by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:25 PM ET, Thu October 19, 2023
Norwegian Cruise Line has begun its first six-month season in Asia for the first time in three years this week as the Norwegian Jewel began a cruise in Japan from Tokyo.
The Norwegian Jewel ship is the first in the fleet to be returning to Asia, offering sixteen different itineraries across eleven countries, visiting destinations like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Bali, Tokyo and Yokohama.
As a first for NCL, the ship will also be stopping in Seoul (from Incheon) in South Korea this year.
Itineraries range from ten to fourteen days long and offer an average of less than two days at sea. Extended late departures and overnight stays are also offered in places like Osaka and Bali.
New ports of call include Seoul in South Korea; Manila, Boracay, Palawan and Salomague in the Philippines; Bintan Island in Indonesia and Hualien in Taiwan.
"Today is a milestone moment, as we return to Asia with Norwegian Jewel’s arrival to Tokyo," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We pride ourselves in delivering the best vacation experience and providing endless opportunities for our guests to explore the world…including Asia! This region delivers some of the most intriguing history, cuisine, and culture for travelers to discover, and we are thrilled to deliver a diverse selection of port-rich voyages. This market is important to us, and we are committed to servicing it in the long term."
NCL will have a record number of ships deployed in Asia for next year’s 2024-25 cruise season, with the Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky.
The Norwegian Sun will offer a six-month Asia-Pacific season when it debuts in October 2024, including four new itineraries with departures from Melbourne and Auckland.
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