Corp. has told its employees that the first 150,000-ton F3 ship order has been cancelled but that a decision has not been finalized on whether to proceed with the second vessel, a source within the company told Travel Pulse. However, NCL has remained officially mum on the issue, saying it does not comment on legal issues, while the shipyard, Aker Yards France, has said the project remains ongoing. Separately, Travel Pulse has learned that a headhunter search for the top sales executive has been called off, leading to speculation that Andy Stuart, who had been overseeing the F3 project, would return to his former position as executive vice president of sales, marketing and passenger services. He was named chief product officer in April in charge of Freestyle Cruising fleetwide but also to oversee the F3 project. At that time, the company said a search was underway to fill the executive vice president position in change of sales and marketing. Stuart led a separate F3 team, which included several top NCL executives, including Amy Hiles-Maynard, who became vice president-F3 marketing, and Susan Robison, who was vice president-F3 public relations.

Meanwhile, Seatrade Insider reported Sept. 19 that Aker is shopping around the F3 project, for which the keel was laid in April. The yard approached Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and MSC Cruises, Seatrade reported. The problems with the $2 billion F3 project apparently center on the cost of major changes in the prototype. NCL had promised the ship would be unlike any other, with no main restaurant, no main show lounge and no Lido café. The “New Wave” staterooms have curved walls. The company’s last major announcement on the ship revealed plans for an ice bar and other hip nightlife venues more akin to South Beach or Las Vegas. But the ship’s differences could make it difficult for another company to pick up the prototype without making major changes.

The uncertainty over the high-profile project raises questions that so far remain unaddressed by NCL. “NCL just can’t seem to catch a break,” said one long-time industry insider. “The only thing that isn’t in question is that the quality of the product improved exponentially since the introduction of Freestyle Cruising in 2000.” The two F3 ships had been scheduled for delivery in March and October 2010. For more information on NCL, visit www.ncl.com.
