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Norway Farewell Transatlantic 2001
Day 1
Miami - September 2, 2001

Cruise ships docked
Norway herself arrived well before dawn on September 2. Lights ablaze in the darkness, she turned at the end of the cruise ship terminals before heading back down to her place. My photos of that historic "last" turnaround were too dark to use here, but it was a majestic sight. Above, the new sunrise finds Norway berthed between Voyager of the Seas and Carnival's Paradise.
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ss Norway at Mami dock
Bow out, dressed overall, fuel tender alongside, Norway looks ready to go in the early morning hours.
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Interior, cabin V124
 Coming into one's cabin for the first time is one of the great pleasures of travel by sea. It's all laid out clean and free of clutter, and it's all for you ...
I don't waste much time in a cabin, though, when departure is imminent. I set out to explore, and initially felt completely lost on Norway, an odd feeling since the twice-as-large EOTS had felt so comfortable the day before.
ss Norway boat deck in Miami
ss Norway lifering

A "last look" at palm trees through the lifering.
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The name which had brought big ship cruising to the world displayed one "last" time to the port she made home for the last 20 years.
 ss Norway name sign
ss Norway Bistro

Facing 17 days on the ship, I explored somewhat tentatively, aware I had of a lot of time to get to know her. Usually my exploration is a mad dash all over with a wary ear cocked for the call of "Visitors Ashore." Not today!

The Bistro is the ship's extra-fare restaurant, and a monument to 1980s interior sleekness.

Looking out over Norway's basketball court, past her "aircraft carrier" stern to Voyager of the Seas docked in the distance.
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ss Norway stern in Miami
ss Norway Leeward Dining Room
In, out, in out ... I ducked my head into what used to be the Tourist Class Dining Room.

Lifeboat drill, undertaken before we sailed, was the usual noisy affair, with passengers lined up in that brief excursion into theatrical absurdity where we all find ourselves with big bulky red vests on, which might save our lives.

On September 11 this room became a central gathering place to watch CNN and, once out of broadcast range, a jittery low-res feed of the ABC webcast.
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ss Norway lifeboat drill
Slipping the rope off the bollard
Here, with at least one other photographer capturing the moment, is the "last" time a Norway rope was slipped off a bollard in Miami.
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ss Norway Captain on bridge
Captain Søvsdnes watches intently as Norway's stern begins to move out. Along the dockside, far below us, a dedicated group of NCL employees had gathered to see the ship off.
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ss Norway fireboat salute
 One of three fireboats with a water salute, vessels which were joined by a variety of small craft. On the MacArthur Causeway opposite, traffic slowed to the ship's pace, and there were dozens of groups of people stopping on the roadside to say witness the event.
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ss Norway leaving Miami
Clearing Government Cut, Norway is about to turn to port (North).
Crew member taking down flags
 A crew member makes the transition from port call to open sea by taking down the signal flags which decorated the ship at dock.
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next:
September 3, 4 - Sea Days