BRINGING capacity down under will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) biggest focus over the coming years, the company’s Vice President and Managing Director APAC Ben Angell has told CW. Aboard Norwegian Jewel yesterday ahead of her departure for Eden – the first call by a cruise ship since the bushfires...
BRINGING capacity down under will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) biggest focus over the coming years, the company’s Vice President and Managing Director APAC Ben Angell has told CW.
Aboard Norwegian Jewel yesterday ahead of her departure for Eden – the first call by a cruise ship since the bushfires – Angell called out recent and ongoing fleet refurbishments as a key driver of growth.
“We’ve had the office here now for about five years and we’ve delivered consistent high growth since then, and so we’re set up really nicely to capitalise as we go forward,” he said.
“[Norwegian Spirit is] part of a fleet that is the most consistent in cruising…(Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President & Chief Executive Officer) Frank Del Rio has spent over half a billion dollars on renovations over the past few years, and that’s given us a fleet that is so consistent, and whichever ship of ours you get on, it’s got that newbuild feel.
“It’s a fantastic product, and Spirit is the last to undergo the refurb, but she’s benefitting from that.”
Angell also hailed the importance of the trade in driving growth, with the cruise line to double-down on its trade focus.
“We’ve always been an avid supporter of the trade, as they are of us,” he said.
“As more ships come into Asia-Pacific waters, more of our focus will go to filling those ships and sourcing guests for those ships.
“Whereas historically we’ve been sourcing from Europe, or Hawaii, or Alaska, a little bit more of our focus will be sourcing for the closer-to-home product, so those are the main things we’re working on.”
Pictured is Angell with Senior Sales Manager Angela Middleton.
