Norwegian Spirit

This article is about the cruise ship formerly known as SuperStar Leo. For the Thoroughbred racehorse, see Superstar Leo.

Career
Name:	1998–2004: SuperStar Leo 2004–present: Norwegian Spirit
Owner:	1998–2004: Star Cruises 2004–present: Norwegian Cruise Line
Operator:	1998–2004: Star Cruises 2004–present: Norwegian Cruise Line
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 Gross tonnage
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:	4x 14700 kW V48/60 MAN B&W
Propulsion:	2x 20 MW ABB HSSOL 38/1256
Speed:	21 knots (max: 24 knots)
Capacity:	1,996 passengers
Crew:	965 crew

Norwegian Spirit (built for Star Cruises as SuperStar Leo) is a cruise ship currently operated by Norwegian Cruise Line.

History

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 first based in Hong Kong for almost five years.

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. The incident happened exactly five years to the day since the SS Norway experienced a boiler explosion in Miami.

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.

Propulsion

Four 14-cylinder MAN B&W 14V48 medium speed diesels driving ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) electric propulsion motors (nearly 55,000 horsepower), driving twin propellers.

Cruises

Norwegian Spirit now^[when?] sails out of New Orleans on cruises to the Western Caribbean. After her last Caribbean season in New Orleans, the Norwegian Spirit will reposition to Europe in April 2012 where she will sail year-round; sailing two different itineraries, 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruise in the summer and autumn, and nine-night tour of the Canary Islands in winter and spring.^[1]

References

1. ^ Norwegian Cruise Line announces largest European deployment in companys history Norwegian Cruise Line, December 2010

External links

• Norwegian Spirit: Overview Norwegian Cruise Line
• CruiseCritic.com review
• Meyer Werft Website
• Norwegian Spirit www.galutschek.at (short video clip of Norwegian Spirit, November 2007)