Norwegian Star and Albatros

After a fantastic summer season in Bergen it was business as usual today, as two of the final cruise ships to call this year were greeted with grey skies and an afternoon of heavy rain.

NORWEGIAN STAR

Alongside at Bontelabo was Norwegian Star. Not a frequent visitor to the city, her arrival brought over 2,300 extra visitors.

Norwegian Star alongside at Bontelabo, Bergen

Originally laid down as Superstar Libra in 2000, the acquisition of Norwegian Cruise Line by Star Cruises lead to her being transferred during construction and renamed Norwegian Star.

Norwegian Star's central section

Norwegian Star alongside in Bergen under cloudy skies

Since entering service in 2001, Norwegian Star's career has not been without incident.

Issues with her azipod propulsion system have previously caused delays and cancellations.

Norwegian Star in Bergen

Additionally, twice during her career Norwegian Star has suffered minor collisions; once whilst docking in New York, and again in Bermuda when strong winds broke her moorings and caused her to drift into Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas.

Norwegina Star's superstructure towers over the quayside at Bontelabo

Fortunately, despite these small setbacks, Norwegian Star is a successful and popular ship. She has cruised throughout the world, operating seasons around Hawaii, Alaska, the Mexican Riviera and the Baltic sea.

A pedestrian walkway leads to the gangway

During a refit in 2004, Norwegian Star gained her instantly recognisable hull art, now a common feature of the ships across the NCL fleet.

Norwegian Star's hull art may not be to everyone's taste, but it did bring some colour to a dull, rainy day

With a gross tonnage of just under 92,000 and a length of 294m, Norwegian Star is a relatively attractive ship. Her profile is helped by her steeply raked forward superstructure and well-proportioned funnel.

The paint design continues across Norwegian Star's bows

 Moving round to the other end of the terminal gave a great view of Norwegian Star's aft end.

Norwegian Star seen from Skolten terminal, Bergen

Norwegian Star in Bergen, Norway

With Norwegian Star due to depart at 19:00 I was unable to stay to watch the sailaway. However, she sailed on time and passed through Byfjorden to Ålesund, her next port of call.

ALBATROS

Also in Bergen today was Albatros, operated by Phoenix Reisen, docked at Skolten Syd. The following photos show her departing Bergen and heading under the Askøy bridge.

Phoenix Reisen's Albatros makes her way through Byfjorden on her departure from Bergen

Albatros passing under the Askøy bridge

After a wet afternoon in Bergen, Albatros sailed on to Kristiansand to continue her current cruise.