On March 30, Marc Kazlauskas (President of FROSCH Leisure Travel and US Branch Operations) hosted a special President’s Forum Webinar. Jason Montague (President of Regent Seven Seas & Oceania Cruises) and Andy Stuart (President of Norwegian Cruise Line) joined the forum on cruising.
During the webinar, Andy shared a number of exciting enhancements coming to NCL in the near future. Over the next two years, Norwegian Cruise Line will invest $400 million to upgrade its ships, private islands, and cuisine as part of the “Norwegian Edge” program. In total, nine ships will be upgraded by the end of 20; work has already begun on the Norwegian Epic and Gem as of last fall.
In March, work on the Pride of America began, while the Norwegian Sun and Dawn are slated to begin undergoing improvements later this year. By the end of next year, the Norwegian Spirit, Pearl, Sky, and Jade will be completed as well. The improvements are focused on guest-facing elements, and in general, the line is swapping out glitzier designs for more elegant ones, in an attempt to deliver a new standard of excellence.
During the second leg of investments, upgrades to Norwegian’s destination islands, Harvest Caye in Belize and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, will be made throughout 2016 and early 2017. Improvements will include luxurious cabana experiences, several additional dining and bar and lounge options, new family activities, more entertainment and spa offerings, and greater accessibility and walkability.
The third element of the Norwegian Edge program is a deeper emphasis on food, which will convey each ship’s unique personality. Along with the introduction of port-fresh ingredients, new menus and advanced training for chefs and staff will round out the culinary upgrades.
Guests who book their cruise with a FROSCH Travel Consultant between now and April 10th will also be able to take advantage of Norwegian’s new “Free at Sea” package, where they can choose from 4 free offers that include unlimited beverages, specialty dining, shore excursions, or Wi-Fi – up to a $1,500 value!
As if Andy hadn’t shared enough exciting news from Norwegian, he also announced changes are coming to its itineraries! In 2016, the Norwegian Epic, Spirt, Jade and Star will focus their sailings to Europe, while the Escape and Getaway will head to the Caribbean. In 2017, the Norwegian Joy, a China-based ship, is expected to launch. That’s a lot to look forward to in the next few years!
