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With the 2010 Winter Games just around the corner, Norwegian Cruise Line has decided to give ticket holders another option for lodging. Game attendees can stay aboard a luxury cruise ship docked along the Olympic host city’s waterfront.
Newwest Special Projects LP, an entrepreneurial travel company, has chartered Norwegian Cruise Line's Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Star, for the duration of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Norwegian Star will be docked in North Vancouver from February 10 through March 2, adding 10 percent capacity to the city's downtown hotel inventory of 12,000 rooms.
"Having Norwegian Star in Vancouver will offer much needed accommodations for corporations, sponsors, sporting clubs and individual fans wanting to make the 2010 Olympic Games an experience of a lifetime," said Dennis Laliberte, president of Newwest Special Projects LP. "This is a rare opportunity and our team is thrilled to help bring the world to Canada."
After a four-day sailing from Los Angeles, Norwegian Star will cruise into Vancouver on February 10. The ship will dock in North Vancouver for the duration of the 2010 Winter Games. After the Games, the ship will start heading south on March 2 and arrive in Los Angeles on March 6.
The pre- and post-cruise options give clients a great way to extend their Olympic experience, but also offer an additional means of transportation for visitors to arrive or depart Vancouver during this busy time.
"Through Newwest's charter, Norwegian Star will offer unique accommodations for thousands of guests attending the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver," said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line's executive vice president of global sales and passenger services. "We are pleased to be working with Newwest on this exciting project."
In Vancouver, Norwegian Star will feature all the amenities, activities and entertainment programs as if at sea, with a crew of approximately 1,000 looking after a maximum of 2,240 guests.
A variety of packages are available in either three- or four-night durations. Prices start at $350 per person, per night based on double occupancy. All packages include meals, airport transfers, daily transfers from/to the ship to North Vancouver's Sea Bus Terminal, city tour of Vancouver and more.
A wide variety of rooms and suites are available aboard the ship from inside and outside staterooms to mini suites with balconies and luxurious penthouse suites. Since the ship is a private charter, custom tailored packages can be arranged that could include private coach transfers, multilingual guides, private meals and functions for up to 1,000 guests aboard Norwegian Star.
"The ship has 1,119 staterooms allowing for 8,960 guests to be accommodated throughout the duration of the Games," Laliberte said. "This will generate substantial revenues not only for all levels of government, but for the businesses of North Vancouver, Whistler and Vancouver."