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Thursday, February 14, 2008

NCL Yanks Another Cruise Ship from Hawaii

The unraveling of NCL's four-year effort to dominate cruising in Hawaii continued today with the line's surprise announcement that will transfer the 2,002-passenger Pride of Aloha to Star Cruises, its Asia-based sister company. The pullout will take place in just three months, on May 11.

The announcement comes just days after the departure of another NCL ship from the Aloha State, the 2,224-passenger Pride of Hawaii. After a brief overhaul to strip away its Hawaii theming, the vessel will be transferred to Europe where it will sail as the Norwegian Jade.

The departure of Pride of Aloha on the heels of Pride of Hawaii will leave NCL with just one ship in Hawaii year-round, the Pride of America. The company says the three-year-old ship will remain in the islands sailing seven-night trips out of Honolulu.

NCL had high hopes for Hawaii when it began rolling out its three Hawaii-themed "Pride" ships in 2004. Executives even talked about Hawaii becoming as big a cruise destination as Alaska. But right from the beginning there were troubles, most notably service snafus that became the talk of the cruise world. Bookings suffered, and the line struggled financially.

“Withdrawing Pride of Aloha was an extremely difficult but necessary commercial decision," Andy Stuart, the line's executive vice president, said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

Stuart said the company eventually hopes to bring the Pride of Hawaii back to the state if business improves, but he made no mention of the Pride of Aloha ever returning.

NCL says passengers booked on Pride of Aloha after May 11 can transfer their booking to the Pride of America. The company says it is holding space on the ship and will offer passengers the same cruise fare they have paid for the Pride of Aloha cruise to sail on the Pride of America.

In addition, passengers affected will receive a $100 per person on-board credit (up to $200 per cabin). In the case of passengers who made their air and/or hotel arrangements through NCL, NCL will honor the rates they had paid and cover any air or hotel change fees. In the case of passengers who purchased their own air, NCL will cover up to the first $100 per person of any increase in air costs and cover up to $75 per person in air change fees. In the case of passengers who made independent hotel arrangements, NCL will cover any hotel change fees up to $25 per person.

Passengers also can book another NCL cruise and receive a $100 per person on-board credit (up to $200 per stateroom) if they rebook by March 7, 2008. In addition, NCL will cover up to $75 per person in air change fees and up to $25 per person in hotel change fees.

Passengers also may cancel their Pride of Aloha cruise and receive a full refund if NCL is notified by March 7, 2008. In that case, NCL will cover up to $75 per person in air change fees and up to $25 per person in hotel change fees. After March 7, 2008 cancellation fees will apply in accordance with NCL’s cancellation policy.

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