The Most Spectacular Cruises in the World: Navigating the Waters of the Most Exotic Places on the Planet

Explore the Venice of the North while admiring the most spectacular mansions and guild buildings from the Golden Age in the city of Amsterdam. Or dock in Saint-Tropez, in the heart of the French Riviera, and step off the ship to enjoy an afternoon of shopping in one of the most glamorous places in the world. All of this, departing from an iconic and nearby port, Bilbao.

This is one of the offerings for 2023 from NCL, which will launch its first cruise with Bilbao as the home port on September 7.

There are two itineraries available from the Basque capital: one that explores Europe with longer stays, visiting cities like Amsterdam, A Coruña, or Lisbon (12 days, departing on September 7), and another through the Mediterranean, with stops in the French Riviera, Italy, Portugal... (also 12 days, departing from Bilbao on September 19, 2023).

The chosen ship is the Norwegian Gem, featuring spa treatments, a wide variety of live shows, a carefully curated dining selection, accommodations for all tastes (from balcony cabins to exterior and interior cabins), and the star of the cruise, The Haven by Norwegian, the most exclusive accommodation located at the top of the ship, offering 24-hour butler service, concierge, and a private sun deck.

The most exotic and spectacular places in the world are now closer than ever thanks to the new itineraries prepared by Norwegian Cruise Line for 2024 and 2025, featuring new ports that promise to delight the most discerning travelers.

In this new season of itineraries from October 2024 to December 2025, NCL has expanded its trips to Antarctica, South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand by over 37%. And its Extraordinary Travels, the collection of immersive trips with some of the best ports in the world, has expanded its offerings by 15%.

Here are the most spectacular itineraries:

The Norwegian Star will embark on a 14-day journey through South America to Brazil and Antarctica, departing on March 1, 2025, offering a more engaging and immersive experience to discover South America and journey to Antarctica.

During the trip, guests will sail through Paradise Bay in Antarctica and admire the stunning glaciers and local wildlife while appreciating the culture of Puerto Madryn and Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo and Punta del Este (Uruguay), and São Paulo (Santos).

The company will offer a seven-day cruise through the Middle East aboard the Norwegian Sun from Doha, Qatar, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), departing on April 12, 2025. An overnight stay in Abu Dhabi, UAE, will give travelers the opportunity to explore this culturally rich destination. Additionally, the open-sea journey includes visits to Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Manama (Bahrain), which NCL visits for the first time, Dubai, and Sir Bani Yas, the largest island located southwest of Abu Dhabi (UAE).

Together, the Norwegian Sun and the Norwegian Sky will debut in Asia, offering an extensive eight-month season from October 2024 to May 2025, sailing immersive journeys through the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan, including appealing Japanese itineraries in spring to enjoy the cherry blossoms and autumn foliage.

For the first time, NCL will make a stop in Akita, Japan, during the 12-day round trip of the Norwegian Sun from Tokyo, embarking on October 23, 2024. The Norwegian Spirit will join both ships in the region, setting off on a new repositioning journey from Australia to Asia on December 7, 2024, followed by its first journey through Asia on December 21, 2024.

The company's exclusive travel offerings, which give guests the opportunity to discover unknown places and create unforgettable moments, will feature two consecutive new voyages aboard the Norwegian Sky. Departing in December 2024, the ship will offer a 16-day cruise through Africa, visiting Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Oman and more during its journey from Dubai (UAE) to Mauritius.

Next, it will offer a 17-day voyage from Mauritius to Singapore with stops in Seychelles, Maldives, and Zanzibar.

On April 19, 2025, the Norwegian Sun will embark on a 16-day cruise from Dubai (UAE) to Haifa (Israel) with 10 port stops, including Sokhna (Egypt), a brand new port for NCL. Visiting Sokhna allows easier access to Cairo, where guests can explore the ancient Great Pyramids of Giza.

The Norwegian Spirit returns to Australia for its third season with a new 14-day itinerary along the Queensland coast, from Sydney to Bali in December 2024.

The journey includes stops in Cairns and Darwin, Australia; as well as an overnight visit to Bali (Benoa), Indonesia, providing more time for cruisers to enjoy this exotic destination. Additionally, the ship will make its first stop in Rarotonga (Cook Islands) in November 2025.

In November 2024, Norwegian Sky will undertake an Extraordinary Journey through the Middle East with a 16-day cruise from Haifa, Israel, to Dubai, UAE, including the unique opportunity for guests to traverse the Suez Canal in Egypt.