Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) held its annual “PartnersFirst Awards” ceremony in Madrid, recognizing the contributions of travel agencies and partner consortiums in Spain and Portugal to shared business success. The ceremony took place at the Bancal Restaurant, where NCL reaffirmed its commitment to the tourism sector and the brand's continued growth in the Iberian Peninsula.
The event was chaired by Kevin Bubolz, Vice President and Managing Director for Continental Europe; Jürgen Stille, Senior Director of Business Development for Continental Europe, as well as the magnificent NCL team responsible for the market.
Kevin Bubolz stated: “Every year, we are very proud to present these awards and recognize the work of our tourism partners. Spain remains our second most important market in continental Europe, and the tourism sector continues to be our main sales channel. With even greater potential to be tapped in the Iberian Peninsula, we look forward to continuing our strong and fruitful collaboration with travel agencies and further consolidating our market presence.”
The awards were presented by Sonia López Corrales, Senior Business Development Manager, and Virginia González Rosado, Business Development Manager. This year's PartnersFirstAwards winners are:
- Number 1 online travel agency in sales – Logitravel SL.
- Number 1 chain in sales – Viajes El Corte Inglés SA.
- Fastest growing online travel agency in sales – Aethlia – Solocruceros.com
- Chain with the highest increase in sales in the Portuguese market – Viagens Abreu
- Number 1 chain in tap sales – GEA Group
- Better development in the Portuguese market – Mundomar Cruise
“We want to express our sincere gratitude to all our loyal partners in Spain and Portugal, and extend our warmest congratulations to this year’s winners. Now that we’re closing the 2025 chapter, there are even more opportunities for growth in 2026. With our new brand platform, 'It's Different Out Here,' we offer our travel partners a key asset: a brand designed to empower guests to choose, personalize their experience, and fully enjoy their time at sea. It’s a true differentiator that helps them inspire their customers. Combined with our enhanced Caribbean offerings, we provide more products, options, and reasons to travel with NCL,” said Sonia López Corrales, Senior Business Development Manager for Spain and Portugal at Norwegian Cruise Line.
NCL’s new brand platform, “It’s Different Out Here,” is more than just a slogan. It’s the company’s promise to offer true freedom and flexibility to all guests, on all cruises. In a sea of uniformity, NCL distinguishes itself by creating vacations that feel natural and personal, designed around the traveler, not the schedule. This refreshed identity provides travel partners with a compelling and differentiating story that drives higher conversion rates in Spain and Portugal.
In addition, NCL is significantly enhancing its Caribbean presence with a total of 19 ships deployed in the region through April 2028, including its newest ships, Norwegian Aura™, Norwegian Luna™, and Norwegian Aqua®. All Caribbean voyages will visit one of NCL’s private resort-style destinations: Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and HarvestCaye in Belize. This enhanced presence is supported by significant upgrades at Great Stirrup Cay. By the end of 2025, new guest experiences will be unveiled at Great Stirrup Cay, including Great LifeLagoon, a sprawling pool area with swim-up bars, premium lounge chairs, and a dedicated children’s splash zone, as well as Vibe Shore Club, an adults-only area with a private bar and premium seating. In late 2026, the island will debut the Great Tides Waterpark, a nearly six-acre water park with 19 slides, industry-leading cliff jumps and a dynamic river, as well as new adventure excursions.
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