ss norway

[OCruisers]

We'll always be glad we had the opportunity to sail on her several times. :)

[Greyhound3]

We sailed on the Norway the week before her boiler room blew up. She was a beautiful ship, the food and entertainment were great, and there was an expansive jogging trail all the way around the ship on the level below the lifeboats and if you went around four times you have jogged a full mile. But the inner cabins were very small and smelled of sewage and the beds were old and not too comfortable. The Norway had 2 huge tenders that sort of plugged into the rear end of the ship forming part of the ship when fully integrated and because the ship was so large they used these tenders at essentially every port to transport passengers ashore. Its funny I couldn't see those huge tender boats in the video.

 

Actually, the tenders were carried on the bow - as can be seen here:

 

 

I definitely miss the old girl.

 

 

Grey

[Jana60]

Actually, the tenders were carried on the bow - as can be seen here:

 

 

I definitely miss the old girl.

 

 

Grey

 

Well it's been a long time but for some weird reason I was thinking they were attached to the back of the ship!

[zdcatc12]

The Norway had 2 huge tenders that sort of plugged into the rear end of the ship forming part of the ship when fully integrated and because the ship was so large they used these tenders at essentially every port to transport passengers ashore. Its funny I couldn't see those huge tender boats in the video.

 

NCL still uses those tenders for their private island in the Bahamas.

[Dunnik]

Alas yes, the old girl was broken up in 2008.

 

I sailed on her in the early 90's on a Spring Break Western Caribbean run when I was 18 (was quite the party).

 

On the return leg to Miami, we encountered a tropical storm. The old liner's clean lines and sharp bow effortlessly cut through the waves. The storm sent many to their cabins but not I - I was up on the weather deck with a few other die-hards, watching the ship and the storm.

 

I feel privileged to have sailed on her. So few ships - if any - these days have her personality, charm and history.

 

All that's left of her is the tip of her bows, now preserved at a maritime museum in France.

 

[bar_20]

The ship was loaded with asbestos and more than one scrap yard turned her away. When built as the SS France she was a two class ship, the first class cabins were larger than the second class and they could be right next to each other. Fuel costs and upkeep were prohibited for NCL. Before 911 she was going to go to Asia as a floating casino. When 911 happened NCL kept the ship in Miami. She was a beautiful ship but like Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard she was way past her prime.

[Rotterdam]

The ship was loaded with asbestos and more than one scrap yard turned her away. When built as the SS France she was a two class ship, the first class cabins were larger than the second class and they could be right next to each other. Fuel costs and upkeep were prohibited for NCL. Before 911 she was going to go to Asia as a floating casino. When 911 happened NCL kept the ship in Miami. She was a beautiful ship but like Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard she was way past her prime.

 

After being on her as the FRANCE & then as the NORWAY I would rather sail in her again rather than the soul less floating malls that have been built in the last few years - especially in a storm. OCEAN LINERS like the FRANCE & QE2 were built to handle the North Atlantic at its worst. The beauty of their design - both the hull & interiors were sophisticated, stunning and the result of the efforts of the best of the best designers, engineers & artists.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Rotterdam

[George C]

After being on her as the FRANCE & then as the NORWAY I would rather sail in her again rather than the soul less floating malls that have been built in the last few years - especially in a storm. OCEAN LINERS like the FRANCE & QE2 were built to handle the North Atlantic at its worst. The beauty of their design - both the hull & interiors were sophisticated, stunning and the result of the efforts of the best of the best designers, engineers & artists.

 

She was a very elegant ship that's for sure, sail her many times including my honeymoon 25 years ago. Bars were so nice. also loved disco with the port holes looking into the swimming pool

[COMBOY]

After being on her as the FRANCE & then as the NORWAY I would rather sail in her again rather than the soul less floating malls that have been built in the last few years - especially in a storm. OCEAN LINERS like the FRANCE & QE2 were built to handle the North Atlantic at its worst. The beauty of their design - both the hull & interiors were sophisticated, stunning and the result of the efforts of the best of the best designers, engineers & artists.

 

I would agree with you...however, this was actually to her demise. When she first sailed as the SS Norway in 1979 she was a cruise ship marvel. But by early 2000 she was competing against newer ships with balcony cabins and all kinds of bells and whistles like rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks that the cruising public desired and would pay top dollar. People wanted the newest and latest ship and the SS Norway simply couldn't complete and NCL had to significantly discount it's cabin to fill her. Add on the boiler explosion and she was doom to the breakers. Very sad ending to a great ship.

[Dunnik]

I would agree with you...however, this was actually to her demise. When she first sailed as the SS Norway in 1979 she was a cruise ship marvel.

 

Sad but true. Ship enthusiasts make up a tiny fraction of cruisers - those people who would book on the Norway in part because of what she was.

 

But by early 2000 she was competing against newer ships....

 

She was also competing against new NCL ships. The cruise line largely gave up on her and decided to put as little money into her as possible, including skimping on maintenance. "What's the worst that could happen," NCL executives might have said. Eight dead crew and the end of her service live, is what.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Dunnik