We are all very familiar with the challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, but thankfully we are starting to see the tide turn back in our favour, with so much to look forward to in the future.
What’s more, the challenges of the pandemic have also served as a catalyst for innovation in our industry. Thanks to this, I strongly believe that cruising will bounce back stronger and better than ever before.
STRONGER TOGETHER
As the crisis gripped the world, key players in the cruise industry banded together to make cruising as safe as possible, setting a high standard for the travel industry to follow.
That’s why we, at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, teamed up with the Royal Caribbean Group in July 2020 to form the Healthy Sail Panel. Consisting of leading health, safety and industry experts, the panel developed gold standard recommendations for the cruise industry’s safe return to cruising.
EVOLVING INNOVATION
Although the industry stopped sailing for some time, it never hit pause. Behind the scenes, we worked tirelessly on a number of innovations, from new ships to documentaries and guest innovations.
"There has been a lot of pent-up demand and those travelling with us this year are looking for the trip of a lifetime"
– Nick Wilkinson
2022 will see the launch of many new cruise ships, which are full of innovations the cruise lines were working on while operations were suspended. At NCL, for example, we will be launching our first new class of ships in nearly a decade – the Prima Class – which will see the delivery of a ship each year from 2022 through 2027. Norwegian Prima, the first out of the six, will be the industry's most spacious newbuild when she begins her inaugural season this summer, offering the most outdoor deck space and expansive accommodation of any new build, among many other innovations.
Middle Eastern guests will appreciate her Northern Europe summer 2023 season, which will offer 10 and 11-day Norway and Iceland sailings between Reykjavik, Iceland and Southampton (London), featuring between 9-11 in-port hours to offer guests an immersive experience.
GUEST FIRST
Cruise companies have also been elevating the onboard experience, as we know there has been a lot of pent-up demand and those travelling with us this year are looking for the trip of a lifetime.
At NCL, for instance, we debuted an all-new The Haven by Norwegian onboard Norwegian Epic, following an extensive refurbishment in Marseille, France at the end of 2020. Those looking to experience this upgrade are in luck, as she will be sailing Europe this summer as one of eight ships in our biggest employment to date in the region.
Norwegian Escape is also making her debut in Europe this year, with itineraries calling at the most sought-after ports in the region, including Santorini, Mykonos, Naples, and Livorno. Norwegian Escape will call at Valletta (Malta) and Messina (Sicily) amongst others. Docking at five to eight ports for up to 13 hours in each city and no more than two days at sea, guests can spend their days exploring ancient ruins and medieval architecture, admiring artistic masterpieces, or simply savouring a variety of local cuisine.
When it comes to food and drink, we have formed a brand-new partnership with certified Angus beef, which means that each cut of beef is juicier, has been aged longer and offers a better taste than ever before. We are also offering a host of new dining experiences on Norwegian Prima, from the Metropolitan Bar – NCL’s first sustainability-focused bar – to our first ever food hall, Indulge Food Hall, which features 11 different eateries including, Onda by Scarpetta and Los Lobos.
All these innovations can be enjoyed as part of our iconic Freestyle Cruising concept, which allows our guests to holiday their way by giving them the choice to decide when and where they dine. Guests can customise their cruise further but opting for Free at Sea where, for just $99 guests can choose two upgrades that suit them best, with options ranging from Wi-Fi to speciality dining and shore excursions.
* Nick Wilkinson is Regional Vice President Business Development Middle East & Africa at Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)