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Norwegian launches Ultimate Dining Package

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 January 2014 13 January 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line today introduced an all-new way for guests to have access to one of Norwegian's specialty restaurants every night of their cruise. Called "Norwegian's Ultimate Dining Package," this new program provides the opportunity for guests to experience each of the line's most popular specialty restaurants including Cagney's, the line's signature steakhouse; French bistro, Italian restaurant, Moderno Churrascaria, Asian-Fusion Restaurant and more*, at a special rate based on the length of the cruise. The package is currently available on all Norwegian ships fleet wide.

"We are excited to offer guests the Ultimate Dining Package, giving them the opportunity to experience each of our incredible specialty restaurants," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "The Ultimate Dining Package truly captures the essence of Freestyle Cruising by allowing guests to dine in the specialty restaurant of their choice, every night of their cruise, at one very reasonable package price."

The Ultimate Dining Package gives guests the opportunity to have a taste of something deliciously new every night of their cruise when they experience the array of specialty restaurants found on board Norwegian ships. Diners will delight in Norwegian's signature steakhouse, featuring succulent grilled steaks, perfectly cooked double cut lamb chops and other delectable steakhouse favorites. Another one of Norwegian's signature specialty restaurants is the French bistro, where guests will enjoy French favorites such as escargot, coq au vin and a spectacular vanilla crème brulee for dessert. Guests will also love dining in Norwegian's traditional Italian restaurant, where they can feast on a variety of pastas, made-to-order specialty pizzas, and other Italian favorites such as chicken parmesan and osso bucco in a casual atmosphere. At Norwegian's Asian Fusion restaurant, guests can experience the flavors of the far east including Japanese Teppanyaki, Chinese or Pan-Asian Cuisine. Meat lovers will delight in the opportunity to dine in Moderno Churrascaria, where unlimited servings of succulent Brazilian barbeque are served tableside by Norwegian's own passadores.

Norwegian's Ultimate Dining Package is available in tiers based on cruise length. On three to six day voyages, guests can dine anywhere throughout their cruise at a set price of $59 per person; for seven-day voyages, the package is $119 per person; $149 per person on eight to 10 day cruises; $199 per person for cruises of 10 to 15 days; $259 per person during cruises of 16 days to 25 days; $299 per person during cruises of 26 days to 35 days and $349 per person during cruises of 36 days to 45 days.

Norwegian Epic to sail year round from Barcelona starting April 2015

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 January 2014 13 January 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that Norwegian Epic will home port year-round in Barcelona, Spain from 30 April 2015. Norwegian Epic will be the largest Norwegian Cruise Line ship to ever home port in Europe year-round, the company said in a statement.

The ship has lower berth capacity of 4,100 and gross tonnage of 155,873.

“We are excited to announce that our largest ship, Norwegian Epic, will homeport in Europe year-round in 2015,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “Norwegian Epic’s innovative accommodations, world-class entertainment and plethora of dining options are the perfect complement to the European cruise market, one of the most sought-after cruise destinations in the world.”

One in five Brits plan major trip abroad in 2014

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 January 2014 13 January 2014

One in five Britons are planning a major holiday trip abroad this year, but the percentage of those that take their own teabags with them on a holiday trip is even higher, research commissioned by Norwegian Cruise Line has found.

"2014 is set to be the year of the ‘ultimate getaway’, as one in five British people are planning a special or big trip abroad this year, following years of austerity and more ‘ordinary’ holidays. This coincides with the launch of Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest ship Norwegian Getaway this January, travelling year-round from its home-port of Miami to the Caribbean," the company said in a statement.

Francis Riley, vice president and general manager, international, said: “British holidaymakers appreciate being able to explore new experiences on holidays, however like to have their home comforts and traditions with them as well."

Survey carried out ahead of launch of Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship Norwegian Getaway reveals UK traveller quirks - unsurprisingly; the British weather is the number one thing that people want to ‘get away’ from the most (40%), making Norwegian Getaway’s Caribbean destination more popular than ever. On the other end of the scale, 6% of the nation want to escape their neighbours and one in 20 want a break from their other half.

· 26.5% of the nation can’t go away without packing their teabags
· 24% of people take their slippers with them on holiday
· The number one thing people want to get away from (40%) is the British weather
· 19.7% of Brits are planning a special or big trip abroad this year and a further 44% of people are planning to ‘get away’ at some point this year
· 5% of people want to ‘get away’ from their partner
· 6% of British women bring their childhood teddy with them

Further facts discovered in the survey that was sent to more than 2,000 respondents, include that almost one in five observe a holiday tradition or quirk (18%), including avoiding the number 13 in their seat number, hotel room or floor number, and those who wear the same ‘going away’ outfit every time they getaway.

Kristina Cruises to take Finnish groups on three small German ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 January 2014 13 January 2014

Kristina Cruises, the Finnish company that had to sell its only vessel as part of restructuring its loss making business last week, says it plans to take groups of Finnish passengers on three small German ships from May 2014.

It plans to take groups of 30 to 60 people on board Delphin, Hamburg and FTI Berlin. The first named ship is operated by Passat Kreuzfahrten and it takes a maximum of 470 passengers. It measures at about 17,000 gross tons and was built in the mid-1970s in Finland as a unit of the five-strong Belorussiya class of ships for Soviet owners.

Hamburg is the newest of the three ships, being built in 1997. It is operated by Plantours and takes 420 passengers and is measured at about 15,000 gross tons. It served as C Columbus under the Hapag-Lloyd house flag prior to being taken over by the current operator. The 10,000 gross ton FTI Berlin sails for FTI, a Munich based company; it takes 412 passengers and was built in Germany in 1980.

Meyer Werft delivers Norwegian Getaway

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 10 January 2014 10 January 2014

Today (January 10) during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of the 145,655 gross ton cruise ship Norwegian Getaway from Meyer Werft after a building period of only 15 months. The ship, the second of two Breakaway class ships, is being delivered just nine months after the launch of sister-ship Norwegian Breakaway. Following delivery today, the ship is sailing to Rotterdam for the start of inaugural festivities which will continue in Southampton before the ship departs for her transatlantic cruise to New York. The ship will be christened in Miami on February 7.

"The team at Meyer Werft, along with our new build team, has done an amazing job on Norwegian Getaway and we are thrilled with how spectacular the ship looks," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer. "Norwegian Breakaway revolutionized cruising with its Waterfront and strong connection to New York. Norwegian Getaway will do the same as Miami’s ultimate ship, offering the only way to cruise the Caribbean from Miami with a plethora of incredible features."

"We are more than thrilled to deliver the second Breakaway class vessel to Norwegian Cruise Line ahead of her original schedule," said Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner with Meyer Werft. "Norwegian Getaway is the newest and most advanced cruise vessel on the seas and we are proud of the team that worked diligently to design and build her."

The latest engine technology, the diesel-electric pod drive system, improved hydrodynamics as well as effective energy saving, heat recovery and ballast water treatment guarantee an ecological cruise experience at significantly reduced operating costs.