May 16, 2003 -- It's almost axiomatic that immigrants make the best Americans, so it should be no surprise that a cruise line named "Norwegian" is positioning itself as a veritable Uncle Sam of the high seas. On May 6, Norwegian Cruise Line announced the formation of NCL America, a Hawaii cruise operation that will encompass its existing Hawaii fleet as well as two U.S.-flagged vessels.
With Congressional approval, NCL recently took over Project America, a series of ships planned and begun by now-defunct American Classic Voyages. Intended as the first American-built passenger ships in many years, their U.S.-flagged status will require them to carry an all-U.S. crew (which NCL expects to hire primarily from the islands) and subject them to all U.S. taxes and environmental regulations, but it will also exempt them from laws designed to protect U.S. shipping, which forbid foreign-flagged vessels from sailing exclusively among U.S. ports. Additionally, their U.S.-flagged status means conferences and meetings held aboard will qualify for both corporate and individual tax deductibility.
The first of the Project America ships, as yet unnamed, is scheduled to enter service in July 2004. She'll be the first new ocean-going passenger vessel to sail under the U.S. flag in nearly 50 years. After her launch, she'll offer 7-night inter-island Hawaii cruises roundtrip from Honolulu, visiting Nawiliwili, Kauai (overnight); Hilo, Hawaii; Kona, Hawaii; and Kahului, Maui (overnight).
In October 2004, she'll be joined by Norwegian Sky, an existing vessel built by the line in 2000. As part of her NCL America rejiggering, she'll be renamed and restaffed, and will sail 3- and 4-night inter-island cruises round trip from Honolulu. Three-day sailings will depart every Friday and call at Nawiliwili and Kahului. Four-day sailings depart every Monday and visit Hilo, Kahului, and Nawiliwili. Both will be offered as either cruise-only or cruise/hotel packages.
Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Star, which comprise NCL's current seasonal Hawaii operation, will continue under the NCL America brand, with international crews. Beginning in May 2004, Wind will sail 10- and 11-night cruises year-round from Honolulu, visiting Hilo, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Lahaina, Maui, and Kona, Hawaii; as well as Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati, Micronesia. Eleven-night cruises tack on an extra day in Maui.
Norwegian Star will continue offering 7-night Hawaii cruises through April 2004, visiting the state's four main islands and Fanning Island. She'll then redeploy to homeports on the mainland, offering Alaska cruises in summer 2004.
Prices for 7-night cruises begin at $899 per person; 3-night cruises begin at $499 per person. For more information and bookings, call NCL at 800/327-7030, www.ncl.com.
