Norwegian Jade is due to start its 2017 season from Southampton as “an essentially new ship” following a bow-to-stern upgrade as part of NCL’s $400 million Norwegian Edge fleet refurbishment programme.
The 10-year-old vessel will be transformed with its brightly coloured Hawaiian-themed decor replaced by a more contemporary flavour, with softer colours.
“It will be more modern, with new furniture, new products and a quality feel,” said Europe, Middle East and Africa managing director Christian Boell.
Norwegian Jade’s refit is estimated to cost around $40 million. As part of the two-year Norwegian Edge programme NCL is revamping nine of its ships, starting with Norwegian Epic, which was refitted last autumn. Others to follow include Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl.
Boell said that Edge was designed to place NCL in the “upper premium contemporary” segment of the market.
The line’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, is also being upgraded, while a new resort-style destination, Harvest Caye in Belize, is due to be unveiled in November.
The move comes as the line extends its global reach by opening offices in additional destinations, including India and Japan, where it hopes to build business.
It reinforces NCL’s global growth, with new sailings in Australasia, the South Pacific and Asia.