Norwegian Pearl to debut its sailings from New York

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that for the first time in its history, the Norwegian Pearl will sail out of New York for its Fall-Winter 2012-2013 deployment. The Norwegian Pearl will begin sailing out of New York in October 2012, and also, the Norwegian Gem will begin sailing out of that port beginning in September 2012.

This will be a great catch for the New York/New England area, as they will have unique itineraries and larger ships from which to choose. The 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl will sail from New York, offering a series of 21 seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises, along with three 12-day Southern Caribbean cruises.

According to Norwegian:

"Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its Northeast deployment schedule for the 2012/2013 fall and winter season which features two, large Freestyle Cruising ships sailing from New York offering a variety of itineraries.  For the first time, the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl will sail from New York beginning in October 2012, offering a series of 21 seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises, along with three 12-day Southern Caribbean voyages.  Norwegian Gem, also accommodating 2,394 passengers, will continue to homeport in New York where she will offer a series of 24 nine-day Eastern Caribbean voyages and four 10-day cruises to Eastern Canada and Quebec. Rounding out the fall season from the Northeast, Norwegian Dawn will sail seven day cruises to Canada and New England from both Boston and Quebec for five weeks starting September 21, 2012.

“With the arrival of Norwegian Pearl in New York, we will have two of our newer and larger Freestyle Cruising ships sailing from this very popular homeport,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer.  “New Yorkers love Freestyle Cruising because it suits their needs. With two of our Jewel-class ships in New York, we are giving guests more choice and the opportunity to sail longer cruises to the Caribbean.” 

Norwegian Pearl will make her New York debut on October 14, 2012, sailing a seven-day itinerary that calls on Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral); Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian’s private island) and Nassau, Bahamas. The three 12-day Southern Caribbean cruises, on January 6, January 20 and February 3, 2013, include stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados and St. John’s, Antigua; as well as five relaxing days at sea.  Norwegian Pearl will also offer three opportunities to experience Freestyle Cruising on a two-day getaway sailing from New York on January 18, February 1 and February 15, 2013.  

Continuing to homeport in New York, the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Gem will sail two newly extended itineraries to Eastern Canada and Quebec and the Eastern Caribbean.  Norwegian Gem will begin her four 10-day sailings to Canada and Quebec on September 8, 2012; calling on Halifax, Nova Scotia; an overnight in Quebec City, Quebec; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and Sydney, Nova Scotia. From October 20, 2012 to April 18, 2013, Norwegian Gem’s nine-day itinerary to the Eastern Caribbean will stop in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Samana, Dominican Republic.

Beginning on September 21, 2012, the 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will spend the fall season in Canada and New England. The ship will offer three seven-day sailings from Boston visiting Portland, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Gaspésie, Quebec; Saguenay (La Baie), Quebec and ending in Quebec City, Quebec. Norwegian Dawn will also offer two seven-day sailings from Quebec calling Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Sydney, Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick; Bar Harbor, Maine. Guests can combine these itineraries into a 14-day cruise, with an option to embark from either Boston or Quebec. This will be the first time Norwegian Cruise Line will visit Gaspésie in Quebec."

You may call NCL directly at 1-866-234-7350 to make a booking or inquire more about these sailings. Or you can call your travel agent to help you. If you don't have a travel agent, one can be found at the end of this post.

Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Tel: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com. Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/.