Fred Olsen to expand - purchases Norwegian Crown

Hi all

Just posted this in the NCL forum, but might be of interest here.. Fred Olsen has purchased the Norwegian Crown. It will leave the NCL fleet after Bermuda 2007 season. Nothing on Fred Olsen website yet...

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Hi all.

Just received a press release, and expect to see this posted on the website(s) soon that The Norwegian Crown has been sold to Fred Olsen. She will leave the fleet after her Bermuda 2007 summer season.

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NCL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES SALE OF NORWEGIAN CROWN

MIAMI, May 25, 2006 – NCL Corporation (“NCL”) today announced that its parent company, Star Cruises, has agreed to sell Norwegian Crown to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Pte. Ltd., Singapore effective August 2006. Star Cruises will concurrently charter the vessel back from Fred. Olsen and NCL will continue her announced deployment through to November 2007.

Norwegian Crown is presently owned by Star Cruises along with four other mid-sized vessels also operated by NCL and Orient Lines. These vessels are on inter-company charter between Star and NCL. Last week, NCL announced that Norwegian Wind will be transferred in late April 2007 to Star Cruises to become SuperStar Aquarius, based in Hong Kong.

“Although a beautiful and well-maintained vessel, Norwegian Crown’s smaller size is less suitable for Star Cruises’ ambitions in Asia,” said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. “Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines specializes in operating smaller and mid-sized upscale vessels and this ship should fit perfectly in their fleet.”

This summer and fall, Norwegian Crown is sailing seven-day Bermuda cruises from Philadelphia and New York and will sail her popular 14-night South American cruises throughout the winter season of 2006/2007. In summer 2007, she will again offer a full season of Bermuda cruises from New York and Philadelphia and will end her deployment as an NCL ship at the close of the Bermuda season at the end of October 2007.

The 34,000 gross-ton Norwegian Crown, which entered service in 1988 for Royal Cruise Line, accommodates over 1,000 guests (double occupancy) and features six restaurants, six bars and lounges, the Crown Club casino, the Mandara Spa & Fitness Center, a Kid’s Center and an Internet Café. Norwegian Crown has also operated in both the Norwegian Cruise Line and Orient Lines brands as Crown Odyssey and Norwegian Crown.

The departures of Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Crown from the NCL fleet are designed to occur within the same period as the scheduled delivery and entry into service of two new purpose built NCL Freestyle Cruising ships of approximately 2,380 lower berth capacity each, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem.

NCL Corporation Ltd. (“NCL”) is an innovative cruise company headquartered in Miami, Florida, with a fleet of 15 ships in service and under construction. The corporation oversees the operations of Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, and Orient Lines. The company christened its newest ship, Pride of Hawai`i on Saturday, May 20, 2006, the largest and most expensive U.S. flagged passenger ship ever built. It is currently building two ships, Norwegian Pearl scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2006 and Norwegian Gem scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2007.

For further information, please contact NCL in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 327-7030; visit NCL’s website at http://www.ncl.com or on AOL at keyword: NCL; or to download high-resolution photography, visit http://www.ncl.com/hires.

bananaboy. In this day of "who owns what and who" it is to be expected some companies will off load older vessels. Could it be a "tax dodge" situation ? or an accountancy "write down" excercise.? A vessel of this size 1000 passengers does not really fit in with F.Os small is beautiful scheme.All F.Os ships are 700 or less capacity.Their boast being "we can go where others can not". I have just come back from a 4 week sojourn on the Braemer and would have liked a larger vessel for the cross Atlantic section of the trip though.As for being UK based, any southern journey i.e Med requires at least a 2 sea days before any ports are arrived at.Only Northern Europe is close enough for 1 sea day crossings.My onther comment on F.O. is perhaps they might now get rid of the Black Prince, of which I still have nightmares.

You heard it here first! ;)

I don't see any conflict between this ship and Fred. Olsen's "small is beautiful" strategy... The definition of "small" just keeps growing ;) !

Keep in mind that when BLACK WATCH was introduced, she carried more than twice as many passengers as BLACK PRINCE... But NORWEGIAN CROWN carries maybe 25% more passengers than BLACK WATCH or BOUDICCA. So not a huge jump in size.

As for BLACK PRINCE, I am rather surprised that she is still in the fleet - she certainly stands out amongst the other ships which are all far larger and more modern.

I have heard both wonderful and terrible things about BLACK PRINCE. She has many multi-repeaters who love her, but most first-timers come back decidedly underwhelmed.

As the fleet keeps growing and gains more and more upscale aspirations, I just can't imagine her staying around much longer... Love her or hate her, she is definitely a throwback to an earlier era.

We sailed twice on Norwegian Crown while she was still Crown Odyssey, flagship of the late great Royal Cruise Lines.

She was a lovely ship back then; but I imagine not as spacious after NCL took out the indoor pool, cinema, etc., adding cabins and chopping up the floor plan.

Host Doug.

The BlackPrince is a converted east european ro-ro ferry and it shows.How much longer F.O can kjeep her afloat is anyones guess, I suppose Louis Lines may take her and use her in the Med.My main comment about her was she wallowed and pitched in rough water, making me spend 2 days in my bunk ( bed being a misnomer) during my one and only trip on her.The bunks were designed for short overnight trips only not extended stays.

She is a converted ferry, but definitely not East European - she has been owned by Fred. Olsen (Norwegian) ever since she was new!