A second megaship will bring cruise ship passangers to Alaska starting next spring.<\/p>\n
The 3,883-passenger, 1,094-foot Norwegian Joy will reposition from China to Seattle for seven-day Alaska cruises starting in April 2019, Norwegian Cruise Line announced recently. The ship joins its sister vessel, the Norwegian Bliss<\/a>, as the second new panamax ship to sail Alaska, replacing the Norwegian Pearl and joining the Jewel as the cruise line’s third ship in the region.<\/p>\n The Alaska cruise industry has grown substantially in recent years, according to data from the trade group Cruise Line Industry Association Alaska. The Joy’s Alaska sailings are intended to take advantage of Alaska’s bullish cruise market, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. President Frank Del Rio said in a prepared statement.<\/p>\n Del Rio has already declared the Bliss the “most successful ship” in the company’s 51-year history after just one summer season of sailings in Alaska.<\/p>\n “The booming demand environment in our core markets around the world, coupled with Norwegian Bliss’ record-breaking performance, continue to exceed our expectations,” Del Rio said. “I am extremely excited to further strengthen our presence in the region with the addition of Norwegian Joy.”<\/p>\n Norwegian Joy will cruise Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Holkham Bay and Icy Strait Point. The ship will also call at Victoria, British Columbia.<\/p>\n CLIA Alaska President John Binkley said the replacement of the Pearl with the Norwegian Joy will result in about 37,000 additional visitors to the capital city next year.<\/p>\n About 1.09 million cruise visitors came to Alaska in 2017 (a record), according to data<\/a> from the CLIA Alaska, which represents 13 cruise lines which visit Alaska. That was on 33 ships and just under 500 voyages. In 2018, the number of voyages should jump to 519, which would then result in 1.17 million visitors, CLIA projects.<\/p>\n