NCL join the rush away from Alaska

/, Cruise News/NCL join the rush away from Alaska

The $50-a-head levy on cruise passengers imposed by Alaska has led to another ship being pulled out of the region next year. Norwegian Cruise Lines have joined the exodus led by Princess and Royal Caribbean.
Instead of sailing from Vancouver to Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, the Norwegian Sun will be sailing from Dover to the Baltic, including one of the world’s finest destinations, St Petersburg.
But interestingly, at a time when cruise lines like P&O and Royal Caribbean are adding more cruises sailing from the UK, the 1,936-passenger Sun’s arrival will mean NCL have less capacity. It replaces the 2,376-capacity Norwegian Jewel, which transfers to New York for voyages south to the Bahamas and north to New England.
Together with the previously-announced switch of Norwegian Jade from Southampton to the Mediterranean, it means far fewer opportunities for Brits to sail with NCL. Have Norwegian made a mistake by abandoning the field to Azura and Independence of the Seas? We’ll find out next year.

By | 2009-04-28T15:47:36+00:00 28 April 2009|Cruise Destinations, Cruise News|3 Comments

About the Author:

John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.

3 Comments

  1. steve conn 29 April 2009 at 3:23 am - Reply

    As a presumed expert on cruises, it is hard to believe that you think a $50 a head tax has changed NCL’s plans. The bigger picture is a switch by Holland America and others to Seattle to cut down on high air fares from Vancouver and Alaska. NCL’s rationale in the midst of an economic depression is a joke and simply its reaction for Alaska’s decision to look out for itself.

  2. John Honeywell 8 May 2009 at 9:01 pm - Reply

    Steve, you might not agree with me, but the Alaska Journal of Commerce supports my view – and they should know.
    http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/050809/loc_img_news001.shtml

  3. Anonymous 14 May 2009 at 2:44 am - Reply

    The shills for industry at the Alaska Journal of Commerce might ignore the big picture, but what is your excuse? The latest move by Celebrity Cruise to actually bring a crew member with swine flu to Alaska where there were no recorded cases, rather than leaving her to recover in Seattle- after avoiding its Mexican stops with an extended stay in San Diego- gives us a great example of the industry’s indifference to Alaska, Alaskans and to its passengers.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply