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MIAMI - April 16, 2007
- Today, NCL Corporation announced that it will
place three of its newest Jewel-class ships in
Europe beginning in March 2008 in response to
increased consumer demand for European cruises. The
company will re-flag Pride of Hawai`i into the
Bahamas registry and re-name her Norwegian Jade
after a short wet dock in Honolulu in February 2008.
Norwegian Jade will join her sister ships Norwegian
Gem and Norwegian Jewel in Europe in 2008 offering
NCL's largest and most varied European deployment
ever. Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jewel itineraries
will go on sale April 17 and Norwegian Jade's
itineraries will go on sale April 24.
"The combination of our new and varied itineraries,
the choice of three new sister ships, along with an
extended season, will make for an unforgettable
Freestyle Cruising experience for guests who explore
Europe with us in 2008," said Colin Veitch,
president and CEO of NCL Corporation. "In
particular, Freestyle Cruising gives them the
freedom and flexibility to explore and make the most
of the culture-rich European destinations without
worrying about returning to the ship for a set
dining time."
Norwegian Jade will be the first to arrive in Europe
at the end of March 2008, staying through the end of
November. The ship will sail a unique mix of 12-,
13- and 14-day Eastern and Western Mediterranean
cruises, beginning with a number of 12-day cruises
departing from Barcelona, Istanbul, and Athens
(Piraeus) with a variety of ports including Rome (Civitavecchia),
Naples, and Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia;
Ephesus, Turkey; Mykonos, Santorini, Iraklion,
Crete, Corfu and Katakolon, Greece; and Alexandria,
Egypt.
Norwegian Jade will then reposition from her spring
Mediterranean base to Southampton in the UK for a
series of cruises to the Mediterranean, North Cape,
Western Europe and British Isles.
In an NCL first, Norwegian Jade will offer several
sailings out of the UK designed specifically for the
local UK market, departing roundtrip from London
(Southampton). These include a pair of two-day
sampler cruises and four 14-day Western
Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from London
(Southampton) with stops in Malaga (Cordoba), Spain;
an overnight in Barcelona; Nice (Villefranche),
France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia),
Italy; Gibraltar; Lisbon, Portugal; and Vigo, Spain.
Norwegian Jade's 12-day North Cape itinerary
roundtrip from London (Southampton) will cruise the
North Sea with several stops in Norway, cross the
Arctic Circle and cruise by the Svartisen Glacier.
The ship's 13-day Around the British Isles and
Northern Europe itinerary roundtrip from London
(Southampton) will visit France, England, Ireland,
Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Two
13-day Western Europe itineraries will depart from
London (Southampton) to Barcelona or Barcelona to
London (Southampton) and visit Nice (Villefranche),
France; Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia),
Naples, and Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; Granada
(Malaga), Spain; Gibraltar; Seville (Cadiz), Spain;
Lisbon, Portugal; and Vigo, Spain.
Norwegian Gem, NCL's newest ship, complete with
bowling alley, arrives in Europe in early May after
her winter season in New York and will sail
seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip
from Barcelona through November 9, 2008. The Western
Mediterranean itinerary includes stops in Valletta,
Malta; Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), and
Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; and Nice (Villefranche),
France.
Returning for her third season in Europe in early
May, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Dream,
sailing a Baltic Capitals itinerary roundtrip from
London (Dover) through mid-September. The 12-day
sailings will run from May 5 through August 23 with
stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemunde),
Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; two days in St.
Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm,
Sweden. On August 9, the ship will offer a two-day
sampler cruise from London (Dover) specifically
designed for the UK market. A final 13-day sailing
departing on September 4 will include a stop in
Oslo, Norway.
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Pride of Hawai`i becomes Norwegian Jade
Pride of Hawai`i will continue her
seven-day roundtrip Honolulu cruises through the
January 28, 2008 cruise. The ship will enter wet
dock on February 6 where she will receive
modifications including the addition of a casino and
new hull artwork. The ship will be re-named
Norwegian Jade and will be showcased during
inaugural events in both Los Angeles and Miami.
After a series of repositioning cruises, the ship
will arrive in Barcelona for her first 12-day cruise
beginning on March 30, 2008.
As a Jewel-class ship and a sister to Norwegian
Jewel, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem, Norwegian
Jade features all the attributes of NCL's
purpose-built ships for Freestyle Cruising.
Norwegian Jade features a vast array of
accommodations including the very popular Villa
complex at the top of the ship. This "ship within a
ship" complex features two luxurious Garden Villas
with their own private gardens and sun decks, 10
Courtyard Villas sharing a private courtyard, pool
and sundeck on deck 14, and a spectacular
top-of-the-ship Owner's Suite. Here, guests can
enjoy an exclusive private haven while still
experiencing all the amenities, and Freestyle
flexibility, of a big ship. The ship features
multiple lively public rooms, 10 restaurants, NCL's
Bar Central area - the brand's popular new
entertainment concept first introduced on Norwegian
Jewel and impressive on board amenities.
NCL is on target to have the youngest fleet in the
industry by the end of 2007 with the introduction of
Norwegian Gem, providing guests the opportunity to
enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the
newest, most contemporary ships at sea.
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