ncl cruises in march

Norwegian Cruise Line cancels more than 7 months of sailings

Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled more than seven months of sailings on its Norwegian Sun ship.

The line scrapped the vessel’s planned itineraries from March 28 through and including Nov. 3, 2025, because of “a fleet redeployment,” Norwegian said in a letter to guests and travel partners Tuesday, which it shared with USA TODAY. 

The line is giving impacted passengers full refunds of their fares and “a 10% discount” in the form of a future cruise credit. Travelers can apply the credit toward any of Norwegian's published sailings through Dec. 31, 2025.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you aboard very soon,” the letter said.

The changes come after the line canceled three 2025 sailings on its Norwegian Epic ship in June so the ship could undergo “a revitalization,” as the line said at the time. Norwegian also previously canceled sailings aboard Norwegian Spirit scheduled between early July and mid-September 2024 because of a full-ship charter.

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

Unlike airlines, cruise cancellation policies are not regulated by the federal government. But Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafeldma Travel, told USA TODAY in June that cruise lines typically give refunds and work to accommodate guests on a different itinerary, adding that they “don't take schedule changes lightly.” They may also offer additional compensation.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Plan ahead to 2025 with these can't-miss destinations with Norwegian Cruise Line

Make 2025 the year you realize your travel dream. Maybe that's flying in a helicopter to an Alaskan glacier where you can ride on a dogsled pulled by adorable huskies. Or, perhaps it's sipping wine at vineyards across Italy, Spain and France. Your bucket list might simply include visits to new countries across the globe, such as Japan, New Zealand or Thailand, or be as specific as watching the sun set over Hawaii's Haleakala Crater or snorkeling amid brightly colored coral and fish in Bonaire's Marine Park.

You could put in a lot of time and effort to create the perfect travel itinerary, spending hours researching hotels and tour operators. Or, you could book a Norwegian Cruise Line sailing, letting the line's travel planners do the heavy lifting while you choose the prearranged experiences you're most excited to try.

An NCL cruise makes travel planning easy. Norwegian Cruise Line ships sail to a variety of destinations, from tried-and-true vacation hot spots in the Caribbean to far-flung destinations in Asia. You don't have to worry about how to get from Greece to Turkey or from Sydney to Melbourne, Australia; the ship will take you there. There are no train tickets to buy or ferry schedules to puzzle out.

Once you've decided where to go, you can craft that experience to your preference with the line's shore excursions. A Norwegian cruise is not one-size-fits-all; you can customize your vacation to your liking. In Alaska, you can choose to go kayaking, sample local food and beer, take a wildlife cruise, or learn about totem poles. In Italy, you could take a pasta-making class, immerse yourself in Florence's art museums, drink wine at a Tuscan castle or get your steps in climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

No matter how you wish to spend your time ashore, NCL has already crafted excursions to give you the best day out. And did we mention that some of those tours will be subsidized by Norwegian, thanks to excursion credits on every cruise? That's in addition to the line's other inclusive Free at Sea offerings , such as unlimited open bar and Wi-Fi and specialty dining credits.

NCL has always been a leader in letting guests shape their own cruise experience, and that philosophy applies to the ship as well. You won't be told when to eat (or forced to dine with strangers), what to wear (no ties and jackets required) or how to spend your time on board.

Spend your days at sea pampering yourself at your ship's expansive spa, racing your family and friends around an onboard go-kart track, winning big at the casino or watching award-winning shows in a grand theater. With dozens of dining options covering a range of cuisines, you don't have to agonize about making dinner reservations in a foreign language.

With NCL handling all the logistics and providing you with tons of entertainment options on board and ashore, the only thing left for you to do is choose where to go. Here are six can't-miss destinations you can sail to with Norwegian Cruise Line.

A cruise is one of the best ways to see Alaska, since a ship can take you to places where the roads don't reach. See nature at its finest (glaciers and salmon and bears — oh my!) and learn about the Native peoples who have long inhabited this northerly region.

You can cruise to Alaska nearly any time you'd like because Norwegian Cruise Line has the longest Alaska cruise season of all the big-ship lines. Whether you want to take the kids for a summer vacation, avoid the crowds on an early-season sailing or chase the northern lights on an October cruise, Norwegian has a ship ready for you from April into October.

Four ships will be dedicated to Alaska in 2025, and all guarantee glacier views. Some cruises explore the limited-access Glacier Bay National Park, while others take you to Hubbard or Dawes Glacier. If you've never heard the thunderous sound of a glacier calving or photographed ice that is as blue as the sky, these scenic cruise days will be a highlight.

NCL is all about choice, and four ships give the line Alaska itinerary variety. Big ships Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore sail seven-night cruises out of the easily accessible Seattle home port and are perfect for families looking for all the whiz-bang onboard attractions, such as go-kart tracks, laser tag and a water park. (Yes, it can be warm enough in Alaska to use the ship's pools!)

Norwegian Joy offers slightly longer nine- and 10-night sailings from Alaska, for travelers who want to maximize their time up north. These cruises visit five Alaska ports and Victoria, British Columbia, and include a glacier-viewing day.

Still not enough Alaska for you? Norwegian Jade does things differently, sailing one-way cruises between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Whittier, Alaska (one of the ports closest to Anchorage). Because your cruise starts or ends in Alaska, you have the freedom to tack on an extended land stay to venture into the state's interior.

You could put in all the work to arrange the trip yourself, but you can save yourself the trouble and let Norwegian plan it for you. Its 11- to 14-night cruisetours combine a cruise with bus and train travel to places like Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Seward and Anchorage. Meet adorable sled dogs and their mushers, search for bears and moose on a Denali wilderness tour, or take a once-in-a-lifetime flightseeing tour by the tallest peak in North America.

Got even more time on your hands? Set aside a little more than two weeks to cruise Alaska and also Hawaii or Japan on one lengthy Norwegian Sun cruise.

You can never get enough of Europe. From the sun-warmed Greek islands to the waterfall-lined Scandinavian fjords and the historic and culture-rich cities along the Mediterranean, you can't go wrong with a visit in 2025, whether it's your first or 10th trip across the pond. No matter where you want to go, NCL has a cruise for you with nine ships sailing 295 different itineraries calling in 160 individual ports.

Norwegian's newest and most upscale ships, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima , make Europe their spring-through-fall home — and their sophisticated onboard spaces and culinary delights fit perfectly with their cosmopolitan home bases. In 2025, Norwegian Viva will follow the sun to the Greek islands and Turkey, while Norwegian Prima heads north to Iceland, Norway and the bustling cities of the Baltic.

Intrigued by Iceland? Norwegian is the only cruise line sailing round-trip from Reykjavik to Iceland and Greenland with its smaller ship, Norwegian Star.

Families should also consider big ships like Norwegian Breakaway, which offers onboard fun like a water park and ropes course while visiting Mediterranean highlights in Italy, France, Spain and Greece.

No matter where in Europe you choose to go in 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line will make your time there count. Its destination-intensive itineraries often feature a different city every day, so you can see as much as possible during your time abroad. If you're an unstoppable explorer, look for long days and late departures in ports such as Santorini, Greece, or overnights in marquee destinations, such as Florence, Italy; Copenhagen; Stockholm; and Reykjavik.

For a local flair, you'll want to book one of NCL's Go Local tours, which lean into cultural experiences and activities that let you see how locals live. Perhaps you'll take a tour of one of Europe's oldest markets in Livorno, Italy, enjoying regional treats, or learn about fishing techniques and barbecuing sardines in Pedregalejo, Spain (near Malaga).

If the bean counter in your family is complaining about the cost to fly to Europe to catch your cruise, gently remind them that Norwegian Cruise Line really does think of everything. Its Free at Sea promotion often includes free airfare for the second guest on your reservation.

It's no surprise that Norwegian will send a brand-new ship to the Caribbean in 2025; after all, the islands are the quintessential cruise destination. Norwegian Aqua is made for tropical sailings with Aqua Slidecoaster (its hybrid waterslide-roller coaster), onboard beach club and more outdoor spaces for enjoying sea breezes and island views.

Aqua is just one of 15 NCL cruise ships sailing through the Bahamas and Caribbean in 2025. With nine departure ports (including seven in the continental U.S. for easy access) and more than 70 different itineraries, Norwegian can offer something for everyone.

Travelers short on time and money can get away with two-night cruises to the Bahamas, families can sail attraction-laden megaships like Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy, and retirees with time on their hands can truly relax with two-week voyages to the farthest reaches of the Caribbean or through the Panama Canal.

Do you want to feel like a celebrity hanging out in the Virgin Islands, or do you want to dive into the ancient cultures (and reef-filled waters) of Central America? Whether you prefer to beach it up in the Bahamas, venture out to the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) or sample local rum in Puerto Rico or Jamaica, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship is going your way.

If you're looking for an epic beach day, NCL offers not one, but two private islands exclusive to its cruise guests: Great Stirrup Caye in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye off the coast of Belize. Here, you can plop down on a complimentary lounge chair and only get up to grab a bite or cool down in the clear Caribbean waters, or you can get your adrenaline pumping with a zip line or parasail flight.

The Caribbean is a great vacation choice for everyone — including couples, solo travelers and groups of friends — but we'd be remiss if we didn't point out the specific attractions of a Caribbean cruise vacation for families. Onboard attractions like water parks, ropes courses, kids and teens clubs, and twisting multideck slides keep the youngest cruisers happy.

Norwegian Cruise Line often offers deals with free third and fourth fares, perfect for parents looking to save by booking one cabin for their entire family. Or perhaps a vacation at sea is the time to splurge on a family suite. With plenty of itineraries lining up with school breaks, Norwegian is primed to offer families a beach vacation they won't quickly forget.

If 2025 is your year for bucket list travel, Norwegian Cruise Line can take you to destinations across Asia that you've always wanted to see. One cruise can easily check off multiple countries on your wishlist.

A cruise is also one of the best ways to explore Asia and the Pacific islands if you find the language barrier and foreign culture intimidating. Think of the cruise line as a knowledgeable tour guide ready to recommend the best places to go, things to see and food to eat, all while taking the stress out of vacation planning in a far-flung destination.

Next year, NCL will base more ships than ever before in Asia, with three ships — Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Spirit — deployed to the region. The cruise line offers extensive time in port, with port calls averaging 10 hours in length and overnight stays in 11 ports, including Osaka, Japan; Hong Kong; and Bali, Indonesia.

Norwegian Sun will weave in and out of the Pacific islands in 2025, with visits to Tahiti and French Polynesia, Fiji, Indonesia and Malaysia. Norwegian Sky will explore Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Japan in the early part of the year, including cruisetours with multiday stays in Singapore. Norwegian Spirit will also spend time in Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam before moving on to Japan, Taiwan and Korea itineraries.

Sailing lengths of 10 to 19 nights can accommodate professionals who need to get back to their desks as well as travelers with time to immerse themselves in a new destination. Plus, the ship's range of cabins , from windowless inside rooms to expansive suites, means a bucket list trip can fit into a wide range of vacation budgets.

Asia isn't the only far-flung bucket list destination Norwegian Cruise Line can take you to. If you've been dreaming of the Land of Oz, a Norwegian cruise is a great way to hit all the hot spots in Australia and New Zealand without worrying about how to cross the long distances between major cities.

Norwegian Sun makes its debut Down Under in 2025 (technically, it will arrive in late December 2024). The ship will sail a selection of 12- to 15-night voyages between Australia and New Zealand through March 2025. Among the options are new NCL itineraries to the Great Barrier Reef and South Pacific as the ship sails between Cairns, Australia, and Lautoka, Fiji. You can visit destinations in Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

Norwegian Spirit will take over the route at the end of 2025, so if you're hoping to spend Christmas and New Year's 2025 on a 14-night tour of Australia and New Zealand, that will be your ship. Imagine it: Not only will you skip out on two weeks of North American winter, but you'll visit Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania and multiple ports on New Zealand's North and South islands, all with just one round-trip transpacific flight and no long drives or pricey intercity flights.

No roundup of NCL's top destinations is complete without mentioning Hawaii. The cruise line is king in Hawaii, where it's the only big-ship line to offer year-round, seven-night, interisland itineraries on its U.S.-flagged ship, Pride of America. All the other foreign-flagged cruise ships must include a foreign port (usually Canada or Mexico) in their itineraries, necessitating at least one ocean crossing on each itinerary.

Most working professionals and families don't have time for leisurely ocean voyages with multiple days in a row at sea. They want what NCL's got — a weeklong trip packed with visits to five ports on four islands, including overnights in Kauai and Maui. Throw in an included scenic cruise of the Napali coast aboard the ship, and the value proposition is crystal clear.

Norwegian brings authentic local culture on board with hula dancing lessons, lei making workshops and even a Hawaiian language class. On shore, you'll have time to attend an evening luau; get up close to active and dormant volcanoes; learn to surf, snorkel and dive among colorful coral and sealife; and relax on the gorgeous beaches the islands are famous for.

If you can't get enough of Hawaii, NCL offers three-night land-based add-ons, so you can spend more time in Oahu, visiting Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation, Polynesian Cultural Center and Kualoa Ranch.

Bottom line

It's no secret that cruises have become so popular that the best itineraries are selling out far in advance. If you want to nab your preferred cabin or suite on an NCL cruise to one of these top destinations, you'll want to start planning your 2025 vacation now. These days, the early bird will likely get a better fare, too.

So whether your 2025 travel plans feature a tropical getaway in the Caribbean, a natured-based foray into Alaska, or cultural tour of Europe or Asia, you'll want to get that cruise fare locked in now. Then you can spend a year crafting your perfect days ashore, prioritizing the onboard restaurants and attractions you want to experience most, and simply dreaming of your upcoming Norwegian Cruise Line vacation.

NCL Cruises 2024

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Who Was Freed in the Prisoner Swap Between Russia and the West?

Here’s a list of the 24 prisoners who were exchanged on Thursday and their backgrounds.

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By Ivan Nechepurenko Valerie Hopkins and Alina Lobzina

• Published Aug. 1, 2024 Updated Aug. 6, 2024

Twenty-four prisoners were freed on Thursday in a multicountry exchange in Turkey, marking one of the broadest exchanges between Russia and the West in years.

Here’s what to know about all of the prisoners who were exchanged in the swap.

Released by Russia:

Three American citizens: Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva and Paul Whelan

Six other Western prisoners

Four political prisoners and human rights advocates

Three Russians with ties to Aleksei Navalny

Released by the West:

Eight prisoners, including Vadim Krasikov, who assassinated a Chechen separatist in Berlin

The Released American Citizens

Evan gershkovich.

A reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Evan Gershkovich, 32, was detained by masked security service agents in March 2023 during a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg, a major Russian industrial hub about 850 miles east of Moscow. Shortly after, he was charged with espionage, the first such case against a Western reporter since 1986.

In their indictment , Russian prosecutors accused Mr. Gershkovich of using “painstaking conspiratorial methods” to obtain “secret information” about a Russian military industrial facility that produces tanks and other weapons. Mr. Gershkovich, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges and called them politically motivated.

On July 19, a Russian court in Yekaterinburg sentenced Mr. Gershkovich to 16 years in a high-security penal colony in a swift trial that only took three hearings to complete.

Alsu Kurmasheva

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American editor working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a broadcaster funded by the U.S. government, was sentenced to six and a half years in a Russian penal colony for “spreading false information” about the Russian Army. The charge is broadly used by the Kremlin to stifle criticism of the war in Ukraine.

Ms. Kurmasheva, 47, lived in Prague for more than two decades with her husband and two daughters. She was arrested during her trip to Kazan, her hometown about 500 miles east of Moscow. She was first fined for failing to report her American citizenship and then accused of failing to register as a “foreign agent” and put in pretrial detention.

In December, she was also charged with spreading false information about the Russian Army. The charges were related to a book Ms. Kurmasheva edited which featured 40 Russians who opposed the invasion of Ukraine.

Paul Whelan

Paul Whelan, 54, a former U.S. Marine who had served in Iraq, was attending a friend’s wedding in Moscow at the Metropol Hotel when he was arrested on Dec. 28, 2018.

Mr. Whelan had made several previous trips to Russia, so he readily accepted a flash drive that a Russian friend said contained pictures of his travels. Russian agents then swooped down, claiming the drive held classified Russian military information.

Mr. Whelan is a citizen of the United States, Canada, Britain and Ireland. He was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony, where he was forced to sew industrial garments and suffered at least one assault by another inmate. He spoke out repeatedly about being left behind while other Americans were exchanged.

Other Western Prisoners

Vladimir kara-murza.

A veteran Russian activist, Vladimir Kara-Murza , was sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason, the longest sentence given to an opposition politician in modern Russia. Mr. Kara-Murza, 42, drew the Kremlin’s ire when he lobbied in Washington for the use of sanctions to punish Russian government officials engaged in human rights abuses. In 2024, Mr. Kara-Murza, a Russian-British national and permanent resident of the United States, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in commentary for columns he had written in his prison cell and published in The Washington Post.

Mr. Kara-Murza twice survived what he characterized as government attempts to poison him — both times he was hospitalized in critical condition with organ failure.

Kevin Lick, a German-born Russian high school student, was sentenced to four years in a penal colony in 2023 on charges of state treason. According to Russian prosecutors, Mr. Lick, 19, was sending photographs of Russian troop locations to a foreign state representative. At the time of his crime, Mr. Lick was still a teenager in a school in the Russian southern town of Maikop.

Rico Krieger

Rico Krieger is a German citizen who in June was sentenced to death by a court in Belarus on terrorism and other charges. In a murky case, Mr. Krieger, who formerly worked for the German Red Cross, was accused of planting explosives that blew up railway tracks in Belarus, according to Russian media outlets. Mr. Krieger told Belarusian state media that he was acting under instructions from Ukrainian special services.

On Tuesday, Mr. Krieger was pardoned by President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus, one of the Kremlin’s closest allies.

Dieter (Demuri) Voronin

In March 2023, Moscow City Court sentenced Demuri Voronin, a political scientist, to more than 13 years in a high-security penal colony on charges of state treason. A Russian-German national, Mr. Voronin, was detained in February 2021 and charged with being implicated in the case of Ivan Safronov , a Russian journalist who was accused of state treason for passing classified information to foreign nationals and sentenced to 22 years in a high-security penal colony. Mr. Safronov’s lawyers said he was only using publicly available information in his work.

Patrick Schöbel

A citizen of Germany, Patrick Schöbel was detained upon arrival from Hamburg via Istanbul in the St. Petersburg airport and accused of smuggling drugs. When searched, a pack of “Fink Green Goldbears” with six gummies containing cannabis was found in his luggage, according to Tass, a Russian state news agency. He had not yet been convicted when he was released.

German Moyzhes

A Russian-German national, German Moyzhes is a lawyer who was helping Russians obtain residence permits in Germany and other E.U. countries. At the end of May, Mr. Moyzhes, who is also a leading cycling activist in St. Petersburg, was arrested and accused of committing state treason. His trial was still pending at the time of his exchange.

Russian political prisoners and human rights advocates

Ilya yashin.

A longtime fixture of Russian opposition politics, Ilya Yashin was sentenced in December 2022 to eight and a half years in prison after a court found him guilty on charges of “spreading false information” about atrocities committed by Russian troops in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, near Kyiv.

Previously, he served as the chairman of a municipal council in one of Moscow’s districts and took part in many anti-Kremlin protests. After the death of Aleksei Navalny, Mr. Yashin, 41, is considered to be one of the most popular Russian opposition leaders.

Andrei Pivovarov

Andrei Pivovarov is a Russian opposition politician who had been particularly active in St. Petersburg. In July 2022, Mr. Pivovarov, 42, was sentenced to four years in a penal colony for being involved with an undesirable organization, a legal term that has been introduced in Russia to outlaw unwanted groups.

A veteran activist and human rights defender, Oleg Orlov, 71, served as a leading member of Memorial, one of the oldest human rights organizations in Russia.

Over years, the Russian state grew increasingly wary of Memorial and its members. In 2021, a Russian court ordered it to be dissolved for failure to fulfill its duties as a “foreign agent” after the government designated the group as such. In February, a Moscow court sentenced Mr. Orlov to two and a half years in prison for repeatedly discrediting Russia’s military by voicing his opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Aleksandra Y. Skochilenko

Aleksandra Y. Skochilenko, 33, is a Russian pacifist artist , who in November 2023 was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony for leaving price tags with small antiwar messages in a supermarket. Ms. Skochilenko was arrested in April 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Her arrest has become one of the most prominent examples of the Kremlin’s determination to stifle all antiwar dissent in the country.

Russians with ties to Aleksei Navalny

Lilia chanysheva.

Lilia Chanysheva, 42, was the head of Aleksei A. Navalny’s office in the Russian city of Ufa. She was arrested in November 2021 and accused of taking part in an extremist organization. In June 2023, a court sentenced Ms. Chanysheva to seven and a half years in prison. In April, a court revised her sentence to nine and a half years.

Ksenia V. Fadeyeva

Ksenia Fadeyeva, 32, was the head of Mr. Navalny’s office in Tomsk, a major university town in Siberia. In 2020, Ms. Fadeyeva defeated pro-Kremlin candidates to get elected to Tomsk’s city legislature. In December 2023, a Russian court sentenced her to nine years in a penal colony for her affiliation with Mr. Navalny’s political organization, which was outlawed as extremist in Russia.

Vadim Ostanin

Vadim Ostanin was the head of Mr. Navalny’s office in the city of Barnaul, in Siberia. In July 2023, he was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony after being accused of being involved in an extremist group after a Russian court outlawed Mr. Navalny’s political network across Russia.

Prisoners Released by the West

Vadim krasikov.

Vadim N. Krasikov, 58, is a Russian citizen who was sentenced to life in prison in Germany in 2021 for the brazen assassination of a Chechen separatist fighter in broad daylight in a park in central Berlin in 2019. German prosecutors indicated in their case that Mr. Krasikov worked for the Russian Federal Security Service, the most powerful security agency in Russia. The German judge suggested that the killing was ordered by President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia; the Kremlin denied involvement.

In a televised interview in February, Mr. Putin spoke glowingly of Mr. Krasikov, saying that he was a person who, “due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals.”

Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva

Artem Dultsev and Anna Dultseva are believed to be part of Russia’s “illegals” program, a Soviet-era scheme in which Russian spies pose as ordinary citizens of another country.

Legally married, the pair pleaded guilty before a Slovenian court on Wednesday to charges of spying and falsifying documents. They had posed as an Argentine couple, reportedly even speaking to their two children in Spanish. The pair’s two children were taken into foster care after their arrest, as they continued to attend their private school, the Guardian reported. There are two minors reportedly involved in the exchange believed to be their children.

Mikhail Mikushin

In 2022, Norwegian law enforcement arrested and identified Mikhail Mikushin, a researcher at the University of Tromso, as a Russian spy. According to Norwegian news outlets, when detained by the local law enforcement in 2022, Mr. Mikushin pretended to be a Brazilian citizen. He later admitted in court that he was a Russian citizen.

Pavel Rubtsov

Pavel Rubtsov was arrested in February 2022 in Poland. He was born in Moscow in 1982, but moved to Spain nine years later. Upon arrest, he was known as a Spanish journalist called Pablo González, a descendant of Spaniards who moved to Russia during a civil war in Spain. Mr. Rubtsov, 42, was accused of spying for Russia, a charge he denied, saying he was just a freelance journalist.

Roman Seleznev

Roman Seleznev is a Russian hacker arrested in the United States and sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to playing a key role in a $50 million cyberfraud ring and defrauding banks of $9 million through a hacking scheme.

Vladislav Klyushin

Vladislav Klyushin is a Russian hacker who gained access to private corporate earnings records as part of what the U.S. Department of Justice labeled a “$93 million hack-to-trade scheme.” Arrested in Switzerland in 2021 and extradited to the United States later that year, he was sentenced in federal court last September to nine years in prison. Mr. Klyushin denied involvement in the scheme.

Vadim Konoshchenok

Vadim Konoshchenok was among five Russians accused in 2023 of conspiring to obtain military-grade technologies from U.S. companies for Russia’s defense sector. He is accused of being an operative of Russia’s Federal Security Service, the successor agency to the K.G.B. He was arrested in Estonia in December 2022 and extradited to the United States.

Neil MacFarquhar contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this article misstated the total amount of money affected in the hack-to-trade scheme that Vladislav Klyushin was a part of. It was $93 million, not billion. 

How we handle corrections

Ivan Nechepurenko covers Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the countries of the Caucasus, and Central Asia. He is based in Moscow. More about Ivan Nechepurenko

Valerie Hopkins covers the war in Ukraine and how the conflict is changing Russia, Ukraine, Europe and the United States. She is based in Moscow. More about Valerie Hopkins

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Norwegian Jewel

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Tampa (Florida)
• Boston (Massachusetts)
• Seward (Alaska)
• Vancouver (BC Canada)

Norwegian Jewel current position

Norwegian Jewel current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 58.15525 N / -135.11677 W) cruising at speed of 10 kn (19 km/h | 12 mph) en route to ICY STRAIT AK. The AIS position was reported 14 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Jewel

Norwegian Jewel current cruise is 7 days, one-way from Vancouver to Seward . The itinerary starts on 05 Aug, 2024 and ends on 12 Aug, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Jewel

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Jewel Itineraries

Norwegian jewel review, review of norwegian jewel.

The 2005-built Norwegian Jewel cruise ship is the 1st of NCL's Jewel-class liners - together with Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl .

The vessel (IMO number 9304045) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311827000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania and RSSC-Regent .

The 2400-passenger ship Norwegian Jewel became operational in August 2005. Built at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany she was christened on November 3, 2005, during an official ceremony at the Port of Miami. Designed to be in the category of Freestyle Cruising, Norwegian Jewel easily transports 2,400 guests and over 1,000 crew members. The special about this vessel is her speed, restaurant options, and family comfortable accommodations. Norwegian Jewel also gives passengers different options for relaxation like public bars and lounges, well-equipped sports and fitness facilities, and staterooms designed with rich cherry wood finishing.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Jewel staterooms (1188 total, in 35 grades) include 190x Suites, 360x Balcony, 243x Oceanview and 411 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140-160 ft2 (13-15 m2). The largest accommodations are the 3-Bedroom The Haven Garden Villa (2320 ft2 / 216 m2, with terrace sized 1035 ft2 / 96 m2).

The boat has 15 decks , of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

During the 2-week drydock 2018 refurbishment , all passenger staterooms were upgraded with smart HDTVs and USB outlets, new carpeting, furniture and artworks. "The Haven" cabin complex received courtyard updates, and all villas and suites received new finishes, tiles, drapes, carpets, artworks and furniture. Additional cabanas were added to Sun Deck. Two new Haven Deluxe Owner Suites were added (max capacity 4 pax, cabin size 1200 ft2 / 112 m2, balcony size 565 ft2 / 53 m2, with terrace whirlpool).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Passengers onboard Norwegian Jewel can seek out their preferred dishes at Cagney's Steak House, Blue Lagoon, and the signature restaurant Le Bistro, or can try the lovely pasta at Mama's Italian Kitchen and tapas at Tangos. The main restaurant, Tsar's Palace, shows the magnificence of St. Petersburg with gold ceilings, shining chandeliers, and ornate balustrades reminiscent of Faberge eggs. An electronic system onboard Norwegian Jewel cuts down on wait times and lines in the restaurants. Monitors throughout the corridors reveal how busy the eateries are, with a bar ranging from green (come on in) to red (crowded). This screen acts as an electronic hostess and lets guests know how long the wait is for a table for four, for example, and where parties are being accepted.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Jewel restaurants and food bars.

• Azura Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French speciality dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Chin Chin (Asian restaurant, dinner-only, complimentary since 2015)
• Sushi Bar (10-seat Chin Chin restaurant, a la carte); Sake Bar (inside Chin Chin)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi speciality, reservations-only restaurant; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• Tsar’s Palace Restaurant (aft-location Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill (sports bar, with 24-hour American cuisine - burgers, steaks, desserts; complimentary)
• Blue Lagoon (buffet restaurant for fast food; complimentary)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (speciality dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood specialities; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• La Cucina (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations); Kid's Cafe
• The Great Outdoors (outdoor buffet restaurant, complimentary)
• Topsiders Bar and Grill (poolside, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Jewel's Bora Bora Health Spa and Beauty Salon are managed by Mandara Spa, which fuses eastern and western-style procedures for advanced massage, facials, and more. The sports deck offers the chance for playing basketball, volleyball and tennis, and the Body Waves Fitness Center features state-of-the-art equipment, a hydrotherapy pool, and classes. Children are not forgotten. The Splashdown Kids Club has a swimming pool and an underground sea theme. There are a total of 7 jacuzzis and 3 pools (Sapphire Kid’s Pool) onboard. A 24-hour Internet Cafe is available. Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Jewel tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day). Norwegian Jewel cruise ship allows weddings (has a chapel on board).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Jewel lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Stardust Theatre (1042-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand-shows per night). Two new shows were introduced in 2018 - “Rock You Tonight” (1970banddn songs) and ship exclusive “Velvet” (disco classics, circus acrobatics, cabaret performances).
• Bar City complex (Maltings Beer and Whisky Bar, Shakers Martini and Cocktail Bar and Magnum’s Champagne and Wine Bar); Corona Cigar Bar; Topsiders Bar; Star Bar; Sugarcane Mojito
• Spinnaker Lounge (394-seat, with floor-to-ceiling windows; serves as disco and night club); Java Cafe
• Bliss Ultra Lounge (replacing FYZZ Cabaret Lounge) offers late-night live entertainment and intimate seating.
• The Pit Stop (replacing Sky High Bar and Grill) is a USA 1950s-themed bar retrofitted with gas station signage, vintage license plates and other classic car elements.
• Crystal Atrium (2-deck midship hub area with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe and Bar (speciality tea and coffee bar). During refurbishment 2018, The Atrium received a custom-made chandelier, new flooring, renovated lobby areas (Shore Excursion and Reception desks, new banquette seating, large HDTV).
• Cafe (24-hour); Art Gallery; Photo Gallery and Shop
• LifeStyles Room; Library;
• Card Room; Jewel Club Casino
• Galleria Boutiques/Shopping Alley (tax and duty-free shops); Port O’Call (gift shop)
• Bora Bora Spa complex (Thermal Suite, Snow Room, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Smile Spa, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop); Body Waves Fitness Centre; Sapphire Pools; Kid’s Pool
• Splashdown Kid’s Club; Club Underground Teen’s Lounge and Disco Club; Video Games Arcade
• The Haven area Courtyard Fitness and Spa complex (Villas-guests only, Steam Room, Gym)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Combined sports court; Jogging Track; Golf Nets; Shuffleboard, Giant Chess.

Itineraries

Norwegian Jewel itinerary program was drastically changed - from 7-day Caribbean (from homeport Houston TX ) to Australia-Asia and Alaska. In 2017-2018, the liner was relocated for an inaugural cruise season in Australia (homeported in Sydney NSW ).

In winter 2018-2019, NCL Jewel was homeported in Sydney NSW, offering 7- to 19-day Australia and New Zealand itineraries. In summer 2019, Jewel joined Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss in Alaska, operating 7-day oneways between Vancouver BC and Seward AK . In 2019-2020, Jewel returned to Australia (3rd season from Sydney) and new itineraries from Auckland NZ were added.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the NCL Jewel ship was paused for 3 years (March 2020 thru 2022), restarting on March 20th as NCL's first ship to offer Caribbean and Panama Canal roundtrips from Panama City (Fuerte Amador/Panama's Pacific Ocen side) and from Colon (Panama's Caribbean side).

For winter season 2023-2024 (October-March) were scheduled 12x Asian voyages (lengths 10-12 days) plus a 16-day Transpacific itinerary (RepositionCruises.com) from Alaska to Asia (Seattle to Tokyo). Norwegian Jewel's Asia 2023-2024 season grouped 16 itineraries (to destinations in 11 countries), 9 different homeports/embarkation ports ( Laem Chabang/Bangkok Thailand , Port Klang/Kuala Lumpur Malaysia , Singapore , Keelung/Taipei Taiwan , Benoa/Bali Indonesia , and Japan's Tokyo and Yokohama ) as well as the maiden port Incheon/Seoul Korea .

In 2026 (April 16th through October 17th) NCL Jewel has scheduled 7-9-day itineraries to Bermuda from PhilaPort/Philadelphia visiting King's Wharf/Royal Naval Dockyard (overnight stays). After the summer Bermuda season from Philadelphia, the ship offers 10-11-day Canada and New England cruises, alternating between Philadelphia and Quebec City .

Photos of Norwegian Jewel

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Norwegian Jewel Wiki

Jewel is the first of the Jewel-class NCL ships. Her sisters in the fleet are the NCL ships  Gem ,  Jade  and  Pearl . The ship was christened on November 3, 2005, at PortMiami. The vessel's godmother is the wife of the real estate magnate (multibillionaire and future US President) Donald Trump - Melania Trump (Slovenian, born Apr 26, 1970). Later, Mr Trump required a 30 sec long TV commercial reviewing the new NCL ship to be placed during one of the episodes of “The Apprentice” (reality game TV series).

The Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was on August 10, 2005 (Mediterranean/Europe), Caribbean Inaugural on November 4, 2005 (from  Port Miami ).

NCL Jewel, just like the fleet mate Pearl, was a TV commercial star. The "big show" was for about 30 sec in one of the episodes of NBC's "The Apprentice" TV-series (US game show hosted by Mr Trump).

During NCL Jewel's 2014 drydock refurbishment, the ship was retrofitted with new "scrubbers" (exhaust gas cleaning systems). The new scrubber technology reduces the equivalent of approx 1500 tons of the poisonous gas Sulfur Oxide. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise company retrofitting with a scrubber hybrid system vessels while in service. The new in-line scrubbers (5 units) are lightweight and able to operate in a dry mode, as well as in open and closed loops.

Asia-Australia itineraries 2017-2018

For winter 2017-2018 season, NCL Jewel ship was relocated from USA-California to Asia-Australia. The new itinerary program offered departures from Australia and  Singapore  (starting Nov 2017). The new deployment was announced in June 2016. During the inaugural Australian season, the liner was homeported in  Sydney NSW .

• All Australian early bookings (by August 31, 2016) were eligible for complimentary all-inclusive deals covering everything (including beverage packages and discounted family fares).
• The 39-day repositioning cruise from  Vancouver Canada  to Sydney via Hawaii (October 3, 2017) was priced from just AUD 7417 pp (inside cabin, double occupancy).
• The 40-day repositioning cruise from Sydney to  Tokyo Japan  (February 20, 2018) was priced from just AUD 5973 pp (inside cabin, double occupancy).
• Season's shortest itinerary (5-day roundtrip Sydney to Tasmania -  Hobart  and  Burnie , departure November 12, 2017) was priced from AUD 1147 pp.
• NCL's Australian cruises were all 7x roundtrips from Sydney (5-day to Tasmania, plus a 9-day South Pacific Islands) and all 10x 16-day Australia-New Zealand cruises (Nov 2017 through Feb 2018).  Followed 18-day Australia to Asia repositioning (Sydney to Singapore, February 20, 2018).
• In Asia were scheduled itineraries visiting ports in Vietnam, Japan, China (incl  Hong Kong ), Singapore, South Korea.

NCL Jewel refurbishment 2018 review

During the 2-week drydock 2018 in  Singapore  (Oct 22 - Nov 5), all the 1188 passenger staterooms were upgraded with new HDTVs and USB outlets, new carpeting, furniture and artworks.

• "The Haven" cabin complex received courtyard updates, and all villas and suites received new finishes, tiles, drapes, carpets, artworks and furniture. Additional cabanas were added to Sun Deck. Two new Haven Deluxe Owner Suites were added (max capacity 4 pax, cabin size 1200 ft2 / 112 m2, balcony size 565 ft2 / 53 m2, with terrace whirlpool).
• The Atrium received a custom-made chandelier, new flooring, refurbished lobby areas (Shore Excursion and Reception desks, new banquette seating, large HDTV).
• All dining and beverage menus were updated.
• Two old bar lounges were replaced with new - Bliss Ultra Lounge (replacing FYZZ Lounge) and The Pit Stop (replacing Sky High Bar). The Pit Stop (Deck 13) is an American 1950s-themed bar retrofitted with gas station signage, vintage license plates and other classic car elements. Bliss Ultra Lounge (Deck 7) offers late-night live entertainment and intimate seating.
• On NCL Jewel were also introduced 2 new theatre shows - “Rock You Tonight” (1970s band songs) and ship exclusive “Velvet” (disco classics, circus acrobatics, cabaret performances).

Drydock 2018 was part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" program for fleetwide upgrades (2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.

NCL Jewel refurbishment 2014 review

The list of deckplan changes after drydock 2014 refurbishment (May 3-17) includes:

• renovation of all Penthouse Suites, and of the Horizon and Spinnaker lounges, Casino and Photo Gallery updates
• new custom-made furnishings
• (Deck 8) added “O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill” (fast food complimentary dining venue)
• (Deck 13) relocated Moderno Churrascaria (steakhouse), with the new Sugarcane Mojito Bar added
• (Deck 7) Carlo’s Bake Shop added in Java Cafe
• (Decks 11 and 12) new furniture in relaxation areas
• changed wall coverings, new lighting, carpeting and flooring throughout public areas
• windows were replaced, galley areas were upgraded, pool deck 12 was updated
• digital signage (interactive touchscreen terminals allow passengers to order items, get directions around the ship and also to make dining and shore excursions reservations using only their cabin key)
• Dry-dock technical enhancements:
• Azipod upgrade, stabilizers maintenance, shore power connectivity
• new exhaust gas scrubbers were installed reducing fuel emissions and energy consumption
• hull was painted with a new type of silicone paint improving fuel efficiency
• safety updates: upgraded lifeboat/tender boats release system; ballast and bilge piping replacement.

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There's a new aura of excitement in Istanbul these days, as this centre of the Ottoman empire has become one the world's focal points for art, fashion, haute cuisine and nightlife. Of course there's always an abundance of ancient monuments and grand mosques with stunning frescoes to see here, like the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Head to any park and you'll see why tulips have long been the symbol of this city. Explore more of Istanbul on a Middle Eastern cruise!

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