Pride of Aloha
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| Pride of Aloha | |
| Status: | In Service |
| Entered Service: | 1999 as Norwegian Sky; 2004 as Pride of Aloha |
| Tonnage: | 77,104 gross tons |
| Length: | 853 feet |
| Beam: | 108 feet |
| Draft: | 26 feet |
| Cruising Speed: | 23 kn |
| Decks: | 13 |
| Complement: | 2002 passengers; 800 crew |
| Registry: | United States |
Pride of Aloha (formerly Norwegian Sky) is a cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line's NCL America division.
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[edit] History
Intended to become the Costa Olympia, a sister ship to Costa Victoria, the vessel was laid down in 1996. Bankruptcy of the shipbuilder, Bremer Vulkan, meant that the vessel was not completed, but the hull was sold to Norwegian Cruise Line, who completed the vessel three years later at the Lloyd Werft Shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. The ship began operation in June, 1999 as Norwegian Sky.
Initially, Norwegian Sky utilized a standard dining program with set meal seating times for passengers. One year after her introduction, NCL introduced "Freestyle Cruising" (a 'dine where you want, when you want' program). As a result, Norwegian Sky had to be retrofitted with additional restaurants.
In 2003, the vessel entered refits in San Francisco, emerging in early 2004 as Pride of Aloha. She was originally planned to be the second ship in the NCL America fleet, following Pride of America, but a rogue storm damaged Pride of America during construction at Lloyd Werft Shipyard and Pride of Aloha was rushed into service.
Being a U.S. flagged vessel, Pride of Aloha requires a crew of U.S. citizens. This made for a difficult launch as there was no established labor market to tap into. The first few months of sailings were plagued by poor service, crew-members quitting and walking off the ship while in port, and an enormous amount of customer complaints. NCL initiated a new and aggressive training program to better prepare new-hire employees for life aboard a cruise vessel. Training for all employees now takes place at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, a maritime school in Piney Point, Maryland. Passenger satisfaction has improved substantially since the introduction of this new and innovative training program.[1]
[edit] Vessel Class
Pride of Aloha was the second in a line of three ships with this design. She was preceded by Costa Cruises, Costa Victoria in 1996, and she was followed by Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun in 2001. All three vessels have a similar outward appearance, with Pride of Aloha and Norwegian Sun having the most in common as they are both NCL ships.
Shortly before the delivery of Norwegian Sky, NCL signed a letter of intent with Lloyd Werft Shipyard for two additional ships of this type. The first option became Norwegian Sun, but the option for the second ship was never exercised. The next vessel to be built at Lloyd Werft for NCL would be the Pride of America, a ship with a completely different design.[2]
[edit] Amenities
The Hawaiian theme is evident aboard Pride of Aloha. All public areas and guest rooms are decorated with vibrant island decor, and the ship's hull is painted with artwork of colorful Hawaiian lei's.
- Freestyle Cruising
- Palace Main Restaurant
- Crossings Main Restaurant
- Royal Palm Bistro
- Kāhili Restaurant
- Pacific Heights
- Hukilau Café & Lānai
- 13 bars and lounges
- 2 swimming pools, 5 Jacuzzis, Children's pool
- Spa & Fitness Center
- Jogging/Walking track
- Basketball/Volleyball court
- Galleria Shops
- Mark Twain Library
- 8-Deck high Aloha Atrium
- Kid's Korner
- The Club for Teens
- Video Arcade
- Sprinkles Ice Cream Bar
- Kumu Cultural Center (Kumu is Hawaiian for "source of learning")
- Conference Facilities
[edit] Current cruises
Pride of Aloha is currently operating year-round 7-day cruises in the Hawaiian Islands. Itineraries visit all four main islands, giving passengers up to 96 hours in port. Ports of call include: Honolulu, O'ahu; an overnight in Nawiliwili, Kaua'i; Hilo, Hawai'i; Kona, Hawai'i; and an overnight in Kahului, Maui.
[edit] Trivia
- Norwegian Sky was NCL's first new vessel in six years; the last had been Windward in 1993.
- Norwegian Sky featured the industry's first at-sea internet cafe; as well as guest rooms pre-wired for internet access.
- Less than two-months after accepting delivery of Norwegian Sky, she ran aground for four-hours at the juncture of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Saguenay River. She was out of service for over a month and three sailings had to be cancelled.[3]
- On November 12, 1999, NCL broke with tradition and named it's employees as 'godparents' of Norwegian Sky when she was christened in Miami.
- When Norwegian Sky was relaunched as Pride of Aloha on July 4, 2004, Mrs. Margaret Awamura Inouye (wife of Hawaiian senator Daniel K. Inouye) was named as her godmother.
