Page 50: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1998)

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Another cruise executive who would probably rather focus on his company's newbuild contract is

Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL)

President Hans Golteus. After a spate of mechanical problems with

Norwegian Star, Mr. Golteus told

MR/EN that NCL is determined to continue operations from the Port of Houston.

When asked about the lawsuit filed by Star passengers who slept on deck after the ship lost its air conditioning systems, Mr. Golteus said: "I cannot comment on any aspect of that lawsuit for reasons that you probably understand."

Star will go into drydock later

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Muscular Dystrophy Association (800)572-1717 this year at an undetermined yard, but Mr. Golteus would not say if the ship would be replaced or joined by additional ships in

Houston afterwards. "What we have said from the beginning is that we believe Houston is a heavy possibility to be more than an 800- passenger turnaround. If we are correct, then Houston will be ready for bigger ships or more ships."

Mr. Golteus said NCL will bene- fit this year from the steps taken in 1997, which besides placing Star in

Houston, included new ship con- tracts, an internal reorganization and investment of new capital in the company. "When you're taking new steps like this and establishing new markets, it takes some time to get the full effect," said Mr. Golteus.

He said that NCL also has an ongo- ing newbuilding program study, although he was unsure if it would come to fruition in 1998.

In 1998, NCL may be forced to answer charges that its ship

Leeward was involved in a ground- ing in Mexico that severely dam- aged the world's second largest reef. "As we see it, it must be some kind of wrong identity. We have not been near reefs in Mexico with Leeward," said Mr. Golteus, who said that NCL divers and the ship's classification society investi- gated Leeward's structure and found no indication of reef contact.

On a positive note, Mr. Golteus indicated that NCL's booking pat- tern is much stronger than in pre- vious years. The industry will stay tuned as the company negoti- ates a new contract with the Port of Houston to extend beyond its

May 1999 agreement, as the mar- ket tries to absorb the additional berths provided by NCL's three- ship addition this year.

New Family, New Growth

When it comes to market place breadth, Royal Caribbean has an upper hand this year following the acquisition of Celebrity Cruises in 1997. "Now that two great brands have been put together, it would probably be easier to tell you where we don't go rather than where we do go," said Brian Rice, vice president of Revenue Control for Royal Caribbean. "We're feeling reasonably good about 1998 ... We have not reached a point where we're not comfort- able with what we've bit off," said 201 East Lincoln Hwy, Penndel, PA 19047-4097

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