Tag Archives: NCLH

Andy Stuart to depart Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart in his office in 2015 with a framed jersey from London's Arsenal Football Club, his favorite soccer team.

Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart in his office in 2015 with a framed jersey from London’s Arsenal Football Club, his favourite soccer team. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart, a 31-year veteran of the company and long the company’s bridge to the travel trade, will step down at the end of the year following the delivery of the last Breakaway Plus vessel, Norwegian Encore.

Stuart is beloved by agents for his warmth, humanity and deep knowledge of the business. He will stay on with the company as a senior advisor through March 31, 2020.

Norwegian named Harry Sommer, currently president, international for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, as Stuart’s successor.

“I could only have dreamed about my journey at Norwegian when I joined the company in 1988 and am extremely fortunate to have witnessed firsthand the incredible evolution of this pioneering brand,” said Stuart, who is 54 years old.

Stuart became president and chief operating officer in 2015, after the surprise resignation of Drew Madsen, who was in the job only five months. 

“Andy and Norwegian are virtually synonymous,” Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said at the time. “He is very well known and respected by our guests, travel partners, officers, crew, and team members.

Signature Travel Network CEO Alex Sharpe said Stuart’s departure will be a blow not only to Norwegian but to the industry generally. “He’s an incredible ambassador for the cruise industry. He’s an incredible asset to the travel advisor trade. He’s just an incredible man. A good friend, a loyal guy. From that perspective, any time we lose someone of that calibre from the industry, it hurts,” Sharpe said.

Before he was named president in 2015, Stuart had been serving as executive vice president of sales. Prior to that, he had held many positions at Norwegian including global sales, passenger services, revenue management, and marketing and public relations.

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“Andy has accomplished everything possible in the cruise industry, including leading its most storied and innovative brand,” Del Rio said Thursday. “He will leave on a high note after delivering the brand’s latest ship, Norwegian Encore.”

Sommer’s background includes stints at NCLH as executive vice president, international business development and executive vice president and chief integration officer.

He also held various positions at Prestige Cruise Holdings prior to its consolidation with NCLH, including chief marketing officer, senior vice president of finance, chief information officer and chief accounting officer.

Sommer holds an MBA from Pace University and a BBA from Baruch College.

NCLH: Hurricane Relief Underway; Breakaway to Deliver Key Supplies

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Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today announced the relaunch of Hope Starts Here, the company’s hurricane relief campaign in partnership with All Hands and Hearts, and pledged a minimum commitment of $1 million toward immediate short-term relief for those affected by Hurricane Dorian, according to a prepared statement.

The company has also vowed to match donations dollar-for-dollar to assist with rebuilding efforts across the Bahamas, including debris cleanup and removal, and the delivery of supplies and temporary shelters.

“Our hearts are heavy after witnessing the impact and devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian across the Bahamas,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “We have been cruising to these islands for over 50 years and remain committed to its wonderful people during this unprecedented event. Through our partnership with All Hands and Hearts, we vow to match all donations collected to support the country’s rebuilding efforts.”

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is also coordinating with local Bahamian authorities to bring needed provisions to the affected areas, as quickly and as humanly possible. On Sept. 5, Norwegian Breakaway will depart Miami with hurricane relief supplies donated by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and its employees, in addition to items collected by the City of Miami, Baptist Health South Florida, the 305 Gives Back foundation, and other Miami-based organizations, to be delivered to Nassau, Great Harbor Cay, the company’s private island Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

“We are pleased and humbled to again partner with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, to bring both immediate and long-term support to those who have so tragically suffered from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas,” said Erik Dyson, chief executive officer of All Hands and Hearts. “We partnered, after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, to help respond to and rebuild communities in Key West, St. Thomas, Tortola, Puerto Rico, and Dominica – this resulted in helping literally tens of thousands of people moving forward on their path to recovery. We look forward to continuing this joint impact working with and for the people of the Bahamas.”

Norwegian CEO Del Rio enthused about return to Turkey

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said the company’s decision to return to the Eastern Mediterranean in 2019 is working out so far.

After pulling out of the region in 2016 because of terrorism fears and political instability in Turkey, NCLH has scheduled 12 sailings this year and has an additional 20 on the calendar for 2020.

“All 12 sailings in 2019 are better loaded and at higher pricing than the surrounding sailings that do not include Turkey,” Del Rio said.

He told investors on a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and 2018 earnings that Turkey is the key to the itinerary.

“The fact that the North American consumer, who is the one booking most of these Eastern Mediterranean cruises, seem to want to come back to the eastern Med and is willing to pay a premium price bodes very well for 2020,” Del Rio said.

The risk is that itineraries must be developed and sold 18 to 24 months in advance of sailing, he continued.

“So you test the waters, you see what happens, and it takes you a while to really ramp up. So at this point, assuming there are no other disruptions — reasons to not go to the Eastern Med — I expect that we along with the rest of the industry will probably increase the number of deployments to the Eastern Med beginning in 2020 and even more in 2021.”

Del Rio, who has a hand in all itinerary planning at NCLH, said that when the eastern Med is good, “it’s as good as any, if not the best, of all itineraries.”

On the call, Del Rio said NCLH enters 2019 in the best-booked position in its history, giving yield managers more leeway to raise prices.

“We’re pushing prices higher wherever we can,” Del Rio said. “While we still have a lot of cabins to fill, the emphasis will be on raising prices — on all three brands.”

In addition to Norwegian Cruise Line, NCLH operates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

The company had net income of $954.8 million in 2018, up 25.6% from the $759.9 million recorded a year earlier. Revenue rose 13% to $6.1 billion.

Last year, NCLH decided to redeploy the Norwegian Joy from China to Alaska, where it will cruise starting in April alongside sister ship Norwegian Bliss. That will increase NCLH’s presence in Alaska to 9% of total capacity, up from 7% last year.

Capacity in the Asia Pacific region will drop to 6% from 12% last year. NCLH will have six ships in Europe this summer and capacity there increases to 23% from 20% last year, while year-round capacity in the Caribbean is pegged at 36%.