Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced its 2010-2011 winter deployment which includes a continued year-round commitment to Europe with Norwegian Jade sailing from Barcelona and the addition of Norwegian Jewel, joining Norwegian Gem, sailing from New York, giving guests the opportunity to choose from among NCL’s newest ships, purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising.

NCL will continue its popular sailings to the Caribbean from New Orleans on the newly refurbished Norwegian Spirit and to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles on Norwegian Star. In addition, NCL has also released its 2010-2011 repositioning voyages which include the Panama Canal, Pacific Coastal and Transatlantic. These cruises go on sale January 22, 2009.

“Having Norwegian Jade homeported in Barcelona for the winter gives guests another option for exploring the many different ports in Europe, during a time of the year when it is less crowded and the weather is mild,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s president and CEO. “By bringing Norwegian Jewel to New York, along with our newest ship, Norwegian Gem, we are giving guests more choice and more ways to escape the cold Northeast winters without the hassle of air travel.”

In Europe year-round, the 2,402-passenger Norwegian Jade will sail alternating 12- and nine-day cruises from its homeport of Barcelona, Spain. The 12-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings include the following ports of call: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt; and Valletta, Malta. The nine-day Canary Islands & Morocco sailings include stops in Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: Funchal, Madeira; and Granada (Málaga), Spain. Since there is no port repetition between the two itineraries, they can be easily combined to create a port-rich 21-day European tour.

The 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel homeports for the first time in New York, along with the 2,380-passenger Norwegian Gem; both ships will sail a series of 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruises with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. John’s, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten and Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises with stops in Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island) and Nassau, Bahamas.

Norwegian Spirit, which underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2008, returns to New Orleans sailing a series of 24 seven-day Exotic Western Caribbean cruises. Ports of call include: Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala; and Belize City, Belize. Norwegian Star sails back to Los Angeles for a series of 24 seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Repositioning cruises in the 2010-2011 deployment include:

• On April 10 (New York to Venice) and October 30 (Venice to New York), 2010, Norwegian Gem sails a 14-day Transatlantic with stops in Ponta Delgada, Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; Seville (Cádiz) and Granada (Málaga), Spain.
• On April 10, 2010, Norwegian Pearl will sail a 14-day Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles. Ports of call include: Cartagena, Columbia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Huatulco, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and a daylight transit through the Panama Canal.
• On April 11, 2010, Norwegian Jewel sails a 15-day Transatlantic from Miami to London (Dover), England. Ports of call include: Ponta Delgada, Azores; Lisbon Portugal; Vigo and La Coruña, Spain; Waterford, Ireland; and Guernsey, Channel Islands.
• On April 11, 2010, Norwegian Spirit embarks on a 12-day Caribbean Escape from New Orleans to Boston. Ports of call include: Costa Maya, Mexico; Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstand, Curacao; and Hamilton, Bermuda.
• On April 24, 2010, Norwegian Pearl  sails from Los Angeles to Vancouver with stops in San Francisco, California; Astoria, Oregon; Victoria and Campbell River, British Columbia.
• On May 1, 2010, Norwegian Star repositions on a seven-day cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia with stops in Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska through the Inside Passage.
• On September 8, 2010, Norwegian Jewel sails from London (Dover), England, to New York. Ports of call include: Lerwick, Shetland Islands; Thorshavn, Faroe Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland; St. John, Newfoundland; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• On October 2, 2010, Norwegian Star sails on a seven-day British Colombia and U.S. West Coast cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Ports of call include: Campbell River and Victoria, British Columbia; Astoria, Oregon; and San Francisco, California.
• On October 10, 2010, Norwegian Dawn departs from New York to Miami on a 12-day Caribbean Escape with stops in Samana, Dominican Republic; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Belize City, Belize.
• On October 23, 2010, Norwegian Spirit  sails a 15-day Caribbean Escape from Boston to New Orleans. Ports of call include: Samaná, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.
• On September 19, 2010, Norwegian Pearl  sails a five-day Pacific Coastal from Vancouver to Los Angeles with stops in Astoria, Oregon and San Francisco, California.
• Norwegian Star  will sail four 14-day Panama Canal sailings from Miami to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Miami on November 20 and December 4, 2010 and January 1 and January 15, 2011. Ports of call include: Cartagena, Columbia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Huatulco, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and a daylight transit through the Panama Canal.

To book one of these new itineraries, guests should contact us at 877 325-7522. Further information can be found online at www.chtravel.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is the innovator in cruise travel with a 42-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, NCL has the youngest fleet in the industry with 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.

NCL is presently building a new third generation Freestyle Cruising ship known as F3, for delivery in 2010.

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most successful cruise line in the world, carrying more passengers than any other. 

But “Today’s Carnival” is a vastly different company than the one started from humble beginnings nearly four decades ago. Carnival was launched with a converted trans-Atlantic ocean liner and a dream of entrepreneur Ted Arison, a pioneer in the modern-day cruise industry who set out to realize his vision of making a vacation experience once reserved for the very rich accessible to the average person.

The rest, as they say, is history.

THROUGH THE YEARS . . .

1972 – Maiden voyage of Carnival’s first ship, the TSS Mardi Gras, which runs aground on sandbar outside the Port of Miami

1975 – Carnival purchases Empress of Britain, enters service as the TSS Carnivale

1978 – The Festivale, formerly the S.A. Vaal, undergoes $30 million refurbishment, begins service for Carnival as the largest and fastest vessel sailing from Miami to the Caribbean (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1982 – Debut of the Tropicale, the first new cruise ship the cruise industry has seen in many years; ship marks the beginning of an industry-wide multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding boom (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1984 – Carnival becomes first cruise line to advertise on network television with the premiere of new advertising campaign starring company spokesperson Kathie Lee Gifford (then Johnson)

1985 – Debut of 46,052-ton Holiday

1986 – Launch of 47,262-ton Jubilee (the ship has since been retired from the fleet)

1987 – The 47,262-ton Celebration enters service (ship to leave fleet in April 2008)

Carnival earns distinction as “Most Popular Cruise Line in the World,” carrying more passengers than any other

Carnival Cruise Lines undertakes its initial public offering on Wall Street, raising approximately $400 million to fuel future expansion; entity later becomes Carnival Corporation & plc, a multi-line worldwide cruise conglomerate

1990 – The 70,367-ton Carnival Fantasy – the first and namesake vessel in the highly successful “Fantasy-class” — enters service as first new ship ever placed on three- and four-day Bahamas cruise program from Miami. Eventually, Carnival would construct eight “Fantasy-class” vessels, the most cruise ships in a single class.

1991 – Launch of 70,367-ton Carnival Ecstasy

1993 – Carnival introduces its third 70,367-ton SuperLiner, Carnival Sensation

1994 – Debut of 70,367-ton Carnival Fascination

Carnival’s parent company renamed Carnival Corporation to distinguish between it and its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Lines. Company is later renamed Carnival Corporation & plc following the combination with P&O Princess Cruises, creating the world’s largest cruise vacation group by far.

1995 – 70,367-ton Carnival Imagination enters service

1996 – Carnival’s launches sixth “Fantasy-class” vessel, the SuperLiner Carnival Inspiration

Carnival debuts the first passenger vessel to exceed 100,000 tons, the 101,353-ton Carnival Destiny, at the time the world’s largest cruise ship

1998 – Carnival Cruise Lines introduces seventh “Fantasy-class” vessel, the Carnival Elation, the first new cruise ship deployed on the West Coast 

The eighth and last in the “Fantasy-class” series, the Carnival Paradise, enters service

1999 – Debut of the 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph, Carnival’s second “Destiny-class” vessel

2000 – A third “Destiny-class” vessel, the 102,000-ton Carnival Victory, is launched.

2001 – Carnival introduces a new class of vessel with the launch of the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit, the first new “Fun Ship” ever positioned in the Alaska and Hawaii markets

2002 – A second “Spirit-class” vessel, the Carnival Pride, is launched

Carnival’s third “Spirit-class” ship, Carnival Legend, enters service

Debut of the 110,000-ton Carnival Conquest, at the time the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed. 

2003- Second 110,000-ton “Conquest-class” ship, the Carnival Glory, begins year-round seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., July 19.

2004 – Carnival Miracle, the fourth in Carnival’s “Spirit-class,” begins a series of 12 voyages from Jacksonville, Fla. – the first “Fun Ship” sailings from that port – Feb. 27, 2004.

A third 110,000-ton “Conquest-class” ship, the Carnival Valor, begins year-round seven-day service from Miami Dec. 19, 2004, becoming the largest “Fun Ship” ever based at that port.

2005 – A fourth 110,000-ton “Conquest-class” vessel, Carnival Liberty, debuts July 20, 2005, operating Carnival’s first-ever Mediterranean cruises.

2007 – Carnival Freedom, the line’s fifth 110,000-ton vessel, debuts in Europe, operating by 12-day voyages to the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, and Turkey.

2008 - The 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor debuted in July 13, 2008, operating Carnival’s first Northern Europe cruise program.  The ship launches year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises in March 2009.

2009 – Carnival Dream, a 130,000-ton vessel to be the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed – is scheduled to enter service Sept. 21, 2009, beginning a new class of vessel for the line.

2011 - A second 130,000-ton SuperLiner, Carnival Magic, is slated to debut in June 2011.

MIAMI, January 9, 2008 – Royal Caribbean International guests can Rumba, Samba, Cha-Cha, Waltz or Swing into the spotlight in “Invitation to Dance,” the cruise line’s newest production show featuring guests as stars aboard Explorer of the Seas. Created in conjunction with Louis van Amstel, Emmy-nominated choreographer for ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars,” and Cheryl Burke, two-time winner on the show, “Invitation to Dance” transports the world of professional ballroom dancing to the high seas.

Guests sailing on Explorer of the Seas have the opportunity to compete for the honor of best ballroom dancers at sea. With the guidance of professional dancers, stylists and make-up artists, guests may just realize their true calling while on vacation.

“Invitation to Dance’ is another example of Royal Caribbean’s dynamic and innovative approach to offering engaging entertainment and activities for our guests,” said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment and Guest Activities, Royal Caribbean International. “With all the excitement surrounding competitive dancing on television, we are now challenging our guests to live out a dream while enjoying their cruise vacation.”

Chosen during an evening of ballroom dancing at the beginning of each cruise, four couples are selected to participate in the “Invitation to Dance” production show later that week. The finalists work with Royal Caribbean’s professional ballroom couples to learn slick dance moves, attend costume fittings, and receive star treatment in preparation for their Royal Caribbean stage debut. Showtime is an exciting evening in the spotlight for the dancing couples as they join the Royal Caribbean cast on stage and compete against each other for the applause and support of their fellow guests.

Explorer of the Seas sails year-round from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ, on fivenight Bermuda getaway cruises and nine-night Caribbean vacations.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and three under construction. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, South America and New Zealand through its cruisetour division.

Royal Caribbean International guests can Rumba, Samba, Cha-Cha, Waltz or Swing into the spotlight in “Invitation to Dance,” the cruise line’s newest production show featuring guests as the stars aboard Explorer of the Seas. “Invitation to Dance” transports the world of professional ballroom dancing to the high seas with a little help from guests.