Rumor- New Second Island and 2 new Ships!

[southerngirl528]

I'm in the group that prefers DCL's "classic" ships. I also found the Dream to be overwhelmingly big at times. And it seemed that the bathrooms and walkways weren't always built for the huge sized public areas and restaurants. Truthfully I have no desire to sail on anyone's "mega" ships. To each their own.

As ships get bigger and bigger the number of cruise ports they can visit can diminish. Not every port is set up for the giant economy sized behemoths……

 

[Dave2425]

i hope the two new ships are bigger than the Fantasy and The Dream. DCL needs to be a bit more competitive with the other luxury cruise liners which are bigger than DCL.

I agree. Make them big enough so they could add a ride like Dumbo or the Magic Carpets.

 

[dcassetta]

The Dream and Fantasy are beautiful, but the Wonder remains my favorite. I have no interest in sailing in a boxy behemoth that holds 5000 passengers. I am hoping that when the new ships are announced, that they will not be gigantic.

 

[The Novice]

I would love for a ship to be based out of New York from late spring to early autumn.

 

[Happy100]

I can see them placing the ships in ports next to their parks? I am thinking Europe, Asia, West Coast/Hawaii. The second Disney Island is throwing me off though. Why a second island in the Caribbean-this is the only reason I think more ships doing the Caribbean route.

 

[squirk]

I can see them placing the ships in ports next to their parks? I am thinking Europe, Asia, West Coast/Hawaii. The second Disney Island is throwing me off though. Why a second island in the Caribbean-this is the only reason I think more ships doing the Caribbean route.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm not sure why else they would need or want a second island, other than to accommodate more Caribbean cruises.

 

[DisDiana]

If they bought an island near Hawaii, would that enable them to do Hawaiian island itineraries round trip from Aulani?

I would love to pair an Aulani trip with a cruise and not have to endure 5-6 sea days to make it to Vancouver!

 

[truck1]

If they bought an island near Hawaii, would that enable them to do Hawaiian island itineraries round trip from Aulani?

I would love to pair an Aulani trip with a cruise and not have to endure 5-6 sea days to make it to Vancouver!

No. Basically since DCL is flagged off shore (Bahamas) the US rule is they have to make a stop in a foreign port. Since there is nothing clos enough to Hi to do that in a timely manner, that's out. The only way DCL could get around it, is to build a ship in the US, and staff it with the majority of US citizens and follow US labor laws among other things.

 

[Happy100]

No. Basically since DCL is flagged off shore (Bahamas) the US rule is they have to make a stop in a foreign port. Since there is nothing clos enough to Hi to do that in a timely manner, that's out. The only way DCL could get around it, is to build a ship in the US, and staff it with the majority of US citizens and follow US labor laws among other things.

I don't think they would have to build a ship in the US only flag it in the US.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I don't think they would have to build a ship in the US only flag it in the US.

I believe it also has to be built in the US. Or at least partially built in the US.

EDIT: Looked it up in the PVSA - in order for a ship to be able to sail only US ports, it must be qualified as "coastwise". And this is the definition of that:

A vessel that is built in, documented under the laws of, and owned by citizens of the United States, and which obtains a coastwise endorsement from the USCG, is referred to as "coastwise-qualified." Specifically, the term "coastwise-qualified vessel" means a U.S.-flag vessel having a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. § 12112.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I believe it also has to be built in the US. Or at least partially built in the US.

EDIT: Looked it up in the PVSA - in order for a ship to be able to sail only US ports, it must be qualified as "coastwise". And this is the definition of that:

A vessel that is built in, documented under the laws of, and owned by citizens of the United States, and which obtains a coastwise endorsement from the USCG, is referred to as "coastwise-qualified." Specifically, the term "coastwise-qualified vessel" means a U.S.-flag vessel having a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. § 12112.

The two NCL-Hawaii ships had hulls built in the U.S. then an act of Congress(!) allowed them to be finished in Germany and be flagged in the U.S., so it's not an exception easily granted.

 

[Happy100]

I believe it also has to be built in the US. Or at least partially built in the US.

EDIT: Looked it up in the PVSA - in order for a ship to be able to sail only US ports, it must be qualified as "coastwise". And this is the definition of that:

A vessel that is built in, documented under the laws of, and owned by citizens of the United States, and which obtains a coastwise endorsement from the USCG, is referred to as "coastwise-qualified." Specifically, the term "coastwise-qualified vessel" means a U.S.-flag vessel having a certificate of documentation with a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. § 12112.

Thanks for the info. This seems so archaic to me.

 

[C6PT7]

The two NCL-Hawaii ships had hulls built in the U.S. then an act of Congress(!) allowed them to be finished in Germany and be flagged in the U.S., so it's not an exception easily granted.

3 ships were built as a result of the failed Project America.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_America

Pride of America
Port of registry:

United States, Honolulu

Norwegian Sky, then Pride of Aloha, then Norwegian Sky again
Port of registry:

Bahamas (1999–2004)

United States (2004–2008)

Bahamas (2008–present)

Pride of Hawaii, now Norwegian Jade
Port of registry:
Honolulu, United States (2006–2008)
Nassau Bahamas (2008–present)

edit to ad

NCL's Involvement[edit]

The Pride of America, a derived version of the Project America ships.
In late 2002, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) contracted with Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, the owner of Ingalls, to buy all of the materials, equipment and work performed on the two Project America vessels. All materials were towed to Germany and the first ship was completed at Lloyd Werft Shipyard in Bremerhaven. The ship was modified to increase its size, now 81,000 GT, and exterior and interior changes were made. This ship was named the Pride of America and entered service in 2005.

The materials for the second Project America ship were utilized in the construction of the Pride of Hawaii (now named Norwegian Jade), at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg. Pride of Hawaii entered service in 2006 and is approximately 12,000 GT larger than Pride of America. It is considered a Jewel Class ship, which is a different class entirely than that of the Pride of America.

Passenger Vessel Services Act[edit]
In exchange for its purchase of the Project America materials, NCL lobbied heavily for an exception to the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which prohibits foreign built ships from operating between U.S. ports without making a foreign stop in between. The exception was granted and three ships (the afore mentioned as well as Pride of Aloha), effectively all foreign built, were allowed to fly the U.S. flag. This exception allows NCL to have an exclusive right to operate Hawaiian itineraries that do not need to touch a foreign port. A caveat of this exception, however, requires NCL to staff these ships with a crew made up of predominantly U.S. citizens.

 

[truck1]

Heres a clearer version. Basically the PSVA and the Jones Act are meant to protect the US Shipping industry. The same rules apply to other countries just under different names, and requirements.

The cabotage provisions relating to the "Jones Act" restrict the carriage of goods or passengers between United States ports to U.S.-built and flagged vessels. It has been codified as portions of 46 U.S.C. Generally, the Jones Act prohibits any foreign built or foreign flagged vessel from engaging in coastwise trade within the United States. A number of other statutes affect coastwise trade and should be consulted along with the Jones Act. These include the Passenger Services Act, 46 USC section 289 which restricts coastwise transportation of passengers and 46 USC section 12108 restricts the use of foreign vessel to commercially catch or transport fish in U.S. waters.[7] These provisions also require at least three-fourths of the crewmembers to be U.S. citizens. Moreover, the steel of foreign repair work on the hull and superstructure of a U.S.-flagged vessel is limited to ten percent by weight.

 

[truck1]

The two NCL-Hawaii ships had hulls built in the U.S. then an act of Congress(!) allowed them to be finished in Germany and be flagged in the U.S., so it's not an exception easily granted.

Only 1 hull was started. The other only had some pieces and parts. The unfinished hull and the pieces of her sister were towed to Germany for completion. NCL lobbed long and hard for the exemption and the only reason they got it was that there was no other US lines ready or wiling to take AMCV place. NCL had the same restrictions placed on it that ACMV had on their plan.

 

[C6PT7]

This is a antiquated law designed to protect US workers, yet it does the exact opposite. It places then out of the the game when pitching against counterparts.
How much does a cruise ship cost? Well if you want a barebones ship, no fittings included, probably less that half.
Where was the TV made? Where was the carpet woven? Where was the bed frame and mattress made? Where was the cabling made? What about the lifeboats? What about the bed linen or table wear? What about the stoves, refrigerators, the door handles, the toilets, the marble, the.....

How much of a ship could actually be 100% US made and built?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Our extended family was scheduled to cruise on the Pride of America in 2004, if it had been completed on time. While it was under construction in Germany, a freak storm blew in and sank the hull to the bottom of the shipyard. So passengers on that ship were rebooked onto the smaller Pride of Aloha, which wouldn't accommodate everyone. Our travel agent really earned her commission for our cruise, taking our reservation booking up the chain of command several levels, all the way to a vice president before we finally got the number of rooms we had originally booked. After we finally got on board that summer, we discovered nearly half of the crew had walked off the ship -- wildcat strike -- just the week before, so needless to say, the service on that cruise was a joke. After serving our salad course, it took the dining room staff an hour to bring out the entrees, which were finally delivered by management. Meanwhile, hungry passengers were lined up in the hall waiting to be seated in the dining room.

We had a much better experience on the inaugural Disney Hawaiian cruise.

 

[RRB]

The Dis posted on their Facebook page today that rumor says we may be hearing about a new / second Caribbean Island and 2 new DCL ships tomorrow at the D23.

I Hope this is True!!!!!

I couldn't find the post on Dis's page but don't know how to use facebook (my wife has an account, not me). I wonder what the source was for this rumor?

 

[squirk]

I am going to be refreshing this page and The DIS very frequently throughout the day. Granted, if there are new ships, they probably won't be available for bookings for a good long while, but still.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Very easily 100% could and is be made in the USA. Higher quality and not using what amounts to slave like labor. However if I remember correctly only a total 70 to 80 percent of the vessels needs to be built and/or made in the USA. These rules and laws vary in requirements from type vessel to type of vessel and project to project The Pride of America project was a small special program which was a confusing debacle from the start and got more confusing and more of a debacle as time went on.

You will also find many of the leading maritime nations of the world also have laws similar to the Jones act that protect their own nations vessels. Canada and Britain comes to mind right off.

Right now there are very few if any US vessels in lay up should the nation require them and those that are there, are 50 + years old, making them generally useless. If there isa national emergency we will have big transportation/supply issues.

The Jones act and related laws are designed to protect the American Merchant Marine and keep US flag commercial vessel around and available in case of national emergency's and war. Without them you could easily find only crews from some 3rd world countries, with minimum training running tugs and barges, vessels not only port to port along the US coast or inland, up rivers and in harbors. Yes some vessel are now running along the coast, but at least they are not operating independently inland.

US commercial yards are among the finest in the world , however foreign countries spend one heck of a lot more to subsidize the labor, yards and underwrite the bank loans, which make it very hard for Us yards to complete.

As long as US industry is competing unfairly on a uneven field, is very hard to match subsidized industries, labor and products from foreign sources. So the next time you buy foreign products, think that the job that maybe lost maybe be your own, down the line.

AKK