Norwegian Cruise Line is ringing in the New Year three weeks early with a bevy of promotions marking 2010 as “The Year of the Freestyle Vacation.” All new reservations from today through March 14, 2010 on any of the line’s 10 Freestyle Cruising ships will receive up to a six-category upgrade and on-board savings certificates of up to $400. In addition, bi-weekly promotions will feature special offers on select ships and destinations. The first offer from January 4-17, 2010 includes reduced deposits and kids from $249 for bookings on Norwegian Epic’s seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

“It has been ten years since Norwegian first introduced its innovative Freestyle Cruising, so it is fitting that we celebrate 2010 as ‘The Year of the Freestyle Vacation’ as we move to introduce the next phase of Freestyle Cruising with the launch of Norwegian Epic in the summer of 2010,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “We encourage travel partners to take advantage of these value-oriented offers to help spur consumers into booking their Freestyle vacation.”

Travel partners can find more information and numerous marketing tools, including customized flyers, banners and emails, to help promote ‘The Year of the Freestyle Vacation’ at a customized microsite, www.nclagentsalesevent.com. All travel partners with qualifying bookings made during the promotion will be entered to win one of five cruises. In addition, travel partners registered as NCL U students will receive emails, bulletins and widget updates on the promotion and be given the opportunity to earn points toward Freestyle Certification by completing an exclusive new course devoted to ‘The Year of the Freestyle Vacation’ promotion.