New campaign invites travelers to ‘Cruise Like a Norwegian’

New campaign invites travelers to ‘Cruise Like a Norwegian’

By Donna Tunney
NCL-newadNorwegian Cruise Line is attempting to reposition itself with a consumer-facing branding platform centered on the theme “Cruise Like a Norwegian.”

It’s a multifaceted campaign that rolls out Oct. 10 with network and cable TV commercials, digital advertising, new logos and social media components on Facebook.

The high-energy, some might say sexy, TV commercials aim to help coin the phrase used in the branding theme.

“Dine like a Parisian. Surf like a Hawaiian. Love like a Venetian. Party like a Brazilian. Cruise like a Norwegian,” the commercials declare.

Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan said the cruise line has spent the past four years on “a variety of initiatives” to improve and enhance the company and brand. “We felt this is the right time to issue this bold invitation to cruise with us by piquing interest and creating excitement around our brand,” he said.

“We believe this new brand platform will differentiate us and help clearly define a Norwegian cruise as one of the best vacations.”

Maria Miller, the line’s senior vice president of marketing, said the campaign’s slogan “is an invitation to those wanting to experience life in dynamic ways to come in and experience the brand.”

She added: “We are trying to broaden our demographic. … It’s a bold, confident statement that presents the brand in a new way yet builds on our heritage.”

Miller noted that the launch of the Norwegian Epic, along with entertainment upgrades, helped open the line to more families and younger people in recent years. The new branding platform, she said, will put Norwegian “front and center” among consumers who have never cruised.

“This feels different than other cruise line advertising that’s out there. The core of what we’re trying to communicate is the breadth of experience we offer, the freedom and flexibility. Freestyle Cruising allows people to experience that,” Miller said.

The Facebook components of the rebranding launch include “Mix It Up,” an application that enables users to pair their own photos with the music featured in the “Cruise Like a Norwegian” ads, and an interactive quiz called “How Norwegian Are You?” The results will show how closely the user aligns with a Norwegian Cruise Line lifestyle.

The line also will reach out to agents in an effort to communicate what the new brand means to the frontline sale process.

Agent webinars will be offered, Miller said, and the line’s sales organization has materials they will distribute to retailers. Courses in NCL University will reflect the new brand philosophy.

She added that onboard elements include some changes to the line’s signature “White Hot Party” featured on every cruise.

“Some ‘Norwegian elements’ will be added to that,” said Miller, and the line’s crew members are being trained to “support and deliver the experiences we want our customers to have.”

The line for several months has been trying to move quietly away from “NCL” as an often-used abbreviation and toward “Norwegian” instead.

A spokeswoman for the line recently explained that the company wanted to focus on its “Norwegian roots” and no longer wished to be known by an abbreviation.

In the TV commercials, “NCL” appears once, and for just a split second, at the tail end of the ads.

NCL unveils more ‘Breakaway’ cabin designs

NCL unveils more ‘Breakaway’ cabin designs

By Jerry Limone
Breakaway spa mini-suiteNorwegian Cruise Line has unveiled more cabin designs for two ships scheduled for delivery in April 2013 and April 2014.The ships don’t have names yet, and Norwegian is calling the venture “Project Breakaway.”

Similar to the balcony and mini-suite cabins revealed this summer, other cabins “combine the form and function of the line’s Jewel-class ships’ staterooms with the modern and contemporary design touches of the Norwegian Epic,” Norwegian said.

The 59 studio cabins on each ship will have a separate sink and shower to provide more personal space. Guests in studios will have private keycard access to an exclusive two-story lounge with a bar.

Twenty-eight spa balcony cabins and 20 spa mini-suite cabins will feature “tranquil spa decor” and will be adjacent to the spa and fitness center, plus offer complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suite during operating hours, said the cruise line.
Breakaway studio
Oceanview cabins will have large windows. Of the 158 oceanview staterooms on each ship, there will be approximately 42 family cabins that sleep up to five guests.

Each oceanview family cabin will have a bathroom similar to the mini-suite: modern double sink, bathtub and second wardrobe for added storage.

The family mini-suites located on Deck 12 and 13 will feature all the attributes of the mini-suites and will be located near the children’s facilities. Some of these cabins will have bathtubs.

Each of the 449 inside cabins will have two lower beds that can be converted to a queen-size bed. Many cabins will be connecting and sleep up to four guests each, Norwegian said.

Each of the ships will have 4,000 passenger berths.

Norwegian Cruise Line ships to be named Breakaway and Getaway

Norwegian Cruise Line ships to be named Breakaway and Getaway

By Donna Tunney
NCL Breakaway renderingNorwegian Cruise Line has selected the names for its two new ships: Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.

The Breakaway is scheduled to launch in April 2013, and the Getaway in April 2014.

The names were selected following a naming contest held in conjunction with USA Today.

Norwegian said it felt the selected names “best reflected the innovation of the brand along with the freedom and flexibility of the line’s signature Freestyle Cruising, and invoked the feeling that these ships will provide a ‘break’ at sea from the stress of everyday life.”

The contest winners are Kimberly Powell of Lafayette, La., who first submitted Norwegian Breakaway, and Dennis Hultman of Vienna, Va., who first submitted Norwegian Getaway.

Powell and Hultman each will receive a trip for two to Norwegian Breakaway’s inaugural festivities, including the christening ceremony (date and location to be determined).