The Norwegian Star, one of the newest ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s armada, pays its first visit to Kaua’i this Wednesday, Dec. 12.
It was christened in Miami, Fla. by 2001 Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio, and is today well on its way to the islands.
Government and business leaders have been invited aboard the 965-foot ship, which carries up to 2,200 passengers and a crew of around 1,000, for a tour and lunch Wednesday.
Because of the difficulty of getting into Nawiliwili Harbor for this the largest ship to ever attempt entry, there is a very real chance that the ship won’t be able to call on the island weekly, as planned, if high wind conditions exist at the scheduled time of entry.
Although the Star isn’t to begin regular weekly calls on Nawiliwili until next week, the ship is fully loaded with passengers and crew as it makes what the industry calls a “repositioning cruise.”
The ship left Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 5, and is expected to arrive in Hilo on the Big Island this Monday, Dec. 10, moving to Kona on the Big Island Tuesday, Dec. 11. After visiting Kaua’i Wednesday, it’s off to Lahaina, Maui, where it will overnight Thursday, Dec. 13, and stay for a portion of Friday, Dec. 14, before cruising into Honolulu Harbor on Saturday, Dec. 15.
That evening, an overnight fund-raising cruise to nowhere (actually out of the harbor, around portions of O’ahu and back into Honolulu Harbor) is planned. On Sunday, Dec. 16, it begins regular weekly interisland cruises, calling on Nawiliwili each Saturday.
To kick off the Hawai’i arrival of its newest ship, NCL’s cruise to nowhere has cabins available beginning at $250, with proceeds from this cruise to benefit Aloha United Way, Read To Me International Foundation, Bishop Museum and Hawai’i International Film Festival.
A cocktail party, dining at 10 different restaurants, the unveiling of a new Broadway-style show, “Cirque Aloha,” celebrating the sights, sounds and people of Hawai’i, a comedy show, silent auction, and more will be offered on the cruise.
For more information, please contact a travel agent, call toll-free 1-800-327-7030, or see www.ncl.com.
Seizing on the departure of American Hawai’i Cruises, NCL recently announced it would ramp up its Hawai’i cruise schedule with additional calls by the Norwegian Wind in 2002 and 2003.
In addition to the Star’s regular visits to Nawiliwili beginning next week (there will be seven-day itineraries beginning from Honolulu or Lahaina, Maui), both the Norwegian Sky (10-day itineraries) and Wind (10-, 11- and 12-day cruises) will be cruising Hawaiian waters, the line announced.
The Norwegian Wind, originally scheduled to be in Asia until the beginning of 2003, will instead sail to Honolulu from Vancouver in September of next year, offering interisland cruises through April of 2003 that will see it calling on Nawiliwili every other week for a day, either Thursday or Sunday.
