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MIAMI, FL, March 26, 2003 -- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced today that it has changed the name of Crown Odyssey to Norwegian Crown during a multi-million dollar refurbishment to convert the ship into a Freestyle Cruising vessel and added three new restaurants. Norwegian Crown will enter into service under the NCL fleet this fall and begin sailing from Baltimore as part of the company's expansive Homeland Cruising program. The series will mark NCL's first regular sailings from Baltimore.

Beginning September 15, 2003, Norwegian Crown will offer 11-day Canada/New England cruises departing roundtrip from Baltimore and visiting ports in Maine, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Massachusetts. Following a 15-day repositioning cruise from Miami to Santiago, Chile on Nov. 1, 2003, Norwegian Crown concludes 2003 with four 14-day South America cruises between Santiago and Buenos Aires, Argentina. In May 2004, she will take over Norwegian Sea's Philadelphia and New York based 7-day sailings to Bermuda through October before heading to South America again for the winter.

"We are excited to add Norwegian Crown to the NCL fleet allowing us to expand our Homeland Cruising program for our travel partners and guests in the mid-Atlantic region," said Andy Stuart, senior vice president marketing and sales for NCL. "The renovation to make Norwegian Crown NCL's newest Freestyle Cruising ship offers guests all the flexibility and choice synonymous with Freestyle Cruising."

Dramatic changes for Norwegian Crown
Norwegian Crown underwent dramatic changes during her February dry dock including the addition of three new restaurants bringing the number of restaurants to six.

NCL added its popular signature alternative restaurant, Le Bistro. The restaurant seats 70 guests and is decorated in coral, green and gold colors. Large, comfortable wood banquettes ensure intimate dining spaces while gold sconces along the walls provide a romantic atmosphere. Classic chairs from France and etched glass complete the addition.

NCL also added The Pasta Café and an Asian themed restaurant, Chopsticks, will open when the ship begins its NCL service in September.

The Pasta Café seats 40 and has been decorated with modern Italian influences with cobalt blue and cherry wood accents. A blue granite top has been added on the bar where Norwegian Crown guests can sit and watch the chef prepare traditional Italian cuisine.

The vessel's popular Top of the Crown Lounge features striking enhancements including a new bar topped with blue-pearl granite. The stools, tables and chairs have been removed to create an open space. Pull-up cocktail tables are attached to a railing that encircles the room and light beach wood accents put the last touches on the transformation.

The Lido Bar was expanded to include the original outside area. Expansive solarium windows with high-tech stainless steel support systems make for an airy but modern space. The teak deck has been restored and large, plush chairs are perfect for lounging.

The Monte Carlo Court Casino received a complete renovation adding glass walls around the perimeter, new upholstery and carpets in rich maroon and gold.

NCL is completely rebuilding the ship's Mandara Spa, Beauty Salon and Fitness Center. Aqua, mint green and creamy white colors set the tone for a serene experience. Mosaic tiles of the same colors and lightwood accents adorn the walls. Guests can work out in separate aerobic and weight rooms plus enjoy an array of fitness equipment. The spa has nine treatment rooms while the salon features four stations all facing an expanse of floor to ceiling windows.

A new teen and children's center is being added. The new dynamic teen center features bold colors such as metallic purples, greens and oranges. A dance floor with state-of-the-art sound and light system, juice bar and large, multi-colored banquettes for comfortable corners is perfect for this age group.

A video arcade separates the teen center from the children's center, which will feature a space splashed with primary colors. Kid's Crew participants will enjoy an arts & crafts center, a theater featuring a plasma screen with beanbags for comfortable viewing, and a computer corner.

Four new suites on the Penthouse deck are being added as well as nine new inside passenger staterooms.

As a final touch, the outside of the ship has a new look - the hull was painted white.

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Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
I believe I read some place??? That Norweigan Crown will finish off it's season until Fall with Orient then be brought into the NCL Fleet??

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On a brihgter note, Le Bistro looks great and the new Lido Bar is very nice. Very odd to see her in all white but with the Orient colors on her funnel.

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Originally posted by SoBe Tim:
Just saw photos of her and the poor thing has been massacred! The addition of the huge spa are has completely ruined her profile and the observation lounge's only view is now of a huge expanse of steel decking.
On a brihgter note, Le Bistro looks great and the new Lido Bar is very nice. Very odd to see her in all white but with the Orient colors on her funnel.

Tim

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Originally posted by SoBe Tim:
Just saw photos of her and the poor thing has been massacred! The addition of the huge spa are has completely ruined her profile and the observation lounge's only view is now of a huge expanse of steel decking.

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Poor thing . Really, who would want to "observe" a steel deck? Some "observation" lounge !

On the other hand, the internal changes don't sound too terrible, except of course for the removal of her much-boasted about (in former, Royal days) cinema.

I believe Pericles Panagopoulous and Richard Revnes (the top people at Royal during their independent days) made a big point of their "baby" having a real cinema.

Sadly, they came under the control of the Klosters empire, and predictably, the end came only a few years later...

Frankly, it's amazing that through all of their problems, NCL, in one form or another, actually still exists. Of course, what we have left is basically NORWAY and a fleet of old NCL ships converted to give an American version of Star Cruises (plus of course a pair of bona fide Star ships), but it still says "NCL" on the funnel, and that's something. You'd think with all the financial problems, bad management, vastly better competition, and so on, they would have bit the dust sometime in the last decade or so!

Unfortunately, their survival came at the expense of Royal Viking (bad) and Royal (worse). Sort of like a decaptiation of the luxury and premium large-ship segments, respectively!

The worst bit is, while the bizarre and much-unloved ROYAL VIKING SUN is now being well-treated at HAL (and actually looks decent), the fabulous CROWN ODYSSEY has now been whitewashed over in Star/NCL "Freestyle Cruising" guise, being put in a market segment that I suspect she is woefully unsuited for.

[ 04-07-2003: Message edited by: cruiseny ]

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Originally posted by Keitaro:
Why would NCL make the changes while it is still an Orient ship? They should havee waited on the white hull until the transfer.

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I doubt many Orient passengers will be perturbed by the white hull, but the internal changes (loss of the observation aspect of the observation lounge, loss of the cinema, etc.) will definitely affect them.

I would not be very happy of Orient had decided to make these changes before my cruise...

Worse, some of the refit work was going on before the refit, during people's cruises. I have read a few (justifiably) negative reviews from people who had the treat of parts of the ship being "under construction" during their cruise.

I imagine the refit was scheduled when it was in order to fit into the ship's schedule. Perhaps this drydock was already scheduled and they decided to take advantage of the opportunity?

Unless I'm mistaken, we sailed on this vessel twice...first as, yes, the Norwegian Crown transatlantic from Southampton to U.S.(I think Fort Lauderdale). More recently, we sailed on the Crown Odyssey from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. We were surprised to discover it was the same ship.

It seems Crown Odyssey is Orient Line which happens to belong to NCL. Now, it seems, it is reverting to Norwegian Crown. It's difficult to keep track of all these things.

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Originally posted by robertnew:
This was the first time in over 20 cruises we were on the same ship twice and it was by accident.

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[ 04-09-2003: Message edited by: Keitaro ]