(23/05/24) Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has unveiled details
of over 24 new port-intensive cruises across
Asia, for a total of 85 Asia Pacific voyages from September 2024
through March 2026 on new-to-the-region ships, the Norwegian Spirit,
Sun and Sky.
NCL will operate an extended season of
voyages from 15 departure ports, including
Auckland, New Zealand; Bali, (Benoa) Indonesia; Bangkok (Laem
Chabang), Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Papeete (Tahiti), French
Polynesia; Seoul (Incheon), South Korea; Singapore; Taipei
(Keelung), Taiwan; Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan; Vancouver, Canada;
Sydney, Melbourne and for the first time, Cairns, Australia, and
Lautoka, Fiji.
The new 9 to 19-day voyages offer guests an
average of 10 hours in port to over 60 locations, including
NCL-first calls to Albany, Busselton, Fremantle, Port Douglas and
Townsville, Australia; Matsuyama and Niigata, Japan; Aitutaki in
the Cook Islands; and Suva, Fiji.
Norwegian Spirit in Yokohama Bay, Japan
Spanning 18 months, the season will also feature
36 overnight port stays in Asia Pacific to 11 unique places, including Osaka, Japan, where guests can explore
over 1,600 temples and fascinating heritage; Himeji, Japan, home
to Himeji Castle, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage site; and
Tokushima, Japan, where guests can savour a wide variety of
culinary specialties, as well learn about the town’s deep history
and culture, and even visit the Tatsue-ji Temple.
Other overnight calls include Hong Kong, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand,
as well as Bali and Lombok in Indonesia.
“In response to the strong demand for Asia as a
destination, we are thrilled to launch 24 new immersive
itineraries, as part of our most extensive Asia offering to date,”
said Ben Angell, Vice President, and Managing Director, Norwegian
Cruise Line APAC. “Demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the region as both a
destination and source market, NCL is now offering 85 Asia Pacific
voyages from September 2024 through March 2026 across three ships
and fifteen departure ports, including Bali, Papeete, Tokyo and
Singapore.”
Norwegian Spirit will debut in Asia on 26 May 2024
for a 10-day Japan cruise departing from Tokyo. Then, in the
spring, she will return for a season of 9 to 15-day voyages to
Japan and Southeast Asia, from 22 September 2024 through 17
November 2025, exploring both well known and off the beaten path
cities such as Himeji, Osaka, Tokyo and Tokushima, Japan; Hong
Kong, Incheon, South Korea; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; and Bangkok
(Laem Chabang) in Thailand.
From December 2025 to March 2026, Norwegian Spirit
will return to offer a series of 11 to 14-day journeys to and between
Australia and New Zealand.
In December, Norwegian Sun will make her
Australian debut, arriving in Brisbane and Melbourne on 18 and 21
December 2024, respectively, following a leisurely 18-day French Polynesia and
South Pacific sailing, which departs Papeete on 3 December and
visits eight ports.
She will then sail a section of 12 to 15-day
voyages between Australia and New Zealand, including a new
collection of NCL-first itineraries to the Great Barrier Reef and
South Pacific between Cairns and Lautoka, Australia, which is also
NCL’s first turnaround in both ports.
Norwegian Sun will also sail six
island-hopping French Polynesia cruises between Fiji and Tahiti
and two Asia cruises through 21 May 2025.
From November 2025 to March 2026, Norwegian Sun
will sail a selection of 11 to 15-day itineraries exploring Japan,
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and other
highly sought-out destinations in Southeast Asia.
In addition, Norwegian Sky will debut in Asia in
January 2025, offering select Japan and Southeast Asia cruises
ranging from 10 to 17 days through March 2025.
