Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Its Tune on Entertainment 

by Briana Bonfiglio  February 05, 2025
norwegian aqua

Photo: Briana Bonfiglio / TMR

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)’s “More at Sea” program, among other things, is guiding NCL to offer more diverse entertainment that will almost certainly include future shows similar to “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince,” debuting on Norwegian Aqua in April. 

That was made clear during a Jan. 30 media Q&A, where the running joke was who could say “more” more. The panel featured NCL’S president David Herrera; vice president of entertainment production Bryan White; conceiver, director, and choreographer of “Revolution: A Celebration of Prince” and “Elements: The World Expanded” Patricia Wilcox; and senior vice president of hotel operations Mark Kansley.  

The October 2024 announcement of “More at Sea,” which includes updated Wi-Fi and food and beverage packages, was met with mixed reviews from cruisers and travel advisors. Now that it has officially launched, it remains to be seen how that’s playing out on board. 

But as far as entertainment goes, NCL is promising more variety, more spectacle, and more immersive experiences. It was hinted several times throughout the conversation that NCL will “continue to pay tribute and celebrate artists that we know our guests know and love,” according to White. 

Traditionally the cruise line has put on Broadway shows for its guests and still delivers performances such as “Beetlejuice the Musical” on Norwegian Viva and “Jersey Boys” on Norwegian Bliss. Given the recent additions of original shows – with shorter runtimes and less story line – TMR asked the panel of executives about the fate of Broadway musicals on its ships. 

“It’s not that we’re moving away or toward anything. We’re listening to our guests; we’re listening to our partners,” Herrera said. “We want to give our guests more experiences, more opportunities to enjoy what they told us they wanted.” 

White elaborated on NCL’s survey of guests’ entertainment preferences, saying they want “music that they recognize, from artists that they know and love; visual spectacle, so it doesn’t matter what language they speak or what age they are, there’s going to be something from the video to the costume to the lighting that they can see; and narratives that are easy to follow.” 

Steven Eidelberg, vice president of marketing and partnerships at Cruise Brothers a top-selling agency of NCL products, told TMR that NCL’s new approach to entertainment is “bound for success,” as it employs Broadway-quality talent for shorter, more engaging shows that allow them more time to go explore more on the ship. 

“There are some die-hards who love ‘Beetlejuice,’ ‘Donna Summer,’ etc., but for the most part our clients are happier with the shows that offer something ‘different’ when it comes to entertainment with specialists, like the aerialists in Elements,” he said. “I think it is like moving from having only the selection of Broadway to now having the more wider selection of Las Vegas.” 

When asked what travel advisors should know as the debut of Aqua nears, Herrera said: “Our goal is to be the easiest cruise line to do business with. We’re really good at some things, we’re going to get better at others. I look forward to deepening and broadening the relationship with all our travel partners.”

  
  
Related Articles
You’re Invited to Bring Clients to a Virgin Voyages Virtual Cruise Night 
CLIA Says Healthy Cruise Industry is Being Driven by First-Timers
Giving Joy: Norwegian Cruise Line Once Again Honours Educators
NCL célèbre la Semaine d’appréciation des enseignants avec le retour de sa campagne Giving Joy (Faire plaisir) au Canada
NCL Announces Revitalization Projects for Epic & Pride of America
Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Upgrades to Norwegian Epic and Pride of America
Despite Tumultuous Macroeconomic Landscape, Royal Caribbean Group Rides Wave of Success In Q1
Oceania Fleetwide Sale Offers Savings up to 30% on 2025/2026 Journeys
Atlantis Paradise Island Reveals New Attractions, Dining, and Entertainment
CruiseHub.ca Launches as Canadian-Focused Booking Site with “Real Advisor Support”

MOST VIEWED

  1. La Liste Reveals Top 10 Hotels in the World for 2025
  2. Delta Air Lines Clarifies Schedule Change Policy for Travel Agencies
  3. Certares Takes Full Ownership of Avoya Travel, Andersons Depart
  4. American Airlines Launches First Touchless ID Lanes
  5. Former Virgin Voyages Head of Sales John Diorio Lands New Role at Celestyal
  6. Delta Is Now Requiring Agencies to Acknowledge and Accept Schedule Changes in PNR


  1. 8 Things to Know About Azamara Cruises
  2. Nothing But Clear Skies for the Cruise Industry
  3. Xanterra Travel Collection Names New CIO & Corporate Director of Sales
  4. First Tropical Storm of Hurricane Season Could Hit Caribbean Next Week
  5. ACTA: Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Canada’s Travel Industry Will Be Worse Than Pandemic
  6. South Africa Responds to Updated U.S. State Department Travel Advisory
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Avalon Introduces Lineup of “After Dark” Activities
Avalon Introduces Lineup of “After Dark” Activities

From a new sunset Sky Deck dinner option to lively after-dinner entertainment, Avalon is extending the typical river cruise day.

First-Time ASTA River Cruise Expo Attendees on Why Travel Advisors Shouldn’t Miss Next Year’s Show
First-Time ASTA River Cruise Expo Attendees on Why Travel Advisors Shouldn’t Miss Next Year’s Show

First-time ASTA River Cruise Expo attendees talk about why you shouldn’t miss next year’s event — and how to make the most of it.

Catching Up with Uniworld’s Michelle Palma
Catching Up with Uniworld’s Michelle Palma

TMR sat down with Uniworld’s executive vice president of sales for North America at the 2025 ASTA River Cruise Expo.

How PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises Merge Excellence in Expedition and Exploration Travel
How PONANT and Paul Gauguin Cruises Merge Excellence in Expedition and Exploration Travel

Expedition travel isn’t a trend — it’s a mindset shift.

Princess Cancels All Galveston Departures from November 2026 On
Princess Cancels All Galveston Departures from November 2026 On

Princess said the move is part of its global deployment strategy.

What to Know about Avalon Waterways’ New Itinerary on the Garonne and Dordogne
What to Know about Avalon Waterways’ New Itinerary on the Garonne and Dordogne

TMR was among the first guests onboard Avalon’s all-new Bordeaux river cruise. Here’s what the experience is like.

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
industry spotlight
https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZAyJC8YgIYQ/0.jpg
Why Travel with HX: The Future of Expedition Cruising
Advertiser's Voice
The Collette Premium Experience
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences