• Norwegian Sun is no long going to Hawaii after the northern summer 2007 Alaska season, but will go back to Miami instead
• She joins Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Miami, which suggests that Norwegian Dawn may be remaining in New York
• Pride of Hawaii will take over some of the Fanning Island runs, suggesting that Norwegian Wind is still leaving the fleet for Star, as planned, and reducing capacity on the intra-Hawaii runs

[ 12-18-2006: Message edited by: Globaliser ]

Many of us wondered how NCL managed to fill their three ships which operate Hawaiian waters every week, let alone four which operate at the peak.

What I don't understand is why would 'Pride of Hawaii' do Fanning Island runs? She not need to comply to the 'Jones Act' so why on earth include fanning island?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Does anyone really still think the two heritage ships have a future, anyway?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
What I don't understand is why would 'Pride of Hawaii' do Fanning Island runs? She not need to comply to the 'Jones Act' so why on earth include fanning island?

---

1. Reducing capacity on the intra-Hawaii runs
2. Reducing capacity in Hawaii overall
3. Freeing up a well-regarded international ship to do Caribbean runs that are higher-yielding than the Fanning run
4. Providing the Fanning option for those who actually want to do it

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
The Indy no but ssUS maybe but w/huge alterations. ... It seems pointless in the end as NCLA already has what they always wanted-a monopoly on inter island Hawaii cruising w/new state of the art foreign built tonnage registerred in the States.

---

NCL Corporation this week announced that beginning in September 2007 it will move Pride of Aloha to 10- and 11-day cruises from Honolulu sailing both inter-island itineraries mixed with Hawaii cruises calling into Fanning Island in Kiribati, NCL's Pacific Island hideaway just north of the Equator.

Norwegian Sun will be redeployed to Miami to sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises beginning in October 2007 through mid-April 2008. Norwegian Sun's seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary features calls into Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico; and a call into Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island.

The ship will join Norwegian Pearl sailing nine- and five-day Southern and Western Caribbean cruises and Norwegian Jewel sailing seven-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries, offering a full complement of cruises to the most popular Caribbean destinations.

"We are now receiving very good feedback from our guests on the seven-day inter-island cruise, and we are increasingly hearing requests for a longer version of this destination-rich inter-island cruise including one or two days at sea," said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. "With these new 10- and 11-day itineraries, we can deliver expanded Hawaii itineraries to our guests that include longer stays on the four main islands of Hawaii, relaxing days at sea and spectacular coastal cruising."

Pride of Aloha begins her new deployment in September 2007. The 10-day Hawaii only cruise features an overnight in Honolulu ensuring guests can enjoy all the wonderful sights in Oahu; an overnight in Kaua'i; three days in Maui including a overnight in Kahului with a call into Lahaina; and calls into Hilo and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Highlights also include a night time sail by the Kilauea Volcano and a day at sea cruising by the Na Pali coast line and cruising the north coast of Molokai.

The 11-day Hawaii only cruises feature the same port of calls as the 10-day but include two days at sea with guests enjoying a sail by the Na Pali coast line, a night time sail by the Kilauea Volcano and sailing the north coast of Moloka'i and the north coast of Oahu.

The 11-day Hawaii/Fanning Island itineraries include an overnight in Kaua`i featuring a sail by the Na Pali coast line at sunset; calls into Hilo and Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii; a call into Kahului, Maui and a call into Fanning Island.

Located 1,000 miles south of Hawaii, Fanning Island, or Tabuaeran as it is know by the locals (from the Kiribati word meaning 'heavenly footprint') is an exotic South Pacific paradise.

Guests enjoy a unique adventure, rarely available to modern travelers. Sea birds are plentiful, sea life is hugely diverse and snorkelers and divers marvel at the stunning coral reefs. Most notably though, the island is inhabited, and guests are welcomed by the 1,300 friendly Micronesian islanders, which is a highlight of the trip for many passengers. The Hawaii/Fanning Island cruises are scheduled for every fourth Pride of Aloha cruise.

Pride of America and Pride of Hawaii continue their popular seven-day inter-island cruises calling on all four main islands featuring 100 hours in port with overnights in Kauai and Maui.

Pride of America features Saturday departures from Honolulu with calls into Hilo, Hawaii; an overnight in Kahului; Maui; Kona, Hawaii; and an overnight in Nawiliwili, Kaua'i.

The newest addition to the NCL America fleet, Pride of Hawaii, began her seven-day inter-island cruises from Honolulu on June 5, 2006. She offers Monday departures calling on Hilo, Hawaii; an overnight in Kahului; Maui; Kona; Hawaii; and an overnight in Nawiliwili, Kaua'i.

Pride of Aloha and Norwegian Sun's new cruises go on sale December 27. Detailed itineraries will also be available on ncl.com on December 27.

I still think 3 big ships (plus the other lines) is too many for the potential number of pax and still keep prices high enough to offset increased staff and operating costs, while the original Congressional agreement does not allow NCLA to trade outside Hawaii without stopping at foriegn ports do not be surprised to see Mr Veitch and company start lobbying to allow them to sail mainland US routes as well, ie California and even East Coast.

However why they didn't do 10 and 11 day cruises previously is beyond me, for East Coasters to fly all that way only for 7 days never mind frm here for instance - well alot would want a longer trip, longer cruises have less kids and attract a different market and 7 days with no sea days......its like a cruise with no water !

quote:

---

Originally posted by mike sa:
However why they didn't do 10 and 11 day cruises previously is beyond me, for East Coasters to fly all that way only for 7 days never mind frm here for instance....

---

I assume it’s because American’s tend to have less annual leave than Europeans and often take leave in one week blocks? It also makes the price of a cruise more attractive.

Many (most?) Caribbean cruises tend to be one week duration, of course.

Us Brits and Europeans often get 4-6 weeks annual leave as standard and often take a main holiday in a two week block. That's why 'Navigator of the Seas' is doing mainly 2 week cruises from Southampton in summer 2007.

It would hardly be worth us Brits flying all the way to Hawaii for a one week cruise. The flights would almost certainly double the cost of the cruise anyway. Maybe NCL hope to attract more non-North American's with longer itineraries? If NCL are serious, they need to offer some bargain international flight packages - then I'd go!

[ 12-19-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

What I don't understand is why would 'Pride of Hawaii' do Fanning Island runs? She not need to comply to the 'Jones Act' so why on earth include fanning island?

---

If my memory severves me correctly, I believe the reason why they continue to sail to Fanning Island is because they are contractually bounded to help them. I rememeber NCL wanting to sail passengers there because the economy was very bad there. Also, I think the reason why the Pride of Hawaii is sailing there is because she is the fastest of the Pride's...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Waynaro:
I wonder if PRIDE OF ALOHA will be reflag in a FOC country. I don't see the point of having a US-flagged ship running outside the all-US port route.

---

Absolutely, and they don't need an expensive US crew.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
What's to see/do at Fanning Island, then?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

Same as Hawaii. Some pretty scenery, a nap on the beach and a big Pina Colada!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
It really does sound as if the NCLA 'experiment' has not gone entirely to plan. I bet they will dispose of the 'heritage ships' in 2007, too. What's the point of paying berthing fees etc. They will NEVER be compatible with the new NCL fleet.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Waynaro:
I am a bit loss, but what are the "heritage ships?"

---

I doubt they would reflag the P of Aloha but they could easily threaten to thus hoping to gain a further relaxation of rules by Congress and I would fully expect this to happen in the next 12 - 18 months.

quote:

---

Originally posted by mike sa:

they need to boost on board revenue and cut costs by eliminating overnight stops in port, reducing time in ports and introducing at least one sea day (I believe the 7 day cruises have no sea days)

---

A sea day may not help NCLA's on-board revenue, since there are no casinos on board, as on the other cruise lines. Hawaii is a very port-intensive destination, and they probably make more revenue selling pricey shore excursions rather than being at sea. I agree that evenings could be more profitable on board, though, through bar revenue, when no shore tours are offered then anyway.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

I assume it’s because American’s tend to have less annual leave than Europeans and often take leave in one week blocks?

[ 12-19-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
As the Global economy changes the tradition of long vacations may come to an end in many countries.

---

Not all Brits get 4-5 weeks, but I must say that over the years leave entitlement here seems to be getting a little more generous.

If you look at the UK cruise brochures, many of our cruises from UK ports are 10, 12 and often 14 days long. This also makes them pretty expensive, but UK cruising is generally NOT for the masses, anyway.

[ 12-20-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]