Norwegian Escape to homeport in Miama year-round; Norwegian's Winter 2015-2016 itineraries announced

Winter Deployment includes Norwegian Epic sailing from Barcelona,
a return to South America and the addition of Port Canaveral as a seasonal home port

MIAMI – Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that its newest and largest ship to date, Norwegian Escape, will homeport year-round at PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world, sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

Along with the previously announced move of Norwegian Epic sailing year-round from Barcelona, the line’s 2015/16 winter deployment includes its return to South America cruises, a larger Jewel-class ship sailing to the Mexican Riviera, as well as the addition of Port Canaveral, Florida as a seasonal homeport.  

“Norwegian Escape’s arrival to Miami coincides with Norwegian Epic’s year-round Europe deployment, demonstrating the balanced approach we used to develop our winter 2015/16 deployment and ensuring that we had a varied offering of premium destinations that would be exciting to our guests,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “Much of this deployment was designed based on feedback from our guests and travel partners, and we know they will be happy with the changes and enhancements we have made.”

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian’s newest and largest ship to date, at approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passenger berths, Norwegian Escape will join the fleet in October 2015. Beginning November 14, 2015, Norwegian Escape will offer seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings from her year-round home port of Miami cruising to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship will boast all of exciting and innovative features found on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences that are yet to be announced.

“PortMiami looks forward to welcoming Norwegian Escape in 2015—the ship will be a fabulous addition to our fleet,” said PortMiami Director Bill Johnson.  “We are thrilled that this impressive vessel will make her debut at PortMiami-- the Cruise Capital of the World—and will be the third Norwegian Cruise Line ship to homeport here year round.”

Europe

As previously announced, the 4,000 passenger Norwegian Epic will offer Europe itineraries from her new year-round homeport of Barcelona, Spain. From November 29, 2015 through April 7, 2016, Norwegian Epic will set sail from Barcelona on 10-day Canary Islands & Morocco itineraries, and 10, 11- or 12-day Western Mediterranean itineraries.

Caribbean 


Guests cruising to the Caribbean from the Big Apple can cruise on board Norwegian Breakaway or Norwegian Gem. Norwegian Breakaway, the ship that brings the best of NYC out to sea, will return to the Southern Caribbean during the fall and winter offering four 12-day Southern Caribbean itineraries: November 29, 2015; and January 3, 17 and 31, 2016.  Ports of call on this sun-drenched itinerary include: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Basseterre, St. Kitts.
  
Norwegian Gem will offer 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from New York from October 10, 2015 through April 11, 2016, cruising to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. This new itineraryprovides a full day in San Juan, Puerto Rico, giving guests more time to explore this flavorful island or experience its world famous El Yunque rainforest.

Cruising from Tampa, Norwegian Star will offer one six-day Western Caribbean Sailing on October 19, 2015 followed by a series of seven-day Western Caribbean cruises through April 10, 2016. Norwegian Star will be the first ship in Norwegian’s fleet to visit the line’s new destination in Belize: Harvest Caye. In addition, Norwegian Star will visit ports of call including Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Cruisers looking to depart from New Orleans can sail on one of Norwegian Dawn’s seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries. Departing every Sunday from November 15, 2015 through April 24, 2016, Norwegian Dawn will visit tropical ports of call including Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Norwegian’s all new destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.

Norwegian Jade repositions from Europe to Houston, Texas and will sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises. From November 14, 2015 through April 9, 2016, guests will have the opportunity to visit Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Norwegian’s brand new destination, Harvest Caye, Belize.

Also returning to the Caribbean from Europe, Norwegian Spirit will offer alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral every Saturday from November 21, 2015 through April 16, 2016.  Norwegian Spirit’s Eastern Caribbean itinerary visits Nassau, Bahamas; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The ship’s Western Caribbean itinerary will include stops in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

South America

Norwegian Sun will return to South America for the first time since 2010, sailing 14-day South American voyages between Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina from November 2015 to April 2016. Ports of call include Puerto Montt, Chile; Puerto Chacabuco, Chile; Punta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; and Montevideo, Uruguay.  Guests on board will also enjoy a scenic cruise through the Chilean Fjords, Strait of Magellan and around Cape Horn.

Panama Canal

Guests who would like to experience the Panama Canal without disembarking in a different port will have the opportunity to embark on a round-trip Panama Canal voyage from Miami on board Norwegian Pearl. Offering alternating 10- and 11-day Panama Canal cruises from November 9, 2015 through January 1, 2016 and March 18, 2016 through April 8, 2016, guests will visit Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Colón, Panama; and Puerto Limón, Costa Rica.
Norwegian Pearl will also offer a 17-day Panama Canal voyage from San Francisco to Miami on October 1, 2015. Ports of call include Los Angeles, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Colombia.

Norwegian Jewel will offer two 15-day Panama Canal voyages from Los Angeles to Miami on January 3 and January 31, 2016 and two 13-day Panama Canal voyages from Miami to Los Angeles on January 18 and February 16, 2016. Ports of call on the 15-day itinerary   include Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; daylight transit of the Panama Canal; Cartagena, Colombia and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Guests cruising on the 13-day itinerary will visit Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; daylight transit of the Panama Canal; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.   
  
Mexican Riviera

For the first time, Norwegian will base a Jewel-class ship in Los Angeles for the winter season. Norwegian Jewel will sail 22 seven-day Mexican Riviera itineraries from October 4, 2015 through April 24, 2016, visiting ports of call including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Norwegian Sun will also offer three 11-Day Mexican Riviera sailings in October 2015 from San Diego, California. Ports of call include Manzanillo, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Mazatlan, Mexico; La Paz (Pichilingue), Mexico; an overnight in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and Ensenada, Mexico.

Bahamas and Florida

Norwegian Breakaway will offer seven-day Bahamas & Florida itineraries from New York City from October 25 through November 22, 2015, from December 13 through 27, 2015 and from February 14 through April 17, 2015. Ports of call include Orlando & The Beaches (Port Canaveral); Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Repositioning Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line will also offer a host of repositioning cruises during the 2015/2016 fall and winter seasons. Norwegian Escape will offer a 10-Day Transatlantic from London (Southampton) to Miami, Florida, on October 29, 2015 giving guests 10 days to explore and discover all of the exciting dining and entertainment that will be found on board the line’s beautiful new vessel.
Norwegian Spirit will offer a 16-day Transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to Orlando and the Beaches (Port Canaveral) on November 5, 2015. Ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; St. John’s, Antigua; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Norwegian Star will sail a 13-Day Transatlantic voyage from London (Dover), England, to Tampa, Florida, on October 6, 2015 visiting Ponta Delgada, Azores and Miami, Florida.Norwegian Jade’s 16-Day Transatlantic from Barcelona, Spain to Houston will set sail onOctober 29, 2015 and ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Miami, Florida.
Norwegian Dawn will sail a 14-Day Caribbean Adventure from Boston, Massachusetts, to New Orleans on October 30, 2015.  Ports of call include San Juan, Puerto Rico; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

For a shorter repositioning cruise option, Norwegian Jewel will offer a five-day Pacific Coastal cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles, California on September 29, 2015 visiting Victoria, British Columbia and Astoria, Oregon.
Norwegian Pearl will also offer a Pacific Coastal cruise, a three-day itinerary from Vancouver, British Columbia to San Francisco, California on September 28, 2015, visiting Astoria, Oregon.

Open for Sale

To book any of these exciting itineraries, contact a travel professional, call 866-234-7350 or visit www.ncl.com. 

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 47-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to “Cruise Like a Norwegian” on one of 13 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, resort style cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. Recently, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the sixth consecutive year, as well as “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” and “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards.

The Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Getaway on January 10, 2014.  The largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami, Norwegian Getaway boasts 27 dining venues, including seafood restaurant Ocean Blue by famed New York Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and a branch of Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC series “Cake Boss.”

The entertainment lineup includes Broadway shows Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor and the unique dining and magic venue, the Illusionarium.  Norwegian Getaway’s sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, was named “Best New Ship of 2013” by the editors of Cruise Critic and “Best Rookie Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly. Known as New York’s ship, Norwegian Breakaway is the largest vessel to homeport year-round in the city.

The Company has two 4,200-passenger vessels on order at Meyer Werft: Norwegian Escape with delivery scheduled in the fall of 2015; and Norwegian Bliss with delivery in the spring of 2017.
Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of the Miami Dolphins/Sun Life Stadium, The New York Knicks, Blue Man Group and Legends in Concert; and the official cruise line partner of The GRAMMY Awards and is an official partner of the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall.

For further information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit www.ncl.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @Norwegiancruiseline, Pin us on Pinterest, watch us on YouTube, or contact us in the U.S. and Canada at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784).