Pride of Aloha sails into interisland service
Pride of Aloha sails into interisland service
- 2004-07-05 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Maggie Inouye didn't have to physically wield the champagne bottle. The wife of Sen. Daniel Inouye pulled a switch and the bottle, released, swung into the side of the Pride of Aloha to christen the 70,000-ton vessel that will be deployed permanently in the Hawaiian Islands.
It looked like an old-fashioned Boat Day at Pier 40, thanks to the presence of hula dancers, the Honolulu Boys Choir and the Royal Hawaiian Band. The Aloha Tower hasn't changed a bit. There were even swimmers on hand, though Matson Lines films of the 1940s showed young men swimming to welcome their vessels, while the swimmers this time were security personnel in wet suits.
The Pride of Aloha then sailed for Kauai. It will sail seven-day itineraries visiting all four main islands and giving passengers up to 96 hours in port. Ports of call include: Honolulu; an overnight in Nawiliwili; Hilo; Kona; and an overnight in Kahului.
Built in 1999, the Pride of Aloha just underwent a renovation, took on a crew of U.S. citizens about 50 percent of whom are Hawaii residents, and sneaked in a pair of West Coast cruises and a cruise to Hawaii that took in all the islands before arriving in Honolulu for the Sunday christening ceremony.
It has been two generations since any ocean-going cruise liner has flown the American flag. Norwegian Cruise Line agreed to hire American crews and work by U.S. rules in return for exemption from a law that makes foreign-flagged cruise ships make at least one non-U.S. port call. The Pride of Aloha can thus skip the lengthy side trip NCL's other locally-based vessel pays to the Republic of Kiribati. This will enable the Pride to get in so many more Hawaiian cruises that it will be able to cover the added costs of operating under American labor laws.
Norwegian Cruise Line, despite its name, is based in Miami and owned by Star Cruises of Malaysia. It is the third biggest cruise company, though a fraction the size of number two Royal Caribbean, which in turn is a fraction the size of number one Carnival Corp. Star Chairman Tan Sri K.T. Lim attended the Sunday christening.
Official comments:
Sen. Daniel Inouye: "I am pleased to have sponsored legislation that led to the return of the U.S. flag to passenger cruise ship operations in the United States, and especially in Hawaii."
Gov. Linda Lingle: "The year round porting of this ship in Honolulu demonstrates NCL America's confidence in Hawaii as a visitor destination."
Rep. Neil Abercrombie: "Having a U.S. flag ship operating among our islands will have vital long-term economic benefits."
U.S. Maritime Administrator William Schubert: "The revival of oceangoing U.S.-flag cruising is great news for the U.S. Merchant Marine."
Seafarers International Union President Mike Sacco: "We're all in this together, and I'm 100 percent confident that we're going to succeed."
The Pride of Aloha is a 2,000-passenger ship and 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. NCL announced Friday that the other ship it intends to use in all-Hawaii service, the brand-new Pride of America, will be delivered June 6, 2005.
- 2004-07-05 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Maggie Inouye didn't have to physically wield the champagne bottle. The wife of Sen. Daniel Inouye pulled a switch and the bottle, released, swung into the side of the Pride of Aloha to christen the 70,000-ton vessel that will be deployed permanently in the Hawaiian Islands.
It looked like an old-fashioned Boat Day at Pier 40, thanks to the presence of hula dancers, the Honolulu Boys Choir and the Royal Hawaiian Band. The Aloha Tower hasn't changed a bit. There were even swimmers on hand, though Matson Lines films of the 1940s showed young men swimming to welcome their vessels, while the swimmers this time were security personnel in wet suits.
The Pride of Aloha then sailed for Kauai. It will sail seven-day itineraries visiting all four main islands and giving passengers up to 96 hours in port. Ports of call include: Honolulu; an overnight in Nawiliwili; Hilo; Kona; and an overnight in Kahului.
Built in 1999, the Pride of Aloha just underwent a renovation, took on a crew of U.S. citizens about 50 percent of whom are Hawaii residents, and sneaked in a pair of West Coast cruises and a cruise to Hawaii that took in all the islands before arriving in Honolulu for the Sunday christening ceremony.
It has been two generations since any ocean-going cruise liner has flown the American flag. Norwegian Cruise Line agreed to hire American crews and work by U.S. rules in return for exemption from a law that makes foreign-flagged cruise ships make at least one non-U.S. port call. The Pride of Aloha can thus skip the lengthy side trip NCL's other locally-based vessel pays to the Republic of Kiribati. This will enable the Pride to get in so many more Hawaiian cruises that it will be able to cover the added costs of operating under American labor laws.
Norwegian Cruise Line, despite its name, is based in Miami and owned by Star Cruises of Malaysia. It is the third biggest cruise company, though a fraction the size of number two Royal Caribbean, which in turn is a fraction the size of number one Carnival Corp. Star Chairman Tan Sri K.T. Lim attended the Sunday christening.
Official comments:
Sen. Daniel Inouye: "I am pleased to have sponsored legislation that led to the return of the U.S. flag to passenger cruise ship operations in the United States, and especially in Hawaii."
Gov. Linda Lingle: "The year round porting of this ship in Honolulu demonstrates NCL America's confidence in Hawaii as a visitor destination."
Rep. Neil Abercrombie: "Having a U.S. flag ship operating among our islands will have vital long-term economic benefits."
U.S. Maritime Administrator William Schubert: "The revival of oceangoing U.S.-flag cruising is great news for the U.S. Merchant Marine."
Seafarers International Union President Mike Sacco: "We're all in this together, and I'm 100 percent confident that we're going to succeed."
The Pride of Aloha is a 2,000-passenger ship and 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. NCL announced Friday that the other ship it intends to use in all-Hawaii service, the brand-new Pride of America, will be delivered June 6, 2005.
posted by DP at 4:23 PM
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