We are "Norwegian"

Paul Motter · #1 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 02:24 PM

I was informed by a fellow reporter that NCL is now trying image their brand around the word "Norwegian."

This means they don't really want to be known as NCL anymore, they want to be called just "Norwegian."

This is OK - I understand branding, etc. But is there anything really "Norwegian" at all about NCL anymore?

I mean Royal Viking Line had almost all Norwegian officers onboard, but NCL has the same national crew and staff mix as any cruise line...

Just saying... but notice how the Logo now looks like...

NORWEGIAN
CRUISE LINE

Mike M · #2 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 02:49 PM

I haven't seen anything truly "Norwegian" on NCL for years. Many years ago many of their Captains were Norwegian and they had the waiter who had to run around with the Viking horns on.

Now, as you stated, they have the same crew mix as any other line and nothing that sets them off as Norwegian.

Maybe they'll put lutefisk on the menu.

The branding of "Freestyle" was a much better idea than branding themselves as "Norwegian". Freestyle told you what they are. Norwegian tells you what they aren't.

Take care,
Mike

Trip · #3 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 02:55 PM

Back in the day, when any of my friends sailed the the Norway,they said they were sailing on the Norwegian Line.

Lakers Fan · #4 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 02:59 PM

Just a thought :

Friends and relatives of ours who have cruised on NCL in the past few years have had more negatives than positives in describing the cruises they were on . Perhaps by referring to themselves as Norwegian it may give a different connotation .

Snoozeman · #5 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:09 PM

I recall the Norwegian Captains, but really haven't sailed Norwegian since they left Texas. I think Norwegian is a better brand name than NCL. I have no idea what Hurtigruten Cruises was thinking.

FYI--I live in the Norse Historic District. A very large rural area originally settled by Norwegians. So everyone here is Lutheran and has Scandinavian names. Pretty cool.

Trip · #6 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:13 PM

All together now..follow the bouncing ball!

Everything Old Is New Again!

Mike M · #7 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snoozeman

FYI--I live in the Norse Historic District. A very large rural area originally settled by Norwegians. So everyone here is Lutheran and has Scandinavian names. Pretty cool.

Snooze:

You have a little bit of Minnesota in Texas.

I thought after I made my previous post that NCL branding themselves as "Norwegian" would be a big draw for the Minnesota farmers from where I grew up. I bet the next Land O' Lakes or Gold 'n Plump convention would be on Norwegian.

Take care,
Mike

Trip · #8 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:34 PM

Ok,I'll bite..what's Gold 'n Plump? Chickens?

Mike M · #9 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:44 PM

Yep: Gold 'n Plump is the largest chicken producer in Minnesota. It only has about a 3% of the national market but it has a niche for organic and "family farm" produced poultry.

Take care,
Mike

Paul Motter · #10 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:48 PM

Gotta be chickens.... that's what I'm guessin'

I just also agree that "Free-style" is the best branding they could go for...

I think that by calling it "Norwegian" they are just setting people up to walk away saying "so, where were all the Norwegians we heard about."

Now Royal Viking Line - also started by Kloster (same as NCL) - had Norwegians, including all the room stewardesses. My oh my they were lovely.

Inge, Ilse, Britke,

Anyway - NCL today is combination of 1/2 malaysian and American. Royal Caribbean has about as many or more Norwegians within the majority stock holders as NCL does. Richard Fain ( CEO of "Royal" Caribbean) is Norwegian.

And by the way - the Malaysian company that owns Star Cruises (Genting) just bought huge blocks of downtown Miami, including the old Miami Herald Building. They plan to build a ginormous HOTEL complex and they will try to get the city to pass gambling and make it a casino.

Trip · #11 (**permalink**) June 21st, 2011, 03:52 PM

Think of all the things they will have to get printed, to reflect their new Branding..I wish my hubby, the printer could do the job!

nlb1050 · #12 (**permalink**) June 24th, 2011, 04:54 PM

My grandson leaves tomorrow to work on the Pride of American and whenever anyone has asked him what cruise line he has only said Norwegian. That was how the ad he saw for the job was titles and what his recruiter has always said. And it was last Sept that he answered the ad so they have been using it internally for a bit now.

Cruisebunny7 · #13 (**permalink**) August 8th, 2011, 01:20 PM

I have been calling it Norwegian for years already out of ease/laziness (ok mostly laziness lol). The company has been changing it's image for well over a decade now, we all knew a name change or at least alteration was inevitable. I guess I look at it like this, there are no street parades or cotton candy on Carnival, and no royalty on RCCL. Whatever they are technically called now I still can't wait to sail on them in November!!

Paul Motter · #14 (**permalink**) August 8th, 2011, 01:57 PM

Well... I did find that the head of the ship's navigtional departments on the board of directors is Karl Petersen - a very Norwegian name, and a former NCL ship's captain.

I know when I worked on the Norway ( in 1993) there were many Norwegians in the engine department

Snoozeman · #15 (**permalink**) August 8th, 2011, 02:38 PM

Paul

Whatever happened to the Norwegian Captain that had 3-4 wives in several ports? He got caught as he finally married an American. It was quite a deal there for a while, then he disappeared. I think his name was Holdervague or something similar-very Norwegian.

Paul Motter · #16 (**permalink**) August 8th, 2011, 03:54 PM

I don't know - but it sounds like a great story. I think I met him on Royal Viking Line - wasn't it Hoorvaag?

Snoozeman · #17 (**permalink**) August 8th, 2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Motter

I don't know - but it sounds like a great story. I think I met him on Royal Viking Line - wasn't it Hoorvaag?

Yes that's the guy!

It even made the network news when it was found out!

nmnita · #18 (**permalink**) August 11th, 2011, 03:23 PM

I totally agree with you. If they are going to adopt the name "Norwegian" they certainly better name all the new ships Norwegian names.

Nita

MyJuliet · #19 (**permalink**) August 17th, 2011, 10:58 PM

I think, I did my previous post, NCL brand itself as "Norway" will be Minnesota's farmers, from where I grew up in a lucky draw. I bet the next Land O 'Lakes or Gold' N full convention will be in Norway.

RaceAddict · #20 (**permalink**) October 10th, 2011, 07:47 PM

The new Cruise Like a Norwegian slogan fits with the new logo and name preference announced a couple of months ago. It seems to make more sense now after today's "surprise".

2katz3fsh · #21 (**permalink**) October 15th, 2011, 01:00 PM

I thought they were making up a new slogan (remember when RCL had "Get Out There" which went to "The Nation of Why Not" etc...), mimicing the song "WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN."

Back in the old(er) days, there were references to Norwegian things/people on board several old ships. (First NCL was on board Nordic Prince, then Empress, both a few times, then Leeward, then Norway). I recall on the Norway they had an ice cream "stand" called "Sven's" on the Promenade Deck. Anyone remember that, or am I showing my age?