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-   -   sky cancelled (https://www.fodors.com/community/cruises/sky-cancelled-388360/)

duh Jan 17th, 2004 09:28 AM

sky cancelled
 
I just read a news release that the ncl sky will not be cruising alaska this year. I'm booked with a deposit. What if I don't like their options, what are mine. Could I get a total refund or a GREAT up grade? what would you do?

andy Jan 17th, 2004 10:19 AM

If THEY cancelled the ship, you are entitled to a FULL REFUND...

then pick another cruise line--

I would suggest either Holland America or Princess as they have been doing Alaska the longest....and they do it right...

ingrid295 Jan 17th, 2004 01:21 PM

Where did you read the news that the Sky is cancelled to Alaska in '04? We are booked on the Sky in late May out of Seattle. Can you email me with additional info or post a link if you obtain more info on this?!

We already received our confirmation from NCL for this cruise and paid the required deposit. We also bought Travel Guard insurance. Last week we caught a deal on airfare and booked RT to Seattle.

We were on the Sky in October in the Carribean and enjoyed it. Although we were actually trying to book a different ship to Alaska, the Sky had the departure & timing we were looking for. If what you say is correct, we will end up on a different cruise ship after all.

Thanks for posting!

Ingrid


katybird Jan 17th, 2004 06:17 PM

Ingrid,
www.ncl.com gives all the details on the "news" section.

Wednesday Jan 18th, 2004 06:36 AM

The SKY has to take over as "Pride of Aloha" to cover the Pride of America's sailings...They cancelled Alaska to do so...more below...

It's bad news for Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America. The 81,000-ton, 2,100-passenger ship - slated to become the first oceangoing new-build in 50 years to wave the American flag - will be delayed for what the company describes as months rather than weeks as a result of flooding accident earlier this week at its shipyard.

Early Wednesday morning, a severe storm with high winds at Lloyd Werft shipyard, in Bremerhaven, swamped the ship with water. Pride of America was flooded up to the third deck, listed 15 degrees and sank to the bottom of the shallow 11-meter deep water-bed. A handful of workers who were onboard were safely rescued though injuries were reported.

Last night's announcement said that Pride of Aloha, which is currently known as Norwegian Sky, and which was scheduled to join the NCL America fleet next fall - to sail three- and four-night all-Hawaii itineraries - will, as a result of the accident, be rushed into refurbishment. It will take over Pride of America's seven-night inter-island cruises, beginning, as originally scheduled (for the new ship) on July 4.

Pride of Aloha, currently sailing as Norwegian Sky, will now undergo its multi-million dollar remodeling in May and be reflagged into the U.S. registry. The 77,104-ton 2,000-passenger ship, built in 1999, will launch in early June in California and wind-up in Hawaii on July 4th for its inaugural christening and celebration.

NCL's statement says that passengers booked on Pride of America will be rebooked on Pride of Aloha and "booked passengers will receive an attractive offer to move to the Pride of Aloha?s new schedule."

The Alaska cruises that Norwegian Sky was meant to sail this spring will be cancelled - passengers booked on those trips will be offered other alternatives.

NCL plans to announce more details, including a more specific timeframe for Pride of America's new launch, next week, so stay tuned.

ParrotMom Jan 18th, 2004 07:10 AM

From what I heard directly from an NCL rep at a travel show yesterdat... the damage is not that severe.. it was basically the shell and had not been outfitted. with the prefab rooms.. Plus.. NCL hadn't taken over the ship yet... When the NCL Sky hit a sandbar in Canada and our trip was cancelled two day before.. we were treated VERY well by NCL...that is before it was taken over.

ingrid295 Jan 18th, 2004 10:02 AM

"...Passengers booked on Pride of America will be rebooked on Pride of Aloha and ... receive an attractive offer to move to the Pride of Aloha's new schedule."

The Alaska cruises that Norwegian Sky was meant to sail this spring will be cancelled - passengers booked on those trips will be offered other alternatives."

The tone of NCLs statement is that Hawaii passengers are more important to NCL. Maybe it wasn't intended to sound that way -- but it does.

Fortunately, our TA has agreed to refund any losses incurred and find us an alternate sailing. NCL is supposed to start calling TAs on Monday to let them know how they plan to handle the mess.

Our TA advised us to continue to work through them if we hoped to get any refunds for hotel, airfare, etc.

If NCL doesn't offer equal incentives to cancelled cruise passengers, I think we will probably just take our refund and book on HAL or Princess.

Let's see what this week brings. We may be pleasantly surprised.

Ingrid


duh Jan 18th, 2004 10:22 AM

yes I agree,they will have have to offer something really good to keep me. The problem is deciding what other line,also if I change I want to see glacier bay. Any suggestions all you cruisers?

andy Jan 18th, 2004 11:25 AM

duh- Go with HAL or Princess in order for a great Alaska cruise AND Glacier Bay--

these 2 lines have been doing Alaska the longest and also HAVE direct access to Glacier Bay, whereas other cruise lines have to bid to get a pass to enter as it is a controlled park area...and not all lines can get in....

duh Jan 18th, 2004 12:39 PM

thank you andy...any ship preference and who do you use to book?

duh Jan 19th, 2004 09:21 AM

ncl says no sky to alaska in june...travelocity says yes. i believe ncl...wish they would get it together.

ingrid295 Jan 19th, 2004 12:33 PM

There is a posting on the cruise critic board saying NCL is planning to bring in another ship to replace the Sky.

Stay tuned....

Ingrid

ingrid295 Jan 20th, 2004 04:56 AM

It's posted on cruise critic this morning that Sky passengers are bing moved to Holland cruise line.

No official word from our TA. Just rumor.

Ingrid


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