Another ship is leaving Norwegian Cruise Line's NCL America, the US-flagged company with mostly American crew set up to cruise within Hawaii (others can cruise to the islands but there are strict cabotage laws that the NCL America operation was designed to circumvent).
According to Cruise Critic, Pride of Aloha will revert to being Norwegian Sky, go into dry dock for the casino to be put back (no gambling allowed in waters around the 50th state) and Freestyle 2.0 upgrades to be added, and will start sailing three and four-night cruises between Miami and the Bahamas in July.
The ship was originally going to join the Star Cruises' fleet - Star being the parent of NCL - having previously been deemed unsuitable for the investment needed on the upgraded amenities.
This is the second ship to leave NCL America - Pride of Hawaii has been reflagged and renamed Norwegian Jade and is now sailing in Europe - leaving just one vessel, Pride of America, whose future must also now be in serious doubt.
It's a shame but not a great surprise. NCL America has been dogged with problems since it started, not least because the Americans proved less then enthusiastic about spending months away from home on a cruise ship - and wanted proper wages to boot.
It's been a costly lesson but NCL deserves marks for trying.
Jane Archer
