Whether it’s unravelling family history in Sicily, tracing family legacies through the streets of Osaka and Busan, falling in love under the Hawaiian sun or venturing deep into Alaska’s wild frontier, Norwegian Cruise Line offers book lovers the chance to sail straight into the heart of their favourite stories.
Literary tourism is on the rise as keen readers dive into the destinations behind their favourite stories and connect to the history and cultures that inspired their authors.
Whether it’s a historical epic, a romantic beach read or a gripping survival story, the following handpicked itineraries trace the settings of bestselling and critically acclaimed novels both near or far across Europe, Asia and the Pacific, inviting readers to sail beyond the page and bringing books to life in the most immersive way.
The Shadow of the Wind and My Brilliant Friend: Barcelona, Spain and Naples, Italy – Shadowy mystery meets Mediterranean splendour in this double feature of European favourites. Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind unfurls in Barcelona’s misty Gothic Quarter, where books are sacred and secrets lie in wait. Meanwhile, My Brilliant Friend, the first in Elena Ferrante’s acclaimed Neapolitan series, dives deep into the bonds and betrayals of girlhood in the streets of post-war Naples.
The 10 Day Mediterranean Cruise: Italy, France and Greece from Venice (Trieste), Italy on Norwegian Breakaway, departing 9 October 2025 visits 11 ports including the rare chance to explore both Barcelona and Naples in one journey. Stroll through the shadowy lanes of Zafón’s fictional Cemetery of Forgotten Books, or wander the bustling piazzas of Naples, soaking in the textures of daily life that Ferrante so vividly described. With additional stops in Rome, Florence, Messina, Palma and the Croatian coast, this is a cruise designed for travellers who want rich atmosphere to jump off the page.
To Sicily with Love and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin: Sicily, Italy and Kefalonia, Greece – An old favourite and a new release, travellers can experience the spectacular settings of both novels on a 10-day Cruise to Greek Isles & Italy: Santorini, Athens & Florence from Rome (Civitavecchia) on Norwegian Epic departing on 22 August or 01 October 2025. Experience the colour, culture, conflict and chaos of Sicily with a full day in Messina to experience Italian cooking, markets, fishing ports and more just like Aurora, the protagonist in best-selling author Jennifer Probst’s tale, who upended her life to traverse the globe and meet the Sicilian family she didn’t know she had. tale, who upended her life to traverse the globe and meet the Sicilian family she didn’t know she had.
Or, step into Pelagia’s world from Louis De Bernieres’ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin during a visit to Argostoli, Kefalonia, exploring ancient cathedrals, windswept beaches and an ethereal underground lake with departures from Rome in August, September and October 2025.
The Unhoneymooners: Hawai’i – For those after something lighter, with a hearty dose of enemies-to-lovers romance, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren delivers sunshine, snark and swoon in equal measure. Set against the dreamy backdrop of Hawai’i, this rom-com follows two reluctant travel companions forced to share a honeymoon they never planned, with plenty of sparkling banter, unexpected chemistry and tropical drama.
Departing every Saturday of the year from Honolulu, the 7-day Hawaii inter-island round-trip cruise on Pride of America takes guests inside the setting of Olive and Ethan’s romance. As the only cruise line to sail four Hawaiian Islands in a single week, with overnight stays on Maui and Kaua‘i, NCL invites guests to connect to the islands’ natural beauty and vibrant culture. From snorkelling in Kona, enjoying the lush tropical surrounds of Hilo or exploring the surfer town of Haleiwa, it’s a destination that’s ripe for romance, whether with your travel companion – or someone you didn’t expect to fall for.
The Great Alone: Alaska – Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone transports readers to the Alaskan wilderness where nature is forceful, breathtaking and often unruly. For those who found themselves swept up in this story of isolation, resilience and redemption, Alaska isn’t just a setting, it’s the main character in the story.
The 7-day Alaska Cruise: Dawes Glacier, Ketchikan and Sitka Round-trip from Seattle, Washington on Norwegian Bliss, allows guests to witness the landscapes that shaped the novel. From a back country jeep adventure cutting through undeveloped countryside from Icy Strait Point to Sitka’s bear rescue centre, every port introduces a new chapter in Alaska’s wild and resilient spirit. At a remote homestead on Silver Bay, relive the story’s unforgettable characters around a campfire. Departures available from July through September 2025.
Ultimately, whether you’re chasing literary ghosts through European cities, venturing into the wilderness, or falling in love in the tropics, NCL invites you to bring your bookshelf to life. With thoughtfully curated itineraries, intimate ship spaces perfect for reading, and a world of stories waiting in each port, your next great read could lead to your next great adventure.
Pachinko: Busan, South Korea and Osaka, Japan – Spanning four generations of a Korean family living in Japan, Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko is a New York Times bestselling novel rich with political tension and cultural detail set in Busan and Osaka.
The 14 Day Japan Round-trip from Tokyo Cruise: Osaka, Kochi, Nagoya and Busan on Norwegian Jade, departing 29 October 2026, brings this sweeping story to life, visiting a new port every day and calling at both Busan and Osaka. Guests can wander through the markets of Busan, the setting of the fateful romance between Sunja and Hansu, which kickstarted the generations of storytelling and drama that follow. Then in Osaka, explore the city’s layered history, from the quiet shrines and winding backstreets that evoke the novel’s complex cultural backdrop, to the vibrant energy of modern-day Japan, where street food and neon-lit neighbourhoods sit alongside centuries-old traditions. With additional stops across Japan, including Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Kyoto, this journey offers an experience for those looking to capture the novel’s emotional depth and rich tapestry of modern history.
Experience More with NCL
Guests sailing with NCL can enjoy more in every sense – more destination immersion, more variety in cuisine than any other cruise line, more spacious accommodation options, from solo cabins to suites – and more ways to unwind including world class spa treatments and thermal suites. NCL’s More At Sea™ offers the best value at sea, representing more than USD$2,000 in added value*, with late stays and overnights in port**, plus world-class dining, award-winning entertainment, and premium relaxation onboard.
For more information or to book a cruise with NCL, please contact a travel professional or visit https://www.ncl.com
For full terms and conditions visit ncl.com.
*More At Sea™* – Over $2,000 in value: Value is per balcony stateroom and is based on a 7-Day Cruise assuming 3 sea days. Applicable to 1st and 2nd guests. Exclusions apply for Unlimited Premium Beverages, Specialty Dining Package & More. Other restrictions may apply.
**Applies to select sailings.
About Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
As the innovator in global cruise travel, NCL has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 58 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionised the industry by offering guests the opportunity to design their ideal holiday on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes.
Today, the company invites guests to ‘Experience More at Sea’ by providing them with more to see, more to do, more to enjoy, and more value on their holiday. To further deliver guests with more value, NCL’s ‘More At Sea™’ provides added benefits and inclusions such as unlimited premium beverages; specialty dining package; high-speed Wi-Fi package; shore excursions credits; as well as third and fourth guests sail free on select sailings.
Its fleet of 20 contemporary ships sail to nearly 350 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 accommodation across the fleet, including solo-traveller staterooms, mini-suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept.
For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.
Norwegian Cruise Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.
