Huge local interest in Norwegian Jade 2022 cruise from Dubai to Athens says NCL

Norwegian Jade will cruise from Dubai to Athens in 2022, and there’s been immense interest in the itinerary from the local cruise market in the Middle East according to the cruise line.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Dubai cruise aboard Norwegian Jade marks the third time the cruise ship will sail from the city since 2019, when she cruised from Dubai to Singapore.

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Norwegian Jade’s 2022 Dubai cruise to Athens will come after a 2021 cruise from Dubai to Cape Town, which is still on the cards, despite uncertainty over how South Africa’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic might affect travel restrictions later this year.

South Africa is struggling to bring case numbers under control, amid a halting vaccine strategy, and its more than likely that all international 2021 cruises to or from the country will need to be cancelled.

For 2022, however, there is immense local interest in Norwegian Jade’s Dubai departure.

“One of the great things we’re seeing from our customers, and we’ve been hearing it right over the last 12-plus months where we’ve been unable to sail, is that customers are desperate to get back to cruising with us,” says Nick Wilkinson, Regional Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Norwegian Cruise Line.

“That’s what we’re hearing from customers everywhere, particularly from the Middle East. We see the cruise demand growing so much right across the Middle East,” he added.

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Norwegian Jade has 10 dining options, 15 bars and cafes, three pools, a spa and gym, casino, Broadway-style theatre and facilities for young children to teens. The 2006-built ship was also thoroughly refurbished in 2017.

The refit saw every part of the ship enhanced, including the addition of two brand new restaurants and two new bars and lounges, updated design and décor in many public spaces, and a refurbishment of all staterooms as part of the Norwegian Edge fleetwide upgrade program.

The ship will cruise from Dubai on February 13th, 2022, calling in 11 ports on her way to Greece.

These include Abu Dhabi and Fujairah in the UAE, Salalah in Oman, Aqaba in Jordan (the gateway to Petra), Safaga in Egypt, a transit of the Suez Canal and calls in Ashdod and Haifa in Israel.

Norwegian Jade will then visit Limassol, Cyprus and Rhodes, Greece before arriving in Piraeus (Athens) on March 3rd, 2022.