NCL One (and a half) Day Sale

NCL has just given me notice of a one-day "sale" for Thursday, November 20. The reason I say "sale" is that it's not so much a fare reduction type sale as it is a deposit reduction. All new bookings made on November 20 will have a 50% reduction in the deposit!

This is nice if you've been looking to book NCL and waiting for one of their promotions, but not one of their richer offers. No onboard credits, no reduced fares, etc. But, if you don't want to wait, it's a good offer and definitely keeps more $$$ in your pockets for the holiday.

Why do I say "and a half" on the one day sale? That's because I have a preview day today as well! Bookings made today, Sunday, are also eligible. So if you want more details, give me a call or email me!

::: Update ::: There's another "preview" day on November 19. So this is actually a Two (and a half) One Day Sale.

NCL Outlines End to Fuel Supplement

Surprising only in how long they took to announce this, NCL today outlined their process for eliminating fuel supplements on future bookings.

The thumbnail is this. For 2010 sailings booked on or after November 10, 2008, there will be no supplement.

For those booked prior to November 10, 2008, for sailings departing in 2009, the fuel supplement will be refunded via an onboard credit based on a specific formula. They've decided to use a formula similar to RCI's announced plan of basing fuel supplement on already-booked sailings on the price of West Texas Intermediate Crude on a particular date prior to each quarter. Thank you, NCL, for making this a bit easier! The table is below.

But basically what this means is this: If you're sailing for example in February, 2009, whether or not your fuel supplement will be refunded will be decided on December 18, 2008, when the price of West Texas Intermediate Crude will be evaluated. If the closing price below $65, you'll have a refund. Sailing in second quarter 2009? Then your date to watch is March 18, 2009 (by the way, these are the same dates RCI used for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara). And so on and so forth.

Any questions on your particular sailing? That's what I'm here for - just give me a call.

If you're the type who likes to read the full formula, here it is:

The current fuel supplement will no longer apply to bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010.

For guests booked prior to November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010, the company has established the following guidelines for the refund of fuel supplements paid:
The criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis. Should the closing price on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) of West Texas Intermediate fuel be below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter (dates specified below), the company will refund fuel supplements paid in the form of an on-board credit.

For guests booked on sailings that depart in 2009 (on or after January 1, 2009 and that depart on or before December 31, 2009), regardless of booking date, the company has established the following guidelines for the refund of fuel supplements paid:

The criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis. Should the closing price on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) of West Texas Intermediate fuel be below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter (dates specified below), the company will refund fuel supplements paid in the form of an on-board credit.

The dates on which the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel will be measured and the quarters during which refunds could apply are:

Fuel Price Determination Date Quarter of Possible Fuel Supplement Refunds
December 18, 2008 First Quarter 2009
March 18, 2009 Second Quarter 2009
June 17, 2009 Third Quarter 2009
September 17, 2009 Fourth Quarter 2009
December 18, 2009 First Quarter 2010
March 18, 2010 Second Quarter 2010
June 17, 2010 Third Quarter 2010
September 17, 2010 Fourth Quarter 2010
December 17, 2010 First Quarter 2011

Determination of what quarter a sailing is in will be based solely on the sailing date. The entire cruise will be considered to be part of the quarter that the sailing date originates in.

Is NCL’s F3 Project In Trouble?

There are several reports out today that Aker Shipyards and NCL Corporation have hit a snag in the construction of the new F3 project ships.

According to reports, NCL and Aker shipyard are in a legal dispute about the first of the vessels which, at 150,000 tons, is 60 percent larger than the line's existing ships. Some reports even have NCL informing employees that the first F3 ship has been cancelled, though the entire project may go forward with later ships still in the earlier stages of development.

The first of the 4,200-passenger F3 ships was slated for delivery in March 2010. Seatrade Insider reported Sept. 19 that Aker is shopping around the F3 project, for which the keel was laid in April. The yard approached Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and MSC Cruises, Seatrade reported. The problems with the $2 billion F3 project apparently center on the cost of major changes in the prototype. NCL had promised the ship would be unlike any other, with no main restaurant, no main show lounge and no Lido café. The “New Wave” staterooms have curved walls. The company’s last major announcement on the ship revealed plans for an ice bar and other hip nightlife venues more akin to South Beach or Las Vegas. But the ship’s differences could make it difficult for another company to pick up the prototype without making major changes.

While building the ships is a challenge in itself, the 50 percent sale of NCL to Apollo Management last August seems to have added to the hindrance, with Apollo wanting more of a voice in design implementation. NCL said it had no comment on the issue.

I'll stay on top of this, of course, and report back when there is new, more concrete information.

NCL’s Pity the Procrastinator Sale

If you're a procrastinator like me, the name of this sale makes you sit up and take notice. But even if you're not a person who tends to put things off to the last minute, this sale should get your attention.

It's NCL's yearly Pity the Procrastinator Sale, offering up to 8-category upgrades automatically! Book select 2009 sailings between now and October 12, and you'll be eligible for up to 8-category upgrades.

As with almost all NCL sales, this is for new bookings only, and they have some of the best software in the industry to catch cancellations and rebookings, so don't even go there. But if you're looking at NCL for 2009, this may be the perfect time to book!

Of course, you know to call or email me for a personalized quote. Don't put it off!

A Ship With Curves!

As they laid the keel of their new ship, dubbed F3 (for Third Generation Freestyle), NCL slowly began to release some pretty unique details of their newest creation. They've been touting to the media and cruise agents that they've thrown away the rule book in cruise ship design, and so far I'd say that if not totally gone, they're definitely making major re-writes.

Of course, the first thing that people think about with a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship is the dining. Freestyle dining is the hallmark of the line. F3 takes that concept to a new level, doing away completely with a "main" dining room. All the restaurants onboard are the smaller (but still plenty large enough to serve all the passengers onboard between them) themed venues.

But where you'll really recognize the physical difference of the ship is in the cabins. Gone are the traditional box shapes we've all come to know so well. Instead, these rooms have some bodacious curves! It's hard to describe, but in suites and balcony cabins, the wall opposite the bed is one big bowed shape. The wall behind the bed is in an undulating wave. Even the sofa is curved. Look to the flooring - the carpeting isn't cut straight, but instead is curved as well!

This non-linear design is becoming very popular in higher-end hotels and boutiques, and actually is easier than you might think to build. Because adjacent cabins are mirrors of one another, fitting together like a jigsaw, two cabins together are actually a box-shaped component and fit nicely in the modular building of a modern cruise ship.

These curved spaces and furnishings - the bed also has rounded edges - actually make for better space allocation, as traffic flows more easily around them. Royal Caribbean and Carnival have had rounded beds for awhile, and though sometimes you feel like the bed is smaller, especially for taller people (something I've not had to contend with), they're actually almost exactly the same size as traditional, rectangular beds. In addition, curved lines are more restful to the eyes and brain. While western societies have traditionally been rectilinear (straight lines), many Asian cultures are more comfortable with curved lines. Think highway vs. garden path. These cabins will take a bit of getting used to, but I'm looking forward to them!

Another divergence from the norm is the way they've designed the bathroom area. Gone is the single box with the commode, sink and shower all together. While NCL had split the commode and shower into separate stalls a few ships ago, they're taking that a step further with this design, placing the commode on one side of the entry door, and the shower on the other! The sink and vanity are actually outside either area, in the cabin itself. It's an interesting concept, but not one which I can pass judgment on until I see it. I do like having the commode separate - that way two people can shower and use the commode at the same time while preserving each's modesty, but the sink in the cabin has me pausing, as does less room in the shower area. I can envision some "oops" moments with the cabin door at the entry to the shower if there's not much room in the shower to get dressed. But I'm sure NCL has thought this through, and the functionality will be much better than the concept on paper. It's one of those "you have to experience it to understand it" things.

Color and light will also play a key role in these new staterooms, with recessed dome lighting and a very comfortable color palette.

Overall, I think this is a great step in cabin design. Like the Celebrity Solstice, I applaud NCL for daring to change the traditional.

Want to see more? The artist renderings can be found at f3.ncl.com.

Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation Cruise Deal

The Norwegian Sky, ( formally known as Pride of Aloha ) a 2,002-passenger ship sails into the Bahamas this summer.

The Sky will be the youngest ship sailing three- and four-day Bahamas cruises. The four-day voyages, departing on Mondays, will stop at Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. The three-day voyages, departing on Fridays, will stop in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay.

Cruises start at $229 per person for an inside cabin; $329 per person for a balcony cabin. Norwegian is offering a “Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation” promotion for reservations on the Sky made before May 31 for sailings between July 14 and Sept. 26, 2008. Children ages six months to 17 years are eligible to sail free, however they will have to pay government taxes and fees and fuel surcharges will apply.

For more information about this Kids Sail Free promotion contact Cruise Direct Online.

NCL Pulls a Switcheroo

After announcing that the Pride of Aloha would be leaving the NCL America fleet and be transferred to Star Cruises (NCL's parent company), which anticipated selling the Aloha, NCL today announced a bit of a switcheroo. Instead of saying goodbye to the Pride of Aloha, she will instead be transferred to NCL, reflagged in the Bahamas with an international crew, and renamed back to her original name, Norwegian Sky.

That's not all the changes for her, either. NCL is going to use her to re-enter the popular 3- and 4-night Bahamas market out of Miami, a market they left back in 2003 due to lack of available ships. This market is one I expect to become more popular in the next year as some feel they need to tighten their belts, not to eliminate vacations, but perhaps scale them back a bit. These shorter cruises make for a great, affordable quick getaway. When she begins service, she will be the newest ship for any line serving these shorter Bahamas itineraries.

It was originally thought that she couldn't serve the new "NCL 2.0" as she had fewer restaurants than the newer ships, but for the shorter market, she can offer the choice that makes NCL so popular, and perhaps introduce more people to the concept.

Of course, during her wetdock prior to introduction in this market, she will be re-fitted with a casino and have other NCL 2.0 enhancements added. However, both her itineraries are fairly port intensive, featuring visits to Nassau and the NCL private island, Castaway Cay, with the 4-night option also visiting Grand Bahama Island, so you might not even notice the casino is there.

Sailings will start on July 14, 2008, and bookings through April, 2009, are currently on sale, starting at $229/person for the 3-night itineraries and $329/person for the 4-night options.

Sailings between July 18-September 26, 2008 have an additional bonus of a "Kids Sail Free" promotion if booked byMay 31, 2008. Call me for details and the fine print.