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| Line will invest more than $250 million through 2015 |
MIAMI – May 20, 2014 –
Norwegian Cruise
Line announced that it is investing more than $250 million in
“Norwegian NEXT,” a program focused on bringing “new enhancements,
experiences and transformations” across the fleet, with the goal of
elevating the guest experience and building on the success
of the line’s two new ships: Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian
Getaway.
Norwegian
NEXT encompasses ship revitalizations, dining enhancements, new
experiences in entertainment and guest
activities, along with innovations in technology, new tropical
destinations and the line’s continued commitment to the environment.
Through 2015, the company has plans to revitalize a number of vessels,
including Norwegian Jewel, which just re-entered service
following dry dock, along with Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Sky and
Norwegian Spirit, which were also recently refurbished.
“The
youngest fleet at sea continues to get even better with our robust
enhancement program taking place over the
next two years,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief
executive officer. “We want to continue to provide fresh and relevant
experiences to our guests every time they sail with us. We are investing
significantly in making sure that our guests have
the vacation of a lifetime and fully experience what it means to Cruise
like a Norwegian.”
Norwegian reinvented the dining experience at sea with the line’s
Freestyle Dining concept, which it is taking to the NEXT level with the
introduction of
new menus in complimentary dining rooms and Garden Cafes that offer
more variety and choice, including numerous new dishes crafted by expert
chefs using the finest ingredients. New food and beverage venues are
also being introduced across the fleet. Norwegian
Jewel is the first to be retrofitted with the popular, complimentary
dining venue, O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill. The line is also
adding the Sugarcane Mojito Bar, first introduced on Norwegian Getaway,
to Norwegian Jewel, adjacent to the new location
of the Moderno Churrascaria restaurant. In addition, treats from the
wildly popular Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s
Cake Boss and Next Great Baker, will be featured on all ships.
Along
with dining, Norwegian is also making enhancements to its beverage
program. A partnership with the world-renowned Michael Mondavi Family
has
already introduced a new wine menu across the fleet and the family is
curating wine concepts for Norwegian’s upcoming new ships. A new
destination-based handcrafted beverage program, developed in partnership
with James Beard Award-nominated mixologist Gabriel
Orta of Miami-based Bar Lab Cocktails, is bringing guests seasonal
specialty cocktails with a local twist. There will also be further fleet
wide beverage training of bartenders, wine stewards and restaurant
managers, providing guests with an even more knowledgeable
staff to further enhance the dining experience onboard.
Norwegian is an innovator in entertainment and there are a wide range
of new guest activities that will be introduced
across the fleet. The line’s exciting new H2GLOW Party, first
introduced on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, will also be
rolled out fleet wide. Speaking to the quality of entertainment on
board, the line is producing a series of new shows at its
recently opened 45,000 square foot rehearsal facility, Norwegian
Creative Studios, in Tampa, Florida. From soaring acrobats in
“Elements,” to the 15-foot revolving showgirl staircase in “Paradis” to
rocking out with the full rock band in “Rock of Ages,” Norwegian’s
award-winning entertainment will be customized for every ship and
itinerary with line-ups that will constantly stay fresh. With a focus
on family, Norwegian’s five ships that feature exclusive Nickelodeon
entertainment will offer new activities, dining experiences,
and more ways to interact with Nickelodeon favorites like SpongeBob
SquarePants.
The line is focused on introducing advanced technologies and
innovations that bring more freedom and flexibility to its
guests’ cruise vacation from start to finish. Enhanced pre-cruise
planning experiences give guests the opportunity to easily design their
vacation. Once on board, there is wireless internet access from bow to
stern along with interactive digital displays that
are being added fleet wide. These touch screen signs will allow guests
to order specialty items, get directions and reserve dining and shore
excursions simply with a scan of their stateroom key. Guests can also
take advantage of Norwegian’s groundbreaking
iConcierge mobile application to manage their cruise experience and
stay in touch with fellow cruisers and family at home.
The line is also making a substantial effort to reduce its impact on
the environment through its Eco-Smart Cruising programs
and will install exhaust gas scrubbers on six ships, in addition to
those that are already being fitted on Pride of America and the
company’s two new builds, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss.
Enhancements continue on the line’s private island in the Bahamas,
Great Stirrup Cay, with the opening of the Bacardi
Bar. In addition, the line is developing a new eco-friendly cruise
destination, Harvest Caye, in southern Belize. The 75-acre experience is
planned to open in fall 2015 and will offer guests the option to take
shore excursions on the mainland or enjoy the
authentic shopping village, water sports or relaxing beach area on the
island.
With Norwegian NEXT, the line is demonstrating its commitment to innovation and elevating the guest experience over
the next two years and beyond. To learn more about Norwegian NEXT, visit
www.ncl.com/next.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian
Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 47-year history of
breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the
introduction
of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving
guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to
“Cruise Like a Norwegian” on one of 13 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising
ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy
a relaxed, resort style cruise vacation on some of the newest and most
contemporary ships at sea. Recently, the line was named “Europe’s
Leading Cruise Line” for the sixth consecutive year, as well as
“Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” and “World’s Leading
Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards.
The
Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the
4,000-passenger Norwegian Getaway on January 10, 2014. The largest ship
to homeport year-round in Miami, Norwegian
Getaway boasts 28 dining options, including seafood restaurant Ocean
Blue by famed New York Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and a branch of
Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC series “Cake
Boss.” The entertainment lineup includes Broadway shows
Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor and a unique magical theatrical
experience, the Illusionarium. Norwegian Getaway’s sister ship,
Norwegian Breakaway, was named “Best New Ship of 2013” by the editors of
Cruise Critic and “Best Rookie Cruise Ship”
by the readers of Travel Weekly.
Known as New York’s ship, Norwegian Breakaway is the largest vessel to
homeport
year-round in the city. The Company has two 4,200-passenger vessels on
order at Meyer Werft: Norwegian Escape with delivery scheduled in the
fall of 2015; and Norwegian Bliss with delivery in the winter of 2017.
Norwegian
Cruise Line is the official cruise line of the Miami Dolphins/Sun Life
Stadium, The New York Knicks, Blue Man Group and Legends in Concert; and
the official cruise line partner of The
GRAMMY Awards and is an official partner of the Rockettes and Radio
City Music Hall.
High resolution, downloadable images are available at www.ncl.com/pressroom.
For further information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit www.ncl.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram @Norwegiancruiseline, Pin us on Pinterest, watch us on YouTube, or contact
us in the U.S. and Canada at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit
www.ncl.com.
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