Norwegian Sky, Pride Of Aloha?? What?

[taliacamp]

Hi, I saw a 3 night special on the Norwegian Sky leaving July 18th. Is this ship called The Norwegian Sky or The Pride of Aloha?:confused: It said "soon to be formally Pride of Aloha" What the heck does this mean? Has anyone been on this ship? We just came back from the Caribbean Princess last week, it was our first cruise and we loved it so we're already looking to do a 3 night this summer. Thanks for any info!:D

[jcc&lnc]

The Pride of Aloha is leaving Hawaii and going to Miami to be renamed the Sky and will do 3 and 4 day cruises. NCL will only have 1 ship in Hawaii soon -- Pride of America. I think the Miami cruises start mid July.

[DAGVBSB]

The ship in question was built as the "Norweigan Sky" around 1996 and sailed under that name for several years.

 

In 2004, the Sky was reflagged as the first American Flagged cruise ship in 50 years and was renamed the "Pride of Aloha."

 

At that time, she received a million dollar refurbishment and they removed her casino in installed a Hawaii cultural center. (gambling is illegal in Hawaii.) She has mostly been sailing 7 day inter island Hawaii cruises since July 4, 2004.

 

Due to poor sales by NCL-America, she was put up for sale by Star Cruises (parent company of NCL) and after no one would buy her, they decided to re-flag her back into the International registry and re-name her "Norweigan Sky."

 

She is finishing her last Hawaii cruises this week (or was it last week) and she will then sail to Miami where she will enter a wet dock to have her name changed and a casino put back in. (as well as some other upgrades to bring her in line with NCL's new Freestyle 2.0 concept.) She then will begin the 3 & 4 day cruises in July.

 

I was on the POA (Pride of Aloha) on her maiden voyage from San Francisco to Hawaii in late June, 2004. She is a nice ship... a little small compared to some of the other ships I have been one, but the smaller ship didn't seem to reduce the on board life. Less passengers made it more intimate.

 

As you review reviews of the POA, please disregard any service issue reviews. Since she was flagged as an American ship, she had to have an All American crew and many service issues are a direct result of that. As the Norweigan Sky, she will have an international crew and the NCL International crews that I have experienced on the other ships in the fleet have always been great! You also cannot beat the Freestyle concept. (no set dining times, no set table mates, choice of several restaurants, formal night optional in all dining rooms, polo shirt & Kahki pants allowed every night, ability to stay in cabin until called to disembark, etc.)

 

Hope this answers your questions.

[electricron]

Hi, I saw a 3 night special on the Norwegian Sky leaving July 18th. Is this ship called The Norwegian Sky or The Pride of Aloha?:confused: It said "soon to be formally Pride of Aloha" What the heck does this mean? Has anyone been on this ship? We just came back from the Caribbean Princess last week, it was our first cruise and we loved it so we're already looking to do a 3 night this summer. Thanks for any info!:D

 

History of the Norwegian Sky (Pride of Aloha)

 

The Norwegian Sky was originally ordered by Costa Cruises to be the Costa Olympia, a twin sister of the Costa Victoria, but was not completed due to the bankruptcy of Bremer Vulkan shipyard. The unfinished hull was sold to NCL, and completed in June 1999 by Lloydwerft, three years after her "sister" Costa Victoria, although many design changes have given the two ships very different appearances.

 

Costa Victoria as built

 

Norwegian Sky

 

Note: The old 1990's NCL badge on the funnel of this photo. The Dream still uses this NCL badge on its funnel.

 

In 2002, NCL received an exemption from the Passenger Vessels Service Act to operate three foreign built cruise ships in Hawaii under the American flag. The last ship to transfer was supposed to be the Norwegian Sky, renamed the Pride of Aloha. The first to enter Hawaii service was supposed to be the Pride of America, but a severe storm caused significant damage to it at the shipyard. Repairs would delay its introduction into NCL's fleet over a year.

 

Damaged Pride of America at Lloydwerft Shipyard.

 

NCL required a ship to replace the Pride of America to introduce all Hawaii cruises, as that ship's cruises were mostly sold out. Therefore, NCL renamed and reflagged the Norwegian Sky as the Pride of Aloha in May 2004, more than a year earlier than initially planned.

 

Pride of Aloha

 

Note: The NCLA badge on the funnel

 

The sorry financial history of NCLA is well documented on this CC forum. Last year NCL announced the renaming of the Pride of Hawaii to the Norwegian Jade, pulling this ship from Hawaii. Earlier this year, NCL continued this process, pulling and renaming the Pride of Aloha back to the Norwegian Sky. When the Sky resumes service from Miami this June, it'll probably have the new NCL badge on its funnel.

 

While this history of the Norwegian Sky and Pride of Aloha may have been a long read, I've cut other ship stories, Norwegian Sun, Superstar Leo (Norwegian Spirit) and Project America, that could have been told since they are interrelated. But I've refrained from doing so, concentrating mostly on the history of the Norwegian Sky.

[wharf rat]

The Pride of ALoha has turned off her bridge ship cam. I think she is in the harbor somewhere. She will stay in Hawaii for a "few days" before sailing awayyyyyyyyyyyyyy. ALohaaaaaaa.

 

I will go down to ALoha Tower and check it out.

[newmexicoNita]

I guess you have your answer. We sailed her in about 2003 out of San Juan. I only have one thing to say, a 3 day cruise is very different than a 7 or longer cruise. They can be fun and a great get-away but you won't get the same WOW affect you get from longer cruises. I don't want to discourage you, just forewarn so you are not disappointed. We loved the ship, one of our favorite.

 

Nita

[kruzkid]

I was on the ship twice. A 7 day hawaii cruise in july 2007, and an 11 day in march 2008. I had a blast! the ship is great. small, but great.

[CruisnGram]

Electricron,

 

I'd love to hear the history of the Sun and the Sprit. Would you mind posting? Very interesting reading!

 

Thanks!

[taliacamp]

The ship in question was built as the "Norweigan Sky" around 1996 and sailed under that name for several years.

 

In 2004, the Sky was reflagged as the first American Flagged cruise ship in 50 years and was renamed the "Pride of Aloha."

 

At that time, she received a million dollar refurbishment and they removed her casino in installed a Hawaii cultural center. (gambling is illegal in Hawaii.) She has mostly been sailing 7 day inter island Hawaii cruises since July 4, 2004.

 

Due to poor sales by NCL-America, she was put up for sale by Star Cruises (parent company of NCL) and after no one would buy her, they decided to re-flag her back into the International registry and re-name her "Norweigan Sky."

 

She is finishing her last Hawaii cruises this week (or was it last week) and she will then sail to Miami where she will enter a wet dock to have her name changed and a casino put back in. (as well as some other upgrades to bring her in line with NCL's new Freestyle 2.0 concept.) She then will begin the 3 & 4 day cruises in July.

 

I was on the POA (Pride of Aloha) on her maiden voyage from San Francisco to Hawaii in late June, 2004. She is a nice ship... a little small compared to some of the other ships I have been one, but the smaller ship didn't seem to reduce the on board life. Less passengers made it more intimate.

 

As you review reviews of the POA, please disregard any service issue reviews. Since she was flagged as an American ship, she had to have an All American crew and many service issues are a direct result of that. As the Norweigan Sky, she will have an international crew and the NCL International crews that I have experienced on the other ships in the fleet have always been great! You also cannot beat the Freestyle concept. (no set dining times, no set table mates, choice of several restaurants, formal night optional in all dining rooms, polo shirt & Kahki pants allowed every night, ability to stay in cabin until called to disembark, etc.)

 

Hope this answers your questions.

Wow! Thank you so much! That was certainly very informative!

[taliacamp]

History of the Norwegian Sky (Pride of Aloha)

 

The Norwegian Sky was originally ordered by Costa Cruises to be the Costa Olympia, a twin sister of the Costa Victoria, but was not completed due to the bankruptcy of Bremer Vulkan shipyard. The unfinished hull was sold to NCL, and completed in June 1999 by Lloydwerft, three years after her "sister" Costa Victoria, although many design changes have given the two ships very different appearances.

 

Costa Victoria as built

 

Norwegian Sky

 

Note: The old 1990's NCL badge on the funnel of this photo. The Dream still uses this NCL badge on its funnel.

 

In 2002, NCL received an exemption from the Passenger Vessels Service Act to operate three foreign built cruise ships in Hawaii under the American flag. The last ship to transfer was supposed to be the Norwegian Sky, renamed the Pride of Aloha. The first to enter Hawaii service was supposed to be the Pride of America, but a severe storm caused significant damage to it at the shipyard. Repairs would delay its introduction into NCL's fleet over a year.

 

Damaged Pride of America at Lloydwerft Shipyard.

 

NCL required a ship to replace the Pride of America to introduce all Hawaii cruises, as that ship's cruises were mostly sold out. Therefore, NCL renamed and reflagged the Norwegian Sky as the Pride of Aloha in May 2004, more than a year earlier than initially planned.

 

Pride of Aloha

 

Note: The NCLA badge on the funnel

 

The sorry financial history of NCLA is well documented on this CC forum. Last year NCL announced the renaming of the Pride of Hawaii to the Norwegian Jade, pulling this ship from Hawaii. Earlier this year, NCL continued this process, pulling and renaming the Pride of Aloha back to the Norwegian Sky. When the Sky resumes service from Miami this June, it'll probably have the new NCL badge on its funnel.

 

While this history of the Norwegian Sky and Pride of Aloha may have been a long read, I've cut other ship stories, Norwegian Sun, Superstar Leo (Norwegian Spirit) and Project America, that could have been told since they are interrelated. But I've refrained from doing so, concentrating mostly on the history of the Norwegian Sky.

Thank you very much Electricon! I didn't realize this ship had such a history!

[CruiseCrazyJoe26]

Does anyone know if she will be redecorated and have the public rooms renamed like on the jade

[mbisson]

Does anyone know if she will be redecorated and have the public rooms renamed like on the jade

 

I think you can count on it! I just betcha that NCL loves the prospect of reinstalling the casino!!!

 

I've sailed both the previous incarnations (SKY & PoAl) and look forward to sailing her again (as the SKY)

[MrMate]

The Sky will undergo a 6 week wet dock in Miami where they, among other things, will reinstall the casino.

[RNPJN]

We were on this ship in 2001 when it was orig. the Sky Its a nice ship Smaller then most compares to the Sun Had a great time try for the BA balcony at the aft great rooms

[floridacruiser63]

Does anyone know if she will be redecorated and have the public rooms renamed like on the jade

 

The ship is now on its way to Miami to enter wet dock for redecorating as well as getting the casino installed. It will go into service as the Norwegian Sky on July 14th.:D

[mr jailerman]

We were on this ship in 2001 when it was orig. the Sky Its a nice ship Smaller then most compares to the Sun Had a great time try for the BA balcony at the aft great rooms

Question : Are The "BA" Cabins or Balcony's ANY larger then the sides ?? Also is their a clear view of the wake or are their some obstuctions in the view ? Thanks for any info and have a great day.:D