Norwegian Cruise Line upbeat about British market

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 29 April 2013 29 April 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line is upbeat about the outlook for its business on the British market, which has grown by 25% from last year, senior company executives said.

Speaking on board the new Norwegian Breakaway in Southampton, the company's head of marketing Andy Stuart said the UK is the second most important market for Norwegian after the U.S.

A decision to reposition Norwegian Star to Copenhagen for a series of Baltic cruises instead of Dover has allowed the company to reduce the itinerary to nine nights from 12. The fly cruise programme has turned to attract brisk business particularly from the north of the country.

Central Mediterranean itinerary from Venice has proven to sell very well too on the British market.

Stuart said the company had chosen fly cruises as its path to grow its business in the UK and in light of response from the market this has emerged as the right decision.

The company has two ships in Europe this summer and two year round. Political unrest in the eastern Mediterranean region made it axe itineraries with calls there, but it reintroduced calls at Moroccan ports on the basis of agent feedback.

Francis Riley, Vice President International, said Norwegian regards its agents as core business partners that are in the DNA of everything the company does. The aim is that Norwegian should be easy to do business with for agents and it should be their cruise line of choice. As part of this, Norwegian has recently introduced a new booking engine for agents.

STX France delivers Europa 2

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 29 April 2013 29 April 2013

On Friday 26 April 2013 at a formal ceremony, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has taken delivery of the modern and casual luxury ship Europa 2 from the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire. Dr Wolfgang Flägel, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of STX France, signed the takeover protocol. Captain Friedrich Jan Akkermann will navigate the newest member of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet across the world's oceans.

After 20 months under construction, the management of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has satisfied itself on the outstanding condition of the Europa 2. After signing the acquisition papers, Dr Flägel said: “Today is a special day for us. By the addition to the fleet of Europa 2, we are acquiring the latest generation of cruise ship, which embodies an entirely new type of luxury cruise at sea. I am certain that we will raise the bar with the Europa 2 in the luxury cruise sector.” After the signatures and flag change on deck had taken place, Laurent Castaing handed over a large canvas portrait of the Europa 2 to Captain Akkermann. In recent weeks over 1,000 of the shipyard's employees worked to complete the cruise ship. Amongst other materials, 10,000 tons of steel have been used, around 300 kilometres of cable and 23,000 square metres of carpet were laid.

The Europa 2 is a modern and casual luxury ship, which does away with cruise traditions such as the captain's dinner. With up to 516 guests, the Europa 2 will provide the greatest space per passenger on a cruise ship anywhere in the world. The ship features exclusively suites with verandas and a minimum area of 28 square metres. Eight restaurants and six bars are dedicated to serving up culinary diversity and a large spa and fitness area accommodates the well-being trend on cruises. Its flexible route concept will appeal to professionals and families in the luxury sector in particular.

The ship will be christened in Hamburg on 10 May 2013, as part of the port's anniversary celebrations. The Europa 2 will then embark on a 14-day maiden voyage towards Lisbon.