NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES INTRODUCES CABINS FOR ONE
NCL will market 100-square foot studio accommodations on the newbuilt 4,200 passenger
"Norwegian Epic", to solo travelers. The"Epic's 128 studio cabins will be designated and price for single
travelers, eliminating the so called "single supplement" common for those cruisers who travel alone that is a rate
equa to the price of the second berth in a cabin.
The
studios, slightly smaller than the standard inside cabins, have windows looking onto corridors and all passengers in the studios
share exclusive use of the Living Room, a common space with a lounge, private bar and two large-screen televisions.
NCL is the first North american curise line to market so many cabins to solo travelers aggressively. Over the last year
cruise lines such as Cruise West and Oceania Cruises have waived the single supplement to try and drive cruise sales.
Maria Miller, Senior VP of marketing for NCL, says..."We've taken the opportunity
to reposition the studios and go after this market." She points out that the "single supplement" has
always been the "key barrier" to getting solo cruisers. She cites data that suggests that there are 100 million single
adults in the USA and that 35 million adults take solo vacations annually but only 5% of these travelers take cruises.
"Our goal is to break down that barrier and make it more comfortable for single
travelers.", she says.
CRUISING INTO WEDDING BLISS
Cruise
Lines International Association (CLiA) reports that the wedding business at sea has increased by as much as 60% in the last
decade! More brides are going to sea than ever before and taking a contingent of guests with them.
In a Royal Caribbean International
survey several years ago, a whopping 95% of vacationers rated cruises as "extremely or very romantic", compared
with landlubber vacations. Another reason is convenience according to CLIA which states that approximately 35% of the
group's 16,000 agents say that their clients want to combine a wedding with a honeymoon and greater than 23% say that
a cruise wedding is a real value. Topping out in terms of destinations,
according to CLIA, is the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
But you don't have to leave port to tie the knot. You can choose between sea or
ports from around the globe to have your wedding. More cruise
lines now offer ship board wedding packages, amenities and planning services including legal marriages performed by ships'
captains.
The notion of nautical nuptials was essentially codified in 1998, when Pricess Cruises,
"The Love Boat", launched the bona fide weddings at sea performed by the ships' captain. More than 6,000 couples have since taken vows at sea or in port, according to Carol Maglione, spokesperson
for the cruise line whose vessels are registered in Bermuda, which recognizes all marriages in international waters.
Many cruise lines also
offer honeymoon and vow renewal packages as well as bachelor and bachelorette parties and even "Popping the Question"
programs - the ultimate engagement party at sea.