Pride of America on Track for Summertime Debut, More New Ships on the Way from NCL
February 21, 2005
Set to be one of the largest and best-equipped ships sailing the seas today, Norwegian Cruise Line's highly anticipated Pride of America left her dry dock at Lloyd Werft in Germany last week, and is now in route to the German shipyard for her final outfittings. Sea trials are expected to begin May 19, and NCL will officially take delivery of this impressive vessel on June 6, 2005.
Pride of America will make her debut with several inaugural sailings and other special events in the United States and the United Kingdom. She will then make her way to her new home port of Honolulu, Hawaii, where she will be based year-round beginning July 23, 2005. As NCL's second U.S. flagged ship, Pride of America will join Pride of Aloha to offer a variety of 7-day round-trip, inter-island Hawaiian sailings.
Designed as a tribute to all of the many beautiful regions of the United States, Pride of America will feature a long list of spectacular amenities, including 18 themed restaurants, bars, and lounges, 3 large swimming pools, 4 hot tubs, extensive onboard shopping, a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center that includes an on-deck running/walking track, basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. This magnificent vessel will also offer the exclusive Rascal's Kids Club, the Connections Teen Club, as well as the ultra-opulent Santa Fe Spa and Salon!
Also last week, the first of 67 massive keel blocks for NCL's next big fleet addition, Pride of Hawaii, was laid at the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Han Lim, son of NCL Corporation Chairman K.T. Lim, was on hand to help lower the enormous block down by the yard's 800-ton crane. The 93,000 ton, 2,376 passenger Pride of Hawaii is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2006 debut.
Norwegian Jewel, which is also being constructed at the Meyer Werft in Germany, is due for delivery in August of this year. This 93,000, 2400 passenger mega-vessel will feature 10 restaurants, an elegant complex of Garden and Courtyard Villas located at the top of the ship, multiple lounges, bars, and entertainment venues, and some 540 staterooms and suites, all with private balconies. Norwegian Jewel is scheduled for official launch on August 10, 2005 with a series of European voyages. She will then embark on a variety of Canada/New England itineraries in the fall of 2005, followed by a winter move to Miami, where she will offer seven-night alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.
Norwegian Cruise Lines also recently announced that is has ordered two more, currently unnamed Freestyle Cruising vessels scheduled for delivery by the summer of 2007. One ship will be constructed at the Meyer Werft in Germany and is scheduled to be delivered in February of 2007, and the other will be built at the Aker Finnyards yard in Helsinki, Finland, and is scheduled for completion in May 2007.
Reservations are now being accepted for all itineraries on both Pride of America and the Norwegian Jewel.
By Brian ReitterBook your cruise online
