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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has announced that it will resume operations from additional U.S. and international ports this northern hemisphere autumn., with the company sayig that guests will once again sail aboard Norwegian Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Pearl, Jewel, Sun, Spirit and Norwegian’s Pride of America to explore Hawaii, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Asia and much more.

Earlier this week, NCL also announced its return to Seattle for the Alaska cruise season, with a start date of 7 August, 2021, with voyages expected to operate in the U.S. are contingent on obtaining a Conditional Sailing Certificate from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”).

The Company announced its redeployment plans for the following ships:

  • Norwegian Joy will cruise from Miami beginning 19 Oct, 2021 with five to 11-day Caribbean voyages.
  • Norwegian Breakaway will cruise seven-day itineraries to Bermuda from New York beginning 24 Oct, 2021.
  • Pride of America will offer seven-day Hawaii interisland voyages from Honolulu beginning 6 Nov, 2021.
  • Norwegian Bliss will cruise from Los Angeles for seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages beginning 7 Nov, 2021.
  • Norwegian Encore will offer seven-night itineraries from Miami to the Caribbean beginning 14 Nov, 2021.
  • Beginning 20 Nov, 2021, Norwegian Escape will cruise for the first time from Orlando (Port Canaveral), Fla., offering seven-day itineraries to the Caribbean.
  • Norwegian Pearl will sail from Miami offering Panama Canal, Bahamas and Caribbean cruises beginning 23 Dec, 2021.
  • Beginning 20 Jan, 2022, Norwegian Jewel will be the first ship in the fleet to offer roundtrip Panama Canal cruises from Panama City (Colón and Fuerte Amador).
  • Norwegian Sun will sail for the first time in Asia beginning 28 Jan, 2022, offering a five-day Japan itinerary from Hong Kong, before sailing a variety of 11-day cruises from Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.
  • Norwegian Spirit will cruise 12-day Australia and New Zealand voyages from Sydney, and Auckland, New Zealand beginning 9 Feb, 2022.

Further redeployments will be announced in the near future.

Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of NCL said, “When we first welcome our guests aboard Norwegian Jade [pictured] this July, it will be exactly 500 days since our ships last sailed,” adding, “I am so happy that we’re finally getting back to what we love the most, and I’m very proud that we continue to redeploy our fleet methodically”, and “We always said we wouldn’t rush to sail again, but that we’d get back to it when we felt we could do so safely while maintaining our incomparable guest experience”, adding, “Our efforts to resume cruising safely will continue to be slow and steady, guided by the science-backed protocols of our Sail Safe health and safety program and in collaboration with our destination partners as well as with a variety of governing bodies”, and “ We cannot wait to see our guests rediscover the world and make memories with their loved ones again.”

In conjunction with today’s redeployment announcement, the , NCL has cancelled all voyages on Pride of America through 30 Oct, 2021; Norwegian Escape through 2 Nov, 2021; Norwegian Jewel through 9 Jan, 2022; Norwegian Pearl through 7 Dec, 2021; Norwegian Spirit through 28 Jan, 2022; Norwegian Sun through 18 Jan, 2022; and the 24 Oct, 2021 itinerary aboard Norwegian Bliss.

Due to the previously disclosed lead time needed to relaunch a vessel and in order to maximise the short Alaska cruise season, , NCL has made the decision to transfer crew from Norwegian Joy to Alaska and has cancelled itineraries aboard Norwegian Joy from Montego Bay, Jamaica. Guests and Travel Partners with impacted reservations will be contacted directly.

The Cruise Line’s Peace of Mind cancellation policy remains in effect for guests sailing on cruises with embarkation dates through 31 Oct, 2021. These guests have the flexibility to cancel their cruise 15 days prior to departure. Those who take advantage of the Peace of Mind policy will receive a full refund in the form of a future cruise credit which may be applied to any sailing through 31 Dec, 2022. In addition, the Company is extending its 30-day final payment requirement to all voyages with embarkations through 31 Dec, 2021, instead of the standard 120 days, allowing for more flexible booking.

NCL will continue its measured approach to redeploying its fleet, working in partnership with destination partners, governing bodies and the leading experts of the Sail Safe Global Health and Wellness Council. The Council will regularly evaluate the robust protocols of the Sail Safe health and safety program and make science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and are modified and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.

Of course, Australians cannot currently travel overseas to participate in these cruises.

A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor.