Southward
July 30 - August 2, 1993 | Port of Los Angeles, Catalina and Ensenada, Mexico
On July 30, 1993, the Southward (Norwegian Cruise Line) set sail on a 3-day Baja Cruise from Los Angeles, visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada, offering passengers a fun and relaxing getaway along the Pacific coast.
The Southward, one of the pioneering ships of Norwegian Cruise Line, was captured on a 3-day Baja Cruise from Los Angeles to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, on July 30, 1993. Known for her intimate size and friendly atmosphere, the Southward offered passengers a relaxed yet engaging getaway along the Pacific coast. With her classic ocean liner profile and warm onboard environment, she provided an ideal setting for short cruises, combining scenic coastal destinations with Norwegian’s signature “freestyle” spirit.
Information List
Name: Southward
Operator: Norwegian Cruise Line
Year Launched: 1971
Shipyard: AG Weser, Bremerhaven, West Germany
Length: 543 feet (165 meters)
Beam: 72 feet (22 meters)
Tonnage: 15,781 GT
Capacity: Approximately 848 passengers
Crew: About 400
Facilities Include: Lounges, dining rooms, show lounge, pool, casino, library, and traditional stateroom accommodations
History and Features
Launch and Design: Built in 1971 by AG Weser in Bremerhaven, the Southward was the third ship in Norwegian Caribbean Line’s (later Norwegian Cruise Line) early fleet. She was designed for modern cruising at a time when the industry was just beginning to shift away from traditional ocean liner travel.
Service with Norwegian: The Southward quickly became a staple of Norwegian’s short cruise program, particularly in the Caribbean and later on the U.S. West Coast, offering affordable and casual voyages that appealed to a new generation of cruise passengers.
1990s West Coast Service: By the early 1990s, the Southward was homeported in Los Angeles, where she operated popular 3- and 4-day Baja cruises, visiting Catalina Island and Ensenada. These itineraries introduced many first-time cruisers to the joys of life at sea.
Later Years: After leaving the Norwegian fleet in 1994, the ship was sold and operated under various names and owners, including as Seawing, Perla, and Jules Verne, before eventually being scrapped in 2013.
Legacy: The Southward is remembered fondly as one of the ships that helped shape the modern cruise industry, offering affordable, relaxed, and fun vacations at sea.
The Southward represented a time when cruising was becoming accessible to wider audiences, offering memorable escapes like the 3-day Baja itinerary from Los Angeles to Catalina and Ensenada—a snapshot of the growing popularity of short, casual cruises in the 1990s.
