Laid-back luxury: Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship to cruise Australia and NZ

After months of no holidays and being stuck indoors, Aussie cruise-lovers now have something to look forward to, with the arrival of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)’s all-new Norwegian Spirit to local waters for the very first time in 2021.

Completely modernised from bow to stern with the adult cruiser in mind, Norwegian Spirit will be arriving in Australia next year and there are opportunities for you to jump on board with five incredible holiday options on offer through Travel at 60. At the end of next year, you could be experiencing New Zealand’s pristine vistas and Australia’s rugged coastline from one of the best vantage points in the world, with several cruises due to set sail over the inaugural 2021/2022 local summer sailing season.

From cruising the scenic peaks and tree-lined cliffs of Milford Sound to exploring the historic buildings and fine food of Akaroa – New Zealand’s only French settlement – or venturing to Eden’s Ben Boyd National Park for some snorkelling in the summer sunshine, guests will be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities to explore ashore on their adventure.

Aussies can celebrate Christmas and New Year on board the ship, with a 12-night Australia and New Zealand trip from Sydney to Auckland. The voyage sees the cruise line make its debut in Timaru, with Norwegian Spirit also set to visit a range of amazing local ports including Eden, Burnie, Napier and Akaroa.

Then there’s the 12-night voyage which departs in February 2022. It gives guests the opportunity of a lifetime to discover the renowned Milford Sound, with this itinerary also visiting a spectacular array of ports including Tauranga, Gisborne, Wellington and Picton (Marlborough) for an immersive New Zealand cruise experience.

And travellers can’t miss the 12-night itinerary, departing Sydney on January 16, 2022. During this journey guests will cruise through some of Australia and New Zealand’s most scenic destinations, visiting a variety of beautiful ports including Lyttelton, Dunedin, Burnie, Auckland and Eden. A similar cruise is departing in March 2022 – also for 12 nights, travelling from Sydney to Auckland.

Meanwhile, for those who want to travel a little further afield, cruise-lovers can join the 13-night journey which travels from Sydney to Bali. It’s due to set sail in March 2022 and will take travellers to the beautiful and scenic Airlie Beach, Cairns, Cooktown and Darwin, before heading to Indonesia’s Komodo and Bali.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there, as the cruise ship recently underwent the most extensive bow-to-stern modernisation in the history of the line’s innovative fleet. Once onboard the all-new Norwegian Spirit guests will experience laid-back luxury with reimagined and refined adult-centric spaces, fresh staterooms and 14 new venues. They can tickle their tastebuds at fine dining restaurant Onda by Sparpetta, relax in a doubled-in-size Mandara Spa, get active at an expanded Pulse Fitness Centre and take some time out in the adults-only retreat Spice H2O.

“Quality close to home holiday experiences are keenly sought after and we thrilled to help awaken the spirit of local travellers eager to plan a dream cruise holiday and spread their wings in their own backyard,” Ben Angell, NCL vice president and managing director said.

“We’re delighted to be celebrating the forthcoming 2021/2022 local summer sailing season of the all-new Norwegian Spirit. One of our more intimate ships – completely modernised with the adult traveller in mind – local cruisers can discover the laid-back luxury and immersive itineraries that set Norwegian Spirit apart.”

Cruise-lovers will also be pleased to know that NCL has reaffirmed its position as an industry leader through the introduction of a raft of enhanced health and safety measures, ensuring that cruising with the company continues to be one of the safest and most exciting ways to explore the world.

And there’s a Peace of Mind cancellation policy which will help to ease travellers’ worries. Guests who depart from January 1, 2021 to October 2021 now have flexibility to cancel their cruise 15 days prior to departure and receive a future cruise credit, which may be applied to any sailing through to December 31, 2022, or a full refund when they cancel up to 120 days before their holiday. In addition, for all voyages through to March 31, 2021, guests can provide final payment 30 days prior to embarkation, compared to the standard 120 days.