Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded its presence in the Asia-Pacific region for 2024-26, unveiling almost 90 new voyages across 15 departure ports.
The line will deploy three ships – Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Spirit – to the region to offer 24 port-intensive sailings across Asia, including its first summer cruises in Asia.
The expanded deployment is in response to a 20% jump in interest for cruising in Asia among Australian and New Zealand travellers, particularly in Japan.
Over the 18-month span, NCL will operate a variety of sailings ranging from nine to 19 days, offering guests an average of 10 hours in port in 60 locations.
Departures are scheduled from Bali (Benoa), Bangkok, Manila, Seoul, Taipei, Yokohama and Singapore, plus Papeete in Tahiti.
These include Osaka, Himeji, Matsuyama, Tokushima and Niigata in Japan; Aitutaki, Cook Islands and closer to home, debut visits to Port Douglas and Cairns.
The expanded season provides more detail on a heavily revised 2024/25 presence for Norwegian Cruise Line in Australia, with one ship – Norwegian Sun – sailing five one-way voyages to New Zealand between Dec 2024 and Mar 2025, with only a single visit to Sydney.
The abridged local presence also confirms Norwegian Cruise Line will not base a ship in Sydney for the first time since debuting in local waters in 2017 (CW 30 Apr), with Norwegian Spirit booked on charter business for the season.
Instead, the line will explore various other parts of Australia for the first time, with a trio of one-way voyages planned in 2025 between Cairns and Lautoka in Fiji – the first time either city has been used as a turnaround port by the line.
Three maiden visits to Western Australia’s ports of Fremantle, Busselton and Albany will also feature in a repositioning voyage for Norwegian Spirit as the ship makes its way back to Sydney for its regular 2025/26 homeport.
