The northern hemisphere summer of 2025–26 is shaping up to be Norwegian Cruise Line’s most ambitious yet. Newly refitted ships, a headline-grabbing debut vessel and a value-packed fare structure all converge to create a bold summer cruise season that stretches from Alaska’s glacial fjords to the sun-washed shores of the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Bermuda. For Australian travellers—who already enjoy enviable direct air links to the US West Coast and Europe—the line-up is a timely invitation to trade winter chills for unforgettable warm-weather adventures at sea.
A Season Built for Every Type of Traveller
NCL’s blueprint is simple: offer more destinations, more revamped hardware and more built-in value than ever before.
Youthful Ships for the Last Frontier
NCL will field the youngest fleet in Alaska, with five vessels operating round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver. Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy headline the line-up, flaunting floor-to-ceiling observation lounges and The Waterfront—an al fresco promenade tailor-made for glacier spotting.
Newly added venues such as Horizon Park on Bliss and Spice H2O on Encore translate into extra room to lounge while Hubbard Glacier thunders in the background. Throw in nine- and ten-day itineraries on Joy and a catalogue of pre- or post-cruise Cruisetours to Denali, and adventurous Aussies can tick off North America’s final frontier without complicated logistics.
Europe, Re-imagined
Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings have long been a hallmark for NCL, but 2025 takes things up a gear. Norwegian Breakaway emerges from dry-dock with Silver Screen Bistro—a movie-and-dining concept you won’t find on any other ship—and a 360-degree Horizon Park.
Sister ship Norwegian Epic returns sporting a re-imagined kids’ aqua park and a roomier, cabana-lined Vibe Beach Club for adults. Itineraries knit together marquee cities such as Rome, Barcelona and Athens with idyllic Greek-isle anchorages, all while averaging ten hours in port. That translates to a late ferry back from Mykonos or a twilight passeggiata in Livorno without the stress of missing sail-away.
Caribbean & Bermuda Sun Chasing
If “winter blues” is your reality in Australia, NCL’s Caribbean and Bermuda programme offers the antidote. Newbuild Norwegian Aqua brings the industry-first Aqua Slidecoaster and Glow Court to seven-night Eastern Caribbean runs out of Port Canaveral, before switching to chic five- and seven-day Bermuda jaunts from New York. Meanwhile, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Jewel operate classic Bermuda escapes, each featuring an overnight at Royal Naval Dockyard so you can linger on pink-sand beaches after the day-trippers sail home.
Spotlight on the Ships
Each vessel sailing this summer has a fresh talking point—whether it’s a new restaurant, a redesigned relaxation zone or a headline attraction.
Norwegian Bliss, Encore & Joy
Purpose-built for Alaska, these Breakaway-Plus-class sisters combine 180-degree forward-facing lounges with The Waterfront’s open-air dining and cocktail nooks. Bliss’s new Horizon Park now hosts lawn games by day and cosy fire-pit gatherings by night, while Encore’s Spice H2O delivers an adult sanctuary away from the main pool bustle. Joy ups the ante in wellness with an expanded Thermal Suite—think salt-room therapy and panoramic saunas—ideal for soothing muscles after dog-sledding on the Juneau icefields.
Norwegian Breakaway & Epic in Europe
Breakaway’s dry-dock wasn’t just cosmetic. The ship gained the Silver Screen Bistro, where cult-classic films pair with themed menus in the first dining-meets-cinema concept at sea. Up top, the new Horizon Park hosts sunrise stretch classes and midnight stargazing. Epic’s overhaul centred on family fun and serenity in equal measure: kids get bigger waterslides; grown-ups gain extra cabanas at Vibe Beach Club and a redesigned Spice H2O adults-only retreat for sundowners.
Norwegian Aqua – The New Fun Standard
At the heart of Aqua is the world-first Aqua Slidecoaster, fusing water chute and roller-coaster thrills across three decks. Sports lovers gravitate to Glow Court—a digital arena that morphs from basketball venue to neon-lit nightclub—while foodies trial the brand’s debut Thai specialty restaurant, Sukhothai. Cabins include new Solo Inside studios for single travellers, and parents can retreat to expanded family suites steps from the kids’ splash zone.
Making the Most of Every Port Day
Longer calls, thoughtfully designed shore programmes and flexible Cruisetours mean you decide how deeply you dive into a destination.
Alaska Beyond the Coastline
NCL’s optional Cruisetours weave rail journeys through the Alaskan interior, riverboat safaris in Fairbanks and meet-and-greet sessions at Iditarod dog-musher camps into a seamless pre- or post-cruise package. Onboard, Naturalist Guides narrate glacier approaches from observation lounges, while Icy Strait Point offers zip-lines and a restored 1912 cannery for an authentic Tlingit welcome.
Mediterranean Immersion
With near-zero sea days on many itineraries, you might have breakfast in Sorrento, lunch on Sicilian arancini and dinner on board against a Santorini sunset—all in 48 hours. Late-night departures from ports like Katakolon let you linger in seaside tavernas, and destination-rich nine- to twelve-day routes mean fewer flights and hotel changes compared with a land tour of equal scope.
Island Time, Perfected
Caribbean and Bermuda calls feature extended evening stays—essential when you’re chasing that last snorkelling session off Tortola or a sunset rum punch in Nassau. From late 2025 Great Stirrup Cay unveils a new pier, an enormous heated lagoon and a family splash park, taking NCL’s private-island formula to the next level.
Unbeatable Value with More At Sea
Bundling the big-ticket extras into one fare means you can plan a summer escape without hidden surprises.
What’s Included
The More At Sea package folds unlimited premium open bar, two specialty-dining meals, high-speed Wi-Fi minutes and a US$50 (~AU$75) shore-excursion credit per port into the cruise fare—amounting to savings of more than 75% compared with paying à la carte.
Who Benefits Most
Families enjoy “kids sail free” on select voyages; friends travelling together score 2-for-1 airfare; couples love sneaking away to a specialty restaurant without the extra bill. Even solo travellers benefit when they book a Solo Insider studio—no single supplement, but full package perks.
Locking It In
Packages auto-apply during online booking for most summer departures, but inventory is capped. Savvy cruisers secure the deal early, then tailor extras—such as spa-treatment credits or photo packages—via NCL’s Cruise Planner once final payment is made.
Still weighing up glaciers versus Greek temples? Our intuitive Cruise Finder lets you filter NCL’s 2025–26 voyages by month, region, ship and port length to discover options you may never have considered—like a nine-day Alaska-plus-Denali combo or a back-to-back Mediterranean voyage that becomes a fortnight in pure dolce vita mode.
Each search result shows real-time pricing, current More At Sea inclusions and shore-excursion highlights, so you can compare like for like before locking in your preferred cabin. Bookmark the tool, because new promotions—think reduced deposits or free specialty-dining nights—drop regularly.
Plan Your NCL Summer Escape Today
This bold summer cruise season is the most wide-ranging Norwegian Cruise Line has ever offered: five youthful ships in Alaska, eight vessels charting almost every corner of Europe, and the high-tech Norwegian Aqua redefining family fun in the Caribbean and Bermuda. Add the More At Sea bundle and you have a holiday where premium cocktails, Wi-Fi, specialty dinners and curated shore credits are already paid for, leaving you free to focus on spotting humpbacks in Juneau or sipping sunset ouzo in Santorini.
Ready to swap winter scarves for midnight-sun memories? Reach out to our cruise specialists and we’ll match you with the itinerary—plus any limited-time bonuses—that fits your calendar and budget.
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