AUSTRALIA is now the largest international market for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) outside of North America, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Senior Vice President Steve Odell told Travel Daily over the weekend onboard the inaugural US sailing for newly renovated Norwegian Joy.
Although official figures are yet to be released, Australians make up around 10-15% of NCL’s total passengers, making it the third largest market behind the US and Canada and surpassing the UK market for the first time in 2019.
“It’s a huge achievement for the local office who still consider themselves the new kids on the block in Australia, and the end isn’t in sight,” Odell said.
“We’re still realising big growth in Australia and still growing.”
NCL homeports Norwegian Jewel in local waters, but only about 10% of the company’s Australian business is on the ship.
Odell said cruises in Hawaii had contributed to the growth of the Australian market, but the company was also now working to drive more interest in cruising in Alaska and Europe.
“Hawaii is still such a huge part of what we do, but the longevity for us is going to come from these new ships [Joy and Bliss],” NCL Vice President Sales, Australia and New Zealand Nicole Costantin said.
“The potential of fly-cruise is limitless,” she said.
For more news from the inaugural US sailing, see page two, page three and page four.
Source: traveldaily