Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been named a finalist in Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s 2008 World Savers Awards. The awards honor 38 travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education, wildlife conservation and health.

The 2008 World Savers Awards are featured in the September issue of Condé Nast Traveler, which hit newsstands on Tuesday, August 19. The World Savers Awards finalists will be recognized during an award ceremony on September 23, 2008, at the 2nd Annual Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Congress in New York City.

“Sustaining maritime ecosystems is among NCL’s highest priorities,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s CEO. “The protection of the oceans on which NCL makes its living is of paramount importance to the company and so it is with great pride that we accept this recognition from Condé Nast Traveler for our efforts.”

Last year, the company recycled 96 tons of cardboard, 206 tons of wood pallets, 275 cubic meters of cooking oil, 364 tons of plastics, 909 tons of scrap metal, and 1,813 tons of glass. This recycling effort avoided manufacturing from virgin materials, which further conserved precious natural resources. NCL also managed 253 tons of trash and food waste at a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility which generated enough electricity to fulfill the monthly needs of more than 575 homes.

In 2007 alone, the recycling program saved 2,200 mature trees, 2,300 gallons of gas and 672,000 gallons of water. This translates to enough saved timber resources to produce more than 27.28 million sheets of newspaper; enough gasoline to drive more than 64,500 miles; and enough fresh water to meet the daily fresh water needs of more than 8,960 people.

NCL began recycling used cooking oil from its ships at the Port of Miami in early 2007. More than 15,000 gallons of used cooking oil have been offloaded and donated to an organic farmer in Vero Beach, Fla., who converted the oil to 870 gallons of usable bio-diesel for his farming equipment.

NCL pioneered the recycling of used lube oil, and routinely recycles plastics, aluminum, steel, batteries, oil sludge, and a wide variety of consumer products. NCL ships recycle whenever and wherever it is feasible.

The company has invested heavily, not just on new environmental protection technology, but also on a shore-side environmental department and has placed trained environmental officers on board every NCL ship. The company has also undertaken environmental training for all of its crew members, who make it a priority to separate recyclable materials from regular waste on board.

Each of NCL’s ships has state-of-the-art solid and liquid waste processing equipment on-board. The Advanced Wastewater Treatment System has been described as better than most land-based systems and the effluent from the system meets even the most stringent discharge standards of the U.S. Coast Guard and the State of Alaska.

NCL tries to instill positive environmental habits amongst its young cruisers. Children who participate in Kid’s Crew can learn about the importance of clean water, and the effects and prevention of marine pollution through Officer Snook’s Water Pollution Program. Elements of the program are incorporated into the NCL Kid’s Crew and include activities for kids of all ages. For kids ages 2-5, there are story-telling, coloring books and games. For pre-teens, there are crafts, a simulated “Beach Clean Up” activity, a “Catch or Release” game identifying endangered species, and an environmental poster contest. The program’s teen component allows high school students to earn between one and five community service hours depending on their level of involvement in the program. These hours may be used at the teen’s school as part of their community service allotment.

In 2008, Norwegian Pearl received the Port of San Francisco’s Cruise Ship Environmental Award and in 2007, Norwegian Sun was honored with the same award. The Port’s program recognizes annually those cruise ships whose on-board environmental systems help decrease air and water pollution.

World Savers Awards Methodology: To determine the award finalists and winners, Condé Nast Traveler editors reviewed 142 applications and narrowed them to 38 finalists. An independent panel of 17 judges, comprised of leaders from the travel industry and non-governmental organizations, rated how applicants exercised social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education, wildlife conservation and health. There were seven categories of travel companies: airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, individual city hotels, large resorts, small resorts, and tour operators.

NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line. NCL is building two new Third Generation Freestyle Cruising (”F3″) ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships in the market, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced that Norwegian Pearl recently received the Port of San Francisco’s Cruise Ship Environmental Award. In 2007, Norwegian Sun was honored with the same award. The Port’s program recognizes annually those cruise ships whose on-board environmental systems help decrease air and water pollution. The three categories evaluated are air emission reduction, wastewater treatment and recycling and disposal programs for solid waste.

“It’s an honor for Norwegian Pearl  to be recognized by the Port of San Francisco for the environmental standards and practices we have in place to protect the waters on which we sail and earn our livelihood,” said Colin Veitch, NCL’s president and CEO. “We have shown our commitment to maintaining the highest level of environmental protection standards by using low-sulfur fuels, reducing air emissions, efficiently and effectively treating our wastewater and recycling and disposing properly of solid waste while in port.” The Cruise Ship Environmental Award was created by the Port of San Francisco’s Cruise Terminal Environmental Advisory Committee (CTEAC). Established in 2003, CTEAC advises the Port Commission on cruise ship-related water and air quality issues. Committee members include regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, organized labor, community groups and maritime industry representatives.

“The Port of San Francisco is pleased to acknowledge the officers and crew members of Norwegian Pearl  for going above and beyond the existing regulations to preserve and protect the air and water quality of San Francisco Bay and beyond,” said Peter Dailey, maritime director for the Port of San Francisco. “We sincerely appreciate Norwegian Cruise Line’s commitment to safeguarding the environment.”

Norwegian Pearl  accommodates more than 2,400 guests and includes a world of innovative features and amenities, including 10 restaurants, 13 bars and lounges, two swimming pools and a casino. The ship also features an industry first - a four-lane, ten-pin bowling alley at sea and an impressive 30 foot rock climbing wall. Norwegian Pearl offers five- and nine-day sailings to the Western and Southern Caribbean, seven-day Alaska and nineteen-day Panama Canal itineraries.

NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line. NCL is building two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem.