Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled plans to upgrade Bahamas private island Great Stirrup Cay, as the line celebrated the naming of new ship Norwegian Aqua in Miami. The christening ceremony at PortMiami with over 2,000 guests in attendance, included a special appearance by godfather and two-time Emmy Award-winning actor, Eric Stonestreet. NCL President David J. Herrera then announced plans to expand offerings at Great Stirrup Cay Opening later this year with the multi-ship pier completion, guests can expect a new splash zone with fun water fountains and features for children, as well as a swim-up bar for guests. It will feature a welcome center and new tram service for guests to get around the island. The island’s development plans also include a new Vibe Beach Club, and a new relaxation area with hammocks. Other Tiki-inspired amenities and experiences will be revealed at a later date David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line said: “Great Stirrup Cay is getting even greater with new experiences for our guests to enjoy on this already incredible private island.” Following her christening Norwegian Aqua sails from Port Canaveral for a season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings through August 2025 with calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay. From August 2025 through October 2025, Aqua will sail five and seven-day warm-weather voyages to Bermuda from New York City before returning to Miami for a season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises through April 2026, calling again to Great Stirrup Cay.  

Norwegian Cruise Line marked a double milestone in the past week, firstly taking delivery of newly completed ship Norwegian Aqua at Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera. Newer ship Norwegian Luna also floated out. The float out marks the end of external work and now undergoes interior furnishing. The ship launches in 2026. “We are deeply grateful to Fincantieri for its partnership and expertise in bringing the Norwegian Aqua to life, paving the way for NCL’s continued growth and success,” David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line said. Aqua will sail the Caribbean and the Bahamas following its transatlantic crossing. “The Norwegian Aqua is a testament to the solid and enduring partnership between Norwegian Cruise Line and Fincantieri, recently reaffirmed by the historic order of the four largest ships ever built by our Group for the brand,” said Luigi Matarazzo, GM, merchant ships division of Fincantieri.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd has strengthened its partnership with payment app PayPal. All US based customers making cruise bookings can choose PayPal as a payment option for all three NCLH brands - Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The company says customers will enjoy a 43% faster checkout when using PayPal. "The implementation of PayPal marks a major milestone in our payments acceptance journey. We are committed to providing guests with more variety and more value," said Harry Sommer, President and CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will continue to use PayPal Braintree for credit-card processing for both reservations and all shipboard payments.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has confirmed a mega four-ship order with shipbuilder Fincantieri which is reportedly worth more than $9 billion. NCLH finalized the deal after signing a letter of intent in April 2024. The four ships will be the largest ever built for flagship brand Norwegian Cruise Line at about 266,000 tons. Each of the new ships is expected to be delivered every two years starting in 2030. They will feature 5,100 berths with a capacity for over 8,000 guests and crew. Shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered two ships to NCL, which are the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. Norwegian Aqua, the first Prima Plus class ship, is due for delivery later this year. "The value of this agreement, subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions, is considered very important," Fincantieri said in a statement. The shipbuilder says it is the largest single ship order it has ever signed.  

 

• Advancing NCLH’s “Charting the Course” strategy, Montague will oversee Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises as they execute their long-term new build and refurbishment program.
• Industry veteran and President of Oceania Cruises, Frank A. Del Rio, will report to Montague. President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Andrea DeMarco, will step down after creating a new brand strategy that will lay the foundation for a banner in 2025.

  Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. today announced a new leadership structure to execute on its multibillion-dollar fleet expansion for its ultra-premium and luxury cruise brands. Jason Montague has been appointed Chief Luxury Officer for NCLH, effective February 17, 2025, overseeing both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, capitalising on his extensive industry expertise and strong track record previously leading these brands. This appointment underscores NCLH’s focus on its Charting the Course strategy, which includes adding five new builds to its upscale brands’ fleets and plans to refurbish nearly all their existing vessels.   “With over 20 years of expertise in luxury hospitality and a strong track record of driving excellence, Jason brings exceptional strategic expertise to our company and to our executive team,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “Having already led Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in the past, Jason is uniquely positioned to shape their future. His unwavering passion for these brands, coupled with his financial acumen, alignment with our corporate culture and strong focus on executing our Charting the Course strategy, make him the ideal leader for this next phase of growth. Jason is ready to hit the ground running from day one, and I am confident his leadership will propel our brands forward, setting new standards in upscale travel.”   To advance NCLH’s bold vision for the future, the company plans to substantially increase its presence and positioning in the ultra-premium and luxury markets. Over the next five years, NCLH will execute its previously announced multibillion-dollar investment in its upscale brands as it pursues continued leadership in this market. For Oceania Cruises, the brand is expecting three new builds through 2029, starting with Allura later this year. Additionally, the brands’ ships, Marina and Riviera, will be refurbished in 2026 and 2027, respectively. For Regent Seven Seas Cruises, two new vessels will be added through 2029, in addition to planned enhancements to Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager in 2025 and 2026, respectively.   "I am deeply honored to once again lead Regent Seven Seas Cruises and collaborate with Frank in leading Oceania Cruises," said Montague, incoming Chief Luxury Officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. "This is an exciting time for these two award-winning brands, as we are ready to execute on our commitment to delivering sophisticated mid-sized, upscale and luxurious ships with elegant designs and state-of-the- art offerings. Also, the passion and exceptional talent of team members across each brand, both shoreside and shipside, are a true inspiration. I am confident we will set new standards and create unforgettable experiences for our guests."   Before this appointment, Montague served as a Special Advisor to NCLH for two years after leading the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand as President and Chief Executive Officer until 2022. Before that, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for both the Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, where he successfully oversaw the launch of Sirena for Oceania Cruises and Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Before NCLH’s acquisition of Prestige, Montague was Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at Prestige, where he played a key role in launching Oceania Cruises, overseeing the purchase of its initial R-class vessels, securing an investment from Apollo Global Management, and acquiring Regent Seven Seas Cruises. He also led the financing and delivery of Oceania Cruises’ new ships, Marina and Riviera. Prior to that, he served as Oceania Cruises’ VP & Treasurer and SVP of Finance. Earlier, he ran a consulting practice focused on strategic planning for SMEs and was VP of Finance at Alton Entertainment Corporation. Montague holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Miami.   To provide transition support, Andrea DeMarco, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will remain in her role through March 4, 2025. DeMarco’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of Regent Seven Seas Cruises over the last few years. “We are grateful to Andrea for her more than a decade of contribution to the company and for setting the foundation for Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ continued growth and success. We wish her the very best in her next chapter,” said Harry Sommer, President and CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings enjoyed a bumper Q2 financial performance, as the company raised full year guidance for the third time this year. It beat market expectations, leading to a bump in the share price. NCLH posted Q2 net income of $163.4 million, doubling the profit from a year ago. "Performance was driven by strong revenue growth and a continued focus on cost reductions,” NCLH said. Cruise ticket revenues were up 8.4% with total revenue for the quarter at $2.37 billion. CEO Harry Sommer said ‘robust market demand’ continues with occupancy at 105.9% for the second quarter. NCLH’s new adjusted profit guidance for the full financial year was up 8%. The company cut total debt slightly which now stands at $13.4 billion as of end-June. "We made significant progress in cutting net leverage and de-risking the balance sheet in the first half of 2024," said Chief financial officer Mark Kempa said. Overall, it is turning into an ‘exceptional year in terms of our financial performance,’ Sommer added. "The momentum from strong yield growth and disciplined cost management further bolsters our confidence." 

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The Port of Philadelphia is coming back on the cruise map. The port has had only a handful of calls by big ships in more than a last decade. That is about to change in 2026 when the Port of Philadelphia welcomes Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Jewel will homeport from Philly from April 16, 2026, sailing seven- to nine-day voyages to Bermuda, departing from SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex. In late summer Norwegian Jewel will sail north on 10- and 11-day Canada and New England cruises. Scheduled port calls include Saguenay, Charlottetown, Halifax, Bar Harbor and Boston. “As the first passenger cruise line to homeport in Philadelphia in many years, this is this is a key milestone for NCL and the Port of Philadelphia,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are looking forward to welcoming guests from the area and surrounding cities.” The resumption of Philadelphia cruises after such a long gap ties in with the ‘America 250’ Independence celebration in 2026. “Philadelphia has so much to offer as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation’s history,” said Jeff Theobald, PhilaPort CEO. “We look forward to connecting cruisers with our world-class city.” 

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Norwegian Cruise Line recently launched its 2024 Europe travel season with the arrival of Norwegian Epic to its seasonal homeport of Civitavecchia. It is currently on a 10-day Greek Isles and Italy voyage. The NCL Europe cruise season comprises 101 distinctive itineraries with 38 roundtrips and 63 open-jaw sailings. Ships call at 140 ports across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, and the Atlantic Coast. Cruises will be departing from 13 homeports with New York City; Paris (Le Havre), France; and Oslo, Norway being three brand new options for NCL voyages to Europe. NCL will have a total of nine ships in region, including its newest vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, as well as Norwegian Escape. Escape returns to Europe following its first season in 2022. During the Europe cruise season, NCL offers a unique collection of shore excursions including, Beyond Blueprints architectural landmark tours; gourmet tours and immersive Go Local excursions. Europe cruise guests can dive deeper into the history of the region with NCL's expanding Cruisetours program, with a pre- or post-cruise-option inclusive of roundtrip flights, hotel stays, transport and excursions. The cruise tours are currently available in 10 European destinations, such as Istanbul, Paris, Barcelona, and Venice. "As we return to Europe, our goal remains consistent — curating unmatched and captivating experiences for guests," says David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Escape will be the line’s largest vessel in Europe this season at nearly 165,000 gross tons. The ship will homeport in Barcelona, Rome (Civitavecchia and Venice (Trieste), sailing eight- to 10-day roundtrip sailings in the Western Mediterranean. NCL cruises in Europe are on sale through December 2025

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Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled new culinary and beverage experiences coming to Norwegian Aqua, the line’s first vessel of the expanded Prima Plus Class. Norwegian Aqua is set to debut in April 2025. Norwegian Aqua will have three brand-new onboard offerings including Sukhothai, NCL's first-ever Thai specialty restaurant. It will also house Swirl Wine Bar, a new upscale wine bar; and Planterie, the first dedicated eatery offering a full plant-based menu. "Discovering new flavors and dining experiences is such a memorable part of any vacation," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Expanding on our award-winning food and beverage program, we're looking forward to bringing new concepts to life aboard Norwegian Aqua." Making its debut on the all-new Norwegian Aqua is Sukhothai, the  first-ever Thai specialty restaurant, featuring an eclectic menu. It will serve a new spin on traditional staples, such as Thai Cashew Chicken; Salt and Pepper Prawns; Thai Grilled Steak Salad; and a variety of complementing curries. The upscale dining venue will boast a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary Thai design elements. At the returning guest-favorite Indulge Food Hall, a new eatery, Planterie, will offer plant-based bowls and other healthy options. Planterie's menu will include dishes such as the Southwest Bowl with smoked tempeh and the Mediterranean Goddess Bowl filled with spiced vegetables, tabbouleh and honey-roasted carrots. Also premiering aboard Norwegian Aqua is Swirl Wine Bar, a contemporary wine lounge tucked away on deck six between the popular Whiskey Bar and Hasuki, the hibachi-style restaurant. It will feature a comprehensive wine-by-the-glass menu, and an extensive list of rare and premium vintages. The-new Norwegian Aqua will feature enhanced restaurants and lounges previously debuted on the Prima Class. One of the ship's main complimentary dining rooms, the Commodore Room, will now feature a rustic yet luxurious design inspired by its sea-faring namesake. Metropolitan, NCL's modern Sail & Sustain cocktail bar will return aboard Norwegian Aqua and boast a distinct new design from other Prima Class vessels The bar will now feature a grand piano and a small entertainment space for guests to enjoy live music. Nama Sushi and Sashimi, which first debuted on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, will now feature a new design with a new color palette, inspired by the vibrant world of Manga art. Guest-favorite restaurants will return to Norwegian Aqua such as Hudson's, the elevated, main complimentary dining room; Le Bistro, the high-end French restaurant inspired by the Palace of Versailles; and Los Lobos, the contemporary, authentic Mexican dining venue with outdoor seating; Set to be the 20^th ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, Norwegian Aqua will feature industry first experiences including the world's first hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide and NCL's first-ever Three-Bedroom Duplex Haven Suites. From April 2025, Norwegian Aqua will sail seven-day Caribbean itineraries departing from Port Canaveral, Port calls include Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and the Great Stirrup Cay private island in the Bahamas.

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Norwegian Cruise Line is launching a month-long 'Walk for Wellness' initiative in the UK, which kicks off on 1 May. It coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week (13 – 19 May 2024), highlighting that a walk can do wonders for physical and mental health. The initiative invites travel industry professionals to take a walk with a collective goal of reaching 40,000 miles, across five milestones. To give back to the UK travel industry and aid better mental health, NCL is partnering with ABTA LifeLine, a charity which offers vital support to agents. It assists with mental health concerns, as well as providing financial and emotional assistance when faced with redundancy, accidents, and bereavement. NCL will be making monetary donations for each milestone reached with a goal of £10,000. Gary Anslow, Regional VP and Head of UK&I said: "It's critical to have conversations around our health and wellbeing.” “It's important to manage stresses and walking is a great (and free) way to do that." Travel industry professionals in the UK can register for 'Walk for Wellness' at NCL's Walk for Wellness UK&I 2024. Once registered, they can connect their smartphone or wearable with the free MoveSpring app and start logging their miles. Participants will be encouraged to share photos, using the hashtag #walk4wellnessUKI. As an added incentive, NCL will be setting challenges throughout the month, with the opportunity to win one of four balcony staterooms for two on Norwegian Aqua's three-day launch cruise. They can also win a polaroid camera, spa and sport vouchers. 'Walk for Wellness' was first launched in Australia and New Zealand in 2020 to maintain personal contact when the whole travel industry came to a standstill. In October 2023, NCL's Continental European office launched their equivalent of 'Walk for Wellness' in the DACH market, which brought more than 750 agents together. They walked 56,000 miles and raised nearly € 10,000 for the mental health charity Aktionsbündnis Seelische Gesundheit (ABSG).

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has appointed Gary Anslow as Regional Vice President and Head of UK and Ireland. Anslow’s appointment is part of a slew of promotions within the sales team. Anslow will continue to expand NCL's localised presence and develop support for frontline trade partners in the UK and Ireland. He will report to Jason Krimmel, NCL's Chief International Sales and Marketing Officer. Also, Kirsty Webb has been promoted to Senior Business Development Manager for the Cruise Specialist channel. Chantelle White was promoted to Business Development Manager within the Retail, Homeworker and Consortia channel. In addition, Laura Croft has been promoted from Regional Sales Executive to a new role as UK and Ireland Travel Partner Training Manager. She is focusing on the expansion of NCL's product and brand training programme across the UK and Ireland travel agent network. To further support that expansion, NCL will be adding two new field-based Account Executives to the UK sales team. "We now have 20 ships on sale, nine of which will be sailing in Europe this summer,” Anslow said. “The trade has always been critical to our success, and we are excited to be expanding and developing our travel agent trade sales team." Norwegian Cruise Line offers varied itineraries across nine ships in the region, including its newest vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.  

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