With Eid Al Adha and the summer holidays approaching, Norwegian Cruise Line offers Middle East travellers a well-timed opportunity to explore Europe by sea without the usual complexities of land-based travel. 

Combining comfort, flexibility and access to multiple destinations, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2025 sailings are a convenient choice for families, couples, and solo travellers planning a break.

Leading the line-up is Norwegian Viva, one of the cruise line’s newest ships, which sails a range of Mediterranean cruise itineraries between major European ports. 

Options include cruises from Rome to Lisbon, Trieste to Athens, and roundtrip sailings from Barcelona. Each itinerary is designed to reduce the need for multiple flights, hotel bookings, and overland transfers – all while offering a consistent onboard experience.

Norwegian Viva features a modern design and a broad mix of dining and entertainment, as well as wellness facilities such as thermal suites and ocean-view treatment rooms. Guests can choose to spend their time ashore exploring coastal towns or remain onboard to enjoy the ship’s amenities.

Norwegian Viva features 10 distinct restaurants including Mediterranean, Italian, French, Japanese and Mexican cuisine; more than 20 bars and cafes such as Starbucks, cocktail lounges, a whiskey bar and cigar lounge; plus a range of leisure options including infinity pools, waterslides, a kids’ aqua park, mini golf, pickleball and the Viva Speedway racetrack. 

For entertainment, guests can enjoy live shows at the Viva Theater, comedy acts, virtual reality games at the Galaxy Pavilion, and a dedicated kids’ club.

For those seeking additional privacy, The Haven by Norwegian offers access to separate suites, a private restaurant, pool, and concierge services – all within the same vessel.

Beyond Viva, other European sailings include Norwegian Epic’s 10-night roundtrip itineraries from Rome, Norwegian Sky’s Lisbon to Copenhagen voyages (11 nights), and Norwegian Breakaway’s 9-night roundtrip cruises from Barcelona.

Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Bliss offer these itineraries fresh from a major refit and refurbishment that includes expanded accommodation and outdoor spaces, a redesigned Kids’ Aqua Park, enhanced adults-only areas, and additional dining venues. 

On Norwegian Breakaway, new features include Horizon Park – an outdoor recreation space – and Silver Screen Bistro, a cinema-dining experience unique to the fleet.

For those preferring cooler climates, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Jade also operate summer itineraries through Alaska.

With departures aligned to school holidays and Eid, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Europe programme is well suited for regional travellers looking to maximise time off without sacrificing comfort or experience.