Norwegian Cruise Line benefits from ‘chip on shoulder’, argues president
David Herrera says customers are well served by ‘hard-working’ operator
MikeTyes
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) president David Herrera has claimed the brand has been able to serve customers better in recent years because it has a “chip on its shoulder” from being smaller than major rivals.
During a panel session in Venice attended by travel agents and journalists on Wednesday, September 18, Herrera said the recent growth of the NCL fleet had led to passengers being offered more options.
He argued the line had become stronger in its traditional “footholds”, including Alaska, Europe and Bermuda, but it had also introduced opportunities in other areas.
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He said: “Having this additional capacity allows us to do what we said we needed to do – we’re able to go into [previously] unserved or underserved markets. We’re able to provide our guests with what they want.”
He added: “We’re the smallest of the three major publicly-listed cruise lines and I love that. I love having that chip on our shoulder and I love having to work a little bit harder.
“A few years ago, when we only had 15 or 16 ships, there were a lot of unserved and underserved markets.”
In terms of passenger numbers, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, NCL’s parent company, occupies third place behind leader Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group.
