NORWEGIAN SPIRIT
May 4–10, 2023 | Fire & Ice Cruise – Alaska & Vancouver – Days 11–17
The second half of our 16-night Fire & Ice cruise aboard Norwegian Spirit (Norwegian Cruise Line) began in Alaska on May 4, 2023, following five days crossing the Pacific from Hawaii. Days 11–17 included Icy Strait Point, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan before the voyage concluded in Vancouver, British Columbia.
On May 4, 2023, Norwegian Spirit reached Icy Strait Point, beginning the Alaska portion of our 16-night Fire & Ice cruise from Honolulu to Vancouver. After visiting four Hawaiian islands and spending five consecutive days crossing the Pacific, the change in scenery and climate marked a dramatic transition into the second half of the voyage.
Over the following days, Norwegian Spirit traveled through Southeast Alaska with calls at Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, along with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park. The voyage concluded in Vancouver, British Columbia, on May 10.
Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, the ship entered service in 1998 as SuperStar Leo for Star Cruises. She joined Norwegian Cruise Line in 2004 and became Norwegian Spirit. A major refurbishment completed in 2020 extensively redesigned her accommodations and public spaces, giving the ship a more contemporary appearance while retaining the smaller scale that distinguishes her from Norwegian's newer vessels.
This gallery continues directly from the Hawaii and Pacific Crossing gallery covering Days 1–10 of the same voyage.
Information List
Name: Norwegian Spirit
Operator: Norwegian Cruise Line
Original Name: SuperStar Leo
Original Operator: Star Cruises
Builder: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Entered Service: 1998
Joined Norwegian Cruise Line: 2004
Gross Tonnage: Approximately 75,900 GT
Length: Approximately 879 feet / 268 meters
Beam: Approximately 106 feet / 32.2 meters
Major Refurbishment: 2020
Voyage: Fire & Ice Cruise
Cruise Dates: April 24–May 10, 2023
Gallery Coverage: May 4–10, 2023
Alaska Portion Begins: Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Disembarkation: Vancouver, British Columbia
Personal Voyage: Traveled aboard Norwegian Spirit
History and Features
SuperStar Leo:
Norwegian Spirit entered service in 1998 as SuperStar Leo for Star Cruises.
She was constructed by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.
The ship was originally designed for Star Cruises' Asian operations.
She transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line in 2004 and was renamed Norwegian Spirit.
Norwegian Cruise Line Service:
Norwegian Spirit has operated a broad range of international itineraries during her Norwegian Cruise Line career.
Her deployments have included Alaska, Hawaii, Asia, Australia, the South Pacific and other destinations.
At approximately 75,900 gross tons, she is smaller than many of the ships that subsequently joined Norwegian's fleet.
Her size and original design give her a character that differs from Norwegian Cruise Line's newer generations of large resort-style ships.
2020 Refurbishment:
The ship underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2020.
Guest accommodations, dining venues and many public spaces were redesigned.
The modernization substantially changed the ship's interior appearance more than two decades after she originally entered service.
The project prepared Norwegian Spirit for continued operation on varied international itineraries.
Our 2023 Fire & Ice Cruise:
Our complete voyage aboard Norwegian Spirit began in Honolulu on April 24 and ended in Vancouver on May 10, 2023.
The first ten days included Hawaii followed by five consecutive days crossing the Pacific.
This gallery begins on Day 11, when Norwegian Spirit reached Icy Strait Point and the Alaska portion of the cruise began.
The following week combined Southeast Alaska ports with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay before the final sea day and arrival in Vancouver.
Day 11 – May 4 – Icy Strait Point:
After five days at sea, Icy Strait Point was our first destination in Alaska.
Located near the community of Hoonah on Chichagof Island, Icy Strait Point is centered around a restored early twentieth-century salmon cannery.
The arrival marked a dramatic change from the tropical environments experienced during the first days of the voyage in Hawaii.
Day 12 – May 5 – Glacier Bay:
The following day was devoted to scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
Glacier Bay is one of Alaska's most significant cruise destinations, known for its glaciers, mountains and protected coastal wilderness.
Unlike the surrounding port days, the experience centered on viewing the landscape from aboard Norwegian Spirit as the ship traveled through the national park.
Glacier Bay formed one of the defining scenic experiences of the Alaska portion of the voyage.
Day 13 – May 6 – Skagway:
Norwegian Spirit arrived in Skagway on May 6.
The community developed rapidly during the Klondike Gold Rush and remains closely associated with the history of travel into the Yukon.
Its preserved historic district and connection with the White Pass route make Skagway one of Southeast Alaska's most recognizable cruise destinations.
Day 14 – May 7 – Juneau:
Juneau followed on May 7 and provided the fourth consecutive day of Alaska sightseeing.
Alaska's capital is surrounded by mountains, waterways and the vast landscapes of the Tongass National Forest.
Its location, accessible by sea or air rather than the North American highway system, makes maritime transportation particularly important to the city.
Day 15 – May 8 – Ketchikan:
Ketchikan was the final Alaska port of the voyage.
Norwegian Spirit called at Ward Cove, north of downtown Ketchikan.
The port call completed five consecutive days devoted to Alaska, beginning at Icy Strait Point and continuing through Glacier Bay, Skagway and Juneau.
After departing Ketchikan, Norwegian Spirit began the final portion of the voyage toward Vancouver.
Days 16–17 – Vancouver:
Day 16 – May 9: At Sea
Day 17 – May 10: Vancouver, British Columbia – Disembarkation
The final sea day carried Norwegian Spirit south toward British Columbia.
The ship arrived in Vancouver on May 10, completing the journey that had begun more than two weeks earlier in Honolulu.
Complete Fire & Ice Itinerary:
April 24 – Day 1: Honolulu, Hawaii – Embarkation
April 25 – Day 2: Kona, Hawaii
April 26 – Day 3: Kauai, Hawaii
April 27 – Day 4: Maui, Hawaii
April 28 – Day 5: Hilo, Hawaii
April 29 – Day 6: At Sea
April 30 – Day 7: At Sea
May 1 – Day 8: At Sea
May 2 – Day 9: At Sea
May 3 – Day 10: At Sea
May 4 – Day 11: Icy Strait Point, Alaska
May 5 – Day 12: Glacier Bay, Alaska
May 6 – Day 13: Skagway, Alaska
May 7 – Day 14: Juneau, Alaska
May 8 – Day 15: Ketchikan, Alaska
May 9 – Day 16: At Sea
May 10 – Day 17: Vancouver, British Columbia – Disembarkation
Fire and Ice:
Few cruise itineraries provide as dramatic a geographic transition as this voyage.
The journey began among the volcanic landscapes and tropical climate of Hawaii before crossing a large expanse of the North Pacific.
Alaska then introduced glaciers, forested mountains and the coastal communities of the Inside Passage.
Ending in Vancouver completed a voyage extending from the central Pacific to the Pacific Northwest.
Legacy:
Norwegian Spirit represents an earlier generation of modern cruise ships and remains distinctive because of her original career as SuperStar Leo.
Her ability to operate long and varied international itineraries was particularly well demonstrated by the 2023 Fire & Ice voyage.
For the Ocean Liner Photography collection, the two Fire & Ice galleries together document our complete journey aboard Norwegian Spirit from Honolulu through Hawaii and Alaska to Vancouver.
OLP Social: After five days crossing the Pacific from Hawaii, our voyage shifted to Alaska’s glaciers and coastal communities, visiting Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan before concluding in Vancouver.
