NCL Visions Refer A Friend

Refer A Friend

About Us

Introduction Letter

Proposal by Vic Vreeland May 2020/Revised June 2024
Norwegian Cruise Line
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami FL 33126

RE: REFER A FRIEND PROPOSAL
Dear CEO and Corporate Staff:

My name is Victor Vreeland from Cedar Creek, Texas. My wife, Judi Vreeland, and I are Diamond Latitudes Members and NCLH Shareholders.

In the words of NCL CEO Frank Del Rio, we are “Super fans” of Norwegian Cruise Lines in that we advertise NCL with magnetic signs on our vehicle, business cards and websites. www.texaribbean.com and nclalaska.com. *

We believe it is past time for NCL to implement a “Refer a Friend” type of incentive system and hope you will consider our submission.

Regardless of your decision, we remain loyal NCL cruisers.

Sincerely,

Vic and Judi Vreeland
282 McDonald Ln West
Cedar Creek, Texas - 78612
info@nclvisions.com

NCL Jade Photo By Vic Vreeland

Why A "Refer A Friend" Program

1. A Norwegian Cruise Lines Ship (NCL) sailing with even one cabin empty is a loss. The COVID-19 Pandemic has created unique and challenging business conditions.

2. While NCL is offering a wide variety of incentive packages to all passengers; advertising effectively is quite costly.

3. It is important to keep past guests (Latitudes Members) enthusiastically encouraging family, friends and even complete strangers to sail with NCL.

4. A “Refer A Friend” program would incentivize Latitudes Members and the prospective new cruiser to book with NCL.

NCL Spirit photo by Vic Vreeland

Overview

Hundreds of large and small corporations offer incentives to their current customers to encourage family, friends and others to utilize services. These are just a few:

Capital One 360
Citi International Personal Bank
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
Discover Card
Dish Network
Equinox
24-hour Fitness
Golds Gym
HostGator Internet Service
Princess Cruise Lines
Airbnb
Uber
Lyft driver

Just the other day the local credit union is offering a $50 reward for members bringing in new members. The new member receives $50 also.

Some offer credit in the form of cash incentives. Others reward with merchandise, company points to be used for future purchases, and so on.
Most reward both the new customer and the current customer with incentives.

NCL Joy Photo by Vic Vreeland

Benefits

1. Upon completing an NCL cruise, the new cruiser is assigned a Latitudes Member Number. There are thousands of Latitudes Members worldwide. Each one of these members, in essence, is a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Given the opportunity to earn points and etc., he or she will become a non-employee sales person.

2. The cost of the program I suspect would probably be less than one television commercial.

3. The new cruiser will, (on top of other incentives currently offered by NCL) receive an additional (to be determined) reward for utilizing the NCL "Refer A Friend” program. The current Latitudes Member will also be rewarded for continuing his or her loyalty to NCL.

4. Here is the most important point. Increased bookings from satisfied current Latitudes Members encouraging others to cruise with NCL. This should yield far more profit than the cost of the program.

5. Plan would be simple and easy to understand and record. Travel Agencies report the “Refer A Friend” Latitudes Number when booking just like “Cruise Rewards Vouchers,” and the Latitudes member would be credited. The new cruiser would select the reward.

6. For the new cruiser and Latitudes Member to receive a reward, the new cruiser would have to actually book a cruise. The reward(s) could be adjusted to the length of the cruise. The number of referrals may or not be limited.

Photo NCL Prima By Vic Vreeland

NCL "Refer A Friend" Rewards

In addition to any other incentive offered by NCL, the “NCLFirst” program might add:

1. Specialty restaurant voucher
2. Credit for use at the gift shop
3. Stateroom upgrade
4. One Laundry bag to fill for a 7-day cruise

Latitudes Member Receives or selects one of the following *

1. One (or more) Latitude Point per booking.
2. Specialty restaurant voucher
3. Credit for use at the gift shop
4. Stateroom upgrade
5. One Laundry bag for a 7-day cruise

* The number of rewards would have to be limited but could be one of each.

Of course the reward does not have to be complicated. Reward for new cruiser might be just stateroom credit. For the person referring – stateroom credit or a point towards their Latitude tier status. Rewards can be simple or creative. The purpose is to incentivize loyal Latitudes Members to encourage others to cruise with NCL by offering special rewards in addition to those already advertised.

Thinking Outside the Box

The program could become competitive and exciting if the Latitudes Members efforts result in say 100 confirmed bookings: A 7 day Caribbean Cruise.

NCL Bliss Photo By Vic Vreeland

“NCL Refer A Friend”
Implementation and Operation
Computers Make It Happen

1. As with many other corporate refer a friend plans, the key is the assigning and submitting an identifier to credit the person referring the new cruiser. In this instance the Latitudes Number assigned by NCL to current members.

2. When a Latitudes Member refers a new cruiser, that cruiser tells the booking agent the referral number..

3. The current computer program used to store the number of cruises taken by the Latitudes Member for rewards, points and etc. would be modified to accommodate the additional information.

Examples of a Refer A Friend Program:

Princess Cruise Lines® Refer A Friend Program (from the website) https://share.princess.com/

“Past guests, refer a friend who has not sailed with Princess to earn $25!
How it Works
Simply be a past guest of Princess Cruises®.
Invite a friend who has never sailed or booked with Princess® before.
You both get a $25 reward for each successful referral.
The best part is you can accrue as many rewards as you have friends to refer!”

The Discover Card ® Refer a Friend Bonus ® at http://bit.ly/2wyD5CN
is offered as an example. (from the website)

“How to Earn Discover Refer-a-Friend Bonus:
1. Sign up for a new Discover It Card ®if you don’t have one already.
2. Log into your account and find your unique code for the Discover Refer-a-Friend® program.

3. Tell your friends and family members about the card and refer up to ten people.
4. Your referred friends/family must sign up for the card.
5. Once all of the requirements are met, you and your referee will earn a $50 Bonus.
6. You will have to wait up to 5 weeks for the Cashback Bonus to post to your account after each referral is approved.

Bottom Line:
If you are a Discover It cardholder, you can use your unique referral link to participate in the Discover Refer-a-Friend ®program and earn up to a $50 bonus per person! As long as the referred member signs up, you will both earn at least a $50 cash back bonus. Those of you who are within your first year of card membership will receive double cash back at the end of your 12th billing cycle!”

PHOTO NCL ENCORE

Conclusion

The success of “Refer a Friend” programs are self-evident by the sheer number of corporations offering incentives for new and current customers.
New programs are coming on line frequently.
Offering a choice of bonuses might generate more enthusiasm for both the new cruiser and the Latitudes Member. There are thousands of loyal Latitudes Members and millions of potential cruisers. Why not incentivize Latitudes Members to bring new NCL Cruisers into the fold?

Please feel free to contact me regarding this document

Respectively Submitted:

Victor R Vreeland Latitudes Diamond # 171298318
282 McDonald Ln W
Cedar Creek, Texas – 78612
512 303 1020 Home Cell 512 985 7433
info@nclalaska.com
vic@vicvreeland.com

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