Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled most of the Norwegian Spirit's 2024 Alaska program.
The cruise line scrapped all sailings scheduled to depart between July 3, 2024, and Sept. 18, 2024, according to a letter from NCL to guests dated May 16.
The Spirit will instead be engaged in a "full ship charter," according to the letter.
NCL's parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, recently launched a division to host full-ship charter events. Called Experiences at Sea, the division married NCL subsidiary Sixthman Festivals at Sea with NCLH's charters. meeting and incentives department.
NCL said it will automatically refund affected guests for the fare paid within 30 business days. To compensate for the inconvenience, the line has issued a 50% discount in the form of a future cruise credit for select Alaska sailings this summer departing from Vancouver or Seward, Alaska.
The discount is applicable on sailings of the Norwegian Jewel from May 22, 2023, through Sept. 25, 2023; and the Norwegian Spirit from May 24, 2023, to Aug. 23, 2023. The credit is available to be used beginning May 22.
Also, the line is offering a 10% discount in the form of a future cruise credit for any voyage through Dec. 31, 2024, but it cannot be combined with the 50% Alaska credit.
Removing the Norwegian Spirit brings down NCL's 2024 Alaska deployment to four ships.
The Spirit started sailing in 1998 and completed a $100 million renovation in February 2020, right before the global cruise shutdown in response to the pandemic. Last May, the Spirit was the final NCL ship to re-enter service.