Tuesday, January 27, 2009

NCL F3 Name Is Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that its new F3 will be named the Norwegian Epic. NCL also announced that only agents will be able to block group space when the group space opens for sale in mid-March. Only groups will be open for sale in mid-March, not FITs. "It is a great opportunity for agents and when we open it up to consumers, agents will be ready to take the influx of sales," NCL executive vice president, global sales and passenger services Andy Stuart told agents in a Webinar today.

The Norwegian Epic will be home ported in Miami and sail on alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises year-round from Miami. The first sailing will be in summer of 2010, after a series of pre-inaugural cruises. Stuart said NCL "is determined to show this ship to as many agents as we can. We are excited about this new product."

Eastern Caribbean cruises visit St, Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau and Western cruises will go to Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan. The two can be combined. "We are thrilled to return to Miami year-round," said Stuart.

With agents the only source for consumers to secure space on the Norwegian Epic, agents will be in great shape to be ready for bookings when the ship goes on sale, said Stuart. "It is a further demonstration of how travel agents are number one at NCL. This is the travel agents' ship and we would like agents to take ownership of the ship," said Stuart, noting that agents cut the first steel for the ship and that a number of NCL's top agents signed the first steel; their signatures are permanently welded into the Norwegian Epic's structure.

Call me in Mid-March to secure your space on this exciting ship, (706) 579-5005.

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