Norwegian Cruise Line breaks Walk for Wellness record

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has wrapped up its Walk for Wellness challenge, congratulating a record number of travel partners for their enthusiastic participation and camaraderie throughout October.

Held during October to coincide with World Mental Health Day and Australian Mental Health Month, NCL’s third annual Walk for Wellness brought together travel partners from Australia and New Zealand to track 120,000km in collective steps, following a virtual journey of Norwegian Spirit from Hawai’i to Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand for her inaugural local season.

Almost 1,100 wellness walkers – including NCL’s CEO and president, Harry Sommer – had the opportunity to take part in a brand-new challenge, collecting rubbish in support of NCL’s new partner, Take 3 for the Sea and its ambitious goal to remove 50 million pieces of plastic pollution from Australian waterways by 2025.

Damian Borg, Michael Middleton and Ben Angell

“We’re so grateful to see our travel partners busier than ever and I’d like to personally thank the record number of agents who took the time to walk 120,000km with us this year,” said Damian Borg, director of sales, NCL AUNZ.

“This initiative has always been about celebrating our travel community together with prioritising our health and wellbeing, which is why we are so proud and humbled to have won the NTIA ‘Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign’ award for our Walk for Wellness program.”

Angela, Noriye and Celeste

With $16,000 worth of prizes on offer, this year’s initiative offered the largest prize pool yet, including the major prize, a cruise for two on Norwegian Spirit’s Christmas cruise from Sydney, as well as a weekend getaway for two, deluxe Bose noise-cancelling headphones, a robot vacuum, spa vouchers, experience gift cards, and more.

Participants were enthusiastic to say the least;

“Well done NCL on another year of walking. I’ll be honest, time was harder to come by this year so the extra motivational challenge dropped in the last week was certainly the extra incentive needed. Helps me get cruise ready,” – Samantha Baohm – FC Independent, QLD.

“Thank you NCL for another year of walking, love this Walk for Wellness! Such as great incentive love joining you on walking around the globe,” – Teresa Mason- Global Travel Network, WA

“Thank you NCL. A great way to motivate us to get up and move. See you next year,” – Leena Bhikharidas – Aspire Travel Brokers NZ

Hosted walk, North Bridge

Here’s a rundown of this year’s winners:

Grand prize winner: Kerry Balestrin, Your Cruise Holidays in Queensland, the lucky winner of an Oceanview Stateroom for two on board Norwegian Spirit’s inaugural Australian sailing departing Sydney on 22 December 2022.

Week one winners:

Amanda Dowell, MTA Travel Newcastle
Kym O’Shannassy, Concept Travel
Kelly Rogers, Flight Centre Queenstown

Week two winners:

Amanda Powell, Pursers Travel Group
Rachel Heelan, Ross and Turner Travel Associates
Raewyn Going, World Travellers Whangarei NZ

Week three winners:

Rhona Rodgers, MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Sharon Ward, Travel Managers
Christy Morony, Helloworld Sefton Park

Week four winners:

Stacey Mcvilly, Helloworld Salamanca
Paris Hedger, Phil Hoffmann Travel Modbury
Kelly Chapman, Travel Managers Ingleburn

Week four bonus winners:

Most Improved This Week: Ashleigh Powell, Our Vacation Centre
Highest Steps This Week: Samantha Baohm, Flight Centre Independent
Most Steps Walked:
– Alexander Truong, World Business Travel
– Clinton Griffiths, Globus
– Richard Culpan, Flight Centre Queenstown
-Jeremy Sims, Flight Centre Buderim
– Andrea Friend, Travel Managers- Cranbourne East
– Samantha Baohm, Flight Centre Independent

Featured image: Mount Manganui- Megan Porter, Jen Talbot and Shane Robertson

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Australian Mental Health Month Damian Borg harry sommer NCL norwegian cruise line Walk for Wellness challenge World Mental Health Day