Norwegian Cruise Line expands sales team, fleet

Norwegian Cruise Line will be making major investments in Canada this year, according to Andy Stuart, executive vice-president of global sales, who was meeting with trade partners in Toronto this week.

“Canada represents huge opportunities for us,” he said at an event held Feb. 12. “Up to this point, we haven’t invested in the Canadian market as much as we could have.”

There will be a substantial expansion to the company's North American sales team, increasing the group by more than 40 per cent on the whole. For Canada specifically, this includes a new business development manager position and a director of sales, joining the existing dedicated team of four. 

This growth is being made in parallel with the cruise line's continued development overall, which will soon see the introduction of the Norwegian Escape, its "largest and most innovative ship to-date."

Stuart took the opportunity to showcase the new vessel, which will carry 4,200 passengers and continue to offer the wide-ranging choice-based cruise experience guests have come to expect from the company - with a few brand-new spaces and activities to keep things fresh.

Sporting a hull painted by wildlife artist and ocean conservationist Guy Harvey, the Norwegian Escape will include a variety of new restaurants and beverage concepts, the result of new partnerships with Iron Chef Jose Garces, The Pubbelly Restaurant Group, Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, Wynwood Brewing Company, and the Michael Mondavi Family. Also offering the world’s only ‘Margaritaville experience at sea’ is Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, which will set sail for the first time on the Norwegian Escape.

New entertainment offerings include post-modern cabaret the Supper Club, a dinner and show concept featuring Dear John Hughes, a musical retrospective of famous 1980s teen films. Playing onstage in the vessel’s Escape Theatre will be Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals After Midnight and Million Dollar Quartet, featuring jazz and rock ‘n’ roll music, respectively.

Keeping the varied interests of family in mind, Norwegian will continue its partnership with Nickelodeon for kids' entertainment, and, as a new addition, will include a nursery for children under two years old. The new vessel will also boast an enhanced Aqua Park design with several new slides, and add another level to its elevated Ropes Course - bringing it to three storeys in height - which will include a second plank (a six-inch wide beam that extends eight feet over the ocean from the side of the ship). There will also be an area exclusively available to adults: Spice H2O.

A final element new to Norwegian will be The Haven, an exclusive ship-within-a-ship experience for guests looking for a particularly luxurious voyage. As available on other vessels, The Haven includes suites that come equipped with butler service and a courtyard secluded from the rest of the ship. Guests staying in this exclusive section will have access to a private restaurant, preferred seating in the theatres, and private VIP excursions ashore.

Stuart explained that the variety of attractions and features is an intentional move by Norwegian Cruise Lines to appeal to every taste - including travellers who may not know whether a cruise is for them.

“Our customer base is very broad,” he said, when asked what demographic Norwegian typically serves. “I’d advise travel agents to really consider how they are promoting Norwegian Cruise Line, because there really is something onboard for every taste.”

The Norwegian Escape is scheduled to set sail from Miami beginning on Nov. 14.

For further information, visit www.ncl.com.