The change is spurred by New York area travel agents' request for an exotic Caribbean itinerary during the coldest months of winter. NCL can make these attractive itineraries possible for travel agents and passengers because of Norwegian Dawn's great speed of 25 knots -- reaching as far south as Barbados and Grenada.

NCL is the only cruise line to offer a year round program from New York with Norwegian Dawn. Itineraries range in length from 7 to 10 and 11 days, which is a completely new choice for the New York market on a year round basis.
"We have put our newest ship in the Big Apple and she has been extremely well received by New York agents," said Andy Stuart, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Norwegian Cruise Line. "They have asked for a longer itinerary that reaches further south in the heart of the winter so we're giving them a choice of two exotic Caribbean options."

The new itineraries go on sale Tuesday, May 20th with prices starting from $1,099 per person.

On January 4 and 25, 2004 Norwegian Dawn will set sail for an 11-day Exotic Southern Caribbean itinerary from New York calling at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. John's, Antigua; Barbados; Grenada; Dominica; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. This itinerary will also be offered in 2005 departing on January 2 and 23rd.

On January 15, 2004, Norwegian Dawn will sail a 10-day Exotic Southern Caribbean to San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. John's, Antigua; Dominica and St. Maarten.

On February 5, 2004 the ship departs for a 10-day Exotic Southern Caribbean itinerary sailing to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; St. John's, Antigua; Barbados; St. Maarten and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. This itinerary will also be offered in 2005 departing January 13th and February 3rd.

I'd like to try NORWEGIAN DAWN and I sure don't mind not flying, but with an itinerary THAT bland, I wouldn't even consider it.

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Originally posted by cruiseny:
Well it sure is a better itinerary than "Florida and the Bahamas"...

I'd like to try NORWEGIAN DAWN and I sure don't mind not flying, but with an itinerary THAT bland, I wouldn't even consider it.

I guess if it's just weather you're after, it isn't bad?

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Agreed. Too bad NCL did not change the whole season, rather then just a few cruises.

Share with us, your ideas for a more interesting itinerary.

i believe this is an experiment
for the big u and independence.
ncl will want to see if people
want to sail from one american
port to another american port.

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Originally posted by Dolphins:
Disagree that NCL's new itinerary is "bland."

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In addition, Pier 7 is HUGE and has an abundance of space to build a state-of-the-art terminal that can rival the facilities in Miami and Port Everglades.

It's also an easy turn around location and would likely cut an easy 30 minutes off the transit time from the pier to the open sea.

They also need to take the pressure off the NYC PST if they are ever going to be able to accomplish the upgrades.

--Tim

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Originally posted by SoBe Tim:
Pier 7 in Brooklyn is actually a very good and very convenient location. It is much more accessible from all three of NY's major airports than the West Side piers without all the traffic hassles.

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Well, at least from JFK and LGA, as they are of course on the same island (on which I am now sitting )... But from EWR too? (It is, of course, our largest airport, though it is not really ours!)

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They also need to take the pressure off the NYC PST if they are ever going to be able to accomplish the upgrades.

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They're planning upgrades? I hadn't heard that.

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PS--Brooklyn was home to the Bremen and Europa for many years.

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I thought they ran out of Hoboken. I know HAL did... Didn't realize that any of the big lines used Brooklyn though.

yes, from Newark as well. I've found it much easier to get to Brooklyn from Newark than to midtown manhattan. In fact, it was usually quicker for me to get home to Lower Manhattan via Brooklyn than using the Hudon tunnel crossings.

Bremen and Europe used the Brooklyn Army Terminal piers for many years as the Hudon "super-piers" had not been built yet.

Carnival, not to mention every other cruise line, has been pushing for MAJOR upgrades of the NY terminals. NYC's terminal is pathetic!

I like it. It's old style. Brooklyn would suck. You wouldn't cruise down the Hudson with that spectacular manhattan view. But if the cruise lines want to improve the Hudson piers, they can help to pay for it.

How were you getting to Brooklyn from Newark?

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Originally posted by CGT:
NYC's terminal is pathetic!

I like it. It's old style. Brooklyn would suck. You wouldn't cruise down the Hudson with that spectacular manhattan view. But if the cruise lines want to improve the Hudson piers, they can help to pay for it.

CGT

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Unfortunately "old style" doesn't work when 6-8,000 pax need to disembark in three hours time and the same number need to embark.

Sailing from Brooklyn actually affords you some very dramatic views of NYC. Having spent a considerable amount of time on NYC's waterways, the "Hoboken view" isn't the only view and certainly not the only spectacular one.

It would be a disgrace to have them terminate anywhere else.

I don't care, it's still not the same.

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Originally posted by CGT:

I don't care, it's still not the same.

CGT[/QB]

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And what type of world would we live in if everything stayed the "same"?

I guess you'll be boycotting the QM2 if she sails from Brooklyn then?

It would be awful and I'd be extremely unhappy about it, that is for sure.

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Originally posted by SoBe Tim:
And what type of world would we live in if everything stayed the "same"?
I guess you'll be boycotting the QM2 if she sails from Brooklyn then?--Tim

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Naturally that is wrong (I REFUSE to call Manhattan "the city"), but, the ships should stay in Manhattan!