Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) today announced that Norwegian Jewel – part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) 14-strong fleet – will be based year-round in the Asia Pacific with departures to and from Australia commencing October 2017, kick-starting with an initial schedule of 15 sensational sailings through to March 2018. Bookings for Norwegian Jewel’s inaugural Australasian itineraries will open on 29 June 2016.
Executive Vice President of International Business Development for NCLH, Mr Harry Sommer, said: “We are incredibly excited to announce Norwegian Jewel will be calling Australia home fromvember 2017, giving local travellers the opportunity to cruise to or from Sydney on a range of amazing itineraries along the Australian and New Zealand coastlines, together with enticing island destinations such as Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia, before she begins a series of south-east Asian journeys early in 2018.”
In a nod to Norwegian Jewel’s new adopted home port, guests will be treated to the finest local Australian produce including regional beef, lamb, seafood, fine wines and ales on her voyages from Sydney. Additionally, guests will enjoy award-winning entertainment straight from our shores – with the epic home-grown ballroom spectacular Burn the Floor being confirmed as part of Jewel’s on-board entertainment.
“Norwegian Cruise Line offers freedom and flexibility never before seen in Australia, and we’re delighted that Australians will now be able to experience premium-contemporary freestyle cruising much closer to home, with some additional local flair,” said Mr Sommer.
With a wide range of accommodation ranging from inside and oceanview staterooms to family suites and expansive, luxurious suites with 24-hour butler service in The Haven, together with 16 dining options ranging from Teppanyaki to Brazilian Churrascaria with no set dining times or pre-assigned seating, Norwegian Jewel epitomises NCL’s flexible ‘freestyle’ approach to life on board.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr Sommer said: “With Australasia home to some of the world’s fastest growing cruise markets – including Australia, which grew by a further 15 percent in 2015 to deliver a new record of 1,000,060 passengers, making it the world’s fourth largest passenger market, equal to China – NCLH is making a major commitment to the region across all of its three brands, kick-starting with the regional deployment of Norwegian Jewel,” Mr Sommer said
From Airlie Beach to Auckland, Port Lincoln to Papeete, Burnie to Bali and Kangaroo Island to Komodo, Norwegian Jewel will be visiting some of the region’s most incredible ports across 15 specially-crafted itineraries, commencing on 3 October 2017 with a 39-night combination cruise from Vancouver to Sydney taking in Hawaii and the South Pacific which can be undertaken in three segments.
Highlights of Norwegian Jewel’s inaugural local season comprises seven Sydney round-trip cruises including a 5-day Sydney-Tasmania-Sydney cruise departing 12 November 2017, as well as a 9-day voyage visiting a swathe of burgeoning regional destinations including Eden, Kangaroo Island and Tasmania’s Burnie, departing 14 December 2017. Norwegian Jewel’s 10 to 16-day Australia and New Zealand itineraries depart between November 2017 and February 2018, with highlights including cruising through New Zealand’s striking Milford Sound and the spectacular Bay of Islands. Jewel will make her way from Sydney to Singapore on an 18 day adventure departing 20 February 2018 where guests can enjoy the best of Far North Queensland, Darwin, and enjoy a visit to the enchanting Komodo Island.
Following her Australian season, Norwegian Jewel will undertake a range of exotic Asian itineraries visiting Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Korea and more, offering Australian travellers the opportunity to explore some of the best Asia has to offer on a 40-night combination voyage from Sydney through to Yokohama – Gateway to Tokyo.
For additional information on Norwegian Jewel and her 2017-18 Australasian itineraries, please visit ncl.com/content/jewel-australia . A dedicated 12-page brochure, ‘Norwegian Jewel – a new style of cruising to call Australian home’, is also available online, or as hardcopy by request.
To book a cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian’s local hotline, Australia: 1300 255 200, New Zealand: 0800 969 283 email resoffice@ncl.com or visit www.ncl.com.au
SOURCE: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH)