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Canadian company cancels Olympic charter of NCL ship

February 03, 2010

About 1,600 people booked on the Norwegian Star during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver will have to find other accommodations, after the company that chartered the ship canceled four days before the charter was scheduled to begin.

Edmonton, Alb.-based Newwest Special Projects Limited Partnership cited poor sales as the reason for the cancellation of the 28-day charter. The Norwegian Star was scheduled to be in Vancouver throughout the Winter Olympics.

The cancellation included a four-day sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver on Feb. 6 and a four-day cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles on March 2.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it was notified of the cancellation on Feb. 2 and that it was “exploring options” of what to do with the Star during the time it was supposed to be chartered.

NCL said the ship would resume its planned cruises on March 6, sailing a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles.

In a statement, Newwest said it “made the decision to cancel the charter due to slower-than-expected sales, along with expenses associated with the charter that were higher than anticipated.”

Newwest said it had 1,108 cabins for sale, or 2,216 berths. It had booked 1,600 guests during the Olympics, and approximately 1,300 passengers for the cruise to Vancouver and 2,200 for the cruise to Los Angeles.

The company apologized to those who had booked the space on the ship, and said they would offer refunds.

According to Canadian news source CBC, Newwest originally wanted $700 per night for the accommodations on the Star, including all meals. Newwest cut prices in half in September and reduced them to as low as $275 per night in January, the report said.

The report also said that the Star would have berthed in an industrial area of the city 30 minutes from Olympic venues, not downtown Vancouver.

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#26February 19, 2010
Olympics or not I wouldn't pay $700/night to go on an NCL ship...although I also wouldn't go on an NCL ship for free after some of the things they have done to me and my clients.
#25February 06, 2010
I am also one of those stranded passengers. I booked last August and planned an 8 day stay because we had to buy by waves in the beginning. I have a $10,080 investment pd in full to New West since October. I was told by my American based travel agent that I will be issued two checks on two different dates. One check for deposit.one for the balance as in the same order as I paid it. I also purchased the insurance package for $627 and was told New West is going to refund that money too. As for the airlines $1640,00 by Westjet. Ins doesn't cover and I'll get an airline credit in full. That is now useless to me since it's only based out of Canada. As for the 7 events tickets , also a loss. There's nothing available in Vancouver. folks, nothing. I doubt anyone will lay out another $10,000 for a dream in hopes that the last nightmare pays up. NW would never assign cabin #'s. :(
#24February 05, 2010
Ultimately both NCL and Newest Ventures are responsible for this debacle. Greed aside, there was a committment to the passengers that needs to be fulfilled. NCL should operate the charter as planned in order to save their own reputation. If they do not, travel agents should refrain from booking them. Newest needs to be compelled to turn over all monies paid thus far to NCL.
#23February 05, 2010
What is truly appauling is that New west sent the travel agents and customers an e-mail announcing the cancellation, instead of personally calling with the bad news! And double worse is that they did not make any attempts to reaccommodate passengers! They simply proferred some e-mail addresses for possible housing and dumped the whole problem in the laps of the agents and customers! I hope they go out of business. My customer (by my advice) purchased Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, so he'd get the money back even if they did go under!
#22February 04, 2010
I was supposed to be on this ship. I am scrambling for accommodations since I have tickets. It's a sad situation when my Olympic dream -- a "bucket list" item may not be fulfilled. Am hoping some resolution can happen -- QUICKLY. I have non-refundable airline tickets, too. What a MESS!
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