NCL
LAUNCHES U.S. FLAG BRAND AND A FOUR-SHIP
HAWAII DEPLOYMENT FOR 2004
London
14th May, 2003 – Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has just
announced its new U.S. Flag brand – NCL America under which
all of its U.S. flagged and U.S. crewed ships will operate. In
addition, the company has developed its largest Hawaii deployment
ever, with two NCL America ships sailing inter-island cruises
and two NCL ships sailing Hawaii/Fanning Island itineraries. This
means NCL America and NCL will be able to offer 3-, 4-, 7-, 10-
and 11- day cruises, the widest range of itineraries ever available
in the Pacific Island chain.
Though the itineraries and the crews will be very different, the
common theme across all four ships will be NCL’s trademark
Freestyle Cruising, still the only completely flexible resort-style
cruise experience among the major lines. The new deployment will
take NCL’s projected Guest carry in Hawaii to almost
200,000 in 2004, a 40 percent increase over 2003.
“Our ships will offer a unique Hawaii experience with the
great majority of the crew hailing from the islands. The Hawaiian
people are known for their gracious hospitality and service and
for their sunny outlook on life. This is known locally as the
Aloha Spirit and we hope to capture it on our ships, and in our
on-shore programmes, as NCL guests can spend up to 90 hours enjoying
the islands on our longer (seven day) cruises,” said Colin
Veitch, president and CEO of NCL. “In addition, in the next
few months, we will announce partnerships with key Hawaiian organisations
who will partner with us on board and add to an authentic experience
of Hawaii that will only be available on NCL and NCL America ships.
The NCL America and NCL Hawaii fleet
NCL’s first Project America ship, yet to be named and known
internally as PA1, will be the first new ocean-going Guest
ship in nearly 50 years to sail under the American flag. She will
begin service in Hawaii in July 2004, offering seven-night inter-island
cruises round trip from Honolulu. The second Project America ship,
known internally as PA2, will be a reflagged existing NCL ship.
The ship is currently Norwegian Sky, a modern 2,000-Guest
ship that was the first NCL ship to offer Freestyle Cruising when
it was introduced in 2000. Re-flagged into the U.S. register,
she will be 100 percent U.S. crewed and will begin her Hawaii
service in October 2004, offering three- and four-night inter-island
cruises round trip from Honolulu.
There will be two NCL ships deployed on the route. Norwegian Wind,
which will start sailing on the route from May 2004, sailing 10-
and 11-day itineraries. The 10- and 11-day cruises are designed
to offer a relaxed, longer cruising experience with lots of port
time in the Hawaiian Islands plus sea days and a trip to Fanning
Island, NCL’s Pacific Island hideaway just north of the Equator.
Norwegian Star will be offering 7-day Fanning Island cruise until
April 2004, after which it will be replaced by PA1 and return
to NCL’s mainland base, and offer Alaska cruises.
10-night itineraries from the UK begin at £1099 per person
sailing with Norwegian Star. This includes a 7-night cruise with
all meals and entertainment on board, one night accommodation
post cruise in Honolulu and economy return flights from the UK,
sailings from 6th September 2003.
- ENDS -
May 14, 2003
Editors Notes:
For high resolution, downloadable images, please log on to NCL's website at www.ncl.co.uk/image_library
NCL Corporation Ltd. is the holding company for various subsidiary companies involved in owning and operating the ships of Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America and Orient Lines.
NCL plans to build two new third generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in 2010. NCL today has the youngest fleet in the industry, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy the flexibility of Freestyle Cruising on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea, and has recently added its latest new ship, the 2,400 passenger Norwegian Gem.
Issued by Flagship Consulting
For further media information contact:
Virginia Webb
020 7886 8464
Virginia.Webb@flagshipconsulting.co.uk
Kiren Pooni
020 7886 8442
Kiren.Pooni@flagshipconsulting.co.uk
Casey Mead
020 7886 8464
Casey.Mead@flagshipconsulting.co.uk