The Norwegian Joy, a sibling vessel to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss, is headed to Alaska next summer after a $50 million renovation project. The cruise line made the announcement as part of a series of updates to its 2019 -2020 itineraries.
Norwegian Cruise Line reports that the Norwegian Joy will reposition to Seattle in April 2019, offering seven-day Alaska itineraries and replacing the Norwegian Pearl as the cruise line’s third ship in the region. Originally designed for the China cruise market, the Norwegian Joy is the second ship in the Breakaway Plus class, and it debuted many of the headline features from the new Norwegian Bliss, such as a top-level electric go-kart racetrack and an open-air laser tag course. The Norwegian Bliss, however, received a number of all-new features aimed specifically at Alaska cruising, such as an expanded, wraparound observation deck. Before its arrival in Seattle, Norwegian says that the Norwegian Joy will receive updates that make it “virtually identical” to the Norwegian Bliss, including the addition of a Starbucks store, as well as restaurant, bar and entertainment updates. You can read a full breakdown of the current differences between the two vessels here.
On its Alaska cruises, the Norwegian Joy will call at ports including Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Holkham Bay and Icy Strait Point, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. Following its inaugural Alaska season, the ship will sail to Los Angeles for Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal cruises in winter 2019 – 2020. The new itineraries open for booking July 24, 2018.
New in Europe, Australia and Asia
Norwegian has also announced a number of other updates to its 2019 – 2020 itineraries in Europe, Australia and Asia.
The 2,400 passenger Norwegian Pearl will head from Alaska to Europe, bringing the line’s deployment in the region to six ships. The Norwegian Pearl will sail from Amsterdam, as well as on Mediterranean sailings from Rome, Barcelona and Venice.
Once the Norwegian Joy heads to Los Angeles for winter 2019 – 2020, the Norwegian Jewel, which is set to be refurbished this fall, will return to Australia and New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific for a third year of seasonal cruises from Honolulu, Papeete, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Also that season, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Jade will sail itineraries throughout Southeast Asia from Singapore and Hong Kong, with notable ports of call including Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Ha Long Bay. In addition, Norwegian Jade will offer itineraries through the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean with calls in Greece, Israel, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Norwegian said that the deployment of the Norwegian Jewel and Jade to the region is aimed at taking advantage of the source market in Australia, which is the world’s highest-penetrated cruise market.
Finally, Norwegian will continue serving the Chinese cruise market in summer 2020 by deploying the 2,000 passenger Norwegian Spirit seasonally to the region following a previously scheduled renovation, which is part of the Norwegian Edge fleet refurbishment program. In February 2020 the ship’s journey from Europe to Asia will offer several exclusive sailings with new calls for Norwegian Cruise Line, including South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives.
Norwegian Pearl and Jewel’s new itineraries will open for bookings July 31, 2018, while Norwegian Jade and Spirit’s new itineraries will open August 6, 2018.
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