NCL’s newest ship started a shakedown cruise at the weekend with a regional chief saying it provides more sales options for Kiwi agents.
The 156,000-tonne Norwegian Aqua departed Lisbon for Southampton and while it will do most of its cruising in the Caribbean, NCL’s senior director of sales strategy and operations Asia Pacific Damian Borg, says that the region is growing in popularity with Kiwis.
The $2.27 billion ship is the third of NCL’s Prima Class ships but is about 10% bigger than its earlier sister ships. Aqua has more staterooms, a bigger ‘ship within a ship’ luxury Haven area, a noticeably larger main pool area and an even more spacious three-level atrium area.
There are more dining options with a Thai restaurant and a vegetarian option in the popular Indulge food hall added. The go-kart track has been replaced by another industry first, an Aqua Slidecoaster where riders can slide around the ship’s funnel at close to 50kmph. Other attractions have also been added which the company says will appeal to a wider demographic.
Borg says the NZ market is around 90% recovered from pre-pandemic levels, and while slower than others to return, it is now one of the strongest growing in the region. The recovery of the trade, responsible for about 80% of NCL’s bookings out of New Zealand, is driving that growth, he adds. “Flight Centre, Helloworld and House of Travel are now getting into full swing in terms of what they’re doing in the field, with community-based events and consumer events.’’
. . . Asia Growing
Europe remains popular with Kiwis but bookings are growing for Asia cruises, particularly Japan; there is more close-to-home cruising and the Caribbean, NCL’s home patch, is growing in popularity.
Borg says innovative Kiwi agents are helping drive this growth. “That comes from our partners being innovative with their packaging, bundling the Caribbean with a Vegas stopover and calling it ‘fire and dice’ like they did with ‘fire and ice’ into Hawai’i and into Alaska. The one thing in New Zealand is that you’ve got some wonderful product packages, some of the best.’’ The recovery of air links was helping, although reduced winter capacity to Hawai’i has dented recovery.
He urges agents to emphasise the per day value of cruise compared to other holidays, a message which NCL’s New Zealand business development manager Megan Porter is working hard to push to the trade.
