Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said bookings for the Mediterranean have been strong in the past eight weeks, and that the company’s 2017 results will hinge on whether that continues.
Del Rio said business sourced in North America for the Med is up “strong double digits” across all three of the company’s brands (Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) for the past eight weeks.
He said occupancies are currently flat and that pricing is behind in the Med for the second half of 2017, but that pricing could be up by year’s end if the current trend continues.
Del Rio said that because of the outsized yields of European itineraries, “2017 will greatly depend on the Med.”
In 2017, Norwegian will have 23% of its capacity in Europe, which is up due to the redeployment of the Norwegian Getaway to the Baltic, where demand is strong, Del Rio said.
Del Rio commented in a conference call for analysts held to discuss third-quarter earnings.
In the third quarter, Norwegian reported net income of $342.4 million compared to $251.8 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 15.6% to $1.5 billion.
Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled a hull design for the Norwegian Bliss that prominently features humpback whales on the bow.
The Bliss, scheduled for delivery in spring 2018, will sail Alaska cruises from Seattle.
Nature artist Wyland executed the project entitled “Cruising with the Whales.” The mural also will have manta rays, dolphins, seals and sea lions.
“As a marine artist who has painted the largest murals in the world, it is an honor to have the opportunity to collaborate with Norwegian and present my art on such a grand scale,” said Wyland.
Norwegian recently announced that Bliss will be themed to Alaska and based in Seattle for the summer months.
“Humpback whales are an iconic part of the Alaska landscape and one of the most compelling sights visitors can see while cruising the Last Frontier,” Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart said.
Wyland has painted more than 100 ocean murals worldwide. His design for the Bliss was revealed at the Wyland Galleries in Fort Lauderdale.
Harvest Caye, Norwegian Cruise Line’s destination island in Belize, is set to open on Nov. 17, with the first call being made by the Norwegian Dawn.
The project has been at least three years in the making and will be the most elaborate island destination Norwegian Cruise Line has developed to date.
About seven acres have been groomed for guests who can choose between a long white-sand beach, a water sports lagoon or a 300,000 gallon tropical pool to start their recreation ashore.
The venue serves as the first landside outpost of Norwegian’s partnership with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville franchise, with the debut a Landshark Bar & Grill in Belize. (There are Margaritaville restaurants on three Norwegian Cruise Line ships.)
The “Flighthouse” will serve as the anchor for a pair of ziplines and a freefall jump.
There is a shopping village with Belizean products, art, food and drinks. Guests wanting to explore more of Belize can board two 275-person catamarans or 60-seat motorboats for the short ride to the mainland.
Towering above the action is the 130-foot tall “Flighthouse” that serves as the anchor for a pair of ziplines and an apparatus that drops guest from heights of 40, 60 or 100 feet before easing them gently to the sand at the end of the drop.
Unlike some private cruise destinations, Harvest Caye has a built-in dock so tenders aren’t needed. Guests walk through a ceremonial set of gates with the Harvest Caye name displayed in a wrought-iron arch.
The island’s buildings are made of rustic stone trimmed with mahogany and other native hardwoods. Landscaping includes 15,000 newly planted mangroves.
Eleven air-conditioned beach villas are available for rent, at $475 per villa. They accommodate six adults and feature a bathroom with a shower, a deck and Bluetooth connections for concierge services and music.
Also, there are 15 pool cabanas for rent at $199 for the day. The cabanas accommodate two adults. A beach clamshell with a pair of loungers is priced at $29.
Norwegian will offer a variety of watersports and toys. Mini speedboats are available for $69 for adults, $49 for children, and eco-friendly electric boats rent for $40. Kayaks rent for $25 and stand-up paddleboards for $20. The zipline attraction has packages starting at $59 for adults and $49 for children. There is a river float feature for $79/$59.
Air-conditioned beach villas will rent for $475 per day.
In the lagoon, Norwegian runs a wildlife boat tour for spotting manatees that costs $49/$39. Tours to see Mayan ruins run $89/69, or $109/$79 with an add-on visit to a spice plantation.
While the name Harvest Caye doesn’t sound particularly indigenous, Norwegian said it was the name used by Belize for the island before Norwegian arrived. “We choose not to change it,” a spokeswoman said.
After the initial call by the Norwegian Dawn sailing from New Orleans, Harvest Caye is scheduled to host the Norwegian Jade on Nov. 18, and then the Norwegian Getaway on Nov. 23. A call by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a cruise line owned by Norwegian Cruise Line’s parent company, is slated for January.
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