Cruise Talk: PRIDE OF ALOHA back to NORWEGIAN SKY

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » PRIDE OF ALOHA back to NORWEGIAN SKY (Page 1)

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Author

Topic: PRIDE OF ALOHA back to NORWEGIAN SKY

ahrpd
First Class Passenger
Member # 6229

posted 05-05-2008 05:39 AM

It appears that PRIDE OF ALOHA will not now be going to Star Cruises but back into the NCL "International" fleet, resuming her previous name of NORWEGIAN SKY. The same whispers indicate she will be placed on 3 and 4 day cruises from a Florida port to the Bahamas, a market NCL has not covered for some time. Nor, it seems, is she going to Pullmantur!

Tony

Posts: 948 | From: gibraltar | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

mike sa
First Class Passenger
Member # 5957

posted 05-05-2008 09:25 AM

Well I suppose she is an improvement over Dream and Majesty but NCL have already announced that she is unsuitable for further expenditure to implement Freestyle 2 improvements so this may just be a temporary measure until they find a buyer for her.

I would still have thought she would be a ship for Ocean Village, a replacement for Pacific Sun (she is having issues again I read) or for the South American market albeit possibly too expensive a ship for the latter 2. If Fred Olsen wanted a bigger ship this she could be a good buy, much of the decor is relatively their style (dining rooms etc) and it would just be cosmetic changes they would need elsewhere - again maybe too much cash for them ? Pheonix in Germany ?

Posts: 2272 | From: Durban, South Africa | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 05-05-2008 09:30 AM

It's obvious that Star had no clue what to do with this ship, nor could they obtain a suitable buyer. I guess they figure they will dump it back on NCL and see how well she does in the 3/4 day market.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 05-05-2008 10:46 AM

Considering she is still a fairly modern ship, it will be hard to find a buyer that has the cash to buy her. If POA is going back to NCL, I wonder if NCL is chartering her from Star? IMO, I think she will do well in the 3/4 days cruises market from Florida.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 05-05-2008 12:26 PM

I've heard rumors of this a week ago but is there any truth behind this?

Posts: 548 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

DEIx15x8
First Class Passenger
Member # 14958

posted 05-05-2008 12:28 PM

The buyer probably dropped out after it was revealed that she bombed her health code check.

Posts: 521 | From: Kutztown, PA | Registered: Apr 2008 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 05-05-2008 12:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
The buyer probably dropped out after it was revealed that she bombed her health code check.

That is highly unlikely. If you look at the report, virtually all the violations that resulted in points being deducted had to do with improper procedure and not the physical ship. The buyer would be buying the ship, not the crew, and in this case it is really the crew that failed the inspection.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

Carlos Fernandez
First Class Passenger
Member # 6432

posted 05-05-2008 01:55 PM

I agree with Waynaro, she will be very competitive in the 3 and 4 day Bahamas market which is very popular. So far we have Majesty for RCI, and an Fantasy-class from Carnival. POA/Sky offers way more balconies and is a more modern ship overall, as much as I love Majesty OTS, if the prices are competitive, I wouldn't doubt to sail on Sky. Plus they have Great Stirup Cay.

Posts: 1325 | From: Miami, Florida (Cruise Capital of the World) | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged

KansasK
First Class Passenger
Member # 1758

posted 05-05-2008 01:57 PM

I wonder if they put the casino back on Norwegian Sky because Pride of Aloha did not have one when sailing off Hawaii - there was a cultural center, instead.

Pride of Aloha was also decorated in a Hawaiian theme in the public areas. I wonder if this has been changed.

Posts: 126 | From: Overland Park, Kansas USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

KansasK
First Class Passenger
Member # 1758

posted 05-05-2008 02:00 PM

In the cabin hallways, the carpeting had fish that always swam toward the bow of the ship. For directionally challenged people like myself, this was a great idea! I hope this is not changed!

Posts: 126 | From: Overland Park, Kansas USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Salaison
First Class Passenger
Member # 4722

posted 05-05-2008 02:07 PM

you would think she was a 20 year old ship and have no idea what to do with it...come on she's only what? 7 years old...they could probably transfer her to the European market or have her based in the caribbean year round....

Posts: 444 | From: St. Lucia--The Sleeping Leviathan | Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

Beezo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1505

posted 05-05-2008 02:53 PM

I did read on another board from a strong source that NCL was thinking of a five-week long refit to the ship. This would give them ample time to give the ship the necessary upgrades, as well as get some bookings online for the ship before she re-enters service as the Norwegian Sky. Whether this is all FACT is up in the air, but, you never know...

Regards,
Beezo

Posts: 865 | From: Massachusetts, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

shipcafe
First Class Passenger
Member # 3959

posted 05-05-2008 03:00 PM

Just off the Norwegian Pearl yesterday. At the VIP cocktail party, the hotel director mentioned the ship move as well as a hefty refit.

Posts: 314 | From: Seattle, WA | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 05-05-2008 03:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Salaison:
you would think she was a 20 year old ship and have no idea what to do with it...come on she's only what? 7 years old....

The reason we say this is basically because it's *exactly* what NCL executives have stated as the reason for her leaving the fleet. Apparently she was too outdated to fit the NCL Freestyle 2.0 mold and beyond. If indeed she does end up at NCL, I can't wait to see the PR spin they put on it. Perhaps they won't even mention the fact she was slated to leave at all.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 05-05-2008 03:49 PM

It does seem to me that she is a modern enough ship that she should be able to stay in the NCL fleet. And I don't think it would be difficult to implement the Freestyle 2.0 changes on her, either. And since there is a certain amount of lead time needed to sell cruises, there should be plenty of time to do that.

Add two or three more restaurants (NORWEGIAN SUN has them, and is basically just an upgraded SKY), and put the casino back where it was in the first place, and you have a ship that is just like SUN but with fewer balconies and smaller cabins. And that's certainly fine for the short-cruise market, since her RCI and Carnival competitors would have even many fewer balconies, and in the case of the RCI ships, even smaller cabins. She'd still be by far the most modern ship in the market. If I were booking a short Florida-based cruise today, my booking would certainly go to RCI, but if NCL entered the market with SKY I would probably choose NCL.

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 05-05-2008 04:02 PM

In her later days as NORWEGIAN SKY, how popular and successful was she? In regards to Freestyle 2.0, I remember reading NORWEGIAN MAJESTY and NORWEGIAN DREAM will have this, so it will not be a problem for PRIDE OF ALOHA which is much newer and modern.

If the NCL deployment does go through, I have a feeling she will be operating out of the West Coast until the fall when she will join the migration party back to the Caribbean.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 05-05-2008 05:24 PM

Not shure about majesty but the dream wont be getting 2.0 upgrades as she will be leaving after her Bermuda cruise out of boston this year.

Posts: 548 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

dougnewman
First Class Passenger
Member # 11349

posted 05-05-2008 06:02 PM

It is interesting to compare what has been said about Freestyle 2.0 in NCL press releases at different times:

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Significant Enhancements to Its Onboard Product as Part of Its Freestyle 2.0 Initiative
Dec 20, 2007:
"Freestyle 2.0 enhancements will begin rolling out immediately and will be largely implemented by summer of 2008."

NCL Corporation Announces Adjustments to Hawai'i Fleet
Company announces Pride of America's deployment through 2010 Pride of Aloha to leave the fleet in May
Feb 11, 2008
"Since the announcement a year ago of Pride of Hawai'i's temporary transfer to NCL's European deployment, renamed as Norwegian Jade, the company has embarked on a major fleet-wide initiative called Freestyle 2.0 featuring significant product and hardware upgrades to its modern fleet, including Pride of America. The Freestyle 2.0 program will further enhance the on-board experience taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level. Enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for all guests; additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and the establishment of casual action-station restaurants taking the place of the "traditional" buffet experience. Freestyle 2.0 will be in place on Pride of America and across NCL's fleet, now the youngest fleet in the cruise industry, by the middle of May 2008.

'Pride of Aloha pioneered the new inter-island market but, as we move forward with Freestyle 2.0 to take our product to the next level across what is already the youngest fleet in the industry, we cannot justify further investment in this ship,' said Andy Stuart, NCL's executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services."

Norwegian Cruise Line Set to Launch Freestyle 2.0
Roll out begins March 30 on Norwegian Jade
Mar 12, 2008
"Guests on Norwegian Jade's March 30 12-day Classic Mediterranean cruise will be the first to experience the Freestyle 2.0 initiatives. Additional ships will launch Freestyle 2.0 within the following weeks, with fleet-wide roll out implemented by June 2008."

And from the Freestyle 2.0 web page:
We're making these changes now, and by June 15, 2008, all of our ships will be up to speed.

All this implies to me that all the upgrades are supposed to be in place on every NCL ship that will be in service in June 2008, including DREAM and MAJESTY. Mind you, NCL hasn't even issued a press release about the sale of DREAM and MAJESTY. That came from Star. You can read it here (pdf download), and it doesn't say anything at all about Freestyle 2.0. Since NCL isn't the one selling the ships and hasn't cancelled any cruises, I guess it doesn't even really need to mention their retirement. But it has certainly never given any indication that DREAM and MAJESTY wouldn't get Freestyle 2.0, which does make Andy Stuart's comment about PRIDE OF ALOHA seem a bit odd.

That said, most of the Freestyle 2.0 upgrades have very little to do with hardware - none of the ships should require any structural changes to comply, except maybe for replacing the buffet restaurants with "action station" ones. (That's a non-issue on NORWEGIAN DREAM, since she doesn't even have a buffet restaurant.)

Posts: 2072 | From: Long Island, NY, USA | Registered: Sep 2007 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 05-05-2008 06:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dougnewman:

'Pride of Aloha pioneered the new inter-island market but, as we move forward with Freestyle 2.0 to take our product to the next level across what is already the youngest fleet in the industry, we cannot justify further investment in this ship,' said Andy Stuart, NCL's executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services.

This is the part I find interesting. Only a few months ago NCL could not justify further investment in PRIDE OF ALOHA. Now we are hearing that millions will be spent on her and she will return to the NCL fleet. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually knows what is going on at NCL????? Can't wait for the PR spin on this one.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 05-05-2008 07:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by eroller:

This is the part I find interesting. Only a few months ago NCL could not justify further investment in PRIDE OF ALOHA. Now we are hearing that millions will be spent on her and she will return to the NCL fleet. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually knows what is going on at NCL????? Can't wait for the PR spin on this one.
Ernie

Obviously NCL was not aware the lack of interest in POALOHA at their asking price. I will bet the PR will not mention the earlier statement made about the investment they cannot justify. Look for them to say something along the same lines of "Freestyle 2.0 onboard NORWEGIAN SKY will be crucial in exploring new markets for NCL."

I will be boarding PRIDE OF AMERICA in a couple weeks. Hopefully I will hear more information, if NCL does not announce anything by then.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

GregD
First Class Passenger
Member # 4176

posted 05-05-2008 09:54 PM

Majesty already started her summer cruises but the Dream is in Boston in drydock, so this would be the time they would make the changes. In a week or so we will hear about them from the pax when they get back

Posts: 548 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 05-06-2008 01:45 PM

It is official - "Norwegian Sky" retuns in July:

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_050608

Best,

Raoul

Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Carlos Fernandez
First Class Passenger
Member # 6432

posted 05-06-2008 02:02 PM

Exactly what I thought. $329 for a balcony is incredibly cheap, Sky might turn out to lead the way in the short Bahamas cruises from Miami if NCL puts their boots on.

[ 05-06-2008: Message edited by: Carlos Fernandez ]

Posts: 1325 | From: Miami, Florida (Cruise Capital of the World) | Registered: Apr 2006 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 05-06-2008 02:28 PM

Any hull art predictions?

Clouds?

Rainbows?

Birds saying "Cheap, cheap"?

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 05-06-2008 02:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
Exactly what I thought. $329 for a balcony is incredibly cheap, Sky might turn out to lead the way in the short Bahamas cruises from Miami if NCL puts their boots on.
[ 05-06-2008: Message edited by: Carlos Fernandez ]

You're right, and this could turn out to be a brilliant move by NCL--now they will have a "feeder" ship for people to try out before moving on to the rest of their product. And in the ever-competitive cruise market, this may force CCL and RCI to place newer tonnage with more balconies on the 3 & 4-day cruises. They have been very reluctant to invest this tonnage in the weekend market and have to basically give away prime balcony accommodations at low prices.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

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