"One other surprise? Veitch says Freestyle 2.0 -- a new concept that will premiere in advance of the line's F3 ships -- will be unveiled at a press conference tomorrow."

From what I gather it must be only getting worse. So shall we say different price catagories, the cheapest with only buffet food and the more you pay the better food you get?

quote:

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Originally posted by oslo dutch:
A new initiative nowdays is basically a cost cutting fluffed up initiativ.

From what I gather it must be only getting worse. So shall we say different price catagories, the cheapest with only buffet food and the more you pay the better food you get?

Grrrr hope this stays with NCL only...I am dreading the days when on most cruiselines only buffet food is included and the rest you have to pay for

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You mean something like Cunard, different categories get different restaurants, the more you pay the better it is, of course NCL style.
Remember that apart from Cunard NCL also uses some type of categorization with the villa suites in their Star class ships.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sread:
Lobster in main restaurants on all sea days, and in speciality restaurants on other days

What a refief! Imagine a day when you can't eat Lobster. (Will they catch it freash on sea days?)

All cabins to get tea and coffee makers.

A great idea, us Brits like a cuppa on tap.

Balcony and mini-suite pax get different coloured cards so wait staff recognise they're in nice cabins.

Preferential treatment!

New "edutainment" programme with courses like "how to be a sommelier".

I hope that this is a joke! What's wrong with glass blowing, anyway?

[ 12-19-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Joe1690:
[...]What is really interesting though is that a lot of these enhancements sound similar to Celebrity's enhancements a few years ago especially the champagne upon embarkation and the cold towels by the pool. [...]

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Obviously a new investment from Apollo does help to enhance the product.

quote:

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Originally posted by sread:
I have to say, every meal I've had here on Norwegian Gem so far has been top-notch, along with the service.
The new buffet layout is particularly good. No shuffling along in a line waiting for the person in front. Lots of separate stations instead. ...

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More information and photos about the Norwegian Gem in TravelPage.com's current
Cover Story. Many thanks to Pam.

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Significant Enhancements to Its Onboard Product as Part of Its Freestyle 2.0 Initiative

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the transaction between Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Apollo Management, LP (“Apollo”) nears completion and the infusion of $1 billion comes into the company, NCL announced today its Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide initiative featuring significant enhancements in its onboard product that will further improve the guest experience. The enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience across the ship; new wide ranging onboard activities for guests all of ages; additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and a re-launch of a tiered Latitudes past guest recognition program.

The initiative has been driven by quantitative and qualitative feedback from both guests and travel partners and has been enabled by Apollo’s billion dollar investment in NCL and Star Cruises continued commitment and vision.

“Our innovative Freestyle Cruising and exciting, dynamic fleet of new ships have combined to make NCL a truly unique and exciting cruise vacation,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s president and CEO. “We have achieved the milestone of offering the youngest fleet in the cruise industry, and will now focus our attention on delivering the next generation of freestyle cruising - Freestyle 2.0 – a significant enhancement to the guest experience fleet wide.”

NCL will immediately begin to roll out Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide. Highlights of the different onboard initiatives include:

-- Freestyle Dining:

-- An increased investment in food of $50 million before we deliver our first F3, equating to a 20 percent increased investment in food per passenger per day plus major fleet-wide capital investments;
-- Lobster Galore - Lobster in the main restaurant on multiple days and in one restaurant every night of the cruise;
-- A signature specialty dish in every restaurant (i.e. 48oz Porterhouse in the steak house, chocolate fondue tower in the action station restaurant)

-- An enhanced nighttime dining/ambience in the action station restaurant with table cloths, muted lighting and enhanced service;
-- One or two alternative restaurants open for lunch on sea days;
-- A new and expanded room service menu;
-- A "bubbly welcome" - a welcome aboard glass of bubbly for everyone;
-- A Taste of Freestyle on embarkation day - samplings from all of the specialty restaurants;
-- A major hardware investment to bring all buffets to Norwegian Gem/Norwegian Pearl "action station restaurant";
-- An investment in back of house to refine the reservations process and system.
-- Stateroom Experience:
-- An upgrade in bedding and sheets, pillows, duvets;
-- An upgrade in towels and bathrobes;
-- An upgrade in in-room amenities including coffee maker and expanded TV offerings;
-- Addition of sofa beds to suite categories.
-- Balcony and mini suites
-- A distinctive colored key card for ship wide recognition;
-- An "at your service" hotline;
-- A separate check-in for balcony and mini suite guests;
-- A personal escort to stateroom;
-- Priority disembarkation.
-- Suites and Villas:
-- All suites and villas to have concierge and butler service
-- Welcome champagne in suite/villa;
-- Upgraded canapes every day;
-- Private breakfast/lunch in Cagney's Restaurant
-- An exclusive concierge lounge;
-- Priority disembarkation;
-- Priority restaurant reservations;
-- Dedicated Butler presence in the Courtyard(a);

-- Private breakfast/lunch in the Courtyard(a).

-- Onboard activities:
-- An enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle program - NCL "U":
-- A range of new classes such as Improv, organic cooking, bartending, sommelier, etc.;
-- An enhanced Health and Wellness program;
-- An enhanced Pool Deck experience:
-- Entertainment taken upscale
-- Drink flags on all deck chairs
-- Pool of indulgence - Evian spritz, cold towels, etc.
-- Quiet zones and times
-- Past Guest Latitudes program:
-- A new program with various tiers rewarding both spend and frequency;
-- A new range of tangible, meaningful and deliverable benefits;
-- A staffed concierge lounge for Latitudes members.

Freestyle 2.0 enhancements will begin rolling out immediately and will be largely implemented by summer of 2008.

(a) Available to Villa and Owner’s Suite guests.

NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America and Orient Lines.

NCL plans to build two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Gem.

[ 12-19-2007: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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...A new range of tangible, meaningful and deliverable benefits...

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quote:

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Originally posted by sread:

And if passengers have paid top whack for a balcony or a mini-suite, why shouldn't they get a bit of forelock-tugging? (That's foreLOCK, Malcolm!)

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Oh yes Steve, If i'd paid top dollar, I'd expect someone to tug my forelocks, rather do it myself.

I wonder if they get bigger buffet portions by flashing their cards? I suppose it notifies the staff that they may potentially get a bigger tip.

quote:

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Originally posted by sread:
..well there are also the super-duper suites with their own private courtyard (which are nicer than the ones on Queen Victoria).

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Oh are they, that's a bit suprising.

[ 12-19-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

...A new range of tangible, meaningful and deliverable benefits...

Yes, personally I was quite fond of the old intangible, unmeaningful and undeliverable ones.

[ 12-19-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

But I believe what we are really seeing here is the influence of Apollo. I know it has been looking at ways to improve NCL and I guess this is the kind of thing it can change without raising objections from Star. If Apollo eventually buys all of NCL - and I believe it will - then I think we will see changes that will make this stuff look inconsequential.

sread - I'm glad you're enjoying GEM. As she will be based in New York I hope to be able to visit her in the not too distant future as she does look like an excellent ship. The last NCL ship I was on was DAWN a couple of years ago and I did find her to be quite impressive. And GEM and the other JEWEL-class ships are really improved versions of STAR/DAWN.