8 new ships coming to Norwegian Cruise Line, sister brands plus dock at Great Stirrup Cay

Table Of Content

• Travel
• MSC Cruises Ships by Size, Age and Class
• Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils All-New Culinary Experiences to Debut Aboard Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Return to Cruising With First Voyages in Europe and The Caribbean
• Norwegian Cruise Line cancels more than 7 months of sailings
• Universal ticket offer: Florida resident 2-day passes good for 4 days

(April 16, 2024) -- From Thai flavors to plant-based menus, Norwegian Aqua will introduce culinary experiences that are brand new to Norwegian Cruise Line as well as redesigned venues and familiar favorites. The company will also add a new multi-ship pier at its private Bahamas island, Great Stirrup Cay, scheduled for completion by late 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line will welcome four ships in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, each with a capacity of close to 5,000 guests. The new class for Oceania Cruises, which in 2023 debuted its first new ship in more than a decade — the Oceania Allura — will also be the largest ever built for the line at 86,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,450 guests.

Travel

Norwegian Cruise Line canceled more sailings this week as COVID continues to spread across the country. The sick guests “experienced mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness,” Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement Sunday. "The decision not to allow the cruise ship access to the quay was taken in order to avoid any health risks," the authority said in a statement. Officials in the island nation of Mauritius blocked a Norwegian Cruise Line ship from docking there Sunday after more than a dozen passengers were stricken with a stomach illness. The South American journey on Norwegian Star begins with a transatlantic crossing from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in November 2025, followed by a 17-day cruise calling at ports in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile.

Norwegian Cruise Line cancels seven months of sailings in 2025 - Business Insider

Norwegian Cruise Line cancels seven months of sailings in 2025.

Posted: Thu, 23 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

MSC Cruises Ships by Size, Age and Class

The hidden enclave will feature a comprehensive wine-by-the-glass menu, and an extensive list of rare and premium vintages. The parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line announced Monday a major order for eight new ships among its three brands as well as the construction of a pier to allow its cruise ships to dock instead of tender to its private Bahamas island for the first time. Norwegian isn't the only cruise line to have canceled sailings during the ongoing COVID surge. Friday, Royal Caribbean International canceled several cruises, too, and pushed back one ship's return to service. NCL is set to offer an exciting range of Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises from late 2025 through early 2026. The Norwegian Viva will homeport in Galveston, Texas, featuring 7-day Western Caribbean itineraries to locations like Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras, and NCL’s private destination, Harvest Caye in Belize.

Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils All-New Culinary Experiences to Debut Aboard Norwegian Aqua

In conjunction with its return to service announcement, the Cruise Line today canceled all July and August itineraries aboard Norwegian Breakaway, Dawn, Escape, Getaway, Sky, Spirit, Star and Sun. In addition, voyages aboard Norwegian Epic through Sept. 1, 2021; and Norwegian Pearl through Nov. 7, 2021 have also been canceled. Today, the Company also announced its SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council (“the Council”) comprised of six experts at the forefront of their fields. The changes “are a result of varied events including the ongoing situation in the Red Sea and Israel, modified dry dock schedules for ship enhancements, a full ship charter, and lastly, to accommodate the demand for shorter close-to-home voyages to the Bahamas,” according to a spokesperson for the line. Bookings are open through summer 2026, with the cruise line currently offering 50% off all cruises and Free at Sea programming through December 14. Norwegian’s global itinerary expansion includes Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America.

Norwegian Cruise Line to Homeport in Jacksonville - Cruise Industry News

Norwegian Cruise Line to Homeport in Jacksonville.

Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing. "To christen Norwegian Viva in Miami is incredibly special to many of us at NCL, not only because Miami is our hometown, but also because we can share this moment with our local family and friends," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Launching a ship is no solo endeavor.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards the entire NCL team, our partners and especially our amazing crew who have contributed to bringing Norwegian Viva to life and who care for and deliver exceptional vacation experiences for our guests."

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

Metropolitan, the cruise line's Sail & Sustain cocktail bar, has been moved from mid-ship to the aft of Deck 7 on Norwegian Aqua. The venue will feature a distinct new design inspired by New York City's art deco and mid-century architecture, as well as a grand piano and a small entertainment space for live music. Planterie's menu will offer plant-based dishes and other healthy options, such as the Southwest Bowl with smoked tempeh and the Mediterranean Goddess Bowl, featuring spiced vegetables, tabbouleh and honey-roasted carrots.

Notable architectural features include deep wood accents; gold and metal furnishings; and warm yet colorful tones that flow seamlessly throughout the venue. Once in JaxPort, Norwegian Gem will offer three 12-day and two 11-day roundtrip sailings to the Eastern Caribbean each year. The voyages will call in ports like Great Stirrup Cay, NCLs private island in the Bahamas; Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic; St. Thomas; St. John's; St. Kitts; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Antigua, among others.

New Dining Revealed for Third Norwegian Prima-Class Ship

The 2023-built Norwegian Vivais set to offer Southern Caribbean itineraries departing from Puerto Rico before repositioning to the Mediterranean. After debuting in 2022, the Norwegian Prima starts the year in the Caribbean with a series of cruises departing from Galveston. The vessel then repositions to North Europe for a summer program before fall programs in the Mediterranean and Bermuda. Norwegian Viva's christening festivities also included the unveiling and dedication of the Knut Kloster Hall, a newly added installation at the NCL Terminal that pays homage to the Company's founder, Knut Kloster, and colorfully shares details on NCL's 57-year history of innovation in the cruise industry. Aboard Norwegian Aqua, Whiskey Bar will relocate to deck six near the brand-new Swirl Wine Bar, while Belvedere Bar will move to deck eight at the heart of the atrium, where guests can revel in night caps and nightly entertainment. He did, however, indicate NCL could take some of the learnings it's gained from how Indulge has performed and look to bring new offerings to older ships.

Beginning April 2025, Norwegian Aqua will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., featuring calls to the tropical island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island in the Bahamas. Following the ship's Caribbean season, Norwegian Aqua will offer five and seven-day voyages to Bermuda from New York City from August 2025 through October 2025 and then cruise five and seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, the "Cruise Capital of the World," beginning October 2025 through April 2026. "Discovering new flavors and dining experiences is such a memorable part of any vacation, especially when you share it with those who matter most to you," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Expanding on our award-winning food and beverage program, we're looking forward to bringing new concepts to life aboard Norwegian Aqua, while continuing to deliver on the variety of available offerings and value that NCL delivers."

Norwegian Cruise Line has a long history of bringing Broadway and the West End to its ships, and Beetlejuice is the latest on a list that includes Kinky Boots and Grease, among others. Norwegian Viva is nearly identical to fleetmate Norwegian Prima, which debuted in 2022, winning a Cruise Critic's Editors' Picks award for best new ship of the year. The announcement comes after the JaxPort board of directors approved a four year agreement with the cruise line. Norwegian Cruise Line will join Carnival as the second mainstream cruise line to sail out of Jacksonville, as Carnival Elation homeports year-round from JaxPort. In addition, the ever-popular, and nearly always sold-out, exclusive adults-only Vibe Beach Club will be expanded, taking over the existing Laser Tag arena on Deck 20. The space will boast a similar layout to the Vibe Beach Club found on Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss, with new private luxe cabanas.

With so many culinary options to choose from, NCL's Free at Sea program delivers guests more value with vacation enhancing benefits including specialty dining credits, unlimited beverage package, shore excursion credits, Wi-Fi minutes and more. Penrose Bar and Waves Pool Bar will also feature new designs, and venues such as The Local Bar & Grill, NCL's 24-hour pub-style restaurant, Hasuki, a lively Japanese hibachi experience, and Cagney's, NCL's signature upscale American steakhouse, will be expanded to accommodate even more guests. Following its debut on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Nama Sushi and Sashimi introduces a new color palette of lime green and black, and will boast accents inspired by Manga art. On Deck 17, Norwegian Aqua's Surfside Café will feature floor-to-ceiling windows while the Mediterranean seafood dining venue Palomar relies on natural materials like rope and wood accents to complement its elevated design.

But Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel, told USA TODAY in June that cruise lines typically give refunds and work to accommodate guests on a different itinerary, adding that they “don't take schedule changes lightly.” They may also offer additional compensation. The changes come after the line canceled three 2025 sailings on its Norwegian Epic ship in June so the ship could undergo “a revitalization,” as the line said at the time. Norwegian also previously canceled sailings aboard Norwegian Spirit scheduled between early July and mid-September 2024 because of a full-ship charter. The line is giving impacted passengers full refunds of their fares and “a 10% discount” in the form of a future cruise credit.

In front of NCL executives, travel advisers, media and crew, singer/songwriter Luis Fonsi christened the ship November 28 at Norwegian's expansive cruise terminal in PortMiami. The "Despacito" singer served as the ship's godfather, saying the traditional blessing and pressing a large button that sent a giant bottle of Champagne careening into the ship's hull. (December 5, 2023) -- While Norwegian Viva has been sailing since August, the ship wasn't christened right out of the dock. When asked if NCL might roll out Indulge to existing ships, Herrera rule it out completely but said the space requirement the restaurant needs would make it difficult to retrofit. Specifics about the ships’ accommodations and amenities will be announced “in the coming months,” according to the release.

The strategy is expected to boost Norwegian Cruise’s product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure. Nama Sushi and Sashimi, which first debuted on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, will now feature a fresh, lively design by Studio DADO aboard Norwegian Aqua. Introducing a new color palette, the space draws inspiration from the vibrant world of Manga art. Guests can expect a playful dining experience surrounded by bold colors of lime green and black. (February 6, 2024) -- Starting next year, Norwegian Cruise Line will add one more Floridian city to its list of embarkation ports by sailing out of Jacksonville's cruise port (JaxPort).

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. MIAMI, April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, today revealed fresh, new culinary and beverage experiences debuting aboard Norwegian Aqua, the Company's next evolution new build and first vessel of the expanded Prima Plus Class, setting sail in April 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, today revealed fresh, new culinary and beverage experiences debuting aboard Norwegian Aqua, the Company’s next evolution new build and first vessel of the expanded Prima Plus Class, setting sail in April 2025. Also premiering aboard Norwegian Aqua is Swirl Wine Bar, a contemporary wine lounge that strikes the perfect balance between exclusivity and approachability for a unique, intimate experience tucked away on deck six between the popular Whiskey Bar and Hasuki, the hibachi-style restaurant.

Travelers can apply the credit toward any of Norwegian's published sailings through Dec. 31, 2025. Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Jade’s Greek Isles itinerary this summer and beginning of fall will wake up in a new destination every day with eight to nine hours of port time to explore. It will also offer two special 14-day Southern Caribbean cruises, introducing the new destinations in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. Concurrently, Norwegian Sky, based in La Romana, Dominican Republic, will provide a range of 7- to 12-day Southern Caribbean cruises featuring a new stop in Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic. Check out the latest Norweigan Cruise Line (NCL) news—from cruise updates to NCL sailings, cancellations, new ships, and more.