Norwegian Prima Debuts Interactive Show-Stopping Entertainment and Onboard Experiences

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in global cruise travel with a 54-year history of breaking boundaries, has raised the curtains to unveil its upcoming multifaceted entertainment and onboard experiences available on Norwegian Prima, the Brand’s most in-demand ship ever.

The vessel, the first of six ships within NCL’s all-new Prima Class, which debuted with record-breaking sales and applause when it was announced in May earlier this year, reveals Tony Award®-nominated musical “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” as its interactive headlining act. Norwegian Prima will also showcase numerous cruise industry firsts and new-to-brand elevated onboard experiences when the ship sets sail in summer of 2022, including the world’s first venue that transforms from a three-story theatre into a Vegas-style nightclub, freefall drop dry slides and the largest racetrack at sea.

“We’re not just elevating the guest experience, we’re giving it an adrenaline rush and multisensory overload,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “When we launched Norwegian Prima, we aimed at going beyond expectations, providing our guests with more wide-open spaces, elevated service, thoughtful design and a variety of unforgettable experiences, and this latest unveiling of our entertainment and onboard activities lineup is going to have the wow-factor they’ve yearned for in a much-anticipated cruise vacation.”



Thrilling Experiences

For the most extreme adrenaline rush at sea, Norwegian Prima will debut The Drop, the world’s first freefall dry slide where users will experience a 10-story plunge reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line; more Gs than an accelerating F1 racecar, leaving racer’s hearts with the thrill of a lifetime. The edge-of-your-seat experience takes a competitive turn with The Rush, featuring duelling dry slides where guests can race each other for the ultimate in bragging rights.

As the only Cruise Line to offer go-karts at sea, NCL will up the ante on Norwegian Prima, offering the largest and first ever three-level racetrack with the Prima Speedway. Featuring a longer straightaway with a racetrack of more than a quarter mile in length (420 metres) and 22 percent larger than the current racetrack on Norwegian Encore, the speedway will now go around and through the funnel of the ship and boasts 14 nail-biting turns where 15 drivers can simultaneously race on the open ocean, reaching speeds of more than 50 kph. After racers have completed their ultimate thrill ride, they can unwind at the new Prima Speedway Bar located beneath the racetrack.

The Brand’s popular indoor virtual gaming complex, The Galaxy Pavilion, levels up to offer guests 14 attractions to choose from, including four new hyper-immersive simulator experiences only available on Norwegian Prima, two different escape rooms, and a Topgolf Swing Suite, showcasing the only Topgolf Swing Suite available at sea. The Topgolf Swing Suite delivers an immersive gaming and social experience, featuring a variety of Topgolf games, world renowned virtual golf courses, and multi-player games. The Topgolf Swing Suite is powered by Full Swing golf simulator technology, the same simulator used by PGA Tour pros such as Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm.



Immersive Star Power Entertainment

From the powerhouse production team that brought “Jersey Boys” with current residence on Norwegian Bliss, comes “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” This is the story of Donna Summer’s meteoric rise from young starlet to the Queen of the Disco featuring a score of more than 20 of Summer’s mega disco hits including “Bad Girl,” “Last Dance,” and “Hot Stuff.” The 75-minute immersive production will be a first at sea where the theatre itself transforms into a full disco and guests can become a part of the show and dance to Summer’s all-time disco medleys.

Taking guests from the disco glam of “Summer” to the neon lights of “Light Balance Universe” featuring Light Balance, the golden buzzer winner from “America’s Got Talent,” the one-of-a-kind dance crew brings their jaw-dropping visual effects and style to Norwegian Prima. Guests will experience high-energy choreography and acrobatics while partaking in a multisensory light spectacular.



Prima Theater and Nightclub: A Multi-Purpose Masterpiece

All of Norwegian Prima’s headlining acts will take centre stage in this groundbreaking transformational theatre. The three-story venue, designed to seamlessly convert the space from a state-of-the art performance stage to expansive dance floor, will feature a customisable seating layout and awe-inspiring moving LED screen that lowers from the ceiling and is nearly half the size of the venue. The extravagant high-energy nightclub’s SENSORIA theme provides clubgoers an out-of-body experience where they can dance late into the night and enjoy a kaleidoscope of high-energy music and innovative special effects.



Elevated Activities for Every Guest

Norwegian Prima will debut The Bull’s Eye, an elevated twist on the classic game of darts featuring a sophisticated video tracking system that automatically calculates each guest’s score and even offers instant game replays to ensure fun, competitive play.

NCL will introduce Tee Time, a supercharged version of minigolf, where guests can enjoy nine interactive holes set among a Vegas-style backdrop and even have a chance to win worth-your-while prizes.

Making its splashing first appearance on Norwegian Prima as part of the ship’s Aqua Park and Main Pool area, will be the Brand’s first Tidal Wave waterslide featuring gushing surf where guests can ride an innertube to catch the perfect wave. Guests looking to relax can do so in either one of two infinity hot tubs or under the area’s cascading water feature.

Vibe Beach Club, NCL’s adult-only area returns on Norwegian Prima providing enhanced experiences including a dedicated bar and two infinity hot tubs where guests can enjoy the ocean’s horizon at leisure.

Syd Norman’s Pour House, the onboard guest-favourite classic rock club makes its Rockstar comeback on Norwegian Prima after the concept initially debuted on Norwegian Breakaway in 2018. The venue features a stellar house band playing the greatest rock songs of all time from Aerosmith to Led Zeppelin.

There will be laughs on the high seas with The Improv at Sea comedy club showcasing standup performances against an intellectual tongue-and-cheek “Science of Comedy” theme.

With voyages beginning in the summer of 2022, Norwegian Prima will be 965 feet long, more than 142,000 gross tons and able to accommodate 3,215 guests at double occupancy.

CITEM kicks off first digital food expo

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

A year before the pandemic hit in 2019, the Philippine agri-food sector turned in a strong showing, accounting for an estimated P6.1T to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The same year also saw the sector employ 42.7% of the national workforce.

In the new normal that changed our lives and livelihoods forever, The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)  tries to recapture the same momentum for one of our country's most lucrative export sectors.

This is made possible through the first-ever digital iteration of its banner sourcing event for Philippine food, the IFEX Digital Expo 2021, from September 23-25.

“One of the many things that the pandemic brought forth is the need to connect—now more than ever. COVID changed the way we at CITEM worked, especially with heightened activity online. With borderless communication at our disposal, we present through this expo how we can conduct the business of food in the new normal,” CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan shares.

Leveraging its access to advanced digital tools, CITEM stages the IFEX Digital Expo 2021 to provide an avenue for Philippine food brands and businesses to showcase homegrown food products and ingredients to a wider audience.

Themed “Salu-salo,” IFEX Digital Expo brings together business owners, restaurateurs, hoteliers, farmers, food manufacturers and distributors, retailers, culinary professionals and foodies. The event serves as a medium for strengthening the food community through storytelling, knowledge sharing, and creating dialogue. This year’s show features over 200 exhibitors from all over the country. There are also invited industry experts from global organizations and local government agencies who will share their knowledge and insights on trends, opportunities, and techniques related to food. Networking and business-to-business matching sessions will also be part of the online event’s features.

 

A Three-Day Digital Celebration of Philippine Food

One of the highlights of the IFEX Digital Expo is the launch of two online platforms foodphilippines.com and www.ifexconnect.com, developed by CITEM. FOODPhilippines.com will be the website of the banner brand for all of CITEM’s events and initiatives for the Philippine food sector. Meanwhile, IFEXConnect.com will serve as the agency’s new promotion and lead generation platform for the country’s food export industry.

Expo delegates can look forward to a wide array of Philippine food product categories, including fine food and specialties, biscuits and confectionery, organic and natural food items and ingredients, and snacks and crispy savory food products.

In addition to the informative discussions, the expo is set to excite the palate through happy hour sessions such as coffee brewing. Take in the rich aromas and flavors of Philippine coffee on Day 1. Savor mouthwatering dishes as Chef Angelo Guison explores the flavorful gifts of coconut, from tree to plate, in Coco Pop on Day 2. Distinguish craft from draft with the Craft Beer Association of the Philippines and Philippine craft kings beer connoisseur Jazel Paraiso, as you sample a beer set and learn about beer-food pairing on Day 3.

 

Source From a Wide Array of Products at the Expo Section

The IFEX Digital Expo 2021 brings you an all-new digital sourcing experience through its Expo section on Hopin. Browse through a catalog of flavors harnessed from the Philippines’ distinct terroir and by Philippine food companies from all over the archipelago. In the three-day expo, you can also initiate business with food brands, export enablers, and business support organizations.

The IFEX Digital Expo 2021 is organized with the help of RAPID Growth, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Export Marketing Bureau-Halal (EMB-Halal), Philippine Coconut Authority, and DTI Regional Offices.

To join IFEX Digital Expo, register for free at https://bit.ly/IFEXDigitalExpo. 

Eco-friendly Millennial Resorts Pave the Way to Sustainability in Batangas

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Inspired by Batangas’ coastal surroundings, the eco-friendly beach properties of Millennial Resorts feature designs focused on sustainability and provide guests with unconventional experiences and warmth of heartfelt Filipino hospitality.

For its resource efficiency design, this hospitality group which is a sister company of Landco Pacific Corp., is registered for the prestigious EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification.

“Ingrained in Landco’s DNA is our commitment to long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability in premium property developments for more than 30 years across the country. We do it, first and foremost, because it is the right thing to do. This is evident in our latest Leisure Tourism Estates in Batangas – 15-hectare CaSoBē and 24-hectare Club Laiya, both of which are LEED Registered, and the management of Millennial Resorts which provide the leisure and hotel operations in these properties,” stated Erickson Y. Manzano, President and CEO, Landco.

“The EDGE registration of Millennial Resorts along with our measures to reduce our ecological footprint demonstrate Landco’s leadership and advocacy in green hospitality. Our goal is to ensure the stewardship and sustainability of Batangas as one of the country’s prime tourist destinations,” emphasized Patrick C. Gregorio, Senior Consultant for Hospitality, Landco.

Millennial Resorts owns and operates experiential resort accommodations, Crusoe Cabins and Cocoons, which are situated in the master-planned Landco Beachtowns CaSoBē (Calatagan South Beach) and Club Laiya, Laiya, San Juan Batangas, both approximately a two-three-hour drive from Metro Manila.

CaSoBē offers a relaxed and intimate beachside destination, while Club Laiya is a vibrant hotspot for those who like to have an active beachside lifestyle; and socialize with friends and groups who share their interests.

Both properties highlight resource-efficient designs which include LED lighting fixtures and water-efficient showers and faucets. The rooms are airconditioned, have access to a strong WI-FI connection and provisions for modern comforts. Natural sunlight and air flow are also maximized for efficient use of lighting and air conditioning.

Situated in CaSoBē and Millennial Resorts’ flagship brand, Crusoe Cabins are contemporary rooms constructed from upcycled container vans and refreshed with rustic and beachy exteriors that blend in with the relaxing coastline of Calatagan.

Cocoons, located at CaSoBē and Club Laiya are refurbished giant concrete pipes built as pod-like rooms for an intimate and cozy overnight stay. It is iconic for its vibrantly painted murals on its exterior celebrating the diverse marine life of Calatagan and Laiya.

Millennial Resorts guests are also provided with the option to go paperless. Check-in and check-out, requests for housekeeping services and room service maybe be done through the hotel’s proprietary Milli App. With Millennial Resorts’ resource efficient design, water reduction measures are also undertaken at Aquaria, a water park with a giant three-story pool slide at CaSoBē and Laiya Beach Club near Club Laiya.

Exciting new facilities will soon open such as Captain Barbozza restaurant and bar, Canopy and The Isle -- venues for events, and Colony, a beachside co-working space.

As part of a broader community, adventure seekers and visitors at Cocoons and Crusoe Cabins can take part in the resorts’ initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint by utilizing the development’s pedestrian friendly tree-lined walkways and scenic bike lanes around the beachside properties.

Millennial Resorts is continuing its efforts for greater resource efficiency design in its operations to eventually qualify for EDGE certification.

EDGE is an innovation of International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. EDGE is an international green building registration and certification in about 160 countries and encourages solutions to reduce energy, water and the energy used to make building materials.

Landco Pacific Corp. is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. For more information about Landco and its Millennial Resorts and Leisure Tourism Estates Club Laiya and CaSoBē, visit https://www.landco.ph/ or FB page: https://www.facebook.com/LandcoPacificCorporation.