As one of the crucial widespread and largest cruise traces on the earth, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) provides a bevy of ships for cruisers to ebook — together with its brand-new ship, Norwegian Aqua, which I had the pleasure of lately crusing.
Nonetheless, as is the case with all cruise traces, as NCL’s fleet has welcomed new ships, a few of its older ships have fallen out of favor, and it hasn’t fairly made sense to maintain working them.
Norwegian Cruise Line has almost 20 such ships which have been retired, some as lately as 2025. Right here’s what’s occurred to them.
Sunward
Earlier than there was Norwegian Cruise Line, that we all know and love at the moment, there was Norwegian Caribbean Line. Based in 1966, the road’s very first ship wasn’t really purpose-built as a cruise ship. As an alternative, it was initially a ferry!
The Sunward (to not be confused by equally named ships to come back) labored as a automobile ferry between the UK and Spain earlier than the cruise line took it over, taking Sunward from Europe to the Caribbean, the place it could sail from Miami to the Bahamas, to nice success.
The Sunward might carry simply over 500 passengers and it was hardly a luxurious ship. It had two cabin decks, two decks with public areas and two decks with outside areas and a lounge. The one luxurious that did make it stand out? Air-con — an amenity not discovered on another cruise ships of the day.
Nonetheless, the Sunward was to not keep lengthy beneath the Norwegian Caribbean Line umbrella. Sunward was booted from the fleet in 1973.
The ship went again to Europe, after which the Center East, serving as a ferry, resort and cruise ship in its subsequent lives, beneath varied new names. The ship lastly met its destiny after almost 40 years at sea, being offered for scrap in Bangladesh in 2004.
Starward
As Norwegian Caribbean Line noticed higher and higher success, it determined to order some purpose-built cruise ships for its personal use. Starward was the primary of those, in-built 1968.
Nonetheless, in a novel nod to Sunward’s previous, Starward might additionally carry vehicles, identical to a ferry — although the car-carrying areas inside the ship had been transformed into public areas and cabins for passengers after a time.
Starward remained within the fleet for for much longer than Sunward, although, till 1995, when the ship was offered. Over its life, the ship modified fingers a number of occasions.
It sailed for Competition Cruises, Louis Cruise Traces and others (together with the U.S. authorities as an evacuation ship in 2006), till it was finally offered for scrap in 2018.
Skyward
Skyward was similar to Starward, additionally being ordered as a purpose-built ship for Norwegian Caribbean Line after the road noticed its improve in bookings after launching Sunward.
It likewise featured that car-carrying house that was later transformed. Moreover, each ships had been about 80% bigger than Sunward and able to carrying round 750 passengers.
These earlier ships had been referred to as the White Fleet, as a result of, on the time, NCL’s ships had been all white on the hull, moderately than sporting the colourful hull artwork the road is thought for at the moment. As a fleet, the ships served very brief sailings from Miami.
Nonetheless, whereas Norwegian Cruise Line was seeing an excellent diploma of success with these earlier ships, the road was not with out its points.
On Skyward specifically, the road confronted a collection of diseases because of serving contaminated water on the ship, and, in 1979, a hearth broke out on the ship.
After leaving NCL in 1991, Skyward served a number of functions, as a cruise ship and on line casino ship, for a handful of various homeowners, its final being New Century Cruise Line. In 2021, the ship was offered for scrap in India.
Southward
Between Skyward and Southward, there was alleged to be one other ship, Seaward, however this Seventies ship by no means noticed the sunshine of day, at the least not as a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.
Seaward’s builder went beneath, the hull was offered to P&O and the ship that was meant to be Seaward finally turned Spirit of London.
Regardless, Southward was the following ship for Norwegian Caribbean Line and would finally be the following ship to go away the road’s fleet.
Southward departed from earlier ships Starward and Skyward by being the primary ship within the fleet to have none of these ferry-esque car-carrying capabilities.
The Southward was in-built 1971 and is definitely partially to credit score for Norwegian Caribbean Line altering its title to Norwegian Cruise Line.
When Southward moved from the Caribbean to providing equally brief itineraries out of Los Angeles, the cruise line couldn’t very effectively name itself “Caribbean” anymore, and so it turned Norwegian Cruise Line.
Norwegian Cruise Line relieved itself of Southward in 1994 and the ship modified fingers a number of occasions earlier than finally turning into scrap in 2013.
Sunward II
Subsequent up was the Sunward II, acquired in 1977 after the unique Sunward I’s retirement from the fleet. Sunward II was not purpose-built for Norwegian Cruise Line. As an alternative, the cruise line bought the Cunard Adventurer from Cunard, and reworked it into Sunward II.
The ship remained within the fleet till 1991, after which it was offered to Epirotiki Traces, for Greek Isle cruises. The ship modified fingers a couple of extra occasions earlier than finally being scrapped in India, in 2014.
Norway
Very equally, the Norway was not constructed for Norwegian Cruise Line in any respect — however that didn’t cease the ship from making waves when it first debuted beneath the NCL banner in 1980.
Norway was considerably, considerably bigger than the cruise line’s prior ships. In its previous life, the Norway was referred to as the France. Already on the older facet, the ship had been out of service for a couple of years earlier than Norwegian Cruise Line bought it.
Nonetheless, the France had set information already over its life, as one of many largest ships within the business, in addition to the longest ship ever constructed and the second-fastest passenger ship to supply transatlantic cruises. It took about $80 million to show the France into the Norway.
There was only one subject. The brand new Norway was too giant to go to the Caribbean ports of name that Norwegian Cruise Line was accustomed to visiting.
As such, the cruise line started utilizing tendering ships referred to as the Little Norway I and the Little Norway II to get passengers from the Norway to shore. (Considering these distinctive ships? You possibly can really see them if it’s important to tender at Nice Stirrup Cay.)
Over Norway’s life, it obtained a number of upgrades with a purpose to retain its standing as one of the crucial spectacular within the biz. The ship obtained luxurious staterooms and personal veranda cabins, and new public areas, for instance. The ship would sail all around the world, earlier than it was finally retired from the NCL fleet in 2003.
The ship was offered for scrap, however the course of of truly turning the ship into scrap was a protracted one, because the ship’s giant quantity of asbestos required cautious dealing with.
Seaward/Norwegian Sea
Bear in mind how there was alleged to be a Seaward ship that debuted for Norwegian Cruise Line within the Seventies, however that ship by no means materialized and the hull was given over to P&O?
Properly, lastly, within the Eighties, Norwegian Cruise Line bought one other crack at this ship. By the point Seaward debuted, the ship was the primary new-build ship for the cruise line in almost twenty years.
Seaward was in-built Turku, Finland, and value $120 million on the time. It might maintain 1,534 passengers and measured in at round 42,000 GT. The ship provided a spread of cruises and, by the mid-Nineteen Nineties, represented about 20% of Norwegian Cruise Line’s capability, given the ship’s measurement.
Seaward was renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997 and, finally, was transferred over to Star Cruises in 2005, at which level the ship turned SuperStar Libra.
SuperStar Libra was closely overhauled to fulfill the expectations of the Asian cruising market and commenced cruising out of India. In 2018, the ship turned a resort ship, after which it was lastly moved to Turkey to be become scrap in 2022.
Westward
Norwegian Cruise Line’s dad or mum firm purchased the Royal Viking cruise line within the Eighties and, in 1991, two of the road’s ships had been transferred over to the NCL model: Westward and Sunward (sure, yet one more ship named Sunward). Nonetheless, neither of those ships would stay within the fleet very lengthy.
Westward was already fairly previous when it joined the fleet, having been constructed within the early Seventies, and crusing for Royal Viking for almost 20 years. As Westward, the ship provided itineraries between New York Metropolis and Bermuda.
Nonetheless, after only a handful of years, the ship moved to Royal Cruise Line, the place it was renamed Star Odyssey, however solely lasted a handful of years right here, too, earlier than transferring on to Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces. The ship turned the Black Watch, sailed for some time longer, then was offered as a resort ship in 2020, then beached for scrapping in 2022.
Sunward
Sure, there have been already two different Norwegian Cruise Line ships that had been named Sunward, however, on the time of this Sunward’s crusing, the opposite two had been out of fee.
The most recent Sunward was, like Westward, acquired from Royal Viking Line. The ship had already been crusing for fairly a while and would solely sail for NCL for a really transient interval, a few 12 months.
Over its lifetime, the ship would have greater than 10 totally different operators, lastly being offered for scrap in 2021.
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Star is type of an outlier, because it didn’t actually sail for the Norwegian Cruise Line that we all know of now.
As an alternative, this ship, like Sunward and Westward, was initially a Royal Viking Line ship and, when it was turned over to Norwegian Cruise Line, it turned a member of a small fleet (so small that this was the one ship!) referred to as the Norwegian Capricorn Line.
Price Studying: The Completely different Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Lessons
The Norwegian Capricorn Line had the identical homeowners as Norwegian Cruise Line, however it was technically a separate cruise line meant to supply cruises to the Australian market. Sadly, the Norwegian Capricorn Line didn’t final lengthy. In 2001, the ship was given to Star Cruises.
Since then, the ship has modified fingers a number of occasions and was a resort ship at one level. The ship was scrapped in 2021.
Dreamward/Norwegian Dream
In-built 1992, Dreamward — later renamed Norwegian Dream — didn’t actually compete with the opposite cruise ships of its age, when it comes to measurement.
Nonetheless, it was a nimble little ship. Measuring in at round 40,000 gross tons, it was only a fraction of the scale of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships at the moment, however it was really constructed with the intention that it may very well be, if wanted, lengthened and expanded.
In 1998, the ship was resized and renamed Norwegian Dream. Nonetheless, this enlargement didn’t guarantee Norwegian Dream’s standing within the fleet for very lengthy. Simply six years later, the ship was turned over to Star Cruises.
Whereas Star Cruises had plans to promote the ship a number of occasions over time, these offers by no means materialized, and the ship remained in Star Cruises’ possession, present process some expansive refurbishments alongside the best way, till the ship was lastly offered for scrap in 2022.
Windward/Norwegian Wind
Sister ship to Dreamward, Windward was in-built 1993 and likewise was capable of be lengthened and expanded if wanted. This occurred in 1998 as effectively, and the ship obtained its new title: Norwegian Wind.
Nonetheless, Norwegian Wind’s story was a lot the identical as Norwegian Dream’s story. The ship was transferred over to Star Cruises in 2007 and have become SuperStar Aquarius. It additionally was offered for scrap in 2022.
Leeward
Within the Nineteen Nineties, past constructing a couple of new ships, Norwegian Cruise Line additionally continued its sample of buying older ships and repurposing them for its personal use. As considerably of a throwback to its origins, the cruise line acquired one other ferry in 1995.
The Leeward was in-built 1980 and did function a partial ferry for six years, earlier than turning into a full cruise ship in 1986, then operated by the now-defunct Sally Cruise. The ship led a dramatic life for some time, struggling fires, partial sinkings and an array of rebuilds.
As talked about, Norwegian Cruise Line put its stamp on the ship in 1995, renaming it Leeward, however the ship solely remained within the fleet for 5 years, earlier than it went on to affix Star Cruises.
Following this stint, the ship modified fingers a number of different occasions. It most lately operated as Celestyal Crystal for Celsystal Cruises, till 2023.
In April 2025, the ship was offered to a UAE purchaser. Whereas last plans for the ship haven’t been introduced, it’s anticipated the ship will resume cruising or be repurposed right into a resort ship.
Norwegian Crown
In 1996, Norwegian Cruise Line moved one other ship over from the beforehand bought Royal Cruise Line (NCL had bought all the line within the late Eighties — don’t confuse Royal Cruise Line with Royal Viking Line!) to the NCL fleet. The prior Crown Odyssey, constructed within the Eighties, turned Norwegian Crown.
This ship was traded forwards and backwards between fleets a number of occasions. In 2000, NCL handed it over to Orient Traces, which it had additionally bought, and the ship turned Crown Odyssey once more. Then, in 2003, the ship went again to being a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, retaking the Norwegian Crown title.
Lastly, the ship was offered in 2006 to Fred. Olsen Cruises, at which level the ship was renamed Balmoral, and, at the moment, the ship nonetheless provides itineraries. It’s at the moment the smallest ship within the Fred. Olsen Cruises fleet.
Norwegian Dynasty
In 1997, Norwegian Cruise Line bought Majesty Cruise Line and gained two ships within the course of. Norwegian Dynasty was initially Crown Dynasty, operated by Cunard Line, earlier than being operated by Majesty Cruise Line beneath the title Crown Majesty.
Norwegian Cruise Line solely operated Norwegian Dynasty, a really small ship at solely about 25,000 GT, for 2 years, earlier than finally promoting the ship to Fred. Olsen Cruise Traces.
The ship operated beneath the road for almost twenty years, till it was offered to Villa Vie Residences. The ship provides long-term, residential-style cruises, with cruisers crusing for greater than three years at a time. As of early 2025, cruisers are nonetheless actively dwelling on the ship.
Norwegian Majesty
Additionally as soon as a Majesty Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Cruise Line gained this ship as effectively within the line’s acquisition.
Norwegian Cruise Line expanded the ship, lengthening her, and renamed her Norwegian Majesty, however solely saved her for lower than a decade earlier than transferring her to Star Cruises.
The ship was offered to Louis Cruise Traces in 2008 after which finally to Mano Cruise, in 2018. The ship at the moment goes by the title Crown Iris.
Norwegian Solar
After Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Cruise Line kind of slowed its continuous revolving door of ships, whereas additionally slowing its acquisition of different, older ships, as an alternative focusing by itself new-builds.
This has resulted within the fashionable Norwegian Cruise Line fleet that we see at the moment. Since Norwegian Majesty’s retirement, we’ve not seen some other ships depart the fleet till bulletins had been made in 2025 — beginning with the announcement concerning the retirement of Norwegian Solar.
This Solar-class ship initially launched in 2001. It’s lengthy been one among Norwegian Cruise Line’s smaller and extra modest ships, so it’s no shock that the cruise line determined to switch her over to Cordelia Cruises, in a joint switch together with Norwegian Sky.
Whereas the announcement was made in 2025, the transfers are scheduled for 2026 and 2027, for Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Solar, respectively.
Don’t fear, although. Whereas some cruisers might have been out of kinds on the thought that their beforehand scheduled cruises on these two ships had been canceled, Norwegian Cruise Line is changing the ships with greater and newer ships to come back over the following few years.
Norwegian Sky
Earlier than its retirement was introduced in March 2025, Norwegian Sky was not the oldest or smallest ship within the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet (that title is held by Norwegian Spirit, which continues to be in operation).
Nonetheless, the cruise line nonetheless felt that Norwegian Sky was a more sensible choice to go away the fleet than its sister ship.
Norwegian Sky itself has an fascinating historical past, because it was initially destined to turn out to be a Costa Cruises ship, however then, throughout the ship’s development at Lloyd Werft in Germany, the ship turned Norwegian Sky, launching in 1999. Over the ship’s lifetime, it’s additionally served because the Delight of Aloha.
Learn Additionally: Norwegian Cruise Ships by Age – Latest to Oldest
The ship was rumored to be offered or transferred, to both Star Cruises or Pullmantur Cruises at varied closing dates, however these adjustments by no means materialized.
Now, although, Norwegian Sky lastly may have a brand new life beneath a brand new title and new cruise line. The ship is being transferred to Cordelia Cruises, which serves the Indian cruise market.
Whereas the ship is small by Norwegian Cruise Line’s requirements, the ship is an enormous get for Cordelia Cruises, increasing the road’s capability considerably.
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