Cruise Ship Profiles

Norwegian Cruise Fleet

NCL is known for its signature Freestyle Cruising. Challenging the conventional model of cruising, this onboard program is designed to meet the changing needs of today’s cruise passengers. It offers NCL passengers a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility and non-intrusive service of the highest standard. Hallmarks of the innovative onboard program include up to 10 restaurants, open seating and extended hours in the main restaurants, “resort-casual” attire each night, simplified tipping procedures, and a more leisurely disembarkation procedure.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 44-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Since 1999, Norwegian has launched 11 new ships – Norwegian Sky (reflagged into the U.S. registry and renamed Pride of Aloha in 2004, returned to the international fleet in July 2008), Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Spirit, Pride of America, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Jade (formerly Pride of Hawai`i), Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem. Norwegian’s 11 ships with more than 26,000 berths represent approximately 11 percent of the overall cruise capacity in North America in terms of berths. Norwegian launched Norwegian Epic, its newest and most innovative ship, June 2010. NCL's next phase of innovation will debut with the Breakaway class ships, Norwegian Breakaway (2013), and Norwegian Getwaway (2014).

NCL History

Source: NCL

Norwegian was first established in 1966 when one of Norway’s oldest and most respected shipping companies, Oslo-based Klosters Rederi A/S, acquired the M/S Sunward and repositioned the ship from Europe to the then obscure Port of Miami. With the formation of a company called Norwegian Caribbean Lines, the cruise industry was changed forever.
Norwegian launched an entirely new concept with regularly scheduled cruises to the Caribbean in a single-class atmosphere of informal luxury. No longer simply a means of transportation, the ship became a destination unto itself, offering guests an exciting, affordable alternative to land-based resorts.

The Sunward’s popularity prompted other lines to build new -more-vessels to accommodate the burgeoning market, turning Miami into the world’s number one embarkation port. Norwegian led the way with its introduction of a fleet of sleek, new “white ships”: M/S Starward (1968), M/S Skyward (1969), M/S Southward (1971), and M/S Sunward II (1971) replacing the original of the same name.

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In another bold decision, Norwegian in 1979 purchased the former S/S France and rebuilt the grand ocean liner in Bremerhaven, Germany, for Caribbean cruising. The 76,049-ton S/S Norway, then the largest and longest guest vessel afloat, assumed the honored position as flagship of the fleet. The S/S Norway was transferred to Norwegian’s parent company in April 2005.

In 2008, a 10-year berthing agreement was inked with the Port of Miami and Norwegian representing the first long-term agreement between the two since the company began operating from the Port as the first Caribbean cruise line 44 years ago.

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The late-1980’s brought new ships, new itineraries, and a new corporate name, as Norwegian Caribbean Lines became Norwegian Cruise Line in 1987 to reflect an expanded route structure. The following year, the 42,000-ton, 1,518-guest M/S Seaward was launched, the first of the new and larger vessels built to replace the now retired “white ships.”
Next was the 41,000-ton, 1,242-guest M/S Dreamward, which debuted in 1992 as the company’s first ship to depart from Ft. Lauderdale.

Norwegian further expanded the fleet in November 1997, with the purchase of the 1,050-guest M/S Royal Majesty (built in 1992) from Kvaerner ASA. The re-named Norwegian Majesty began sailing Boston to Bermuda itineraries that same year.

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In addition, Norwegian contracted with the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany, to stretch three of its vessels in 1998 and 1999. Sister ships M/S Dreamward and M/S Windward were lengthened by inserting a prefabricated midsection into each vessel.

The 50,760-ton, 1,748-guest ships were re-introduced to the marketplace in 1998, each with 40 percent increased capacity. In 1999, Norwegian lengthened Norwegian Majesty, increasing the ship’s capacity from 1,056 to 1,462 guests, and its tonnage from 32,400 to 40,876 GRT.

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In a move to strengthen Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand identity, most ship names were changed to reflect the “Norwegian” prefix. In October 1997, the Seaward became Norwegian Sea. The Windward resumed cruise service in March 1998 as the re-named Norwegian Wind, while the Dreamward became Norwegian Dream two months later. In September 2003, Norwegian transferred the Crown Odyssey from sister brand Orient Lines into the Norwegian fleet and renamed it Norwegian Crown.

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Along with the acquisition of Orient Lines, the stretching of Norwegian Dream, Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian also debuted a brand new 2,002-guest vessel, Norwegian Sky, in August 1999. Norwegian Sky was renovated in the spring of 2004 and was renamed Pride of Aloha and re-flagged as a U.S. cruise ship. She debuted as the first
ship in the NCL America fleet on July 4, 2004. In July 2008, Norwegian Sky returned to the Norwegian international fleet and is currently sailing three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami.

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In November 2001, Norwegian simultaneously christened both Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star in Miami. In December 2002, the company introduced Norwegian Dawn, the company’s third ship purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising. Star Cruises transferred its flagship SuperStar Leo to Norwegian in May 2004 and she was renamed Norwegian Spirit.

In May 2003, Norwegian announced a new U.S. flag brand - NCL America - under which its U.S. flagged, U.S. crewed ship operates. The brand was officially launched on July 4, 2004 with the christening of Pride of Aloha, the first modern ship to sail the stars and stripes in nearly 50 years. In 2005, Pride of America joined the NCL America fleet followed by Pride of Hawai`i in the spring of 2006.

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In April 2007, Norwegian announced the temporary withdrawal of Pride of Hawai’i from the Hawai’i market effective February 2008. The ship has been renamed Norwegian Jade and is deployed to Europe through spring 2012. In February 2008, Norwegian announced that Pride of Aloha would leave the Hawai’i market and return to Miami to sail as Norwegian Sky. The company sees a strong future for the long-term flagship in Hawai'i, Pride of America. In Pride of America, the company has created a commercially successful modern U.S. flag cruise ship home ported in Hawai'i - the first time that has ever been achieved.

Norwegian Jewel, the first in a series of Jewel class ships built by Meyer Werft, entered service in August 2005. Norwegian Pearl, complete with the industry’s first bowling alley, entered service in
November 2006. The 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem, the fourth and final ship in the Jewel-class, entered service on October 1, 2007.

Industry Firsts

• Freestyle Cruising: Norwegian created this innovative cruising experience that provides freedom and flexibility in a cruise vacation. It is designed to meet the changing needs of today’s cruise passengers offering guests a more relaxed, resort-style cruise with complete flexibility and service of the highest standard.
• Shore Options: The company’s “Dive-In” snorkeling program was the first of its kind in the industry. Norwegian was the first cruise line to provide an uninhabited “out island” experience at Great Stirrup Cay, its private island in the Bahamas.
• Comprehensive Pricing: Norwegian was the first cruise line to offer a nationwide air/sea program combining cruise, hotel and transfers from more than 150 U.S. and Canadian cities. The company’s Premium Air Service Desk handles special travel requests.
• Internet Cafes, Wi Fi Access and Cell Phone Service: An Internet Café – the first ever at sea – was introduced on Norwegian Sky in 2000. Internet Cafés are now available fleet wide. Norwegian became the first line to offer remote wireless Internet access (WiFi) at sea and cell phone service. Norwegian was also the first cruise line to launch a Web site -- www.ncl.com – in 1997.
• First Bowling Alley at Sea: In 2006, Norwegian introduced the first bowling alley at sea with the introduction of Norwegian Pearl.
• First Ice Bar at Sea: In June 2010, Norwegian launched its newest and most innovative ship Norwegian Epic, which features the first true ice bar at sea with a bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures all made from ice.
• First Accommodations for Solo Travelers: A first in design for the cruise industry, the Studio staterooms only on Norwegian Epic make cruising more attractive to solo travelers with unique and thoughtfully designed accommodations without the single supplement cruise price.

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