93,500 tons aprox.
2,400 passengers
1000+ U.S. crew
U.S. registry
15 decks
U.S. Registry
Entered Service in Hawaii: June 19, 2006
Quality Rating:
Value Rating:
Best For People Who Want:
A convenient and affordable way to see & experience the beauty of Hawaii; those who plan a lot of activities onshore during the 96 hours the ship is in port (every day of the cruise).
Should Be Avoided By People Who Prefer:
a typical cruise experience with lots of onboard activities, humble foreign service staff, formal nights where everyone dresses up.
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About NCL-America:
As the first ship to sail under the NCL-America banner it is important to put this ship, and NCL-America as a subset of NCL Cruise Lines into the proper perspective, a discussion that merits hours, but we will shorten it.
NCL-America (ships: Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and Pride of Hawaii) has the exclusive right to offer 7-day inter-island Hawaii cruises without leaving the state. This required an act of Congress passed to circumvent two ancient (19th century) federal laws regulating passenger vessels. The new requirements for NCL-America cruise lines specify; U.S.flagged vessels crewed with U.S.-citizen (or green card) Coast-Guard certified people only.
Sounds simple, but outdated federal laws aren't the only reason cruise lines hire foreign national crewmembers; foreigners have a tradition of service, familiarity with ship-board life and a lower cost of living at home. For positions usually filled by Indonesians or Rumanians, NCL-A agreed to hire U.S. citizens and get them Coast Guard trained and certified, an expensive process in itself, before they even got onboard. Where do you find young Americans willing to work 7-days a week, sharing tiny rooms with one or two other people, for near minimum wages? Long story short, the first six months of service for this ship became an extended "weeding out" process, eliminating the people just along for the ride. while keeping responsible people who understand they have a job to do.
NCL admitted that they had problems finding the right people to crew the NCL-America ships, and went to great lengths to fix things, including building a mandatory training academy in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for all crewmembers. Things have improved greatly, but you still won't get top-notch Caribbean cruise-style service here, but if all you want is to lay on deck instead seeing glorious Hawaii (this ship is in port every day), you should go to the Caribbean, or take the 11-day Norwegian Wind Hawaii cruise, which has a foreign crew, but must side-step to distant Fanning Island (two days at sea each way) in order to conform -- but at least you can gamble on the way.
As of August, 2007, the latest developments with NCL America is that Pride of Hawaii will leave NCLA, and be re-flagged (Bahamian) to join the regular NCL fleet. This ship was the only purpose built free-style ship in Hawaii, but as of February 2008 it will be called Norwegian Jade and is scheduled to deploy to Europe after a short modifcation period to add a casino and re-paint the hull artwork.
Additional changes include modifications to the stiff crewing requirements which will allow NCLA to crew its ships with up to 25% foreign nationals. This will lower their crewing costs and add to crew stability on the Hawaii ships. The goal of these changes is to make the Hawaii product a better experience, but it is also expected that it will raise the cost of the cruise. Our recommendation is to book Pride of Hawaii while you still can, it is the most beautiful of the NCLA ships, and the price is still a bargain.
Onboard Experience:
When first-time cruisers take this ship they invariably give it high marks. But experienced cruisers who already know that cruise line levels of service are the best in the world, are often disappointed. Frankly, that "spirit of service" usually so prevalent on cruise ships is often missing in these American youth. To sum it up, they can be unduly familiar, too loud, and not deferential enough. More likely offer "Hey, how's it goin'?" than "good morning, sir."
NCL-America ships are a great cruise, but take them as a way to see Hawaii first, and as a cruise experience second, If you don't care where you sail and just want to be on a ship, go to the Caribbean. On the other hand, if you want to cruise and visit Hawaii, or just visit Hawaii, I can't think of a better way to do it. And truthfully, these are still very good ships, unless you are a curmudgeon. Strap on a smile and treat your room-steward like he is your nephew and you will get along just fine. Just don't expect him to beam with joy when you praise the way he polished the bathroom.
Pride of Hawaii is the largest and most expensive U.S.-flagged cruise ship in history. It is almost 25% larger than the other NCL-America ships, but carries only 300 more passengers. It features 10 restaurants, three swimming pools, a large spa and beautiful public rooms. The ship features a new style of accommodations - 10 Courtyard Villas - which along with the ship�s two Garden Villas - make up the largest, grandest, most luxurious, most innovative suite complex in Hawaii. The suite complex boasts a private courtyard and sundeck with private pool, and both Courtyard and Garden Villa guests have a concierge lounge available to them.
Additionally, Pride of Hawai`i features �Bar Central,� a martini bar, a champagne and wine bar, and a beer and whisky pub all connected, with three distinct personalities, plus nine other bars and lounges for passengers to enjoy.
Decor:
On board, Pride of Hawaii has ten restaurants, and twelve different bars, three pools and extensive children's facilities. Firsts for NCL (or any cruise line) include a new category of family suites which actually include access to an enclosed private swimming pool. The S.S. United States Library features memorabilia and artifacts from the historic ship now owned by NCL. The "theme" of the ship is the natural beauty of the volcanic Pacific island chains. The public rooms all have identities of their own, and the NCL ships are becoming more fanciful, a la the Farcusian Carnival ships, all the time.
Public Rooms:
Where Pride of Aloha is hyper-Hawaiian, and you wonder how Pride of
America remains afloat for the weight of its kitschy Americana, the
energetically eclectic Pride of Hawaii's decor features vibrantly
colorful South Pacific iconography in the corridors and staterooms,
much more restrained styling in many of its public spaces, and, in
others like the Medusa Lounge, design that can described only as
wacky. If there's anything resembling a constant, its the rich wood
veneers.
Pride of Hawaii is virtually indistinguishable architecturally from
Norwegian Jewel. Nor can anyone remember having seen it in the same
room with Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star.
The Stardust Theater, the main entertainment venue, features dramatic masks as inspired by Greek theater, though they look more Venetian. The mask theme is carried throughout the room from the stage curtains to the carpet. The royal blue and gold theater-style seats bedazzle the eye. The Spinnaker Lounge's aquatic theme has carpet of oceanic waves complete with swimming fish, white egg-cup barstools, and maple cocktail tables topped with green tinted glass tops. The Medusa Cabaret and Nightclub has vivid purple couches and orange chairs atop starfish carpet. The Aloha Bar and the Star Bar are relatively tame by comparison, with the usual island-themed wicker & wood.
Cuisine:
Since this ship entered service, the grumbling of disgruntled diners has abated but not disappeared, but it is largely delegated to the Aloha Nui Cafe buffet area where busboys can be agonizingly slow. The food is not bad, there is a meat carverie and a fresh fruit carverie offering papaya, honeydew and mango. There is sushi, a soup station, and plenty of fresh pastries. Outdoors, poolside, are a waffle and an omelet station. The main restaurants have good food, though certainly not the best on board. The alternative restaurants, which carry various service charges, have excellent food and huge portions.
Restaurants:
There are two main restaurants, Grand Pacific, is inspired by the first-class dining rooms from the Matson Liner ships that sailed from San Francisco to Honolulu. Artwork around the room, featuring paintings of traditional life of the Polynesian people, is derived from the menu covers from the Matson Line. The Alizar is smaller and much simpler in decor, but features the same menu.
There are several reservations-only restaurants with a cover charge, Cagney's Steakhouse is named after the famous gangster (why, we don't know), Paniolo Tapas Bar & Restaurant
takes its name from the Hawaiian cattle ranchers known as paniolos at the Parker Ranch on the island of Hawaii. Jasmine Garden Asian Restaurant
is the Pacific Rim restaurant, with a good variety of seafood selections and teriyaki meats. Papa's Italian Kitchen is as the name suggests. A perennial favorite on all NCL ships since the early '90s is Le Bistro where the food is French-inspired with delicate sauces; scrumptious.
If something lighter than a full menu in the dining room is more your style, there is the the Aloha Nui Lanai on the Lido deck. Weather permitting, there are frequent barbecues on deck. The ice cream bar dishes up sundaes, sherbets, and plain old ice cream.
Service:
Service on the NCL-America ships may have been scandalously bad in the beginning, but it has improved. Blame the fact that Americans are rather less inclined than Indonesian or Croatians to work 12-hour days for not much money. The best course is to resign yourself to any small shortcomings, and speak up when that is not enough. If your room steward just doesn't "get it," call the front desk and ask to speak with the head of housekeeping. The waiters work hard, busboys are a different story, but they can only work as fast as the kitchen enables them.
Tipping:
NCL had to change its tipping policies after Pride of Aloha became an American-flagged vessel with an all-American crew, sailing round-trip from a U.S. port; the standard prepaid gratuity gave way to a mandatory $10 "service charge." In bars, you must add a tip manually, while spa charges have a 15% gratuity automatically added. The "service charge" of $10 per person per day is added to the bill, replacing a gratuity. Rotten service has embarrassed NCL into canceling pre-paid tipping entirely on many sailings; if you find someone good, be sure to slip him or her a buck or two.
Entertainment:
Hawaiian-inspired, most of the entertainment is good. Indeed, the Tihati Polynesian Show, featuring very talented locals doing folkloric dances in eye opening costumes, scheduled when the ship overnights in Kauai, is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Hula line dancing classes are almost always packed, as are the coconut husking classes, shell jewelry, and lei-making.
More typical cruise ship fare -- dancing, cabaret, and Broadway-style production shows - is presented other nights in the main Stardust Theatre, in which the ship's resident theatrical troupe offers two staged Broadway-style musicals per week.
One of the most salubrious spots on the ship, the Medusa Cabaret Lounge & Nightclub is the late night spot where the DJ spins unto the wee hours. The Spinnaker Lounge, high atop deck 14 and all the way forward, offers a panoramic ocean view. Magnum's Champagne & Wine Bar is tastefully elegant and features wine and champagne by the glass. Mixer's Martini & Cocktail Bar is the place for serious mixologists to meet, mingle and eventually fall off their bar-stools. Corona Cigar Bar is for people who relish clouds of tobacco smoke filling the air.
There is an Internet cafe onboard that offers wireless service, but only in the vicinity of the cafe.
Cabins:
Pride of Hawaii has family-friendly connecting staterooms including a new category of family suites. If you are planning to take your family and can afford one, take some time to investigate the various suite offerings, as they all can vary considerably and offer very interesting floorplans.
The standard cabins tend to be small, so be prepared to tuck things away and do not bring over-sized suitcases. The closet and drawer space is barely adequate for a week. All that said, each cabin is pleasantly decorated and has a small sitting area, TV/radio, telephone, modem connection, refrigerator, safe and individual thermostat. Plus something rarely seen on a cruise ship, an actual coffee-maker in every cabin. A daily movie program is available on the TV, along with CNN and another satellite channel.
Suite residents enjoy concierge service. The penthouses and owner's suites, located fore and aft, are larger (between 311 and 398 sq. ft., depending on location), with teak decks and private hot tubs on the deck of the owners' suites. There are also connecting cabins for families.
Fitness/Spa:
The Pool Deck, Sports Deck and Sun Deck are expansive, and sheltered from the wind. You'll enjoy the views they offer as you sail into a spectacular port. Forward on the Pool Deck, the fitness center has one room filled (too filled, in fact!) with up-to-date equipment, and a view, and another for aerobics classes. The free weights area can accommodate only one buffed person at a time. A full-size basketball/volleyball court on the Sports Deck, two golf driving ranges, a batting cage, jogging track and aerobics classes scheduled throughout the day round out the program.
The Steiner-run Ying & Yang Health Spa & Beauty Salon includes massage and steam rooms. Do note that some of the "traditional" massage treatments they claim to offer are derivatives and may not be as authentic as when offered by authentic therapists who practice the disciplines in their native habitat. Also note that the service fees in the Spa include a space for an additional tip, but that does not go to your therapist (it is pooled) so if you want to tip your therapist, take cash.
Attire:
"Freestyle Cruising" means you can get as dressed up -- or down -- as you please. It doesn't mean that you're free to wear blue jeans or shorts in restaurants or public areas after 6 p.m.
