NCL Hawaii ???

[squeeky336]

Why are cruises in Hawaii twice the price of other cruises? I have found terrific deals on NCL all over the place..but Hawaii is at least twice and sometimes 3X the price for the same 7 days?:confused:

Edited May 20, 2015 by squeeky336

[newport dave]

I think it's because most of the staff are from the USA, so they have to pay higher wages.

 

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[Illyria]

Why are cruises in Hawaii twice the price of other cruises? I have found terrific deals on NCL all over the place..but Hawaii is at least twice and sometimes 3X the price for the same 7 days?:confused:

Supply & demand. There's ONE ship out of all mass-market cruise lines that can cruise around Hawaii (NCL's Pride of America) - since due to PVSA laws, it has to be staffed by U.S. crew and follow U.S. labor laws.

 

They used to have 2 ships but it was too unprofitable, even with the higher cruise prices, due to increased labor costs - so they pulled the other ship and only left PoA sailing that round-trip Honolulu itinerary.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Illyria

[paul929207]

By law, most of the staff must be Americans.

 

In addition, the NCL ship is the only one that meets the legal requirements, so there is no competition.

[BruceMuzz]

One more expensive problem in Hawaii.

The Jones Act - not the PVSA - requires that nearly all cargo going to Hawaii must be carried on very expensive American ships or airplanes. Nearly everything in Hawaii is imported. American transport pushes costs much higher; fuel, food, drinks, etc.

[Cruzaholic41]

Why are cruises in Hawaii twice the price of other cruises? I have found terrific deals on NCL all over the place..but Hawaii is at least twice and sometimes 3X the price for the same 7 days?:confused:

 

You want to know what the real reason is? It's because that ship has no competition. They are the only player in the game, so they can charge whatever they please.

 

It's not worth it by the way. The Pride of America was the worst cruise I have ever been on with regard to service.

[psbtrvlr]

Probably the reasons listed above, plus there is NO gambling. Gambling is usually a huge profit center for the cruiselines.

[grand isle joe]

you want to know what the real reason is? It's because that ship has no competition. They are the only player in the game, so they can charge whatever they please.

 

It's not worth it by the way. The pride of america was the worst cruise i have ever been on with regard to service.

 

me too!!!!! Me too!!!!!! Worst ever!!!!!

[squeeky336]

One more expensive problem in Hawaii.

The Jones Act - not the PVSA - requires that nearly all cargo going to Hawaii must be carried on very expensive American ships or airplanes. Nearly everything in Hawaii is imported. American transport pushes costs much higher; fuel, food, drinks, etc.

 

 

I am not familiar.. but why do they do all this stuff? Makes no sense to drive up costs.. I am less likely to go on one for the cost.. I dont gamble but i dont know why they would not have gaming on a cruise.

 

I have seen other cruises to Hawaii but they all start in CA. I have not checked the price.

 

I would think that Alsaka cruise would be the same price

[CruiserBruce]

Hawaii doesn't allow gambling within the state, a US Flagged ship like the POA has to follow State laws closer. All the other cruise ships are not US flagged, so they can have casinos and gambling. Gambling on Cruise ships, as mentioned, is a key revenue source.

 

The laws mentioned, PSVA and Jones Act, are critical to shipping and cruising. A little reading on the boards would be very educational. Laws similar to these laws exist all over the world. The intend of these laws are to protect local jobs, in this case, US jobs. I'm sure that you have heard of actions to protect US jobs. As mentioned, laws like this exist in almost all countries.

 

Alaska cruise prices and Hawaii cruise prices are two different things. Different conditions.

Edited May 21, 2015 by CruiserBruce

[Flatbush Flyer]

I am not familiar.. but why do they do all this stuff? Makes no sense to drive up costs.. I am less likely to go on one for the cost.. I dont gamble but i dont know why they would not have gaming on a cruise.

 

I have seen other cruises to Hawaii but they all start in CA. I have not checked the price.

 

I would think that Alsaka cruise would be the same price

 

 

If you really want to understand "shipping," including the shipping of people (I.e., cruise lines), flags of convenience, high seas piracy and emergencies, etc., read

 

The Outlaw Sea

by William Langewiesche

[Illyria]

I am not familiar.. but why do they do all this stuff? Makes no sense to drive up costs.. I am less likely to go on one for the cost..

They ARE in fact losing money operating that ship. Basically the rest of their ships subsidize that one.

 

I have seen other cruises to Hawaii but they all start in CA. I have not checked the price.

Yes, and it makes a stop in Ensenada. That's the key: a foreign-flagged ship cannot start in one U.S. port and end in another without visiting a foreign port in between.

[squeeky336]

They ARE in fact losing money operating that ship. Basically the rest of their ships subsidize that one.

 

 

Yes, and it makes a stop in Ensenada. That's the key: a foreign-flagged ship cannot start in one U.S. port and end in another without visiting a foreign port in between.

 

very interesting.. i would not know where to look up laws and stuff.. But if this is law it would make sense to me that they just registar the ship in anohter country as most ships are.. They are Norwegian Cruise Lines.. I would think they would flag it in Norway.

I think it would also makes sense for other cruise line sto go there under a different flag they would make more money if they costs less and Hawaii wold be better off to.. more ppl to spend money in ports. Alaska does this.. It is all American ports there.. bUt the most money is spent in port not on the ship really

[taglovestocruise]

very interesting.. i would not know where to look up laws and stuff.. But if this is law it would make sense to me that they just registar the ship in anohter country as most ships are.. They are Norwegian Cruise Lines.. I would think they would flag it in Norway.

I think it would also makes sense for other cruise line sto go there under a different flag they would make more money if they costs less and Hawaii wold be better off to.. more ppl to spend money in ports. Alaska does this.. It is all American ports there.. bUt the most money is spent in port not on the ship really

 

Pride Of America is US flagged, all other ships in their fleet are flagged from the Bahamas. happy cruising

[wichitastatecruiser]

very interesting.. i would not know where to look up laws and stuff.. But if this is law it would make sense to me that they just registar the ship in anohter country as most ships are.. They are Norwegian Cruise Lines.. I would think they would flag it in Norway.

I think it would also makes sense for other cruise line sto go there under a different flag they would make more money if they costs less and Hawaii wold be better off to.. more ppl to spend money in ports. Alaska does this.. It is all American ports there.. bUt the most money is spent in port not on the ship really

 

LOL please tell me the Norwegian Cruise Lines being flagged Norway was a joke since its an American based company. If that's the case Royal and Princess need to be flagged British, Celebrity flagged out of Hollywood and Holland America needs to flag some ships out of Holland....

[CanadianDee]

If you really want to understand "shipping," including the shipping of people (I.e., cruise lines), flags of convenience, high seas piracy and emergencies, etc., read

 

The Outlaw Sea

by William Langewiesche

 

Thanks for the recommendation. We're always looking for good reads relevant to the vacation and this one certainly looks like it'll fill the bill.

[paul929207]

If the register outside the US, then they come under different rules. For those ships,

 

If the cruise starts and ends in the same US port, it must visit at least one foreign port. The Hawaiian cruises from the west coast normally call on Ensenada, Mexico to fill this requirement. For the NCL ship to try to do this, it is 1000 miles from Hawaii to the nearest foreign port. That would take up about half the cruise and leave little time in Hawaii.

So the Hawaiian cruises from the west coast are usually about 14 days. Four or five sailing each way and about four in Hawaii.

[MCC retired]

NCL America did have up to 3 ships doing the Hawaii cruises , flagged in the US . They are down to just The Pride of America now .

Good way to visit 4 islands without packing/unpacking, inter island flights, and many sea days .

[CruiserBruce]

LOL please tell me the Norwegian Cruise Lines being flagged Norway was a joke since its an American based company. If that's the case Royal and Princess need to be flagged British, Celebrity flagged out of Hollywood and Holland America needs to flag some ships out of Holland....

 

Many, if not all, of Holland America's ships are flagged in Holland.

[wwcruisers]

If you really want to understand "shipping," including the shipping of people (I.e., cruise lines), flags of convenience, high seas piracy and emergencies, etc., read

 

The Outlaw Sea

by William Langewiesche

 

Thanks for the recommendation. We're always looking for good reads relevant to the vacation and this one certainly looks like it'll fill the bill.

 

A great book -- but, I wouldn't take it to read on board -- too scary! :eek:

[Shmoo here]

They ARE in fact losing money operating that ship. Basically the rest of their ships subsidize that one.

 

 

Yes, and it makes a stop in Ensenada. That's the key: a foreign-flagged ship cannot start in one U.S. port and end in another without visiting a foreign port in between.

 

Close. A foreign-flagged ship must visit a DISTANT foreign port on a cruise that begins in one US port and ends in a different US port.

 

A closed loop cruise (begins and ends in the same US port) must visit any (nearby or distant) foreign port.

[CanadianDee]

A great book -- but, I wouldn't take it to read on board -- too scary! :eek:

 

LOL. So it'd be like watching Mayday the night before you fly out?

[wwcruisers]

LOL. So it'd be like watching Mayday the night before you fly out?

 

Or, Titanic ... I just know that I'll never look at a ship's interior stairwells the same! But, it really IS a good book. What makes it scarey is that it's NOT fiction! :eek:

Edited May 22, 2015 by wwcruisers

[SadieN]

Or, Titanic ... I just know that I'll never look at a ship's interior stairwells the same! But, it really IS a good book. What makes it scarey is that it's NOT fiction! :eek:

 

 

Just finished watching the original Poseidon Adventure. Know I know why the crew stairs are the way they are

[Imalismom]

I am not a "seasoned" cruiser, but I have been on three cruises, with 2 more booked. I have sailed Disney twice, and Carnival once. Next up is NCL (POA).

 

Everything I have been taught about cruising told me to book as early as possible for the best prices. I booked Hawaii almost 18 months out.

 

Since then, I have watched the prices slowly creep downwards, not upwards. In fact, my cruise suite was reduced by $2700.00 this week (when there was 58 days to go).

 

So, I would say with POA, to book as late as possible, and you can probably pick up a very good bargain. We could not cancel and rebook since we were in the take a $$ hit if you cancel period. NCL did upgrade me (cat SD), but I'd much rather have the $$ back, because the room I originally booked was the one I was very happy with (cat SI).

 

As for more expensive, even at 18 months out, I do not think it was any more expensive then Disney....