Norwegian features dining package in new promotion

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line said it will offer free dining and beverage packages in a Wave season promotion for sailings of Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway in the second and third quarters.

Andy Stuart, the cruise line's vice president of sales, said the promotion, dubbed “The Ultimate Freesome,” has "never been done before at Norwegian."

The offer includes a free Ultimate Dining package for booking a balcony or mini-suite cabin on the two ships during the promotion period from Feb. 27 to March 10. Those who book a suite in the Haven will get a dining package and an Ultimate Beverage Package.

The dining package allows for complimentary dining at the extra-charge alternative restaurants on Breakaway and Getaway. The first two guests in the stateroom will get the packages in the promotion. In the suite promotion, all guests will get the beverage package, with a soda package for anyone under 21 years old.

Stuart said the point was partly to promote the sale of dining packages by travel agents.

“We really think this is a package more and more guests will enjoy,” he said.

The package, new this year, costs $119 per person for seven-day cruises.

Norwegian launched the promotion on a webinar with more than 4,000 participants, a record number Stuart said.

Attendees were eligible to win one of 50 free cabins on Getaway and Norwegian Epic, which were allotted at random to those still listening at the end.