NCL launches programme of trade events to help agents get the most out of a record-breaking 2023

At the start of the year, NCLH launched a new division ‘Experiences at Sea’ – the union of Sixthman Festivals at Sea, the renowned music festival arm subsidiary of NCL, and the Company’s Charters, Meetings and Incentives (“CM&I”) division offering immersive events for leisure and corporate groups. The division aims to bring guests together to enjoy highly curated, elevated cruise experiences with an emphasis on community, connection and journeys that create memories to last a lifetime.

To further grow its business in the UK, ‘Experiences at Sea’ has enhanced its team roster with a new role. Based in Southampton, Sabrina Greca is assuming the newly created role of International Senior Corporate Sales Manager, working to increase sales in the MICE sector and head up the newly-formed ‘Experiences at Sea’ division for all markets outside of North America.

Sabrina Greca (International Senior Corporate Sales Manager) said, “The value for money of a cruise-based event versus a land-based event, whether a whole ship charter or a smaller group on an existing sailing, is incomparable. From health and wellbeing trips using the Mandara Spa, to F&B conferences using our stellar collection of onboard bars and restaurants, we know the MICE opportunity is untapped when it comes to UK sales. I’m excited to work with the team and explore this potential for the UK market and beyond”.

Gary Anslow (Senior Sales Director UK & Ireland at NCL) said “Charters and onboard events are a material part of our business in North America and a number of our international markets, but they remain a huge opportunity in the UK and Ireland. Sabrina’s appointment will be critical in enabling UK agents with corporate clients to capitalise on the opportunity”.

Greca will be joining the NCL team on two travel agent partner-dedicated webinars on the 18th and 20th April to discuss the potential for sales in the MICE sector. Agents can sign up for the webinars on 18^th April here, and 20^th April here.

Elsewhere, NCL has announced it will be hosting 1,500 travel agent partners on a series of ship visits across the UK and Ireland between May and October 2023.

The immersive day trips will take place across five of NCL’s fleet of award-winning ships and will cover a total of 22 separate dates across nine locations, including Greenock, Liverpool, Newcastle, Southampton, Newhaven, Tilbury, Belfast, Dun Laoghaire and Cobh.

Each event will give travel agent partners the opportunity to experience NCL’s exceptional service and facilities and will include visits aboard Norwegian Prima, the first of six Prima class ships which launched in August 2022, Norwegian Getaway, the second of the Breakaway class launched in 2014, through to the Jewel and Dawn class ships – Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Gem.

Gary Anslow (Senior Sales Director UK & Ireland at NCL) says, “Ship visits are an integral part of enhancing an agent’s brand knowledge, and offers the opportunity to experience the NCL product first-hand. We’re looking forward to welcoming all our valued agents on board, to have insightful conversations around the constantly evolving travel industry and to share news on our existing fleet and new ship launches”.

Norwegian Prima visit dates:

• Sunday 4^th June – Southampton
• Sunday 25^th June – Southampton
• Sunday 16^th July – Southampton
• Sunday 17^th September – Southampton
• Wednesday 20^th September – Belfast
• Sunday 1^st October – Southampton

Norwegian Getaway visit dates:

• Tuesday 8^th August – Southampton
• Friday 15^th September – Southampton
• Friday 22^nd September – Newhaven (Edinburgh)
• Friday 29^th September – Dun Laoghaire
• Sunday 1^st October – Southampton

Norwegian Dawn visit dates:

• Wednesday 10^th May – Greenock
• Wednesday 7^th June – Liverpool
• Friday 4^th August – Tyne (Newcastle)
• Thursday 14^th September – Southampton
• Wednesday 20^th September – Liverpool

Norwegian Gem visit dates:

• Monday 11^th September – Tilbury

Norwegian Star visit dates:

• Monday 25^th September – Cobh (Cork)
• Tuesday 3^rd October – Southampton