NORWAY - modernization of cruise ship, Norway

Cruise Travel, Sept, 2000 by M.T. Schwartzman

A Proud Liner That Stays In Tune With Modern Trends

SHIP of the Month

Both the Norway and I are children of the '60s. The Norway entered service in January of 1962, albeit under a different name. I arrived in a short while later in August. And while some may consider us relics of another time, others appreciate our classic qualities and ability to adapt.

The Norway is a ship that has seen the decline of trans-Atlantic crossing and the emergence of the modern cruise industry. Carrying 2,032 passengers (double) and listed at 76,049 gross register tons, she was once the world's largest cruise ship, and at 1,035, feet she remains the world's longest. The Norway began life as the France, a ship built to evoke the grandeur and style of French culture. Until September of 1974, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean with speed and style.

In 1979 Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the vessel, and she made her maiden voyage as the Norway on June 1 of 1980. Those were different days--cruising wasn't the six million-passenger-a-year industry that it is today. In fact, only 1.4 million people took a cruise in 1980, according to the Cruise Lines International Assn., the industry's trade group. But for the people on the Norway's first cruise, their vacation was truly a trip into the future.

As cruising has grown, the Norway has changed to keep up with the times. Over the years, NCL has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate, refit, and reinvent the Norway, so today she is very much in step with the latest Caribbean megaships. As the captain and officers of the Norway will tell you, virtually everything has changed to some degree since her days as the France. But purism aside, these modifications have kept the Norway young and relevant in today's fast-changing cruise market.

The changes began immediately after the ship was purchased by NCL in 1979, when she was converted for cruise service. Two propellers and four boilers were removed, reducing her top speed from 35 knots to 23 or 24--depending on which officer you ask. (The official top speed, according to NCL, is 25 knots.)

At the same time, many changes were made to her interior and exterior public spaces. The first-class courtyard, Patio Provencale, was filled in with a swimming pool. Conversely, the tourist-class indoor swimming pool was transformed into a disco. The class system was eliminated, cabins were added, and deck space expanded. Subsequent modifications have included Le Bistro, (the alternative restaurant), a 6,000-square-foot Roman Spa, a 4,000-square-foot fitness center, and a whole new deck of suites with private verandas, added to the top of the ship above the bridge.

The trend toward modernization has continued to this day with the Sports Illustrated Cafe, the latest addition to the ship. The cafe occupies the space of the former Checkers Cabaret, which itself replaced the Grand Salon, the ship's original first-class lounge. The cafe is a bona-fide celebration of sports, inspired by the famous magazine, with memorabilia, still photography, and TVs galore. However, due to its central location on the promenade deck, the sports cafe is more than just a place to watch the games--it's also become a prime gathering spot for hot hors d'oeuvres in the afternoon and dancing to soft rock in the evening.

Yet another example of how the Norway has kept pace with latest trends can be found in the Library, where you'll still find books and board games, but also four computer terminals that provide access to the Internet. For 75 cents a minute, you can surf the World Wide Web. For another $3.95 (flat fee), you can send e-mail to friends and family--much cheaper than picking up the satellite phone in your cabin at $5.95 a minute.

Dining, too, captures the prevailing winds. Two main dining rooms, the Leeward and Windward, are redecorated and renamed from the France, but otherwise they are basically intact from the ship's trans-Atlantic days. However, NCL has improved its menus in the main dining rooms considerably in the past few years. The food is not only better, but it's also healthier and more creative (again echoing the latest trends). To achieve the latter, the line brought in former White House executive chef Henry Hailer to create a "Presidential Menu," served once during every cruise. Each dish is named for a different president or first lady, and comes with a little story describing how the recipe suited the tastes of the first family.

In another venture, NCL has teamed up, with Cooking Light magazine to add even more pizzazz to its menus. Each Cooking Light recipe comes with a description of its nutritional content, such as number of calories and the like. These healthy dishes are available at every meal throughout the cruise. Meanwhile, Le Bistro, the alternative restaurant, serves dinner every evening from a separate menu, and prepares some truly exceptional Italian and Continental cuisine.

When it comes to show time, the curtain rises on a variety of entertainment, which gives today's passengers the kind of choice they demand. Comedians, dance combos, and piano players set up shop in the ship's various bars and lounges. In the main theater, NCL stages Broadway-style shows, which have become a Norway tradition and an NCL trademark. Some, like "Guys And Dolls," are revivals, while others are brand-new productions created especially for the line by Fort Lauderdale-based Jean Ann Ryan productions.