Tag Archives: Norwegian Epic

Norwegian’s Asia cruises aimed at North Americans

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Norwegian Star photo taken in Acapulco Mexico, by Dave Jones.

By Michelle Baran

 After announcing that the Norwegian Star will sail to destinations in Asia and Australia for the fall/winter 2016-17 season, Norwegian Cruise Line made clear that the cruises are not aimed at the Asian source market.

“We’re definitely marketing globally, but the North American market is a huge and very important market for these itineraries. … This is not a ship going out to Asia for Asians. This is a ship going out for our core, target audience,” Andy Stuart, president and COO of Norwegian Cruise Line, told travel agents during a webinar on Tuesday.

Stuart broke down the Norwegian Star’s journey eastward, which will begin after its summer season in Northern Europe next year. The ship will sail to Barcelona, then to Istanbul and the Holy Land, then to Dubai via the Suez Canal, on to India, and ultimately to Asia where it will visit ports in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong before continuing on to Australia and New Zealand.

The move eastward marks the first time since 2002 that Norwegian Cruise Line will sail to destinations in Asia.

The Asia expansion is separate from Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.’s plans explore deployment options in China.

Norwegian Star to sail Asia and Australia cruises

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Norwegian Star in Cabo San Lucas, by Dave Jones

By Jerry Limone

Norwegian Cruise Line will sail to destinations in Asia and Australia for the first time since 2002, operating voyages from six ports in fall/winter 2016-17 on the Norwegian Star.

Itineraries will depart from Istanbul, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand. Highlights include the line’s first visits to India and the Persian Gulf, a series of Southeast Asia cruises and two Australia/New Zealand voyages (one 12-day and one 19-day cruise). The Southeast Asia cruises feature overnight stays in Bangkok.

Also in winter 2016-17, the Norwegian Epic will return to Florida after more than a year in Europe, sailing eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral. The Norwegian Jade will replace Norwegian Star in Tampa, mainly sailing an itinerary that visits the Mexican Caribbean; Roatan in Honduras’ Bay Islands; and Harvest Caye, Norwegian’s new private destination in Belize.

Starting next summer, the Norwegian Spirit will replace the Epic as the line’s year-round European ship, sailing Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Venice and Istanbul.

In addition to Norwegian’s previously scheduled Panama Canal cruises in February, the line has added two 14-day Panama Canal sailings from Los Angeles and Miami on the Norwegian Jewel, on Feb. 5, 2017, and Feb. 19, 2017. The Caribbean cruises go on sale Aug. 24.

Caribbean sailings for fall/winter 2016-17 will go on sale Aug. 19, and all other destinations go on sale Aug. 24.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon part ways

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Norwegian Cruise Line said its partnership with Nickelodeon won’t be renewed when it expires at the end of the year.

Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer have been on select Norwegian ships for the past three years.

“These experiences will not appear on Norwegian Escape and on Norwegian Epic as of October 2015 and on the remaining four ships beginning in January 2016,” the statement said.

In some cases, Norwegian will have to dismantle fixtures, such as the SpongeBob characters that decorate its water play parks. There have also been Nickelodeon character meet-and-greets, a poolside show, an arts and crafts experience and a Nickelodeon-themed Pajama Jam Breakfast.

Norwegian said it will continue to make investments “to further elevate our family programming” on its ships.