This cruise line is betting big on luxury with over-the-top suites and amenities on its new ships
Norwegian Cruise Line is about to up the ante when it comes to the suite life on megaships.
The world's fourth-largest cruise brand on Wednesday announced that its next series of vessels would have the largest variety of suite categories available at sea, including three-bedroom suites that are larger than anything that has emerged from other lines in recent years.
The six-ship series also will boast a higher staff-to-passenger ratio and a higher space-to-passenger ratio than other recently built big cruise ships, allowing for a higher-end experience across the board.
"This really gave us an unprecedented opportunity to take the brand up a notch," Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Harry Sommer said of the development of the series, which has been in the works for several years.
Speaking with TPG in advance of Wednesday's announcement, Sommer said the new ships would rival anything found at any other big-ship line when it comes to high-end offerings.
"That absolutely is our message," Sommer said when asked if the story was that Norwegian was going more upscale.
The first of the six ships in the series, Norwegian Prima, is scheduled to debut in August of 2022, with the rest of the vessels arriving at a rate of about one per year through 2027. Norwegian Prima currently is under construction at a shipyard near Venice, Italy.
Until Wednesday, Norwegian had revealed few details of the new vessels, other than to say they would be about 15% smaller than the line's last series of new ships.
But Wednesday's announcement greatly fleshes out the details of what passengers can expect from the six new vessels, which will significantly expand the size of the Norwegian fleet. Norwegian currently operates 17 vessels.
In addition to a wide variety of suites, Norwegian said Norwegian Prima would have:
- Norwegian's largest-ever windowless "inside" cabins, ocean-view cabins and balcony cabins. The line didn't reveal specific measurements for the cabin categories.
- The most outdoor deck space of any new cruise ship.
- More total pool deck space than any other Norwegian ship.
At the heart of the ship's suite offerings will be an expanded version of The Haven By Norwegian, the exclusive "ship-within-a-ship" suite area found on many of the line's newer vessels.
The Haven on Norwegian Prima will span an unprecedented seven decks across the back of the ship. Many of The Haven complexes on current Norwegian vessels are just two decks high.
"It's truly -- I mean truly -- huge," Sommer said of The Haven complex planned for Norwegian Prima. He noted that it included a private spa for residents separate from the ship's main spa as well as a private lounge, restaurant and pool deck area.
The pool deck area has its own infinity pool overlooking the ship's wake.
There will be 107 suites in The Haven on Norwegian Prima in all -- far more than found in The Haven complexes on other Norwegian ships. The area will have its own private elevators to take passengers between its many levels.
The entire complex was designed by noted Italian designer Piero Lissoni.
An expanded 'waterfront'
Norwegian on Wednesday also announced that Norwegian Prima would have an expanded version of The Waterfront, the outdoor promenade area with bars and restaurants found on some of Norwegian's latest vessels.
Now called Ocean Boulevard, the promenade will wrap around all of Deck 8 and offer access to a wide range of eateries and bars including a new-for-Norwegian upscale open-air food marketplace. Dubbed Indulge Food Hall, the new marketplace will offer 11 venues including a Texas barbecue restaurant, a rotisserie, a noodle outlet and a venue specializing in Indian cuisine.
Indulge Food Hall also will have a Starbucks, a food truck serving Latin-inspired street food, a salad venue and an ice cream shop.
Ocean Boulevard also will be home to a version of Onda by Scarpetta, the high-end Italian restaurant that debuted in 2019 on Norwegian Encore; a version of Norwegian's premium Mexican restaurant called Los Lobos; and one of the Local Bar & Grill eatery and music venues found on Norwegian ships.
In addition, Ocean Boulevard will have an outdoor sculpture garden called The Concourse; a pool area with infinity pools on both sides of the vessel; and two "glass bridges" where passengers can walk above the water.
One other venue announced for Norwegian Prima was La Terraza, an open-air lounge.
Norwegian on Monday announced that Norwegian Prima initially would sail in Northern Europe in 2022 before moving to North America for voyages out of New York City; Galveston, Texas; and Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida.
The ship has been designed to carry 3,215 passengers at double occupancy, and it'll measure 142,500 tons. Norwegian hasn't unveiled a new class of ship in nearly 10 years.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.