 | |
 Headquarters in Miami-Dade County, Florida | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tourism |
| Founded | 1966; 59 years ago (1966) InNorway |
| Headquarters | Miami,Florida, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | Cruises |
| Revenue | $8.55 billion (2023)[1] |
| Parent | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings |
| Website | ncl |
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is an Americancruise line founded inNorway in 1966, incorporated in the Bahamas and headquartered in Miami.[2] It is thefourth-largest cruise line in the world by passengers, controlling about 8.6% of the total worldwide share of the cruise market by passengers as of 2021[update].[3] It is wholly owned by parent companyNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
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The cruise line was founded in 1966 by NorwegianKnut Kloster and IsraeliTed Arison, with the 8,666-ton, 140 m longcruise ship/car ferry,Sunward,[4] which in 1966 operated as a car ferry betweenSouthampton UK andGibraltar, for that one short season only. TheSunward was first managed under the Arison Shipping Company, and marketed as Ensign Cruises.[5] Arison soon left to formCarnival Cruise Lines, while Kloster acquired additional ships for Caribbean service, with the line renamed and marketed as Norwegian Caribbean Lines.
Norwegian pioneered many firsts in the cruise industry, such as the first exclusive private island,Great Stirrup Cay in theBahamas,[further explanation needed] the first combined air-sea program (marketed as "Cloud 9 Cruises"), which combined low-cost air fares with the cruise, Freestyle Cruising, which is a form of relaxed and informal cruising, and first shipline to develop new ports in the Caribbean, such asOcho Rios inJamaica.
Norwegians's second and third ship, theStarward andSkyward, were the first newly built ships designed for the cruise line.[5] Like the originalSunward of 1966, they had the capability to carry automobiles through a well-concealed stern door. Later, this area was turned into cabins and a two-deck movie theater, later to be used as a casino. Norwegian was responsible for many of the cruise innovations that have now become standard throughout the industry.
Norwegian would order two additional ships, that would be their first true cruise ships without any car carrying capacity. This would be theSouthward in 1971, and an intended identical sister theSeaward, that would never be delivered to the line, and would be completed forP&O Cruises instead.[5] The line would sell its original ship the Sunward in 1973, being too small and inadequate for the modern cruise market. They would purchase the former Cunard Adventurer in 1977, refitting her with the trademark NCL funnels, and renamedSunward II.[6]
Norwegian made headlines with the acquisition of the linerSS France in 1979, rebuilding the liner as a cruise ship and renaming herNorway.[7] The conversion cost more than US$100million.[8] At 1,000 ft (305 m) long and displacing 52,000 tons, theNorway was at the time significantly larger than any existing cruise ship, and exploited the extra space available by adding a greater-than-usual variety of onboard entertainment. Her success paved the way for a new era of giant cruise ships.
With an aging, small ship fleet by the late 1980s compared to the larger modern ships being built for competitorsCarnival andRoyal Caribbean, Norwegian attempted to catch up with an order of a new ship in 1987, the newSeaward, NCL's first new build since 1971.[9] Norwegian parent company Kloster would transfer two of the recently acquiredRoyal Viking Line ships to Norwegian, which became theWestward andSunward (III).[10] Kloster would acquireRoyal Cruise Line in 1989–90,[11] and would eventually transfer theWestward to their fleet. Norwegian would also continue with further orders of new ships in the early 1990s, not competing with large-sized cruise ship building trend of competitors, but with the smaller with theDreamward andWindward to offer better flexibility with itineraries.[12]
The line would continue to acquire second hand ships in the mid-1990s, with the addition of theLeeward in 1995. In 1996 theCrown Odyssey, which was part of NCL's subsidiary line Royal Cruise Line, was transferred and became theNorwegian Crown.[12] In 1997 Norwegian acquiredMajesty Cruise Line, and added their two ships, which became theNorwegian Majesty andNorwegian Dynasty.[13] During this time Norwegian would rename all its ships with the "Norwegian" prefix (excluding SSNorway), and change its livery for the second time to a dark blue funnel with gold NCL logo.[13]
Norwegian has expanded to other parts of the world, includingAlaska, Europe, Bermuda, and Hawaii. Between 1997 and 2001, the company also operated cruises out of Australia under the nameNorwegian Capricorn Line and acquiredOrient Lines in 1998.[14]
Norwegian was sold by Kloster toStar Cruises in 2000, a subsidiary ofGenting Hong Kong, part of the Malaysia-basedGenting Group.[15] Under the new ownership a new concept was introduced with the newly completed ship,Norwegian Sky, freestyle cruising. This concept freed passengers from fixed formal dining times, instead there was relaxed attire, several distinct dining options, relaxed disembarkation and more lounges, bars, theatres and other entertainment and activity options, a change that would have a ripple effect across the cruise industry.[16]
With the financial backing of Star Cruises, the struggling Norwegian Cruise Line was able to begin to replace much of its older and second hand fleet with new ships.[12] In addition to theNorwegian Sun, Star Cruises had ships already on order for their own fleet atMeyer Werft, which would be transferred to Norwegian during construction, with the first two debuting as theNorwegian Star in 2001 andNorwegian Dawn in 2002.[16] These would be followed by an accelerated new build program, adding four more new ships over a five-year period.[17]
In 2002, Norwegian purchased the half-complete hull of the firstProject America ship, at the time under construction atIngalls Shipbuilding inPascagoula, Mississippi, US, which was towed to Germany to be completed at theLloyd Werft shipyard.[16] Subsequently, Norwegian acquired the rights to move two ships built entirely outside the United States under the US flag, making it possible to start a US-flagged operation under the brand name NCL America.[18][19] In 2003, the company announced the purchase of the American-flagged linersUnited States andIndependence. In their July 2007 fiscal report, Norwegian noted the sale ofIndependence, renamed SSOceanic some time before. On July 1, 2010, the SS United States Conservancy struck a deal to buy SSUnited States for $3 million.[20] On February 1, 2011, the ownership was officially transferred to the SS United States Conservancy.[21]
A boiler explosion in May 2003 forced Norwegian to withdraw theNorway from service, later being laid up inBremerhaven, Germany, until 2005, when she was towed toPort Klang Malaysia with the claimed intent to use her as an anchored casino or slow overnight casino cruises on her remaining boilers. Instead, she was sold for scrap and renamed theBlue Lady[22] and later beached atAlang,Gujarat, India, in August 2006 with claims that she had not been cleaned of toxic materials.[23] On September 11, 2007, the India Supreme Court issued an order permitting her to be broken up at Alang, despite the presence of large amounts of hazardous asbestos remaining on board.[24][25]
In August 2007, Star Cruises sold 50% of Norwegian for $1 billion to US-basedApollo Management to strengthen Norwegian's financial position.[26] In 2007, Star Cruises sold Orient Line'sMarco Polo toTransocean Tours,[27] and Orient Lines ceased operations in early 2008.[28]
Following aninitial public offering and corporate reorganisation in 2013, Norwegian was made a wholly owned subsidiary ofNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH),[29][30] while Norwegian's previous ownersGenting Hong Kong,Apollo Management andTPG Capital exchanged their stakes in Norwegian for shares in the newly listed NCLH.[31]
Norwegian reported in February 2008 that thePride of Aloha, one of the two remaining NCL America ships, would be withdrawn from service in May of the same year. Initial reports suggested she would be transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises,[32] but it was later announced that she would return to the Norwegian international fleet as theNorwegian Sky,[33] while theNorwegian Majesty andNorwegian Dream would be sold toLouis Cruise Lines.[34]
Two ships in this Epic class were ordered by NCL in November 2006, with an option for a third vessel that was not exercised. A dispute between NCL and STX initially resulted in the construction of both ships being placed on hold until a new agreement was reached.[16] The agreement called for completion of the first ship; the second ship was cancelled in 2008.[35] The sole remaining ship,Norwegian Epic, was delivered to NCL on 17 June 2010.
The first twoBreakaway-class ships entered service in 2013 and 2014 asNorwegian Breakaway andNorwegian Getaway. On October 17, 2012,Meyer Werft and Norwegian reached a second agreement for the construction of two new vessels,[36] slated for delivery in October 2015 and 2017, respectively. The project was under the code name "Breakaway Plus Class", with the vessels expected to be 163,000gross tons and hold 4,200 passengers. TheNorwegian Escape entered service in November 2015 andNorwegian Joy in 2017.[37] Two more vessels were ordered on July 14, 2014, and they entered service in 2018 and 2019 as theNorwegian Bliss andNorwegian Encore, respectively.[38] Dream Cruises ordered two modified Breakaway Class ships in 2015, they were launched in 2016 and 2017 as Genting Dream and World Dream.
The sale of theNorwegian Dream was subsequently cancelled.[39] TheNorwegian Dream became theSuperstar Gemini for Star Cruises, from January 2013.[40]
On June 1, 2012, Norwegian announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement to exercise its option to purchaseNorwegian Sky. The purchase price was roughly $260 million, financing being provided by the seller.[41]
In December 2016, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it had reached an agreement with the Cuban government.[42] In May 2017, theNorwegian Sky was the first Norwegian Cruise Line vessel to ever visitCuba. TheNorwegian Sky made weekly trips from Miami toHavana, making Norwegian the only line sailing that route weekly.[43] Norwegian continued operating Cuban routes until June 2019, when they came to a halt following new restrictions from the Trump Administration.[44]
_Terminal_B_at_PortMiami_(March_11%2c_2024)_02.jpg)
In February 2016, Norwegian ordered 4 new ships fromFincantieri under the codenameProject Leonardo, to be delivered in 2022–2025. These ships would have around 140,000 gross tonnage. In July 2018, NCL confirmed that they had ordered 2 more ships to be delivered in 2026–27. On December 9, 2019, the keel of the first ship was laid down and namedNorwegian Prima. It was launched in August 2021 and commenced sailing in the same month of 2022. The second ship was namedNorwegian Viva in early 2022 and expected to be completed by 2023.
On May 2, 2017, Norwegian Cruise Line announced a new PortMiami Terminal.[45] The construction began on May 1, 2018, and was completed in fall 2019.[46][47] In December 2018, Norwegian revealed plans to build a new pier in Alaska'sIcy Strait Point.[48]
In March 2020, theMiami New Times reported that managers at Norwegian had prepared a set of responses intended to convince customers wary of the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic to book cruises, including "blatantly false" claims that the coronavirus "can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise", that "scientists and medical professionals have confirmed that the warm weather of the spring will be the end of the coronavirus", and that the virus "cannot live in the amazingly warm and tropical temperatures that your cruise will be sailing to."[49][50][51][52][53]
On March 14, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a No Sail Order for cruise ships. ConcurrentlyNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings implemented a suspension of all cruise voyages across its three brands (Norwegian Cruise Line,Oceania Cruises, andRegent Seven Seas Cruises), with all 28 ships in port or at anchor and all passengers disembarked by March 28, 2020. This suspension has subsequently been extended through June 30, 2020.[54]: S-1
On May 5, 2020, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) said there is “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue as a “going concern” as it faces a liquidity crisis over the next twelve months.[54]: S-6
By the next day, NCLH was able to secure over $2.2 billion of additional liquidity in oversubscribed capital markets transactions, but at a price: (1) $400 million in common stock at $11 per share; (2) $675 million in senior secured notes due 2024 at a 12.25% interest rate; (3) $750 million in exchangeable notes due 2024 at 6% interest rate, and exchangeable at any time into common shares at $13.75; and (4) $400 million private investment from a global private equity firm.[55][56] On May 7, 2020, NCLH CEO declared that the company has secured enough liquidity to get through potentially 18 months of zero revenues and may resume cruising later in 2020.[57][58]
In anticipation of sailing again, Norwegian is implementing new health and safety measures, including installing H13 HEPA air filters.[59] The company is also working with the CDC and the new color-coding system to indicate each ship's COVID-19 status, and to repatriate Norwegian crews still stuck aboard their vessel.[60]
Even though the company lost $4 billion and furloughed 20 percent of its staff, it doubled the salary of its chief executive, Frank Del Rio, to $36.4 million.[61]
As of April 2024[update], Norwegian Cruise Line operates 19 cruise ships, with eight on order. It has also previously owned or operated 19 other ships. All its ships are flagged tothe Bahamas, except for thePride of America, which operates cruises within theUnited States and is flagged and registered in the US, as well as being owned by a US-registered subsidiary, NCL America.
| Ship | Built | In service for NCL | Last refurbishment | Gross tonnage | Passengers (Double Occupancy) | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun class | ||||||||
| Norwegian Sky | 1999 | 1999-2004, 2008–present | 2024[62] | 77,104 | 1,928 |  Bahamas | Originally constructed asCosta Olympia but sold to NCL during construction, sailed under NCL America asPride of Aloha from 2004 to 2008 |  |
| Norwegian Sun | 2001 | 2001–present | 2021[63] | 78,309 | 1,976 | Bahamas | .JPG) | |
| Dawn class | ||||||||
| Norwegian Star | 2001 | 2001–present | 2021[64] | 91,740 | 2,348 | Bahamas | Originally ordered asSuperstar Libra |  |
| Norwegian Dawn | 2002 | 2002–present | 2021[65] | 92,250 | 2,340 | Bahamas | Originally ordered asSuperStar Scorpio |  |
| Leo class | ||||||||
| Norwegian Spirit | 1998 | 2004–present | 2022[66] | 75,904 | 2,018 | Bahamas | PreviouslySuperStar Leo |  |
| Pride of America class | ||||||||
| Pride of America | 2005 | 2005–present | 2022[67] | 80,439 | 2,186 |  United States | The only US flagged cruise ship | .jpg) |
| Jewel class | ||||||||
| Norwegian Jewel | 2005 | 2005–present | 2022[68] | 93,502 | 2,376 | Bahamas |  | |
| Norwegian Jade | 2006 | 2006–present | 2022[69] | 93,558 | 2,402 | Bahamas | FormerlyPride Of Hawaii, renamed in 2008. |  |
| Norwegian Pearl | 2006 | 2006–present | 2021[70] | 93,530 | 2,394 | Bahamas |  | |
| Norwegian Gem | 2007 | 2007–present | 2022[71] | 93,530 | 2,394 | Bahamas |  | |
| Epic class[72] | ||||||||
| Norwegian Epic | 2010 | 2010–present | November 2020,[73] October 2015[65] | 155,873 | 4,100 | Bahamas | The only ship in her class |  |
| Breakaway class | ||||||||
| Norwegian Breakaway | 2013 | 2013–present | 2020[74] | 145,655[75] | 3,963 | Bahamas |  | |
| Norwegian Getaway | 2014 | 2014–present | 2020[76] | 145,655[77] | 3,963 | Bahamas |  | |
| Norwegian Escape | 2015 | 2015–present | 2022[78] | 164,600 | 4,266 | Bahamas | 'Breakaway Plus' subclass |  |
| Norwegian Joy | 2017 | 2017–present | 2024[79] | 167,725 | 3,883 | Bahamas | 'Breakaway Plus' subclass |  |
| Norwegian Bliss | 2018 | 2018–present | 2021[80] | 168,028 | 4,002 | Bahamas | 'Breakaway Plus' subclass |  |
| Norwegian Encore | 2019 | 2019–present | None | 169,145[81] | 3,998 | Bahamas | 'Breakaway Plus' subclass. Largest ship in NCL's fleet. |  |
| Prima class | ||||||||
| Norwegian Prima[82] | 2022[83][84] | 2022–present | None | 142,500[82] | 3,099 | Bahamas |  | |
| Norwegian Viva[85] | 2023[82] | 2023–present | None | 142,500[86] | 3,215[87] | Bahamas |  | |
| Norwegian Aqua[88] | 2025[82] | 2025-present[89] | None | 156,000[90] | 3,571[87] | Bahamas | 'Prima Plus' subclass. | |
| Ship | Inaugural Voyage | Gross tonnage | Passengers | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prima-class | ||||||
| Norwegian Luna[91] | 2026[82] | 156,000[90] | 3,571[87] | |||
| Unnamed | 2027[82] | 169,000[90] | 3,650[90] | |||
| Unnamed | 2028[82] | 169,000[90] | 3,650[90] | |||
| Unnamed class[92][93] | ||||||
| Unnamed | 2030[94] | 225,000[95] | 5,100 | New class of ship comprising the largest vessels ever commissioned for NCL[94] | ||
| Unnamed | 2032[94] | 225,000 | 5,100 | |||
| Unnamed | 2034[94] | 225,000 | 5,100 | |||
| Unnamed | 2036[94] | 225,000 | 5,100 | |||
| Ship | Built | In service for NCL | Gross tonnage | Status as of 2025 | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunward | 1966 | 1966–1973 | 10,558 | Scrapped in 2004 atChittagong, Bangladesh. | _(cropped).jpg) |
| Starward | 1968 | 1968–1995 | 15,781 | Scrapped in 2018 atAlang, India. |  |
| Skyward | 1969 | 1969–1991 | 15,653 | Scrapped in 2021 atAlang, India. | |
| Southward | 1971 | 1971–1994 | 16,710 | Scrapped in 2013 at Aliaga, Turkey. |  |
| Sunward II | 1971 | 1977–1991 | 14,194 | Scrapped in 2014 at Alang, India. |  |
| Norway | 1961 | 1979–2003 | 76,049 | Scrapped in 2008 at Alang, India. |  |
| Seaward /Norwegian Sea | 1988 | 1988–2005 | 42,285 | Scrapped in 2022 in Aliağa, Turkey.[96] | .jpg) |
| Westward | 1972 | 1991–1993 | 28,613 | Sold for scrap in 2022 atAlang, India. |  |
| Sunward | 1973 | 1991–1992, 1992–1993 | 28,551 | Scrapped in 2021 atAliaga, Turkey. |  |
| Dreamward /Norwegian Dream | 1992 | 1992–2008 | 50,764 | Since 2012SuperStar Gemini forStar Cruises. Sold for scrap in 2022 | |
| Windward /Norwegian Wind | 1993 | 1993–2007 | 51,309 | Since 2007SuperStar Aquarius forStar Cruises. Sold for scrap in 2022 | .jpg) |
| Leeward | 1980 | 1995–1999 | 25,611 | Since 2014Celestyal Crystal for Celestyal Cruise Lines. | _(cropped).jpg) |
| Norwegian Crown | 1988 | 1996–2000, 2003–2007 | 43,537 | Since 2008Balmoral for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. | _(cropped).jpg) |
| Norwegian Star | 1973 | 1997–1998 | 28,518 | Scrapped in 2021 inAlang, India | _(cropped).jpg) |
| Norwegian Dynasty | 1993 | 1997–1999 | 24,344 | Since 2001,Braemar for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. | .jpg) |
| Norwegian Majesty | 1992 | 1997–2009 | 41,662 | Since 2018Crown Iris forMano Maritime. |  |
Ships which NCL had options on using but never took up for various reasons.
| Ship | Built | Years in NCL | Gross tonnage | El Original NCL Plan for the Ships and reason for cancellation | Status as of 2025 | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | 1951 | 2003 - 2005 | 26,658 | NCL's plan was to turn it into a cruise ship for NCL America. | Wrecked and scrapped in 2010 off Alang, India. | .jpg) |
| SSUnited States | 1952 | 2003 - 2009 | 38,216 | NCL's plan was to turn it into a cruise ship for NCL America. | In process of becoming an artificial reef near Florida. |  |
| Seaward | 1972 | 1972 | 17,042 | The vessel was originally ordered in 1970 byNorwegian Caribbean Line (Now Norwegian Cruise Line) asSeaward. The shipyard, Cantieri Navali del Tirreno & Riuniti, encountered financial troubles and was consequently taken over by theIRI Group, which cancelled the building contract ofSeaward. After much protest from NCL the IRI Group agreed to partially complete the vessel. Despite this Norwegian Caribbean sold the hull toP&O, which would complete theSeaward asSpirit of London. | Sank in 2016 near the port ofLaem Chabang,Thailand. |  |
_(cropped).jpg)
Norwegian owns twoprivate islands in the Caribbean:Harvest Caye inBelize andGreat Stirrup Cay inthe Bahamas.[97]
Norwegian Cruise Line subsidiary lines over the years:
Dr. Ravinder Kanda, senior lecturer in evolutionary genomics at Oxford Brookes University, U,.K., told Newsweek: "Little is known about the seasonal dynamics of this particular virus—we cannot take it for granted that the warmer weather will simply drive the virus out of existence."
Dr. Nancy Messionnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned against assuming the number of cases will slow as the weather warms. "I think it's premature to assume that," she said during a call with reporters on Feb. 12. "We haven't been through even a single year with this pathogen."
"We hope that the gradual spring will help this virus recede, but our crystal ball is not very clear. The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus, and we know respiratory viruses are often seasonal, but not always. For example, influenza (flu) tends to be seasonal in the U.S., but in other parts of the world, it exists year-round. Scientists don't fully understand why even though we have been studying [the] flu for many years," Dr. William Schaffner, the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told Fox News in an email.
The factors described above, in particular the suspension of cruise voyages and decline in advanced bookings, as well as debt maturities and other obligations over the next year, have raised substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, as the Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations over the next twelve months, assuming no additional financing or other proactive measures.
Norwegian Cruise Line fleet | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Current fleet |
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| Former fleet |
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