Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced today that the company’s current fuel supplement will no longer apply to bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010.

For guests booked prior to November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010, the company has established the following guidelines for the refund of fuel supplements paid:

* The criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis. Should the closing price on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) of West Texas Intermediate fuel be below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter , the company will refund fuel supplements paid in the form of an on-board credit.

For guests booked on sailings that depart in 2009 (on or after January 1, 2009 and that depart on or before December 31, 2009), regardless of booking date, the company has established the following guidelines for the refund of fuel supplements paid:

* The criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis. Should the closing price on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) of West Texas Intermediate fuel be below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter (dates specified below), the company will refund fuel supplements paid in the form of an on-board credit.

Determination of what quarter a sailing is in will be based solely on the sailing date. The entire cruise will be considered to be part of the quarter that the sailing date originates in.

These new fuel supplement policies apply to guests booked through all NCL offices around the world.

The company is implementing these changes in response to the recent decrease in global fuel prices. NCL will continue to closely monitor global fuel prices to assess whether a reinstatement of the fuel supplement will be necessary.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is the innovator in cruise travel with a 42-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, NCL has the youngest fleet in the industry with 12 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.

NCL is presently building a new third generation Freestyle Cruising project known as F3, for delivery in 2010.

USA TODAY’s Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is onboard Norwegian Pearl this week and gives a first-hand account of all the Freestyle 2.0 enhancements and the positive impact it is having on our guests experience onboard.

ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN PEARL — Soon after Apollo Management took a controlling stake in Norwegian Cruise Line last year, executives at the famed private equity firm swooped in to examine every aspect of the mass-market line’s business.

Their conclusion: the road to greater profits lay in spending more — not less — on the customer experience. By December the line was unveiling Freestyle 2.0, an across-the-fleet upgrade of everything from bed linens to the steaks in the dining rooms.

Ten months later is the difference noticeable?

In a word, yes — and in a big way.

A year ago, when passengers stepped on board a Norwegian ship they were swarmed by waiters pushing high-priced umbrella drinks — the beginning of a hard sell that never let up. Today the arrival process is much more refined, with waiters handing passengers complimentary champagne even as stewards move in to help carry their bags.

In cabins, more comfortable beds boast crisp, white-on-white duvets, and the bathrooms have notably fancier Elemis soap and shampoo in dispensers. In the restaurants, meanwhile, the food is significantly improved (NCL has said it is spending $50 million more on food over two years).

After the press conference announcing the changes last December, Apollo Management executive Adam Aron told several cruise writers he was shocked to learn NCL wasn’t even using Grade A beef in some restaurants. Those days definitely are gone. The filet mignon in the Norwegian Pearl’s Cagney’s Steakhouse now is top notch.

Lots of other things, big and small, have changed to give the ship a more sophisticated feel. The endless shipwide announcements touting art sales and poolside events have been scaled back (though one could argue there still are too many). Some of the blaring music has been toned down. And at night, the casual Garden Cafe buffet is being transformed into a surprisingly elegant space with white tablecloths and candles on tables.

But the changes to the NCL product go beyond better amenities, policies and food. Perhaps the biggest difference is with the crew, who seem genuinely friendlier and more energetic than on Norwegian ships of old (even as they sport more casual, stylish outfits that change with each day’s theme).

At the time Norwegian announced the upgrades, Apollo’s Aron told USA TODAY the firm was confident the extra money the line planned to spend would pay off in higher ticket revenue. With this year’s economic downturn causing softness in cruise bookings, it’s unclear whether that is, indeed, the case. But, for now at least, the changes are resulting in a new and improved Norwegian Cruise Line.

Despite the economic gloom that is happening around our country, cruise lines have not given up on ensuring potential passengers that cruise vacations are the most valuable way to travel (and the least likely to empty your pockets). The biggest example to date of a cruise line offering amazing cruise fare rates is Norwegian Cruise Line.

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In a quarterly service award ceremony at the company’s Miami headquarters, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today recognized five team members with more than 30 years of service. Together, they have a combined 175 years of experience with the cruise line. Of those five, two were celebrated for 40 years of service to the company: Bjorn Svensen of marine operations and Tommy Powell of food and beverage operations. Rounding out the five top service award recipients were Knut Bakken of marine operations with 35 years; Alvin Dennis and Jane Lester, both of hotel purchasing, with 30 years of service each.

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Aker Yards France has released information about Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), confirming that there is an ongoing dispute about NCL’s current vessel known to the public as F3.

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been named a finalist in Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s 2008 World Savers Awards. The awards honor 38 travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education, wildlife conservation and health.

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Corporation announced today that Dennis Nau has joined the company in the role of Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations. Nau is an accomplished and highly seasoned hotel and resort executive, having worked with Marriott Hotels & Resorts since 1985.

During his tenure at Marriott, Nau held a number of very senior roles including General Manager, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa and Hotel Manager and General Manager of the New York Marriott Marquis and the New York Marriott Eastside. He has also held a number of senior regional positions overseas with operational responsibility for as many as 55 individual properties.

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced the formation of the Partnership 2.0 Advisory Board, a group comprising 16 select travel agents from across the country who represent a cross-section of NCL’s travel partners. Launched as part of its major travel partner initiative, Partnership 2.0, the board will meet periodically, providing feedback to NCL regarding new travel partner programs and advancements, along with suggestions for improving existing policies, communications and product delivery.

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Norwegian Sky returns to Miami and will begin sailing three and four-day Bahamas cruises next Monday, July 14, 2008. The ship recently underwent a two-month wet dock in Freeport, Bahamas and now features a casino and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle 2.0 enhancements*, the company’s fleet-wide initiative to further improve the guest experience across all guest touch points from food and beverage to staterooms.

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Curious about what a cruise is like on Norwegian Cruise Line? Well now you can experience a glimpse of it without setting foot off of your couch. Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship the Norwegian Gem will be starring as the setting of an episode of the hit TLC show “What Not to Wear.” During the filming that took place in April 2008, “What Not to Wear” style guru Stacy London surprised Trenton, New Jersey resident Robin Kearns during the seven-day Bahamas & Florida sailing and by the end of the cruise had transformed her into a glamorous woman. The one-hour cruise special airs on TLC Friday, July 11, 2008 at 9 p.m. EST and will be shown again on Saturday, July 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

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