NCL moving final-payment deadline to 120 days before departure

FORT LAUDERDALE — Norwegian Cruise Line will advance the
deadline for final payment on its cruises from 90 days to 120 days before
departure, said Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Details about which cruises would be subject to the 120-day deadline and when the policy will be implemented are forthcoming.

The move means consumers will have to pay in full faster,
and is likely a reflection of the strong seller’s market for cruising that
developed in 2017. The 120-day deadline already applies to Garden Villa and Haven accommodations.

Del Rio, who revealed the news at Travel Weekly’s
CruiseWorld on Wednesday, told hundreds of travel agents that they will benefit
directly from the decision.

“It’s great for both of us,” Del Rio said. “It
locks in the customer early. You get your payment 30 days earlier, and it helps
you with your cash flow. We think it’s wonderful for our agent community that
you get to collect on your hard work 30 days earlier.”

Norwegian Cruise Line established the 90-day deadline in
January 2016.

In a QA with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie
Weissmann, Del Rio was asked if he wants to acquire any more of the eight former
Renaissance Cruises ships for Oceania Cruises, which already has four (Insignia,
Regatta, Nautica and Sirena).

Azamara Club Cruises, a competitor owned by Royal Caribbean
Cruises Ltd., recently acquired a third former Renaissance ship (PO
Cruises’ Adonia, to be renamed Azamara Pursuit). Del Rio said he hopes Azamara
gets the one remaining (currently sailing for Princess Cruises as the Pacific
Princess).

“It won’t be us,” he said. “We’re happy with
our four and we’re happy with our Riviera and Marina ships. But the next
introduction for Oceania will likely be a whole new concept we’re working on.”

Turning to Cuba, Del Rio said there’s no doubt that the
market has rewarded Norwegian’s decision to use its four-day cruise from Miami
to provide two full days and an overnight in Havana.

“The booking curve for a four-day cruise now looks more
like a seven-day cruise to Alaska or to Europe. People are booking it way in
advance, and therefore the prices have risen. It is now profitable for you to
sell four-day cruises where it wasn’t before,” Del Rio said.

Norwegian next year will devote a second ship, the Norwegian
Sun sailing from Port Canaveral, to a Havana itinerary. “That gives you an
idea of how important, how profitable, Cuba is to us,” he said.