Pride of Aloha artwork to be Hawaiian style

Jason · January 31, 2004

A mural of surfers and a life-sized hula girl lamp with swaying hips are among Hawaii-themed items that will be onboard the new Pride of Aloha when the ship begins its interisland cruises in July.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced Wednesday that the ship's multimillion dollar remodeling project is scheduled to begin in May. The ship was previously called Norwegian Sky. The renovations will occur while the ship is docked in San Francisco.

The ship's focal point -- a towering eight-deck high glass-domed atrium -- will have artwork throughout. There will be 50-foot high sculptures, inspired by the menehune and rainbow-colored sails will hang overhead. The disco deck is called the Blue Hawaii Night Club and its entrance will be adorned with a life-sized hula girl lamp. An ubiquitous tropical feel will be achieved with thatched roof sections, palm trees and scattered leis.

"We wanted to give the ship a sense of place, of history, of the diversity that is Hawaii," designer Mary Philpotts said.

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A bar and cigar room on deck six will feature artwork showing the discoveries and travels of Captain James Cook, the European discoverer of Hawaii. The Outrigger Lounge was inspired by Polynesians who navigated the Pacific Ocean. And the Plantation Club will reflect the "hospitality of a plantation owner's home," according to the Norwegian Cruise Line.

The 2,000-passenger Pride of Aloha will begin its seven-day interisland cruises July 4, earlier than originally planned. The ship's schedule was reworked after sister ship Pride of America, which was scheduled to begin Hawaii routes in June, was damaged during a storm at the dock in Bremerhaven, Germany.