Cruise News Headlines

ships > ncl > News

Norwegian Cruise News

Norwegian Escape Floats Out

Posted August 15, 2015

Norwegian Escape,  with her signature hull artwork designed by famed marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, was floated out of MEYER WERFT’s covered building dock II on Saturday, August 15 in Papenburg, Germany, where the 164,600-ton ship has been under construction since September 2014.  Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the line’s Breakaway Plus Class, measuring 1,098 feet in length and 136 feet wide.

Following the ship’s float out, the next milestones will be mounting the ship’s signature Norwegian Cruise Line funnel and adding a third story to Norwegian Escape’s ropes course—due to be the largest at sea.

Norwegian Escape will sail weekly seven-day cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean beginning on November 14, 2015.

Norwegian Cruise Line Introduces À La Carte Specialty Dining

Posted July 14, 2015

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today the introduction of à la carte specialty dining at the line's signature specialty restaurants, providing guests the freedom to savor an array of tastes and gourmet dishes and the flexibility to choose how many courses they wish to enjoy during their meal.

Guests will experience the ultimate in Freestyle Cruising beginning this October on the all-new Norwegian Escape, where they can choose to dine at any of 11 complimentary dining options or experience new flavors at Norwegian's signature specialty restaurants La Cucina, Le Bistro, Cagney's Steakhouse and the new Bayamo by James Beard Award winning chef Jose Garces, on an à la carte basis.

Norwegian's signature specialty restaurants on Norwegian Escape will feature enhanced menus that include favorite dishes and new tastes alike, offering guests the freedom to select how many courses they'd like to enjoy during their dinner, with per-item pricing. Whether guests wish to have a light meal of a favorite appetizer and soup or salad, or indulge in a multi-course dinner featuring Maine lobster, with Norwegian's new à la carte options, guests will now have the opportunity to create their desired dining experience, just as they would at any land-based restaurant.

At Cagney's Steakhouse, starters on the new à la carte menu range from $4.99 to $7.95 and main courses from $17.99 to $29.99, featuring Certified Angus Beef® brand steaks, the world's leading Angus brand and consumers' top choice for premium beef. At Le Bistro, guests will find delicious new main courses in addition to traditional French favorites, including Bouillabaisse, Pan-Seared Jumbo Bay Scallops and Veal Medallions with Sauce Morrel, starting at $15.99. And guests looking to find a taste of "la dolce vita" will be transported to the Mediterranean when they choose from an expanded menu at La Cucina, featuring antipasti, pasta, risotto and traditional secondi courses starting at $12.99 including Osso Buco alla Milanese, Free-Range Chicken with Prosciutto or Pan-Seared Sea Bass Filet.

Moderno Churrascaria and Teppanyaki will remain at a cover charge of $19.95 and $29.95 respectively, as will entertainment dining including Wine Lovers The Musical and For The Record?: The Brat Pack.

Guests who purchase a Norwegian Specialty Dining Package have the freedom to indulge as they wish, as Specialty Dining Packages will allow guests to enjoy La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney's Steakhouse at no additional charge. Guests with a Specialty Dining Package can dine in Bayamo by Jose Garces for an additional fee of $15.

In addition to Norwegian Escape's specialty restaurants, Ocean Blue on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway will also begin offering à la carte options on October 3, 2015, and the new à la carte dining will be available fleetwide beginning January 1, 2016. Other entertainment dining across the fleet, including Cirque Dreams & Dinner and The Illusionarium, will remain at a cover charge. For those guests who wish to reserve their dining times ahead of time, they can continue to do so via MyNCL; there is no charge to make a reservation and guests will have any à la carte selections added to their onboard account at the time of dining.

For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line's specialty dining, visit http://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/cruise-dining#specialty. To book a cruise on Norwegian, guests can contact their travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.

 

posted Jun 11, 2015   

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today the introduction of new Specialty Dining Packages that allow guests the freedom to savor an array of tastes and unique experiences at the line's signature specialty restaurants and the flexibility to choose the number of nights they'd like to dine for one set price. Norwegian guests sailing fleetwide from August 7* and beyond can enjoy a Specialty Dining Package ranging from three days to the length of their entire cruise, with pricing starting at $59 per person** for a three-day package when purchased online prior to sailing, providing cruisers with an excellent value.

Specialty Dining Packages are honored in all specialty steakhouses, Brazilian churrascarias, French, Japanese Hibachi and Italian restaurants. Norwegian guests who have purchased a Specialty Dining Package additionally have the flexibility to indulge in their heart's desire in select à la carte priced restaurants and entertainment-based restaurants for a small upcharge*** including:

- Ocean Blue (Norwegian Getaway/ Norwegian Breakaway) - $15

- Cirque Dreams (Norwegian Breakaway/Norwegian Epic)- $10 general seats/$15 premium seats/$35 VIP seating on Norwegian Breakaway

- The Illusionarium - $10 general seats/$15 premium seats

- For the Record: Dear John Hughes (Norwegian Escape)- $15

- Bayamo (Norwegian Escape)- $10

- Pincho Tapas Bar (Norwegian Escape)- $7

- The Raw Bar (Norwegian Getaway/ Norwegian Breakaway) - $7

- Sushi Bar (fleetwide)-$7

**Pricing based on number of dinners purchased in package. An 18% gratuity and specialty service charge is added to all package pricing. Dining packages are not available on 1- and 2-day sailings. Specialty Dining Packages purchased online through MyNCL provide greater savings.

*** Carlo's Bake Shop items, Ice Cream Bar, Gelato, Chef's Table, Special Occasion/Holiday menus (New Year's, Christmas, etc.), and beverages are not included as a part of Specialty Dining Packages.

Specialty Dining Packages can be pre-purchased prior to sailing for additional savings or onboard during the first two days of the voyage; the dining packages are exclusively sold on the first day of the voyage on three-day itineraries only. Norwegian guests who pre-purchase a Specialty Dining Package prior to sailing can reserve their dining reservations online within 90 days of their sail date or go Freestyle and decide when and where to dine once onboard. Specialty Dining Packages are purchased individually and guests traveling in the same stateroom do not need to purchase packages as a group.

*Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star and Pride of America can purchase packages beginning August 1, 2015. Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Pearl can purchase packages beginning August 2, 2015. Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun can purchase packages beginning August 3, 2015.

Asian Dining Venues Now Complimentary Across the Norwegian Cruise Line Fleet

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that many of the line's popular Asian dining venues can now be enjoyed on a complimentary basis across the fleet. Guest favorites like Shanghai's Noodle Bar aboard Norwegian's Breakaway Class ships and Norwegian Epic, Jasmine Garden aboard Norwegian Jade, Chin Chin aboard Norwegian Jewel and more will join the extensive list of complimentary dining venues available to Freestyle cruising guests.

As a part of the Norwegian NEXT program, Norwegian Cruise Line is investing significantly into enhancing guests' dining experience onboard and offering even more culinary options to provide the best cruise vacation experience. As a part of these new initiatives, the cover charge and à la carte pricing for many Asian dining concepts across the fleet has been eliminated to further enhance guest satisfaction and provide guests more freedom to create their ideal cruise vacation.

"Norwegian's Freestyle Dining is the most fun and flexible way for guests to enjoy some of the best dining experiences at sea, when they want and how they want," said Andy Stuart, president and chief operating officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are thrilled to continue that legacy by providing guests with more of the food they have come to love and enjoy with the introduction of fleetwide complimentary Asian cuisine."

The following venues are now complimentary:

-Orchid Garden, Norwegian Gem

-Lotus Garden, Norwegian Pearl

-Chin Chin, Norwegian Jewel

-Jasmine Garden, Norwegian Jade

-Shanghai's, Norwegian Epic

-Shanghai's Noodle Bar, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway

-East Meets West, Pride of America

-Shogun, Norwegian Spirit

-Bamboo, Norwegian Dawn

-Ginza, Norwegian Star

-Shangai's Noodle Bar, Norwegian Epic

Norwegian's popular Teppanyaki restaurants will continue to provide guests with the showmanship and culinary delights of Japanese iron-griddle cooking for a per guest cover charge, and Sushi venues across the fleet will retain nominal à la carte pricing.

For more information on the wide array of culinary options available aboard Norwegian ships and to book a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.

Keel Laying for Norwegian Escape Celebrated

posted September 19, 2014  Source: www.ncl.com

Norwegian Cruise Line and MEYER WERFT today celebrated the keel laying of Norwegian Escape at MEYER's state of the art facility in Papenburg, Germany. During the ceremony, block 35/41, the first of 86 blocks that will comprise the 164,600 gross ton vessel, was lifted into the covered building dock, officially marking the start of the ship's construction. Norwegian Escape will be Norwegian's largest ship to date, carrying 4,200 passengers, set for delivery in October 2015.

Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer, was on hand in the dock and laid the traditional "lucky coin," before the first block, weighing 400 tons, was placed by a massive crane. A special commemorative coin featuring the ship was created to celebrate the day's activities.

"Norwegian Escape will be our largest and most innovative ship to date, building on the phenomenal success of Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway," said Sheehan. "We are looking forward to seeing this ship take shape over the next year and welcoming her to our fleet in October 2015."

Norwegian Escape is the first ship in her class, and is being built by MEYER WERFT through a highly-efficient construction process that will deliver the ship of 164,600 gross tons in just over 19 months from steel cutting to delivery.

Norwegian Escape will begin weekly seven-day cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on November 14, 2015. The ship will be the largest to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4,200 guests to tropical Caribbean cruise destinations including St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas.

The ship's signature hull artwork is designed by marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, Guy Harvey, which features an underwater scene of marine wildlife. Norwegian's newest ship is Harvey's largest canvas to date, at 1065 feet in length, with his artwork spanning from the hull to the aft featuring two undersea scenes that blend seamlessly. Norwegian Escape will boast all of the exciting and innovative features found on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences that are yet to be announced.  

NCL Offers All-Inclusive Packages

posted July 30, 2014  Source: www.ncl.com

Norwegian Cruise Line is debuting a new All-Inclusive package, providing guests yet another way to customize their cruise vacation. Representing more than $2,400 in value per stateroom, Norwegian's All-Inclusive package is a first for major cruise lines, and is available for a limited time for all 2015 sailings* fleetwide**, for new reservations made from August 4, 2014 through August 29, 2014. The comprehensive package includes signature dining, alcoholic beverages, unlimited soda, shore excursions, internet access, service charges and more.

"Based on the popularity of our Fly, Cruise and Stay vacations, along with our onboard dining and beverage packages, we are now offering the first All-Inclusive package for our guests who want to experience all that the freedom and flexibility of Freestyle Cruising has to offer," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "Always an innovator, we are making it easy for those that want everything included in their cruise vacation with the option of our All-Inclusive package."

The All-Inclusive package is available for 2015 sailings from three to 14 days in length, is priced by the number of days, and is available for all stateroom categories, including the Haven by Norwegian. When adding the All-Inclusive to a selected cruise, guests receive 10 percent off the cruise fare. For a seven-day cruise, the $899 package includes the Ultimate Dining package; the Ultimate Beverage package; shore excursion credit of $200 per person, pre-paid daily service charges; a 250-minute Internet package per person; 20 photos of any size; chocolate-covered strawberries; a bottle of wine; one bingo session and six bottles of water. For cruises from three to five days, the shore excursion credit is $100 per person; and for sailings from 9-14 days, the package includes 12 bottles of water.

As part of the All-Inclusive offer, Norwegian's Ultimate Dining package provides complimentary access to one of the line's specialty restaurants every night of the cruise, including Cagney's, the popular steakhouse; French bistro, Italian restaurant, Moderno Churrascaria, Asian-Fusion restaurant and more. The Ultimate Beverage package includes a variety of spirits, cocktails, draft beer, bottled beer and glasses of wine up to $10 and unlimited fountain soda and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and on Norwegian's private island, Great Stirrup Cay.

Beginning August 4, for more information or to book a 2015 cruise with the All-Inclusive package, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.

*Includes all scheduled 2015 sailings from three to 14 days (excludes back to back sailings)

**Does not include Pride of America; not applicable to bookings made in Continental Europe or United Kingdom.

NCL Releases Second Quarter Report

posted July 28, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line (NASDAQ: NCLH, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., NCL Corporation Ltd., "Norwegian" or "the Company"), today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, and provided guidance for the third quarter and full year 2014.

Second Quarter Highlights
- Adjusted EPS improvement to $0.58 from $0.29 in 2013
- Net Yield increase of 3.3% 
- Revenue increase of 18.9% to $765.9 million
- Adjusted EBITDA increase of 44.0% to $219.4 million

In May, the Company announced Norwegian NEXT, a two-year, $250 million investment in "new enhancements, experiences and transformations" across the fleet.

The program is aimed at elevating the guest experience through ship revitalizations, enhanced dining and beverage programs, enriched entertainment and destination experiences and technological advances. The program also includes initiatives aimed at reducing the Company's impact on the environment, including the installation of exhaust gas scrubbers on six of the Company's current ships and all four of its upcoming newbuilds.

Fleetwide enhancements to the dining program include new menus with expanded offerings in complimentary dining venues, the rollout of the popular O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill and Moderno Churrascaria concepts and the addition of Carlo's Bake Shop treats to cafes across the fleet. Beverage program enhancements include a new wine list developed in partnership with the Michael Mondavi Family, destination-specific cocktail menus created by the James Beard Award-nominated mixologists at Bar Lab and the expansion of the Sugarcane Mojito Bar concept.

Regarding entertainment, the Company's new, state-of-the-art rehearsal facility, Norwegian Creative Studios, will be the source for new production shows while the Company expands its Nickelodeon family offerings to include new activities and dining experiences with one's favorite characters.

Investments in technology include an enhanced pre-cruise booking experience and interactive digital displays positioned in strategic locations throughout every ship allowing guests to reserve dining, shore excursions and other activities.

The Company is also investing in improvements to its private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, with new venues such as the Bacardi Bar while construction continues on its upcoming eco-friendly western Caribbean destination in Belize, Harvest Caye.

Harvest Caye Still a Go Despite Opponents

posted June 17, 2014

The Belize Tourism Industry Association has filed an application for Judicial Review Proceedings to challenge the decision of the National Environmental Appraisal Committee (NEAC) and the Department of Environment when they approved Norwegian Cruise Line’s Harvest Caye Cruise Port project last month.

NCL has a vision to create a world-class cruise destination, consisting of two locations: an island
destination with docking/tendering facilities and a mainland connection point for inland tours. Major components of the project are anticipated to include a floating pier, island village with open-air structures on raised platforms, marina, transportation hub for tours to the mainland, a lagoon for a variety of water sports and a
relaxing beach area. The goal is to design an authentic experience grounded in the storyline of nature, ancient culture, art, adventure and music that celebrates Belizean, Mayan and Garifuna history and culture.

About Harvest Caye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dG-4qtIaJw

 

Three New Grammy Experience Performers Announced for Getaway

posted April 16, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the next three artists that will perform on board Norwegian Getaway’s Grammy Experience at Sea: Sugar Blue, a Grammy-award-winning harmonica performer; Carolyn Malachi, a Grammy-nominated soul-fusion artist; and Roddie Romero, a Grammy-nominated Louisiana artist.

When Sugar Blue joins the Getaway on April 12, 2014, the cruise line said “he will dazzle guests with his harmonica mastery.” Described as the Jimi Hendrix and Charlie Parker of the harmonica, his style is said to be melodically fluid and instantly recognizable. Born in Harlem, New York, Blue grew up listening to performances by some of the world’s most renowned artists at the Apollo Theater. His fate was sealed when he received a harmonica for his 10th birthday and since then he has been performing worldwide. He has recorded and appeared with Willie Dixon, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Prince, Stan Getz, Ray Charles and many others. Blue won a Grammy in 1985 for Best Traditional Blues Recording as a featured performer on the album Blues Explosion, which was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Blue will perform on the Getaway through June 14, 2014.

Carolyn Malachi is known for her brand of soul music, emerged as a star following the release of her Grammy-nominated single, Orion, in 2011. According to Norwegian, her unique spoken-word meets hip-hop, R&B and jazz-fusion style of music. Malachi is also a philanthropic social activist who has used her music to become a force for good by supporting international non-profit organizations such as The School Fund, which has already funded over 10,000 classroom hours for students in Tanzania and East Africa. Guests will be entertained on the Getaway from June 15 through August 1, 2014.

Following Malachi, Roddie Romero, a Grammy-nominated Louisiana artist who has been performing internationally for over 20 years, will join the ship. Known for his authentic, traditional Cajun and zydeco music, this Louisiana-roots rocker puts on an energetic show that Norwegian said will get guests up to dance. Romero has recently performed on board Norwegian Pearl during Cayamo, one of the line’s music festival series events in partnership with Sixthman. Romero will perform on Getaway from August 2 through August 30, 2014.

Norwegian Crew Member Murdered in Roatan; Port Calls Cancelled

posted April 8, 2014

A Norwegian Cruise Line crew member was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in Roatan, Honduras on Sunday, April 6.

An announcement on Norwegian's Facebook page states, "Norwegian Cruise Line is shocked and saddened by the tragic death of a crew member from Norwegian Pearl in Roatan, Honduras on Sunday, April 6, 2014. In an abundance of caution for our guests and crew, we have cancelled calls to Roatan this week for Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Jewel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the crew member."

Officials are investigating the murder and have the alleged suspect in custody. Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world and the United States Department of State issued a travel warning in December 2013 for citizens visiting.

Marine Artist Guy Harvey to Design Norwegian Escape Hull Art

posted March 19, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line announced at Cruise Shipping Miami that Guy Harvey, widely recognized as the world's finest marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, has been named to design the signature hull artwork of the line's largest ship to date, Norwegian Escape, scheduled to debut in October 2015. At an event at Cruise Shipping Miami, the artist revealed his custom design for Norwegian Escape's hull, which features an underwater scene of marine wildlife. Norwegian's newest ship is Harvey's largest canvas to date, at 1065 feet in length, with his artwork spanning from the hull to the aft featuring two undersea scenes that blend seamlessly.

"Guy Harvey is the perfect artist to design Norwegian Escape's hull artwork because he is so passionate about the sea and his marine artwork is so life-like and well recognized," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "We also appreciate how Guy is focused on ocean conservation and keeping the marine environment pristine, we plan to work with him to help support the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation as that goes hand-in-hand with our company's strong commitment to the environment."

Harvey combines his unique artistic talents with his background as a marine biologist, diver, photographer and angler, to create marine wildlife art with an unmatched authenticity and visual appeal.

"I am deeply honored to be asked by Norwegian to paint the hull of the newest and largest ship in their fleet," said Harvey. "The larger than life paintings of popular but endangered marine creatures in the Caribbean will heighten public awareness about marine life. The large scale mural demonstrates the concern and respect that Norwegian and I have for the marine environment through which this ship will travel over the years."

Though recognized most recently for his floor-to-ceiling murals at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport and at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, Harvey is best known for his dynamic game fish T-shirt designs. His original paintings have sold for tens of thousands of dollars and today, reproductions of his art, often seen on magazine and catalog covers, are offered as limited edition prints and can be found on a wide variety of clothing and gift items. Harvey maintains his art studio in Grand Cayman, where he lives with his wife and two children.

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation funds inspired scientific research and innovative educational programs to encourage conservation and best management practices for sustainable marine environments. The Foundations ensures that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced marine ecosystem where fish and other wildlife flourish. Onboard Norwegian Escape, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation-produced documentaries about endangered marine wildlife will be shown on the guest stateroom televisions so that guests can be more educated on how they can help with ocean conservation.

Also at Cruise Shipping Miami today, Norwegian announced that Norwegian Escape will homeport year-round in Miami and sail a seven-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary starting November 14, 2015; visiting Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. At approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passenger berths, Norwegian Escape will join the fleet in October 2015. The ship's Eastern Caribbean itineraries will go on sale March 19, 2014. Norwegian Escape will boast all of exciting and innovative features found on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences that are yet to be announced.

Norwegian Escape's itineraries will open for Travel Partners to book groups on March 19, for Latitudes Rewards Members on March 25 and to the general public on March 26, 2014. Additional information about Norwegian Escape can be found at www.escape.ncl.com or on our Facebook page at www.ncl.com/facebook. To book a cruise on Norwegian Escape contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.

Escape to Homeport in Miami

posted March 18, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that its newest and largest ship to date, Norwegian Escape, will homeport year-round at PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world, sailing an Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

"Norwegian Escape's arrival to Miami coincides with Norwegian Epic's year-round Europe deployment, demonstrating the balanced approach we used to develop our winter 2015/16 deployment and ensuring that we had a varied offering of premium destinations that would be exciting to our guests," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer. "Much of this deployment was designed based on feedback from our guests and travel partners, and we know they will be happy with the changes and enhancements we have made."

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian's newest and largest ship to date, at approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passenger berths, Norwegian Escape will join the fleet in October 2015. Beginning November 14, 2015, Norwegian Escape will offer seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings from her year-round home port of Miami cruising to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship will boast all of exciting and innovative features found on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences that are yet to be announced.

"PortMiami looks forward to welcoming Norwegian Escape in 2015?the ship will be a fabulous addition to our fleet," said PortMiami Director Bill Johnson. "We are thrilled that this impressive vessel will make her debut at PortMiami-- the Cruise Capital of the World-- And will be the third Norwegian Cruise Line ship to homeport here year round."

Norwegian Unveils iConcierge Smartphone App

posted March 17, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that the company's revolutionary smart phone application, "Norwegian iConcierge" is now available on board the line's newest ship, Norwegian Getaway. Norwegian iConcierge has previously been activated on Norwegian Getaway's sister ship Norwegian Breakaway, as well as on Norwegian Epic, and will roll out to additional vessels in the fleet by the end of 2014.

In partnership with Allin Interactive, Norwegian's exclusive application allows guests to create a highly-customized vacation experience by providing interactive access to Norwegian Getaway's onboard guest information and service systems during their cruise, via the guest Wi-Fi network onboard, based on Allin's DigiMobile? platform.

"Norwegian iConcierge app has been extremely popular among guests on Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Breakaway," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer. "We are excited that those sailing on Miami's Ultimate Ship can now take advantage of all of the features included in this incredible technology."

Guests who download the free application are able to conveniently interact with Norwegian Getaway's systems from anywhere on board using their smart phone to make shore excursion, box office and dining reservations, view the ship's Freestyle Daily activity guide and review their folio activity all from the palm of their hand. In addition, Norwegian iConcierge offers guests the ability to easily find and communicate with fellow cruisers. Guests who have the application installed on their SIP capable smart phones will be able to make and send unlimited calls and messages to each other while on board for a nominal fee.

"We are very pleased to announce the activation of Norwegian iConcierge on Norwegian Getaway, which shows Norwegian Cruise Line's continued commitment to aggressively deploy innovative technology across multiple ships," stated Brian Blair, President of Allin Interactive. "We are happy that our DigiHD? ITV and DigiMobile solutions are both part of the guest-facing experience on these groundbreaking vessels, and we look forward to further deployments across Norwegian Cruise Line's fleet later this year."

The Norwegian iConcierge app also features new ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship calling capabilities using a dedicated 1-800-number. For a low per minute rate, guests can now make and receive calls while onboard via the app.

Norwegian iConcierge is a free download and available through Apple, Android and Windows7 smart phone application stores. Norwegian is the first cruise line to implement this innovative technology across multiple ships, continuing the line's history of innovation and elevating the guest experience.

TLC "Cake Boss" Store Expanding Across NCL Fleet

posted March 5, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that Master Baker Buddy Valastro, star of the popular TLC television series “Cake Boss” and “Next Great Baker,” who recently opened two Carlo’s Bake Shop locations on board Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, will now feature his incredible dessert creations on all Norwegian ships, fleet-wide.

“The Carlo’s Bake Shop cakes and pastries on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway have been a huge hit with our guests,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to make Cruising like a Norwegian even sweeter now by offering Buddy’s incredible dessert creations to guests sailing on all of the ships in our fleet.”

“Our ‘family’ is growing and we couldn’t be happier,” said Buddy Valastro. “Partnering with Norwegian to launch Carlo’s on board Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway was an incredible experience and now we are so excited that cruisers on any of Norwegian’s amazing ships will be able to enjoy our desserts during their vacations.”

In the coming weeks, guests sailing on any Norwegian Cruise Line ship will have the opportunity to enjoy the delicious treats and confections that the original Carlo’s bakery is known for, including: Carlo’s Bake Shop’s famous cannoli’s, lobster tails, tiramisu, plus a variety of other unique cakes, cupcakes and Italian cookies.

Norwegian Epic will be the first ship to offer Carlo’s Bakery items on board starting March 9, followed by Norwegian Dawn on March 16, Norwegian Jewel on March 23, Norwegian Star on March 30 and Norwegian Gem on April 8, 2014. The remaining ships will offer Carlo’s items in the coming months.

Carlo’s Bake Shop dessert items will be featured in each ship’s Java and Atrium Cafes and available for purchase a la carte.

NCL Shows Growth in 2013

posted February 18, 2014

“A year that began with a highly successful initial public offering, followed by other transactions which resulted in a strong balance sheet and credit metrics, and the launch of the first ship in our Breakaway class, Norwegian Breakaway, will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the seminal years in Norwegian’s 47-year history,” said Kevin Sheehan, president and chief executive officer. “The hard work of 25,000 Norwegian team members, all with a keen focus on our vision and mission, has been the catalyst for reaching these milestones, reporting solid financial performance in a challenging year for the industry and positioning the Company for measured, disciplined growth” continued Sheehan.

For the full year 2013, the Company reported Adjusted EPS of $1.41, which is above the top range of the Company’s guidance and a 45.4% increase from 2012 Adjusted EPS of $0.97. Adjusted Net Income for the year was $295.8 million compared to $173.1 million in 2012. On a GAAP basis, net income and diluted earnings per share were $101.7 million and $0.49, respectively, the difference primarily relates to the prepayment and refinancing of certain credit facilities and the redemption of certain of the Company’s senior notes in connection with the Company’s initial public offering and refinancing activities.

A 13.4% improvement in Net Revenue was the result of the addition of Norwegian Breakaway to the Company’s fleet, along with an increase in Net Yield of 4.3% (or 4.2% on a Constant Currency basis) from higher ticket pricing and onboard spend, partially offset by three incremental scheduled Dry-docks.

Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day increased 3.6% (or 3.4% on a Constant Currency basis) mainly due to the aforementioned Dry-docks along with inaugural and other new build launch-related expenses. The Company’s fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges, was $675 compared to $664 in 2012 while fuel consumption per Capacity Day decreased 3.3% in the period.

Interest expense, net for the year was $282.6 million and included $160.6 million in charges related to the aforementioned prepayments and refinancing of certain credit facilities and redemption of certain of senior notes. Excluding these charges interest expense, net was $122.0 million compared to $189.9 million in the prior year.

Fourth Quarter 2013 Results

The Company reported fourth quarter 2013 Adjusted EPS of $0.19 on Adjusted Net Income of $40.5 million compared to $0.04 and $5.6 million, respectively, for the same period in 2012. Net income and diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $36.1 million and $0.17, respectively.

Net Revenue for the period increased 19.3% from the addition of Norwegian Breakaway to the Company’s fleet and a 4.8% increase in Net Yield (4.7% on a Constant Currency basis), partially offset by a Dry-dock for Norwegian Sky. Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day increased 7.6% primarily due to the Dry-dock in the period and the acceleration of certain scheduled repairs and maintenance that the Company performed in the fourth quarter. Fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges, decreased 6.6% to $649 from $695.

Interest expense, net decreased to $24.6 million from $47.7 million in 2012, benefitting from the aforementioned financial transactions.

Source: Press Release

Getaway Christened in Miami Ahead of Maiden Voyage

posted February 8, 2014

The new Norwegian Getaway was welcomed to the Norwegian fleet when christened in a Miami-styled star-studded ceremony on Friday, February 7.

Brooke Burke-Chavet of "Dancing with the Stars" served as the event's master of ceremonies. The ship's godmothers, the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders, waved green and orange poms-poms before flicking a switch to release the traditional champagne bottle against the ship's hull. Local Miami rapper Pitbull performed his Miami-inspired hits like "Give Me Everything."

Other attendees include several celebrities with venues onboard. Geoferry Zakarian, who inspired the Ocean Blue and other dining experiences, the Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro, and hull artist David "LEBO" Le Batard were in the audience.

The Norwegian Getaway will be the largest ship to homeport in Miami. On Saturday, the Getaway departed on a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise.

Child Dies on Breakaway in Pool

posted February 4, 2014

Two children were pulled unconscious from a pool on the NCL Breakaway. Crew immediately began performing CPR. One child, a six-year-old, was airlifted accompanied by a grandparent and nurse to a hospital in North Carolina. The second child, a four-year-old, died on board.

Norwegian Cruises released a statement saying, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this extremely difficult time and are providing full assistance and support. The family is in our thoughts and prayers and we ask that you please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well."

The status of the airlifted child is unknown at this time.

The Norwegian Breakaway is based out of New York City and was on its way to a port of call in Port Canaveral.

Norwegian Cruise Lines Announces New Dining Plan

posted January 14, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line today introduced an all-new way for guests to have access to one of Norwegian’s specialty restaurants every night of their cruise. Called “Norwegian’s Ultimate Dining Package,” this new program provides the opportunity for guests to experience each of the line’s most popular specialty restaurants including Cagney’s, the line’s signature steakhouse; French bistro, Italian restaurant, Moderno Churrascaria, Asian-Fusion Restaurant and more, at a special rate based on the length of the cruise.

The package is currently available on all Norwegian ships fleet wide.

“We are excited to offer guests the Ultimate Dining Package, giving them the opportunity to experience each of our incredible specialty restaurants,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. “The Ultimate Dining Package truly captures the essence of Freestyle Cruising by allowing guests to dine in the specialty restaurant of their choice, every night of their cruise, at one very reasonable package price.”

The Ultimate Dining Package gives guests the opportunity to have a taste of something deliciously new every night of their cruise when they experience the array of specialty restaurants found onboard Norwegian ships.

Norwegian’s Ultimate Dining Package is available in tiers based on cruise length. On three to six day voyages, guests can dine anywhere throughout their cruise at a set price of $59 per person; for seven-day voyages, the package is $119 per person; $149 per person on eight to 10 day cruises; $199 per person for cruises of 10 to 15 days; $259 per person during cruises of 16 days to 25 days; $299 per person during cruises of 26 days to 35 days and $349 per person during cruises of 36 days to 45 days.

Norwegian Epic Will Homeport in Spain Starting 2015

posted January 13, 2014

Norwegian Epic will be the largest Norwegian Cruise Line ship to ever home port in Europe year-round when it moves to Barcelona, Spain, on April 30 2015.

“We are excited to announce that our largest ship, Norwegian Epic, will homeport in Europe year-round in 2015,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Norwegian Epic’s innovative accommodations, world-class entertainment and plethora of dining options are the perfect complement to the European cruise market, one of the most sought-after cruise destinations in the world.”

Norwegian Epic’s 2015 European Itineraries are scheduled to be announced mid-March.

Source: Press Release
 

Norwegian Announces First Grammy Experience at Sea with Nestor Torres

posted January 9, 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that Latin GRAMMY® Award winner Nestor Torres will headline Norwegian Getaway’s GRAMMY® Experience at Sea.

Torres is the first artist to join Norwegian’s newest ship as part of the line’s partnership with The Recording Academy® that named the line “Official Cruise Line Partner of the GRAMMY Awards®.”

Nestor Torres is an exceptionally talented flautist who is equally fluent in Jazz, Classical and Latin musical genres. Throughout his more than 25-year-long career, Torres’ fluid versatility has truly set him apart. He has 14 albums to his credit, has been nominated for a GRAMMY and four Latin GRAMMYs, and received a Latin GRAMMY at the 2nd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards in 2001 for his album entitled ‘This Side of Paradise.’

“We are honored to welcome Nestor Torres on board Miami’s Ultimate Ship,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Norwegian Getaway’s GRAMMY Experience is truly one of a kind and with performances by top-notch musicians, such as Nestor Torres, the experience in this exciting new venue propels the entertainment offerings on Norwegian Getaway to a whole new level.”

“It is really exciting to be the pioneer of such a historic venture,” said Torres. “As an artist with strong Miami roots, I am very proud to have the opportunity to perform on board Miami’s Ultimate Ship.”

Throughout his career, Torres has conducted notable solo performances in a variety of world-renowned orchestras, including the Cleveland, Singapore and the New World Symphonies. In addition to his successful solo career, Torres has also performed and recorded with other well-known musicians including: Ricky Martin, Tito Puente, Herbie Hancock, Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins and Dave Mathews.

Born in Puerto Rico, Torres studied at Mannes School of Music in New York City and at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music. It was during his time in New York City that Torres learned to improvise in a style of Cuban Dance music known as ‘Charanga,’ which helped to shape and develop his melodic and danceable sound. Guests on board Norwegian Getaway will have the opportunity to experience Charanga, Jazz and Pop Music during his performances.

Nestor Torres will perform onboard Norwegian Getaway during the ship’s inaugural festivities and for the first Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami on February 8, 2014. He will perform each evening in The GRAMMY Experience venue located on deck eight. In addition to Torres’ live performances, guests will also enjoy viewing a variety of music memorabilia chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.

Source: Press Release

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Secondary Public Offering

posted December 3, 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced today the launch of a secondary public offering of 22 million of its ordinary shares by Star NCLC Holdings Ltd. and certain funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC and TPG Global, LLC (together, the "Selling Shareholders") pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Selling Shareholders will grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an aggregate of up to 3.3 million additional ordinary shares. Norwegian will not sell any ordinary shares in the offering and will not receive any of the proceeds from the offering.

UBS Investment Bank and Barclays are acting as bookrunners and the representatives of the underwriters for the offering. Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Securities, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan are also acting as bookrunners for the offering. Credit Agricole CIB, DNB Markets, HSBC, Nomura and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The offering of these ordinary shares will be made only by means of a prospectus.

Source: Press Release

Norwegian Getaway Floats Away

posted Nov. 14, 2013

A year after its keel was laid, the Norwegian Getaway floated bow first out of Meyer Werft's building dock. The floating out is an important milestone as the ship, which has been under construction for a year, enters its final phase of construction.

Following the float out, tests were performed in the harbor before the ship was berthed to the pier. The ship will be tested for seaworthiness in mid-November in the North Sea. The first crew members will move in next week to help prepare the ship for guests.

The Getaway is a sister ship to the Norwegian Breakaway. The ship will be based out of Miami and offer 7-day eastern Caribbean cruises.

Back to the top

Norwegian Partners with Nintendo to Offer New Gaming Console

posted November 13, 2013

Teens and youth cruising on Norwegian will soon discover the new Wii U Console onboard Norwegian Cruise Lines' fleet. The consoles will be available in the ship atriums and youth and teen centers.

Norwegian first partnered with Nintendo in March 2007, when Wii ™ systems were introduced fleet wide. Now, with the introduction of Wii U, the successor to Wii, the gaming experience is being elevated to new levels. The interactive Wii U gaming system complements Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising ® by offering gaming opportunities to guests of all ages. The new consoles give guests the chance to experience a variety of new action, adventure, party, racing, strategy, puzzle and sports games. Upcoming game rollouts will include The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker HD, a high-definition re-release of one of the greatest Nintendo games of all time; Super Mario™3D World, the first multiplayer 3D Mario game for Wii U; New Super Luigi U™, starring Mario’s green-clad brother; Pikmin™3, which asks players to command an army of colorful creatures; and The Wonderful 101™, which puts players in control of a band of superheroes fighting off an alien invasion.

“The Wii consoles have always been extremely popular among our guests,” said Richard Ambrose, Norwegian Cruise Line’s vice president of entertainment. “The new Wii U systems are guaranteed to take gaming on board to the next level, and will surely be a hit.”

 

Back to the top