The very day Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has its Great Cruise Comeback after a 500-day hiatus, with Norwegian Jade as the first company ship to sail on a 7-day Greek Islands voyage from Athens (Pireus), NCL has another big announcement. Starting September 17, guests sailing in 2021 onboard Norwegian Getaway’s Mediterranean voyages will have the chance to embark at the Ionian port of Katakolon (Olympia), located on the Peloponnese peninsula.
“Norwegian Getaway will set sail from Barcelona, docking at Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples, then coming across to the Greek Islands, where guests can board the ship in Katakolon, the gateway to Olympia,” says Nick Wilkinson, Regional VP Business Development Middle East & Africa. “Katakolon allows us to offer a different itinerary to the Greek marketplace so that guests can enjoy both the Greek Isles and Italy on an 11-12-night itinerary.”
This is the first time NCL has added a secondary homeport in Greece, in partnership with the Greek government, and as part of its ongoing exploration of new itinerary options. The move is part of a long-term strategy by NCL to increase further the company’s presence in Europe, one of its most popular cruise destinations. By 2023, NCL plans to position nine ships in the region, with Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Gem, Jade, and Star scheduled to sail in Greece.
“We are excited to embark on the Great Cruise Comeback with a brand-new home port for our brand, offering our guests an even greater selection of unique experiences both on land and at sea,” says Eamonn Ferrin, NCL’s VP of International Business. “Greece has proven to be a dream destination for non-European guests, with Norwegian Jade’s first Greek Isles voyages selling out shortly after we announced that we were on our way back. With such strong demand, we are thrilled to expand our offering in Greece with a new opportunity for embarkation in this highly sought-after destination, providing our guests with a range of exciting itineraries to choose from.”
