating, signature cocktails and a playlist of rock from the late 1960s to 1980s.

In 2020, during the operational pause, the Breakaway underwent another drydock, receiving additional updates. Work carried out included large bridge and stateroom refits, and the installation of scrubbers and new propellers.

After her Bermuda season, the Norwegian Breakaway is set to relaunch service from New Orleans. Following a 14-night repositioning voyage, the vessel arrives in the Big Easy on Nov. 21, starting a series of week-long Western Caribbean itineraries.

After a long operational pause, Norwegian Cruise Line resumed revenue services in July, with the Norwegian Jade. Based in Piraeus, the vessel launched a program of destination-intensive cruises in Greece.

In August, the brand expanded its restart to Alaska and the Caribbean with the Norwegian Encore sailing from Seattle and the Norwegian Gem resuming service from Miami.  

More recently, the Norwegian Epic and the Norwegian Getaway welcomed guests back in Europe, offering additional itinerary choices in the Mediterranean.

On October 24, a seventh Norwegian ship is set to resume service, as the Norwegian Bliss departs Los Angeles to start a series of Mexican Riviera cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Brand by Brand Restart Update

Posted on by
1

Building up its return to service, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings plans to have most of its fleet back in service by early 2022.

Here’s the latest, brand by brand: 

First sailing: July 25, 2021
Ships: Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Breakaway, Pride of America, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Spirit
Regions: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bermuda, Hawaii, West Coast, Bahamas, Panama Canal, Asia and Australia

According to its current plans, Norwegian Cruise Line will have 13 ships back in service by February 2022.

The first ship to resume cruising will be the Norwegian Jade, which is set to offer new itineraries from Greece starting on July 25. Later, in September, two additional vessels are entering service in Europe as the Norwegian Epic and the Norwegian Getaway resume their originally announced schedule in the Western Mediterranean.

The return to the United States and the Caribbean is set to start in August, with the Norwegian Bliss sailing in the Alaska. Gradually, more vessels are being reactivated, including in other destinations, such as Asia and Australia.

Oceania Cruises
First sailing: August 29, 2021
Ships: Marina, Riviera, Insignia and Sirena
Regions: Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean and World Cruise  

Norwegian’s upper premium brand, Oceania Cruises plans to reenter service in August. The company announced that it will resume cruise operations with the 1,250-guest Marina sailing in Scandinavia and Western Europe.

The vessel will resume her originally published voyage schedule, commencing on August 29, 2021, in Copenhagen.

Phased restart dates for the balance of the Oceania Cruises fleet are on the plans, with three additional ships resuming service between October 2021 and January 2022.

Regent Seven Seas
First sailing: September 11, 2021
Ships: Seven Seas Splendor, Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Navigator and Seven Seas Voyager  
Regions: Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Panama Canal and World Cruise

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced its return to sailing with Seven Seas Splendor. The vessel will begin cruising from the UK in September, resuming its previously scheduled itineraries in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The resumption plan for the rest of the fleet includes all vessels being reactivated until February 2022.

While most of the ships are set to sail previously announced itineraries in Europe or the Caribbean, the Seven Seas Mariner will offer a World Cruise. The vessel is poised to sail on a published Panama Canal itinerary, before starting the 120-night itinerary on January 5, 2022.

Another Costa Cruise Ship Back in Servia, Luminosa Sails from Trieste

Posted on by
Reply

The Costa Luminosa is back in service for Carnival Corporation’s Italian brand as the ship today sailed from Trieste, becoming the company’s second ship to resume operations in 2021 after the Costa Smeralda reentered service earlier this month from Savona.

The Luminosa will offer Adriatic Sea itineraries and also call in Greece as part of Costa’s four-ship sailing plan for summer 2021, all operating under the company’s Costa Safety Protocol. 

In addition to Trieste, Costa Luminosa’s one-week itinerary includes visits to Bari and Corfu, Athens, Mykonos and Katakolon/Olympia. The deployment is scheduled through mid-November, totalling 27 departures.

Costa Luminosa’s restart was celebrated in Trieste by Costa Cruises President Mario Zanetti, together with several key figures, including the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza; the Councilor of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Pierpaolo Roberti; the Captain of the Trieste Coast Guard, Vincenzo Vitale; and the CEO of Trieste Terminal Passeggeri, Francesco Mariani.

“With the restart of the Costa Luminosa, we are finally bringing cruises back to the Adriatic Sea and Greece, one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, and reviving a sector of great importance to the economy of many European countries, including Italy, as well as the eastern part of the Mediterranean,” said Zanetti.

“Just to illustrate the importance of this restart, before the pause caused by the pandemic, our company generated an annual economic impact of almost €13 billion in Europe, creating over 63,000 jobs. We are particularly pleased to be resuming from Trieste, a city that has always welcomed us warmly, and which will be the home port of Costa Luminosa not only this year but also in 2022. We look to the future with optimism, and we are working to make Trieste even more strategic for cruises, promoting sustainable development and a quality guest experience,” he added. 

Next for Costa, on June 26, the Costa Deliziosa will restart with week-long cruises in Greece. July 4 will see the departure of the Costa Firenze with one-week cruises in Italy.

In addition, starting on July 3 Costa Smeralda will begin sailing in international itineraries, with one-week cruises in Italy, France and Spain.

“Trieste welcomes the return of the Costa Cruises ships. In recent years we have developed a very important collaboration with the company that guaranteed a regular presence of Costa ships in our beautiful city. Trieste is a city with a tourist vocation and the return of Costa rewards us for the work we are doing, but above all, it means that tourists are back,” said the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza.