Norwegian Start-up Norsemen Cruises reveals its luxury cruise concept

Norsemen Cruises: New 84,000-GT all-suite cruise ships

Norwegian start-up Norsemen Cruises has published further details of its planned cruise ships, including the all-suite accommodation concept, its technology and sustainability approach, and the companies listed as project partners.

Norwegian start-up Nor Cruises, which is presenting its future cruise operation under the Norsemen Cruises name, has released further information about its planned newbuild programme. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) at SMM Hamburg in September covering two cruise ships and options for three additional vessels. The ships are planned at approximately 84,000 gross tons. The agreement is not yet a final shipbuilding contract.

An all-suite cruise concept

The Norsemen concept is based on an all-suite accommodation model. The company presents two suite categories: the 99-square-metre Celestial Oasis Suite, designed as a duplex with a veranda of more than 20 square metres, and the 50-square-metre Elysium Sky Suite, a two-room suite with an 11-square-metre veranda.

Norsemen describes the concept as “Sustainable Luxury Cruising” and combines the all-suite product with technology and sustainability measures. The company also lists soundproof work pods, meeting rooms and Starlink connectivity among the planned features.

Experienced partners from design, technology and ship management

Norsemen has so far identified five companies as partners for the project: Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS), Kongsberg, DNV, Columbia Blue and Metizoft.

Tillberg Design of Sweden brings extensive experience in cruise ship and cruise-yacht design. The Swedish design studio says it has more than 60 years of experience in cruise ship design and provides services ranging from newbuild and refit projects to interior and exterior concept design. Its portfolio includes projects for luxury operators such as Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Four Seasons Yachts.

Kongsberg Maritime provides ship design and maritime technology services and has a portfolio covering passenger vessels, cruise ships and expedition vessels. Its ship design activities include concept and contract design, engineering, hydrodynamic analysis and integrated technical solutions.

DNV is listed as the classification partner. The classification society describes itself as a leading classification society and maritime industry advisor, providing classification, technical and advisory services to the maritime sector.

Columbia Blue includes Columbia Cruise Services within its group. The Hamburg-based company provides cruise and expedition vessel management, including hotel operations, technical and crew management, dry-docking and newbuilding supervision.

Metizoft specialises in maritime compliance, sustainability and energy-performance solutions, including ESG reporting, energy data, inventory management and environmental compliance.

The Norsemen does not currently specify the precise scope of each partner's involvement in the newbuild programme.

Potential role for The Apollo Group

The Apollo Group is not currently listed among Norsemen's published project partners, and the company has not publicly confirmed an involvement in the NOR Cruises programme.

Its experience nevertheless makes Apollo a relevant potential candidate for future hotel and catering services. The Miami-based group provides hotel, culinary, logistics and maritime services to cruise operators and currently services upper-premium and luxury vessels operated by Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Steve Furness, Apollo's SVP Hotel Operations, is responsible for the day-to-day hotel operations of the company's vessels serving those two brands.

Apollo also operates a Maritime Services Division covering technical and marine operations support, newbuild and conversion project advisory, maritime consulting and operational services.

For a new cruise operation, however, any future role for Apollo would have to be confirmed by the companies involved.

Batteries, LNG and the company's sustainability targets

Norsemen says its ships will combine high-capacity battery systems with LNG engines. According to the company, the planned system would allow up to 25 hours in port and 16 hours of slow steaming on battery power alone. Norsemen also claims reductions of up to 79 percent in greenhouse-gas emissions and 66 percent in fuel consumption compared with what it describes as traditional ships.

These figures are currently Norsemen's own stated targets and claims rather than independently verified operating results, as the ships have not yet been built.

The company further states that it aims to become the first zero-emission cruise line. It also refers to waste-to-energy systems and the use of reclaimed materials in the planned interiors.

Experienced cruise and maritime management team

The project is being developed by a team with backgrounds in cruise operations, ship management, finance and newbuilding.

CEO Terje Berg Adolfsen is a Master Mariner with more than 30 years of experience, while CTO Svein Eloff Pedersen has held senior positions in ship management. CFO and Chairman Knut Abrahamsen has more than 30 years of international management experience.

Christer Karlsson serves as Executive Vice President Newbuilding. His background includes senior newbuilding responsibilities at Norwegian Cruise Line and an executive position with Star Cruises. Ronny Bjørnådal, an experienced maritime financier, is listed as an active board director.

Bruce Nierenberg is listed separately as Senior Advisor for US Operations.

From MOU to construction contract

The project remains at the development stage. The agreement signed at SMM Hamburg is a memorandum of understanding covering two ships and options for three additional vessels. Technical verification, commercial negotiations and construction scheduling still have to be completed before final shipbuilding contracts can be concluded. No delivery dates or passenger capacity have been officially disclosed.

The information now published by Norsemen provides a clearer picture of the planned ship, its all-suite accommodation concept and the companies involved in the project.

Norsemen currently gives 2028 as the target for the beginning of its cruise operation. The next major milestones will be the conclusion of the final shipbuilding agreements, completion of the technical specifications and the subsequent construction phase at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.