Norwegian Cruise Line Expands 2021 U.S. Restart Plan From More Ports

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today announced additional voyages as part of its U.S. voyage resumption plan.

According to a press release, Norwegian Cruise Line plans to set sail beginning summer 2021 with voyages from New York, Los Angeles, Port Canaveral and Miami and the line announced that the Norwegian Encore will debut in Alaska this summer in place of Norwegian Bliss.

Voyages expected to operate in the U.S. are contingent on obtaining a Conditional Sailing Certificate from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the company said. All initial voyages will operate with fully vaccinated guests and crew.

“I am pleased to continue our Great Cruise Comeback with plans already announced for 23 of our 28 ships across our three brands beginning in July 2021 and phasing in through early 2022,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“We want to thank Governor DeSantis and the State of Florida for fighting in support of our industry. His leadership helped bring the CDC to the table. We are currently in communication with his staff and legal counsel to ensure that we can offer the safest cruise experience for our passengers departing from the cruise capital of the world.”

Deployment Moves:

• Norwegian Gem will cruise seven-day itineraries to the Caribbean beginning August 15, 2021, and a four-day voyage to the Bahamas in November from Miami;
• Additional itineraries on Norwegian Breakaway are open for sale to Bermuda starting September 26, 2021, from New York;
• Norwegian Bliss will sail on October 24, 2021, to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles;
• Norwegian Escape will sail on November 13, 2021, to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral;
• In addition, the Norwegian Encore will make her debut on the West Coast, taking the place of the previously announced Norwegian Bliss for the 2021 summer Alaska cruise season. The Alaska itinerary will include visits to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point, while also offering guests majestic views of Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier or Glacier Bay.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Brand by Brand Restart Update

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.

Cruise Industry Capacity Growth Concerns Have Been Debunked

With the cruise industry set to grow at between 4 and 6 per cent per year according to the 2021 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, are there concerns about too many ships and weakened pricing? 

No, according to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President and CEO Frank Del Rio.

“I think that the narrative of too much capacity coming online pre-pandemic had pretty much been debunked,” he said, on the company’s first-quarter earnings call. “All the cruise line were taking on the new (ships), digesting that new capacity very nicely and increasing pricing. And so we always – our comeback always was, we only have 28 ships. There are many underserved markets that we simply don’t have ships to operate in.

“And so we’re eager to get our hands on our new vessels, all nine of them across the three brands. And what we’re seeing now within the pandemic is pricing is strong, demand is stronger than ever. I mean, to give you a nugget of data. The Oceania and Regent brands reached their 50 per cent load factor for 2022 over 100 days earlier than they did for the record year of 2019 … pricing power is there.”