No Shuttle Damage: NCL Cruise Ship Wake Causes Minor Drama at Intrepid Museum

Updated at 10:58 AM with comment from the U. S. Coast Guard.
Updated at 10:29 AM with comment from Norwegian Cruise Lines.

The wake from a docking cruise ship in New York’s Hudson River jostled the retired submarine Growler at the Intrepid Museum, knocking its gangway into the water, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Sara Romero.  The Norwegian Star, which can carry 2,348 passengers, was pulling into Pier 88 under the guidance of a New York harbor pilot on the bridge.  Norwegian Cruise Lines Public Relations Vice President AnneMarie Mathews  says propulsion and thrusters were used “which created a wake in surrounding waters.”


Norwegian Jewel pictured Not the Norwegian Star.

Describing it as a “minor incident,” Coast Guard Spokesperson Thomas McKenzie said that there were “no damages, no injuries, no collisions and no pollution released.”

There was no damage to the Space Shuttle recently put on display at the museum.

Earlier today @cbsnews reported that the Intrepid Museum was damaged in a ‘collision’ with a Norwegian Cruise Lines Ship.

Luke Sacks, at the Intrepid Museum, sent me this statement…

The initial finding is that a cruise ship thrusting its engines as it attempted to turn into its berth north of the Intrepid pier generated a strong wave that caused the retired submarine Growler to move. There were no injuries. A gangway to the Growler was damaged.  The Intrepid was not affected.

Anne Marie Mathews, Vice President of Public Relations at Norwegian Cruise Line says…

This morning at Pier 88 in New York City, Norwegian Star docked safely and securely without making contact with any other vessel or pier.

The ship was guided by a New York pilot who was on the bridge.  In the process of maneuvering to its docking position, the ship experienced strong current conditions. To keep the ship in its correct docking approach under these conditions, propulsion and thrusters were utilized which created a wake in the surrounding waters.

 

Norwegian introduces flexible dining packages

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a new version of its restaurant package that lets guests select nights in alternative restaurants for a single price.

The cruise line’s current package for specialty restaurants, the Ultimate Dining Package ($59 per person for a three- to six-night cruise and $119 for a seven-night cruise), allows diners to eat in a specialty restaurant every night of the cruise, but doesn’t have an option to select some nights.

The flexible Specialty Dining Package offers a savings over a la carte dining in specialty restaurants that carry a cover charge. Diners can choose how many nights to dine in specialty venues, with a minimum of three days. The three-day package is $59 per person when bought online prior to embarkation.

The packages are good in specialty steakhouses, Brazilian churrascarias, French, Japanese Hibachi and Italian restaurants.

To dine in specialty restaurants where items on the menu are priced individually, or in entertainment-based restaurants, holders of a specialty dining package pay an upcharge. The upcharge is $15 for Ocean Blue; $10 for general seats and $15 for premium seats at Cirque Dreams and the Illusionarium; $10 for Bayamo; and $7 for the Raw Bar, Pincho Tapas Bar and all sushi bar restaurants fleet wide.

A restaurant called For the Record: Dear John Hughes, coming when Norwegian Escape debuts in October, will carry a $15 upcharge.

The packages can be pre-ordered online (at greater savings) or bought in the first two days of a cruise, beginning in early August, depending on the ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line to host millennial agent groups

Norwegian Escape

Two millennial travel professional groups are co-hosting a leadership retreat to be held on the inaugural cruise of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Escape, Nov. 9-14.

The event is open to all active members of ASTA’s Young Professionals Society and Millennials in Travel under the age of 40.

The five-night, six-day leadership retreat will include business roundtables, networking with industry leaders and informal idea-sharing.

Accommodations are complimentary, but there is a $175 registration fee to cover taxes and fees, gratuities, special events, and a participant welcome gift. There are 40 spaces available.

“Millennials and young travel professionals are key to the longevity and healthy future of all leisure travel,” said Jason Krimmel, Norwegian Cruise Line’s director, field sales. “The entire Norwegian team looks forward to partnering with the YPS chapter of ASTA and Millennials in Travel to provide in depth knowledge on today’s Norwegian that will help them grow their business and reach new clients.”