Los Angeles to Be New Home Port for Southward

OCHO RIOS, Jamaica —  We got a preview look here of the Southward, just before its repositioning sailing through the Panama Canal to a new year-round home in Los Angeles beginning May 2.

As this is the first time in the 22-year history of Norwegian Caribbean Line that one of its ships has been positioned on a year-round basis outside the Caribbean, the company name has been changed to Norwegian Cruise Line to reflect its wider scope.

The Southward is one of NCL’s “white ships,” so-called because their hulls are white instead of the dark blue of the company’s flagship Norway. Norwegian Cruise Line is a division of Kloster Cruise Ltd., also parent company for San Francisco-based Royal Viking Line.

The California three- and four-day cruise market is likely to be re-energized by the Southward’s arrival, especially as an NCL rival, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, just merged with Admiral Cruises, which operates the Azure Seas and Stardancer out of Los Angeles and the Emerald Seas out of Miami.

The Southward will sail from the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro every Friday evening for Catalina Island and Ensenada, returning Monday morning and departing again Monday afternoon for a four-day cruise that calls at San Diego, Catalina and Ensenada, returning Friday morning.

Built in Genoa in 1971

This newest Los Angeles-based vessel is a handsome, well-maintained and sparkling clean 730-passenger, 16,607-ton ship built in Genoa in 1971, with Norwegian officers, Bahamian registry and a multinational crew of 320.

In the Caribbean the Southward attracts a young to middle-aged crowd, most of them couples. But a guaranteed single rate (for persons traveling alone who don’t want to share) and a moderate surcharge for third and fourth occupants of a cabin make it popular also with both singles and families.

NCL is known for both its high-quality entertainment and its water sports programs, and so West Coast passengers can anticipate some fresh ideas in mini-cruises.

The big, bright fitness center with picture windows, mirror walls and adjacent small sun deck features weight-training equipment, stationary bicycles, a rowing machine and two saunas.

A small plunge pool on deck with a splash rim looks more practical for cooling off than for swimming, but a sheltered sunbathing area enclosed by glass walls should be welcome on cool days on the Pacific.

Health Foods Added

Some minor changes in food and wine service are planned for the West Coast, according to hotel director Sven Kristoffersen. “We’re adding more health foods to the menu, salads and things like that,” as well as more wine stewards in the dining room and more California wines to the wine list.

Three German-speaking chefs oversee the food preparation, with a range of international dishes and some theme night dinners. There are usually three or four main dishes to choose from at dinner. A recent offering included Caribbean lobster, prime sirloin or Cornish game hen with wild rice. There is also a nightly low-calorie special.

The dining room has big windows that let in light and a partial view, with the bottoms of the lifeboats obstructing part of it.

Entertainment includes variety acts and revues, including a popular Roaring Twenties show performed by the crew. Traditionally, NCL has flown performers from one ship to another in the Caribbean to add variety to the week, but that may not be feasible on the West Coast.

Public rooms and cabins have been handsomely redecorated in blues, burgundies, grays and whites, and leather, wicker and woven fabrics, with attractive artwork throughout. We especially like the Crow’s Nest on the top deck, which offers a captain’s-eye view of the scenery ahead and doubles as a nightclub.

In the Casino

The casino, which is somewhat smaller than the one aboard the Azure Seas, has 51 slot machines, four blackjack tables and a roulette wheel. Bar prices range from 85 cents for soda to $1.75 for beer, $2 for a glass of house wine, $2.25 and $2.50 for cocktails and specialty drinks.

The top accommodations are eight boat-deck suites with windows, a large sitting area, double bed, mini-refrigerator and tile bathroom with tub and shower; $735 per person double occupancy for the three-day cruise, $885 for the four-day. Two smaller suites at a slightly lower price have twin beds instead of doubles.

Standard inside and outside cabins throughout the ship are nicely decorated but quite compact, many with double beds and all with showers instead of tubs. Two cabins are designated for disabled passengers.

Prices start at $345 per person double occupancy for the three-day cruise, $445 for the four-day sailing. The lowest prices are for small outside cabins with an “oversize” lower bed--not a full double, but adequate for two slender close friends. A few of these are even considered too small for two and, if requested in time, can be booked by one person for the same price as the per-person, double-occupancy rate. These cabins are 214, 215 and 217 on Caribbean deck in category 10, and 400, 401, 414 and 415 on Biscayne deck, category 9.

Family members or friends who don’t mind close quarters can travel for only $150 each in the third and fourth bunks of a cabin with two full-fare passengers.

Guaranteed single accommodations in a cabin assigned by the line will cost $595 or $625 for three days, depending on the season, $745 or $795 for four.

NCL also offers air/sea packages and pre- or post-cruise programs to Disneyland, Universal Studios and other Southern California attractions.