Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Rolls Out Freestyle 2.0

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced yesterday that they are getting ready to roll out Freestyle 2.0 by the end of this month. Freestyle 2.0 is NCL’s fleet-wide initiate to further enhance and improve the guest experience. Some of the enhancements include a major overhaul of the total dining experience, upgrading the stateroom experience, new wide ranging on-board activities for guests of all ages and additional service and amenities for balcony suite and villa occupants.

The first guests to fully experience Freestyle 2.0 will be sailing on the Norwegian Jade’s 12-day Mediterranean cruise. Additional cruise ships will launch Freestyle 2.0 within the following weeks, with fleet-wide roll out fully implemented by June 1, 2008.

For a complete list of Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle 2.0 enhancements, see below:

Freestyle Dining Improvements:
- A “bubbly welcome” – a welcome aboard glass of champagne for everyone
- New dining menus with expanded choices in every restaurant
- Lobster Galore –Lobster in the main restaurant twice per cruise and in every specialty restaurant every night of the cruise. WOW!
- Steak & Eggs Breakfast feast in Teppanyaki restaurant with unlimited Bloody Mary’s and mimosas
- Signature specialty dish featured in every restaurant
- New and expanded room service menu

Stateroom Improvements:
- Elimis bathroom amenities
- Memory foam mattress toppers
- Upgraded linens and pillows
- Upgraded room service menu
- Expanded mini-bar options

Balcony, Suites & Villa Enhancements:
- Bathrobes included
- Customized Fruit Menu
- Fresh-baked cookie at turn down on last night of cruise
- Personal escort to stateroom on embarkation day
- Priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines

Suites & Villas Enhancements:
- Upgraded mattress, lines and feather pillows
- Upgraded sofa bed
- Plush bathrobes
- Customized Fruit & Canape menu
- Bottle of Moet Chandon White Star Champagne upon embarkation
- VIP Breakfast & Lunch in Cagneys
- Private Breakfast & Lunch with action station set-up in Courtyard for Villa Guests
- Dedicated Butler in Courtyard

Enhanced On-board Activities:
- Library transformed into coffee shop atmosphere with plasma televisions
- Enhanced nightlife with White Hot Party & Monte Carlo night
- Enhanced pool deck experience with relaxing ambient music, drink flags on every chair & quiet zones

Enhanced Teens Centers
- X-box Game Consoles
- Nintendo Wii
- Expanded table games such as football, billiards and hockey

All of us at Direct Line Cruises are very excited to see the improvements made by Freestyle 2.0. We have witnessed and experienced NCL’s dramatic improvements in the Freestyle cruising experience and we can’t wait to see what more is to come.

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Military Appreciation Program

The following is a press release issued directly from Norwegian Cruise Line on February 26, 2007:

Showing its support for U.S. service men and women and their families, NCL Corporation today announced a new military appreciation program that provides special reduced rates to members of the U.S. military on all NCL and NCL America sailings.

"We are pleased to offer a special rate to those who serve in our armed forces," said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services for NCL. "From rock climbing walls and bowling alleys, to connecting staterooms and youth and teen facilities and programs, NCL's signature Freestyle Cruising ships provide the ideal getaway for military families to relax and spend quality time together."

NCL's military appreciation program offers qualifying active military personnel, retired personnel and veterans a reduced rate, based on sailing date and itinerary, on one stateroom per sailing. Spouses of active military members serving duty overseas are also eligible. The military appreciation program rates apply to new reservations only.