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NCL surprises Gold Star military families with a free cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line, in partnership with Coca-Cola, honored more than 40 Gold Star families as part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

May 29, 2023

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Gold Star is a designation given to the family of an active service member who died in the line of service.

Taking place over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Coca-Cola 600 honored military and their families with activities, including a special brunch for Gold Star families. NCL President David Herrera, who served in the US Army National Guard, presented each family with a free seven-day cruise.

NCL's Military Appreciation Program

'It is a pleasure to demonstrate this support with our Military Appreciation Program and offer [military families] an opportunity to reconnect on board our ships and create memories that will last a lifetime,' Herrera said. 'This program was designed for veterans by NCL veterans. These Gold Star families have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and it is our privilege to recognize and provide them some respite aboard our ships.'

In November, NCL announced launched its Military Appreciation Program to recognize service members, veterans and retired US military and their spouses with special onboard experiences, amenities and cruise fare discounts. The program was co-sponsored by Herrera alongside former US Navy SEAL Matthew Lewis, SVP and chief security officer for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

See profile of David Herrera, including his service as a paratrooper, in Seatrade Cruise Review's June issue

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Norwegian Cruise Line

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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