OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2015. Norwegian Cruise Line has been named "Caribbean's Leading Cruise Line" by the World Travel Awards for the third consecutive year. The 22nd annual awards, held on October 17, are voted on by travel professionals and consumers from around the globe and honor the world's top travel companies for outstanding products and services. Norwegian, which has been voted Europe's Leading Cruise Line for eight consecutive years as well as the World's Leading Large Ship Cruise Line, has eight spectacular Freestyle Cruising vessels sailing the Caribbean this winter from six convenient departure ports including Port Canaveral and Miami, where the all new Norwegian Escape sails year-round to the Caribbean.

"We are thrilled that travel partners and consumers have voted us the Caribbean's Leading Cruise Line once again and we are so proud to accept this honor," said Andy Stuart, president and chief operating officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "This award speaks to our spectacular Caribbean itineraries and the freedom and flexibility that guests can only find on board Norwegian Cruise Line."

New to the Caribbean this season is Norwegian's largest ship to date, Norwegian Escape. The first in the line's Breakaway Plus class, Norwegian Escape will sail weekly seven-day cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean beginning on November 14, 2015. The 164,600 gross ton ship will be the largest ever to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4,200 guests to tropical Caribbean destinations including St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian Escape's signature hull artwork is designed by marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, Guy Harvey. Accommodations include the company's signature luxury ship–within-a-ship complex: The Haven by Norwegian; along with Studios, designed and priced for solo travellers; and many options for families, multi-generational groups, spa enthusiasts and more. Norwegian Escape's dining and entertainment will include outposts of several popular land-based outlets, including the first-ever floating Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant and Miami's oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road. Norwegian Escape will also feature the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar, a music venue and outdoor bar on The Waterfront that will feature live nightly performances where guests can enjoy the sounds of the tropics.

Other ships sailing the Caribbean from Miami include Norwegian Getaway, sailing weekly to the Western Caribbean; Norwegian Pearl, sailing the Panama Canal.

Norwegian Cruise Line will return to homeport in Port Canaveral this season for the first time since 2012 with Norwegian Spirit. The 2,000 passenger ship will sail a number of both seven-day Eastern as well as seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries roundtrip from Port Canaveral. She will also sail more than a dozen unique 14-day Eastern & Western Caribbean itineraries with varying ports of call including St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Costa Maya, Mexico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and more.

Norwegian Jade repositions from Europe to Houston, Texas and will sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises. From November 14, 2015 through April 9, 2016, guests will have the opportunity to visit Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Belize City, Belize. Beginning February 2016, Norwegian Jade's seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary will feature calls in Norwegian's brand new destination, Harvest Caye, Belize.

Vacationers in Tampa, New York City and New Orleans can also cruise to the Caribbean on Norwegian. Vacationers looking to cruise from Tampa can set sail on board Norwegian Sun to the Western Caribbean. Norwegian Gem offers spectacular nine-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from New York City while Norwegian Breakaway, the ship that brings the best of NYC to Sea, offers guests the chance to cruise from the Big Apple to the Bahamas & Florida. In the Big Easy, guests can cruise to the Western Caribbean on Norwegian Dawn, departing weekly to Cozumel; Belize City; Roatán; and Costa Maya, starting November 23, 2014.