Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Description of Business and Organization

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Description of Business and Organization
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Description of Business and Organization
1. Description of Business and Organization

We are a leading global cruise line operator, offering cruise experiences for travelers with a wide variety of itineraries. We strive to offer an innovative and differentiated cruise vacation with the goal of providing our guests the highest levels of overall satisfaction on their cruise experience. In turn, we aim to generate the highest customer loyalty and greatest numbers of repeat guests. We created a distinctive style of cruising called “Freestyle Cruising” on all of our ships, which we believe provides our guests with the freedom and flexibility associated with a resort style atmosphere and experience as well as more dining options than a traditional cruise. As of December 31, 2013, we operated 12 ships offering cruises in Alaska, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, New England, Central and South America, North Africa and Scandinavia (we refer you to Note 13—“Subsequent Events”).

Norwegian Cruise Line commenced operations out of Miami in 1966. In February 2000, Genting HK acquired control of and subsequently became the sole owner of the Norwegian Cruise Line operations.

In January 2008, the Apollo Funds acquired 50% of the outstanding ordinary share capital of NCLC. As part of this investment, the Apollo Funds assumed control of NCLC’s Board of Directors. Also, in January 2008, the TPG Viking Funds acquired, in the aggregate, 12.5% of NCLC’s outstanding share capital from the Apollo Funds.

In connection with the consummation of our IPO in January 2013, NCLC’s ordinary shares were exchanged for the ordinary shares of NCLH, and NCLH became the owner of 100% of the ordinary shares and parent company of NCLC (the “Corporate Reorganization”). Accordingly, NCLH contributed $460.0 million to NCLC and the historical financial statements of NCLC became those of NCLH. As a result of the Corporate Reorganization, the Management NCL Corporation Units created a non-controlling interest within NCLH.

The Corporate Reorganization was effected solely for the purpose of reorganizing our corporate structure. NCLH had not, prior to the completion of the Corporate Reorganization, conducted any activities other than those incidental to its formation and to preparations for the Corporate Reorganization and our IPO. As a result of the aforementioned transactions and the Secondary Offerings, the Sponsors owned 62.7% of NCLH’s ordinary shares as of December 31, 2013.