Wow. Pride of Hawaii Taken Out of Hawaii Service - to be moved to Europe!

Effective February 2008, Pride of Hawaii will be temporarily taken out of service and will be deployed to Europe in summer 2008.

 

"For guests booked on Pride of Hawai`i in February 2008 and beyond, NCL is offering a $50 on-board credit per stateroom for those who rebook by May 1, 2007, on Pride of America, Pride of Aloha or any ship in the NCL fleet. Guests choosing to cancel will receive a full refund."

Jana

They're moving POH to Europe?? That's kind of....weird. Interesting, but weird. I wonder if it will still be American-crewed while it's in Europe? (I'd assume so, but you never know...)

No, it won't be crewed by Americans. This is a a financial move. It's certainly much more cost-effective to sail with an international crew, since they can.

From the NCL press release:

 

 

Miami - April 10, 2007 --- NCL Corporation ("NCL"), parent company of NCL America and Norwegian Cruise Line, today announced the temporary withdrawal of Pride of Hawai`i from the Hawai`i market effective February 2008. The ship will be deployed to Europe for the summer of 2008 as part of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.

NCL's substantial 2006 losses, reported in February of this year, have been caused by downward pricing pressure in the Hawai`i market following the addition of Pride of Hawai`i to the fleet last summer, and the steep increase in the amount of foreign flag competition entering the Hawai`i market from the west coast.

"We take this action with regret, but sure in the knowledge that a temporary retrenchment is the right thing to do for the good of the business and the good of Hawai`i in the long run," said Colin Veitch, NCL Corporation's president and CEO. "We remain committed to building a strong U.S. Flag cruise business home ported in Hawai`i, and we need to make sure that our other two ships, Pride of Aloha and Pride of America, are able to achieve acceptable profitability before we can confidently re-introduce Pride of Hawai`i."

According to Veitch, NCL America has grown very quickly over three years, and its competitors have also surged, starting in 2006, offering almost 80 percent additional capacity days on top of NCL America's in 2007.

"Clearly we are victims of our own success," Veitch continued. "We have demonstrated that Hawai`i is a highly attractive cruise destination and Hawai`i now has four times as much capacity serving it in 2007 as it did in 2004 when we started NCL America.

"We are now very hopeful that this latest measure will make the critical difference in ensuring the success of this important venture. We continue to have a vision of a strong domestic cruise industry in Hawai`i and firmly believe that the combination of steps we have now taken will result in a strong NCL America delivering the best cruise itinerary anywhere in the world with the very highest standard of service at sea," Veitch concluded

From the NCL press release:

 

 

NCL Announces Temporary Withdrawal of Pride of Hawai`i

 

Miami - April 10, 2007 ---"Clearly we are victims of our own success," Veitch continued......

 

......Colin.......what is this.........you are victims of your own bad business decisions....:rolleyes:

Having just gotten off the POH yesterday, I can understand the move. Although I was aware of the very mixed reviews of POH posted on this board and tried to adjust my expecations accordingly, I was unsuccessful at lowering my standards to the point where I thought the product quality delivered constituted a good or even an acceptable value.

 

Although there were some good points of the cruise (mostly Hawaii itself), the bad points were just overwhelming.

 

Service ranged from insolent to indifferent to inept to just plain weird. In fact I wrote a review of the trip but didn't seem to get it posted in time so I lost it. Just as well because I fear I would been ridiculed by those that can justify service that is simply unacceptable.

 

Hey, it is just one guy's experience but I can't see how NCLA can survive the requirement to use U.S. employees. From what I saw there is just way possible to manage employees that consider 5 months on a ship to be a lark rather than a career or a commitment to the customer.

 

HawkI

They're moving POH to Europe?? That's kind of....weird. Interesting, but weird. I wonder if it will still be American-crewed while it's in Europe? (I'd assume so, but you never know...)

 

 

I would be shocked if the Pride of Hawaii stayed American crewed. My guess is that the ship will undergo some major renovations, and a name change. Not much reason to pay for an American crew when you don't have to.

Well, that's another 2 to 3 months of cruises being cancelled. They could have waited until April 28, 2008 to reposition her.

The Sun early this fall, the Pride of Hawaii this winter, NCL will have reduce passenger capacity in Hawaii in half.

 

As I wrote earlier this week in another thread, they can place a casino on the Pride of Hawaii and sail it somewhere else, as long as it is not Alaska, Caribbean, Baja Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico, under the American flag. What wasn't answered in the NCL press release, whether they will sail the Pride of Hawaii under the American flag in Europe, or reflag it under a Bahamas flag? I don't think American crew members will be disappointed with many European itineraries. They might enjoy it.

 

So that leaves just the Pride of Aloha sailing 10-11 day itineraries and the Pride of America sailing 7 day itineraries from Honolulu. That's still a significant presence in Hawaii. If you are planning a Hawaiian cruise next year, take this advice now, book before the fare prices soar.

 

I wonder where in Europe they will sail the Pride of Hawaii? With the Jewel in the Western Mediterranean most of the time in 2007, how about an Eastern Mediterranean itinerary, or replacing the Dream with Baltic itineraries? Remember, the Dream's last cruise scheduled is a repo from Santiago to Los Angeles. I wonder where it may be going now that the Pride of Hawaii is repositioning to Europe? We know the Dream probably isn't repositioning to Alaska, as three other ships Alaska itineraries are posted.

 

I have a feeling the European 2008 itineraires may be posted real soon.

Maybe transitioning Dream out earlier than planned?

Interesting indeed. I always thought NCL could move one of these ships out of Hawaii. I knew with the PSA NCL could not move any of the Pride ships to do Alaskan, Mexican, Caribbean, and Gulf coast ports. I suspected a move to South America or American Samoa.

 

But Europe is catching the cruise bug. With their ships coming to the Caribbean, its not surprising our cruise lines are moving to Europe in response. And I wouldn't be surprised if NCL operated three ships in Europe this year adding a ship for the new popular Eastern Mediterrean itineraries.

 

I don't know whether NCL can drop the American flag and reflag it again.... If they can they will, if they can't they won't.

 

In a few years the Hawaiian market may grow enough to support a profitable third ship. This makes the second ship dropped from Hawaii, losing more than half its supply. I suspect demand will increase the prices of Hawaiian cruises significantly.

 

This does not reflect well for the future of the SS United States or Independence.

 

It doesn't appear well for the Dream either. Why is she headed for Los Angeles instead of Miami or Houston after her South American cruises? She isn't headed for Alaska, and with the Pride of Hawaii heading to Europe, she probably isn't headed for Hawaii either. I expect she is headed for Star Cruises.

 

Again NCL has cancelled three months of a ship's itinerary ten months in advance, notice not a year. While those affected will be upset, cruise lines running red ink have a right to change itineraries.

I am very proud of NCL for doing this but we all have to give them applause that they did not just give up and not try a couples of year in this market so they had the spirit and drive to try but no sense anymore to waste a new wonderful ship.

 

 

My guess is that they will transform the ship either into the Jewel setting or Pearl/Gem setting with bowling alley and better flow control of passenger's that I remember shore guy saying this new breed of ships has.

 

I think what NCL will do next is keep an older ship here and using it as a floating hotel while island hopping and use the other ship to sail unique exotic sailings kind of like what the Wind was doing or I am HAL guy so what the Prisendam os doing like Africa, Antartica, Baltics, and other exotic remote locations.

 

Paul

I wonder where in Europe they will sail the Pride of Hawaii? With the Jewel in the Western Mediterranean most of the time in 2007, how about an Eastern Mediterranean itinerary, or replacing the Dream with Baltic itineraries? Remember, the Dream's last cruise scheduled is a repo from Santiago to Los Angeles. I wonder where it may be going now that the Pride of Hawaii is repositioning to Europe? We know the Dream probably isn't repositioning to Alaska, as three other ships Alaska itineraries are posted.

 

I have a feeling the European 2008 itineraires may be posted real soon.

 

I don't think you'll see the Dream repositioned out of the Baltics....I believe this ship is the only one in the fleet (sans the Crown and Majesty) that can clear the bridges on the Kiel Canal.....Besides, the Dream sails for London on Saturday.....that would be TOO soon to alter the TA repo.

I don't think you'll see the Dream repositioned out of the Baltics....I believe this ship is the only one in the fleet (sans the Crown and Majesty) that can clear the bridges on the Kiel Canal.....Besides, the Dream sails for London on Saturday.....that would be TOO soon to alter the TA repo.

 

I was speculating about the Dream's status next year (2008), not this year. More than a year in advance, on cruises NCL hasn't posted for sale yet, isn't too soon.

I don't think you'll see the Dream repositioned out of the Baltics....I believe this ship is the only one in the fleet (sans the Crown and Majesty) that can clear the bridges on the Kiel Canal.....Besides, the Dream sails for London on Saturday.....that would be TOO soon to alter the TA repo.

 

The change is for next year.

I was specualtaing about the Dream's status next year (2008), not this year. More than a year in advance, on cruises NCL hasn't posted for sale yet, isn't too soon.

 

 

Gotcha....my bad. :cool:

 

But that still begs the question, what would they do regarding the size of the ship if they take the Dream out of the Baltics. Apparently the bridges on the Kiel make it difficult for the other ships.

 

From Wikipedia: While most large, modern cruise ships cannot pass through this canal due to clearance limits under bridges, one medium sized ship, the M. S. Norwegian Dream has special funnels and masts that can be lowered for passage. A typical Baltic cruise for this ship is Dover, England, through the Kiel Canal and across the Baltic to stops in Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway; returning to Dover via the North Sea.

They're moving POH to Europe?? That's kind of....weird. Interesting, but weird. I wonder if it will still be American-crewed while it's in Europe? (I'd assume so, but you never know...)

 

No, it won't be crewed by Americans. This is a a financial move. It's certainly much more cost-effective to sail with an international crew, since they can.

NCL is in financial trouble.... Their Hawaiian ships are costing the bottom line big time. They have to do something..... or keep on accounting in red ink.

 

Europe is hot.... Hawaii is not. Even though they have a cornered Hawaii market... they really don't with all the 10 day one ways / 15 day RTs by the foreign flagged lines.

 

As someone who has traveled US flagged ships / boats (Miss Queen and Independence) I can say the level of service does not come near our other experiences.

WHY DID I HAVE TO SEE THIS AT 2AM! Just called NCLA's offices and would like word if they are going to keep the american crew or not. arghhh this is annoying but not a suprise.

announced the temporary withdrawal

 

Does this sound like "the SS Norway will temporary be withdrawaled from service" to me? If they re flag the ship and crew it with intl people I cannot picture them bringing it back to NCLA after a season. I dont buy that this is just a "temporary" thing.

Does this sound like "the SS Norway will temporary be withdrawaled from service" to me? If they re flag the ship and crew it with intl people I cannot picture them bringing it back to NCLA after a season. I dont buy that this is just a "temporary" thing.

 

Guess we'll see if they change the name from PoH to the Norwegian Sapphire...

Guess we'll see if they change the name from PoH to the Norwegian Sapphire...

 

I do like that name :-). What I would LOVE is if this ship would stay American crewed (I know im dreaming) but I would love to work on a ship in europe for a while and then back to hawaii.

I do like that name :-). What I would LOVE is if this ship would stay American crewed (I know im dreaming) but I would love to work on a ship in europe for a while and then back to hawaii.

Look at it this way.... NCL can take the best 2/3's of their American crews and upgrade the service of the remaining two ships. ;)

Look at it this way.... NCL can take the best 2/3's of their American crews and upgrade the service of the remaining two ships. ;)

 

lets just hope they figure this out ;-)

But that still begs the question, what would they do regarding the size of the ship if they take the Dream out of the Baltics. Apparently the bridges on the Kiel make it difficult for the other ships.

But the Keil Canal is a pretty specialist interest as far as mainstream cruising is concerned. No other mainstream cruise line seems to miss it. It'll be missed by regular NCL cruisers, but people would soon adapt.

Does this sound like "the SS Norway will temporary be withdrawaled from service" to me? If they re flag the ship and crew it with intl people I cannot picture them bringing it back to NCLA after a season. I dont buy that this is just a "temporary" thing.

I agree. This might not be quite another nail in the coffin of NCLA, but it's certainly another piece of major surgery for a very sick patient.

"NCLA! iceburg right ahead..."

I'm waiting for someone who booked a Courtyard or Garden Villa complaining that neither POAs have that class of cabin, and they can't rebook a similar cabin on the POAs.

Woe, Woe, and more Woe! :mad:

As if sailing in a Couryard or Garden Villa makes or breaks a Hawaiian cruise. :rolleyes: