Star to Sell Norwegian Crown

Star Cruises will sell the Norwegian Crown—launched in 1988 and known over the years as Royal Cruise Line's Crown Odyssey and Orient Lines' Crown Odyssey—to Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, rather than have the ship transferred from NCL to the Star fleet as the line normally does with older NCL ships. Apparently, the 34,000-ton Norwegian Crown is just a tad too small for the Star business model and service in Asia, but a good size for Fred.Olsen. Agents need not worry about clients booked on Norwegian Crown in the coming months though, as Star plans to charter the ship back from Fred.Olsen and Norwegian Cruise Line will continue to operate the previously announced NCL deployment on the ship until November 2007. Norwegian Crown is sailing seven-day, summer and fall Bermuda cruises from Philadelphia and New York. The ship also will sail 14-night South American cruises this winter, as well as 2007 Bermuda cruises. The ship will leave the NCL fleet at the end of the Bermuda season in late October 2007. NCL said the changes are timed to coincide with the delivery of new NCL ships the Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem.