Tag Archives: Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Cruise Line disappointed in Caribbean returns

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said the company’s “lofty” expectations for the Caribbean this summer have not been met, one factor in revising expectations downward for the rest of the year.

In a conference call to discuss second-quarter results, Norwegian lowered its guidance for second-half earnings and said it will not make its previously forecast goal of earning $5 a share in 2017.

A big part of the problem is lower demand for European cruises by North Americans due to geopolitical factors. But Norwegian surprisingly said that keeping two big new ships, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Getaway, in Miami for the summer has not worked out.

“Today is not a happy day at Norwegian headquarters for obvious reasons,” Del Rio said. “We had to reset expectations based on the current booking environment.”

Although yields are still up in the Caribbean from last year by mid-single digits, Del Rio said strong pricing growth did not fully materialize.

As a result, in 2017 Norwegian Getaway will be deployed on Baltic itineraries for the summer months. “It’s a recognition that high expectations just aren’t being met,” Del Rio said, “almost exclusively due to heavy concentration of inventory during the weak period.”


The Norwegian Getaway is leaving Miami for the Baltics next summer.

Del Rio also delivered bad news about Europe. Norwegian had been seeing modest traction in the weeks following the Brussels terrorist attack in March. But with the bombing of the airport in Istanbul, the Nice truck massacre and the failed coup in Turkey, that “evaporated,” Del Rio said.

About 70% of Norwegian’s passengers on European itineraries are sourced in North America, considerably higher than competing cruise companies.  Attracting more Europeans will produce lower ticket and onboard spending revenue, Del Rio said.

Del Rio also said South American itineraries are soft, and are being impacted by perceptions about the Zika virus.

Norwegian reported a decline in earnings in the second quarter to $145.2 million, down from $158.5 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 9.3%, to $1.2 billion.

In late morning trading, shares of NCLH were down over 9%, to $39.04, while stocks overall were up slightly.

Norwegian and Margaritaville Expand Partnership

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Photo credit By Dave Jones

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) passengers will have more opportunities to declare, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” in true Parrothead fashion as the cruise line is expanding its exclusive partnership with Margaritaville — a multifaceted brand masterminded by music legend Jimmy Buffett.

Margaritaville at Sea is opening onboard Norwegian Getaway Sept. 18, then on Norwegian Breakaway Oct. 9, as revealed by Andrew Stuart, NCL’s President & Chief Operating Officer, during a press event at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach, FL.

In addition to these ship-based venues, Stuart also announced that two Landshark Bar & Grills — another Margaritaville brand — will be opening on NCL’s private Caribbean islands. Harvest Cay’s location is opening Nov. 16 and Great Stirrup Cay’s during summer in 2017.

These expansions are part of NCL’s $400 million “Norwegian Edge” program, which has transformed the company’s ships, its private destinations and culinary offerings.

“When we first launched Margaritaville at Sea, on Norwegian Escape, it absolutely blew us away. The demand for that venue, was beyond anything we’d ever seen. So we knew we had a partnership that made sense,” Stuart said. “So we’re super-excited to be talking about how we’re expanding the partnership.”

Norwegian Breakaway sails year-round from New York to Caribbean destinations and Getaway sails from Miami to the Caribbean as well.

US Basketball Teams Opt for Luxury Cruise Ship Over Olympic Village

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Team USA’s men’s and women’s basketball stars will be living a life of luxury during this month’s 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

While many American athletes will be staying at the oft-criticized Olympic Village this summer, America’s best ballers will be laying their heads inside of Silversea Cruises’ Silver Cloud cruise ship.

The Chicago Tribune reported the players arrived on the 296-guest ship Wednesday.

The Silver Cloud, which is the oldest ship in Silversea’s main fleet, is anchored at Rio’s Pier Maua in the Guanabara Bay.

Inside the ship, highlights include generous-sized beds (ideal for basketball players), a spa, a pool, multiple dining options and even a cigar lounge.

Outside, security will be extremely tight. According to the Daily Mail, there’s only one entrance to the ship and it will be manned by security equipped with a scanner. Bulletproof glass will surround the ship and police boats will patrol the nearby waters.

READ MORE: Norwegian Getaway to Become Floating Hotel for 2016 Olympics in Rio

The reason for booking the Silver Cloud is simple, according to USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller, who told the Associated Press earlier this year that “we don’t stay in the village because we don’t feel it’s the best way to prepare for competition.”

“The players have a long professional season, and they want to spend as much time as possible with family and friends,” added Miller.

While staying outside of the Olympic Village is nothing new for USA Basketball — the last time being the 1988 Summer Games — this summer will be the first time in 12 years that the teams have stayed on a cruise ship.

The teams stayed on the Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.