Norway Won't Sail in America Anymore

Jason · March 23, 2004

Aging Cruise Ship Won't Sail in America

MIAMI (AP) - The aging cruise ship Norway, which suffered a fatal boiler explosion last year, won't sail again in North America, Norwegian Cruise Lines said.

The 44-year-old cruise liner doesn't fit into NCL's plans to compete with rivals Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises, company president Colin Veitch said Wednesday.

Launched as the France in 1960, the 2,000-passenger Norway sailed from Miami until May, when a boiler exploded, killing eight people. The ship was later towed to Germany.

"The Norway will not be coming back to North America," Veitch said.

Cruise executives say the 1,035-foot ship still has potential in Asia, where NCL's parent company, Star Cruises, is the primary operator. Veitch said NCL also has discussed selling the Norway to a buyer who wants to make it a floating hotel.

Veitch said the Norway is being worked on in Germany. The boilers have not been fixed, partly to maintain access for the National Transportation and Safety Board, and partly because it wasn't clear they would be needed, he said.

The NTSB (news - web sites)'s investigation is ongoing, spokesman Keith Holloway said.

PEB · March 23, 2004

I'm glad I got to cruise on the Great Lady. She is a great ship with a lot of class.

TheSkipper · March 24, 2004

Never got the chance to sail on the grand old lady! Saw her many times making her way through the Islands and she was on our "gotta sail on that one" list, which gets longer every year! Just can't keep up with all the new tonnage coming on line every year! So many ships, so little time!