Norwegian's New Season of Summer 2026 Sailings

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

They’ve just unveiled their first itineraries for Summer 2026 — a group of sailings based on guest feedback and global travel trends. One major point of growth across the world of travel is the desire to see new destinations while remaining close to home. The gorgeous fall New England & Canada cruises offer the unique opportunity to do just that. Guests can discover new regions, landscapes, and cities they’ve never seen before, but do so from a close-to-home port.

Cruises to Bermuda are also the perfect way to get a dose of sun and sand without travelling too far. And everyone loves The Caribbean, how can you not? So they’re sending one of their newest ships, Norwegian Prima, on both Eastern & Western Caribbean itineraries that can be enjoyed separately or combined together for an unforgettable tropical vacation. One bucket-list destination that is not close to home but is best explored by cruise ship is Alaska, and no one does Alaska like NCL. The summer and fall are the best time to explore The Last Frontier (think Northern Lights and Midnight Sun), and their 2026 itineraries to The Greatest Outdoors are sure to be their best yet!



Setting sail from these locations

A Philadelphia Story for Norwegian Jewel

What do the Liberty Bell, Rocky Balboa, cheesesteak sandwiches and Norwegian Jewel have in common? They'll all be in Philadelphia in the spring of 2026. (OK, Rocky is a statue, but you get the idea). Yup, Norwegian Cruise Line is officially the only cruise line home porting in the City of Brotherly Love.

The exquisitely refurbished Jewel will start her journey in April 2026, transporting guests from the streets of Philadelphia to the pink sands of Bermuda. These months are ideal times to visit this beautiful British territory, thanks to the region’s mild, sub-tropical climate and its southerly winds. All sailings spend multiple days in the famous Royal Naval Dockyard, providing plenty of time to explore the island’s exciting attractions, first-rate shopping, world-class golf and maritime history. From a family beach day on beautiful Horseshoe Bay to snorkeling through an underwater world to a moonlight on a catamaran ride, this destination has it all.

On her journey down to the tropics, Jewel will also make stops in America’s picturesque and historic cities. While on board, guests can enjoy Jewel’s delicious dining at restaurants like Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro, play on the multi-level sports court, sip cocktails at Sugarcane Mojito Bar, take in spectacular entertainment, and live it up at Bliss Ultra Lounge.


Norwegian Breakaway in Bermuda

Norwegian Aqua Sets Sail From New York

Not to be left out of the excitement, our newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, will also sail to Bermuda with 5- and 7- day cruises out of New York, New York. These easy getaways make for a perfect and quick tropical vacation. As the latest ship in the Prima Class, Norwegian Aqua will make new waves in 2025, boasting first-of-its-kind amenities like the Aqua Slidecoaster – the world’s first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide, new restaurants like Sukhothai and Planterie — our first plant-based offering, and the all-new 3-bedroom Haven Duplex Suite.


Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Find Your Vibe on Island Time

Farther south in the Caribbean, Norwegian Prima — the first in its class — will offer 7-day Western and Eastern Caribbean sailings. Starting in Port Canaveral, travelers can visit the incredible Kennedy Space Center, then sail over turquoise waters through a tropical paradise. All Eastern Caribbean itineraries visit our private island, Great Stirrup Cay — an idyllic paradise filled with white-sand beaches, vibrant marine life, sporting activities with kayaks and Jet Skis, delicious island eateries, and private cabanas. The Western Caribbean routes visit incredible destinations like Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. For the tropical vacation of a lifetime, cruisers can combine both itineraries to create a full 14-day “fun in the sun” retreat, all while enjoying Prima’s world-class amenities like a three-story racetrack, a groundbreaking theatre and night club, a myriad of dining options, and so much more.

Not to be outdone, Norwegian Getaway will offer 3,4, and 7-day sailings to the sunny Bahamas. This will be Norwegian’s first fall season of Bahamian sailings on a large ship.


Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay

Let The Outside In

For those seeking an entirely different kind of vacation, our summer 2026 Alaska itineraries will offer all the excitement, beauty, and individuality that make NCL’s cruises to this region so popular. Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Joy will be sailing to The Last Frontier, offering a Glacier experience on all cruises as well as almost an entire day in every port. When you cruise Alaska with Norwegian, the awe stays with you forever. From hiking up snow-capped mountains to dog sledding with your favorite "pack" to witnessing magnificent whales splash in the Pacific, this is the vacation of a lifetime.


View Norwegian's Fall Collection of Sailings

Come September, Norwegian Jewel will embrace a change of scenery, offering Philadelphia travelers a glimpse of the vibrant fall foliage along the coast of Canada & New England. On these beautiful cruises, guests can traverse the stunning landscapes of Maine's Acadia National Park, channel the Gilded Age in Newport, see the bright lights of Quebec City, and indulge in a "real" lobster bake. In addition, one of our largest ships, Norwegian Breakaway, will have summer and fall sailings out of Boston going to Bermuda, Maine, and Canada.


INTERNATIONAL OFFER:

Enjoy unparalleled relaxation and top-notch amenities on your next cruise adventure. NCL currently offers ASIA: Up to $1,500 Off All Cruises + Free at Sea/Pick5. Take advantage of this incredible offer and explore new destinations in luxury.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line's award-winning 19-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call Hong Kong at +852 800 901 951 and Southeast Asia at +65 3165 1680, or visit www.ncl.com.

As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 57 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionised the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal holiday on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 19 contemporary ships sail to 450 of the world's most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveller staterooms, club balcony suites, and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company's ship-within-a-ship concept. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the media centre and follow Norwegian Cruise line on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLineAUNZ; and Twitter and Snapchat @CruiseNorwegian.

Bridging the Language Barries: Translation Workshop ng Translation & Interpretation Division (BTA-BARMM), Matagumpay!

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Matagumpay ang Bridging the Language Barries: Translation Workshop ng Translation & Interpretation Division (BTA-BARMM) na ginanap noong 8-10 Hulyo 2024 sa Lungsod Davao sa pamumuno ni Engr. Abdulgani L. Manalocon, MBA, JD, Direktor II at Bai Fairuz B. Candao, Punò, Translation and Interpretation Division ng LTAIS.

Pinasalamatan ni Engr. Manalocon si Tagapangulong Arthur P. Casanova sa suporta ng KWF sa kanilang programa kabilang sa capacity building na kanilang ginagawa at sa pagkakasakatuparan ng Lagdaan ng Memorandum ng Unawaan (MOU) . 

Umaasa rin si Engr. Manalocon na mapagyayabong pa ang relasyon ng Translation & Interpretation Division (BTA-BARMM) at KWF.

“Ako po’y taos pusong nagpapasalamat para sa patuloy na gabay at inspirasyon na kusa ninyong ibinibigay sa amin. Makakaasa po kayo na ang mga aral at teknik na aming natutunan mula sa naging pagsasanay na inyong pinangunahan bilang resource speaker, ay siya naming gagamitin sa pang araw-araw naming tungkulin,” pagbabahagi ni Bai Fairuz B. Candao.

Ipinahayag naman ni Nor-ain I. Lambitan, Legislative Staff Officer II ng LTAIS, Translation & Interpretation Division na isang malaking suporta sa kanilang dibisyon ang pagbibigay ng pagsasanay ng KWF sa Paghahanda ng Korespondensiya Opisyal (KO), Ortograpiyang Pambansa (OP), at Introduksiyon sa Pagsasalin para sa mga Empleado ng Pamahalaan.

Dumalo sa pagsasanay ang iba’t ibang tagasalin ng iba’t ibang wika kabilang ang wikang Maguindanaon, Filipino, Arabic, Yakan, Tausug, Mëranáw.

Ang matagumpay na Panlalawigang Seminar sa Korespondensiya Opisyal (PSKO) ay naisagawa sa puspusang pakikipag-ugnayan ni Gng. Pinky Jane Tan Santelices-Tenmatay, Senior Language Researcher at sa pamumuno ni G. Jomar I. Cañega, Punò, Sangay ng Impormasyon at Publikasyon (SIP).###

PH Curling Team Dares to Dream for a 2026 Winter Olympics Bid

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Can a team from a tropical country excel in an ice sport like curling?

That’s what the Philippine National Curling Team – composed of four Fil-Swiss players -- are out to prove when they go through the rigorous preparations of vying for a slot in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.

Alan Frei, Filipino-Swiss entrepreneur, economist, curler and spokesman of the team said the Philippine men’s squad bagged a silver medal in the B-Division of the Pan Continental Curling Championships in Kelowna, Canada in 2023. The team aims to repeat the feat this October in Alberta to move up to the A-Division in the 2025 championships.The top two teams there get guaranteed spots in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Frei, a relative newcomer to curling, joined the Filipino team in March 2023, a year after he sold his Swiss e-commerce business and decided “to become an Olympian”. Sharing his dream are teammates Christian Haller, a two-time world junior championship medallist, and brothers Marc and Enrico Pfister who previously competed for Switzerland in world curling championships.

All Swiss-born like Frei, Haller, and the Pfister brothers are eligible to play for the country because of their Filipino mothers.

“The sport of curling is like playing chess on ice. It’s a combination of strategy and physical skill. We have a huge advantage in the strategy part because we have the experience of the three guys who have played on the world stage,” said Frei.

To test their skills further, the National Men’s Curling Team will be competing in an off-season tournament this August, the Baden Master’s in Switzerland where they will face World’s No. 1 Italy in their first game. Currently placed at 51st in the men’s rankings of the World Curling Member Association, Frei said the team is excited to play Italy so they can gauge exactly where they stand.

The Swiss-Filipino team hopes that more Filipinos can become aware of their goals and what they’ve been doing so they can be inspired even more.

Frei said the curling team shoulders all their expenses at present, citing their need to first achieve “success” before asking for financial support from the POC and other possible sponsors.

The Swiss-Filipino athletes are also eyeing a podium finish against top Asian countries like China and Korea in the 2025 Asian Winter Gamesin Harbin to gain national recognition.

“The curling team aspires to pave the way for future curling athletes from the country in their bid for the Olympics. We are trying to foster [Filipino talent] more and more just by being a role model and having this super ambitious goal,” Frei said.

With the help of the POC and national sports associations, the team plans to hold exhibition tournaments in the country and provide training for aspiring Filipino curlers. The Curling Winter Sports Association of the Philippines, which the team is a part of, also aims to increase its membership from about 50 to 100 people this year according to Frei.

Frei said Filipino communities come out to support them anywhere they play, worldwide.

Single-minded in their dream to bring honor to the country, Frei revealed they want to achieve what the Jamaican Bobsled Team did in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. Received as underdogs in a cold weather sport, the Jamaicans competed against all odds and came out the favorites.

“We don't have a plan B. We have only one plan and that is to go to the Olympics,” Frei concluded.