Ship to return in 2019 with additional Havana itineraries -
Norwegian Cruise Line is the only line to offer cruises to
Havana from Port Canaveral
Norwegian Sun on a recent trip to Havana
(Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)
Port Canaveral - August 30, 2018 – Norwegian Sun will complete her first season of cruises to Cuba from Port Canaveral, Florida with her last sailing on September 3, 2018 before she moves to Miami, Florida for select sailings then repositioning to South America for her fall/winter season.
The first and only homeported ship to cruise to Cuba from Port Canaveral, Norwegian Sun, during her summer season, welcomed over 30,000 guests on 15 voyages on her four-day Cuba cruise itinerary with port of calls in Key West and an overnight in Havana. The final, and 16th sailing to Cuba from Port Canaveral, departs September 3rd for a five-day voyage to Key West, an overnight in Havana and a visit to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas.
“We’re very proud of the success of the Norwegian Sun sailings from Port Canaveral and thrilled that Norwegian Cruise Line has chosen to continue its very popular Cuba itineraries from here,” said Captain John Murray, Port CEO. “This important decision by Norwegian to bring Norwegian Sun ‘back home’ to our Port validates our commitment to meeting the needs and expectations of our valued cruise partners.”
“Since we first sailed to Cuba in 2017 from Miami, it has become one of our most popular destinations,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Norwegian Sun last homeported in Port Canaveral in the 2011/2012 fall/winter season and we were excited to return and showcase her latest enhancements and offer a new itinerary in the region.”
Following this successful first season, Norwegian Sun will return to Port Canaveral in April 2019 with even more Cuba itineraries, offering travelers the chance to experience the warm culture and people of the Caribbean island through a variety of Office of Foreign Assets Control compliant excursions available through Norwegian Cruise Line.
Port Canaveral was Norwegian Sun’s first homeport, following a three-week, bow-to-stern renovation in April in Victoria, BC as part of The Norwegian Edge®, the company’s program designed to elevate the standard of excellence across its fleet. Built in 2001, Norwegian now features refreshed staterooms and public spaces, and boasts three new venues including Los Lobos Cantina, a Mexican restaurant offering a modern take on traditional favorites; Bliss Ultra Lounge, a new bar and nightclub; and Spinnaker Lounge, featuring a larger than life dance floor.
All 968 staterooms were upgraded with smart televisions and USB ports as well as new carpet, artwork and select furniture. The newly revitalized accommodations pay tribute to the beauty of the surrounding ocean with a palette of cool blue hues and silver and turquoise accents. The abstract art within the staterooms and suites are the ideal complement to the new and modern feel.
The renovations also touched dining outlets and public spaces including Cagney’s, La Cucina, Le Bistro, Teppanyaki, the Mandara Spa, Stardust Lounge Theater, Splash Academy and more.
For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.
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About Port Canaveral
Led by the elected five-member Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners and Port Director and CEO, Captain John Murray, Port Canaveral is one of the world's most dynamic and exciting ports. A world-class gateway for cruises, cargo, recreation and logistics, as well as a gateway to new frontiers, including space, Port Canaveral hosts nearly 5 million revenue cruise passengers through its state-of-the-art terminals and 6 million of tons of cargo annually, including bulk, break-bulk, project, and containerized. The Port is strategically located to service all Florida markets, as well as the Southeastern United States. In addition to world class cruise facilities and diverse cargo operations, Port Canaveral offers more recreational opportunities than all other Florida deep-water seaports combined, including public parks, free public boat ramps, marinas, an entertainment district, and the seven-story interactive exhibit and event venue Exploration Tower. For more information, visit www.PortCanaveral.com.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 51-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising. Most notably, Norwegian revolutionized the cruise industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal cruise vacation on their schedule with no set dining times, a variety of entertainment options and no formal dress codes. Today, Norwegian invites guests to enjoy a relaxed, resort-style cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea with a wide variety of accommodations options, including The Haven by Norwegian®, a luxury enclave with suites, a private pool and dining, concierge service and personal butlers. Norwegian Cruise Line sails around the globe, offering guests the freedom and flexibility to explore the world on their own time and experience up to 27 dining options, award-winning entertainment, superior guest service and more across all of the brand’s 16 ships.
For further information on Norwegian Cruise Line visit www.ncl.com; contact us in the U.S. and Canada at 888- NCL-CRUISE (625-2784); or follow us on the following social channels for the latest company news & exclusive content: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: @NorwegianCruiseLine; Twitter and Snapchat: @CruiseNorwegian; and WeChat: @gonclcn. High resolution, downloadable images are available at www.ncl.com/media-center.
Port Canaveral Media Contact
Steve Linden
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Tel: (321) 394-3244 | Cell: (321) 576-3282
NCL Media Contact
PublicRelations@ncl.com
(305) 436-4713