Norwegian Cruise Line is chartering a 132-seat aircraft from British Airways (BA) for its new 2010 season of sailings from Venice on Norwegian Gem.
It’s the first time NCL has chartered an aircraft and the move has been prompted by strong bookings for the Venice cruises from the UK.
UK general manager Stephen Park said: “There has been huge demand for the Venice cruises and as it can be tough to get seats, we have chartered our own aircraft as well as taking allocations with other carriers.”
NCL is offering two seven-night cruises from Venice – Venice and the Greek Isles, and Venice and the Aegean Sea – that can be combined into a two-week holiday giving passengers a day in Venice in the middle of the cruise.
Park said 80% of bookings are for these 14-night, back-to-back sailings.
The BA charter will depart Heathrow Terminal 5, which will have a dedicated NCL check-in desk. The first departure is on May 1 and then every week until the cruises finish at the end of October.
Park said the flight will offer full BA service with the airline’s normal baggage allowance, a free meal and free bar. NCL is also offering Club Europe seats for guests who wish to upgrade.
NCL also has flights to Venice from Gatwick with BA, from Manchester and Edinburgh with Jet 2, from Glasgow and Newcastle with KLM and Birmingham with Lufthansa.