Interview from CruisesNews magazine no. 64 – March 2023
By Virginia López Valiente
Finally, 2022 has been a good year for cruise tourism in Spain. What's your assessment for NCL?
Indeed, 2022 has been a great year for tourism in Spain, and it was also a strong year for NCL. We successfully completed our Grand Return to Cruising in May 2022, when the Norwegian Spirit finally welcomed guests aboard. We christened the Norwegian Prima, the first of six Prima-Class ships to be built in Marghera in collaboration with Fincantieri, and finally, we returned to Australia and New Zealand after almost three years in December 2022.
The redistribution of our entire fleet and the increase in capacity allowed us to take advantage of a large amount of pent-up demand.
Furthermore, due to travel restrictions remaining in place for much of 2022, our Spanish customers opted to sail closer to home and booked more cruises departing from local ports such as Barcelona and Malaga. This booking trend resulted in a very strong European season for us, especially in Spain.
How does the 2023 season look?
The overall outlook for 2023 seems promising from a business and revenue perspective.
The world has finally opened up, once again offering guests from around the globe a virtually limitless range of vacation options. Due to the scarcity of travel opportunities over the past three years, there is significant pent-up demand, and the overall trend shows that Spaniards are eager to plan a long-awaited holiday. Conversations with our travel partners reveal that Spanish guests are keen to break free and set sail to explore Alaska, America's "Last Frontier," treat themselves to a Caribbean getaway, or finally visit the Southern Hemisphere.
Our award-winning fleet of 18 ships offers sailings to the most sought-after destinations for Spanish customers. And the launch of Norwegian Viva, the second ship in our innovative Prima Class, will expand our offerings in Europe and the Caribbean.
What are the main new features for this year besides the launch of the Norwegian Viva?
Indeed, the Norwegian Viva has been the main new feature this year, being the second ship in our innovative Prima Class, which will include six new ships by 2027. The Norwegian Viva will reflect the luxurious design and structure of its sister ship, the Norwegian Prima, and will offer similar advantages to guests: the most spacious accommodations, the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary segment, the largest variety of suite categories at sea, a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, our unique ship-within-a-ship concept, and innovative experiences, including the fastest dry-fall waterslides at sea.
Spanish guests are eager to break free and set sail to explore Alaska, America's "Last Frontier," treat themselves to a Caribbean getaway, or finally visit Down Under.
It's also worth noting that Spain is one of our key destinations in the Mediterranean. That's why the Norwegian Viva, along with many other cruise ships in our extensive fleet, will offer open Mediterranean itineraries until November 2023, departing from one of four iconic ports: Lisbon, Trieste, Rome, and Athens (Piraeus). International guests from all over the world consider Europe and the Mediterranean a must-visit destination, and Spain is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after countries in the region.
In addition, the Norwegian Sun sailed to the Canary Islands, Cadiz and Malaga during the past winter and a total of nine other ships from the company, including our latest additions to the fleet, the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, will call at Spanish ports from spring to autumn 2023.
As for destinations, 2023 will also mark our long-awaited return to Asia with the Norwegian Jewel's call at Hakodate, Japan, on October 17. Thanks to this resumption of sailing in Asia, we will once again be operating cruises across all five continents.
Incidentally, last year NCL introduced the Norwegian Prima, the first of this new series of ships. How has this new class been received?
Without a doubt, the launch of our cutting-edge Prima Class has been a resounding success. Since going on sale in May 2021, the Norwegian Prima has broken records as NCL's most in-demand ship.
During its inaugural season, we have received positive feedback from journalists, travel partners and guests, praising the new and unique version of our Freestyle Cruising concept, the more spacious accommodations, staffing levels and the highest space ratios of any new cruise ship in the contemporary segment, as well as the innovative experiences.
Furthermore, our own travel partners have conveyed to us the positive impression that the Norwegian Prima has made on them, and that when they thought nothing could surprise them anymore in our sector, the Norwegian Prima has been a true revolution in every sense, putting the customer first and demonstrating once again that Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a company ahead of its time with a different and magnificent vision of the cruise industry.
NCL is presenting grand voyages, long-distance cruises to more distant and exotic destinations. How is the Spanish market responding to these trips?
We've observed a clear trend of people being open to new experiences and trying a new type of vacation they hadn't considered before the pandemic. In this context, we're seeing a significant increase in demand for NCL cruises in the Spanish market, not only for Mediterranean itineraries but also for itineraries that include more exotic locations. A clear example of this is our very strong offering in the Caribbean, with sixteen ships departing from ports such as Miami (Florida), Port Canaveral (Florida), Galveston (Texas), Panama City (Panama), and San Juan (Puerto Rico), sailing to the most beautiful destinations in the region, including our private destinations Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye. And in the Spanish market in particular, we see great potential for long-distance cruises. In the summer of 2023, five NCL ships will take guests to Alaska, America's "Last Frontier," to explore its stunning nature and wildlife.
Our goal is, and will continue to be, to expand our market share in Spain and strengthen our presence outside of Europe. We are working intensively with our internal teams, as well as with external business partners, to broaden our brand and distribution reach, and to invest in marketing and communications efforts to raise awareness, increase brand recognition for NCL, and encourage potential Spanish guests to consider our exotic departures.
NCL continues to invest in sailings from Spain with the Norwegian Epic. What is it about this ship that has made it such a hit in Barcelona?
Since the Norwegian Epic returned to the seas from Barcelona in September 2021, it has been a resounding success with Spanish passengers. Its main appeal lies in its iconic itineraries that explore the Western Mediterranean, including destinations like Rome, Florence, Cagliari, and Palma de Mallorca.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that the Norwegian Epic is especially popular with Spanish guests, as it perfectly embodies our Freestyle Cruise philosophy, offering maximum freedom, flexibility, and choice. We offer a wide variety of restaurants, bars, entertainment, and activities, allowing each guest to design a more personalized vacation experience.
For Spanish families, who enjoy sailing aboard the Norwegian Epic during their summer holidays, this ship has been the perfect choice for a well-deserved family vacation.
In any case, we always value the opinions of our guests and travel partners. The Norwegian Epic has sailed the Western Mediterranean from Barcelona for the past ten years. Now, people are looking for a change, so I'm very pleased that our first Breakaway Plus-class ship, the Norwegian Escape, will be homeported in Barcelona in the summer of 2024, offering a selection of 9- to 11-day cruises.
Let us ask you a question: What has been the largest or most unusual booking you've received in recent months?
As a cruise line with such a wide range of destinations and onboard activities, we are the perfect choice for those who want to spend time with family and find fun and entertainment options for all ages and tastes.
We recently made a booking with one of our partners for a large family whose grandfather wanted to celebrate his 80th birthday on board with all his children and grandchildren. They booked a Studio cabin for the grandfather, undoubtedly the best option for solo travelers, and the rest of the family settled into balcony cabins and club balcony suites, as well as double and quadruple rooms. I'm sure they'll have an unforgettable holiday on board and create unique memories that will last a lifetime.
And finally, you're responsible for sales in Spain. Where does Sonia López see herself professionally in five years?
Although it might sound cliché, I'm one of those lucky people who does what she truly loves, so while it's true it's called work, I don't feel that way. If there's one thing the pandemic has taught us, it's that we have to live and enjoy the present moment, so five years seems a long way off. But if I have to give you a specific answer, I don't see myself anywhere better than where I am now. I feel at home and I want to stay that way.
