Ncl withdraws norwegian sun from alaska in 2010

[cruizinpooh]

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE WITHDRAWS NORWEGIAN SUN

FROM ALASKA IN 2010

 

Ship to move to the Baltic while Norwegian Jewel heads to New York for summer 2010

MIAMI – April 27, 2009 – Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced that it 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) beginning May 11, 2010 through September 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 Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “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, British Columbia and Whittier, Alaska. The ship’s new European deployment now includes a 15-day Panama Canal sailing from Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile, to Miami, Florida 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 her series of eleven 12-day Baltic Capitals cruises with stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm (Nynäshamn), Sweden.

Norwegian Sun withdrawn from Alaska in 2010/2

Following her 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 a series of 20 seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises with stops in Orlando (Port Canaveral), Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star will continue their deployment in Alaska next summer, sailing seven-day Sawyer Glacier and Glacier Bay cruises from Seattle.

Norwegian Cruise Line is contacting travel partners 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 on-board credit. Transfers must be completed by Monday, May 11, 2009. To assist impacted guests and travel partners, the company has established a dedicated support line at 877-461-1160, open weekdays beginning this Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT.

Starting Wednesday, April 29, 2009, the company is also accepting reservations on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jewel’s new itineraries. To book one of these new itineraries, guests should contact a travel professional or Norwegian Cruise Line at 866-234-0292. Further itinerary information can be found online at http://www.ncl.com.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is the innovator in cruise travel with a 42-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.

Today, Norwegian Cruise Line has the youngest fleet in the industry with 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line is presently building Norwegian Epic, a new third generation Freestyle Cruising ship, for delivery in 2010.

High resolution, downloadable images are available at http://www.ncl.com/pressroom. For further information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit http://www.ncl.com, follow us on Facebook and Twitter or contact us in the U.S. and Canada at 866-234-0292.

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[Toiler of the Seas]

Ouch! Vancouver is getting slammed.

[retiredonthesea]

Wonder how they will handle this with customers who had already booked:confused: It's got to be disappointing to have planned something as great as a Alaska cruise than have it pulled out from under you. I would hope they (NCL) would transfer them to another ship sailing to Alaska.

[noreddye]

Wow, we almost booked our Alaska 2010 trip on the Sun but we picked the Pearl instead.

[negc]

NCL is simply following the lead of the other major cruiselines which previously announced a pullback from Alaska in 2010. There have been a number of reports of a lessening of interest in Alaska cruises so I am sure that this far out, they still have the ability to move anyone already booked on the Sun to another ship that they will have in Alaska next year. Clearly the taxes that were adopted by Alaska last year have had a negative effect on the cruiselines' bottom line and this is just their response.

It will be interesting to see how much Alaska will suffer as a consequence of lowered tax revenues due to their earlier actions. I am somehow reminded of the warning against killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.:rolleyes:

[electricron]

Wonder how they will handle this with customers who had already booked:confused: It's got to be disappointing to have planned something as great as a Alaska cruise than have it pulled out from under you. I would hope they (NCL) would transfer them to another ship sailing to Alaska.

 

It'll be an entirely different Alaskan itinerary.

NCL will work with early bookers to swap to either a Star or Pearl cruise, with probably some OBC added.

Never-the-less, we're a year away from the first cancelled cruise, so everyone can get their deposits back.

 

I wonder how well the Jewel's Baltic cruises were selling, because they're sending the smaller Sun to replace it, and sending the Jewel to New York instead.

 

That not only means the Jewel will be in New York all year, early 2010 to early 2011, but that New York will have two Panamax sized (Star and Jewel class) ships in New York all year too. The Gem moves to New York during the winter, and the Dawn moves to New York during the summer.

 

Year round NCL ship allocations (starting early 2010):

Hawaii (1) POAmerica

Europe (1) Jade

New York (1) Jewel

Miami (2) Epic and Sky

Accounts for 5 of NCL's 11 ships.

 

Summer NCL ship allocations:

Alaska (2) Star and Pearl

New York (1) Dawn

Boston (1) Spirit

Europe (2) Gem and Sun

 

Winter NCL ship allocations:

New Orleans (1) Spirit

Miami (2) Pearl and Dawn

Port Canaveral (1) Sun

New York (1) Gem

Los Angeles (1) Star

 

So, not only has NCL repositioned the Jewel back to New York for the winter season, but they just now moved it back to New York for the summer season too.

[Don Haynes]

The Jewel's Baltic passengers can be switched to the Sun, the Sun's Alaskan passengers can be switched to either the Pearl or Star. A year out, none of the ships are nearly booked. I don't see a problem. But we will hear tales of increased fares. And those who had booked a Panama Canal Sun cruise can book a Pearl Panama Canal cruise.

 

And NCL will have a year to book Jewel passengers from New York. Maybe a late start, but there will be plenty of time to sell the ship.

 

Alaska didn't do itself any favors by increasing their head tax so much, and if the passengers won't pay the increased head tax, neither will the cruise lines.

[wrp96]

The Jewel's Baltic passengers can be switched to the Sun, the Sun's Alaskan passengers can be switched to either the Pearl or Star. A year out, none of the ships are nearly booked. I don't see a problem. But we will hear tales of increased fares.

 

The biggest issue will be that the Sun was offering one-way Alaska cruises, not the roundtrips offered by the Pearl and the Star, so a completely different Alaska experience. It is very likely you will see more than a few passengers switch cruiselines completely instead of just switching ships.

[retiredonthesea]

First Sun gets pulled from the South America itinerary now they don't want her in Alaska either. Looks like New York will be the popular spot. We really enjoyed sailing on the Jewel from NY---easy access, but crazy taxi drivers!:eek: Looking foreward to our SA. cruise in Mar on the Sun, she's one of our favorite ships.

 

Electricron----Thanks for info on who-what-where on the ships.

[jaja]

have I missed something ? NCL still has not announced any Bermuda our of NYC after Sept 5th 2010.....no October cruises ???????

[Bennett'sCruise]

Wow ... the Jewel Transatlantic for April, 2010, looked so good! Now, I'll hve to wait and see what the Sun will offer ...

Interesting ... smaller ship for the Baltics. :rolleyes:

I can understand the pulling out of Alaska. NCL is not the first cruiseline to do that for next year (or this). Things are just tightening up all over the world.

~d

[Don Haynes]

have I missed something ? NCL still has not announced any Bermuda our of NYC after Sept 5th 2010.....no October cruises ???????

 

New York's ship, the Dawn, doing the Bermuda itineraries is scheduled to do October Canada and New England cruises, along with the Spirit from Boston as I recall. Quebec province has spent funds attempting to grow their cruising business, especially for the autumn color. NCL's ten year Bermuda agreement which led to the construction of Heritage Wharf is for two big ships during the summer season, with an exclusive from Boston.

[Don Haynes]

Wow ... the Jewel Transatlantic for April' date=' 2010, looked so good! Now, I'll hve to wait and see what the Sun will offer ...[/font']

Interesting ... smaller ship for the Baltics. :rolleyes:

I can understand the pulling out of Alaska. NCL is not the first cruiseline to do that for next year (or this). Things are just tightening up all over the world.

~d

 

As I recall Carnival, Princess, and Holland American have pulled one if not two ships each from Alaska, along with Royal Caribbean. NCL is joining the others. As I said before, if passengers won't pay the big increase of the head tax, neither will cruise lines. As it is the cruise lines don't earn that much profit on the cruises anyway. Why should Alaska earn more than the cruise lines?

[HMK8273]

I said something a little more boiterous when I read this post - what gives? I know the economic situation is the main reason - but didn't anticipate this. :(

 

I can't even find where this is posted on NCL's website - where did the OP find it?

 

We are booked on the Jewel for the 6/16/2010 sailing of the Baltic Capitals - was looking forward to being on the Jewel again. We sailed her on her maiden N.E./Canada voyage when she first debuted and loved it.

 

Not anymore I guess - will wait and see what happens when NCL starts calling people - will have to let my TA know of the change and to expect a communication of sorts.

[CC Help Michell]

Wow. I think Terry had a b2b booked on the Sun for next summer, too. So much for NCL offering one way itineraries! This does make one decision easier for me -- I'm researching an Alaska cruise next summer for my SO and me, plus his mom, and the Sun was on the list because I have no interest in a round trip sailing. This decision narrows my choices.

[freestylecruizer]

The biggest issue will be that the Sun was offering one-way Alaska cruises, not the roundtrips offered by the Pearl and the Star, so a completely different Alaska experience. It is very likely you will see more than a few passengers switch cruiselines completely instead of just switching ships.

 

Huh? The Sun was operating Vancouver round-trip; 7 days every Sunday out of Canada Place.

 

What's a bummer is we were booked on the Vancouver - Pt Canaveral cruise in Sept 2010 - that is now dead!

[freestylecruizer]

Ouch! Vancouver is getting slammed.

 

Totally makes sense to slam Vancouver prior to the Olympics, huh?

Thanks Alaska. (BTW, in a report, NCL is saying that the $50pp tax that Alaska passed a few years ago is the reason for the pull).

[CC Help Michell]

Huh? The Sun was operating Vancouver round-trip; 7 days every Sunday out of Canada Place.

 

What's a bummer is we were booked on the Vancouver - Pt Canaveral cruise in Sept 2010 - that is now dead!

 

For 2010 the Sun was scheduled to sail one way between Vancouver and Whittier -- it would have been NCL's only ship to do so. Check the original post again, as it refers to a seven day itinerary between Vancouver and Whittier (seven days each way).

[mevers]

The story is on USA Today's cruise blog at:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=66075187.blog

 

For those of you who want to investigate further.

[roxette]

I feel bad for those people on the baltic cruises next year, Nynäshamn is (at least) an hour away with bus from Stockholm. This summer the Jewel will be right downtown..

 

It's a joke to call Nynäshamn "Stockholm".

[smeyer418]

does any body think it was the $50....I think it had more to do with sharing the Casino revenue...

[numberguy]

I feel bad for those people on the baltic cruises next year, Nynäshamn is (at least) an hour away with bus from Stockholm. This summer the Jewel will be right downtown..

 

It's a joke to call Nynäshamn "Stockholm".

 

My partner and I were thinking of taking a Baltic cruise in 2010 or 2011, but we haven't researched it very deeply. Are you saying that the Jewel docked in Stockholm, but the Sun will dock in Nynashamn (can't get the umlaut to work)?

 

--Michael

[negc]

does any body think it was the $50....I think it had more to do with sharing the Casino revenue...

 

I think it was the combination of things - the higher fees, the casino revenue sharing, and the requirement that the lines reveal the markups that they make to shore excursion prices. Taken altogether, and coupled with a slowing of Alaska bookings, placing multiple ships in Alaska just wasn't making good business sense. This latest development further demonstrates how quickly and easily the cruise lines can shift their fleet deployment to meet current conditions.:)

[BIG_Steve]

I'm confused (what else is new?) On the SKY last week we saw a presentation about fleetwide itinerarys. I was sure the speaker said the SUN was going to do year round Carribean tours from Port Canaveral.

 

Geeze, what a cruise, I'm still not fully recovered.

[scchasgal]

I'm confused (what else is new?) On the SKY last week we saw a presentation about fleetwide itinerarys. I was sure the speaker said the SUN was going to do year round Carribean tours from Port Canaveral.

 

Geeze, what a cruise, I'm still not fully recovered.

 

 

Miami - Feb 10, 2009 --- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced that for the first time in more than 11 years, the company will homeport a ship seasonally at Port Canaveral, Florida beginning October 2010. The 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun, purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising, will sail alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, departing every Saturday from October 9, 2010 through April 16, 2011.

 

The Sun will do the winter in Pt Canaveral and summer in Europe