NCL launches first ever UK TV advertising campaign

**Ally** · 01-23-2007, 07:22 AM

As the battle for Britain’s projected 1.35m cruisers in 2007 heats up, NCL has become the latest brand to launch a TV ad campaign. It went live last week and is being aired on two of the UK’s travel channels, Thomas Cook TV and Thomson TV, through until the end of March.

The advert takes a light-hearted, tongue in cheek look at traditional cruising with its clock-watching, fixed meal times and regimentation. And then compares it with the freedom and flexibility of NCL Freestyle Cruising. ’I am delighted to be working with two of our key travel trade partners on this ad, which will introduce NCL Freestyle Cruising to a new and wider market,’ said Francis Riley, general manager NCL UK.

David Winterton, general manager Thomson TV, noted the advert will be aired on Thomson TV – Sky Digital channel 637 – up to eight times a day throughout the campaign whilst Helen Smith, head of Thomas Cook TV said: ‘Thomas Cook TV will be airing the advert on Sky Channel 645 every hour initially then a minimum of 12 times a day thereafter.’

Earlier this month Royal Caribbean Cruise Line announced a multi-million pound marketing campaign – its largest ever – for the UK and Ireland markets, including a first time ever UK TV ad focusing on the Celebrity brand. Meanwhile Carnival UK, encompassing the four brands of P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Ocean Village and Cunard, is currently spending £10m on a sales campaign across a variety of media, including TV, encouraging UK holidaymakers to book a summer 2007 cruise early.