HONOLULU – February 11, 2008 –NCL Corporation (“NCL”) today announced the withdrawal of Pride of Aloha from the Hawai‘i market effective May 11, 2008. The ship is being transferred to Star Cruises and will be re-flagged and deployed in Asia in the summer of 2008.
The remaining year-round ship in Hawai‘i will be the larger and newer Pride of America, introduced in 2005, a vessel specifically designed and built for Hawai’i cruising. The company announced, and put on sale, Pride of America’s sailings through 2010 offering its popular inter-island cruises departing every Saturday from Honolulu.
For guests booked on Pride of Aloha from May 11, 2008 and beyond, NCL is holding space and will offer the same cruise fare as they currently have paid on their Pride of Aloha cruise if they would like to transfer to the same week on Pride of America, departing one day earlier. In addition:
•    Guests will receive a $100 per person on-board credit (up to $200 per stateroom). 
•    For guests who made their air and/or hotel arrangements through NCL, NCL will protect the rates they currently have paid and cover any air or hotel change fees.
•    For guests who purchased their own air, NCL will protect up to the first $100 per person of any increase in air costs and cover up to $75 per person in air change fees. 
•    For guests who made independent hotel arrangements, NCL will cover any hotel change fees up to $25 per person.
Guests may book any other NCL cruise and receive a $100 per person on-board credit (up to $200 per stateroom) if they rebook by March 7, 2008. In addition, NCL will cover up to $75 per person in air change fees and up to $25 per person in hotel change fees.
Guests may cancel their cruise and receive a full refund if NCL is notified by March 7, 2008. In addition, NCL will cover up to $75 per person in air change fees and up to $25 per person in hotel change fees. After March 7, 2008 cancellation fees will apply in accordance with NCL’s cancellation policy.

Pride of America’s deployment announced through 2010
Following a 14-day scheduled dry dock in Hawai‘i from April 26, 2008 to May 10, 2008, Pride of America will sail its four main island itinerary with a change in order of ports including an overnight in Nawiliwili, Kaua‘i; an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Napali Coast; Hilo,
Hawai‘i; an evening sail by Mount Kilauea; Kona, Hawai‘i; and an overnight in Kahului, Maui. All of the Freestyle 2.0 enhancements will be rolled out on Pride of America during the ship’s dry-dock.
Launched in 2005, Pride of America has over 660 balcony staterooms, the broadest range of family-friendly interconnecting cabins available at sea, a choice of nine different restaurants and 12 dining options, multiple entertainment venues, three pools, extensive children’s facilities, an abundance of spacious public rooms, and the largest dedicated meeting facilities at sea. All inspired by the diverse regions of America.

 

 

Carnival Cruise Lines unveiled a new family program, "Circle C," aimed specifically at the 12- to 14-year old age group. The club features new onboard digs, a full schedule of activities and trained staff.

The focal point will be custom-designed clubs featuring a dance floor, along with 42-inch plasma-screen TVs displaying movies and music videos. The TVs will also double as touch screen jukeboxes. Circle C clubs will also have game pods.

A new logo and branding campaign incorporating the Circle C theme of "cruise.chill.connect" has also been created.

In conjunction with the launch of Circle C, Carnival is offering special family rates, with prices for third and fourth guests in staterooms starting at $199 per person for three-day cruises and $329 per person for seven-day cruises on select dates.

Carnival C facilities are already in place on Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride, Carnival Victory and the Carnival Valor. The Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Glory are scheduled to be retrofitted by the end of 2008. Retrofits on the rest of the fleet are expected to be complete by 2010.