NCL revamps on board services

Norwegian Cruise Line is revamping on board services across its fleet following a $1 billion investment in the cruise line.

Europe-based Norwegian Jade will be the first ship to see the improvements, with the remainder of the fleet to be completed by June 1.

Enhancements include a major investment in the overall dining experience; an upgrade to the cabins; a range of new on-board activities; and additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa passengers.

The ‘Freestyle 2.0’ initiative has been driven by quantitative and qualitative feedback from passengers and travel partners, and enabled by a $1 billion investment from Apollo Management into NCL.

UK general manager Stephen Park said UK passengers will be among the first to benefit.

“It is critical for NCL to appeal to the new generation of cruise holidaymakers, while retaining and engaging our loyal customers,” he said. 

“Cruise holiday expectations are higher these days and Freestyle 2.0 will further position NCL as the Freestyle Cruising innovator.”

Newly-named Norwegian Jade arrives in Europe on March 30 and makes its Southampton debut on May 30. The ship will be based in Europe year-round for the first time as part of NCL’s biggest European deployment.

Enhancements include:

Freestyle Dining

·       A welcome aboard glass of sparkling wine

·       New menus with expanded choices in every restaurant

·       Lobster in the main restaurant twice every cruise and in every specialty restaurant every night 

·       Steak & Eggs Breakfast Feast in the Teppanyaki restaurant with unlimited Bloody Marys and mimosas

·       Lavazza coffee in all Java Cafes and top suites

·       A signature specialty dish in every restaurant

The action station restaurants will also receive plasma menu boards, a world-class salad bar, soft serve ice cream machines, and improved service and night time ambiance with tablecloths and candlelight.

Cabins

·       A new and expanded room service menu

·       Elemis bathroom amenities

·       Memory foam mattress toppers

·       Pillow upgrade and addition of Euro pillows to all beds

·       Upgraded linens

·       All beds will receive a top sheet

·       Expanded mini-bar options and item customization option

·       Upgraded room service menus

Balcony and Mini Suites – all of the above plus:

·       Bathrobes

·       Customized Fruit Menu

·       Fresh-baked cookie at turn down on last night of cruise

·       Escort to stateroom on embarkation day

·       Special colour keycard

·       Priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines

Suites and Villas – all of the above plus:

·       NCL branded bedding collection

·       Upgraded mattress, linens and feather pillows

·       Upgraded sofa bed

·       MP3 Player connections

·       Pillow Menu

·       Plush Bathrobes

·       Customized Fruit Menu

·       Customized Canapé Menu

·       Turndown cookie last night of cruise

·       Personal escort to stateroom on embarkation

·       Bottle (or half bottle depending on category of suite) of Moet & Chandon White Star champagne upon embarkation

·       Priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines

·       Special colour keycard for ship-wide recognition

·       VIP Breakfast & Lunch in Cagney’s

·       Private Breakfast & Lunch with action station set-up in Courtyard for Villa Guests

·       Dedicated Butler in Courtyard

On-board activities

·       An enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle program – NCL “U” – offering a range of new classes in:

o       Humour – hosted by Second City

o       Food, wine and spirits

o       Destination education

o       Digital technology

·       Library transformed into a coffee shop atmosphere with:

o       Implementation of honour system for book borrowing

o       Complimentary coffee and tea

o       Plasma screens (muted) broadcasting news

·       Enhanced nightlife with new party experiences, such as:

o       NCL’s White Hot party

o       NCL’s Monte Carlo night 

·       An enhanced Pool Deck experience:

o       Entertainment taken upscale

o       Relaxing ambient music

o       Drink flags on all deck chairs

o       Pool of indulgence – Evian sprits, cold towels, etc.

o       Quiet zones and times

·       Exciting sports deck programming.

·       Xbox game consoles in video arcades.

·       Expanded and increased flexibility of Kids Crew hours.

·       Enhanced Teen Centres to include:

o       Xbox game consoles;

o       Nintendo Wii;

o       Table games such as foosball, billiards and air hockey.