Marriott to provide rooms for cruise line

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Marriott Hawaii said it has a five-year agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line to provide hotel rooms for cruise vacation packages in preparation for the expansion of cruises between the islands.

Marriott would not disclose terms of the deal, but said the alliance starting next year will provide rooms at the Waikiki Beach Marriott and the Renaissance Ilikai for Norwegian customers before and after their cruises.

Stan Brown, Marriott's vice president for Pacific-island operations, said Norwegian cruise passengers could be occupying as many as 150 to 500 hotel rooms a night of Marriott's more than 2,000 rooms in Waikiki. In the long term, Norwegian customers could make up 15 percent to 25 percent of Marriott's hotel business, Brown said.

Norwegian offers vacation packages with a number of hotel choices. It is also in negotiations on new contracts with other companies, including Hilton in Hawai'i, according to a Hilton spokesman.