Norwegian Spirit

This article is about the cruise ship formerly known as SuperStar Leo. For the Thoroughbred racehorse, see Superstar Leo.
Norwegian Spirit in May 2015
History
Name:
  • 1998–2004: SuperStar Leo
  • 2004–present: Norwegian Spirit
Owner:
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 and 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 as SuperStar Leo in Sydney Harbour, 2004
The vessel as SuperStar Leo in Sydney Harbour, 2004

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 the South China Sea.

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.

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. She was designed for an Asian clientele, so curiously the ship is generally on a shorter scale in height than most cruise ships. This also means shorter deck chairs for lounging, hand rails in the corridors and so on. [1]

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; 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruises in the summer and autumn, and nine-night cruises to the Canary Islands in the winter and spring. She was designed for an Asian clientele, so curiously the ship is generally on a shorter scale in height than most cruise ships. This also means shorter deck chairs for lounging, hand rails in the corridors and so on. [2]

Media

In the 2012 movie 21 Jump Street (film) the Norwegian Spirit can be seen while they pass the bridge in the hijacked pink Volkswagen New Beetle.

Norwegian Spirit in harbour at Malaga 

References

  1. ↑ Attractions dot Com, Bermuda. "Bermuda Attractions website". Bermuda Attractions. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. ↑ http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_121510
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