Cruise Industry-related publication Lloyd’s List (Lloyds of London) reports that Akers shipyard of France has ordered a work stoppage on one of the two new F3 class of cruise ships for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Two of these ships are currently being built with one scheduled for 2010 delivery and the other for 2011. These ships come in at 150,000-tons and carry 4200 passenger berths.

The ships are highly unusual in design - with no main dining room or theater, but with several smaller dining and entertainment venues. They are meant to carry the concept of NCL’s “Free-style” cruising to the next level. Industry publication Cruise Week is reporting “Several sources tell Cruise Week that the cost of the F3 has spiralled” and they say that Lloyds confirms that statement.

Part of the dilemma is whether the project can be sold to another cruise line. The unusual design is proprietary to the NCL free-style concept. One of the ships may already be too far along to switch gears. The other ship is believed to be the one that work stoppage has occured on - before it gets so far along other cruise lines would consider it unusable.

As noted above, the changes in Dollar/Euro exchange rate might also have something to do with this. or it could be that Apollo is having problems getting credit to finish both ships with a total cost well over $1 billion.

Perhaps they should just ask the U.S. Government for the money? But not if they are required to locate it in Hawaii with a U.S. crew! (BTW: is you don’t get that joke you are not yet a serious cruiser).

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