When will they convert POH to Jade?

[Brucemcdou]

Hi, all - we're booked on the Pride of Hawaii relocation cruise from Hawaii to Los Angeles February 4th - 9th. Seemed like a great opportunity to enjoy lots of days at sea on a beautiful ship for a great price. Although I've done some searches here and read the press releases on the NCL website, I can't pin down exactly when they'll do the work to convert the NCLA Pride of Hawaii to the NCL Norwegian Jade. I know that there must be some NCL insiders who read these boards who might know!

 

The original press release said she would enter a 14-day drydock in Honolulu on February 6th to be converted to Jade, and THEN sail as the Jade to the mainland, etc. Somewhere along the line they dropped that idea, as she's not stopping after her last 7-day Hawaiian islands cruise 1/28 to 2/4, and departing for LA, still as the POH, on the same day for the five day crossing. There is a one-week break in the schedule, then she starts a Panama Canal cruise from LA on 2/16 as the Jade.

 

Are they really going to do the conversion in that one week, presumably somewhere in Southern California? Beyond changing the hull art and installing a casino somewhere, what other major changes would be made? Would they be making those changes during our cruise? I'm thinking construction noise, and certain facilities being closed. Of course, there will be many minor changes to signage, printed materials, etc. that wouldn't impact our cruise experience. And when would the staff change from NCLA to NCL? I figure either we'll have a crew who are on their last cruise, or we'll have crew who are brand new to the ship.

 

I know we'll have a good time since we'll be on a cruise :D , but I'm curious whether to expect construction, limited facilities, and/or a crew in transition. Thanks for your thoughts!!

[Brucemcdou]

OK, I kept searching and found some of the answers: this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=621181&highlight=Jade addresses the first part of the question about how they'll make all the renovations in time. It states that there will be a seven-day drydock (or maybe wetdock?) in LA after the crossing from Hawaii. The POH will be reflagged and renamed as Jade at that point. After sailing through the Panama canal and trans-Atlantic as the Jade, there will be ANOTHER drydock in Barcelona (or somewhere nearby) where the rest of the work will be done before starting the Mediterannean and European itineraries. I'm still curious to hear whether anyone knows if there will be some work being done on board during the five-day Pacific crossing?

 

Another thread stated that the new NCL international crew will come on in LA. So I have the same question as before - will service suffer if we're on the last cruise of the American NCLA crew? I could see it go either way, I guess. Thoughts?

[katmash]

I can't answer your questions but want to say "Hi." I'm on this cruise, too. Join our roll call thread here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=581363

[Brucemcdou]

Hi, Katmash! Thank you for the invitation - I have joined the Roll Call thread. I'm hoping some folks on this well-informed board may be NCL insiders or may have chatted with crew members on POH to get some insights into how the transition of crew will be handled.

 

See you in February!

[FTLAUDER]

Hi, I am sailing on the Jade Feb 16 through Panama to Miami 13 day cruise. I am also so curious. Will have a review on my return.

[FTLAUDER]

Hi, I am sailing on the Jade Feb 16 through Panama to Miami 13 day cruise. I am also so curious. Will have a review on my return.

[Cameron Lake]

Hi, I am sailing on the Jade Feb 16 through Panama to Miami 13 day cruise. I am also so curious. Will have a review on my return.

 

 

We are also traveling with you on the New "JADE" from L.A. through the Panama to Miami. This will be our 6th. with NCL. (Sun - 2 times, Pearl - 2 times, Jewel - 1). We are looking forward to our next cruise in Feb.

[katmash]

I misread the op's post. I'm on the Feb 16 too.

[flag fan]

Other than changing the hull art and adding a casino, I wonder how much the decor will be changed. It seemed very Hawaiian to me, but maybe it can pass as more generically ocean-oriented.

[jollyroger2]

I did not know the Jade was actually the POH until after I had booked directly with NCL! It seemed to come out by accident when talking to a cruise rep. when I was working on upgrades back in May of 2007. So, now I know we are on the shake-down cruise out of Barcelona on Mar 30/08. It causes a bit of concern that eveything will go smoothly. Also, have found out that we fly into Heathrow to the new Terminal 5 two days after it officially opens. Anyone else going to be on the European Mar 30 to April 11/08 trip?:cool: :confused:

[burny]

I did not know the Jade was actually the POH until after I had booked directly with NCL! It seemed to come out by accident when talking to a cruise rep. when I was working on upgrades back in May of 2007. So, now I know we are on the shake-down cruise out of Barcelona on Mar 30/08. It causes a bit of concern that eveything will go smoothly. Also, have found out that we fly into Heathrow to the new Terminal 5 two days after it officially opens. Anyone else going to be on the European Mar 30 to April 11/08 trip?:cool: :confused:

 

yep,i am .It will be an adventure to cruise on a new(not so new) ship with a new crew.But it is also the first time on a NCL ship for me, so i am really very curieus about everything! Wel,there must be a first time for everything.I am almost sure that we will have a great time.

[caniche]

I live in Hawaii and I am a tour operator that provides tours for NCL. I work very closely with NCL and I am in contact with the corporate headquarters in Miami, as well as the NCL America office in Honolulu. The international staff will more than likely come on in Honolulu and start learning the ship. They'll take over officially in Los Angeles after the 2 week dry dock. The international crew that will be transfered to the "Jade" will be very familiar with the layout and workings of the ship, because this ship is identical to the newest NCL international ships (like the Pearl,etc). The casino and all the interior and exterior design will be done in Los Angeles drydock. Things like the statue of King Kamamehameha and all the other Hawaiian themes will be changed out. So the final product -the Norwegian Jade - will be making the passage through the Panama Canal to Miami. Then the Jade will reposition to the Mediterranean for the summer season or indefinately. It is unlikely, but the option of returning the ship to Hawaii, as the Pride of Hawaii is being left open...

[tdiii]

We're on the Panama Canal sailing, too! Cannot wait! It was a spontaneous booking after having had such a great time on the PoAM last June. From what I understand, there will be no wholesale changeout of crew, that the crew are being rotated in and out based on their normal contracts. So some crew is already onboard who will be onboard for the Jade. Should be pretty simple to make the transition beween ship identities as the ship itself is so new that noting major needs a refit, only decor and layout. The LA drydock is one week, not two.