To anyone who posts questions about the Norway, my stock response is "you will either love her or you will hate her". There just does not seem to be any "middle of the road" regarding this ship.

I am one of those who loves her. Why? I could say it is her charm, 60's decor, graceful lines, quirky stair towers, some of which lead to seemingly nowhere, enclosed promenades, dance floors only riveled by the QE2 or any number of other reasons that have been previously posted.

I can appreciate the negative opinions expressed by others since differing opinions are what keeps us all posting.

That stated, I wonder how many of you consider my opening statement valid? With the exception of Carnival Cruise Lines (not my intention to open a CCL thread here), none of the other lines can fill as much bandwidth as NCL, the S/S Norway in particular.

Wishing you all smooth seas and gentle breezes,

I don't like 1960's decore, thats why I prefer the Norway to the QE2. Let me explain: the QE2 originally had 1960's style decor - lots of pyscadelic swirls and purple. Although she has had many refits, this 1960's style still shows.

On the other hand, the Norway had/has 1920's style decore, like the Queen Mary, even though she was built in the 1960's!

KruzinKat

[This message has been edited by KruzinKat (edited 04-19-2000).]

Today the QE2 has 1930's style decor, like the earlier queens, even though she was built in the 1960's!

Sure hope you stocked up on Norway
memorabilia when you did the August T/A

Maggie and I loaded up on all of it, because
it's just a matter of time before her final
whistle blows. There is only one Norway, and
there will never be another quite like her.

Maggie,Katie and I feel the same as you and
R/4 we will always have fond memories of her.

Many ship lovers seem to think that the career is over for the S/S Norway (at least as a cruise ship). But remember that in 1979 when Knut Kloster bought the dormant S/S France it was viewed in many quarters as an act of sucicidal bravado. The "experts" considered her too big and too expensive to run. Today many experts have taken another standpoint. Here are some examples and there are many more:

The Berlitz Guide to Cruising 1999:

"She is still a majestic looking ship....the recent refurbishment also refreshed her interiors....Like Cunards QE 2, Norway is a floating contemporary resort. This ship should provide fascinating for active passengers and families of all ages".
(Her total score was 1451 to be compared with for instance much younger ships like the Norwegian Dream (1461), Norwegian Majesty (1405) and the sensation (1463))

Travelpage - Ship Profiles (Review by Travel page cruise editor and associate cruise editor)

"Hail to the Norway...we think she is a whole lot better then the France ever was - and she has never BEEN better!....It is simply not possible not to enjoy your time aboard this ship! The Norway has never looked better. The Norway has never been better....and it seems she just get better with age...She may be the only ship we could comfortably reccomend to any person looking for a cruise"

It seems that this ship has a lot more to give.

I would not be surprised if the S/S Norway sails on for many years to come, but perhaps not under the ownership of the NCL.

In the Berlitz Guide to Cruising 2000 there is an interesting statement from the editor about the QE2. I think this statement can also be used for the S/S Norway. "Will she survive the onslaught of the megaships? YES! simple beacuse she is nothing like them".

I've never been entirely happy with the QE2's shape either. I think that her sperstructure looks very 1960ish, i.e. curved with an oversized funnel.

But the ambiance, the food, the French Crew, the wines. It is my understanding that those who sailed on this great ship in its two incarnations are inevitably disappointed in the "downgrading" of a mighty transatlantic liner to serving the less-demanding cruise crowd. All nights exept pre-debarkation were formal on Transat sailings and there was an element of luxury and formality that could not be captured by the pantsuit and sportshirt crowd.

Yes I am a snob, and freely admit it. Which is why I, relucantly transferred my allegiance to QE2!

http://www.travelpage.com/disc/Forum2/HTML/000416.html

If the France had not been re-adapted for the mass-market, she would still be rusting in Le Harve.