NCL announced today that it will reflag and rename Pride of Aloha and launch the ship as Norwegian Sky, offering three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami commencing this summer. The 2,002-passenger ship, built in 1999, will return to the NCL international fleet, and will be outfitted with NCL’s Freestyle 2.0 enhancements. It will be the youngest and highest quality ship sailing three and four-day cruises to the Bahamas from Miami beginning July 14, 2008. The new itineraries go on sale today with fares from $229 per person for an inside stateroom and from $329 per person for a balcony stateroom.
To welcome the ship to Miami, NCL is offering a “Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation” promotion for reservations on Norwegian Sky made from May 6, 2008 to May 31, 2008 for sailings taking place July 14, 2008 to September 26, 2008. Children ages six months to 17 are eligible to sail free (government taxes and fees and fuel supplement apply).
Norwegian Sky will depart Miami on Mondays sailing four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. On Fridays, the ship will sail a weekend getaway three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday mornings. These sailings are scheduled through April 17, 2009.
Norwegian Sky will enter a wet dock in Miami during which a casino will be added. In addition, the ship will receive the significant product and hardware upgrades that are part of the company’s major fleetwide initiative, Freestyle 2.0. These enhancements include: a major investment in the total dining experience such as all new menus and Lobster Galore; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for all guests; and additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony and suite guests.
Originally launched in 1999, Norwegian Sky has more than 240 balcony staterooms, a choice of six different restaurants, 10 bars and lounges, multiple entertainment venues, two pools, extensive children’s facilities, a sports deck and a variety of spacious public rooms. Norwegian Sky had been reflagged and renamed Pride of Aloha in 2004 and sailed Hawai’i inter-island cruises until May 2008.
Filed under: Norwegian Cruise Line
2 Commentss for “Pride of Aloha to Become Norwegian Sky Again - The Circle of Life Continues”
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May 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
It’s cool that NCL is getting back into the 3-4 day market, and the Sky, while a little wanting on a 7 day cruise (fewer restaurants for freestyle, smaller cabins) she should be well suited to the short cruise market. I’m not so thrilled they have added Freeport on the 4 day, would rather have seen Key West or Grand Turk (if you’re going to dream, dream big I say)
The Nor Sky has an interesting history. Everybody knows she has a younger sister, the Nor Sun, but did you know she also has an older sister? After a face lift a few years back, the oldest of the trio now looks a lot like her younger siblings and is still sailing for the original line that commissioned her. Can you name that ship? (Answer to follow…)
May 8th, 2008 at 10:15 am
It is the Costa Victoria.
The ship that eventually became the Norweign Sky was originally intended as a sister ship to the Costa Victoria. However, Carnival Corp purchased Costa around that time and somehow the order was cancelled. NCL picked up the order (at a significant discount) and made what modifications they could at that point (mostly adding the balconies and the cabins overlooking the bow)
The Costa Victoria was heavily refitted a few years back including the addition of balconies, making her look even more like Nor Sky, er i mean Pride of Aloha, er I mean Nor sky, er, OH WHATEVER!
NCL ordered the Norweign Sun as the Sky was being built, but as this last ship hadn’t been started they were free to modify it bit more (adding an extra floor of balconies and slightly larger cabins amoung other things) However, the Sun was well into her contruction when NCL announced freestyle, so again at the last minute changes were made, in this case the scramble to fit in a few more restaurants.