NCL Pulling Norwegian Sun from Alaska in 2010

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Ship moves to Europe in summer 2010

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun will leave Alaska in summer 2010, heading for more profitable European waters. NCL also cites recently enacted and detrimental legislation aimed at the cruise industry for the switch.

The 1,936-passenger ship will assume an itinerary previously announced for Norwegian Jewel and will sail a 12-day Baltic Capitals itinerary from London beginning May 11, 2010, through September 8, 2010. The 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel will move from Europe to New York, sailing a combination of seven-day Bahamas and 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, NCL's CEO. "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, AL. The ship's new European deployment now includes a 15-day Panama Canal sailing from Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile, to Miami on April 11, 2010. 

Following the winter season in Miami, Norwegian Jewel will reposition 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 agents and guests with reservations on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jewel's previously scheduled sailings, and 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. 

NCL has established a dedicated support line at 877-461-1160 for the matter.

Beginning Wednesday, April 29, 2009, the company will accept reservations on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jewel's new itineraries.

Visit www.ncl.com.