Norwegian Spirit
 Norwegian Spirit | |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
1998–2004: SuperStar Leo 2004–present: Norwegian Spirit |
| Owner: |
1998–2004: Star Cruises 2004–present: Norwegian Cruise Line |
| Port of registry: |
 Bahamas |
| Builder: | Meyer Werft, Germany |
| Laid down: | 5 October 1996 |
| Launched: | 24 September 1998 |
| Acquired: | 2004 |
| In service: | 1998 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Leo-class cruise ship |
| Displacement: | 75,388 GT |
| Length: | 879 ft (267.92 m) |
| Beam: | 106 ft (32.31 m) |
| Height: | 163 ft (49.68 m) |
| Depth: | 26 ft (7.92 m) |
| Decks: | 14 |
| Installed power: | 4 × MAN-B&W 14V48/60 (4 × 14,700 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
Diesel-electric; two shafts Two ABB HSSOL 38/1256 propulsion motors (2 × 20 MW) |
| Speed: |
21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (maximum) |
| Capacity: | 1,996 passengers |
| Crew: | 965 |
Norwegian Spirit is a cruise ship currently operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. She was built for Star Cruises as SuperStar Leo.
History
The vessel was constructed by Meyer Werft in Germany. Named SuperStar Leo in 1998, the vessel was the first of Star Cruises' Leo-class. She was then homeported in Singapore in 1998 and operated 2-5 Night Cruises to Malaysia and Thailand. One year later, SuperStar Virgo arrived in Singapore. She was then based in Hong Kong in September 10, 1999 and offered 1-5 Night Cruises to China,Hainan,Vietnam and South China Sea Cruises.
In 2003, SuperStar Leo was transferred to Australia due to SARS in Asia and she returned to Hong Kong afterwards.
In 2004, Norwegian Cruise Line was planning to launch Pride of America. However, just prior to completion, the vessel partially sank when a storm hit the Lloyd Werft shipyards. To meet the already booked cruises for Pride of America, SuperStar Leo was transferred to the NCL fleet, and after only two weeks of refits, emerged as Norwegian Spirit.
In 2005 Norwegian Spirit hit a pier in Juneau, causing minor damage. In 2007, Norwegian Spirit again struck a pier, this time in New York Harbor. In both cases, repairs were made to the ship. On 25 May 2008 at approximately 9:00 am the Spirit contacted Pier 90 in New York City at the end of an eight day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. She damaged the parking garage support columns and the bow of the ship. The incident happened exactly five years to the day since the SS Norway experienced a boiler explosion in Miami.
In January 2006, Norwegian Spirit encountered a rogue wave off the coast of Tortola.
In March 2011 the Norwegian Spirit was over 12 hours late due to a death on the ship and a collision into the pier in Mexico.
Vessel class
Norwegian Spirit is the first ship of this design. She was followed by SuperStar Virgo, her twin sister ship which is with Star Cruises. No other ships of this particular design were constructed.
Propulsion
Four 14-cylinder MAN B&W 14V48 medium speed diesel engines, each producing 14,700 kilowatts (19,700 hp), driving ABB electric propulsion motors coupled to twin propellers.
Cruises
Norwegian Spirit currently offers two different itineraries, based year-round in Europe; A 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruises in the summer and autumn, and a nine-night cruises to the Canary Islands in the winter and spring.[1]
A petition recently gained victory against Norwegian Cruise Line to bring the Spirit into the Port of Los Angeles in December 2015 to sail year round cruises to Mexico, Hawaii, and the California Coast. [2] The petition also said that Norwegian Spirit will be replaced in Europe by the new Norwegian Escape when it comes out on October 2015.
References
- ↑ http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_121510
- ↑ https://www.change.org/petitions/norwegian-cruise-line-bring-norwegian-spirit-to-sail-year-round-cruises-from-los-angeles-starting-december-2015#share
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norwegian Spirit (ship, 1998). |
- Norwegian Spirit: Overview Norwegian Cruise Line
- CruiseCritic.com review
- Meyer Werft Website
- Norwegian Spirit www.galutschek.at (short video clip of Norwegian Spirit, November 2007)
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