Norwegian Cruise Line to expand in Europe
Make that five ships in Europe for Norwegian Cruise Line.
The Miami-based cruise operator on Tuesday announced it would send five vessels to Europe for the summer of 2017 -- one more than this year and the most in its 50-year history.
Norwegian said one of its newest ships, the 3,969-passenger Norwegian Getaway, would reposition to the Baltic for the summer from its current home in Miami, operating eight- and nine-night voyages out of Copenhagen.
The Getaway's new itineraries will feature calls in Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Norwegian in 2017 also will offer its first complete season of cruises out of Hamburg, Germany as the Norwegian Jade moves to the city. The ship will operate seven- and nine-day Western Europe cruises; nine- and ten-day Norwegian Fjords cruises; 12-day Norway and North Cape sailings; as well as a 14-day Norway, Iceland and UK cruise.
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In addition to Hamburg, passengers sailing the Norwegian Jade during the summer of 2017 also will be able to embark the vessel in the UK and Amsterdam.
Norwegian Jade sailings that include stops in the UK will mark the first time since 2010 that the line has operated from one of the country's ports.
Other Norwegian ships operating in Europe for the summer of 2017 will include the Norwegian Epic, which once again will offer seven-night sailings out of Barcelona; Civitavecchia, Italy (near Rome); and Marseille, France.
Norwegian Spirit will sail alternating 10- and 11-night Grand Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Venice; and Norwegian Star will spend the summer cruising from Venice to the Greek Isles as well as the Adriatic, Greece & Turkey.
The newly announced voyages will open for sale to members of Norwegian's frequent cruiser program and travel agents on Feb. 9 with the general public able to book starting Feb. 10.
USA TODAY Cruise in October got exclusive access among U.S. media to Norwegian's newest ship, the Norwegian Escape. For our 'first look' tours of the vessel's public areas and cabins, click through the carousels below.
