Building, crewing and operating three US-flagged vessels in Hawaii has
been a big challenge for NCL. I really doubt they were given some kind
of "sweetheart deal" just because they are "pretty". I think it was
more a matter of Sen. Inouye wanting to be re-elected.
First of all - there was another company that had that "monopoly"
before NCL, American Hawaii Lines." They eventually were rolled up
with the Delta Queen company (another all-American cruise line) into
ACCL and sailed two ships, (remember the ex-HAL Nieuw Amsterdam), until
that parent company had to declare insolvency after 9/11.
When ACCL went under, they were in the process of building two brand
new vessels for Hawaii cruising, both of them the first passenger ships
scheduled to be built in US shipyards and flagged in United States in
50 years. The cost for these ships was (on average) about double what
it would cost to build the same ships in Europe, for various reasons
like labor unions, taxes, lack of modernity. A taxpayer-backed loan of
some $900 million for these ships had been provided by the US govt to
ACCL.
Those ships were left, partially-built, (just hulls for the most part)
lanquishing in Newport News, when ACCL folded. There they stayed for a
few years, until NCL agreed to take the project over. What was looking
like $900 million boondoggle for us taxpayers was at least somewhat
ameliorated by NCL taking charge.
As far as this being "anti-consumer" - no other major cruise line has
ever expressed any interest in building a US-flagged ship. They are
perfectly happy with things the way they are.
In addition, NCL also acquired the SS United States, the largest and
fastest ocean liner ever, built in 1948 by the US Government, which has
been rusting in the Philadelphia shipyards for 50 years now. They have
not announced their plans for it yet.
All in all, I think NCL deserves a nod for not only being innovative,
but taking action that benefits the US taxpayers. NCL-America is the
most "American" cruise line out there.
On another note, Hawaii is an odd bird. Here is state almost fully
dependent upon tourism for its well-being, and yet they do not allow
casino gambling at all. You can now gamble in almost every state in the
union that has an Indian reservation, plus many other states with water
have allowed "river boat" gambling, or day-boat excursions to open
seas. But not Hawaii.
The number one destination for Hawaii natives when they fly to the
mainland is Las Vegas, by far.
Lee Lindquist wrote:
> On 26 Jun 2006 02:45:35 -0700, mikeerdas@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> >> Demonstrating that if you don't like a law, simply
> >> bribe enough people in congress, and they'll
> >> create you're own, personal, 50-year loophole.
> >
> >I thought the vast majority of cruise ships were registered in obscure
> >places to skirt labor laws, taxes, environmental regulations, etc. It's
> >refreshing to see ships registered in the US. Seems to be an exception
> >to the registration Rule.
>
> It's refreshing to see the government create a legal monopoly
> with a 50-year lifespan, to benefit a single company?
>
> I don't find it refreshing at all. I find it quite anti-consumer.
>
> --
> - Lee
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