The world's leading cruise line will base its new Breakaway Plus class ship, specially designed for the Chinese market, in China
Opening of new sales offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai to support international expansion.
Norwegian Cruise Line will introduce its first ship custom-designed for the Chinese market in 2017. This was announced by Frank Del Rio, Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: NCLH), on Monday, October 12, at the CruiseWorld summit in Shanghai, China. The new ship is currently under construction and is specifically designed for the Chinese market, with accommodations, dining, and onboard experiences tailored to the unique vacation preferences of Chinese guests.
“Our new ship, specially built with a focus on China, will feature the authentic characteristics of Norwegian Cruise Line while also catering to the nuances of Chinese culture,” said Del Rio. “With this ship, Norwegian Cruise Line will undoubtedly offer our Chinese guests a superior product while introducing a new level of innovation and excellence to the market, as well as personalization for the Chinese consumer. This new product will perfectly align with what modern Chinese travelers appreciate in a luxury cruise experience.”
The new ship will be the second in Norwegian Cruise Line's Breakaway Plus class and features the company's unique Freestyle Cruising style. Aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships, Chinese guests can enjoy a resort-style vacation experience with the freedom and flexibility to spend every moment their way, enjoying world-class entertainment, exquisite dining with Mandarin, Cantonese, and European cuisine, luxury duty-free shopping, and the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities available for the first time on board—all at their own pace.
Norwegian Cruise Line is widely recognized as the leading innovator in the cruise industry. The newest Norwegian Cruise Line ship will not only offer the highest level of personalization but will also be the most innovative ship ever built exclusively for the Chinese market. With a capacity for 4,200 passengers, this new Breakaway Plus-class ship will offer the same level of freedom and flexibility found on all Norwegian Cruise Line ships, but with experiences and services specifically designed with the Chinese guest in mind. The level of personalization will extend beyond the ship's physical design. Norwegian is collaborating with partners in China and local experts on the nuances of Chinese culture to provide Chinese guests sailing on this new ship with an unparalleled level of quality in service, cuisine, entertainment, and overall experience that is simply not available in the Chinese market today. Additional details, including the ship's name, homeport, accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment, will be shared in the coming months.
To better support the company's expansion efforts in China, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has opened offices in Beijing (Guomao CDB), Hong Kong (Quarry Bay), and Shanghai (Xintiandi). These China-based offices support the company's three brands—Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises—which occupy the highest levels of the cruise categories: contemporary, premium, and luxury, each relevant to every segment and stage in the life of the Chinese consumer.
“Our offices in China have a dedicated leadership team focused solely on ensuring the success of our local travel partners and agents, which is critical to the success of our expansion in what will soon be the world’s second-largest cruise market,” said Del Rio. “These offices will provide sales and marketing support to our travel partners whose clients not only want to sail on our new China-based ship, but also on any of the incredible voyages we offer around the world through our portfolio of brands.”
The new ship will be delivered in spring 2017. Norwegian Cruise Line will deliver the first ship in its Breakaway Plus class, the Norwegian Escape, on October 22. Two additional ships in this class are scheduled for delivery in 2018 and 2019. For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line, visit www.ncl.eu.
