Mediterranean: Italy, France & Greece to Venice (Trieste)

Founded in 1966, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), part of global cruise company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (which also owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) is the third-largest cruise line in the world in terms of cruise passengers. NCL has become well-known for its colourful ships featuring a pop-icon style painted hull. The cruise line launched its first mega-ship in 2010, the 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic (once the third largest cruise ship in the world), and has since launched six more in the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes. Its third and final Breakaway-Plus class ship, Norwegian Encore, was launched in 2019 and features the world’s longest go-karting race track at sea at 1,100 feet. Next on the agenda will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Leonardo-class 3,300-passenger ships, which will sail out of Southampton when they enter service from 2022.