Actors’ Equity Association announced it had reached an agreement with NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) to cover members on line’s new ship, Norwegian Bliss.
Between May 3-5 while in New York, Norwegian Bliss was under Equity Agreement, which marked the first time that full Equity cast has been used onboard a cruise ship.
The agreement added US$575 per day for actors as well as US$750 per day for stage managers to cast’s NCL salaries. Members earned 1-week credit towards their pension benefits and health care.
Norwegian Bliss has 2 venues, a cabaret space and 950-seat Bliss Theatre. In the theatre, there were 4 presentations of Havana! and 2 presentations of Jersey Boys on Saturday, May 12. Happy Hour-Prohibition was presented as late-night event on Saturday in the cabaret.
The new agreement with Norwegian marks the latest in a series of new, better-paying work opportunities organized by Actors’ Equity Association as part of Equity 2020.