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Owned by Star Cruises of Malaysia since March 2000, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is notable for revolutionizing
the cruise experience by introducing Freestyle Cruising, which translates to dine-as-you-want choices by way of a variety
of restaurants a la casual or formal attire. NCL is also carving itself a niche in the "homeland cruising" specialty, featuring
a number of continental U.S. homeports - including New York City's only year-round service via its Norwegian Dawn.
Another
distinction is NCL's revolutionary-for-mass-market-cruising disembarkation policy, so relaxed that is more resort-like than
cruise-like. In addition, it is the only cruise line to offer year-round Hawaiian itineraries. And, finally, via its NCL America
program, the company becomes - starting in 2004 - the only cruise line in the industry to offer year-round inter-island Hawaii
cruises.
Starting with one ship in 1966, NCL was first established by Oslo-based Klosters Rederi A/S, one of Norway's
oldest and most respected shipping firms. Its first ship (M/S Sunward) repositioned from Europe to the then-obscure Port of
Miami for Caribbean cruising. Adding four more vessels by 1971 and the former S/S France (renamed the Norway) in 1979, NCL
was on its way to becoming an industry leader and one of the largest cruise companies in the world. NCL acquired the one-ship
Orient Lines in 1998; its Marco Polo offers destination-oriented cruising to exotic ports of call.
Currently, NCL is a 10-fleet cruise line with vessels that range from ultra-contemporary to genuinely classic. The ships,
cumulatively, sail to some 140 ports around the world. Basically, NCL ships can be divided into these categories:
*Classic:
NCL, at this point, anyway, still retains ownership of its vintage Norway though the ship, which experienced a tragic boiler
explosion in mid 2003 which has disabled it, is resting at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Germany, awaiting repair. No date has been
set for Norway's re-entry. Norway is the only ship in the fleet that does not offer "Freestyle Cruising."
*Older -
Expanded and/or Refurbished - Vessels. Numerous ships in NCL's fleet have been expanded via stretching of their mid-sections.
These include: Norwegian Dream (launched in 1992), Norwegian Majesty (1992), and Norwegian Wind (1998). Norwegian Crown (1998)
and Norwegian Sea (1988) haven't been stretched but have recently received extensive refurbishments.
*Freestyle-Designed
Ships. Norwegian Sky, built in 1999, was the first ship in the fleet to incorporate "Freestyle Cruising" -- though Norwegian
Sun, launched in 2001, was actually the first vessel to be designed with "Freestyle" in mind (the big difference is that the
latter has two more restaurants than the former). Following were relative sister ships Norwegian Star, which debuted 2001,
and Norwegian Dawn, which premiered in 2002. NCL has nabbed an additional "freestyle"-designed ship; parent company Star Cruises
is "loaning" the cruise line its SuperStar Leo. That vessel will replace Norwegian Sky in Alaska and remain in service until
the re-scheduled launch of Pride of America.
*NCL America. This spin-off subsidiary will offer, beginning July 2004,
inter-island Hawaii sailings on what will be the company's two American-flagged vessels, Pride of America and Pride of Aloha,
though plans have somewhat changed. As a result of severe flooding damage to Pride of America, the first new ocean-going passenger
ship to be built in 50 years (that will sail under the American flag), during a storm in January 2004 at its shipyard in Bremerhaven,
NCL has delayed its launch. Instead, Pride of Aloha (currently known as Norwegian Sky), originally slated to sail three- and
four-night itineraries, will be rushed into refurbishment and assume Pride of America's schedule of seven-night trips, beginning
July 4.
No new debut date has been announced for Pride of America.
In expansion news, NCL recently announced
it would be adding two more newbuilds to its fleet. The ships, slated for delivery in 2005 and 2006, will be built at Germany's
Meyer Werft shipyard and will be inspired, by and large, by the design of NCL's Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn.
Decor is mix of glitz and traditional. Service can be inconsistent. The dress code is flexible -- not quite country club
casual. It's not unusual to see T-shirt clad passengers dining among the tuxedoed.
All the ships have multiple restaurants,
bars and lounges. NCL is serious about entertainment and offers essentially full-scale Broadway musical productions, live
bands, lounge singers, piano bars and DJ's in discos. The casinos are a good size and offer the expected games. The requisite
libraries, game rooms, shuffleboard, Ping-Pong, art auctions, perfume seminars, gaming lessons and port talks are available
every day. Steiner-run Mandara Spas are currently on the Crown, Dawn, Star and Sun-offering luxe treatments at luxe prices.
The Norway has the Roman Spa. All have fitness centers.
Well-trained counselors staff the children's programs and
age-appropriate activities range from parties and video arcades to kid-friendly learning sessions. There are teen centers,
discos and kid's pools, too. There's a Kid's Crew Backpack that comes with a personalized souvenir cup, baseball cap, sunglasses,
luggage tags, T-shirt and unlimited fountain sodas for the entire cruise-priced from $28 to $39.50-depending on the length
of your cruise. Don't need all those bells and whistles? You can buy the Kid's Crew Refillable Soda Fountain Cup that comes
with unlimited fountain sodas, starting at $8 for 3-day cruises and all the way up to $32 for 14 days at sea. The Teen Passport
gets your kids 20 non-alcoholic smoothies or sodas, an afternoon dance that includes a DJ and pizza and an invite to a farewell
fete -- all for $34.50. Notes: The passport program isn't lose-friendly, as the passports are not replaceable. Group babysitting
is available on port days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and every evening from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Private babysitting is no longer
available. High chairs and cribs are available upon request. Adult soda programs are also available, but you have to ask for
it.
All the ships have multiple dining venues ranging from French bistros to honest-to-goodness steakhouses and sushi
bars. Room service is available 24/7. Specialty dining generally comes with $10 cover and/or a la carte menus ranging from
$8-$25. All specialty dining rooms require reservations. Dinner service is from 5:30-10:30 p.m.
NCL's signature Chocolate
Buffet is a magnificent sight to behold. Adult programs for unlimited sodas are available for $12.75 for 3-day cruises and
all the up to $39.50 for 14 days at sea.
Internet cafes are currently on all ships with the exception of the Norwegian
Sky and Norwegian Wind. 24/7 Internet services are offered at 75 cents per minute, but packages bring it in at 55 cents. If
you use your ship email address, it's an expensive $3.95 per transmission. Printing is 25 cents per page. Laptops are available
for rent. There's a myriad of Internet-related charges onboard, so it's important to read the information carefully before
logging on.
Smoking is allowed in the cabins and most public rooms, but not in the show lounges, restaurants and food
service areas.
The leader in round-trip seven-day cruising from US and Canadian ports, its popular Homeland Cruising program sails seasonally
from Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Orlando, San Juan, Seattle and Vancouver, and year round from
New York, Miami, Houston and Honolulu. The newly launched Norwegian Dawn offers 7-, 10- and 11-day cruises through Bermuda
and the Caribbean. The Norwegian Sea sails from New York to Bermuda on 7-day cruises and from Philadelphia to Bermuda, they
offer 6- and 7-day cruises. In November 2003, she will begin her 7-day Texaribbean sailings from her new homeport in Galveston,
sailing year-round.
The crowd is diverse -- mostly American ranging in age from 55-75 years of age (and quite a few older than that), and
a good many with special needs. NCL has cultivated a broad appeal -- which means its ships are family- and couples-oriented
as well. Geographically speaking, there are quite a few passengers from South Africa, England, and Canada (notably, all English-speaking
countries).
Copyright 2004, The Independent Traveler, Inc. All
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