Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will deploy smaller ships to exotic locations and larger, amenity-rich vessels to “Fun and Sun” destinations, concentrating on the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Hawaii, which will comprise 54pc of their deployment by 2026, up from 42pc in 2023.
Enhanced amenities on Norwegian’s vessels are aimed at attracting millennial and Generation Z guests, encouraging repeat visits, which maximizes guest lifetime value and delivers high returns.
The company will focus on shorter and week-long Caribbean sailings, reducing the average cruise length from nine days in 2023 to eight days in 2026. Capacity days in “Fun and Sun” (Caribbean, Bermuda and Hawaii) locales are expected to grow from 8m in 2023 to 12m by 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line is investing in its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, with a new two-ship pier opening in 2025 and additional enhancements like a VIP area. The island is projected to host around 700,000 guests by 2026, up from 400,000 in 2023.
Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings told investors “we pair our ships with destinations, sending some of our smaller ships to exotic destinations and some of our larger amenity-filled ships to our fun and sun destinations. Fun and Sun” capacity will make up 54 percent of the deployment for the Norwegian Cruise Line brand in 2026, up from 42 percent this year. It gives our guests the opportunity, on the NCL brand, to return over and over and over again, maximising their lifetime value and driving high fields. With our increased Caribbean deployment has given us the ability to invest in our private island in Great Stirrup Cay.”
