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Superstar Leo

Star Cruises' first cruise vessel, the Superstar Leo, has been designed specifically for the Asian market, where she sails on two and three-night cruises between Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

Project type

Cruise Ship

Passenger capacity

Gross tonnage.

Meyer Werft

Owner/Operator

Star Cruises

4 × MAN B&W 14V48/60 engines

2 × ABB reversible synchronous electric motors

Bow & Stern Thrusters

Star Cruises’ first cruise vessel, the Superstar Leo, has been designed specifically for the Asian market, where she sails on two and three-night cruises between Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

The 76,800t cruise ship was built at Meyer Werft’s Papenberg yard in Germany in September 1998 for $350m. She was delivered in September 1998 after meeting the classification standards of Det Norske Veritas.

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Extensive sea trials off the coast of Norway included a crash stop from a full speed of 25 knots to a complete stop within six lengths of the ship.

Design of the vessel is divided into seven fire zones and complies with the construction and classification society rules for a two-compartment vessel.

The Superstar Leo is the first diesel-electric cruise ship to have duplex reactors to limit voltage distortion in the electrical network caused by propulsion drive. Power is provided by four MAN B&W 14V48/60 engines, each developing 14,700kW at 514rev/min and driving ABB synchronous generators.

For propulsion, two ABB reversible synchronous electric motors, each developing 20,000kW at 123/rev/min, are installed. Each transmit their power via shaft lines to a five-bladed fixed-pitch skew propeller.

Electrical installation is designed so that in the event of any single failure of the power generation the ship’s propulsion, auxiliary systems and hotel services remain operational.

For manoeuvrability, the ship is equipped with two bow thrusters, one stern thruster and two spade rudders. During sea trials, she completed a full turn within four lengths of the ship while sailing at full speed.

To ensure maximum passenger comfort, she features retractable fin stabilisers manufactured by Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso-based Mechanical Business Unit. According to the shipbuilder, these are said to be capable of reducing the rolling motion by 85% at a speed of 18k.

The Superstar Leo has maximum accommodation for 2,800 passengers in 1,000 cabins, 60% of which are outside and have private balconies.

There are numerous eating areas, three specialised restaurants seating a total of 300, a two-sitting dining outlet with a capacity for 630 and the 570-seat raffles buffet and terrace. There is also a coffee shop and café serving south-east Asian meals 24-hours a day, a German beer garden and an English pub.

Public spaces include a seven-deck marble atrium, designed along the lines of a hotel lobby and served by three of nine glass-walled lifts. Entertainment extends from the two-deck 1,000 seat moulin rouge showroom to a mahjong room and private karaoke rooms, as well as a total casino area of 1,600m² incorporating more than 120 one-arm bandit machines.

Sports facilities include tennis, volleyball and basketball, as well as the Roman spa tivoli swimming pool, which is surrounded by four whirlpools and a stage.

The whole of Deck 10 is devoted to children’s facilities, with an adventure pool with rock formations and slides situated aft and a stranded pirate ship to the fore.

Unusual features include a helicopter landing pad, a platform at the bow, public CCTV observation of the bridge and a large glazed back wall in one of the restaurants, giving an almost unobstructed view of the ship’s wake.

The bridge is designed for operation in dense traffic areas around the Malacca Strait, and is fitted with integrated navigation and command system Nacos 45-3.

The main feature is the Multi Pilot II is capable of working as a radar unit that provides complete ARPA functions, and ECDIS and control instruments for operating the track pilot and integrated navigation display.

Eight separate Inmarsat STD M channels and two STD B plants ensure management and passenger communications. The entire ship is closely monitored by a CCTV system and there are 250 dome cameras mounted over the gaming tables, offices, engine control room and selected crew accommodation.

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Super Star Leo handed over

Hand-over 1 week ahead of contractual delivery date

Papenburg, 25.09.1998 - On 25th September, 1998, one week ahead of the agreed delivery date, the 76,800 gt cruise vessel Super Star Leo is completely finished and will be handed over by the MEYER WERFT shipyard of Papenburg/Germany to the Asian based cruise company Star Cruises in Southampton.

General Super Star Leo is the first of four cruise vessels under construction at MEYER WERFT for Star Cruises. These newbuildings will contribute to the favourable development of this young cruise company and strengthen its position as the leading Asian cruise line. Super Star Leo combines Asian-style luxurious decoration with state-of-the-art technology.

In addition to the novel design this luxury liner offers a variety of features: approximately 70 % of the cabins are outside cabins, most of them with private balconies; 1,125 crew members will provide excellent service while the highest safety and entertainment standards on board the new vessel will be guaranteed by the technically advanced diesel-electric propulsion plant, most modern interactive entertainment and communication systems and extensive stage equipment.

The "birth" of the present cruise vessel from Papenburg was watched by more than 200,000 people ­ over 105,000 people visited the shipyard over the past 12 months. More than 100,000 people witnessed the vessel´s passage up the River Ems. Super Star Leo will operate all year round offering several day cruises in the Asian archipelago. The sister vessel, Super Star Virgo, is presently under construction in the yard´s covered building dock and is scheduled to be delivered to Star Cruises in the summer of 1999.

Ship Design

CAVBINS AND PUBLIC SPACES

Cabins The ship is equipped with 17 suites, 591 outside and 374 inside cabins. On Decks 9 and 10 six Theme Suites and eleven Junior Suites are arranged. Each of the Theme Suites provides a living area, a bedroom, a bathroom and a guest toilet. The bedroom and bathroom are not separated so that the passenger enjoys an unobstructed view of the whirlpool. The bathroom is finished in marble and glass mosaic and is equipped with a whirlpool, a shower, a WC and a wash-stand. The Theme Suites on deck 10 have private balconies in front and at the sides and flexible walls. The suites can be enlarged to a size of 130 m2.

• interactive colour TV as well as a hi-fi system in the living room
• interactive colour TV in the bedroom
• interactive colour TV above the whirlpool
• fax machine

The Junior Suites are smaller in size but also have a combined bedroom and bathroom. In addition 162 standard suites with private balconies are provided on Decks 9-11. Each two cabins, connected by a communicating door, can be extended to a standard suite with an overall size of approximately 32 m² with separate bedroom/living room. Super Star Leo has 4 cabins that are specially designed to meet the requirements of disabled persons.

Total cabins arranged on board:

All passenger cabins are equipped with colour TV, telephone, safe, and individual temperature control.

PUBLIC SPACES

Grand Lobby (Decks 7-13) The focal point of the vessel is the 7-deck Grand Lobby. Deck 7 accommodates the reception and the Cappuccino Cafe. A double staircase leads to the exclusive shops and the adjacent Champagne Bar on Deck 8. The upper decks, which imitate house fronts, can be viewed best through the glass-walled lifts in the rear.

Magellan Restaurant (Deck 6) The classic style restaurant seating approximately 650 guests features impressive stern windows. The large glazed back wall provides an almost unobstructed view of the ship´s wake. A total of six different restaurants as well as various bars, bistros and cafes are available on board.

Tai Pan (Deck 7) This exclusive restaurant mainly serves Chinese dishes. The restaurant seats 102 passengers in separate private and VIP rooms.

Galaxy of the Stars (Deck 12) During the day the room serves as an observation lounge. At night this room is transformed into a disco. The main feature of the room is the glazed dome above the dance floor which has a diameter of over 4 metres. The spacious nature of the room is achieved by the large windows and the room´s height of up to 3 metres.

Moulin Rouge (Decks 7 8) The 2-level theatre seats approximately 1,000 passengers. The technical equipment includes a revolving stage, curtain tracks and a flying tower. Other special features include video and slide projectors, effects laser and special sound and effects lighting systems.

Maharajah´s (Deck 7) The vessel´s Casino extends over 2 levels and is divided into 3 different areas. In the Star Club the passengers may try their luck at various gambling tables or the more than 120 one-armed bandits, whereas the Club Royal and the Admiral Club are reserved for special guests and VIPs.

Buccaneer´s Children Pool (Deck 10) The children´s playground on board. In the aft part of deck 10, adjacent to the children´s playroom, one of the two large pool areas is situated. The focal point is the adventure pool which is integrated in a rock formation and equipped with two slides.

Beer Garden (Deck 13) This Bavarian-style outdoor bar area is a special location as it is the only place directly overlooking the Roman spa. The area is covered by a 400 m² canopy.

Roman Spa & Fitness Centre (Deck 12) This recreation and fitness centre includes hair and beauty salons, saunas and steam baths, a gymnasium fitted with the latest exercise equipment, and an aerobics area as well as two counter-current pools.

Roman Spa "Tivoli Pool" (Deck 12) The focal point of the main bathing area is a 14 by 5 m swimming pool which is surrounded by 4 whirlpools and a stage. The Roman style of this area is expressed by typical features such as Roman columns and architraves finished in seawater resistant artificial stone.

Celebrity Disco (Deck 13) The disco is arranged on the uppermost deck. The front and the side walls are fully glazed and special features include modern sound and effects lighting sytems above the dance floor which alone make it worth visiting the Celebrity Disco.

TECHNICAL OUTFIT

Safety Systems The ship is divided into 7 fire zones, and complies with the rules for a 2 compartment vessel and is designed according to the latest IMO regulations. The vessel is provided with 4 tenders, 14 lifeboats and 2 rescue boats. In addition, the ship is equipped with so-called "Marine Evacuation Systems" which enable the passengers to be evacuated onto the liferafts via a chute.

Galleys Passengers and crew are catered for by more than 80 galleys, pantries and bars offering a wide choice of different meals. In addition to the bakery on Deck 4, the crew galley on Deck 5, the main galley on Deck 6 and the lido galley on Deck 12, Japanese, Chinese, French and Muslim galleys are available on board.

Lighting Approximately 35,000 lighting points (energy-saving lamps, halogen lamps, incandescent lamps and fluorescent lights) are installed on board.

Telephone System The digital telephone system provides 80 satellite and GSM channels for ship-shore/shore-ship telephone calls. All passenger cabins are fitted with digital credit card telephones.

TV System The vessel is fitted with an interactive aerial system applying ATM technology with glass fibre and CAT5 cables. This system offers passengers a wide choice of interactive programmes (pay TV, booking shore excursions, tele-shopping etc.).

Integrated Bridge System The vessel is fitted with the integrated navigation and command system ATLAS NACOS 45-3. This system includes all components required to ensure safe navigation even in much frequented and narrow waters. The main feature of the system is the Multi Pilot II. All radar units have high resolution colour monitors providing the navigator with advanced means of distinguishing between the different symbols used.

Radio and Satellite Communication The communications and safety systems do not only comply with the latest Global Maritime Distress and Safety (GMDSS) regulations but exceed by far the usual international standards.

Manoeuvring Aids For the purpose of optimum manoeuvrability the vessel is equipped with 2 fixed pitch propellers, 2 bow thrusters, 1 stern thruster and 2 spade rudders, all operated by a joy-stick.

Electric Power Supply and Propulsion For the electric power generation 4 diesel generator sets, made by MAN B&W. Type 14 V 48/60 are installed, each developing an output of 14,700 kW at 514 rpm and driving a synchronous generator, made by ABB. For the vessel´s propulsion 2 electric motors, made by ABB, each with an output of 20,000 kW are installed. These motors transmit their power via shaft lines to the fixed pitch propellers.

Water Supply and Discharge Systems On board the vessel up to 1,800 m3 (= 1,800,000 l) of potable water can be produced within 24 hours. The potable water supply is divided into 5 systems serving decks 2-12 each via a ring line. The hot water circuit is heated with steam. Potable water can also be taken via bunker stations from ashore.

Sewage Treatment Plant All sewage water is collected through vacuum piping in 4 vacuum systems and treated in 4 biologically-operated sewage treatment plants.

Waste Handling System Waste is separated into burnable and non-burnable waste, then shredded and stored in silos and from there either led to the incinerators or to a recycling plant ashore.

Air Conditioning System The vessel is fitted with an air conditioning system suitable for worldwide operation thus guaranteeing a constant room temperature of 21 °C at outside temperatures of 0 to /- 35 °C. The 239 AC and ventilation plants on board handle a total air volume of approximately 2,500,000 m³.

Complete List: Here’s What Happened to the Star Cruises Fleet

• March 15, 2023

With the sales of the SuperStar Aquarius and the SuperStar Gemini in late 2022, the entire Star Cruises fleet has had its fate sealed.

Here’s what happened to the ships operated by the cruise line before its collapse:

SuperStar Aquarius Year Built: 1993 Capacity: 1,529 guests Location: Alang, India Fate: Scrapped

In November, the SuperStar Aquarius became the latest cruise ship formerly owned by Star Cruises to be sold to a scrapyard.

Renamed Arius, the 1993-built vessel spent several months laid up in Sri Lanka before departing on its final voyage to India – where it’s currently being dismantled .

SuperStar Gemini Year Built: 1992 Capacity: 1,472 guests Location: Alang, India Fate: Scrapped

The former SuperStar Gemini also ended up beached for scrapping in November. Like its sister ship SuperStar Aquarius, the 1992-built vessel spent several months docked in Sri Lanka before heading to India.

Renamed Gem, the former Norwegian Dream is now being recycled at the Alang Shipbreaking Yard , with its building materials and fixtures being sold off or repurposed.

Star Pisces Year Built: 1991 Capacity: 1,384 guests Location: Alang, India Fate: Scrapped

In mid-2022, the Star Pisces became the second cruise ship of the former Star Cruises fleet to be sold to a scrapyard.

One of the company’s original vessels, the cruise ferry ended its 31-year sailing career after being beached at India’s Alang Ship Breaking Yard in July .

The Taipan Year Built: 1989 Capacity: 64 guests Location: Singapore Fate: Sold for further service

In May 2022, the Taipan became the only cruise ship in the former Star Cruises fleet to find a new operator.

Previously being used for charters and incentive cruises in Southeast Asia, the 32-cabin mega yacht was acquired by OM Ships , a German religious organization who plans to transform it into a missionary ship and floating bookshop.

SuperStar Libra Year Built: 1988 Capacity: 1,494 guests Location: Aliaga, Turkey Fate: Scrapped

The SuperStar Libra was also sold for scrapping in 2022. After ending its public operations in 2018, the former Star Cruises vessel arrived at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard in May .

Before ending its sailing career, the 1988-built cruise ship spent its last years serving as a floating hotel at the MV Werften – a Genting-owned shipyard in Wismar, Germany.

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SuperStar Virgo

Source: Star Cruises

Overview: Superstar Virgo is a Star Cruises’ Leo class ship. She was built in 1999 and carries 2,800 passengers and full berth. She employs 1,300 crew.

Accommodation: She has 935 cabins. They are executive suite; junior suite; star suite; oceanview stateroom with balcony; deluxe oceanview stateroom with window; oceanview stateroom with porthole; deluxe inside stateroom; and inside stateroom.

Dining: Bella Vista Restaurant – main restaurant; Blue Lagoon – 24-hour dining outlet with Asian specialists; Cafe Gelato – ice cream bar; Mediterranean Buffet – international buffet restaurant; Noble Horse – Chinese restaurant; Palazzo – Italian gourmet restaurant; Pavillion Restaurant – Chinese family style restaurant; Samurai Restaurant – Japanese restaurant; and The Taj – Indian buffet.

Bars/Lounges: Bellini – champagne bar; Celebrity vodka club lounge; and Taverna – poolside theme snacks bar.

Entertainment: Neptune’s Wet and Wild; Celebrity Disco; Galaxy of Stars; The Lido show lounge; Out of Africa karaoke; Star Club game of chance; Parthenon Pool; Ampitheatre with jumbo chess board, jumbo checkers and table tennis; Universal Gymnasium; four Jacuzzis; Aquaswim; and Star Track jogging circuit.

For more information: starcruises.com

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Spirit

Former name: superstar leo.

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Sydney (NSW Australia)
• Auckland (New Zealand)

Norwegian Spirit current position

Norwegian Spirit current location is at East Australia (coordinates -30.22884 S / 157.45562 E) cruising at speed of 16.1 kn (30 km/h | 19 mph) en route to NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONI. The AIS position was reported 12 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Spirit

Norwegian Spirit current cruise is 13 days, one-way from Sydney to Papeete , themed as "Easter". The itinerary starts on 28 Mar, 2024 and ends on 10 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Spirit

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Spirit Itineraries

Norwegian spirit review, review of norwegian spirit.

The 1998-built (as "SuperStar Leo") Norwegian Spirit cruise ship is NCL's unique Leo-class liner, with sistership SuperStar Virgo (Resorts World One) operated since 2022 by Resorts World Cruises (Genting) .

The vessel (IMO number 9141065) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311746000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania and RSSC-Regent .

The 2000-passenger ship Norwegian Spirit was initially sailing as the Malaysia-based Star Cruises' SuperStar Leo. Taken by NCL in 2004, Norwegian Spirit still boasts a pleasing, Asian-designed decor with artifacts on display. The ship's staircases have wood and iron railings, the atrium boasts glass elevators and waterfalls, and the color palette is more mellow than over-the-top. The Stardust Theater is renovated with new red-velvet seats, and nearly all the upholstery and carpeting on the vessel was changed due to the regular refurbishments that make the ship look new and fresh.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Spirit staterooms (1006 total, in 27 grades) include 18x Suites, 382 Balcony, 222 Oceanview and 384 Inside cabins. Most cabins are sized 150-170 ft2 (14-16 m2). The largest accommodations are the Owners Suite (530 ft2 / 49 m2, with terrace sized 75 ft2 / 7 m2).

The boat has 13 decks , of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Norwegian Spirit has two main dining rooms, the Garden Room and Windows, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Both are at no additional cost. Windows is the more elegant of the two, located aft with Palladian-style windows overlooking the stern's wake. The venue is downright romantic, featuring classic ocean liner decor with dark woods and cushy chairs. The Garden Room is U-shaped and has a more modern, casual look. The cuisine in both dining rooms is a bit pedestrian, so foodies will prefer to check out the alternative dining venues, and there are many to choose from.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Spirit restaurants and food bars.

• The Garden Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French specialty dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Windows Restaurant (aft-location Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• Blue Lagoon Cafe (24-hour fast-food restaurant)
• Henry’s Pub (English pub/bar & grill)
• Shogun (Asian restaurant, complimentary since 2015)
• Teppanyaki Room (Japanese Hibachi specialty restaurant inside the Shogun restaurant)
• Sushi Bar; Sake Bar (inside the Shogun dining complex)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
• Raffles Court & Terrace (complimentary lido buffet restaurant)
• La Trattoria (Italian speciality restaurant, cover charge US$15 pp)
• Bier Garten (Bavarian-themed snack and beer bar).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Norwegian Spirit boasts an impressive number of lounges, bars and entertainment venues. The Maharini's Lounge & Nightclub is accessed only through the casino. It features an Indian-influenced decor with velvet curtains, plush daybeds with pillows and fancy chandeliers. Another fun space is English-style Henry's Pub. Henry's is a better spot to watch sporting events than the Shanghai sports bar. At night, choose Henry's for folk music. Shanghai Bar's main attractions are the 7 private karaoke rooms for those who want to sing along without a crowd. Champagne Charlie's offers live music in the evenings, and the sound drifts throughout the atrium. Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. Norwegian Spirit tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day). NCL Spirit cruise ship weddings are performed in some of the meeting rooms (no chapel on board).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Spirit lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Stardust Theatre (800-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand shows per night)
• Cafe 49; The Cafe; Shanghai Bar (sports bar); Champagne Charlie’s Bar
• Maharini’s Lounge & Nightclub; Galaxy of the Stars Lounge & Disco; Celebrity Disco
• Maharajah’s Casino
• Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop
• The Writing Room; The Card Room; Lifestyle Room & Internet Cafe; Library & Internet Cafe
• Galleria Shops & Boutiques (tax and duty-free shops)
• Roman Spa & Fitness Centre (gym with Aerobics Studio; Mandara Spa, treatment rooms, Steam and Sauna, Oscar’s Hair & Beauty Salon, relaxation area); Tivoli Pool, 5 Whirlpools, tennis tables
• Video Games Arcade; Buccaneer’s Wet & Wild (AquaPark, kids' pool); Charlie’s Child Care Centre; Splash Academy (complimentary kids program venue)
• Walking Promenade; Basketball Court; Jogging Track; Golf Nets.

Itineraries

Norwegian Spirit itinerary program is based on Alaskan voyages (7-day roundtrips from homeport Seattle WA ) during summer and Australia-New Zealand voyages leaving from homeports Sydney NSW to Auckland NZ . The liner operates Transpacific voyages on seasonal relocations (RepositionCruises.com) between Australia and Alaska via Hawaii.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the NCL Spirit ship was paused for 2+ years (March 2020 thru May 2022), restarting on May 7th out of Papeete (Tahiti, French Polynesia) . Followed an Alaskan deployment with 7-day roundtrips from Seattle.

In June 2023 NCL canceled the ship's Alaska 2024 and Australia 2024-2025 winter programs and replaced them with an Asian seasonal charter with homeporting in Taiwan China. The roundtrips (from Kaohsiung and Keelung/Taipei ) visit popular destinations in Japan and Korea.

Norwegian Spirit - user reviews and comments

Photos of norwegian spirit.

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Norwegian Spirit Wiki

The vessel was launched as "SuperStar Leo" for Star Cruises (Asian brand owned by GHK-Genting Hong Kong). It belongs to the unique Leo-Class - with sistership SuperStar Virgo (now Resorts World One) . Initially, SuperStar Leo was operating Southeast Asia cruises from homeport Singapore to ports in Malaysia and Thailand (2- to 5-day roundtrips). In 1999, the liner was relocated and homeported in Hong Kong for 1- to 5-day itineraries to ports in China and Vietnam. In 2003, it was deployed in Australia, then joined NCL (in 2004) following a 2-week drydock .

NCL Spirit refurbishments review

The ship's drydock refurbishment in 2020 (January 2 - February 10) was done in Marseille France (at Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard). The USD 100 million, 40-days long renovation project resulted in adding 14 new venues (dining, bars, lounges), new staterooms, enlarged and redesigned wellness complex (Mandara Spa and Pulse Fitness). The hull was repainted and its hull art changed.

The list of new dining venues includes Taste (3rd Main Dining Room / complimentary restaurant), The Local Bar and Grill (24-hour complimentary food bar), Garden Cafe (all-day complimentary restaurant), the Great Outdoors Bar and Grill (complimentary), Waves Pool Bar (poolside complimentary fast-food venue), Onda by Scarpetta (Italian specialty restaurant / at fee).

The three new bar lounges added on the liner are Bliss Ultra Lounge and Spinnaker Lounge (part of which is the Humidor Cigar Lounge). The kids outdoor playground Splash Academy (waterpark) was replaced with Spice H2O - adults-only outdoor relaxation complex with two large whirlpools (outdoor hot tubs) and poolside bar. In the evenings, Spice H2O transforms into a disco nightclub.

Mandara Spa was expanded - doubled in size to ~650 m2 (7000 ft2). To the ship's wellness complex were added Relaxation Lounge (with heated loungers), Jacuzzi Room, Sauna Room, Steam Room, Thalassotherapy Pool. The Fitness Center was enlarged and upgraded with new gym equipment.

NCL Spirit refurbishment 2017 review

During ship's drydock in January 2017 (in Freeport Bahamas ) were made general maintenance updates to public areas, restaurants and top-tier staterooms (suites) Updates were also made in crew-only areas (to improve onboard services) and to some equipment (to increase onboard power efficiency). Additional upgrades and full technical enhancements were made during drydock 2020.

Both drydocks (2017 and 2020) were part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" program for fleetwide upgrades (2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.

NCL Spirit refurbishment 2011 review

The list of deckplan changes after drydock 2011 refurbishment included:

• Wi-Fi Internet coverage was upgraded to shipwide.
• Crew and passenger cabins were upgraded with new flat TVs.
• All accessible staterooms were renovated.
• New carpeting and tiling received all cabins and public areas.
• Stardust Theater received audio/video enhancements (new equipment was installed).
• A new aerobics room was added in Mandara Spa.
• Raffles Court (buffet restaurant) was renovated.

Star Cruises redeploys SARS-hit ships

Asia's Star Cruises has confirmed that its 75,000-gt sisterships SuperStar Leo (built 1998) and SuperStar Virgo (built 1999) will be returning to their home bases in Hong Kong and Singapore respectively after being redeployed to Australia at the height of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in April.

In a statement Thursday Star said SuperStar Leo will arrive in Hong Kong on 31 July, having travelled from Sydney via Cairns and Darwin.

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SuperStar Leo

SuperStar Leo was the first cruise ship in the Leo Class. It features a snow-white design and an elegant hull. MEYER WERFT delivered the luxury liner to Star Cruises in September 1998.

The cruise ships in the Leo Class – SuperStar Leo and SuperStar Virgo – were specifically designed for the Asian market with a whole range of highlights, such as the stunning atria that form the architectural heart of the luxury liners. These extend over seven decks and house numerous restaurants, bars and shops. The large theatres, each with around 1,000 seats, were also seen as flagship projects at the time the vessels in the Leo Class were delivered. The white mammoths feature pools, spas, gyms, basketballs courts, golf driving nets and running tracks. SuperStar Leo and SuperStar Virgo were also the world’s first ever cruise ships with a helicopter landing pad.

The 270-metre-long SuperStar Leo has been travelling the world under the name “Norwegian Spirit” since 2004.

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Welcome aboard The Super Star Virgo!

SuperStar Virgo offers so much more than first class dining and entertainment - it takes you to places where the sun, sea, people and culture blend colourfully well. Every deck onboard SuperStar Virgo teems with endless fun, entertainment and activities. As you cruise to the most exotic parts of Asia on this floating five-star resort, its more than 25 outlets of food and beverage, entertainment and recreation outlets will impress you. In fact, it is the only cruise ship in the world that has an authentic Indian restaurant on board that is certified 'halal'! View all packages for SuperStar Virgo

SuperStar Virgo is a Leo class cruise ship owned and operated by Star Cruises. She was built in 1999 by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The SuperStar Virgo was ordered by Star Cruises on 22 November 1995 from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany as the second ship of the Leo class, and the second newbuilding for Star Cruises. Like her sister ship SuperStar Leo, she was designed specifically for the Asian cruise market.[2] The keel of the SuperStar Virgo was laid on 18 November 1996, and she was floated out of drydock on 23 December 1998. She was delivered to Star Cruises on 2 August 1999.

Following the lengthy transit from Papenburg to Singapore the SuperStar Virgo entered service on cruises from Singapore on 10 October 1999. On 24 April 2003 the SuperStar Virgo was relocated from Singapore to operate cruises out of Perth, Western Australia due to the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Southeast Asia. Initially the redeployment was planned to last only a one-month evaluation period, but due to the success of the cruises out of Australia the SuperStar Virgo was based in Perth until July 2003.

At our various dining outlets, we are sure to please even the most discerning palate. Savour Japanese specialities at Samurai Restaurant or exotic Indian temptations at The Taj! Check out some of our dining highlights below.

After a fun-filled day with the kids at Neptune Wet and Wild, retreat to some world-class performances at any of our entertainment outlets. You can dance the night away at the Celebrity Disco or join us for a game or two at any of our game rooms if you prefer a quiet evening.

Staying in shape and keeping fit need not be boring. You will find our comprehensive range of facilities make working out anything but mundane. After sweating it out at the gym, end your session at the Apollo Spa and Fitness Centre. Choose to rejuvenate your way from any of the exotic spa treatments.

Should you unexpectedly have to attend to some business, our business centre is equipped with the telecommunications systems to help you stay in touch with friends, love ones or business associates. Otherwise, choose to shop through SuperStar Virgo as you would a shopping mall.

In 2004 the SuperStar Virgo became the sole "mega-ship", and the only purpose-built ship, in Star Cruises' fleet, when her sister SuperStar Leo was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises' subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line (newbuildings planned or ordered by Star Cruises after the SuperStar Virgo had either been cancelled or moved to the NCL fleet prior to delivery).On 2 April 2008 the SuperStar Virgo relocated from Singapore to Hong Kong as her port of departure until 26 October 2008, the redeployment coinciding with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.She was then returned to Singapore late October 2008 and resumed her current itinerary.

In January 2009, Star Cruises installed a 100m mega-waterslide onboard SuperStar Virgo during her drydock period in Singapore. In January 2012, SuperStar Virgo received new hull art and livery.

SuperStar Virgo is the only international cruise ship with regular destination cruises to be homeported in Hong Kong from 7 April to 26 October 2014.

Note: The current fleet of Star Cruises ships is operated by Resorts World One under the name Genting Dream Cruises.

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Massive crane, $60M in federal funds bolster Baltimore bridge cleanup

A 1,000-ton crane is expected to arrive Thursday night in Baltimore after federal officials approved $60 million in emergency-relief funding, as work to clear the Patapsco River of mangled metal continues since a container ship crumpled the Francis Scott Key Bridge nearly three days ago. Recovery efforts have been suspended for four construction workers who fell into the frigid waters and are presumed dead. The bodies of two workers were recovered Wednesday, and two other people were found alive soon after the bridge collapsed. Officials said they will continue looking for those still missing as they pivot to cleanup operations.

Here’s what to know

• The U.S. Department of Transportation approved Maryland’s request for $60 million in emergency funding that will support the state’s recovery and cleanup efforts. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said more federal funds would follow, but longer-term funding from Congress could take months. .
• As of Thursday, there was no sign of major contamination from the Dali or its containers beyond the normal flow of pollutants into Baltimore’s degraded harbor, said Alice Volpitta, the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper with local advocacy group Blue Water Baltimore. But advocates are monitoring the waterways for any contaminants that may be released during the salvage operation.
• White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the arrival of cleanup equipment to the Patapsco “marks a step forward as we continue through the recovery process.” The equipment, which officials said is projected to arrive Thursday, includes a 1,000-ton lift capacity derrick barge, a 400-ton lift capacity revolving crane barge, a 160-ton revolving crane and support vessels.
• Four members of the eight-person construction crew working on the bridge at the time it toppled have been identified by family and authorities. The bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, were recovered Wednesday from a red pickup truck submerged in the river. Miguel Luna and Maynor Suazo Sandoval, both fathers, are among those still missing.

9:20 PM: Analysis from Jonathan Edwards

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told people to “resist” politicizing the bridge collapse, especially in a way that traffics in racism . Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), said that dealing with the aftermath of the collapse cannot be a partisan issue. Democrats and Republicans have to find a way to work together or they’ll never achieve the future they want, he said.

9:16 PM: Cleaning up hazardous materials onboard the Dali could take weeks

The first step in clearing the debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse will be dealing with the hazardous materials onboard the Dali. The process could take “a few weeks,” according to James Bell, president of ADCO Environmental Services, a Chicago-based company that does hazardous material cleanups.

“The hazmat crew always goes in after the emergency responders,” Bell said. “You have to remove the hazards, so that when you bring your new workers in to start removing the bridge, they’re not in harm’s way.”

There were 56 hazardous containers carrying 764 tons of hazardous materials, mostly corrosive or flammable liquids and, potentially, lithium-ion batteries. Some of the hazardous containers were damaged, according to the Coast Guard. But Bell said the flammable and corrosive liquids are unlikely to leak, since they’re packaged inside steel drums or industrial “totes” designed to safely transport chemicals.

“While the [shipping] containers may be damaged from the bridge falling on them, those [drums and totes] are extremely strong and they can hold up very well,” he said. “So chances are, they’re probably all okay.”

“Those lithium-ion batteries probably present the biggest danger of all, because once they ignite they are not easily extinguished,” he said.

Hazmat crews will haul batteries off to be recycled and pump any flammable or corrosive liquids from damaged tanks into new ones.

“Then they can start scooping the bridge out of the bay and get the ship pushed off for its repairs,” Bell said. “They’re going to take their time to make sure they get everything right.”

By: Nicolás Rivero

8:33 PM: U.S. Coast Guard lays out plan to reopen port of Baltimore

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath described during a news conference Thursday the steps necessary to “accomplish our No. 1 priority” of opening the Port of Baltimore, a key trade lane in the city and the nation’s top port for automobile shipments.

“Step one of that is we’re going to clear the debris from the channel,” Gilreath said. “Step two is we’re going to remove the vessel, and step three is remove the rest of the bridge debris from the waterway.”

A large crane is expected to arrive in Baltimore on Thursday night to aid in the cleanup operations. However, he said, an assessment process — which is already underway — needs to be completed first so “we can figure out how to cut the bridge in the right size pieces so that we can actually lift them with the crane.”

On Thursday, the federal government approved relief funds, which boosted official’s confidence in their ability to successfully accomplish the mission of opening up the port as soon as possible. Yet, Gov. Wes Moore (D) noted, “we have a very long road ahead of us.”

“The Dali is almost as long as the Eiffel Tower — and the Dali has the Key Bridge on top of it,” Moore said. “We’re talking 3,000 to 4,000 tons of steel that’s sitting on top of that ship. So we’ve got work to do, but we’re moving.”

By: María Luisa Paúl

7:51 PM: Analysis from Jonathan Edwards

Crews are cleaning up hazardous materials that may have spilled, and there is no risk to first responders or people in the area, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said on Thursday. Of the 4,000 containers the ship was carrying, 56 are carrying hazardous materials like lithium batteries.

7:40 PM: Analysis from Jonathan Edwards

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said officials hope to recover the four bodies that are still missing as crews carry out salvage work. He didn’t give a timeline for when that might happen.

7:39 PM: Analysis from María Luisa Paúl, Morning Mix reporter

What Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) described during a news conference as “the largest crane in the Eastern Seaboard” — which officials said weighs 1,000 tons — is expected to arrive in Baltimore Thursday night. The crane, moved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will pull bridge pieces out of the water.

7:17 PM: Analysis from María Luisa Paúl, Morning Mix reporter

Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, both of Maryland, are working with federal officials to introduce legislation that would provide funds for bridge recovery costs not covered by the Federal Emergency Relief program, Van Hollen said during a news conference.

7:11 PM: Analysis from Jonathan Edwards

Divers are dealing with water that’s so dark and debris that’s so dense they often can’t see a foot or two in front of them, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said on Thursday. “So much of the operation is simply feel,” he said.

7:07 PM: Analysis from Jonathan Edwards

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at a Thursday evening news conference that officials have an obligation to bring a sense of closure to victims’ families and to clear the channel so the port can open as quickly as possible. He said that not only does the state’s economy depend on it but also the nation’s.

6:18 PM: Feds approve $60 million in emergency funds for Baltimore

The federal government on Thursday approved Maryland’s request for $60 million in initial emergency-relief funding to assist recovery efforts following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

“No one will ever forget the shocking images of a container vessel striking the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse and the tragic loss of six people,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release. “The federal emergency funds we’re releasing today will help Maryland begin urgent work, to be followed by further resources as recovery and rebuilding efforts progress.”

The relief funding — approved hours after the Maryland Department of Transportation submitted its request — provides “an initial down payment of funds to help Maryland manage ongoing disruptions to traffic, supply chains, and daily life,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said in the release. The funds will aid the state’s ongoing debris removal, demolition, detours and emergency repair efforts. They will also support the reconstruction and design of the bridge.

Additional funds needed for the bridge’s rebuilding will be “supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations,” according to the Federal Highway Administration, which is providing technical assistance, conducting site assessments and administering emergency contracts for the new bridge.

“President Biden has been clear: The federal government will do everything it takes to help rebuild the bridge and get the Port of Baltimore back open,” Buttigieg added.

5:15 PM: Maryland officers honored during Orioles game

Three Maryland Transportation Authority police officers were honored Thursday during the Baltimore Orioles Opening Day game for bravery amid the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, officials said.

The officers — Sgt. Paul Pastorek, a 13-year veteran, Cpl. Jeremy Herbert, a 19-year veteran, and Officer Garry Kirts, a six-year veteran — were lauded during the middle of the third inning of the Orioles season opener against the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards.

Pastorek said in a statement that “no amount of training could have prepared anyone for the events that took place on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”

“We were proud to carry out our duties as officers of this state to save the lives that we could, and we are grateful for the incredible amount of support from this community that we love so much,” the statement said.

In a statement, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said the officers “are Maryland heroes, in every beautiful sense.”

“Their courage, bravery, and quick thinking saved lives,” Moore’s statement said. “They’ve dedicated their careers to protecting the public — and we are deeply grateful that they’ve raised their hands to serve. When duty called, they answered. When crisis struck, they stepped into the breach for total strangers. In this time of challenge, they’re a bright light for our nation and our state.”

By: Justin Wm. Moyer

4:35 PM: Longshoremen’s union: Work for members will dry up in a week

Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, said the impact of the Key bridge collapse will be felt far beyond his 2,400 members who load and unload freight from cargo ships at Baltimore area ship terminals.

“It will be very impactful,” Cowan said during an interview on Thursday at his office in Dundalk, Md. “It will depend on how long the shipping channel is closed.”

He said the closure adversely affects as many as 20,000 jobs connected to port operations, including truck drivers and warehouse workers. Ship activity has been suspended during what could be a lengthy effort to remove the fallen bridge and stranded ship.

Cowan said he is focused on the immediate needs of the workers, who are paid hourly but only when they are working ships. No ships mean no work. He said members have been offloading ships and putting containers onto trucks, but that work will dry up in about a week.

“They’re worried about getting paid, putting food on their tables and taking care of their families,” Cowan said. He said he is confident promises of help from the state and federal governments will help compensate members. But for the moment, he said, the union is working on ways to offset losses.

“We’re taking matters into our own hands now,” Cowan said, “and we’ll do whatever we can for our members.”

Cowan said he did not know what was in the containers that were loaded onto the Dali. He said workers spent several days loading the containers, some of which are designed to hold hazardous materials and or are refrigerated.

After the loading was done, some of those same workers drove home over the Key Bridge — just before it collapsed.

“They had driven over the bridge at 12:15, at 12:30, and an hour later, it wasn’t there,” he said. “They travel that bridge every day for work. They’re upset, to say the least.”

By: Peter Hermann

3:59 PM: Analysis from Whitney Leaming, Video journalist on the National desk

U.S. Corps of Engineers used sonar equipment Wednesday to determine the location of debris and search for submerged vehicles after the Key Bridge collapse. Forensic operations technicians from various state and federal agencies assisted in analyzing data acquired from the survey.

3:35 PM: Gale warning issued Friday for strong winds

A heavy rainstorm moving up the East Coast tracked far enough offshore to spare Baltimore from heavy rain on Thursday, but strong winds in its wake could complicate cleanup efforts into Friday.

The storm dropped about an inch of rain Wednesday into early Thursday morning, but the core of the precipitation then shifted to the Delmarva Peninsula. Dry weather is anticipated in Baltimore through Friday with gradually clearing skies.

But, in the storm’s wake, winds are forecast to crank up. Gusts could top 20 mph Thursday night and then reach 30 to 40 mph Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued a small craft advisory for Chesapeake Bay waters until 6 a.m. Friday and a more serious gale warning from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

“Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels,” the Weather Service wrote. “Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions.”

Winds should gradually ease Friday night into Saturday before the next chance of rain Saturday afternoon.

By: Jason Samenow

3:30 PM: Bridge victims honored with moment of silence at Orioles opening day

Shortly before 3 p.m. Eastern, after all the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles players had been introduced on Opening Day in Baltimore, and with both teams standing in the baselines, fans were asked to stand at Camden Yards.

A replica Fort McHenry flag was unfurled in center field to a lengthy roar.

Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown then asked fans to remove their hats and observe a moment of silence for the victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Hours earlier, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Orioles owner David Rubenstein paid homage to the victims before a news conference at Camden Yards. Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group private equity firm and a longtime Washington area philanthropist, was named as the new controlling owner on Wednesday.

By: Chelsea Janes

2:32 PM: Maryland could get federal relief funds in matter of days

Maryland will have access to federal money in a matter of days to pay for the start of the Francis Scott Key Bridge recovery and rebuilding, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told The Washington Post on Thursday. But longer-term funding from Congress could take months to arrive, he said.

Maryland transportation officials asked for federal emergency relief funds Wednesday, and Gov. Wes Moore (D) had earlier declared a state of emergency, making Maryland eligible for quick access to hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. On Thursday, the state requested an initial payment of $60 million for early recovery and cleanup.

Federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, will assume the full cost of clearing shipping lanes in the Patapsco River to reopen the vital Port of Baltimore, Van Hollen said.

But Maryland taxpayers could be left to foot some of the costs, based on the structure of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s emergency relief fund. Maryland’s congressional delegation is planning to introduce legislation for more federal dollars to cover any gap, but it would have to pass both chambers of Congress. It’s not year clear how much the total cost might be, or how much the relief fund might leave for the state to pay.

Read the full story.

By: Jacob Bogage and Danny Nguyen

2:10 PM: Crane headed to bridge collapse for cleanup, Navy says

As transportation officials try to determine what led the Dali to strike the bridge, officials said a barge, a crane and other equipment are headed to the scene of the collapse for cleanup.

In a statement, a Navy spokesperson said personnel would work with the Coast Guard to “clear and re-open the channel.”

“The team is currently in the process of mobilizing a 1000-ton lift capacity derrick barge, 400-ton lift capacity revolving crane barge, and 160T revolving crane as well as support vessels,” the statement said.

Personnel will work to “remove submerged portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” according to the statement.

Confirmation of the Navy’s involvement came after officials referred to the beginning of cleanup operations in interviews Thursday. In an interview with MSNBC, Tom Perez, senior adviser and assistant to President Biden, said a “heavy-lift crane vessel” is headed to the port “to help with the debris.”

Perez did not offer further details but said officials “are moving heaven and earth” to open the port.

“We’re incredibly sensitive to the notion that this is the resting place for four fathers, four brothers, four sons,” he said. “The humanity of the moment is still something very much on Gov. [Wes] Moore’s mind.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the arrival of cleanup equipment “marks a step forward as we continue through the recovery process.”

By: Justin Wm. Moyer, Toluse Olorunnipa and Justin Jouvenal

1:55 PM: Cleanup from the Baltimore bridge collapse is launched

Authorities have paused recovery efforts for the four construction workers still missing amid the wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and have turned their focus to “salvage” operations.

A Washington Post photographer boarded a boat in the Patapsco River on Thursday morning to photograph what remains of the bridge’s twisted metal and get a closer look at the damage done to the container ship Dali. The ship remains anchored beneath the crumpled bridge.

By: Jonathan Newton

1:44 PM: Moore requests $60 million in initial federal funding

Maryland transportation officials have requested a tranche of $60 million from the federal government to pay for “initial mobilization, operations and debris recovery” from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced Thursday.

The state is likely to request dozens — if not hundreds — of millions more in federal dollars to pay for rerouting traffic and rebuilding the failed bridge. The first $60 million could be available within days, officials told The Washington Post.

By: Jacob Bogage

1:37 PM: Key Bridge traffic camera shows moments before collapse

Traffic camera footage from the Key Bridge obtained by The Washington Post offers additional perspective on the moments before the Dali crashed into a bridge support structure.

The footage, about a minute long, shows cars entering and exiting Interstate 695 and what appear to be lights from a construction crew on the bridge just before the collapse.

About 1:27 a.m., the last cars enter the bridge. Another car heading off the bridge passes the traffic camera. About the same time, police radio traffic captures someone saying: “Hold all traffic on the Key Bridge. There’s a ship approaching that just lost their steering.”

The Dali can be seen approaching the bridge nearly a second after the cars are out of frame. The feed cuts just before the ship hits the bridge.

By: Sarah Cahlan

12:52 PM: Victim relief fund created by Baltimore mayor’s immigrant affairs office

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has launched a relief fund to support the families of victims in the Key Bridge collapse.

The fund is accepting donations, which will be distributed to the families of those who died in the collapse and the families of the survivors, according to the website .

“While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy,” the fund website says.

Susana Barrios, vice president of the Latino Racial Justice Circle, a nonprofit organization supporting immigrants in Baltimore, said a fundraiser started by LRJC, in collaboration with several other community organizations, raised more than $90,000 for the victims’ families. The fundraiser was verified by GoFundMe. Now they are working with the mayor’s office, she said.

“We’re passing the baton,” Barrios said. “They are equipped to handle that much.”

By: Jasmine Hilton

12:20 PM: Analysis from Erin Cox, Local reporter covering Maryland state politics

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) traveled to the Maryland Cruise Terminal on Wednesday morning to receive a briefing from the Unified Command Center. The Coast Guard and Maryland officials have converted the terminal, normally used for passengers boarding cruise ships, into the headquarters for the on-water salvage operations.

12:13 PM: Tell The Post how the bridge collapse is impacting your business

The collapse of the Key Bridge has suspended vessel traffic through a major trade lane, disrupting supply chains and threatening to impact many businesses — including local ones.

The Washington Post wants to hear from regional business owners about how the collapse has impacted or may impact them, perhaps by delaying imports or changing delivery routes, among other possibilities.

Business owners who want to share their experiences can do so here . A reporter may follow up.

By: Marisa Iati

11:13 AM: GOP congressman balks at Biden’s call for Congress to fund bridge repair

Two days after the Baltimore bridge collapse, it remains to be seen how willing Congress is to oblige President Biden’s call for the federal government to fully fund the repair.

But at least one Republican in the closely divided House is speaking out against the request.

Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) told Fox Business on Thursday it was “kind of outrageous immediately for Biden to express on this tragedy the idea that he’s going to use federal funds to pay for it in entirety.”

“This is a crisis situation, but it needs a plan, not a knee-jerk spend reaction,” Meuser said.

Congress is on recess until the week of April 8, and lawmakers already have a thorny issue to address when they return: more aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Biden, who is running for reelection this year, said Tuesday that he wants the federal government to “pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge,” though the White House has mostly declined to provide details since then.

Emergency funding for such disasters usually unifies both parties, but House Republicans can spare few defections as their already thin majority dwindles .

CNN reported Thursday that some hard-right Republicans are open to tapping federal funds for the bridge repair but are still waiting to hear more from the White House.

A White House spokesperson, Andrew Bates, pushed back against Meuser in an X post, saying Biden “knows the federal government has a critical role to play when it comes to American infrastructure.”

By: Patrick Svitek

10:55 AM: Baltimore Orioles to open season amid tragedy

Days after their longtime owner died and a vital piece of their city’s infrastructure was destroyed, the Baltimore Orioles will open their season at Camden Yards in a game against the Los Angeles Angels slated to begin at 3:05 p.m.

In a statement on its website , the team said it would begin by paying tribute to the victims of the bridge collapse.

“The Orioles will hold a special moment of silence following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, honoring the victims and their families and sharing an appreciation for our city’s brave first responders who immediately stepped into action,” the statement said.

A flag that is “a replica of the one that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner” will also be unfurled before the game, according to the statement.

Even before the bridge was destroyed early Tuesday, the season opener comes at a time of triumph and tragedy for the Orioles. The defending American League East champions lost Peter G. Angelos, a Baltimore lawyer best known as the team’s combative chief owner for three decades, on March 23 when he died at 94 .

David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group private equity firm and a longtime Washington area philanthropist, was named as the new controlling owner just Wednesday.

Excitement ahead of the opener had been high after a 2023 season that saw the Orioles reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) is expected to answer questions about the bridge collapse during a scheduled news conference at Camden Yards on Thursday morning. He is also scheduled to attend the season opener in the afternoon.

10:50 AM: No sign of major pollution from wreckage, Waterkeeper says

Efforts to monitor and contain any pollution leaking from the Dali or its containers are ongoing, but for now, there is no sign of major contamination — beyond the normal flow of pollutants into Baltimore’s degraded harbor, perhaps.

National Transportation Safety Board officials said Wednesday there was a “sheen” on the water around the Key Bridge wreckage, though they deferred to federal, state and local environmental officials to explain what may be contaminating the water and how serious the pollution might be. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said that 56 containers on board the ship held hazardous materials, but that it was unclear how many of them might be in the water or had been breached by the wreckage.

“I did see some containers in the water and some breached significantly on the vessel itself,” Homendy said. “I don’t have an exact number.”

Alice Volpitta, the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper with local advocacy group Blue Water Baltimore, said it’s possible the sheen is simply the result of a steady rain that had been falling Wednesday and Thursday, washing pollution from the shore into the Patapsco River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.

“From an environmental perspective, so far we’ve gotten pretty lucky,” Volpitta said.

But environmental regulators and advocates remain on alert in case any pollutants are released during the salvage operation, Volpitta said. Maryland Department of the Environment officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning.

So far, Blue Water Baltimore volunteers have reported seeing brown foam on the water in some spots, Volpitta said, but it wasn’t clear if that was associated with the bridge collapse.

In its most recent Chesapeake Bay environmental health report card , the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science gave the Patapsco a D-minus, a slight improvement over earlier scores.

By: Scott Dance and Michael Laris

9:38 AM: Video: NTSB investigates on board the Dali ship after bridge collapse

By: Naomi Schanen

9:14 AM: Video: A close-up view of Key Bridge’s destruction

By: Joshua Carroll and Hadley Green

8:48 AM: Analysis from Leo Sands, Breaking News Reporter/Editor

The Key Bridge was constructed without any “redundancy” that would keep it from toppling if a major support was struck, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said . It was among 17,468 “fracture-critical bridges” in the United States — out of 615,000 bridges total — built without such redundancy and more vulnerable to collapse if part of its structure fails.

8:33 AM: Bridge collapse brings stark reminder of immigrant workers’ vulnerabilities

Early Tuesday morning, a panicked voice awoke Maritza Guzman de Villatoro. A bridge in Baltimore had collapsed, her daughter shouted. A familiar pit soon formed in her stomach.

Last March, a speeding car plowed between a highway barrier on the same Baltimore highway and killed six workers, including Villatoro’s husband and brother-in-law, along a section of Interstate 695 about 20 miles from the bridge. Now, a massive ship stacked with containers had crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse. Six workers, all native to Latin America, were lost in the Patapsco River and presumed dead.

One of the victims, Miguel Luna, came from the same area in El Salvador as Villatoro and her husband, near the southeastern city of Usulután, she said.

“We leave with so many dreams,” she said, her voice trembling. “Here, immigrants have the hardest times and do the hardest jobs, and then we’re the first to break.”

Read the full story

By: Scott Dance and María Luisa Paúl

8:02 AM: Authorities shift focus to salvage operation, removing wreckage

Authorities are turning their focus to a “salvage” operation to remove wreckage from the Patapsco River after a massive container ship caused Baltimore’s Key Bridge to collapse. Efforts to search for victims’ remains were suspended because of dangerous conditions, as divers were prevented from reaching vehicles underwater.

“We have exhausted all search efforts in the areas around this wreckage,” Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland State Police, said in a Wednesday night news conference. Based on sonar scans, officials say they believe vehicles are “encased in the superstructure and concrete that we tragically saw come down,” he said.

The emergency response has shifted to focus on “salvage recovery,” Butler said, but he suggested that authorities will revert to the hunt for victims when they are able.

“Once the salvage effort takes place and that superstructure is removed, those same divers are going to go back out there and bring those people closure,” he said. “There’s no definitive timeline. … Please be patient.” At least eight members of a construction crew working on the bridge fell into the water, authorities said, and two were rescued. Two bodies have since been recovered from the water, and the four remaining missing people are presumed dead.

At the same time, the Coast Guard said Wednesday it has established a unified command with state and federal agencies. “Our number one priority … is to reopen the waterway so that we can safely move commerce in and out the port of Baltimore,” Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) told the same news conference that “our top priority is to get the shipping lane open.” He said the impact of its closure would be felt not just by the local economy, but also around the world. Baltimore is home to the nation’s top port for automobile shipments , and restricted access threatens to further disrupt stressed supply chains.

In a separate news conference Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said that interviews of the ship’s crew on board the vessel — as part of the agency’s investigation into the crash — were scheduled to continue into Thursday and would include the two pilots.

By: Leo Sands

7:57 AM: What we know about the Key Bridge collapse and victims

What caused the Baltimore Key Bridge to collapse? How will it affect road and shipping traffic? What do we know about the victims?

Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland State Police, said Tuesday evening that it was a “distinct possibility” that other motorists were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, and they would also be presumed dead. Here is what we know so far about the collapse.

By: Washington Post staff

7:18 AM: Why investigators are looking into ‘dirty fuel’ in Baltimore bridge collapse

“Dirty fuel” is one of several possible factors that may have caused the cargo ship Dali to lose power in the moments before it smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday, according to shipping industry experts. The investigation by federal, state and local authorities into what went wrong on the Dali is just beginning. But the deadly events on the Patapsco River in the dark of night have shined a light on the travails of the global shipping industry, including a long-standing problem with dirty fuel.

By: Joel Achenbach

6:44 AM: Investigators identify 764 tons of hazardous material on the Dali

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have identified 56 containers, or 764 tons, of hazardous materials aboard the Dali, including corrosive and flammable materials. “Some of the hazmat containers were breached. We have seen sheen on the waterway,” NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said in a Wednesday night briefing. She said federal, state and local officials know about the issue and are in charge of addressing it.

Homendy said the ship’s captain, first mate and chief engineer were interviewed Wednesday night and that the two pilots are scheduled to be interviewed Thursday.

The initial roughly six hours of information from the ship’s voyage data recorder is being analyzed at an agency lab, Homendy said. The ship is required to have 30 days of data available. Once that is downloaded, the agency will be able dig more deeply into reports of power outages in the days before Tuesday’s calamitous voyage.

“We are aware of the reports, and that’s something that we need to look into,” Homendy said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to find something in that data if the entire 30 days is there.”

By: Michael Laris

6:22 AM: Video: Governor calls Key Bridge collapse a ‘global crisis’

By: HyoJung Kim

6:01 AM: Analysis: The global risks caused by bigger and bigger container ships

Big ships can cause big problems. In 2021, the huge container ship Ever Given twisted sideways in the Suez Canal, blocking a crucial trade passage between Europe and Asia. For almost a week, this firmly lodged ship captivated a pandemic-weary world that responded with wild theories and wilder memes . But there was a real-world impact as well: The trade traversing the canal was worth up to $10 billion daily.

This week, a different heavy cargo ship struck a support column for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore at around 1:30 a.m., prompting the 1.6-mile-long bridge to come crashing down into the water almost immediately. The collapse of the bridge Tuesday morning has disrupted trade from the Port of Baltimore, which handled $81 billion of foreign cargo in 2023 . Rebuilding the bridge could cost hundreds of millions of dollars .

Six construction workers who were on the bridge are presumed dead, though officials have said a Mayday warning from the ship allowed the Maryland Transportation Authority police to close traffic across the bridge, probably preventing some casualties.

These two events, which took place almost exactly three years apart, occurred 5,000 miles from one another and in considerably different circumstances. But both involved enormous ships of the kind that have become the backbone of modern global trade.

By: Adam Taylor

5:31 AM: Six presumed dead in bridge collapse were immigrants, soccer fans, family men

The Key Bridge, now twisted wreckage submerged in the Patapsco, once held six men high above the river. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers who had traveled to this country for lives they hoped would be prosperous and long.

Then a container ship lost power and slammed into a concrete pier, and the Baltimore bridge plunged into the water. With it went the six men, officials said, all of them construction workers with Brawner Builders, repairing masonry and potholes. They are now presumed dead. Divers on Wednesday found a red pickup truck beneath 25 feet of water. Inside of it, two of the men.

More than a day after the disastrous collapse, there was still little known about their deaths: why the ship crashed, why the bridge fell and what happened in those final moments when the men were suspended in the air. But their losses have left an international trail of grief — the victims were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — and from the web of people who loved them have come stories about their lives.

Maynor Suazo Sandoval, from Honduras, was about to turn 39. Miguel Luna, from El Salvador, was a father of three. Both were members of the immigrant organization Casa. Both loved soccer. Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, from Mexico, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, from Guatemala, were found together, inside the pickup truck. As of Wednesday afternoon, the two other victims had not been publicly identified, and authorities said additional vehicles in the water around the bridge are probably surrounded by rubble from the collapse.

By: Teo Armus, Emily Davies and Jasmine Hilton

5:30 AM: NTSB gives preliminary timeline of collapse from ship’s data recorder

The alarms first sounded on the Dali around 1:24 a.m. Tuesday, an NTSB official said in a Wednesday evening news conference, citing preliminary information from the container ship’s voice data recorder.

About a minute and a half later, the ship’s pilot used a high-frequency radio to request assistance, helping to alert the on-duty Maryland Transportation Authority officer. The pilot called for “tugs in the vicinity,” which help vessels leave the port and get into its main channel. Before the Dali hit the bridge, it had no tugs. Thirty seconds later, the pilot ordered the ship’s anchor to be dropped and gave “additional steering commands,” said Marcel Muise, the lead investigator.

At 1:27 a.m., the pilot reported that the Dali had lost all power and was approaching the bridge, Muise said. At the time, there were two Maryland Transportation Authority units at the scene because of the ongoing construction, and those units shut down all lanes of traffic on the bridge, according to Muise. He said the voice data recorder captured “sounds consistent with the collision” at 1:29 a.m. Around this time, the lights on the Key Bridge also went out.

Later in the news conference, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the tugs request the “first sign of needing help.” NTSB officials said the agency would continue to review the entire voice data recorder information to develop a full transcript as it continues its investigation of the collapse.

By: Praveena Somasundaram

Starlink on cruise ships: Which lines have faster internet connections on board?

No matter how far your cruise roams, staying connected to the internet can be as important for some cruisers as oxygen and water. Whether you're keen on live-streaming penguins from your balcony on an Antarctica cruise, catching up on your favorite TV series or hopping on a Zoom call in the middle of the Pacific, connectivity and high-speed access are now considered essentials when cruising.

In the past, cruise lines struggled to keep up with the demand for seamless connectivity at sea. In the middle of an ocean, ships had to rely on satellite systems that could be unreliable, prohibitively expensive and maddeningly slow. Satellite systems allotted only so much broadband for each ship, and every ship carried thousands of people, each with multiple devices.

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A better solution was required. Enter Starlink, the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet. Part of Elon Musk's SpaceX program, Starlink now provides many cruise ships with bandwidth that can support streaming, online gaming, video calls and more worldwide. Starlink debuted in 2019 and has quickly revolutionized how hundreds of cruise ships provide internet access, boosting connectivity and capacity as ships roam the world.

Will your next cruise offer landlike Wi-Fi speeds? Here is everything you need to know about Starlink on cruise ships.

How does Starlink work?

Compared to standard communications satellites, which orbit from 22,000 miles away, Starlink's thousands of satellites orbit the atmosphere from about 340 miles above the Earth's surface. With much closer proximity to Earth, Starlink's data connections offer stronger and faster connections and provide the opportunity for more bandwidth on cruise ships.

The coverage of the Starlink satellites is extensive and growing, with more than 5,400 satellites currently in orbit and plans in future years to reach up to 42,000 satellites in orbit at once. Traditional satellite networks have a much more limited fleet and reach, especially in some of the ocean's most remote areas. Starlink is the world's largest satellite constellation, with near-complete coverage of all the world's oceans and waterways.

The Starlink system is affixed to ships as a series of flat panels positioned on upper decks, replacing the now antiquated domes often placed near the ship's funnel and radar masts.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

How fast is Starlink internet access?

Starlink's website estimates download speeds that range from 40 to over 200 Mbps and upload speeds that come in at 8 to more than 25 Mbps, with a latency of less than 99 milliseconds. These are wide-ranging estimates that don't factor in cruise ship-based throttling, cruise ship capacity, global positioning and the costs and challenges of outfitting a cruise ship with bow-to-stern Wi-Fi connectivity.

The industrial-strength steel frames and fireproof materials used throughout the ship make a strong, consistent signal throughout a cruise ship an industry-wide challenge. There will be patches on a ship, regardless of which line you're sailing, where you'll find a weaker signal. Signals are often at their strongest in the main public gathering areas.

Similar to traditional satellites, severe weather can be a factor in Starlink connections while at sea. Intense storms can bring temporary service interruptions or reduced speeds, while heavy rain or snowfall can cause signal attenuation, which might cause a brief loss of connectivity.

Cruises with Starlink

Here's a full rundown of all the major cruise lines sailing with the new Starlink technology. How much will the connectivity cost you? Check TPG's guide to Wi-Fi access on cruise ships.

Note: Starlink on cruises can be a white label service, depending on the line. While the cruise line might not advertise that it uses the new Wi-Fi technology, the list below will help to identify which lines are sailing with Starlink.

Azamara 's fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There are three levels of bandwidth available: Social Wi-Fi (with access only to popular social media and airline websites), Value Wi-Fi (for email, news, weather, banking and other basic websites) and Premium Wi-Fi (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises ' entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Basic Wi-Fi (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium Wi-Fi (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Cunard 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Essential (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line does not currently use Starlink Wi-Fi.

Holland America

Holland America offers fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi. There are three levels of bandwidth available: Surf (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging), Premium (for Wi-Fi audio and video calls) and Stream (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic

Lindblad Expedition offers complimentary, basic Starlink Wi-Fi to all guests aboard their ships, with the exception of Delfin II. There are two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: Enhanced (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises is currently rolling out Starlink throughout its fleet, with two-thirds of the line's ships currently sailing with the upgraded service. The ships in the fleet that do not have the service include MSC Opera and MSC World Europa (both will receive Starlink in the coming weeks) and MSC Armonia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Splendida (scheduled to receive Starlink before the summer 2024 season.)

There are two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: the Browse Internet Cruise Package (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and the Browse & Stream Cruise Package (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage).

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is currently rolling out Starlink throughout its fleet this year, with select ships presently sailing with the upgraded service. Currently, the ships with upgraded internet include Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Pearl.

NCL offers two levels of bandwidth available for purchase: the Unlimited Wi-Fi Package and the Unlimited Premium Wi-Fi Package. As part of the line's Free at Sea promotion , guests can receive a limited number of Wi-Fi minutes for free.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises is rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi on all its ships and will have its entire fleet outfitted with the service by the end of 2024. Oceania Cruises offers fleetwide basic complimentary internet with a premium option available for streaming.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises ' fleet features MedallionNet, the only Wi-Fi network in the cruise industry that combines multi-orbit satellites — Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Mid-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO/Starlink) with 5G terrestrial networks to deliver a strong connection regardless of ship location. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Starlink Wi-Fi can currently be found on two Regent Seven Seas ships, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Grandeur. The entire Regent Seven Seas fleet will be equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2024. There are two levels of bandwidth available on Regent Seven Seas: A complimentary basic package for emails and news and an upgraded package for streaming services and high-bandwidth usage that's available for a fee.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at an additional cost. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Seabourn offers fleetwide complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi. There is one level of bandwidth available.

Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises ' entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi. There are two levels of bandwidth available: Standard Internet (for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging) and Premium Internet (for streaming and high-bandwidth usage). Your suite and ship class determine which option you receive at no extra charge. Upgrades in service are available for an additional fee.

Viking 's entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at no additional cost. There is one level of bandwidth, though the line advises users that it can limit heavy-bandwidth usage to ensure all have equal access.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages ' entire fleet features Starlink Wi-Fi at no additional cost. The included plan allows for social media, email, web browsing and internet-based messaging. There is an upgraded Premium bandwidth option available for streaming and high-bandwidth usage for an additional fee.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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