NCL’S NEW SHIP PRIMA BREAKS COMPANY SALES RECORDS

Posted on 17 May, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has claimed to have broken company booking records after its newly announced ship Norwegian Prima went on sale last week.

Prima, the first in a new series of six vessels, brought NCL it’s best-performing opening sales day and week in the line’s 54-year history.

Launching in August 2022, Prima will feature a number of brand firsts for NCL across its design, venues and guest experience – including Ocean Boulevard, Indulge Food Hall, Infinity Beach and Oceanwalk.

Prima will also see the line’s suite “ship-within-a-ship” concept, The Haven, expanded and moved to the aft.

NCL president and chief executive Harry Sommer said Prima’s sales during its open booking day has doubled the record set by Norwegian Bliss in 2018.

Nearly 20% of bookings made for Prima were for Haven suites, which Sommer said showed NCL guests’ “desire for top-of-the-line experiences”.

“Norwegian Prima is already proving to be a game-changer for NCL,” he said.

“Every aspect of Prima, from bow to stern, was conceptualised with the guest in mind. With this world-class ship, we are providing our guests with more wide-open spaces, elevated service, thoughtful design and a variety of experiences that go beyond expectation.

“Our record-breaking sales are a clear indicator of our guests’ excitement to return to the ocean and of the significant demand for a premium vacation experience.”

Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Differ on July U.S. Cruising Plans

Posted on 14 May, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

The three largest cruise brands are targeting different restart plans that should get the green light to cruise in July from U.S. ports, according to recent announcements and comments from executives.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line said earlier this week it is hoping for a July restart in the U.S. on select ships.

Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including the Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami.

The Miami-based company also said that if it can find a solution to allow cruise ships to visit Alaska, the Carnival Miracle will assume some of the Carnival Freedom’s departures from Seattle.

Royal Caribbean International

“We believe we are now seeing a clear way forward to safe cruising in the near future,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, on the company’s business update call in late April.

Added Michael Bayley, CEO and president of the Royal Caribbean International brand: “With what (CDC letter) we received last night July looks very realistic (for restarting cruises in North America).”

As for the Alaska season, Fain noted there are uncertainties and that service resumption may require a waiver from the Passenger Vessels Service Act as long as Canada will not allow ship calls. Alternatively, Canada could allow technical calls.

“Given the momentum, there is the reason for optimism,” he added.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line had intended to restart in the United States on July 4, having submitted what it referred to as an ironclad plan and letter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in early April.

But as of early May, and with no reply from the CDC, company executives said that a July restart from U.S. ports won’t be happening.

“The July U.S. launch at least from our company, it’s just not possible,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, on the company’s first-quarter earnings call in early May.

“It was possible back in early April when we proposed to the CDC 100 per cent vaccination. We’ve always said it takes about 90 days to stand up a vessel.

“So from April 5, when we submitted our proposal, 90 days would have been early July and that was possible, but today we’re in early May, so now we’re looking past that. But look there is more to it than just what the CDC says, there is only so much capacity to be able to stand up vessels.”

Del Rio said getting a cruise ship ready to sail after a 15 to 18-month layup was not an overnight process.

New Norwegian Cruise Line Ship to Be Named Prima, Deployment Announced

Posted on 10 May, 2021 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its 2022 new build will carry the name, Norwegian Prima.

The ship is due to enter service after being delivered from Fincantieri next summer and is one of six in a new class of ships.

The ship is also expected to sail in Europe next summer before crossing to the Caribbean.

Norwegian said it would announce more news regarding the new ship on Wednesday, but has already confirmed the ship will sail in the Caribbean for winter 2022-2023, on five-, seven- and nine-day cruises.

A separate Orlando Sentinel article said the ship would homeport in Port Canaveral.

In 2023 the ship will sail from New York City to Bermuda on five- and seven-day cruises from March through May, before heading to Iceland and Northern Europe for the summer season, offering a 10- and 11-day program from Reykjavik or Southampton.