Pride of Aloha, nay "Norwegian Sky"

[electricron]

The Sky is back.

 

That eliminates on potential "traditional" name for the new F3 class ships.

 

I was hoping NCL would move the Sky about some, but it appears it will be sailing full time from Miami (both summer and winter) for a while.

 

This winter, it appears NCL will be sailing from Miami:

 

Sky > 3 and 4 day Bahamas.

Dawn > 7 day Eastern Cs.

Pearl > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs and 5 day Western Cs.

Jewel > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs. and 5 day Western Cs.

 

Last winter, not so long ago NCL sailed from Miami:

 

Sun > 7 day Western Cs.

Dawn > 7 day Eastern Cs.

Pearl > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs and 5 day Western Cs.

Jewel > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs. and 5 day Western Cs.

 

So, basically, NCL has replaced the Sun with the Sky, and switched and shortened the itinerary from Western Cs to Bahamas.

 

The possible good news for us from abandoned, and possibly soon to be abandoned home ports after the Dream and Majesty depart, ........is.........

 

when the F3 class ships arrive in Miami in 2010, some NCL ships should become available to sail elsewhere.

 

Let's hope so! :eek:

[electricron]

Well, it could be a nice option for la and/cruise vacation in Florida. Will she call Nassau? :)

 

YES!

[electricron]

Well, it could be a nice option for la and/cruise vacation in Florida. Will she call Nassau? :)

 

Lost in the previous post........

 

Norwegian Sky will depart Miami on Mondays sailing four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.

On Fridays, the ship will sail a weekend getaway three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday mornings.

[mylesf]

The Sky is back.

 

That eliminates on potential "traditional" name for the new F3 class ships.

 

I was hoping NCL would move the Sky about some, but it appears it will be sailing full time from Miami (both summer and winter) for a while.

 

Maybe they will after the F3 class ships arrive.

This winter, it appears NCL will be sailing from Miami:

 

Sky > 3 and 4 day Bahamas.

Dawn > 7 day Eastern Cs.

Pearl > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs and 5 day Western Cs.

Jewel > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs. and 5 day Western Cs.

 

Last winter, not so long ago NCL sailed from Miami:

Sun > 7 day Western Cs.

Dawn > 7 day Eastern Cs.

Pearl > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs and 5 day Western Cs.

Jewel > Alternating 9 day Southern Cs. and 5 day Western Cs.

 

So, basically, NCL has replaced the Sun with the Sky, and switched and shortened the itinerary from Western Cs to Bahamas.

 

The possible good news for us from abandoned, and possibly soon to be abandoned home ports is.........

 

when the F3 class ships arrive in Miami in 2010, some NCL ships should become available to sail elsewhere.

 

Let's hope so! :eek:

 

Jewel will be cruising a 5, 9 and 14 day Western Carib fall 08 and winter 09. Starting 11/09 thru April 10 she is scheduled to do a 7 day.

 

Pearl will be cruising only a 7 day Western Carib fall 08 and winter 09.

[electricron]

Jewel will be cruising a 5, 9 and 14 day Western Carib fall 08 and winter 09. Starting 11/09 thru April 10 she is scheduled to do a 7 day.

 

Pearl will be cruising only a 7 day Western Carib fall 08 and winter 09.

 

Was this a recent change?

The last time I looked the Pearl and Jewel itineraries were basically the same. Thanks for the correction......

[VoyageVirgin]

I see the sailings were suppose to start today, but cannot for the life of me find them on NCL website - anybody know where they are selling them from

[mylesf]

I see the sailings were suppose to start today, but cannot for the life of me find them on NCL website - anybody know where they are selling them from

 

If you are talking about the Sky, it opened for purchase today but will not sail until this summer. She is going to do a five week wet dock before beginning the new itin.

[Tatka]

Lost in the previous post........

 

Norwegian Sky will depart Miami on Mondays sailing four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas.

On Fridays, the ship will sail a weekend getaway three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday mornings.

 

This is very good news. Thank you.

 

The only way my parents want to cruise is freestyle, partially because language problems. :)

[electricron]

If you are talking about the Sky, it opened for purchase today but will not sail until this summer. She is going to do a five week wet dock before beginning the new itin.

 

A five week wet dock is a fairly long time for routine maintenance work. Most dry dock periods last less than two weeks.

 

Which probably means a complete refurbishment, or a mid-life overhaul is in the works.

 

I wonder how NCL is going to repaint the hull art?

I hope we have some friends in the Miami area near the shipyard who can get and post early photos of the new hull art, and while the Sky is in wet dock.

[mylesf]

A five week wet dock is a fairly long time for routine maintenance work. Most dry dock periods last less than two weeks.

 

Which probably means a complete refurbishment, or a mid-life overhaul is in the works.

 

I wonder how NCL is going to repaint the hull art?

I hope we have some friends in the Miami area near the shipyard who can get and post early photos of the new hull art, and while the Sky is in wet dock.

 

Hull art will remain the same.

[14ersco]

Ran a search on Norwegian Sky on the NCL web site and this a photo of the hull: http://www.ncl.com/csimages/520/931/Sky_ship_Outside_web.jpg

 

Other photos: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/imageLibraryDetail.html?groupId=Sky

[BeachBumMama]

The Sky is up for bookings on the NCL website. The ship isn't there, just put in the Bahamas for cruise destination and the dates of July to whatever and it comes up.:D

[VoyageVirgin]

The Sky is up for bookings on the NCL website. The ship isn't there, just put in the Bahamas for cruise destination and the dates of July to whatever and it comes up.:D

 

yes it was the Sky (was in the message header) - thanks I'll find it now.

[Markandrews]

I'd love to see the POA back on the East Coast. The NCL Sun is an awesome ship. Just right for cruisin'! Her sister Sky would be an awesome addition.

 

Remember, NCL purchased the Sky from Costa after she was somewhat completed. The Sun and Sky are not identical sisters.

 

The Sky has smaller cabins and fewer suites and balcony cabins then the Sun.

 

She really is perfectly matched for 3/4 day cruises.

 

I have sailed her as the Sky and as the POAloha. I thought I would never see the ship again and now it looks like I will get a short cruise this summer waiting for my Panama Canal trip is September.

 

Welcome back Sky.

[electricron]

Hull art will remain the same.

That would be a shame.

NCL changed the hull art on the Jade (ex-Hawaii), why not on the Sky (ex-Aloha)?

Both the Hawaii and Aloha had better hull art than the America, but it's out of place in Miami or anywhere besides Hawaii.

 

Do Bahamas ports give leis to all visitors?

[DKMDE]

Hull art will remain the same.

I doubt that. It looks as if NCL just PhotoShoped the words "Norwegian Sky" onto the bow and the NCL international logo onto the funnel.

 

I still can't imagine what the new hull art would look like, if they do change it...

[DKMDE]

I sure hope that they add in more restaurants. Six doesn't seem too much like "freestyle" to me (even though with the length of these cruises, you could eat at a different place each night;) ).

[cruzinguru]

The new itineraries are out. We spoke with our pcc and they came out recently.

[wharf rat]

I am sure glad I took the last 11 day cruise on this ship. Went to Fanning and back, and Hawaiian Islands. 3/4 day cruises way too short for me now. But I wish them fair sailing in the Caribbean area.

[mylesf]

I doubt that. It looks as if NCL just PhotoShoped the words "Norwegian Sky" onto the bow and the NCL international logo onto the funnel.

 

I still can't imagine what the new hull art would look like, if they do change it...

 

 

You can doubt it but they have already did a press release that supports what I said: The hull art work will not change.

[mylesf]

I sure hope that they add in more restaurants. Six doesn't seem too much like "freestyle" to me (even though with the length of these cruises, you could eat at a different place each night;) ).

 

 

Not going to add any more restaurants. They feel six is enough on the shorter itins.

[DKMDE]

You can doubt it but they have already did a press release that supports what I said: The hull art work will not change.

That's just odd. A lei in the Bahamas? Oh well.

[electricron]

The NCL press release discussing this change does show a photo of the Pride of Aloha, with the Aloha hull art. Including it in the press release shows the ship being transfered. I believe it showing the ship before the transfer, not afterwards.

 

I believe NCL will change the hull art as they did the Pride of Hawaii. In fact, initially NCL showed no hull art initially on the Jade, once they placed a photo of the Jade on their web site.

But the hull art eventually did change.

 

With five weeks in wet dock, they will certainly have time to give the Sky it's own hull art.

It may take some time for NCL to decide upon which hull art to use, but they have a month or so.

[mylesf]

As of yesturday, and directly from NCL, they are not changing the hull art work. They had every intention on changing the hull work when they reflagged the Pride of Hawaii to the Jade, from the very beginning. They also thought they were going to rip out more of the tropical interior when they switched it over to the Jade but then only made minor changes.

[CruisinMaterial]

Remember, NCL purchased the Sky from Costa after she was somewhat completed. The Sun and Sky are not identical sisters.

 

The Sky has smaller cabins and fewer suites and balcony cabins then the Sun.

 

You learn something new everyday. I noticed last night that Sky and Sun weren't identical twins when I looked at the deck plans. Sky has one less deck of balcony staterooms than Sun. I do agree though that she is the perfect fit for the 3/4 day market. I noticed her interior rooms appeared to be much smaller just looking at the diagram compared to Sun's rooms.

 

Either way.. I hope they keep the hull art the same and the Hawaiian theme onboard but there's no clue what would take such a long wet dock to do? How hard is it to yank out a cultural center and throw in a casino? At the same time they could switch the buffet to action stations. The rest the crew could handle the F2.0 upgrades (such as placing new mattresses). I wouldn't think it would take any more than 2 full weeks at round the clock schedules to get this accomplished. I do wonder what's in store for Sky?? :confused: