NCL shows off its Gem to the European trade

John · 10-03-2007, 04:48 PM

Norwegian Cruise Line is hosting 2,000 Continental European travel retailers and media on an overnight sailing from Rotterdam aboard the new Norwegian Gem.

Michael Zengerle, gm Continental Europe for NCL, said more media than ever before are seeing the ship, ‘which shows we have increased the level of interest in Freestyle Cruising in Europe.’

Business has been booming for NCL on the Continent, according to Zengerle, who is based in NCL’s Wiesbaden (Germany) office. While declining to specify passenger counts, he said the company chalked up a 40% increase in European passengers from 2006 to 2007, including a 65% increase from Spain and an 80% increase from Germany.

‘We are looking forward to another great year in 2008,’ Zengerle added. ‘For the first time ever, we will have three ships in Europe and all are brand-new Jewel-class ships.’ He told European media on board Norwegian Gem that should mean ‘an easy sale’ because the fleet will be consistent, modern and new.

Next year the company will deploy Norwegian Gem on seven-night cruises from Barcelona, starting at €599; Norwegian Jewel from Dover for 12-night Baltic sailings, starting at €1,249; and Norwegian Jade (currently sailing as Pride of Hawaii) on varied Mediterranean routes of 12 days and longer from Barcelona, Piraeus, Istanbul and Southampton, starting at €999. In addition, the line will again offer a number of two-night mini-cruises from several ports.