Two more ships return to sail in Mediterranean for Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line have celebrated two more ships returning to sail this week in the Mediterranean, marking a third of their fleet as back in operation

By Cruise Adviser On Sep 16, 2021

The beginning of this week saw Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) return two more of its ships to service.

Norwegian Getaway embarked on its first voyage on Monday (September 13) from Rome, with 10- and 11-day sailings in Italy and the Greek isles. Getaway will be calling to Dubrovnik, Corfu, Katakolon, Santorini, Mykonos, Naples and Livorno.

Norwegian Epic, meanwhile, completed its first voyage to ports in Spain and Italy, after setting sail from Barcelona for seven days. During the sailing, Epic called at Livorno, Tuscany, Florence, Rome, Naples, Cagliari and Palma.

Guests were welcomed aboard the newly refurbished Epic. Renovations took place in 75 reimagined and upgraded suites, with redesigned experiences including The Haven Restaurant and The Haven Courtyard Pool and Sundeck.

Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of NCL, said: “It has been exhilarating to watch our Great Cruise Comeback unfold over these past three months, with a third of our fleet now back offering unforgettable vacation experiences.

“The joy of reuniting with our shipboard families and welcoming our guests back on board will never grow old. Being able to return to one of our most popular home ports in Europe, debuting the recently refurbished The Haven by Norwegian™ aboard Norwegian Epic, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to extraordinary quality and elevating the standard of excellence across our fleet.”

Jose Alberto Carbonell, managing director of the Port of Barcelona added: “We’re thrilled to welcome NCL back to the Port of Barcelona. During the past 18 months, we’ve worked diligently with the NCL team to ensure a safe resumption of cruising from Barcelona for guests, crew and the citizens of our city. We are glad to finally celebrate the comeback of cruising together.”

The two most recent sailings in the Mediterranean mark a milestone in the company’s return to cruising after the more than 500-day suspension on cruising during the Covid outbreak; NCL returned its first ship on July 25 2021 and has now returned a third of its 17 vessels.