www.CRUISESHIPODYSSEY.com

All text and photographs (unless stated otherwise) ©  Paul Timmerman, photographs taken on a cruise in 1997

We were already familiar with the “unstretched” version of one these sister ships, the former Windward, as we had made a cruise in Alaskan waters aboard this intimate vessel in 1997.

                                                           The Terraces dining room, International deck

Now, a year later, fresh from the yard after her surgery, sister ship Norwegian Dream (ex Dreamward) called at Amsterdam and we were invited for a tour of the ship and a luncheon.

Built in 1992 and 1993 repectively, Dreamward and Windward were unique in those days because of their hull form, which almost fully eliminated vibration and engine noises.

Dreamward had just been stretched, she had been sliced in half at the Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. A new midship section with a length of 130 ft, already fully appointed and furnished was manoeuvred between the forward and aft section and the three were welded together. All this was accomplished in just 8 weeks and was the largest “stretch-project” of its kind to date.

Before Dreamward was stretched, sister ship Windward had been lengthened just before. For some time both ships were docked next to each other at the yard in Bremerhaven: Windward already stretched and Dreamward awaiting her turn. Both ships were renamed Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Wind in the process.

                                                                Rendez vous bar, International deck

When they re-emerged from the yard, there was more than new names and new mid-sections: they were virtually new ships as they had been refurbished completely.

 Their original cost had been $240 mio and when delivered to NCL by Chantiers de l´Atlantique at St. Nazaire, they measured 41.000 GRT. Lengthening them had increased their length to 754 feet and boosted their passenger capacity to 1748 (+40%). 251 cabins were added and they now weighed 50.750 GRT.

                                                          Stretching at Lloyd Werft, Germany

Originally when both ships were delivered in 1992-´93, six months apart, they were intimate ships, and the key word was “opennes” as Norwegian designers Yran & Storbraaten had used acres of glass to make them open, airy ships. This is shown very clearly when standing aft on the open decks, where one sees three levels of walls of windows overlooking the swimming pool and sun area.

Click on thumbnail for larger image

           Sun decks, aft                          Sports Bar & Grill, Sports deck                      Le Bistro, International deck      

Continued on page 2......

                                         Go to Norwegian Wind - Dream page2

End