Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that Norwegian Sky underwent a complete refurbishment focused on enhancing the guest experience while the 2,002-passenger ship was in dry dock last month in Freeport, Bahamas. The ship, which entered the Miami short cruise market approximately one year ago, received enhancements to its public areas, staterooms and suites, as well as the addition of three new staterooms.
“Norwegian Sky has been in high demand since we brought her to Miami to sail three and four-day Bahamas cruises last year; and therefore we wanted to give her a beautiful new look for the summer season and beyond,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “The ship is the perfect getaway as it offers great value for money for families, friends and couples alike looking to relax and escape the everyday.”
Norwegian Sky’s total refurbishment includes:
- reupholstering all 1,000 seats in the Stardust Theater;
- major updates to 14 suites which received new wallpaper; new marble tiles in the showers and tubs; and refinishing all wood work including the teak around the whirlpools on the suite balconies;
- improvements to Dazzles Bar and Nightclub, including refinishing of the dance floor; reupholstering of the club’s chairs and bar stools and removal of banquette seating creating additional room on the dance floor;
- new upholstery to all of the seating in the Atrium;
- installation of new food stations in the Garden Café, Norwegian’s signature action station restaurant, along with refurbishment of Il Adagio, the ship’s Italian restaurant;
- the addition of three new staterooms; and
- repainting of the colorful murals surrounding the pool area.
Norwegian Sky’s three and four-day Bahamas sailings departing from Miami are from $199 per person. Norwegian Sky departs Miami on Mondays sailing four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas. On Fridays, the ship sails 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.
Norwegian Sky has more than 240 balcony staterooms, a choice of six different restaurants, 10 bars and lounges, multiple entertainment venues, a luxurious spa, two pools, extensive children’s facilities, a sports deck and a variety of spacious public rooms.
Last Friday, NCL Corp, Apollo Management and Star Cruises quietly agreed to the termination of Star’s interest in NCL America, exactly four weeks to the day that Star shares shot up in Hong Kong on rumors of the disposal of an unnamed subsidiary.
NCL Corp. has made an unspecified payment to Star for its interest in Pride of America’s assets. In January, assets related to Pride of Aloha are expected to be settled.
A circular from September 2007 detailed the agreement between Star and Apollo. It also gave the parties until the end of this year to decide whether to continue the NCL America venture, and also outlined the financial terms of continuing or disbanding the US-flag brand. It appears the agreement provides for a total distribution of approximately $500m to Star from NCL Corp.
The circular states that if the parties agreed to continue the NCL America operation after Star gave notice to withdraw, NCL would pay a cash consideration equal to $800m, based on the appraised value of Pride of Aloha ($340m) and Pride of America ($460m) less depreciation for both ships from April 2007 to the NCL America valuation date, and the $251m in debt on Pride of America.
Pride of America continues to operate in Hawaii under the US flag, a program recently extended through January 2012
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced today that the company’s current fuel supplement will no longer apply to bookings made on or after November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010.
For guests booked prior to November 10, 2008 for sailings that depart on or after January 1, 2010, the company has established the following guidelines for the refund of fuel supplements paid:
- The criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis. Should the closing price on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) of West Texas Intermediate fuel be below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter (dates specified below), the company will refund fuel supplements paid in the form of an on-board credit.
For guests booked on sailings that depart in 2009 (on or after January 1, 2009 and that depart on or before December 31, 2009), regardless of booking date, the company has established the following guidelines for the refund of fuel supplements paid:
- The criteria for refund will be determined on a quarterly basis. Should the closing price on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) of West Texas Intermediate fuel be below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the calendar quarter (dates specified below), the company will refund fuel supplements paid in the form of an on-board credit.
The dates on which the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel will be measured and the quarters during which refunds could apply are:
| Fuel Price Determination Date | Quarter of Possible Fuel Supplement Refunds | |
| December 18, 2008 | First Quarter 2009 | |
| March 18, 2009 | Second Quarter 2009 | |
| June 17, 2009 | Third Quarter 2009 | |
| September 17, 2009 | Fourth Quarter 2009 | |
| December 18, 2009 | First Quarter 2010 | |
| March 18, 2010 | Second Quarter 2010 | |
| June 17, 2010 | Third Quarter 2010 | |
| September 17, 2010 | Fourth Quarter 2010 | |
| December 17, 2010 | First Quarter 2011 |
Determination of what quarter a sailing is in will be based solely on the sailing date. The entire cruise will be considered to be part of the quarter that the sailing date originates in.
These new fuel supplement policies apply to guests booked through all NCL offices around the world.
The company is implementing these changes in response to the recent decrease in global fuel prices. NCL will continue to closely monitor global fuel prices to assess whether a reinstatement of the fuel supplement will be necessary.
In response to the continued rise in oil prices, NCL Corporation has announced an increase to its current fuel supplement. The new fuel supplement will be $9 per person per day for the first and second guests in a stateroom and $4 per person per day for any additional guests in the same stateroom, based on the guidelines below.
Individual reservations The increased fuel supplement applies only to new individual reservations made on or after May 1, 2008.
Group reservations The increased fuel supplement applies to any group reservation booked on or after May 1, 2008. The increased fuel supplement will also apply to group space held prior to May 1, 2008 without specific names and full confirming deposit by April 30, 2008.
The majority of this week was dominated by just one cruise line – NCL America. Last week it was the departure of Pride of Hawai’i from the Hawai’i fleet, this week NCL America announced that Pride of Aloha was leaving the fleet too. The announcement comes ahead of a much anticipated ruling on cabotage law interpretations from US Customs and Border Patrol.
In theory, Pride of America should be remaining in Hawai’i at least through 2010 and the stories at the beginning of the week seemed to indicate that – until USAToday and the Honolulu Star Bulletin report that NCL has been hinting to Hawai’i state leaders that if the CBP ruling doesn’t go their way then Pride of America could potentially leave the islands as well…
While we understand NCL’s concerns – the uncertainty that they are injecting into the issue doesn’t help anybody. NCL’s casting doubt on their ability or desire to remain in Hawai’i for the long run makes it hard to make a confident decision about sailing on NCLAmerica.
There was some other news this week – like the lawsuit filed against various cruise lines accusing them of collusion when implementing their fuel surcharges late last year. Oceania’s Regatta was a good samaratan. Royal Caribbean will upgrade their Labadee pier to accommodate the Genesis ships, and Celebrity and Azamara will join Princess and offer weddings at sea…
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