Natasha
Contributor
For the first time in nearly half a century, a modern, 2000-passenger cruise ship will fly a U.S. Flag. Today, on board the vessel
in San Francisco, Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL America and dignitaries from the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast
Guard raised the Stars and Stripes on Pride of Aloha, the brand's first U.S. Flag vessel.
Formerly Bahamian-flagged Norwegian Sky, Pride of Aloha just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment in San Francisco. As a
U.S.-flagged ship, Pride of Aloha is crewed by nearly 800 seafarers and will offer a truly unique experience for cruise passengers.
With its distinctive Hawai'i decor and the gracious, friendly crew, mostly hailing from the Hawai'i Islands, the "Spirit of Aloha"
is felt throughout the ship.
Pride of Aloha will complete a series of Pacific Coastal cruises in June before setting sail for her new homeport of Honolulu.
Following an inaugural celebration and a christening on July 4th, she will begin her regular seven-day, year-round Hawai'i cruise
schedule. Visiting all four main islands and offering passengers up to 96 hours in port, Pride of Aloha features two overnight stays
in Kaua'i and Maui while also making full day calls in Kona and Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i.
Pride of Aloha features NCL's signature Freestyle Cruising, offering a diverse choice of six restaurants, resort casual dress code
and relaxed disembarkation. She also has 13 bars and lounges, two swimming pools, a spa and fitness center and conference facilities
among its many amenities. In addition, the ship features a Hawaiian cultural center called the Kumu Cultural Center (Kumu is
Hawaiian for source of learning). NCL America also offers spectacular shore excursions, including: Circle of Fire helicopter rides,
NCL exclusive Hoku Nui Luau, Maui downhill bicycling, visits to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Waimea Canyon trips.
The 77,000-ton Pride of Aloha is a 2,000-passenger ship built in 1999 as Norwegian Sky. The ship 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. Once NCL America's plans are fully implemented, their U.S.-flag ships are expected to generate more than $828
million in U.S. economic activity and 20,400 jobs, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study.
in San Francisco, Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL America and dignitaries from the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast
Guard raised the Stars and Stripes on Pride of Aloha, the brand's first U.S. Flag vessel.
Formerly Bahamian-flagged Norwegian Sky, Pride of Aloha just completed a multi-million dollar refurbishment in San Francisco. As a
U.S.-flagged ship, Pride of Aloha is crewed by nearly 800 seafarers and will offer a truly unique experience for cruise passengers.
With its distinctive Hawai'i decor and the gracious, friendly crew, mostly hailing from the Hawai'i Islands, the "Spirit of Aloha"
is felt throughout the ship.
Pride of Aloha will complete a series of Pacific Coastal cruises in June before setting sail for her new homeport of Honolulu.
Following an inaugural celebration and a christening on July 4th, she will begin her regular seven-day, year-round Hawai'i cruise
schedule. Visiting all four main islands and offering passengers up to 96 hours in port, Pride of Aloha features two overnight stays
in Kaua'i and Maui while also making full day calls in Kona and Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i.
Pride of Aloha features NCL's signature Freestyle Cruising, offering a diverse choice of six restaurants, resort casual dress code
and relaxed disembarkation. She also has 13 bars and lounges, two swimming pools, a spa and fitness center and conference facilities
among its many amenities. In addition, the ship features a Hawaiian cultural center called the Kumu Cultural Center (Kumu is
Hawaiian for source of learning). NCL America also offers spectacular shore excursions, including: Circle of Fire helicopter rides,
NCL exclusive Hoku Nui Luau, Maui downhill bicycling, visits to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Waimea Canyon trips.
The 77,000-ton Pride of Aloha is a 2,000-passenger ship built in 1999 as Norwegian Sky. The ship 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. Once NCL America's plans are fully implemented, their U.S.-flag ships are expected to generate more than $828
million in U.S. economic activity and 20,400 jobs, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study.
