NCL returns to Asia, Australia in 2016-17

Norwegian Cruise Line will be bringing more of the world to travellers in the coming years, evident as the company unveiled its 2016-2017 deployment that will see its ships return to Asia and the South Pacific, along with new itineraries around the globe.

Following Monday’s announcement of the upcoming deployment, NCL President & COO Andy Stuart detailed the highlights of the announcement in a webinar for travel professionals eager to learn more about the line’s plans for the coming years.

“Norwegian is going more global than we’ve ever been before,” Stuart said. “Today, we bring you the world.”

Asia & Australia

After 15 years, Norwegian will be returning to the Asia and Australia regions next fall, as the Norwegian Star makes its debut in the market, including first-ever stops in The Gulf and India.

“The right-side of the world map was a little lacking up until yesterday,” Stuart joked, referring to an image of the globe indicating NCL’s ports of call.

Following its summer 2016 sailings through the Baltic Capitals from Copenhagen, Denmark, Norwegian Star will depart on Oct. 31, 2016 from Istanbul on NCL’s first voyage to the Gulf region through the Suez Canal, for a 20-day Eastern Mediterranean and The Gulf itinerary including stops in Turkey, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Dubai.

This cruise will be followed by the 21-day Journey to the East from Dubai departing Nov. 20, 2016, in which the Norwegian Star will make NCL’s debut visit to India, including stops in Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore and Kochi, travelling onward through the Gulf and Indian Ocean to Thailand and Singapore. Throughout December 2016 and January 2017, Norwegian Star will complete a series of 11- and 14-day sailings in Southeast Asia, departing from Singapore and Hong Kong respectively and visiting ports of call throughout Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

On Jan. 16, 2017, Norwegian Star will sail a 21-day Southeast Asia and Australia itinerary from Hong Kong, China to Sydney, Australia; this will be followed by two February 2017 Australia and New Zealand sailings, departing Feb. 6 and Feb. 18.

Norwegian Star will begin her journey back west in March 2017 with an 18-day Southeast Asia and India sailing from Singapore to Dubai, followed by a 20-day Eastern Mediterranean and The Gulf sailing from Dubai, United Arab Emirates through the Suez Canal to Venice, Italy departing March 27, 2017.

According to Stuart, the new sailings are aimed at European and North American travellers looking to explore Asian and Pacific destinations by ship.

South America

NCL’s 2016-17 South America program will see the return of the Norwegian Sun, offering a variety of sailings through South America with departures from new homeport Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as well as from Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Sailings include 10-day South America itineraries departing from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in December 2016, February and March 2017; a 14-day Buenos Aires Round-Trip sailing departing Dec. 23, 2016, with stops in Brazil and Uruguay; four South America 15-day itineraries between Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina which depart January through April 2017; and two seven-day Buenos Aires, Argentina to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil sailings on Feb. 5 and Mar. 24, 2017.

Norwegian Sun will make her journey back to the Northern Hemisphere with a 20-day sailing from Santiago, Chile to San Francisco, departing April 25, 2017.

Florida & the Caribbean

According to Stuart, the upcoming changes in deployment for NCL will see Norwegian Epic return to Port Canaveral, Florida after a year in Europe, offering a series of sailings in both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, ranging in length from three to seven days.

In addition, Norwegian Jade will replace Norwegian Star and homeport in Tampa from November 2016 through April 2017, offering a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary through Mexico, Honduras and Belize, along with two eight-day Western Caribbean holiday sailings in December 2016 and two 10-day and two 11-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from Tampa.

The future

While the recent global deployment will see NCL travelling to nearly all corners of the globe, Stuart said there are no plans for a Norwegian world cruise yet, explaining that “this is a big diversification in deployment for NCL. We think this is a very exciting step and maybe a world cruise isn’t the right step just yet.”

And with talk of new destinations, the question of whether or when Norwegian will offer packages to Cuba was raised. While Stuart said there are no formal plans to sail to the island just yet, he admited that Cuba is “a big opportunity.”

“Without getting into all details, we see it as a destination that guests are interested in,” Stuart said. “We’re looking at the opportunity as it becomes available and when it’s becomes appropriate. Today, there’s nothing to announce other than an interest in the destination.”