Norwegian Cruise Line/NCL America profile

"The Norwegian Way"

Norwegian Cruise Line offers midrange mainstream cruising experience on modern cruise vessels with diverse itineraries. The company is somewhat below it's main competitors (Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America) and targets middle class passengers, mostly from the U.S. and Canada. 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. 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-like options by way of a variety of restaurants and your choice of casual or formal attire. NCL is also carving itself a niche in the homeland cruising specialty, featuring a number of continental U.S. homeports -- NCL offers the only year-round service out of New York on its Norwegian Dawn and, starting in fall, 2005, Norwegian Spirit. That ship will offer 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean itineraries from the Big Apple. Norwegian Cruise Line is the only cruise line to offer year-round Hawaiian itineraries. Beyond that, NCL's earned quite a distinctive coup with its NCL America program. With U.S.-flagged ships, the company is the only cruise line in the industry to offer year-round seven day inter-island Hawaii cruises with round-trip itineraries from Honolulu.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers good working conditions for it's crew members and competitive salaries, but in case you could secure a position with any of the above mentioned cruise lines, it is our opinion that they are a better choice.

Fleet and itineraries:

Pride Of Hawaii: (NCL America): U.S. registry, built 2006, 93.000 gross tons, 2.376 passengers, 1.100 crew members (100% U.S.) Itineraries: Hawaii

Pride Of America: (NCL America): U.S. registry, built 2005, 78.000 gross tons, 2.002 passengers, 750 crew members (100% U.S.) Itineraries: Hawaii

Pride Of Aloha: (NCL America): U.S. registry, built 1999, 77.104 gross tons, 2.002 passengers, 750 crew members (100% U.S.) Itineraries: Hawaii

Norwegian Jewel: Bahamas registry, built 2005, 92.000 gross tons, 2.240 passengers, 1.100 crew members. Itineraries: Hawaii.

Norwegian Spirit: Bahamas registry, built 1998, 77.000 gross tons, 2.002 passengers, 800 crew members. Itineraries: Alaska, Caribbean.

Norwegian Crown: Bahamas registry, built 1988, 34.242 gross tons, 1.052 passengers, 455 crew members. Itineraries: Bermuda, South America.

Norwegian Dawn: Bahamas registry, built 2002, 90.000 gross tons, 2.240 passengers, 1.100 crew members. Itineraries: Eastern/Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Star: Panama registry, built 2001, 90.000 gross tons, 2.200 passengers, 1.100 crew members. Itineraries: Hawaii.

Norwegian Sun: Bahamas registry, built 2001, 77.104 gross tons, 2.002 passengers, 800 crew members. Itineraries: Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Wind: Bahamas registry, built 1993, 50.760 gross tons, 1.750 passengers, 689 crew members. Itineraries: Alaska, South Pacific/Hawaii.

Norwegian Dream: Bahamas registry, built 1992, 46.000 gross tons, 1.750 passengers, 614 crew members. Itineraries: Europe, South America, Canada/New England, Trans-Atlantic, Caribbean.

Norwegian Majesty: Panama registry, built 1992, 38.000 gross tons, 1.460 passengers, 570 crew members. Itineraries: Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, South America.

Norwegian Sea: Bahamas registry, built 1988, 42.000 gross tons, 1.518 passengers, 630 crew members. Itineraries: Caribbean from Houston, Bahamas, Canada/New England.