Plans for Norwegian Joy to receive a $50 million renovation and relocate to the US West Coast year-round.
Norwegian Joy plans to leave China and reposition to Seattle with 7 day itineraries to Alaska in April 2019 joining the Bliss and the Jewel and replacing the Norwegian Pearl. Following the Joy’s Alaska sailings, the Joy will offer Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal sailings in the winters of 2019 and 2020 from Los Angeles.
While sailing Alaska the Norwegian Joy will have several itineraries with ports including Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, and Holkham Bay as well as a stop in Victoria, BC.
According to Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, “The booming demand environment in our core markets around the world, coupled with Norwegian Bliss’ record breaking performance, continue to exceed our expectations, as a result, we are leveraging the strategic benefits of our growing fleet to quickly seize sizable opportunities in over performing, unserved and underserved markets to meet the demands of our global customer base and drive higher returns for our shareholders”.
“Norwegian Cruise Line expanded the Alaska cruise experience as the first line to sail to the state from Seattle over 24 years ago”, states president and CEO Andy Stuart along with “I am extremely excited to further strengthen our presence in the region with the addition of Norwegian Joy, the sister ship to the Norwegian Bliss, the most successful ship in our 51 year history”.
To continue to provide service to the China market, the Norwegian Spirit will provide seasonal sailings in China beginning in the summer of 2020.
The Norwegian Pearl will then relocate to Europe in the summer of 2019, and the Norwegian Jade and Jewel will provide sailings in Australia and Asia and take on seasonal sailings from Honolulu, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Yokohama. The Jade will also offer sailings departing from Singapore and Hong Kong in the winter of 2019 and 2020 including unique itineraries port stops including Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Ha long Bay as well as itineraries through the Suez Canal and Indian Ocean featuring calls in Greece, Israel, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
With the Norwegian Joy originally being built for the Asian market, the 50 million dollar renovations will include features to those identical to the Norwegian Bliss prior to arriving to the US. Changes will include the addition of a Starbucks and enhanced restaurants, bars, and entertainment options.
Sharon at Sea