Will it ever happen...?

[ChiMimi69]

What are the chances that NCL will ever launch a 2nd ship for the Hawaii itinerary or at least replace the POA with a mega ship for that itinerary? After doing the mega ships with so many more choices of dining and activities, I don't know if I could ever go back to a smaller ship. I'm so :confused: and I'm been holding off on Hawaii hoping change will come. :)

 

What do you savvy CC folks think?

[Solararc]

I wouldn't count the idea out, nor have high hopes of this happening anytime soon. Only time will tell, because the POA is under an American flag if it was moved like the Jade (formally the pride of Hawaii) it wouldn't be able to regain its American status easily. I think it's most likely another U.S. Flagged vessel will take over in the distant future.

 

 

*Living Large*

[TrumpyNor]

What are the chances that NCL will ever launch a 2nd ship for the Hawaii itinerary or at least replace the POA with a mega ship for that itinerary? After doing the mega ships with so many more choices of dining and activities, I don't know if I could ever go back to a smaller ship. I'm so :confused: and I'm been holding off on Hawaii hoping change will come. :)

 

What do you savvy CC folks think?

 

Maybe you don't know it, but they (NCL) used to have three ships doing Hawaiian itineraries a few years ago (Pride of Aloha - now renamed Norwegian Sky, Pride of Hawaii - now renamed Norwegian Jade, and Pride of America), but since they were the only cruise line doing only Hawaii on the itinerary, they ended up competing with themselves. Not good for business....

 

And because the ship never leaves the US and sails under American flag, I believe they are only allowed to have Americans (or foreigners with a green card) working on board....

 

So I guess chances are very slim regarding a new ship doing the Hawaii itinerary - especially since the POA is not that old - she started the Hawaii sailings 10 years ago, in 2005. Her last major dry dock was in 2013.

Edited April 23, 2015 by TrumpyNor

[kjquilts]

If you have an interest in a Hawaii cruise don't hold off waiting for a mega ship with wonderful entertainment. Hawaii is about the scenery off the ship or from the ship :) By the time you do your sightseeing and have dinner with or without drinks you'll probably be ready for relaxation and an earlier bedtime.

 

We really enjoyed our POA cruise and will do it again sometime :)

[rvsullivan]

And the state won't allow NCL to do the alcohol packages or casino, two huge money makers. Best to stay with the one mid sized ship. It's all about the ports on this cruise not the ship.

[ChiMimi69]

Maybe you don't know it, but they (NCL) used to have three ships doing Hawaiian itineraries a few years ago (Pride of Aloha - now renamed Norwegian Sky, Pride of Hawaii - now renamed Norwegian Jade, and Pride of America), but since they were the only cruise line doing only Hawaii on the itinerary, they ended up competing with themselves. Not good for business....

 

And because the ship never leaves the US and sails under American flag, I believe they are only allowed to have Americans (or foreigners with a green card) working on board....

 

So I guess chances are very slim regarding a new ship doing the Hawaii itinerary - especially since the POA is not that old - she started the Hawaii sailings 10 years ago, in 2005. Her last major dry dock was in 2013.

 

I'm relatively new to NCL so, no, I didn't know there were once 3 ships there and there was so much to consider. I guess, I look at POA and it looks so tiny next to the mega ships. I must now be a mega ship snob :D .

[ChiMimi69]

And the state won't allow NCL to do the alcohol packages or casino, two huge money makers. Best to stay with the one mid sized ship. It's all about the ports on this cruise not the ship.

 

Yeah, I suppose you're right. The star here should just be Hawaii and not the vessel.

[ChiMimi69]

If you have an interest in a Hawaii cruise don't hold off waiting for a mega ship with wonderful entertainment. Hawaii is about the scenery off the ship or from the ship :) By the time you do your sightseeing and have dinner with or without drinks you'll probably be ready for relaxation and an earlier bedtime.

 

We really enjoyed our POA cruise and will do it again sometime :)

 

I'm sure there's plenty to do off the ship considering the overnight stays. :)

[Ilovesailing]

And the state won't allow NCL to do the alcohol packages or casino, two huge money makers. Best to stay with the one mid sized ship. It's all about the ports on this cruise not the ship.

 

I was under the understanding by a senior officer (2012 Hawaii cruise) that the Jade is the ship that is allowed to go back to Hawaii by gov't if and when they decide to do it. Of course they would have to pull out the casino.

 

However POA has been a very profitable cruise for NCL since they pulled out the other two ships so I don't think any thing is going to happen any time soon.

I also don't see a mega ship doing that intense itinerary.

[JohnIreland]

I was under the understanding by a senior officer (2012 Hawaii cruise) that the Jade is the ship that is allowed to go back to Hawaii by gov't if and when they decide to do it. Of course they would have to pull out the casino.

 

I believe that expires once it sails from a cruise from a US port as the Jade.

[bonvoyagie]

Actually the Sky was the Sky first then the Pride of Aloha and now back to the Sky.:D

 

The Pride of America was one of two ships that were started in US shipyards for cruising in Hawaii. The project went bankrupt, and NCL bought the partially completed ships and finished them at Meyer Werft in Germany. The Pride of America was finished and the other hull was abandoned. The POA had her share of setbacks including a flooding during a storm while in the docks. This delayed her debut a full year. NCL scrambled to retro fit the Norwegian Sky, which just finished her Alaska season, into the Pride of Aloha earlier than expected. The retrofit happened in San Francisco - they removed the casino and added conference rooms and a Hawaiian themed décor - something she still has.

 

All three ships had special consideration from the governor of Hawaii and the federal Govt in order to operate in US waters -esp Hawaii where the ships were required to be US made. The POA was exempted because she was partly US made. The Pride of Hawaii was supposed to be made from the second partial hull - but it was decided that after the POA experience it would be easier to start from scratch using the NCL Jewel as a base rather than enlarge the second partial hull.

 

So in 2005 the Pride of Aloha entered the market, followed later by the POA and the POH. By 2007 the market shrank to the point where only one ship was needed - the POH was converted to the Jade and the Pride Of Aloha was turned back into the Sky. It is rumored that the Jade could be brought back to Hawaii - but there is no real proof that she could be brought back under the US Flag.

 

Prior to these ships entering the Hawaiian market - NCL operated the Wind where it made a two day run to Fanning Island to avoid the PVSA.

 

You really don't need a mega ship for this port intensive cruise - much like AK, HI is the star of the show - the ship is just a floating hotel.:)

[veggie59]

Actually there was another ship that sailed in Hawaii. The Star originally sailed there. We sailed on her in 2002. Sometime after she was removed from Hawaii and retrofitted to add a casino and others venues in for other markets.

Edited April 24, 2015 by veggie59

[zqvol]

What are the chances that NCL will ever launch a 2nd ship for the Hawaii itinerary or at least replace the POA with a mega ship for that itinerary? After doing the mega ships with so many more choices of dining and activities, I don't know if I could ever go back to a smaller ship. I'm so :confused: and I'm been holding off on Hawaii hoping change will come. :)

 

What do you savvy CC folks think?

 

 

Without a change in US law it will NEVER happen.

[Notion_of_the_Ocean]

The mega ships typically are on routes with one or more sea days (feel free to chime in if this is inaccurate). It just doesn't make sense to put a ship with all the bells and whistles on a route that spends 100+ hours out of 168 in port and the majority of passengers are off exploring.

[Solararc]

Seems valid

 

 

*Living Large*

[sverigecruiser]

Our first cruise was on the Wind around Hawaii and to Fanning island. 11 nights, 4 seadays and no overnights in port, perfect for us.

[greatlakesgirl]

I'm relatively new to NCL so, no, I didn't know there were once 3 ships there and there was so much to consider. I guess, I look at POA and it looks so tiny next to the mega ships. I must now be a mega ship snob :D .

How unfortunate, you are really missing out. A mega ship and all its bells, whistles, and frills would be totally wasted in Hawaii. Each day except for the day we tendered in Kona we were off the ship by 8:30 am and not back on-board until the evening. By that time we were so wiped out all we had the energy for was dinner, watch the kids swim for a bit by the pool while we had a beer or cocktail, and then off to bed.

[ChiMimi69]

How unfortunate, you are really missing out. A mega ship and all its bells, whistles, and frills would be totally wasted in Hawaii.

 

 

I said this because my kids are really spoiled by all those bells and whistles, you know? I know Hawaii is the real star here and as such, I am hoping my boys will feel the same once we're there as they'll be a little older by then.

 

Drumroll please...I booked passage today. :D:D:D

[calex]

Considering any ship used exclusively in the United States must be under a US flag and built in the US per the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886; and the next two Breakaway Plus ships under contract by NCL are being built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany: Norwegian Escape (October 2015) and Norwegian Bliss (Spring 2017). The likelihood of another new ship being constructed in this decade in the USA for the Hawaiian market is less likely than the newly enacted room service convenience fee being phased out.

[greatlakesgirl]

I said this because my kids are really spoiled by all those bells and whistles, you know? I know Hawaii is the real star here and as such, I am hoping my boys will feel the same once we're there as they'll be a little older by then.

 

Drumroll please...I booked passage today. :D:D:D

Awesome! Hope you love it! Just keep your expectations realistic regarding the ship; it really is very nice, but it isn't the Allure, or Getaway, or Breakaway. And Hawaii is...well, Hawaii! There's a review in my sig if you want to take a look at it. Also, there are a couple of recent, very well written reviews on here, too.

 

How old are your kids? My daughters were eight and thirteen and our nephew was eleven and they had a blast.

Edited April 24, 2015 by greatlakesgirl