Norwegian Cruise Line returns to Houston

Norwegian Cruise Line is back in Houston after a seven-year absence.

The 13-ship line's 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel this week began a series of 27 sailings to the Western Caribbean out of the city's Bayport Cruise Terminal.

The ship will be based in Houston through April 11.

Norwegian is following Princess in launching sailings from the Bayport terminal, which was mostly vacant for several years after its completion in 2008. The 3,080-passenger Caribbean Princess operated out of the port last winter.

Houston initially struggled to lure cruise lines to the $108.4 million terminal, which was built without a guaranteed cruise tenant and had been criticized as an example of wasteful public spending.

Located on the southeast side of the Houston metropolitan area in Pasadena, Texas, the Bayport terminal competes with the nearby Port of Galveston, which is closer to the open sea and well-established as a cruise hub for the region.

Norwegian says it has committed to at least three years of such seasonal sailings out of Houston.

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