2017 brings an amazing variety of styles andsizes of new ships entering service. This yearfeatures new entries into the long neglecteddeluxe cruise market igniting a spark that is sureto spread to the competition. We will also seenew ships built specifically for the Chinesecruise market while we will be welcoming a newstate of the art sailing ship and an excitingexpedition ship. Ship wise, there will be a newship for every interest!

Seabourn – The new ultra-deluxe SeabournEncore was handed over to Seabourn back inNovember. Designed by hospitality design iconAdam D. Tihany who intended Seabourn Encore"to feel more like a luxury yacht," the 40,350-ton, 600 passenger vessel features moderndesign elements and innovations in keeping withSeabourn's reputation for understated elegance,as well as one additional deck and new expandedpublic areas. The ship expands and builds on theline's award-winning and highly acclaimedOdyssey-class ships, which revolutionized ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodationsand innovative amenities when they wereintroduced between 2009 and 2011.

New features include The Retreat, asanctuary designed for guests to relax in privatecabanas, with a Spa Treatment Cabana forpersonalized spa services. In addition, guestswill enjoy superb cuisine, including The Grill byThomas Keller, the new signature restaurantfrom three-star Michelin chef Thomas Kellerthat was introduced on Seabourn Quest earlierthis year and will be expanded to the entireSeabourn fleet. Seabourn Encore will beofficially christened at a ceremony in Singaporeon January 7, 2017. International recording artistand world's best-selling Soprano, Sarah

Brightman, will be godmother of SeabournEncore and officially name the ship during thecelebration. The vessel will then depart on itsInaugural Voyage, the 10-day Gems of the JavaSea cruise, bound for Indonesia.

Viking Ocean Cruises – Viking OceanCruises, the ocean cruise division of VikingCruises, has had an aggressive building programsince its founding in 2013. Viking’s ocean cruisedivision began sailing its first vessel, VikingStar, in 2015 and it was joined by the fleet’ssecond vessel, Viking Sea, in 2016. Now in 2017Viking Ocean will have two new ships enteringservice.

The Viking Sky will be the third and theViking Sun the fourth of six ships planned for theViking Ocean Cruises fleet. Each sister shipweighs in at approximately 48,000-tons andcarries only 930 guests and are engineered at ascale that allows direct access into most ports.The fleet features understated elegance andmodern Scandinavian design. The ships willinclude several of the company's popularriverboat features such as the Aquavit Terrace,an alfresco dining venue, and plenty of outdoorspace on the sundeck and beyond. The vesselalso will feature a promenade that fully encirclesthe ship. Cruises on Viking's ocean ships areinclusive of wine, beer and soft drinks at lunchand dinner, shore excursions and unlimited useof the thermal suite.

The Viking Sky will enter service in Februaryand will operate a diverse range of seven- to 28-night sailings around the Baltic, Mediterraneanand Caribbean while the Viking Sun will enterservice in November and will sail seven-night

NEW SHIPS 2017By Tom Cassidy

Vol. 36, Issue 3 - January 15, 2017 “Our 36th Year of Continuous Publication” Single issue price $2.50

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY

(Continued on page 13)

EDITORIAL

Welcome to 2017 and another year ofcruising!

I am sure many of our members are glad2016 has come to a close after a verycontroversial election in the USA, Brexit in theUK and a general feeling of unease in theworld.

While the world experienced some hiccupsthe cruise industry sailed along smoothlyearning rave reviews from passengers, whilecontinuing to expand into China and other partsof the world.

When I sit back and look at the past cruise

year I cannot help but to be amazed as to howfar this industry has come. Whether it’s theimagination behind the engineering marvelswhich are christened monthly, or theengineering feats themselves, a cruiser who hasa long history of cruising has to be in awe as tohow things have changed.

Upon boarding these behemoths, theamazement continues with the unbelievableselection of onboard dining choices,entertainment experiences and shipboardactivities. Each year I ask myself if this will bethe year the industry runs out of ideas, but todate it hasn’t been

Here’s wishing everyone a truly spectacular2017. May you be happy and healthy and ableto experience at least some of the special shipscoming our way this year.

Please remember to tell me all about yourvoyages by submitting you report cards online.

Sincerely,

VISIT US ON FACEBOOK!

Please consider stopping by for a visit. OurFacebook page can be found at:http://www.facebook.com/OceanCruiseNews

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- PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY -The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society

P.O. Box 329 – Northport, NY 11768Phone (866) 631-0611

Contributing Writers

Peter Knego Kay Showker

Pat RichardsonShawn J. Dake

Art SbarskyTheodore W. Scull

Ben LyonsAndy Hernandez

Subscription by Membership$30 Per Year in U.S. - $36 Canada & Overseas© Copyright 1980 by World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society. All rights reserved.

No material may be reproduced without permission. Material is obtained from sourcesbelieved to be accurate and reliable, but the publisher is not responsible for errors or

omission contained herein. Printed in the United States

FounderGeorge C. Devol

EditorThomas E. Cassidy

Features EditorWilliam H. Miller

Art DirectorDan J. Rico

CONTACT USTo contact us quickly and easily please email us at:

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American Queen Steamboat Company,operator of the American Queen and AmericanEmpress, reported record-setting bookings forthe inaugural season of the new AmericanDuchess, scheduled to debut on the MississippiRiver in June 2017. As the first and only all-suite vessel with lofts on the river, the purpose-built boutique paddlewheeler will offer the rivercruiser an intimate experience for overnightcruising through America’s heartland.

The American Duchess will feature agenerous space ratio showcased by three 550 sq.ft. Owner’s Suites, four 550 sq. ft. Loft Suites (aU.S. riverboat first), two 450 sq. ft. DeluxeSuites; in addition to spacious Veranda Suitesand Interior Suites. The new vessel will deliverthe highest standards of service, entertainmentand shore excursions that customers have cometo expect from the cruise line, along withenhanced pre-cruise hotel nights at iconicboutique properties. Single-seating dining willbe available in two venues, The Grand DiningRoom and The Grill Room, showcasingregionally inspired, epicurean cuisine tailoredfrom the finest local ingredients.

Fares begin at an affordable $1,499 per guestbased on double occupancy. High resolutionimages may be found at the following link:http://bit.ly/2hRQYSZ. For additionalinformation and reservations, kindly contactAmerican Queen Steamboat Company at 888-749-5280, visit http://www.aqsc.com or call aprofessional travel agent.

Oceania Cruises is pleased to announce that itwill be the only upscale cruise line to homeportin New York City, with more than 20 plannedvoyages beginning in 2017. Sailing fromManhattan’s convenient west-side cruiseterminal at 48th street, the intimate and

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LOOKING BACK

A look at what was making news in Ocean &Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twenty yearsago.

Five Years Ago – January 2012....CostaCruise Line Costa Concordia struck ground neara tiny island named Giglio off the coast of Italyand capsized hours later a loss of 33lives....Disney Fantasy meets water for the firsttime as it was floated out from the ship buildingwarehouse at Meyer Werft in Papenburg,Germany....Oceania Cruises reschedules themaiden voyage of its new Riviera because oflabor troubles at the Fincantieri yard.

Ten Years Ago – January 2007....The QueenMary 2 has her maiden call in San Francisco.Cunard Lines holds a special ceremony to markthe float out of Queen Victoria at Fincantieri'sMarghera shipyard near Venice, Italy....CelebrityCruises announces plans to evolve its fleetwideculinary program, ending its affiliation withMaster Chef Michel Roux....Disney Cruise Lineannounces that the Disney Magic will make thePort of Los Angeles (in San Pedro) its home portin 2008, with 12 seven-night cruises to theMexican Riviera.

Fifteen Years Ago – January 2002....Construction of Cunard's Queen Mary 2 hascommenced with the cutting of the first steel...Holland America's Amsterdam sets sail on herfirst World Cruise....Princess Cruises officiallynames its newest ship Star Princess at a namingceremony in Monfalcone, Italy....Carnival Prideis christened in Port Canaveral....Royal OlympicCruises announces that it will position theOlympic Voyager in Houston for a series of 7-dayto the Caribbean and Central America.

Twenty Years Ago – January 1997....HollandAmerica Line’s Half Moon Cay becomesoperational....Costa is sold in a 50/50 jointventure between Carnival Corporation and theBritish tour operator Airtours Ltd.....CelebrityCruises is acquired by Royal CaribbeanInternational the parent company to RoyalCaribbean Cruise Lines....The Paul Gauguindebuts in Tahiti.

luxurious Insignia will offer an intriguing arrayof round-trip and open-jaw voyages to NewEngland, Canada, Bermuda, and even Greenlandand Iceland.

As the pioneer of destination-focusedcruising, the line has included an extraordinaryroster of overnight port calls in New York City,NY; Charleston, South Carolina; Reykjavik,Iceland; St. George, Bermuda; and Hamilton,Bermuda. Each of the itineraries has beencurated to offer unique opportunities for culinary,historical and cultural immersion, a hallmark ofOceania Cruises.

To learn more about Oceania Cruises or toorder a brochure, visit OceaniaCruises.com, call855-OCEANIA, or contact your preferred travelagent.

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and QueenElizabeth will travel to the far reaches of theglobe. From our classic Transatlantic Crossingsto Mediterranean explorations and manyconvenient New York round-trip itineraries -including the Caribbean, Grand Voyages, andNew England & Canada, we have a wideselection of voyages to choose from, with specialofferings to make sailing on the ocean liners ofCunard a truly memorable experience.

Early Booking BenefitsReserve your select 2018 Cunard voyage by 30

June 2017 and receive up to $250 OnboardCredit^ when you reserve a Balcony Stateroomor Grill Suite. Plus receive Free Gratuities and aFree Drinks Package when you reserve a Grill

Suite. Restrictions apply

Cunard World Club SavingsWorld Club members will receive a 5%

discount off Launch Fares on any 2018 voyageswhen booking by 31 August 2017.

For more information or to book a voyage,contact your Travel Agent, call Cunard Line toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visitwww.cunard.com.

Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdamearned a perfect score of 100 on its first routineUnited States Public Health inspectionconducted by the U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention. The ship launched inApril 2016 in Europe and made its maiden visitto the United States in November. Koningsdam’sfirst unannounced U.S.P.H. inspection was heldDec. 20, 2016, during a call at San Juan, PuertoRico, in the middle of a 10-day Caribbean cruise.

In 2016 five additional Holland America Lineships previously received perfect scores,including ms Maasdam, ms Veendam, msNoordam, ms Eurodam and ms Westerdam. Fourships earned scores of 99, including ms NieuwAmsterdam on Dec. 22. Eurodam was the firstship in company history to receive 10consecutive perfect USPH scores when itreceived its inspection last March.

For more information about Holland AmericaLine, consult a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visitwww.hollandamerica.com.

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened for salethe line’s 2017 cruises to Cuba aboardNorwegian Sky, the largest vessel sailing toCuba, which also offers an overnight stay inHavana.

Norwegian Sky will sail a series of five, four-

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day cruises from Miami to Cuba in May 2017that will include an overnight in the capital ofHavana. On Monday, May 1, Norwegian Sky willset sail for her first voyage to Havana, arrivingon Tuesday morning and staying alongside untilWednesday evening, allowing guests theopportunity to go ashore and experience theisland’s rich cultural traditions through people-to-people exchanges. Norwegian will also offerOFAC-compliant shore excursions, where guestsaboard Norwegian Sky will have the opportunityto visit historical sites such as Old Havana, aUNESCO World Heritage Site; view incredibleart and listen to the vibrant local music scene;and visit with Cuba’s warm and friendlyresidents through people-to-people exchanges.

The ship will continue on to call on GreatStirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private islanddestination in the Bahamas that was recentlyenhanced to offer guests exciting new ways toenjoy the island, with additional features to beadded through summer 2017.

Along with the freedom and flexibility thatonly Norwegian Cruise Line can provide, guestssailing on Norwegian Sky also enjoy unlimitedcomplimentary beverages as a part of the ship’sall-inclusive program. Additional Cuba cruisedeparture dates include May 8, 15, 22 and 29.The four-day cruises begin at $699 per person.

To book an award-winning cruise withNorwegian, contact a travel professional, callNorwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), orvisit www.ncl.com.

In 2017, Regent Seven Seas Cruises® willcelebrate 25 years of unforgettable moments,extraordinary experiences and lifelongfriendships. Join us in commemorating our silveranniversary aboard one of our 25 AnniversaryVoyages sailing to the most alluring destinations

around the globe, from Asia to Alaska andEurope to the Panama Canal. Aboard thesecelebratory voyages, you will enjoy manyspecial moments such as an exclusive behind-the-scenes galley lunch and onboard tastings.Welook forward to sharing the joy of this milestonewith you. Visit RSSC.com for full Terms &Conditions and book your 2017 voyage today!

Seabourn, the world's finest ultra-luxurycruise line, has unveiled the latest version of itsannual Signature Savings Event, offeringexceptional savings and a variety of value-addedamenities on a selection of voyages on its award-winning fleet of intimate, all-suite shipsthroughout 2017 and 2018.

The Signature Savings Event is something tolook forward to with significant benefits onselect voyages for guests to experience the worldwith Seabourn, including:

• Complimentary veranda suite upgrades• $1,000USD per suite shipboard credit for

penthouse and premium suites • $400USD per suite Ventures by Seabourn

credit on 2017 Alaska voyages• $500USD/$600CAD per person round-

trip air credit• Additional savings of up to 15 percent on

Combination Voyages• 50 percent reduced depositsSeabourn's Signature Savings Event applies

to select worldwide cruises in the Mediterranean,Northern Europe, Antarctica and Patagonia,Atlantic Crossings, Arabia & India, Asia, Canada& New England, the Caribbean, the PanamaCanal, South America, and more. A completelisting of the voyages, savings and amenities canbe viewed on Seabourn's website.

For more details about the award-winningSeabourn fleet, or to explore the worldwideselection of Seabourn cruising options, contact aprofessional travel advisor, call Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit www.seabourn.com.

5

1966 was an event-filled year. The Dow-Jones average hit a record 995. Casey Stengelwas elected to the baseball hall of fame. The USperformed nuclear tests in the Nevada Test Site.The Vietnam War was escalating. “Cherish”and “Good Vibrations” were two of the topsongs in arguably the best year ever for rock androll music. And, as a junior in college at thetime, the closest I had come to taking a cruisewas the Circle Line Ferry around Manhattan(yes, a three-hour tour).

But something else happened that year, anevent that was little noticed at the time but wouldhave an immense impact on the future ofvacation travel; one could call it a sea-change.Tom Stieghorst, the outstanding journalist (andfriend) who’s Senior Cruise Editor for TravelWeekly (a dominant travel agent publication)

recently wrote, “Fifty years ago [meaning 1966]a new name in travel was launched, along with anew concept for a vacation. The first voyage ofNorwegian Caribbean Line (now NorwegianCruise Line) marked the birth of the regularlyscheduled Caribbean leisure cruise. It wasimpossible to anticipate the outlines of today’scruise industry in that beginning.”

Yes, there was other cruises and cruise linesat the time (including Home Lines and HollandAmerica Line) but after that first voyage startingDecember 19, 1966, the modern cruise industryas we know it really began.

I’m going to borrow liberally from a timelineand history published by Norwegian Cruise Linethat goes through their history, pointing outimportant moments in their fascinating history,

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COMPANY OVERVIEW: NCL TURNS 50by Art Sbarsky

NCL’s Early Fleet Photo Courtesy of NCL

marked by quite likely the longest lists of “first”and innovations in the industry. I thank NCL forproviding the info and for allowing me to use it(with some modification of course; it’s also veryhard to condense 50 years of history into thespace I have for it).

FIFTY YEARS BEGINS

It all began with a simple transaction:

NCL was first established in 1966 under thename Norwegian Caribbean Lines when one ofNorway's oldest and most respected shippingcompanies, Oslo-based Klosters Rederi A/S,acquired the ms Sunward and repositioned theship from Europe to the then obscure Port ofMiami. NCL launched an entirely new conceptwith regularly scheduled cruises to theCaribbean in a single-class atmosphere ofinformal luxury. No longer simply a means oftransportation, the ship became a destinationunto itself, offering guests an exciting, affordablealternative to land-based resorts. The Sunward’spopularity prompted other lines to build newvessels [think Carnival and Royal Caribbean justto name two] to accommodate the burgeoningmarket, turning Miami into the world’s numberone embarkation port.

In 1968 NCL began introducing a fleet ofsleek, new "white ships" [meaning the gleaminghulls] with ms Starward, followed by Skywardand Southward by 1971, and Sunward IIreplaced the original of the same name a yearlater.

NCL, in 1977, was the first cruise line tooffer a private “Out Island” by purchasing GreatStirrup Cay from Belcher Oil Company in 1977.Improvements to the island and existingstructures were made in preparation for NCL’sfirst “island experience.” Great Stirrup Cayoffered magnificent white sand beaches, majesticpalms and calm, pristine waters where anabundance of colorful marine life inhabited thesurrounding coral reefs. [Note: obviously, majorchanges including radical expansion anddevelopment have taken place since those earlydays.]

Also in 1977, NCL’s “Dive-In” snorkelingprogram was the first of its kind in the industry.

NCL purchased the former liner ss France in1979 and rebuilt the grand ocean liner inBremerhaven, Germany, for Caribbean cruising.Renamed, the 76,049-ton ss Norway, then thelargest and longest guest vessel afloat, assumedthe honored position as flagship of the fleet.Great idea but the project did not go as well ashoped overall with logistical and financial issues.

THE REVOLVING EXECUTIVE DOOR

Jumping ahead to 1986, NorwegianCaribbean Line hired one of the most respectedexecutives in the cruise industry, Rod McLeod,as President and COO. McLeod, who wasalready a very senior guy when my cruise careerwas first starting out in 1983, tells OCN, “I wasthe tenth president of NCL in 14 years.” Lotshappened during the two-plus years he helmedthe company. He describes NCL in its early daysas being the “big dog” in the industry. During histime, they contracted for a new ship, Seawardand diversified itineraries, including the WestCoast of the U.S. and Puerto Rico as a home portfor deeper Caribbean cruises. As part of theitinerary changes, the line also was rebranded toNorwegian Cruise Line. He adds, “The spiritwas superb, the people were great.” But financeswere tough for the cruise line and they “wereeven checking bank deposits every day, beingtechnically insolvent”; he left in October 1988(going back to Royal Caribbean), leaving NCLwith “their highest bank balance” to that point.One of the changes made during McLeod’s timethere was converting the ships from Norwegianregistry to being Bahamian-flagged. This gavethem greater hiring flexibility and helped set thestage for the growth to come.

After several more top-level changes, Ijoined NCL in spring 1998 as EVP, heading upmarketing, sales and revenue management. Itwas a fascinating time with periodic changes inthe fleet line-up, several incidents such ascollisions, small fires, groundings (no injuries inany of them fortunately), and more corporateissues. It was during my time there that weentered into a partnership with Sports Illustrated

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for the first “SI Café” sports bar aboard Norway.

We made plans to start Alaska sailings round-trip from Seattle, a huge innovation for theindustry; thanks to Mike Pawlus for this and fora death-defying adventure to Kiribati as part ofhis itinerary planning responsibilities. And thefirst Internet Café at sea was created when welaunched Norwegian Sky in fall 1999. For thisship, we held what we were told by portmanagement was the first-ever evening namingceremony at the Port of Miami. We even riggedup a rope line allowing all audience members(NCL employees mostly) to be godparents of theship, significantly saluting the ladies who hadbeen at the company the longest; the actuallynaming words were spoken by the longest-tenured female employee of the company(memory tells me she had been there 29 years).

In true keeping with less-fortunate traditions,we had a minor incident at the port of New Yorkand then ran aground in the St. LawrenceSeaway (ship damage but no injuries). On to thelate 90s, NCL stretched two ships, Dreamwardand Windward, and renamed them NorwegianDream and Norwegian Wind with 40% morecapacity. Splitting an existing ship into two partsand adding a new middle section is a feat ofengineering brilliance. Seeing it come togetheris very exciting but I always felt we should havedotted lines inside and maybe even outside in thebeginning to let people know what was new.Royal Majesty became Norwegian Majesty.Routes were changed and the company wentthrough lots of management changes.

The company even went public, starting theprocess in March 1999 and joining the NYSElistings. In late 1999, the battle for ownershipbetween Carnival Corporation and Star Cruisestook place, with Star winning the bidding battle,taking over in February 2000. Star Cruises Ltdwas a Hong Kong stock exchange listedcompany, and part of Malaysia's Genting Group.Following the acquisition of Norwegian, StarCruises became the third largest cruise line in theworld. Out with much of the top-levelmanagement and in with new leadership. Whileunder 100 percent ownership by Star, thecompany would embark on an expansion

program that involved new ships, on-boardproduct enhancements and innovative itineraries.It’s at this time when I retired.

Much of the foundation work for what NCLhas become today, reassuming its leadership rolein the cruise industry was under the leadership ofColin Veitch and Kevin Sheehan. They eachbrought product and fleet changes into being andthe brand would not be what it is today withoutthem. Yes, even despite the somewhat overambitious entry into the Hawaiian cruise market;think more positively in terms of “FreestyleCruising” which was implemented not long afterVeitch got there and is recognized widely ashaving significantly evolutionized the cruisevacation.

RESUMING THE CORPORATETIMELINE

After a period of growth under the ownershipof Star Cruises, with new ships and an influx ofconsiderable capital, NCL turned it around andagain became a major factor in the business.Freestyle Cruising may have been the mostsignificant product change but lots more tookplace as well. I’ll skip ahead a few years herenow and pick out some of the major highlights,to me at least, using the corporate timeline as thebasis (with some edits and notes thrown in fortiming and such). I’m even including somecompany changes directed at travel agents whichin turn made NCL easier to work with for theseall-important members of the business.

In mid-2006, NCL announced that it was thefirst cruise line to offer cell phone servicefleetwide. The service was to be available for allguests on all of its ships worldwide even whencommunications towers are oceans away. Thecompany provided the service through a jointventure of AT&T Wireless and MaritimeTelecommunications Network.

NCL became the first cruise line to homeportin New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina:Norwegian Sun returned to the Port of NewOrleans on October 15, 2006, to sail seven-dayexotic Western Caribbean cruises.

8

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Private equity group Apollo Management tookover half the company in 2007 with a $1 billioncash equity investment.

In 2008, Freestyle 2.0 debuted on NorwegianJade. 2.0 was the company’s fleet-wide initiativeto further improve the guest experience, withenhancements that included a major investment inthe total dining experience; upgrading thestaterooms; new wide-ranging on-board activitiesfor guests of all ages; and additional recognition,service and amenities for balcony, suite and villaguests. Without the major investment of 2.0, evenFreestyle Cruising would not have turned NCLaround.

Norwegian launched online check-in via its“My NCL” portal in 2009. This online gatewayenabled both travel partners and guests to updateand track pre-cruise activity through a quickthree-step process. One area where NCL laggedbehind its competitors was in technology: the newportal was a huge step forward.

Norwegian became the first cruise line to offerpersonalized websites to its travel partnersenabling them to deliver up-to-the-minuteinformation to their clients about Norwegian Epicleading up to the ship’s debut in summer 2010.

In a big piece of news in early 2010,Norwegian announced studio staterooms for solotravelers, an industry first, would debut onNorwegian Epic. The line’s largest ship to date,joined the fleet in July 2010. Norwegian debutedspecial entertainment with Blue Man Group onboard; studio staterooms for solo travelers; thefirst ice bar at sea; and a central area for diningand entertainment.

Norwegian announced $20 million inenhancements to their private island, Great StirrupCay, to be completed by end of 2011, including anew marina for tenders and dining facilities on theisland

Norwegian announced in October 2010 thatthe company had ordered two new vessels fromMeyer Werft to be delivered in 2013 and 2014.These vessels were be a new class of ship for theline.

Norwegian debuted "Partners First” in spring2011, establishing the company’s corporatephilosophy of putting its travel partners first inthree key areas: investment in long-term travelpartner success; a complete focus on being easy todo business with; and a commitment to travelpartners on direct business.

March 2011 brought about another biginnovation when NCL unveiled The Waterfrontand 678 Ocean Place on its newest ship,Norwegian Breakaway, launching in April 2013.This new concept included an oceanfrontboardwalk lined with shops, restaurants and bars,combined with three expansive, flowing decks ofdining, bars, entertainment, gaming and more.And in July 2011, NCL formally branded TheHaven, its ship-within-a-ship concept firstintroduced on Norwegian Epic in 2010.

Peter Max was announced in October as thehull artist for Norwegian Breakaway, the first timeNorwegian asked a well-known artist to paint thehull artwork on one of its ships. This program hascontinued all the way to today with famedmaritime artist Wyland designing the hull artworkfor Norwegian Bliss, still in construction.

In another move designed to make it easier forits guests, in February 2012, Norwegianintroduces the ability for guests to pre-bookdining reservations for specialty restaurants fleet-wide.

Also, that spring, Norwegian debuted a newsmartphone app, iConcierge, on Norwegian Epicthat allowed guests to interact with the ship’ssystems from anywhere on board using theirsmart phones to make shore excursion and diningreservations, gather information about on boardservices and review their folio activity all from thepalm of their hand. In addition, NorwegianiConcierge was to be the industry’s first mobileapplication that allowed guests to easilycommunicate with fellow cruisers while onboardthrough phone-to-phone calls and texts.

June 2012 brought the announcement thatNorwegian entered into its first partnership with acelebrity chef, as Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarianwas announced as opening a restaurant on

10

Norwegian Breakaway.

Norwegian Cruise Line reached an agreementwith Meyer Werft GMBH of Germany to build anew cruise vessel of 163,000 gross tons fordelivery in October 2015, with the option for asecond ship for delivery in spring 2017 under theproject name "Breakaway Plus."

In a really big deal for the company in January2013, NCLH (Norwegian Cruise Line HoldingsLtd.) was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange,as the company went public. And the stock tookoff significantly signaling market analystapproval of the direction of the company.

In May 2013, Norwegian Breakaway waschristened in a star-studded ceremony in NYCwith the famous Radio City Rockettes as thegodmothers, signifying the tie-in of the ship withthe city of New York, its home port.

Later that year, Norwegian purchased 75 acresin southern Belize to develop an eco-friendlycruise destination.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced inSeptember 2013 that it would expand theinnovative shipboard digital signage firstintroduced on Norwegian Breakaway to the line’sentire fleet by summer 2015. The interactivetouch screen signs allow guests to order specialtyitems, get directions and reserve dining, shoreexcursions and entertainment simply with a scanof their stateroom key. Note: techno-deficient asI am, I found this system easy to use.

Then in March of 2014 Norwegian CruiseLine announced that Guy Harvey, widelyrecognized as the world’s finest marine wildlifeartist and champion of ocean conservation, wasnamed to design the signature hull artwork of theline’s largest ship to date, Norwegian Escape,scheduled to debut in October 2015.

The biggest news on the financial side cameabout in September 2014 when Norwegian CruiseLine Holdings Ltd. announced it had entered intoa definitive agreement to acquire Prestige CruisesInternational, Inc., a market leader in the upscale

cruise segment and parent company of OceaniaCruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in cashand stock for a total transaction consideration ofover $3 billion. With the Prestige Acquisitioncompleted in November, Norwegian Cruise LineHoldings Ltd. now operated a portfolio of brandsthat spanned all market segments in the cruiseindustry, from contemporary to upper-premium toluxury.

Shortly thereafter, in January 2015,Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announcedthat its Board of Directors had named Mr. FrankDel Rio as President and Chief Executive Officer.With Del Rio’s dedication, passion and productdevelopment skills, if the brand had not alreadyresumed its industry leadership role, it did startingthen.

Back on the fun side of things, in December2014, Norwegian announced a partnership withMargaritaville, Jimmy Buffett’s famous outlets.

In early 2015, Norwegian Cruise Linerevealed a multitude of new partnerships withleaders in dining, beverage and entertainment tofeature innovative branded experiences onboardNorwegian Escape. During an event in New YorkCity, the line revealed that their largest ship ever,Norwegian Escape, would include several newculinary experiences, along with two Tony Award-winning musicals, and a unique Supper Club.

In March, corporately, Andy Stuart, a long-time veteran with the company, with experienceacross a wide range of areas, was named Presidentof Norwegian Cruise Line. He’s still there, nowas CEO as well as being president. His popularitywith that ever-important travel agent segment, isconsidered outstanding.

Adapting to the times in April 2016,Norwegian Cruise Line announced that beginningJanuary 2016 all guests sailing from Miamiaboard Norwegian Sky would enjoy an even moreall-inclusive cruise experience with dining,entertainment and now free unlimited beer, wineand premium spirits included.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced in October

11

2015 that they would introduce the first purpose-built ship customized for the China market in2017. Fittingly, NCLH CEO Frank Del Rio madethe announcement during the CruiseWorld Chinasummit in Shanghai.

In November 2015, Norwegian Escape,Norwegian's largest ship to date, was christened inMiami by the ship's godfather, Pitbull; it was oneof the liveliest naming ceremonies ever seen inMiami.

Not standing on the growth to date, in January2016, Norwegian Cruise Line revealed TheNorwegian Edge™, an innovative program thatpromises to introduce a new standard ofexcellence encompassing the entire guestexperience, from ship hardware to culinaryenhancements and exclusive private destinationdevelopments.

And in November 2016, Harvest Caye, theline’s much ballyhooed private area in Belizeopened to great acclaim.

BOOMTIMES FOR NCL

One word often used for today’s NCL is“survivor” indicating its success in overcomingvarious financial and product issues over her 50year history. Now NCL continues to innovate,grow, develop, etc. It’s firmly established at thethird largest brand with a very young fleet overall;they have three ships on order; they’re inextremely good shape financially; it’s part of athree-brand corporation with excellent cross-overbenefits between them; it recently receivedpermission to have Norwegian Sky cruising toCuba; a passionate executive management team isin place, ready to drive the company even further.But in a sometimes fickle public world, they donot seem to get the credit for all of the innovationsthey’ve brought forth over their first fifty years.I’ve mentioned some of them along the way inthis article. But, I’m going to repeat some of them(with some help form my public relations friendsat the company) now to make sure they get therecognition they are due. Here goes:

Freestyle Cruising: Norwegian created this

innovative cruising experience that providesfreedom and flexibility in a cruise vacation. It isdesigned to meet the changing needs of today’scruisers offering a more relaxed, resort-stylecruise with complete flexibility and service of thehighest standard.

Alaska Cruising from Seattle: when NCLintroduced round-trip Alaska cruising fromSeattle, it gave cruisers a new option, one whichmany other cruise lines have naturally copied.

Shoreside Options: The company’s “Dive-In” snorkeling program was the first of its kind inthe industry. Norwegian was the first cruise lineto provide an uninhabited “out island” experienceat Great Stirrup Cay, its private island in theBahamas.

Entertainment: Norwegian was the first inthe industry to offer big-name entertainers andfull Broadway productions within fully equippedtheaters. (On my first cruise after joining thecompany, aboard the late Leeward, there was evena 60-minute production of Pirates of Penzance).Today, it has helped changed the face of on cruiseline entertainment with world-class shows like“Legally Blonde” and “Rock of Ages.”

Norwegian’s Children’s Program: Createdfor junior cruisers ages 2-17, the “SplashAcademy” programs offers age-appropriateorganized activities, games, parties and menus.

Comprehensive Pricing: Norwegian was thefirst cruise line to offer a nationwide air/seaprogram combining cruise, hotel and transfersfrom more than 150 U.S. and Canadian cities. Thecompany’s Premium Air Service Desk handledspecial travel requests.

Internet Cafes, Wi Fi Access and CellPhone Service: An Internet Café – the first everat sea – was introduced on Norwegian Sky in1999. The, Internet Cafés were available fleetwide. Norwegian became the first line to offerremote wireless Internet access (Wi-fi) at sea andcell phone service. Norwegian was also the firstcruise line to launch a Web site in 1997.

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First Bowling Alley at Sea: In 2006,Norwegian introduced the first bowling alley atsea with the introduction of Norwegian Pearl.

First Ice Bar at Sea: In June 2010,Norwegian launched its newest and mostinnovative ship Norwegian Epic, which featuredthe first true ice bar at sea with a bar, walls,tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures allmade from ice (a very fun, if chilly, experience).

First Accommodations for Solo Travelers:A first in design for the modern-day cruiseindustry, the Studio staterooms on NorwegianEpic made cruising more attractive to solotravelers with uniquely designedaccommodations without the single supplementcruise price.

Congratulations NCL on your first fiftyyears; may the next fifty be even better!

HAL TO LAUNCH ‘EXPLORATIONS CENTRAL’

Holland America Line is amplifying itsdestination immersion experiences with thelaunch of Explorations Central, or EXC, as itwill be called. The multifaceted EXC experiencecombines a wide array of indispensable travelresources with enrichment opportunities forguests that make their travel experience moreengaging, vivid and meaningful.

EXC will also feature the transformation ofthe Crow’s Nest on some ships to create a newlynamed venue, Explorations Central, as acomprehensive resource and engagement center.Programming for EXC begins in early 2017 andwill roll out across the entire fleet by the end ofthe year. The EXC shipboard center will debutaboard the Westerdam in April 2017 following ascheduled dry dock and is scheduled to expandacross the rest of the fleet through 2018.

CDC SCORES IN 2016

Holland America's Eurodam continued itsstreak of perfect health ratings from the Centers

for Disease Control in 2016, receiving a score of100 for the 10th consecutive time.Four otherHolland America ships -- Westerdam, Veendam,Noordam and Maasdam -- also earned perfectscores during the year, joining the 29 totalvessels that passed the unannounced inspectionswith no black marks.

The CDC inspects all ships that sail in or outof a U.S. port twice a year. Ships must earn ascore of 86 or higher to pass. In 2015, 32 cruiseships received perfect scores.

Celebrity earned the most perfect scores,with six ships receiving a score of 100: CelebrityReflection, Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse,Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Silhouette andCelebrity Equinox.

Royal Caribbean had four ships proudlyreach that perfect score, including Grandeur ofthe Seas, Allure of the Seas, Radiance of the Seasand Freedom of the Seas.

Carnival Cruises had three - CarnivalElation, Carnival Victory and Carnival Breeze -as did Princess Cruises, with Emerald Princess,Regal Princess and Royal Princess.

Norwegian Cruise Line had two ships thatscored the perfect 100: Norwegian Getaway andNorwegian Spirit

Disney Cruise Line also had two ships score100. They were, Disney Fantasy and Magic,respectively.

Within the luxury category, Sea Dream II,Crystal Serenity, Oceania's Regatta and SilverShadow all earned top scores.

Conversely, three cruise ships failed aninspection at some point in 2016. These shipsincluded Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas,Ponant's Le Soleal and P&O's Oceana.

For an industry as large, and complex as thecruise industry is, with quick turn-around timesin port, taking on enormous amounts of foodstores all while feeding thousands of people, it istruly remarkable how well the industry does!

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voyages to Cuba and the Caribbean out of Miamifollowed by a 141-day world cruise that spansfive continents.

Norwegian Cruise Lines – The NorwegianJoy is the second ship in NCL's Breakaway-PlusClass and will be the same size as the first-in-classNorwegian Escape, coming in at 163,000 tons andcarrying 4,200 passengers. The Norwegian Joywill be custom-built for the Chinese market, and itwill be deployed full time to Asia, catering toChinese passengers. Renowned Chinese artist TanPing has been commissioned for the largest workof his career to custom design the hull artwork forNorwegian Joy. Tan Ping's distinctive artworkembodies Norwegian Cruise Line's commitmentto providing an unparalleled cruise experiencewhen Norwegian Joy. Set to debut in ChinaSummer of 2017, Norwegian Joy will be thefleet's most innovative ship to date. Styledexclusively for Chinese travelers, guests canexpect an upscale resort style vacation withworld-class entertainment, fine internationaldining, unrivaled duty-free luxury shopping withthe freedom and flexibility found on allNorwegian Cruise Line ships. The ship will behomeported in Shanghai and Tianjin (Beijing) andwill be sold through NCL’s Chinese TravelPartners.

Silver Seas Cruises – Silversea Cruises willbe introducing their first newly built vessel inseven years their new flagship, Silver Muse, withher maiden cruise scheduled for April of this year.The new ultra-luxury ship is being built byFincantieri and at 40,700 tons andaccommodating 596 guest it representing anexciting evolution of the Silver Spirit. Other over-the-top accommodations will include four GrandSuites and two Royal Suites that measure 1,475square feet and 1,130 square feet, respectively.The ship also will have 34 of the line's signatureSilver Suites across three top decks, including anew two-bedroom Silver Suite configuration thatmeasures 1,119 square feet. Even the smallestcabins on the ship will measure a generous 400square feet.

The Muse also will offer an unusually wide

array of upscale eateries including La Dame, aFrench restaurant created in partnership withRelais & Châteaux, and two contemporary Asianeateries. Hot Rocks, a Silversea ship favoritewhere passengers cook their own meat, fish andvegetables on piping hot lava stones, also will beamong the dining options as will an intimate newjazz club-like venue called Silver Note wheremusicians will play as passenger’s sample tapas-styled dishes.

The Silver Muse will enter service in Europebefore repositioning to New York City forCanadian/New England cruises before headingsouth to Florida, the Caribbean and SouthAmerica.

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic- Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic willwelcome Quest in late June of 2017, the first oftwo new builds for the company. Underconstruction at Washington state' NicholsBrothers Boat Builders, Quest will be a thirdlarger than existing Lindblad ships, with anadditional fourth deck, these 100-passengercoastal vessels will have 50 cabins; 22 will havebalconies, a rarity on expedition-style ships. Thevessel's Sun Deck will include an al fresco bar andgrill, in addition to the indoor lounge and diningroom found on the Sea Lion/Sea Bird vessels. It’smore sophisticated design includes its ownmudroom with rows of lockers where passengerscan store boots, snorkeling equipment and othergear, making excursion preparation moreefficient.

Families will be accommodated with eightrooms that can be configured into four adjoiningcabins. Quest will sail in Alaska and the PacificNorthwest before relocating to Costa Rica andPanama, then Belize and Guatemala in early2018.

MSC Cruises – The new MSC Seaside will bethe first ship in the MSC Cruises' fleet to bechristened in the United States, sailing in theCaribbean year-round from Miami’s Port startingin December 2017. The 160,000-ton, 1,060-foot-long, 5,179-passenger ship is the first of two, thesecond will be called MSC Seaview, and willlaunch in June 2018 and there is an option for a

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third. Per MSC the Seaside will rewrite the rulebook of cruise ship design, blending indoor andoutdoor areas to connect you with the sea like youhave never been before. Circling the entire ship aslow as Deck 8 is a unique seafront promenadelined with places to eat, drink, shop, swim andsunbathe. And you can enjoy more breath-takingviews from the two-deck glass atrium andpanoramic elevators.

The ships will have more than 468,000square feet of public areas, including a theater, aterraced balcony and panoramic lifts with seaviews. The ship will offer nine eateries featurecuisines from all around the world and include aPan-Asian restaurant in partnership withacclaimed chef Roy Yamaguchi. There will alsobe a luxury seafood restaurant with chef’s tableand a world-class international steakhouse.Passengers can also quench their thirst at a choiceof 20 different bars. And the lido deck will havethe most interactive aqua park at sea. MSCSeaside will be the first cruise ship to featureinteractive Slideboard technology, combining awater slide with an interactive video game. Thetwo-deck aqua park will include an adventure trailand multiple water slides.

While the ship will sail three excitingitineraries to the Western and Eastern Caribbeanfrom Miami, the most intriguing port stop will bein the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas,Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Ocean Caywill not only have a pier for the ship to dock at,the 95 acre island will have over two miles ofpristine beaches representing the fourth longestbeach in the world. The island will have a 2,000seat amphitheater for live entertainment andmusic.

Before the Seaside enters service in Decemberof this year MSC has an even larger ship enteringservice in Europe, the MSC Meraviglie. TheMeraviglia is the lead ship of MSC's new Vistageneration vessels, each of which will have apassenger capacity of 4,500. In that respect, theVista class will rank ninth in the world.Meraviglia is expected to be delivered by May2017, and after entering service will operateinitially in the western Mediterranean. MSC says

that eventually, the vessel will move to the NorthAmerican East Coast for Eastern Caribbeancruises. The MSC Meraviglia will by passengercapacity become the largest ship in the world(beating Oasis, Allure and Harmony of the Seas),holding 4,500 passengers at double occupancy,and a maximum capacity of 5,700 passengers and1,536 crew members.

Star Clipper – Monaco-based tall ship sailingspecialist Star Clippers has started construction ona new vessel, its biggest yet and its first new-buildin 15 years. Flying Clipper will be delivered intoward the end of 2017 and is being built by theBrodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia. The vessel ismodeled on France II, a legendary sailing shipthat, when it was launched in 1912, was theworld's biggest. The Flying Clipper will carry 300passengers and 140 crew members. It willmeasure 8,770 tons and be powered by 39,288square feet of sail, in addition to speciallydesigned, fuel-efficient engines.

The Flying Clipper will have three pools, onethat funnels sunlight through the ship’s atriuminto the elegantly appointed dining room. Therewill be a water sports platform in the stern for usewhen the ship is at anchor and a variety of cabingrades, including 34 suites with balconies andfour luxurious owner’s suites. A restaurant in thelight-filled atrium will accommodate allpassengers for open-seating dining and a glassDive bar for our younger guests will occupyseveral compartments of the ship.

When it launches in the second half of 2017,the new ship will sail in the Mediterranean insummer and the Caribbean in winter.

Princess - With the success of fleetmatesRoyal Princess and Regal Princess, PrincessCruises is building a third ship in its Royal Class,the Majestic Princess. However, unlike her sistersthe approximately 3,600-passenger ship will bebased in China year-round. Majestic Princess willhomeport in Shanghai, China year-round for aseries of Asia cruises to Japan and Korea.Majestic Princess is the first Princess Cruises shipdesigned specifically for Chinese guests, and thuswill feature a combination of new elements

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tailored for the Chinese market, along with manyof Princess Cruises’ premium points ofdistinction. The Majestic Princess will share many similarities with her sisters such as a multi-story atrium that will host social activities; adults-only Sanctuary; the SeaWalk, a glass walkwaythat extends from the top deck; Princess Live! TVstudio; The Pastry Shop; Chef's Table Lumiere;Watercolor Fantasy, a dancing fountain of lightsand music; and Movies Under the Stars.Additionally, the ship will include balconies on alloutside cabins.

The Majestic Princess will enter service inApril in the Mediterranean before sailing on agrand Barcelona to Shanghai Adventure cruise inMay.

American Queen Steamboat Company -While not a new build the AQSC will be adding anew vessel to its fleet in 2017. The 166 passengerAmerican Duchess is the first all-suitepaddlewheeler on U.S. rivers, a floating, intimatemasterpiece that can carry up to 166 gueststhrough America's heartland. The paddlewheeler,created from a 1995 hull, will be completelyreconstructed to become one of the mostluxurious river cruising vessels in the country,featuring single-seating main dining andentertainment venues, soaring ceilings, and all of

the features guests have come to expect on otherAmerican Queen Steamboat Company cruises.

Her suites range from 180 sq. ft to 550 sq. ft.,allowing guests to stay in some of the largestaccommodations on the rivers. Unique to theAmerican Duchess are her spacious Loft Suites,that measure at 550 sq. ft.. The lower levelfeatures a full bathroom, small dining area, abeautiful lounge section furnished with a queensofa-bed and desk area, along with sliding doorsto access a private balcony. The loft area upstairsis a tranquil retreat with its semi-private bedroom,a full bathroom and gracious closet space.

The American Duchess is scheduled to enterservice in June and will sail on the Mississippiand its tributaries and will offer overnight stays inNashville and New Orleans, as well as shorterround-trip itineraries from both cities. For the firsttime the boat also will features departures fromOttawa, IL, near Chicago.

2017 will be a very exciting year with anamazing variety of new ships entering service. Wehope our members get to travel on these new shipsand when you do please send in your report cardsso that we can pass your comments on to yourfellow readers.

MSC Seaside Photo Courtesy of MSC

A new 133,500-ton cruise ship, which will bethe third vessel in the company's Vista class series,will join the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in late2019. The ship, under contract with Italianshipbuilder Fincantieri, was originally designatedfor the P&O Cruises Australia brand. Inconjunction with this change, Carnival CruiseLine's Carnival Splendor will be transferred toP&O Cruises Australia in late 2019.

The luxury river cruise line Uniworld islaunching a new brand -- U by Uniworld,designed for ages 18 to 40 -- which will provide amore modern and youthful experience focusing ontime spent on shore via longer stays in port. Themove, the first in the industry, aims to open rivercruising to new travelers who like localexperiences and nightlife. Uniworld will renovatetwo 116-passenger ships, River Baroness andRiver Ambassador, to have a more contemporarylook and feel. New onboard features will includecommunal dining tables, a new culinary program,cocktail mixologists and international DJs.

ITV's popular behind-the-scenesdocumentary, "The Cruise," will return for a six-part second series, starring Princess Cruises'3,560-passenger Royal Princess. Produced byWild Pictures for ITV, "The Cruise: Sailing TheMediterranean," will feature the voiceover ofDownton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville, who willreveal what life is like onboard the ship for the1,400-strong crew. Filmed during the summer of2016 in the Mediterranean, viewers will get aninsight into the crew's daily activities, such aspreparing more than 20,000 meals and servicingthe ship's 1,800 cabins.

Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited announced ithas completed work on 20 cruise ships in 2016,and has bookings for at least 23 in 2017 forvarious refurbishment jobs. Jobs in 2016 includedsignificant propulsion and technical systemsoverhauls, hull treatment, accommodations andpublic spaces upgrades and the addition ofonboard facilities, per a prepared statement.

The Norwegian Breakaway will follow in thewaves of the Norwegian Getaway, re-positioning

from the domestic North American market tospend summer 2018 sailing in Northern Europe.The Escape is expected to take the Breakaway'splace sailing from New York.

Ship construction contracts valued atapproximately 2 billion euros between Fincantieriand Virgin Voyages for three new cruise shipshave been finalized and are now effective,according to a statement from Fincantieri. Thethree ships will be built at the shipyard in SestriPonente (Genoa) with deliveries scheduled for2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. Each ship willweigh about 110,000 gross tons, be 278 meterslong and 38 meters wide. The ships will featureover 1,400 guest cabins with room for 1,100 crew.

Oceanic House, the old White Star Line headoffice in London has recently been transformedinto seven luxury flats, liner themed of course,stating price $6.5 million.

Fathom announced it has received Cubaapproval to add stops to Santiago de Cuba, thesecond largest city in Cuba, on six of its upcomingcruises to the Dominican Republic. These seven-day voyages start at $599 and will take placeduring the weeks of February 26, March 12 and26, April 9 and 23, and May 7.

Celebrity Cruises had four of its ships dockedin St. Maarten this month, the Celebrity Equinox,Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Summit and CelebrityReflection, as part of a holiday offering includinga performance by Demi Lovato in what was thecruise line's first holiday performance. Theconcert was also televised as the first-everinternational performance for Dick Clark’s NewYear’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

The Port Everglades NavigationImprovements Project has received federalauthorization for the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers to move forward with deepening andwidening the port's navigation channels as part ofthe Water Infrastructure Improvements for theNation (WIIN) Act signed into law December 16,2016, by President Barack Obama, according to astatement from the port.

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MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS