Norwegian Cruise Line was forced to cancel a planned preview voyage of the refurbished Norwegian Spirit. The NCL Spirit ship was scheduled to come out of drydock (USD 100 million refurbishment) at Chantier Naval de Marseille Shipyard on February 11. However, due to ongoing strikes in France, NCL had to postpone its plans to bring the liner back into service.
In a message to passengers due to join Norwegian Spirit on the special preview cruise, the company said that due to the extended labour strikes in France over the past 2 weeks, coupled with their desire to deliver an exceptional vessel for their guests "to enjoy from the first day they board," they were extending Norwegian Spirit’s renovation. The unanticipated events required them to modify the first post-dry dock sailing of the ship and, as a result, the scheduled preview sailing had been cancelled.
The preview cruise will now begin on February 14 in Port Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy, NCL announced. Norwegian Spirit entered drydock on January 2, 2020, for a nearly 40-day drydocking project. Works included adding 14 new venues, expanding the Mandara Spa, adding more staterooms.