Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art flagship terminal at PortMiami, Florida – dubbed the “Pearl of Miami” – has received an honorary recognition as the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold New Construction v4.0 cruise ship terminal in the United States, and the world.

The who’s who of the cruise industry came together to form a united front in Miami this week for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s Return to Sail Summit.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President and CEO, Frank Del Rio, has told luxury travel advisors that the full impact of the coronavirus situation has yet to peak.

“Strategic organisational enhancements” for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd’s Asia Pacific division have been announced, with Ben Angell elevated to the position of Vice President and Managing Director NCL APAC for the company’s contemporary brand, Norwegian Cruise Line.

Australian travellers can’t get enough of Oceania Cruises, with the local market soaring to now sit as the cruise line’s second largest source. And it’s the cuisine served onboard that is a luring a large slice of new and returning guests, according to Oceania Cruises’ Vice President of Sales Australia & New Zealand, Steve McLaughlin.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings may have been a “latecomer” when it came to establishing a significant presence in the Australian market, finding it a challenge to secure prime slots at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal. But the company isn’t deterred, committing ships to the local market for the next two years and is  increasingly optimistic about securing a large chunk of the Australian cruise market that heads overseas.

The ultra-luxury ocean cruise segment is growing exponentially each year, with vessels already in the top-of-the-line flotilla being out-done by newer technology advances, extravagant suites, fancier restaurants and onboard and off-ship experiences from which consumers can choose. The advancements can make pairing the right cruise product for the right client a challenge for agents, especially since the word “luxury” has been so heavily “bastardised”, says Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ (NCLH) Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Steve Odell.