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Old and new friends of cruise travelling will soon have the opportunity to enjoy again the unique experience of cruising with the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ships combined with the unique natural and cultural beauties of the Mediterranean and the Greek Islands, as the pioneer company expands the program of restarting its itineraries in the area.
NCL, the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced a further restart of operations in Europe from the homeports of Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia) with previously scheduled port-intensive itineraries to the Mediterranean and Greek Isles beginning Sept. 5, 2021, showcasing the growing importance of the Greek market for the company.
Guided by the robust protocols of the SailSAFE Global Health and Safety Program, and in partnership with local governments, NCL plans to welcome travelers to experience the warm and vibrant cultures and sites of Spain, Italy and Greece. Guests will be able to cruise the Greek Isles with seven-night itineraries on Norwegian Jade from Athens (Piraeus) beginning July 25, 2021. Currently scheduled to sail from Barcelona, Norwegian Epic will cruise seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Sept. 5, 2021 through Oct. 24, 2021, with Norwegian Getaway sailing a mix of 10 to 11-day Greek Isles voyages from Rome (Civitavecchia) from Sept. 13, 2021 to Oct. 25, 2021. With five to eight ports of call, up to 13 hours in each city and no more than two days at sea, guests can spend their days exploring ancient ruins and medieval architecture, admiring artistic masterpieces or simply savoring a variety of local cuisine.
“Europe is a top travel destination, so we are very much looking forward to returning to some of our most beloved homeports, resuming those itineraries and welcoming our guests to experience a vacation of a lifetime in the safest possible manner,” said Harry Sommer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are actively working with our local partners and government officials, as we plan for resumption of voyages in the region with Norwegian Epic and Getaway joining Norwegian Jade this summer. Relaunching Norwegian Epic and Getaway will allow us to provide a greater variety of highly sought-after itineraries for those travelers preparing to take their first cruise vacation in over a year.”
Norwegian Epic Redesign
Reaffirming the Company’s commitment to elevating the guest experience at sea, the Cruise Line will debut an all-new The Haven by Norwegian complex aboard Norwegian Epic, following an extensive refurbishment in Marseille, France at the end of 2020. Norwegian Epic was the first in the fleet to premiere the Brand’s key-card access ship-within-a-ship concept in 2010, complete with private amenities, dedicated services and the most luxurious accommodations on board. The recent renovation resulted in 75 reimagined and upgraded suites combined with redesigned experiences including The Haven Restaurant and The Haven Courtyard Pool and Sundeck. Norwegian Epic features one of the largest The Haven complexes in the Norwegian fleet.
“Although we have been unable to connect with our guests at sea, we have used the last year to prepare for their return by investing in our fleet and our onboard offerings,” said Sommer. “Norwegian Epic’s redesign is a testament to our unwavering commitment to extraordinary quality and elevating the standard of excellence across our fleet.”
More new itineraries to follow
As of today, the Company has announced the redeployment of 5 of its 17 ships beginning as early as July 25, 2021, sailing new and revised itineraries in Europe and The Caribbean, as part of its return to service plans. Following the resumption in Europe, the Company will also resume cruises to The Caribbean on Aug. 7, 2021 with week-long Western Caribbean itineraries aboard Norwegian Joy from Montego Bay, Jamaica; and seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages from Punta Cana (La Romana), Dominican Republic on Norwegian Gem. As these first ships prepare to welcome guests back on board, the Company looks forward to announcing further redeployments in the near future.

Norwegian Cruise Line will continue to take a thoughtful approach to redeploying its fleet, working in partnership with its destination partners and the leading experts of the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council. The Council will regularly evaluate the robust protocols of the SailSAFE Health and Safety program and make science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.

The Cruise Line also extended its temporary Peace of Mind cancelation policy to guests sailing on cruises with embarkation dates through Oct. 31, 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 Dec. 31, 2022.