Caribbean cruise pricing strengthens, analyst says

Posted on 15 December, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Star in Cabo San Lucas By Dave Jones

Prices have substantially risen for cruises in the Caribbean, according to a survey taken by Wall Street brokerage Susquehanna Financial Group.

In a report published Dec. 14, analyst Rachel Rothman said first-quarter prices in the Caribbean are up 13.8% at Carnival Corp., 7.6% at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and 26.1% at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Rothman noted that the comparison at Norwegian is skewed by the replacement of the Norwegian Pearl and Epic with the newer Getaway and Escape in the Caribbean.

For the second quarter, the survey showed Carnival’s Caribbean pricing is up 15.7 %, while RCCL and NCLH are down 5.8% and 6.6%, respectively.

In the Mediterranean, Carnival’s first-quarter pricing is up 23% but Norwegian Cruise Line is down 6.5%. The report noted that Royal Caribbean and NCLH’s Oceania and Regent Seven Seas brands don’t offer Med cruises in the first quarter.

Norwegian Cruise Line Confirms Margaritaville at Sea Will be a la Carte

Posted on 30 November, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Dawn at Margaritaville at sea and waitress Agthea Ragina photo by Dave Jones

Article by CruiseCritic.co.uk

Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed that Norwegian Escape’s Margaritaville at Sea — a previously complimentary dining venue in partnership with musician Jimmy Buffett — will now operate as a speciality a la carte restaurant, a month after opening.

Margaritaville at Sea has proved a huge hit from the moment the ship debuted in Southampton, U.K. on October 27.

By the time the ship officially launched in Miami on November 9 we reported waiting times of more than an hour — prompting President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Frank del Rio to hint that a fee would be introduced.

In a press conference onboard Norwegian Escape on November 10, Del Rio said: “for business and crowd-control reasons [introducing a la carte pricing is] always a possibility”.

Vanessa Picariello, Sr. Director, Public Relations at Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed: “The first Margaritaville at Sea aboard Norwegian Escape has proven to be extremely popular. We have listened to our guests’ feedback regarding the overwhelming demand and, in an effort to deliver the highest quality experience, we will be implementing a la carte pricing at the restaurant as of the ship’s November 28 sailing”.

The possibility of a charge first came to light on the Cruise Critic Message Boards when TracyE stated that “while this venue was free on the TA, beginning November 14th, there will be a la carte pricing”.

In a subsequent thread, the decision to charge has angered many members, including Lily815 who complained that “they are changing the rules… again. It is beyond frustrating” and MalervyC who stated that “[Margaritaville at Sea] was a big draw for us to book this cruise”.

Sample prices from the menu (pictured below) include burger and fries at $9.98 and fish tacos at $6.99, excluding an 18% gratuity.

Norwegian Bliss- first steel cutting at Meyer Werft

Posted on 17 September, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

Meyer Werft’s Bernard Meyer joins Norwegian’s Andy Stuart and Christer Karlsson

PAPENBURG, Germany — Construction of Norwegian Bliss began here with the push of a large red button, sending automated plasma steel cutters into action on the first plates for the ship, due for completion in 2017.

Among the first items cut was a 2-foot outline of the ship, inscribed Norwegian Bliss. Executives from Norwegian Cruise Line and the Mayer Werft shipyard signed the commemorative plate, mounted on an easel outside the cutting room.

“To be cutting the steel for our next new ship is very exciting,” said Norwegian President Andy Stuart. “Norwegian has gone through a lot of changes over the last year and this will be the first ship delivered for the new Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.”

Meyer Werft managing director Bernard Meyer noted that Bliss will be the 10th ship built for Norwegian at Meyer Werft, which has become one of the most advanced cruise ship construction operations in Europe.

He said the yard expects to deliver the new ship, designated 694 at the yard, in the spring of 2017. “It will be a surprise for the market again,” Meyer predicted.

Norwegian’s latest ship, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape, is scheduled to begin its conveyance from Papenburg down the Ems River to the North Sea on Friday. Plans call for the Escape to enter service in Miami in early November.