While a number of cruise ships offer ice skating shows and even passenger-free skates — open periods where cruisers can borrow skates and hit the ice — hockey is generally not a sport you associate with cruising.
Yes, the Stanley Cup does currently live in southern Florida, but cruises make people think about water-based activities, maybe basketball, and more recently pickleball.
Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to change that as it has made a multiyear deal with the National Hockey League to become its official cruise-ship partner. This is the first time Norwegian has partnered with a professional sports league, and it's also the first time the NHL will have an official cruise line.
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While the deal won't bring a hockey game to sea, it will offer Norwegian a number of marketing opportunities.
"To connect fans with the thrill of achieving their travel goals, NCL will be presenting sponsor of the NHL’s weekly top goals content, which will culminate with the coveted goal of the year," the cruise line wrote.
"Fans can join in on the action by voting on this goal content on NHL platforms for a chance to win various prizes, including the grand prize, a complimentary NCL cruise vacation."
In addition, NHL fans will also have the opportunity to engage with the cruise line at events such as NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Stadium Series and NHL Winter Classic with on-site activations, in-arena and in-stadium signage, and more.
Image source: Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Norwegian teams up with the NHL
The partnership begins immediately, and Norwegian will receive national U.S. broadcast exposure on ESPN and TNT through digitally enhanced dasherboards. Those are ads on the sides of the ice that dynamically change during the broadcast.
"As part of the national U.S. DED broadcast exposure, NCL will be the presenting sponsor of the first goal of the game with DED creative shown on every NHL broadcast on ESPN and TNT," it said.
"Fans will also see the NCL brand displayed on camera visible virtual slot in-ice ads during NHL regular season games and Stanley Cup Playoffs games broadcast on ESPN and TNT in the United States."
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Oct. 8 marks the start of the NHL season.
“The passion and excitement we see from [NHL] fans is truly contagious, and we share that same electrifying passion for traveling the globe and delivering more to see, more to do and more to enjoy for our guests,” Norwegian Chief Marketing Officer Adam Malone said in a statement.
“Through this partnership, the NHL has provided a fantastic platform for us to connect with their fans."
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
