New cruise ship launched

Norwegian Cruise Line launched its 10th cruise liner, the Norwegian Dawn, in Southampton last Friday from where she sailed on her inaugural shakedown transatlantic voyage to New York where she will be christened on Monday.

SMS-UK Ltd, shore excursion agents for NCL in Malta, the UK and Italy, were present for the launch.

NCL were the originators of Freestyle Cruising, an innovative cruising concept designed to meet the changing needs of today's cruise passengers, offering a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility and non-intrusive service.

The Norwegian Dawn accommodates 2,224 passengers in 1,112 cabins and carries a crew of 1,126. She has a cruising speed of 25 knots.

She has no fewer than 10 dining outlets, including the 16th century Grand Italian villa style main restaurant and an upscale French restaurant featuring original paintings by Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir and Monet.

The company has another new ship on order expected to be delivered in spring of 2004.

SMS-UK Ltd, a subsidiary of the SMS Group under the direct responsibility of company director Samuel Mifsud, is the appointed ground handling agent in the UK for Norwegian Cruise Line and has been handling NCL's requirements for the past eight years.

During the summer months NCL positions one of its cruise liners in Dover as a home port where SMS-UK handles all transfers of passengers from airport to ship and vice versa, organising pre- and post-cruise stays in London and check-in for all the vessels.

SMS-UK usually handles around 3,000 passengers on every call. The Dawn inauguration at Southampton involved the handling of over 4,000 passengers.