Norwegian Spirit is a Leo-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She was built in 1998 for Star Cruises as SuperStar Leo by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. In 2004 she was transferred to NCL and renamed Norwegian Spirit.
History
thumb|left|The vessel as SuperStar Leo in Sydney Harbour, 2004|alt=The vessel as SuperStar Leo in Sydney Harbour, 2004|222x222px
The vessel was constructed by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Named SuperStar Leo in 1998, the vessel was the first of Star Cruises Leo class. After the test drives, which were successfully completed at the beginning of September 1998, the ship was delivered on 25 September 1998, one week earlier then contracted. She was then homeported in Singapore in 1998 and operated 2–5 night cruises to Malaysia and Thailand. One year later, SuperStar Virgo arrived in Singapore. She was then based in Hong Kong on 10 September 1999 and offered 1–5 night cruises to China, Hainan, Vietnam and the South China Sea. The ship received six new restaurants, seven new bars and lounges, enhanced public areas, new and modernized staterooms and new hull art. The drydock took 43 days and cost over $100 million.
In autumn 2024, the ship wrapped up a charter contract that saw it sailing from Taiwan over the summer.
Vessel class
Norwegian Spirit is a Leo-class cruise ship and was the first ship of this design. She was followed by her sister ship Star Navigator (formerly SuperStar Virgo) which is currently operated by StarCruises No other ships of this particular design were constructed. and the ship was instead to operate cruises to the Greek Isles for the summer 2020 season. She resumed operations in May 2022 with cruises in the South Pacific and Hawaii.
Incidents
In 2005, Norwegian Spirit hit a pier in Juneau, Alaska, causing minor damage. In 2007, Norwegian Spirit again struck a pier, this time in New York Harbor. In both cases, repairs were made to the ship. On 25 May 2008, at approximately 9:00 am, Norwegian Spirit contacted Pier 90 in New York City at the end of an eight-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. She damaged the parking garage support columns and the bow of the ship.
In January 2006, the ship encountered heavy seas and rogue waves off the coast of Tortola resulting in the ship listing, broken windows and 11 flooded passenger cabins.
In March 2008 a passenger from Norwegian Spirit died following a zip-lining accident on an NCL-sponsored shore excursion in Roatán, Honduras.
In October 2019, passengers held protests on a two-week cruise of Europe after planned stops were cancelled, toilets became blocked, and the cruise line offered as compensation a 25 percent discount off future cruises.
In March 2020, passengers of Norwegian Spirit were banned from disembarking in Port Victoria, Seychelles, amid fears over the coronavirus and the announcement of a temporary closing for cruise ships.
Media
In 2003, Japanese TV drama Netsuretsu teki chuuka hanten took place on SuperStar Leo.
In 2012, Norwegian Spirit was briefly featured in a scene in 21 Jump Street whilst docked in New Orleans, Louisiana.