Norwegian Jade has new home in Europe

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) just announced yesterday the Jade will embark on year-round cruises departing from Europe. This is a first for NCL by fully extending the season for European cruises. The typical European cruise was offered from early April through November, but now NCL has opened the door wide-open.

The Norwegian Jade (previously Pride of Hawaii) is still scheduled to begin its European season on March 30, 2008. The ship will now remain in Europe full time through the spring of 2010 instead of ending in November 2008. As part of their year-round deployment, NCL is introducing three new European itineraries, which are 12 & 14-day Eastern Mediterranean cruises. In addition, 9-day Canary Islands and Morocco sailings will be offered. All of these great new itineraries will sail from Barcelona, Spain.

The Jade was originally scheduled to offer Bahamas & Caribbean cruises round-trip from New York City beginning early December 2008 through April 2009. While everyone at Direct Line Cruises (NY based company) is sad to learn the loss of this great ship in the New York market, we wish Norwegian Cruise Line the best of luck with the Jade in its new homeport of Europe.

NCL Bids Farewell to Pride of Aloha

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announed on February 11, 2008 the withdrawl of the Pride of Aloha from the Hawaii cruise market. In addition, the Pride of Aloha will be permanently leaving the NCL fleet and transferred to Star Cruises. The following is a press release issued directly from Norwegian Cruise Line:

NCL Corporation (“NCL”) today announced the withdrawal of Pride of Aloha from the Hawai‘i market effective May 11, 2008. The ship is being transferred to Star Cruises and will be re-flagged and deployed in Asia in the summer of 2008.

The remaining year-round ship in Hawai‘i will be the larger and newer Pride of America, introduced in 2005, a vessel specifically designed and built for Hawai’i cruising. The company announced, and put on sale, Pride of America’s sailings through 2010 offering its popular inter-island cruises departing every Saturday from Honolulu.

Since the announcement a year ago of Pride of Hawai‘i’s temporary transfer to NCL's European deployment, renamed as Norwegian Jade, the company has embarked on a major fleet-wide initiative called Freestyle 2.0 featuring significant product and hardware upgrades to its modern fleet, including Pride of America. The Freestyle 2.0 program will further enhance the on-board experience taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level. Enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for all guests; additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and the establishment of casual action-station restaurants taking the place of the “traditional” buffet experience. Freestyle 2.0 will be in place on Pride of America and across NCL’s fleet, now the youngest fleet in the cruise industry, by the middle of May 2008.

“Pride of Aloha pioneered the new inter-island market but, as we move forward with Freestyle 2.0 to take our product to the next level across what is already the youngest fleet in the industry, we cannot justify further investment in this ship,” said Andy Stuart, NCL’s executive vice president of marketing, sales and passenger services. “Withdrawing Pride of Aloha was an extremely difficult but necessary commercial decision; however we see a strong future for the long-term flagship in Hawai‘i, Pride of America. In Pride of America, we have created a commercially successful modern U.S. Flag cruise ship home ported in Hawai‘i - the first time that has ever been achieved. With Pride of America, we are offering a high quality product, on a world class ship sailing one of the most exciting itineraries available in the industry.

“With today’s announcement of Pride of America’s itinerary through 2010, our guests and travel partners can choose a Freestyle Cruising vacation on a big, modern ship visiting all four main islands and featuring more time to explore ashore than any other cruise line sailing in Hawai‘i. In the longer term, as demand continues to grow for this premium experience, we hope to bring back our other modern purpose-built U.S.-flag ship, Pride of Hawai‘i.”