Cruise Talk: BIG BIG BIG NCL Changes

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Topic: BIG BIG BIG NCL Changes

Tim in Fort Lauderdale
First Class Passenger
Member # 953

posted 10-05-2000 11:27 AM

NCL and parent company Star Cruises should ba announcing some very big and dramatic changes in regards to fleet deployment.

This may very well be the long awaited announcement that the Norway is being sent out to "pasture" and heading for Hong Kong with wither the SuperStar Leo or Virgo to replace her on her Caribbean cruises.

Tim

Posts: 1468 | From: Fort Lauderdale, FL | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Gripsholm
First Class Passenger
Member # 1185

posted 10-05-2000 02:11 PM

Timber,

Here we go again..... It sounds very desperate... The new brochure for 2001 was delivered three weeks ago. In that brochure the S/S Norway will start sailing a 5 day / 2 day schedule from May 2001.

What has happened and what do you think will happen to the S/S Norway?

Regards

Gripsholm

Posts: 24 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 10-05-2000 03:49 PM

Timber, I won't believe it until I
see it from Joe or Malcom. They should send the NORWAY to Port Canaveral. If I had the money, scrapping would be the last thing I
would do with the liner. It needs work for sure. But, it needs one owner who needs one or two vessels only. There, it will get the care it
needs. But, until then, Joe and Malcom are who I trust to give us the facts.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-05-2000 05:49 PM

All that I can tell you is that the SS Norway will be will be operating 6 night and 2 night* cruises from Miami. These will take place from April 2001 to April 2002. So we know her future for another season. I don't know beyond that.

However, the Norway will not last forever. We could spend hours speculating how long she has got and how long NCL will be prepared to operate her (not the same thing). My advice would be to cruise on her sooner rather than leave it too much later, you might just miss the boat!

(*In the UK version of the brochure the '2 nights' is an extension to the 6 night cruise and is not sold on it's own right)

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-05-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 10-05-2000 06:09 PM

As I understand it, there are indeed a number of significant changes underway within NCL/Star possibly including a name change for the line(s).

As for the Norway, as much as I like her, I am afraid that her days are numbered and I would not be surprised by any decision about her fate at this point - other than an announcement that she will sail on for another 5 years.

I will post as soon as I hear something.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 10-05-2000 09:18 PM

Thank you Joe and Malcom. The Norway
is indeed one of a kind. It is just
ashame to see it reduced to 2/5 day
cruises. It deserves much better.
That would be like putting the Queen
Elizabeth 2 on 3 and 4 day cruises to Nassau and back. Horrendous idea.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-06-2000 10:12 AM

Yes, Dambrosi, she's a fine ship. (I forgive the modifications!)

We still cannot be certain of her fate. CruiseTalkers will recall that only a couple of years ago she was undertaking her annual summer European cruises. She was in Europe when NCL suddenly cancelled the Euro cruises and sent her sent back to the Caribbean, much earlier than scheduled. This of course might prove to have been her last transatlantic crossing? (Some of you were lucky enough to be onbard!) She of course has remained operating in the Caribbean ever since!

In short, we cannot regard the Brochure as any guarantee of service. Bookings may drop, things can change very suddenly in business. Each year she is increasingly competing against more newer and bigger ships.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Gripsholm
First Class Passenger
Member # 1185

posted 10-06-2000 11:03 AM

Malcolm

I know that I am entering the area of speculation. But I cannot resist it...

If the S/S Norway will be retired sooner than later. What will (and can) happen? Is there really a possibility that she will be bought by another crusie-line?

I sailed on her this summer with my wife and I must say that I would be hard to take if this nice ship is sent to the beach of no return..

Regards
Gripsholm

Posts: 24 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

billee
First Class Passenger
Member # 1133

posted 10-06-2000 01:01 PM

It's true...The Norway goes to Asia in March 2001 to be marketed to Asians exclusively. She'll basically be a casino ship. One of Star Cruises new builds will come over here for NCL's use. The 2001 Caribbean brochures have been printed but have not been distributed yet...because they are now wrong. This from a very reliable Sales Rep at NCL.

Posts: 159 | From: Baltimore, MD USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-06-2000 01:40 PM

Gripsholm, I can only speculate too. I think that when NCL can no longer run her at a profit, no one else will be able to do so either! She has a lot of cabins to fill.

Billee, I must admit that I find it hard to believe that the Norway will be relocated in March 2001! I would be prepared to believe that it might happen in March 2002?

The 2001 NCL brochure, featuring the Norway's Caribbean cruises thru to April 2002 is widely available in the UK. However, as I've already said, that does not really prove anything!

Only time will tell.

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-06-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Norway
First Class Passenger
Member # 1279

posted 10-06-2000 01:50 PM

If she can make money, then somebody will buy her for a prise over the scrap- price and she will continue to cruise. But why sell a ship you can make money on? To me it looks like she is going to retire for the last time, soon.
Her hull is in good shape, she can handle heavy sea and with a more powerfull engine she can maintain high speed(over 30 knots).
Because her strong hull, I bet she could could cruise for another 20 years after a total rebuilding of her interiors (including engine room). This is enough time to earn a lot of money on her, and she could compete with the bigger ships, visiting more places at shorter time.
But this will continue to be a dream as long as her owners earns more money on the slow, and glittering boxes. Hmmm...if anyone have a billion extra, I could help you to spend it...

Posts: 31 | From: Trondheim, Norway | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

vulcania
First Class Passenger
Member # 822

posted 10-06-2000 02:40 PM

I won't be surprised if Star Cruises home office decides to rename NCL "Star Cruises". After all, how Norwegian IS NCL anyway? A few Norski in officer uniform on the bridge and in the engine control room do not a Norwegian liner make...AND the bottom line is no longer reported to Oslo but to Kuala Lumpur....

Posts: 182 | From: Baltimore, MD USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-06-2000 03:20 PM

Here is the Norway's cruise calender:
http://www.ncl.com/itinerary/0501_glance.htm

On 18th November 2001, she will be in dry-dock for 35 days!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

cruiselover
First Class Passenger
Member # 1472

posted 10-06-2000 04:45 PM

Billee, is there any chance your information is incorrect about the Norway not doing the Caribbean itinerary after spring 2001? My college age daughter and her 3 roommates all have deposits down on that cruise for the first week of March. If it is cancelled it will be very hard for them to get on another cruise. One of the girls is under 21 and the Norway was about the only ship that would let them book.

Posts: 13 | From: birmingham, al | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 10-06-2000 06:20 PM

Cruiselover,

Call your TA, they may have some info. I copied this post from another site.
If anyone is planning a cruise on the Norway in the future, I'd would advise you to call your travel agent right away because my TA just called and asked if I wanted to be on the last voyage of the Norway. Star Cruises will deploy the Norway to Asia and turn her into a floating hotel/casino for the Asian market. Since it has gotten so expensive to run this grand old ship, Star has decided to basically turn her into a ship like the old Queen Mary in Long Beach.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

BigUFan
First Class Passenger
Member # 1382

posted 10-06-2000 07:45 PM

If I remember correctly, I think Vaccaro had mentioned that there was a small, grass-roots effort underway in France to attempt to save her, much as the SS United States Foundation is doing here, although I think he said that it was not as organized as yet.

Posts: 904 | From: Orlando, FL | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

CruiseShipWiz
First Class Passenger
Member # 1615

posted 10-07-2000 12:08 PM

Sorry to bust your bubble all, I have a VERY close online friend that works in the offices of NCL and she will be doing 5/2 day cruises for 2001. I will ask her more about this case when she logs on.

Posts: 22 | From: Miami FL USA | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-07-2000 02:08 PM

CruiseShipWiz, that's exactly what the brouchure and web site say.(See my link above)

(Mind you they are unlikely to ever publish the fact that she will re-deployed! She will just disappear from the brouchures!)

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Baker
First Class Passenger
Member # 1311

posted 10-07-2000 11:45 PM

I recall the old 'Oriana's' itinary in 1986, with P&O, she was due to sail to Singapore for a long Australia /Asia cruise, plus to be dry docked there,after her 12 day cruises around the Pacific, but suddenly all was cancelled she sailed into Sydney and sat there for about a month, crew sent back to the UK, whilst negotiatons took place to sell her, she was sold to Japan and towed there by tug. Same goes for the 'Fair Princess', all those plans to sail her from New Zealand next year, cancelled and refunds made, she sails in December for Hong Kong to Asian interests. It would appear nothing is set in concrete. B

Posts: 221 | From: Rosebud, by the Bay.Victoria, Australia | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

kbozman
First Class Passenger
Member # 642

posted 10-08-2000 11:30 AM

Hi Gizmo,

Just what did your T/A tell you about the
last cruise of the Norway ? If it
means sailing to Asia on the " Final
Voyage " ( sound familiar ) by all means
we will go !

Please respond and let me know more details.

Thanxxxxx
Kbozman.

Posts: 154 | From: Hanover Pa, USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 10-08-2000 05:39 PM

kbozman,

It was not my TA. I copied that post from another site. Don't know how much truth there is to it. Maybe I'll post and ask when the last cruise is supposed to be.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 10-09-2000 06:23 AM

Last year, the SS Norway was voted favourite cruise ship in the Travelpage poll. I have just seen that this time round it is only at 5th place

Which ship won you may well ask? Well check out the poll on this web site!

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 10-09-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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