Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is dropping its cruise-and-stay programme and reverting to offering mainly seven-night cruises in Europe for 2010.
The cruiseline is also launching only one brochure this year, instead of also having dedicated destination programmes focusing on Hawaii and Europe.
UK general manager Stephen Park said NCL had decided to simplify the product and stick to what it was good at.
Cruise-and-stay and hotel add-ons have gone and instead, in the Mediterranean next summer, the cruiseline is only offering seven-night cruises – from Venice on Norwegian Gem and from Barcelona on Norwegian Jade.
There is one itinerary from Barcelona, with first-time calls at Monte Carlo, France and Palma, Majorca, and two alternating voyages from Venice that can be combined for a 14-night cruise.
There is also just one 12-night Baltic Capitals itinerary from Dover on Norwegian Sun.
Park said lead prices are also more attractive as they have been stripped back to basics, taking out costs for items such as kids’ packs.
A seven-night cruise from Venice costs from £499 cruise only or £929 for a flycruise. Norwegian Jade’s one-week cruises from Barcelona lead in at £369 cruise only and £649 for a flycruise. Clients who book before August 31 will be upgraded to the best available cabin in their category.
Several pages of the new brochure are dedicated to NCL’s new ship Norwegian Epic, which Park said has been hugely popular since going on sale in May.
He said: “Early sales have way exceeded our expectations, outstripping the early demand we saw for Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem when they launched. And demand is across the board, for everything from the new budget studio cabins to suites and villas.”
Norwegian Epic will be sailing alternating eastern and western Caribbean cruises from July 2010, with prices from £479 cruise only and £1,077 for a flycruise.
Park said NCL has also changed its groups policy, and is now giving agents one free cabin for every 16 allocations they take. Also, agents start accumulating points to use towards benefits such as shore excursions and cocktail parties – these can then be passed on to clients – when they sell a cabin. Previously they had to book all 16 cabins before any points were allocated.
Any unsold inventory is taken back by the cruiseline if it is unsold within 90 days of departure.
Park said: “One of the things that came out of our research with agents last year was that they wanted a more user-friendly groups policy.”