NCL is Converting to Electronic Cruise Documents

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and NCL America on May 28 will convert to an electronic documentation process for all cruise bookings. For reservations that are paid in full and finalized, e-documents will be available up to 60 days prior to sailing.

In addition, guests will have 24/7 access to their cruise documents online. "Our mission for our guests is to provide a great vacation experience from beginning to end," said Andy Stuart, NCL's executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services.

"E-docs offer increased flexibility and choice for all of our guests further supporting the freedom and flexibility offered by our signature Freestyle Cruising, in addition to significantly enhancing reliability and earlier delivery of cruise documents.

"Travel agents or guests with fully paid reservations after May 28 will begin receiving email messages from NCL that notify them that electronic documents are ready and can be accessed via an imbedded link in the email. As an added convenience for travel agents, the subject line of the emails will contain the guest name, reservation number, and ship and sail date, allowing travel partners to easily organize incoming email messages.

In addition, travel documents can be accessed from any computer with Internet access by going to a designated section of NCL's website. Once the cruise documents are accessed, the travel partner or guest views HTML-based cruise documents that can be printed or forwarded on to clients or traveling companions. Guests can also complete their online advance guest registration form up to four days prior to sailing, giving them 10 days longer than the current system allows.

NCL's e-documents include a welcome-aboard letter, cruise ticket, passenger terms and conditions, airline e-ticket if air travel arrangements have been made through NCL's air/sea program, pre- or post-cruise hotel vouchers (if applicable), pre- or post-cruise transfer vouchers (if applicable) and electronic luggage tags that are printable online.

In advance of the e-documents, travel agents or guests with paid reservations will receive a new pre-documentation Freestyle Cruising Kit in the mail approximately 75 to 21 days prior to their scheduled sailing. This kit includes a personalized welcome letter, NCL's welcome-aboard booklet that answers questions they may have prior to their cruise, a shore excursion order form and booklet, personalized luggage tags and travel protection plan details, if applicable.

To prepare for the shift to e-documents, agents are strongly encouraged to visit www.ncl.com/agencyupdate between April 26 and May 28 to update their agency profile. "We've built this system to meet the needs of our travel partners," said Crane Gladding, NCL's vice president of passenger services. "We've made it as flexible as possible, so that travel partners can indicate their preferences for the delivery of the Freestyle Cruising Kit, as well as the e-documents." For more information, call 800-327-7030 or visit www.ncl.com.