It’s Kaua‘i’s turn. Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Pride of America, the largest U.S.-flagged ship ever built and the first newly constructed cruise ship to join the U.S. register in nearly 50 years, makes her maiden voyage to Nawiliwili Harbor this
It’s Kaua‘i’s turn.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Pride of America, the largest U.S.-flagged ship ever built and the first newly constructed cruise ship to join the U.S. register in nearly 50 years, makes her maiden voyage to Nawiliwili Harbor this morning, Thursday, July 21.
And while the $350-million, 926-foot vessel is a bit too large to place a lei around, county officials have definite plans to say “aloha” to what will be a regular visitor.
“We’re definitely going to step up our entertainment greeting for the norm,” said Robbie Kaholokula, tourism specialist in the county Office of Economic Development.
“We’ve even gotten approval from the harbormaster (state Department of Transportation Harbors Division Nawiliwili Harbormaster Bob Crowell) to have entertainers on the pier,” he said.
The Pride of America is scheduled to arrive at 7 a.m. to the welcoming sights and sounds of musicians and hula dancers.
Kaholokula said the presentation on the pier would be reminiscent of the “Boats Days” of yesteryear. He said the greeting ceremonies would be paid for with county funds.
He said the entertainment will continue in the terminal as the ship prepares for mooring and the initial disembarkation of passengers to begin their adventures on Kaua‘i.
“Sadly, due to security restrictions, the arrival of the ship can only be witnessed by the public from outside the security areas,” Kaholokula said.
According to Kaholokula, NCL invitees including Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste, County Council members and other dignitaries, will board the Pride of America at 11 a.m. for a site inspection, followed by a ceremonial plaque exchange between Captain Kjell Nesheim and Baptiste.
Baptiste will present Nesheim with a custom-made koa canoe paddle made by Kaua‘i craftsman Michael Laureta, as a gift.
A reception and luncheon hosted by NCL will follow, and all guests will disembark at 2 p.m. The special welcome entertainment for this inaugural visit is coordinated by officials with the County of Kaua‘i and the state DOT Harbors Division.
The Pride of America is scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. today.
Normally scheduled visits, when the Pride of America begins regular, seven-day cruises between the islands, will begin Thursday, July 28, the ship scheduled to arrive at Nawiliwili at 8 a.m. each Thursday, remain overnight, then depart at 6 p.m. each Friday.
Kaholokula said this would be the big, one-time-only greeting. Once the ship begins regular visits, it would receive the same greeting as other visiting cruise ships do.
The Pride of America is venturing to Hawai‘i as part of a special cruise from San Francisco. It will then begin regular weekly overnight visits Thursday, July 28. The seven-day cruises from Honolulu will feature a day in Hilo on the Big Island; two days in Kahului, Maui; a day in Kona on the Big Island; and two days in Nawiliwili.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Todd Offutt said because the ship was christened in New York and drew most of the attention and exposure at that venue, normal security standards will abide for the Nawiliwili arrivals and departures.
Chad Lovell of Communications Pacific, a firm that handles publicity for NCL, said the ship can accommodate 2,144 passengers based on double occupancy, according to Lovell.
According to an NCL press release, as the first, new, oceangoing passenger ship in nearly half a century to sail under the U.S. flag, Pride of America will visit all four main islands in weeklong itineraries, and offer passengers up to 100 hours in port, more than any other cruise line sailing the islands.
NCL leaders launched all-Hawai‘i cruises last summer with their Pride of Aloha, which was re-registered as a U.S.-flagged ship, and plans to add a third ship, the Pride of Hawaii, in May or June 2006, Lovell said.
He added that, because of legalities, the ships won’t have casinos. Casinos are considered a key revenue source for operators of most cruise ships.
