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Dec 20, 2007 ---
As the transaction between Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and
Apollo Management, LP ("Apollo") nears completion and the
infusion of $1 billion comes into the company, NCL announced
today its Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide initiative featuring
significant enhancements in its onboard product that will
further improve the guest experience. The enhancements include a
major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the
stateroom experience across the ship; new wide ranging onboard
activities for guests all of ages; additional recognition,
service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and a
re-launch of a tiered Latitudes past guest recognition program.
The initiative has been driven by quantitative and
qualitative feedback from both guests and travel partners and
has been enabled by Apollo's billion dollar investment in NCL
and Star Cruises continued commitment and vision.
"Our innovative Freestyle Cruising and exciting, dynamic
fleet of new ships have combined to make NCL a truly unique and
exciting cruise vacation," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president
and CEO. "We have achieved the milestone of offering the
youngest fleet in the cruise industry, and will now focus our
attention on delivering the next generation of freestyle
cruising - Freestyle 2.0 - a significant enhancement to the
guest experience fleet wide."
NCL will immediately begin to roll out Freestyle 2.0 fleet
wide. Highlights of the different onboard initiatives include:
- Freestyle Dining:
- An increased investment in food of $50 million before we
deliver our first F3, equating to a 20 percent increased
investment in food per passenger per day plus major
fleet-wide capital investments;
- Lobster Galore - Lobster in the main restaurant on
multiple days and in one restaurant every night of the
cruise;
- A signature specialty dish in every restaurant (i.e.
48oz Porterhouse in the steak house, chocolate fondue tower
in the action station restaurant)
- An enhanced nighttime dining/ambience in the action
station restaurant with table cloths, muted lighting and
enhanced service;
- One or two alternative restaurants open for lunch on sea
days;
- A new and expanded room service menu;
- A "bubbly welcome" - a welcome aboard glass of bubbly
for everyone;
- A Taste of Freestyle on embarkation day - samplings from
all of the specialty restaurants;
- A major hardware investment to bring all buffets to
Norwegian Gem/Norwegian Pearl "action station restaurant";
- An investment in back of house to refine the
reservations process and system.
- Stateroom Experience:
- An upgrade in bedding and sheets, pillows, duvets;
- An upgrade in towels and bathrobes;
- An upgrade in in-room amenities including coffee maker
and expanded TV offerings;
- Addition of sofa beds to suite categories.
- Balcony and mini suites
- A distinctive colored key card for ship wide
recognition;
- An "at your service" hotline;
- A separate check-in for balcony and mini suite guests;
- A personal escort to stateroom;
- Priority disembarkation.
- Suites and Villas:
- All suites and villas to have concierge and butler
service
- Welcome champagne in suite/villa;
- Upgraded canapés every day;
- Private breakfast/lunch in Cagney's Restaurant
- An exclusive concierge lounge;
- Priority disembarkation;
- Priority restaurant reservations;
- Dedicated Butler presence in the Courtyard*;
- Private breakfast/lunch in the Courtyard*.
- Onboard activities:
- An enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle
program - NCL "U":
- A range of new classes such as Improv, organic
cooking, bartending, sommelier, etc.;
- An enhanced Health and Wellness program;
- An enhanced Pool Deck experience:
- Entertainment taken upscale
- Drink flags on all deck chairs
- Pool of indulgence - Evian spritz, cold towels, etc.
- Quiet zones and times
- Past Guest Latitudes program:
- A new program with various tiers rewarding both spend
and frequency;
- A new range of tangible, meaningful and deliverable
benefits;
- A staffed concierge lounge for Latitudes members.
Freestyle 2.0 enhancements will begin rolling out immediately
and will be largely implemented by summer of 2008.
*Available to Villa and Owner's Suite guests.
NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various
subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships
of Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America and Orient Lines.
NCL plans to build two new third generation Freestyle
Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest
fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy
the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most
contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new
ship, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Gem.
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