Norwegian Cruise Line’s F3 ships in limbo
There has been a lot of buzz in European shipyards the past two weeks about a dispute between Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Aker Yards S.A. of France regarding NCL’s order for the first of two F3 vessels. The 150,000-ton, 4,200-berth ships are the biggest ever commissioned by NCL. Reports say the building has stopped and other cruise lines are showing interest in taking over the F3 project.
NCL’s Sky casts off early — did you remember your insurance?
NCL’s Norwegian Sky departed two hours early Monday to avoid Tropical Storm Fay, stranding twelve passengers in Miami. While NCL is refunding their cruise fare, it won’t reimburse hotel or airline costs.
Is the cruise ship building party over?
High gasoline prices and a slumping economy have put a damper on leisure travel. The timing couldn’t be worse for the cruise lines. With 35 vessels on order over the next four years at a total cost of 22 billion some cruise lines are cutting back and repositioning their fleets, laying off employees, and holding off from ordering new ships.
The new megaships: wavy, crazy — and a little pricey
It’s a tale of two cruise lines, both with very different visions for their customers. Last week, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled the latest onboard amenities for their new ships. What can customers expect? Would you believe a zip-line, ice bar, neighborhoods, curved staterooms, carousel and outdoor amphitheaters? And that’s just for starters.
‘Nothing ordinary’ about new NCL megaships
A nightclub. An ice bar. A bowling alley. No, these aren’t coming to a new five-star resort — they’re going out to sea. Norwegian Cruise Lines is including them in its new F3 megaships.
Since no one is paying attention, might as well pay up
Memorial Day weekend is the ideal time to pay up for some embarrassing lapse in judgment. After all, no one’s looking.