Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been ordered to pay approximately $110 million in damages for use of the Havana port, according to a U.S. judge who ruled in the case Friday.
The case, ongoing for some time, was ruled in favour of the Havana Docks Corp., which essentially argued that the cruise line’s use of the Havana port “constituted trafficking in confiscated property” as the port is a Cold-War asset seizure.
It is still being determined whether NCLH will or can appeal the nine-figure ruling. Havana Docks Corp. has pending cases against Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group and MSC Cruises.
Havana Docks Corp. was awarded $109,848,747.87 in damages plus Norwegian will pay $3 million in legal fees and costs.
With the Obama administration easing the Cuba embargo in 2016, cruise lines lined up to sail to Havana, including all of Norwegian Cruise Line’s brands.
In 2019, the Trump administration undid some of that with a ban on recreational travel to Cuba which put a stop to any major cruise brands calling on the island.
Optimizing operations are continuing at Norwegian Cruise Line, which is set to reduce its stateroom cleaning service in 2023 fleetwide, according to a report from Crew Center, citing a letter sent to the crew, which was also obtained later by Cruise Industry News.
In short, some stateroom categories will now get a once-a-day cleaning service, instead of twice-a-day cleaning, which has included night-time turndown service. This will allow the cruise line to consolidate crew roles while saving energy and water, according to the letter.
Stateroom categories moving to once-daily service in 2023 include studio, inside, oceanview, balcony and club balcony rooms.
This will involve consolidation of staff roles as the stateroom steward and junior stateroom steward positions will be adjusted to a single job title in stateroom attendant.
The company said in the letter that the elimination of this position will phase out over time, allowing the crew to complete current contracts.
According to the company, the adjustment “positively impacts our commitment to environmental sustainability and keeps our company in alignment with current standard practices in the cruise and hotel industries by promoting conservation of water and energy resources and by reducing the use of chemicals onboard our ships.”
The changes first happen on the Norwegian Epic on Jan. 8, followed by the Sky starting Jan. 13, and then the Jewel on Jan. 14, and Sun and Breakaway on Jan. 15
Ushering a new era for Norwegian Cruise Line, the Norwegian Prima debuted earlier this year.
First, in a series of six new cruise ships, the 142,000-ton vessel is equipped with several new features, such as the ocean’s largest go-kart racetrack and an upscale food marketplace.
Cruise Industry News selected five of the ship’s most unique attributes.
Indulge Food Hall
The Prima boasts what Norwegian Cruise Line calls its first “upscale food hall”.
Partly located on the ship’s external promenade, Ocean Boulevard, the venue features a marketplace that offers diverse menu items from a variety of 11 different culinary options. Three full-service restaurants are also located in the adjacencies, Onda by Scarpetta, Los Lobos, and The Local Bar & Grill.
The Haven
The Haven by Norwegian is returning on the Prima, offering the brand’s biggest and most exclusive ship-within-a-ship suite complex. Spanning eight decks of suites and public areas, it is accessible via private elevators and located aft of the ship for the very first time.
According to Norwegian, the area was designed to be more open to the sea than ever before with every public area offering ocean views. Other reimagined areas are the sundeck, which now offers a new infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake, and a new outdoor spa, with a glass-walled sauna and cold room.
Prima Speedway
The Prima is also bringing back one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s most famous signature features, the go-kart racetrack.
According to the company, the Prima Speedway “will up the ante,” with the largest and first-ever three-level racetrack. Featuring a longer straightaway with a course of 420 meters in length, the speedway will go around and through the funnel of the ship and boasts 14 turns where 15 drivers can simultaneously race on the open ocean, reaching speeds of more than 50km/h.
Transformational Theater
Described by Norwegian as a “groundbreaking transformational theatre,” the ship’s showroom will double down as a nightclub.
The three-story venue, designed to seamlessly convert the space from a state-of-the-art performance stage to an expansive dance floor, will feature a customizable seating layout and moving LED screens that lower from the ceiling and are nearly half the size of the venue.
The Drop
Another unique feature of the vessel is The Drop. According to Norwegian, the attraction is the world’s first freefall dry slide where users will experience a 10-story plunge while reaching the highest G-forces of any cruise line.
Located on the side of the ship, the attraction also features duelling dry slides known as The Rush.
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