Norwegian Cruise Line Returns to Australia

After three years, Norwegian Cruise Line has returned to Australia. Norwegian Spirit sailed into Sydney Harbour today for the first time with guests from over 20 countries on board.

Down Under, Norwegian Spirit will offer eight open-jaw sailings between December 2022 and March 2023 from Sydney and Auckland. Destinations will include Napier, Tauranga, and Fiordland in New Zealand, along with Melbourne, Burnie, and Eden in Australia.

norwegian spirit australia
(Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Starting in December 2023, the ship will return for a second homeporting season from Sydney and Auckland.

“We’re thrilled to finally welcome Norwegian Spirit to Australia – she is well and truly worth the wait,” said Ben Angell, Vice President and Managing Director NCL, APAC.

In Sydney to welcome the ship, Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Harry Sommer said “Australia and New Zealand are incredibly important markets for us, both as a source market and a destination, and we are committed to this region for the long term. I’m thrilled to be here in person to celebrate our return to Australia after a three-year hiatus, and to join the festivities as Norwegian Spirit spends an extended overnight visit in Sydney before she sets sail on her Christmas cruise tomorrow!”

norwegian spirit sydney australia
Norwegian Spirit in Sydney, Australia (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

MORE: Carnival Corporation to Sell Off Three More Cruise Ships

Guests on Norwegian Spirit‘s maiden Australia voyage, which departs tomorrow, have the opportunity to join a brand-first experience to give back in the coastal community of Eden, where NCL’s new partner organization — Take 3 for the Sea — will host a beach clean-up that guests can take part in. Visitors will head ashore on December 23rd with an expert Take 3 for the Sea guide, removing trash from a beach to support the organization’s goal to remove 50 million pieces of plastic from the oceans by 2025.

The new shore excursion initiative reflects Norwegian Cruise Line and Take 3 for the Sea’s shared commitment to reducing single-use plastics, with guests encouraged to “take 3” whenever they go ashore in Australia and New Zealand during Norwegian Spirit‘s maiden season there.

Norwegian Spirit underwent a major overhaul in 2020 and features a spa with thermal suite, the adults-only Spice H2O pool retreat, and the Onda by Scarpetta specialty Italian restaurant.

norwegian spirit onda by scarpetta italian restaurant
Onda by Scarpetta on Norwegian Spirit (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Guests can also expect to enjoy menu items made with locally-sourced ingredients, including barramundi, lamb, eggs, milk, yogurt, and fruit and vegetables. Local favorites like Vegemite, Weet Bix, Milo, Four’n Twenty sausage rolls, and Fountain mint sauce will be available, helping make Australian and New Zealand cruisers feel especially at home on board.

READ NEXT: MSC Cruises Heads to Gulf Coast, Set to Build Brand-New Terminal

Share this post

Send this to a friend
Hi, this may be of interest to you: Norwegian Cruise Line Returns to Australia. This is the link: https://cruiseradio.net/norwegian-cruise-line-returns-australia/