Cruise Lines Court New Yorkers With More Ships, Better Value

Filed under: North America, United States, Cruises
New Yorkers and most of the upper east coast of the United States have had few cruise ships to choose from. Traditionally, cruise lines sailed most of their ships from warmer, southern ports, which added the cost of a flight to a cruise vacation package too. Now, cruise lines are positioning more ships from upper east coast ports with a special focus on the New York market. The end result is, and will continue to be, more choices, better pricing and the best value ever to New Yorkers.

Norwegian Cruise Lines' new 4,000-passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will sail from her homeport of New York City to the Bahamas, Florida, and the Caribbean for her inaugural winter season in 2013. That adds one more drive-to-the-port option for cruise passengers in the often under-served New York market.

"Norwegian Breakaway is one of the most highly anticipated new ships and has seen great demand for her summer sailings to Bermuda," Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan told TravelDailyNews. "We are also excited to announce that the ship will stop at our newly enhanced private island, Great Stirrup Cay, offering an exclusive beach experience."

Embarking on seven- to twelve day cruises to the Bahamas and Florida from October 2013 to April 2014, the line is taking in ports including Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay, Orlando and Port Canaveral. Two 12-day Southern Caribbean voyages and two "Weekend Escape" cruises in January 2014 are also scheduled with the 12-day itinerary incorporating visits to San Juan, St Thomas, Philipsburg, Castries, Bridgetown and Basseterre.

As the largest ship to homeport year-round in New York City, Norwegian Breakaway is expected to bring 140,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City over two years creating an estimated $35 million in direct spending.

In another move, Carnival Miracle, once a seasonal ship, started sailing year-round from New York this month, marking the line's first year-round sailings from that port.

Continue reading Cruise Lines Court New Yorkers With More Ships, Better ValueCruise Lines Court New Yorkers With More Ships, Better Value originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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