NCL will eliminate 145 shore-side jobs globally “to better align staff with the current business needs,” the cruise line said in a statement to Cruise Industry News Monday.

The line did say which departments would be reduced, but said “NCL’s external business development sales force remains in tact and this reduction will not impact the support we provide to our valued travel partners.”

NCL expects an overall reduction in capacity from now until the arrival of the two F3 ships in 2010, the statement said. The Marco Polo left the fleet already this year, the Norwegian Dream leaves this fall, and Norwegian Majesty leaves next year

“NCL has also experienced a shift in the mix of its business, within and outside North America, with two ships leaving Hawaii and three ships deployed in Europe for the first time; one of those, Norwegian Jade, sailing year-round. Furthermore, the steep increase in fuel cost – a cost that is largely beyond the company’s control and that appears to involve a long-term systemic change – has been another factor in the company’s careful assessment of its controllable cost structure,” the statement said. “NCL is providing assistance to the affected team members, including access to a career assistance program.”