NORWEGIAN Cruise Line is targeting traditional Mediterranean package holiday customers as it seeks to expand its 2007-2008 Freestyle Cruising programme by up to 20%.
NCL’s UK general manager Francis Riley said the cruiseline’s seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise, which was introduced this year and sails from Barcelona, is already popular and partly responsible for this year’s 20% sales growth.
He hopes the programme will tempt more typical package customers aboard.
He said: “We’re going after the package holiday families who like going to the Med.
“On the Mediterranean cruises our customers are younger, while we’ve got the new ships which are fantastic for families thanks to the wide activities programme.”
Prices lead in at £799 for the seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise and include flights from Heathrow and Gatwick with connecting flights from 18 regional airlines.
He also said this year’s growth had been driven by the introduction of Baltic cruises, departing from Dover.
Riley said: “The cruise is popular with the 45-plus generation. Dover is on the doorstep and with that age group it is a lot easier to get them there than it is to get them to fly.”
To meet the expected growth, NCL is boosting capcity over the next 18 months with three new ships – the recently launched Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem. Each has room for around 2,400 passengers.
The latest brochure is the biggest ever. Cruise-only prices are available on all itineraries for the first time while seven and 11-night flycruise Caribbean packages are also being introduced.
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