| All smiles at Norwegian

THE establishment of a dedicated Australasian office for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been an outstanding success, with the investment leading to significant increases in sales across all three of the company’s brands: Norwegian, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Previously represented under GSA arrangements, the expanded operation now has 14 people in field sales across the brands, as well as a Sydney-based call centre.

NCLH head of international business development, Harry Sommer, made a sojourn to Sydney earlier this week (CW Tue) to touch base with regional vice president Steve Odell, who told CW the biggest growth percentage-wise had been for Regent Seven Seas which has tripled sales since a year ago.

Sales for Oceania are up 30%, while 2018 is seen as a key opportunity with forward bookings for all brands surging.

Norwegian has just debuted its new Norwegian Joy, with Odell and Sommer (pictured) helping host about 800 key industry partners from across the region at a Singapore event last weekend.