Norwegian Jade to cruise from Dubai in 2019 as NCL expands Chinese presence

Norwegian Cruise Line is stepping up its Dubai cruise departures in 2019, with plans to do a one-time cruise from Dubai aboard Norwegian Jade as she repositions between Europe and Asia.

Building on NCL’s presence in China, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade will offer a season of sailings throughout Southeast Asia departing from Singapore and Hong Kong in winter 2019/2020.

Port of call highlights include high demand locations such as Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Ha Long Bay.

RELATED: Cruise Lifestyle: Top 10 largest cruise ship suites

RELATED: Review: Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas

Norwegian Jade will wrap up her Europe cruise season, sailing roundtrip out of Civitavecchia (Rome) at the end of October, 2019 and will then be deployed to Asia.

On her repositioning cruise between the Mediterranean and Hong Kong and Singapore, Norwegian Jade will transit the Suez Canal and visit Greece, Israel, and Jordan en-route to Dubai.

Dubai will be a key turnaround port on the voyage, with a two-week cruise from Dubai to Singapore or Hong Kong that will include port calls in several key Indian Ocean destinations such as the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Norwegian Jade carries 2,400 passengers and is 93,558-gross tons. She features 10 dining options, 15 bars and cafes, two lounges, a nightclub, expansive kids facilities for toddlers through to teens, as well as a spa and casino.

Norwegian Jade was launched in 2006, but was thoroughly refurbished during a refit in March, 2017, that left the ship feeling new throughout. The project, part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Edge project, brought her up to date with the newer ships in the fleet.

All staterooms were overhauled with new carpeting and furniture and many of her eateries have been moved (Moderno Churrascaria) or expanded (Cagney’s), while new ones were added (O’Sheehan’s).

RELATED: Royal Caribbean returning to Dubai for 2019/2020 cruise season

RELATED: Norwegian Cruise Line announces plans to reduce single-use plastics

The garish early millennium inspired orange, purple and pink colour palette has also been replaced with more subdued tones.

The deployment of Norwegian Jade to Asia in 2020 comes as NCL also repositions Norwegian Spirit to the region for the same year, Norwegian Spirit, however, will reposition via South Africa rather than the Middle East.

The redeployment of the NCL fleet comes as the cruise line takes delivery of new cruise ships, freeing up capacity for high-demand regions such as China and Australia.

Norwegian Joy’s seasonal sailings in Los Angeles in winter 2019/2020 will free up capacity for Norwegian Jewel, which will be refurbished this fall, to return to Australia/New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific.

Jewel will do a third year of seasonal cruises from Honolulu, Papeete, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo (Yokohama).

The deployment of Norwegian Jewel and Jade to the region is aimed to take full advantage of the flourishing source market in Australia, which remains the world’s highest-penetrated cruise market and one of its most desirable destinations.