Norwegian Cruise Line has become the latest to cut back its Alaska capacity. blaming the rising costs of deploying three ships in Alaska and new legislation, in particular the $50 head tax.
Royal Caribbean Cruises is taking a ship out of Alaska for summer 2010, while Carnival Corp chairman and chief executive Micky Arison has threatened to "pull capacity" next year due to the tax and regulations. Carnival owns Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, which each have huge land operations in Alaska in addition to the cruises. Cruise West has already taken three ships out the Alaska area for 2009.
Instead of sailing in the 49th state next summer, NCL's Norwegian Sun will be based in Dover, taking over Norwegian Jewel's Baltic Capitals cruises from the UK.
"Here comes the Sun" NCL proclaimed as it released the news, putting a happy slant on the fact they are actually reducing capacity from the UK yet again next year. For summer 2010, after just two years, NCL is also pulling all its cruises from Southampton and repositioning Norwegian Jade in Venice.
Southampton worked well but cruises from Venice are more straightforward, I was told. As cruising from the UK is about as straightforward as it gets for the Brits, I suspect that means the Americans weren't too impressed with cruising from Southampton.
Norwegian Sun holds 1,936 passengers, while Jewel has capacity for 2,376. For summer 2010, Jewel moves to New York, from where it will be sailing various seven and 10-night cruises to the Bahamas, Florida, New England and Canada.
If your cruise is affected by the Sun/Jewel swap you can change to a comparable sailing but you need to be fast as transfers must be done by May 11. Call NCL on 020 7591 8007.
Jane Archer
