American Hawaiin Cruises

[golf43]

My DH and I took this cruise lines out back in the late 1980's. It was a neat way to see the Hawaiin Islands. The ship was nice. The employees were not as professional as the ones that were on other ships like Royal Carribean or Norweigen.

[maldemar]

They folded shortly after 9/11, as did other units of the parent company. Before they closed, they made a great effort to make things difficult for NCL when they were entering the Hawaii homeport market. They managed to get a law passed that a cruise ship that home ported in Hawaii could not have a casino. As with all cruise lines, NCL planned to have their casino closed in Hawaiian waters. This wasn’t good enough. NCL said they would close the casino for the whole cruise regardless of where the ship was. That wasn’t good enough. NCL had to actually remove the entire casino.

BTW. Senator Inoye’s (D- HI) wife served on the cruise lines board.

[rebeljohn]

We sailed the Constitution in 1989. An older ship, but the service was great. Our waiter had worked in one of the finer restaurants in our hometown. I think cruising is the best way to see all of Hawaii. We had a wonderful time, and we hope we can cruise in Hawaii again someday..........

[Shelledpea]

From www.simplonpc.co.uk:

 

American Hawaii Cruises is part of American Classic Voyages, other subsidiaries being the new United States Lines and Delta Queen Steamboat Co. American Hawaii Cruises and United States Lines filed for bankruptcy in 2001 following poor trading in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. American Hawaii Cruises were formed in 1980 by C.Y.Tung, who wished to enter the American cruise scene. He already owned the American Export Lines sisters Constitution and Independence. The service started using the latter, renamed Oceanic Independence, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. An American subsidiary had been created, allowing the ship to be US-flagged. The service was a success, and the sistership Constitution joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. During the winter of 1983, Oceanic Independence also received internal refurbishment, returning to service under original name Independence. In 1984, American Hawaii entered the Polynesian market with another C.Y.Tung ship, the Liberté , originally the Moore-McCormack Brasil, and later Holland-America Line's Volendam. I do not have a postcard of Liberté in American Hawaii colours. If you can assist, please email:- simplon@simplon.co.uk In 1987, the cruise line was bought from the C.Y.Tung group by Peter C.R.Huang for $20million. Peter Huang became president and chief executive of American Hawaii Cruises. he soon withdrew Liberté from service, and she was returned to her owners. Constitution was sold for scrap in 1997, after being laid up for two years, and subsequently lost in the Pacific whilst under tow to the Far East.

[chasetf]

Here are two pictures I took of her in 2001. The first is when we sailed her, and the second is where she is mothballed in SF.

[SingerEsq]

They folded shortly after 9/11, as did other units of the parent company. Before they closed, they made a great effort to make things difficult for NCL when they were entering the Hawaii homeport market. They managed to get a law passed that a cruise ship that home ported in Hawaii could not have a casino. As with all cruise lines, NCL planned to have their casino closed in Hawaiian waters. This wasn’t good enough. NCL said they would close the casino for the whole cruise regardless of where the ship was. That wasn’t good enough. NCL had to actually remove the entire casino.

 

BTW. Senator Inoye’s (D- HI) wife served on the cruise lines board.

 

I worked on the Constitution from through most of 1984. Hawaii, being only one of 2 states that still outlaws gambling, I think had more to say about this than A-H. A-H would have loved to have had casinos on the ships to pump up the bottom line. The law that most impacts a cruise line that is home based and only sails to US ports is the Passenger Services Act, which has been around for eons. In order to have an interisland cruise line that does not call on a foreign port, the vessel must be a US flagged carrier, hence NCL America, which had to be formed to own US flagged ships. The Connie and the Indy were the only such vessels at the launch of A-H. After the Connie was retired (and sank) that left the Indy and the Patriot.

 

If you want to see more of the Connie and the Indy from their A-H days:

Photo Page SS Independence / Constitution

[tiggr33]

My Dad worked on and died on the Independence in 1987. He was a chief engineer. I was onboard in 1988 to visit the captain and crew. It breaks my heart to see her tied up like that. Old ships have so much history and soul.

[sstraveler]

American Hawaii was a great firm with two lovely old ships, Indy and Connie.

 

I wrote the history of these ships is a book called Saluting the Aloha Spirit which was all about American Hawaii and the ships. Sadly the Indy last month left San Francisco bound likely to the scrapyards of Asia.

 

How much fun it was to sail in Hawaii on those ships!

[Debe7ing]

American Hawaii was a great firm with two lovely old ships, Indy and Connie.

 

I wrote the history of these ships is a book called Saluting the Aloha Spirit which was all about American Hawaii and the ships. Sadly the Indy last month left San Francisco bound likely to the scrapyards of Asia.

 

How much fun it was to sail in Hawaii on those ships!

 

 

Is there somewhere I can buy your book?

 

We were fortunate enough to have sailed both of the these ships thru the islands and would LOVE to purchase your book!!!

 

They WERE the best cruises, weren't they? Fortuante enough to be able to have gotten the "kamiania" rates for unfilled cabins, and loved every moment.

 

We cruised so close to Kilauea at night to see the lava glow and burn, and on the Independence we actually got light rain showers caused by the lava flowing into the sea...and then they served the "Feast to Pele" which was EVERYTHING Chocolate !!!! Once the captain went buy TWICE...we were told that he got to go closer than anyone else, if that is true or not I have no idea, but it sure seemed possible we were that close.

 

I loved when the helicopter would fly over and drop the pumeria flowers and we would have our lei ceremony....those WERE the days!!!!

[Debe7ing]

WOW! I took the name of your book and googled it and found one for sale on Ebay! I just bought it...thanks SO much for helping us relive such magical times....I can't wait to get it!!! :)

[sstraveler]

Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of the book can contact me privately off the list. The book was printed in 1990 about the history of the Independence and Constitution plus American Hawaii which was then 10 years old.

 

Contact me at my email which is my user name (sstraveler) at aol dot com. Doing it this way to cut down on the spam.

[the simpsons]

Over the years we've sailed on many lines that have since gone out of business ("What Ever Happened to...?"), but will always have special memories for the old ships that once were the trans-Atlantic liners. Teak and brass will trump chrome and glass any day, especially ships that have unique provenance like the Constitution. It prided itself on its history, showing newsreel footage of carrying Grace Kelly's wedding party to Monaco and running "An Affair to Remember" in its movie theater.

 

In its American Hawaii run, we remember it provided great food and great service. We remember the wait staff being clean cut, good looking kids from California and Hawaii. We especially remember the Hawaiin kid who would cheerfully greet the early risers on deck, refilling their cups with Kona coffee, shouting a long, drawn out "A-L-O-H-A!" That put everyone in the right mood during our cruise of the islands. As another poster alluded, how better to see Kilauea sending firey lava into the ocean at midnight? Thanks for the memories, Constitution.

[zonacruiser25]

From www.simplonpc.co.uk:

 

American Hawaii Cruises is part of American Classic Voyages, other subsidiaries being the new United States Lines and Delta Queen Steamboat Co. American Hawaii Cruises and United States Lines filed for bankruptcy in 2001 following poor trading in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. American Hawaii Cruises were formed in 1980 by C.Y.Tung, who wished to enter the American cruise scene. He already owned the American Export Lines sisters Constitution and Independence. The service started using the latter, renamed Oceanic Independence, on 7th June 1980, operating a 7-day cruise out of Honolulu. An American subsidiary had been created, allowing the ship to be US-flagged. The service was a success, and the sistership Constitution joined the service in 1982, following a substantial refurbishment. During the winter of 1983, Oceanic Independence also received internal refurbishment, returning to service under original name Independence. In 1984, American Hawaii entered the Polynesian market with another C.Y.Tung ship, the Liberté , originally the Moore-McCormack Brasil, and later Holland-America Line's Volendam. I do not have a postcard of Liberté in American Hawaii colours. If you can assist, please email:- simplon@simplon.co.uk In 1987, the cruise line was bought from the C.Y.Tung group by Peter C.R.Huang for $20million. Peter Huang became president and chief executive of American Hawaii Cruises. he soon withdrew Liberté from service, and she was returned to her owners. Constitution was sold for scrap in 1997, after being laid up for two years, and subsequently lost in the Pacific whilst under tow to the Far East.

I saw one of rthe ships, Independence I believe, tied up at a pier at the old Vallejo, CA shipyard. It looks like it is just sitting there rusting away!

[Racegoer]

Were either of these ships the previous HAL Niew Amsterdam. That was my first cruise. I know the ship ended up in Hawaii and last heard it was in Europe somewhere?

[SingerEsq]

Were either of these ships the previous HAL Niew Amsterdam. That was my first cruise. I know the ship ended up in Hawaii and last heard it was in Europe somewhere?

 

Neither the Constitution nor the Independence ever sailed for HAL. You may (though doubtful) be thinking of the Volendam, which became the Liberte' briefly for AHC for its Tahiti endeavor?

[chasetf]

Were either of these ships the previous HAL Niew Amsterdam. That was my first cruise. I know the ship ended up in Hawaii and last heard it was in Europe somewhere?

The Nieuw Amsterdam was sold to AMC by HAL and renamed the Patriot. While operating both the Independence and the Patriot, they went belly up (bankrupt). The Patriot was repossed by HAL who had sold her to AMC. She (Niew Amsterdam) was subsequently chartered to Thompson Cruise Lines and named the Thompson Spirit. Her sister, Noordam is also now sailing as of 2005 with Thompson Cruise Lines as the Thompson Celebration

[Essiesmom]

the Nieuw Amsterdam sailed for United States Lines in Hawaii as Patriot and now sails as Thomson Spirit. EM

[aloha16]

We sailed the Independence in 1999. What a week on a classic. I heard she was taken to San Francisco after 9/11 took out the line.

We had a suite when we were on her. I will never forget that ship and cruise.:)

Oh and the 30 foot waves we had one night on the north shore :eek:

[ab1881]

We sailed the Liberte' in Tahiti in April 86, it was the Haileys Comet cruise. On a couple of nights they turned off the outdoor lights on deck so we could see the comet better.

 

We had a great time on her. We had a corner cabin on the top deck with windows on two sides of the walls. I remember the cruise director was on a couple of excursions that we did and he was so funny.

 

We've never made it back to Tahiti but I would love to again.