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Pride of Aloha
First Modern Oceangoing U.S. Flag Cruise Ship
in Nearly 50 Years
 For
the first time in nearly half a century, a modern, 2000-passenger cruise
ship will fly a U.S. Flag. Today, on board the vessel in San Francisco,
Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL America and dignitaries from the
Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard raised the Stars and
Stripes on Pride of Aloha, the brand’s first U.S. Flag vessel.
Formerly Bahamian-flagged Norwegian Sky, Pride of Aloha
just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment in San Francisco. As a
U.S.-flagged ship, Pride of Aloha is crewed by nearly 800 seafarers and will
offer a truly unique experience for cruise passengers. With its distinctive
Hawai’i décor and the gracious, friendly crew, mostly hailing from the
Hawai’i Islands, the “Spirit of Aloha” is felt throughout the ship.
“Today marks a milestone not only in the cruise
industry, but also in our nation’s maritime history,” Veitch said. “We are
proud to be the first cruise company in recent memory to offer travelers an
unparalleled combination of interisland Hawai’i cruising and a modern
U.S.-flagged, U.S.-crewed megaship.”
“Reflagging this ship is far more than symbolic,” said
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta. “Raising the Stars and
Stripes over more ships raises our maritime strength and raises jobs."
“We worked in cooperation with NCL America to ensure
that the vessel met all international standards for a passenger ship,” said
Lieutenant Tony Guild, U.S. Coast Guard. “This entailed a complete
inspection of the vessel and its safety and security systems from life
jackets, lifeboats, complex firefighting systems, complex automation systems
that manage the ships power and propulsion plants, to various security plans
and equipment. In addition, the Coast Guard ensured that the ship's crew
met all required U.S. standards for Merchant Mariners certification.”
Pride of Aloha will complete a series of Pacific Coastal cruises in June
before setting sail for her new homeport of Honolulu. Following an
inaugural celebration and a christening on July 4th, she will begin her
regular seven-day, year-round Hawai’i cruise schedule. Visiting all four
main islands and offering passengers up to 96 hours in port, Pride of Aloha
features two overnight stays in Kaua`i and Maui while also making full day
calls in Kona and Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
Pride of Aloha features NCL’s signature Freestyle
Cruising, offering a diverse choice of six restaurants, resort casual dress
code and relaxed disembarkation. She also has 13 bars and lounges, two
swimming pools, a spa and fitness center and conference facilities among its
many amenities. In addition, the ship features a Hawaiian cultural center
called the Kumu Cultural Center (Kumu is Hawaiian for source of learning).
NCL America also offers spectacular shore excursions, including: Circle of
Fire helicopter rides, NCL exclusive Hoku Nui Luau, Maui downhill bicycling,
visits to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Waimea Canyon trips.
The 77,000-ton Pride of Aloha is a 2,000-passenger ship
built in 1999 as Norwegian Sky. The ship is projected to annually generate
more than $275 million in expenditures, $199 million in direct and indirect
wages and salaries, $42 million in federal tax revenues, and nearly 7,000
jobs. Once NCL America’s plans are fully implemented, their U.S.-flag ships
are expected to generate more than $828 million in U.S. economic activity
and 20,400 jobs, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study.
Visit NCL’s website at
www.ncl.com or on AOL at keyword: NCL;
Edited by Dave Shultz
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