Norwegian Cruise Line Sails To Exotic Lands

According to The Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), cruise travel is forecast to reach 106% of 2019 levels this year, with 31.5 million passengers sailing on the water. Other predictions include cruise travel will reach 36 million people in 2024, and more than 37 million people to cruise in 2025.

Why is cruising so popular? It’s an easy and carefree way to travel. Cruise travel offers guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Once onboard a ship, you unpack once and get to see multiple cities and countries without hauling a suitcase, taking trains, and making connecting flights. Cruising is a safer and less stressful travel experience. Plus you have ocean and sunset views daily.

Why NCL is a popular cruise line? NCL’s fleet of 18 contemporary ships sail to 400 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize.

What if I’m a single passenger? Norwegian Cruise Line provides superior guest service from land to sea to all passengers. They offer a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, called studios. They are featured on many of the newer ships. Each has a full-sized bed, flatscreen TV and private bathroom. Some offer virtual portholes that stream ocean views. Norwegian’s single rooms, also have access to an exclusive, shared social space called the Studio Complex and Lounge. This common area has its own large-screen TVs, coffee-making facilities, a bartender at certain times of the day and daily hosted pre-dinner gatherings.

NCL Solo Cruise Pricing: Studios on Norwegian cruises are priced for one; all other cabins come with single supplements up to 100 percent over standard per person double-occupancy fares.

What if I like small ships?  The Haven by Norwegian® is the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. Guests have their own elevator, own restaurant and bar, plus their own pool and lounge area. It’s a small ship experience within a larger ship experience. Think of it as the best of both cruise worlds.

Why Norwegian Cruise Line? NCL is sailing to stunning exotic locales, expanding their itineraries to some of this year’s trendiest destinations. Now is the time to visit Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. As an innovator in global cruise travel with 56-years of sailing history, they have opened sale of new 2024/25 exotic itineraries, including the debut of Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky in Asia for an extended eight month season.

“Our guests are craving longer, immersive and more unique itineraries that take them off the beaten path,” said Harry Sommer, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “These new sailings represent the most diverse itinerary program to date and feature many brand firsts, including an extended Asia offering and new ports in Argentina, Bahrain, Japan and Egypt. Coupled with NCL’s renowned onboard experiences – from spacious accommodations, exceptional entertainment and diverse dining options that rival land-based offerings, it truly is an unforgettable way to explore the world.”

Those searching for next year’s ultimate vacation, will want to learn more about NCL’s Extraordinary Journey’s – a collection of immersive port-rich adventures. With this new season of itineraries from October 2024 through December 2025, NCL is expanding its voyages to Antarctica, South America, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Notable itineraries available to book as of today include:

• NCL’s first voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina – Norwegian Star will sail a 14-day South America voyage to Brazil and Antarctica departing on March 1, 2025. Experience South America embarking from Ushuaia, Argentina, for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Antarctica. Leaving from this port reduces the number of sea days needed for an Antarctica cruise, and provides more port time for travelers. During the voyage, guests cruise through Paradise Bay in Antarctica and witness the surrounding glacial mountains and local wildlife while also having the opportunity to experience the culture in Puerto Madryn, and Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montevideo and Punta Del Este, Uruguay; and Sao Paulo (Santos).

• NCL’s maiden call to Bahrain, its first dedicated Middle East sailing – A seven-day Middle East cruise on Norwegian Sun from Doha, Qatar to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) departing April 12, 2025.  Stay overnight in Abu Dhabi, UAE to explore the culturally rich destination. This voyage includes visits to Dammam, Saudi Arabia; Manama, and for the first time, NCL will visit Bahrain, as well as Dubai and Sir Bani Yas, the largest natural island southwest of Abu Dhabi, UAE.
  

  Norwegian Sky – Pinnacle Lounge and Sushi Bar- NCL

• Three NCL ships debut in Asia for the first time. The Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky will offer an extensive eight-month season from October 2024 through May 2025. The voyages visit the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan in time for the coveted Japanese Spring Cherry Blossom Bloom, and fall foliage.
  

  Ocean views onboard every NCL ship – photo by Jill Weinlein

• NCL will arrive in Akita, Japan for the first time during Norwegian Sun’s 12-day roundtrip sailing from Tokyo, embarking on Oct. 23, 2024. The Norwegian Spirit is scheduled to embark on a brand-new repositioning voyage from Australia to Asia on Dec. 7, 2024, followed by her first voyage in Asia on Dec. 21, 2024.

• Extraordinary Journeys – NCL’s immersive journeys also take guests to lesser-visited destinations too. The two new back-to-back voyages will be aboard Norwegian Sky. Departing December 2024, the vessel will offer a 16-day Africa sailing to Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Oman and more during its voyage from Dubai, UAE to Mauritius.
• Norwegian Sky sails on a 17-day sailing from Mauritius to Singapore with calls to Seychelles, Maldives and Zanzibar.
  

  Norwegian Sun visits exotic ports – NCL photo

• Norwegian Sun will embark on a16-day cruise from Dubai, UAE to Haifa, Israel on April 19, 2025, featuring 10 ports of call, including a brand new port for NCL – Sokhna, Egypt. This allows easier access to Cairo, for guests to explore the ancient Great Pyramids of Giza.

• Brand-new Australian itinerary – Norwegian Spirit returns Down Under for her third season and launches a new14-day from Sydney to Bali via the Queensland coast in December 2024. The voyage includes ports of call Cairns and Darwin, Australia. There will be an overnight visit to Bali (Benoa), Indonesia, for guests to have more time exploring the exotic destination. In November 2025, the ship will make it’s debut to Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

• Two NCL ships departing from Haifa, Israel – In November 2024, Norwegian Sky will sail a 16-day Middle East Extraordinary Journey from Haifa, Israel to Dubai, UAE, including the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to transit the Suez Canal in Egypt. Guests can also choose from an 11-day Mediterranean cruise from Haifa, Israel to Istanbul, Turkey aboard Norwegian Sun. Departing May 5, 2025, the voyage will call to sought-after destinations in Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

To book a cruise, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.