Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its winter deployment for the 2013/2014 season with six ships sailing to the Caribbean and Bahamas & Florida from four homeports: Miami, New Orleans, Tampa and New York. Norwegian Jewel, the first Jewel-class ship to homeport in New Orleans, will make her debut there on October 13, 2013, offering seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries. The line also plans to return to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles, with Norwegian Star sailing seven-night cruises in December 2013, March and April 2014, along with a series of Panama Canal voyages between Los Angeles and Miami. Norwegian will also continue its commitment to Canada & New England with two ships sailing to the region: Norwegian Gem from New York and Norwegian Dawn from Boston and Quebec. The line is also offering four transatlantic crossings and several repositioning cruises.
“The Caribbean and the Bahamas & Florida represent the majority of our winter cruising destinations and therefore we are pleased to offer a variety of itineraries, ships and homeports,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “Following a two-year hiatus, we are also pleased to bring Norwegian Star back to the West Coast to sail to the Mexican Riviera and through the Panama Canal.”
Caribbean and Bahamas & Florida Deployment
Norwegian will have three ships sailing from Miami in the winter of 2013/14. Norwegian Epic returns for her fourth season in Miami, sailing seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises from November 2013 to April 2014.
Norwegian Pearl is set to embark on a series of 26 seven-night Western Caribbean cruises from October to April 2014. Offering a longer cruise option, Norwegian Sun will sail 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean cruises with departures from October 2013 through to April 2014. Ports of call on the 10-night cruise include: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Roseau, Dominica; Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten; along with four relaxing days at sea. On the 11-night cruise, ports of call include: Cartagena, Colombia; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Philipsburg, St. Maarten and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; as well as five relaxing days at sea.
In New Orleans, Norwegian Jewel will make her debut on October 13, 2013, offering a series of 26 seven-night Western Caribbean cruises through to April 13, 2014. This is the first time the line is bringing a Jewel-class ship to the Big Easy, offering increased capacity and additional features such as The Haven by Norwegian, and Nickelodeon programming. New for 2013, Norwegian Jewel will sail alternating Western Caribbean itineraries in November and December. The first Western Caribbean itinerary features Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Bay Islands Honduras; and Belize City, Belize. The second itinerary includes Ocho Rios or Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.
Norwegian Dawn will return to Tampa sailing a series of 22 seven-night Western Caribbean sailings from November 2013 through to April 2014.
From New York, Norwegian Gem will continue her year-round sailings offering seven-night Bahamas & Florida cruises from April 2013 through to September 2013. The port order of the Bahamas & Florida sailings has been changed to include more port time in Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral). Beginning October 19, 2013, Norwegian Gem will sail 21 nine-night Eastern Caribbean cruises through to April 2014 with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Samaná, Dominican Republic, along with four relaxing days at sea.
Panama Canal and Mexican Riviera Deployment
For the first time since April 2011, Norwegian will seasonally base a ship in Los Angeles, sailing a series of both 14-night Panama Canal and seven-night Mexican Riviera voyages. Beginning on October 13, 2013, Norwegian Star is scheduled for eight Panama Canal cruises between Los Angeles and Miami. The nine seven-night Mexican Riviera sailings are interspersed in December 2013 and March and April 2014. Ports of call include: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, along with three relaxing days at sea.
Canada & New England
For autumn foliage viewing at its best, Norwegian Dawn will embark on four Canada & New England itineraries between Boston and Quebec from September through to October 2013. These sailings can also be combined for an ultimate 14-night Canada & New England experience.
Norwegian Gem offers a series of five seven-night Canada & New England cruises from New York from September through to October 2013. Ports of call include: Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick; Bar Harbor, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; and Newport, Rhode Island.
Transatlantics/Repositionings
Norwegian Epic will make two transatlantic voyages: an 11-night sailing on April 20, 2013 from Miami to Barcelona and a 13-night cruise October 20, 2013 from Barcelona to Miami.
Norwegian Star will also make two transatlantic crossings: a 16-night from New Orleans to Copenhagen on April 21, 2013 and a 12-night voyage from Copenhagen to Miami on October 1, 2013.
There are also a number of repositioning cruises available between various departure ports that visit exotic destinations in the Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal. Norwegian Dawn will set sail on a 12-night Caribbean Escape from Tampa to Boston on April 21, 2013. The ship will return to Tampa from Boston on November 1, 2013 on a 14-night Caribbean Escape.
