12,949 tons; length 525 ft., width 75 ft., draft 22 ft., 21 knots; 293 cabins; 736 passengers; diesel, twin screw; built 1968; scrapped 2018
Go to ms Starward brochure
Starward was the first ship designed for cruising by Norwegian Caribbean Lines, however it had roll-on/roll-off capacity to transport 200 cars and 30 trailers. Starward entered service on December 21, 1968, operating seven-day cruises from Miami to Port Antonio, Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica. The sleek design with twin side-by-side funnels was unmistakeable. It had a revolutionary look and made quite a visual impression at the time.
Starting at the top, inside the solarium was an observation platform. Below that on Compass Deck was the Tropicana Bar, which overlooked the main swimming pool midship on Sun Deck with a small gym and sauna nearby. A second pool and the Lido Bar were on Boat Deck aft. Galaxy Deck contained the Venus Bar and Lounge, Neptune Dining Room, the Verandah and finally the Orion Club aft. Midship on Atlantic Deck were the shops and casino.
Starward's original configuration included five deluxe and two semi-deluxe suites, 160 outside cabins with two lower beds (including many with folding upper berths), 46 outside and 52 inside with a three-quarter lower bed and folding upper berth plus 28 outside cabins with an upper and lower berth. The demand for cruises greatly exceeded capacity, so in 1976 the garage was rebuilt into 114 inside cabins with two lower beds, increasing capacity to 928 passengers.
The demand continued and NCL built more ships - the very similar Skyward entered service in 1970 and Southward in 1972. A sister to the ms Southward was to be Seaward, but it was sold to P&O Lines before entering service. P&O named it Spirit of London and deployed it cruising from Los Angeles to Mexico and Vancouver to Alaska.
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