Norwegian Cruise Line has celebrated its return to service with Norwegian Jade the first of its 17-ship fleet to welcome guests back on board.

The ship also made Norwegian Cruise Line history as the first vessel to homeport in Athens (Piraeus).

Until November 2021, guests sailing on Norwegian Jade’s immersive Greek Isles itinerary will visit Crete, Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini, among other destinations.

The line added that Norwegian Jade’s deployment in Athens is part of a “long-term strategy to further increase NCL’s presence in Europe”.

Through to 2023 the line plans to position nine ships in the region, with Norwegian Dawn, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Gem, Jade and Star scheduled to sail in Greece.

NCL’s restart programme will continue on 7 August, 2021, with Norwegian Encore scheduled to return to service from the US when it debuts in Seattle for an inaugural season of Alaska cruises.

The fleetwide redeployment will continue in partnership with local governments, the line said.

Norwegian Cruise Line president CEO Harry Sommer said: “Welcoming our guests and crew on board has been one of the most memorable moments of my over 30-year career.

“We are excited to embark on the great cruise comeback with a brand-new itinerary and homeport for our brand, offering our guests an even greater selection of unique vacations at sea.

“Norwegian Jade’s first Greek Isles voyages sold out shortly after we made the announcement that we were on our way back. With such strong demand, we are glad to expand our offering in Greece with seven ships through 2023, providing our guests with a range of innovative vessels and itineraries to choose from.”

Greek minister of tourism Harry Theoharis added: “We are overjoyed to welcome Norwegian Jade and her guests to Greece. The planned itineraries will offer unique experiences that combine our rich history, bustling culture and famous gastronomy.”