Bermuda-registered NCL Cruises Ltd., said third-quarter profit more than tripled after it acquired three cruise ships, prompting its shares to rise as much as 3.6 percent.

NCL shares rose as high as 29 kroner in early trading and were recently up 0.7 krone at 28.7.

NCL's third-quarter profit rose to 89.1 million kroner ($12.6 million), or 0.51 krone per share, from 29 million kroner in the same period last year, the company reported after the market closed yesterday.

During the third quarter, NCL acquired three cruise ships and agreed to buy a fourth, boosting its capacity by 21 percent to 10,607 passengers.

"The transactions contribute to the ongoing consolidation in the cruise industry,'' NCL said. "With the expansion plans the company has, capacity will rise to 16,831 passengers by the year 2000.'' Sales for the first nine months this year rose to 3.442 billion kroner from 3.383 billion a year earlier, of which 1.289 billion came from the third quarter alone. Comparison figures for last year's third quarter weren't disclosed.

Nine-month operating profit rose to 267.0 million kroner from 216.6 million a year earlier, with the third quarter accounting for 161.2 million kroner.

NCL's Dreamward is a regular summer caller to Bermuda.