Pride of Hawaii will become Norwegian Jade in Europe

For all of you who, like me, wanted to see a ship with a giant Hawaiian man painted on its side ply the waters of the Mediterranean, you're out of luck. When the

Pride of Hawaii

leaves Hawaii in February 2008, the ship will be renamed the

Norwegian Jade

and repainted with more appropriate hull art.



Norwegian

is hoping the

Pride of Hawaii

, with its new name and look, will become the pride of Europe. The cruise line is positioning three of its Jewel-class ships in Europe for an extended cruising season in 2008. Norwegian fans will be able to sail on some of the line's newest and most innovative ships in one of the most popular destinations for cruising.

The

Norwegian Jade

will arrive in Europe in March 2008 and stay through the end of November. The ship will sail 12-night eastern and western Mediterranean cruises before repositioning to Southampton for a series of voyages to the Mediterranean, North Cape, western Europe, and the British Isles. The

Norwegian Gem

, which debuts this fall, comes to Europe in May 2008 and will sail seven-night western Mediterranean cruises until early November. The

Norwegian Jewel

will also return to the Continent in May to sail Baltic capitals cruises through the summer.

If you want to try out any of the Jewel-class ships in Europe, 2008 itineraries go on sale April 17 for the

Jewel

and

Gem

and April 24 for the

Jade

. And if you want to be among the limited number of people who cruised on the

Pride of Hawaii

in Hawaii before her renaming, book now because the ship's final interisland itinerary departs January 28, 2008.