NCL Pulls Ship from Alaska in 2010, Blames Legislation

by TravelPulse Staff
Last updated: 1:46 AM ET, Tue April 28, 2009

Norwegian Cruise Line has redeployed Norwegian Sun for the summer of 2010, moving the ship from Alaska to Europe. The 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun is assuming the summer 2010 itinerary previously announced for Norwegian Jewel and will sail a 12-day Baltic Capitals itinerary from London (Dover) from May 11 through Sept. 8, 2010. In addition, the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel will move from Europe to New York, sailing a combination of seven-day "Bahamas & Florida," 10-day "Canada & New England" and 10-day Eastern Caribbean sailings from April 24, 2010 through April 24, 2011.

"After carefully weighing the rising costs of deploying three ships in Alaska and taking into account the recently enacted legislation, in particular the $50 head tax, we felt it was necessary to redeploy Norwegian Sun," said NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan,. "Alaska is an incredible destination, but we are clearly seeing the impact of these changes in 2009, emphasized even more by this challenging economic environment."

Norwegian Sun had been scheduled to sail a seven-day itinerary between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska. The ship's new European deployment now includes a 15-day Panama Canal sailing from Santiago, Chile, to Miami on April 11, 2010. Norwegian Sun will then reposition to Europe on a 15-day transatlantic voyage from Miami to London (Dover) on April 26, 2010, and begins a series of 11 12-day Baltic Capitals cruises with stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemünde, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden.

Following a winter season in Miami, Norwegian Jewel repositions to New York on a 13-day "Circle the Caribbean" voyage on April 11, 2010. Once in New York, the ship will sail 20 seven-day "Bahamas & Florida" cruises with stops in Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau. Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star will continue their deployment in Alaska next summer, sailing seven-day Sawyer Glacier and Glacier Bay cruises from Seattle.

NCL is contacting travel agents and guests with reservations on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jewel's previously scheduled sailings. The company is offering the option to transfer their reservation to a comparable sailing with their fare protected or re-priced if the fare is lower, along with an onboard credit. Transfers must be completed by May 11, 2009. The company has established a dedicated support line at 877-461-1160, which will be open weekdays beginning April 29 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Starting April 29, the company is also accepting reservations on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jewel's new itineraries. For more information, call 866-234-0292 or visit www.ncl.com.