Competition Heats Up in Hawaii as Norwegian Moves a Ship In

Many ships that are registered in foreign countries spend a couple of weeks cruising to and from Hawaii in spring and fall, on their way to or from a summer in Alaska or outbound on a world cruise to Asia. So far they have offered only slight competition to the home team, the Independence and the Patriot, a pair of vintage U.S.-flag ships sailing year-round in Hawaii, operated by American Classic Voyages under the American Hawaii and United States Lines names.

The Independence has sailed in the islands for 21 years; the Patriot arrived last December to begin year-round service.

But the near-monopoly American Hawaii Cruise has enjoyed in the 50th state since 1980 shifted late last year when Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line announced plans to position a ship year-round in Hawaii, beginning in December. To do so, the line had two hurdles to overcome.

First was the legislation commonly called the Jones Act, which forbids any foreign-flag vessel to carry passengers between U.S. ports without making a call in a foreign port as well. Because Hawaii is far from foreign ports, the likelihood of other ships incorporating an extra port of call outside the U.S. on a typical seven-day cruise was slight. NCL has complied with the Jones Act by adding a stop at Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati, 600 miles south of Hawaii in the South Pacific. The itinerary will add a day at sea on the way to Fanning Island, a day at the remote island and another day at sea while returning to Hawaii.

Second, cruise ship gambling is not permitted in Hawaii. To comply, NCL planned to close the casino aboard the 75,000-ton, 1,960-passenger Norwegian Leo, built in 1998 for NCL’s parent company, Malaysia-based Star Cruises. But last December, legislation was enacted that forbids any cruise ship to begin or end cruises in Hawaii if it has gambling devices aboard, even if they are not in use. Undeterred, NCL announced in early March that its Hawaii-based ship would be changed to the 91,000-ton, 2,240-passenger Norwegian Star, still under construction in Germany. The Star could be altered because construction was incomplete, and the space allotted for a casino could be turned into a 2,000-square-foot shopping center. The Norwegian Star will sail into Hawaii to begin year-round seven-day cruises Dec. 16.

The itinerary will offer Sunday departures from Honolulu and, starting Jan. 11, Friday departures from Lahaina, Maui, as well. Published fares begin at $999 per person, double occupancy.

Until the new ship arrives, NCL has the 2,002-passenger Norwegian Sky on the route with 10-day cruises around the islands and to Kiribati, priced from $1,599 per person, double. Departures are Oct. 30 and Nov. 9. On Nov. 19, the ship makes an additional cruise to reposition from Hawaii to Ensenada, Mexico, without visiting Kiribati. And next spring, NCL will send a second vessel, the 1,748-passenger Norwegian Wind, to make four 10-, 11-and 12-day Hawaii cruises priced from $1,399 per person, double.

Meanwhile, American Hawaii’s 1,066-passenger Independence, built in 1951, and United States Lines’ 1,200-passenger Patriot, built in 1983 as Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam, continue their weekly departures. (Within the past several weeks, however, at least two travel insurers have refused to write policies for the lines’ parent company, American Classic Voyages, which said it was working to allay any concerns.)

Two new U.S.-built ships under construction in Mississippi are expected to join the United States Lines fleet in 2003 and 2004 for Hawaii service. The two U.S.-flag ships carry only American officers and crew and pay U.S. minimum wage, while the NCL vessels are manned by Norwegian officers and an international crew whose wages are not on record.

NCL’s ships, especially the Norwegian Star, are bigger, shinier and newer, with more up-to-date decor and facilities and a dining policy that allows passengers to eat whenever they please in one of several restaurants. The Patriot and Independence have assigned tables and dining times. Both ships also have Hawaiian cultural programs and an onboard kumu, or teacher, who explains customs and teaches hula, lei making and ukulele playing. The ships call at Oahu, Maui and Kauai and in two ports, Hilo and Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Altogether, during a weeklong sailing, the Patriot spends about 80 hours in Hawaiian ports, the Independence about 83. The Norwegian Star, according to its schedule, will spend about 24 hours in Hawaiian ports and six at Fanning Island.

A first-time visitor to Hawaii might learn more about the islands and their culture aboard the Patriot or Independence, while a repeat visitor might prefer NCL for more time at sea and a chance to explore a rarely visited South Pacific island.

Brochure rates for the Norwegian Star start at $999 per person, double occupancy, for January sailings in an inside cabin with TV and mini-refrigerator.

Recent mailings to past passengers of American Classic Voyages show prices as low as $649 per person, double occupancy, on the Oct. 27, Nov. 24 and Dec. 15 sailings of the Independence, while the Patriot offers starting prices as low as $799 per person, double.

For more information, contact a travel agent. Or call Norwegian Cruise Line, (800) 327-7030, https://www.ncl.com; for American Hawaii, call (800) 765-7000, https://www.cruisehawaii.com; and for United States Lines, call (877) 330-6600, https://www.united stateslines.com.

Also cruising Hawaii seasonally:

* Holland America’s Statendam has 15-day sailings from San Diego Nov. 3 and 18 and Dec. 23, priced in the brochure from $3,199 per person, double.

* Carnival’s new Carnival Spirit has a 12-day Ensenada, Mexico-to-Hawaii cruise scheduled to depart April 21 and a Honolulu-to-Vancouver cruise on May 3, both priced from $1,899 per person, double.

* Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas has an 11-night cruise from Ensenada to Honolulu Nov. 4, with a 10-night return Nov. 15. Brochure prices begin at $1,799 per person, double.

* Celebrity Cruises’ new ships, the Infinity and the Summit, will make 10 Hawaii sailings in 2002. Westbound, the Infinity sails from Ensenada to Honolulu on May 10 and Nov. 17, the Summit on May 3. Eastbound, the Infinity is set to sail between Honolulu and Ensenada Oct. 9 and Nov. 28, and the Summit on Sept. 24. The ships will also reposition from Honolulu to Vancouver for the summer season in Alaska, with the Infinity sailing on May 20 and the Summit on May 13. On southbound Vancouver-to-Honolulu schedules, the Infinity will leave Vancouver Sept. 27 and the Summit, Sept. 13. Brochure fares begin at $1,199 per person, double.

For information, contact Holland America, (877) SAIL-HAL (724-5425), https://www.hollandamerica.com; Royal Caribbean, (800) 327-6700, https://www.royalcaribbean.com; Carnival, (800) CARNIVAL (227-6482), https://www.carnival.com; and Celebrity, (800) CELEBRITY (235-3274), https://www.celebritycruises.com.

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Shirley Slater and Harry Basch travel as guests of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.