HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Commodore Holdings Limited, parent of Commodore
Cruise Line, said it plans to launch a premium cruise line by
chartering the Norwegian Dynasty.
The long-term charter is scheduled to begin in October.
Commodore chief executive officer Fred Mayer said the new line
would revive the retired Crown Cruise Line name, initially offering
cruises in North America. Mayer said Crown will operate as a sister
line to Commodore under separate management. He said plans call for
Crown to operate up to three ships by 2001.
As reported, Norwegian Cruise Line said it would not renew the
charter agreements it had on both the Norwegian Dynasty and Leeward
when those charters expire in mid-October.
For his part, Mayer declined to give specific itinerary details,
saying the marketing plan for the line was still in the works. He
did say, however, that the line will offer something different. "We
believe in niche markets and Commodore is well known for finding
these specialty markets and serving them long and well."
The deal, with the ship's owner, Neptun Maritime Group of
Helsinki, Finland, includes an option for Commodore to buy the
vessel. The ship, previously known as the Crown Dynasty, a name
Commodore will return to, was built in 1993 and carries 820
passengers.
It was Commodore Cruise Line that launched Crown Cruise Line, an
upscale sister line, in 1991, with plans for three ships. The Crown
Dynasty was the third of the three vessels. The ships were later
marketed by other firms including Cunard, on a charter basis.
The Crown Cruise Line name was retired in 1995, around the same
time Mayer and a group of Miami investors acquired Commodore, a
line spokeswoman said.