Table Of Content
In some ways, the Pride of America looked brand new – especially in the common areas such as dining rooms, shops, guest relations, hallways, etc. If you love seafood, reserve a table (at least three months in advance) at Mama's Fish House for some of the freshest catches imaginable—yes, it's pricy, but totally worth the splurge. The photo above may cause introverts to run, hyperventilating, to the nearest paper bag (I’m breathing into one right now!). If you prefer a more private and serene place to relax, hit the sun decks above the Lido for comfortable and more secluded lounging options. Look closely at the above photo and spot the tiny red fish swimming in the wrong direction near where the carpet transitions to a different pattern.
It offers overnights.
You can take a look at the bar menus here to get an idea of the drink prices so you can weigh the package versus an à la carte approach. We did elect to receive the Hawaii Beverage Package as one of our “free” perks and believe we got our money’s worth. But not everyone will with so little time spent on the ship.
Search and you shall (hopefully) find!
It's the only big cruise ship that doesn't need to begin or end its Hawaii sailings in a mainland U.S city, giving passengers more time in Hawaii and less time at sea. Our cruise fare with a balcony room, the beverage package, speciality dining package and some nominal credits totaled $4,768 for the two of us. The food and stateroom experience felt budget-level, but the cruise cost was far from being a budget price. A limited number of beverages are included in the standard cruise fare. Regular coffee, tea and ice water are generally your only “free” options, except some fruit juices at the breakfast buffet.
Excursions from the NCL Pride of America
It’s a very efficient itinerary in that you travel from island to island while you’re having dinner, enjoying evening entertainment and sleeping. This diversity of venues, including restaurants, lends itself to a fairly spacious atmosphere while onboard. It doesn't often feel like there are more than 2,000 people on the ship at the same time. The spacious vibe is also helped by the fact that most of the ship empties when in port, and the ship is in port every day.
I've watched bartenders run off their feet all week, mixing drinks as fast as their hands will allow. I've seen gift shop workers unpacking box after box of merchandise and doing it with a smile. I've seen crewmembers teaching others how to make cappuccinos, and what the difference is between a latte and a cappuccino and a flat white. The significance of Norwegian Cruise Line's return to Hawaii cannot be understated. Since 2005, Pride of America has been a staple of these Hawaiian Islands, arriving with punctuality into its weekly ports of call, much like the Matson Line ships that used to sail weekly from the U.S. Mainland to Hawaii and points afar and which are still a huge part of local folklore here.
Here’s a list of general items you’ll need or want for your excursions. – Another one of our favorite tours is the Kauai Secret/Sacred Falls Kayak and Waterfall Hike. The boat has 14 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins. This is a bucket-list trip for many, and the star of the show -- onboard and ashore -- is Hawaii itself. Those looking for a late-night libation will have to head on over to Pink's Champagne Bar on Deck 6 (open until Midnight), or the bar within the Mardi Gras Lounge, which is open "until late". The eye-popping colors of the shopping arcade on Deck 5 are still in full swing, and Norwegian's mid-2000 habit of painting clouds and blue sky on ceiling tiles in the buffet lives on.
Advice for driving and parking in Waikiki Beach
Norwegian Cruise Line to Resume Calls to Destination Hit by Wildfires - Cruise Hive
Norwegian Cruise Line to Resume Calls to Destination Hit by Wildfires.
Posted: Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Or just order the Nutella and fresh cream for seven consecutive days like I did. The Hawaii Beverage Package includes most alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including boxed water which is nice to have for port days) up to $15 (and you’ll just pay the difference for any drinks over $15). Note that you will pay tax on the retail price of each drink while at port in Hawaii. Most of the items on the bill I have posted above are tax charges on our drinks. Second, because the Pride of America has to abide by all American labor laws, the majority of crew members will be Americans, unlike other cruise ships that employ mostly foreign workers. Pride of America operates inter-island Hawaii cruises year-round, and there is no indication that the next cruise or any future sailings will be impacted by the now-resolved technical issue.
Pride of America's class is unique as no other similar ships have been built. Her Inaugural cruise was down the US East Coast and lasted from the 18th of June to the 24th. During the voyage, the vessel was a background for the day time TV show "Live with Regis and Kelly". Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa awarded their viewers with 1,000 free NCL cruises in a campaign before the show. Starting from the 16th of May they were giving 20 cruises to winners every day until the 10th of June.
Experience
A few passengers have been overheard to remark that they're on a shakedown cruise -- and they're not wrong. This is the ship's first cruise in revenue service in over two years, and Norwegian is taking a cautious approach. With a substantial 2021 drydock in Portland, Oregon behind it, passengers will find some major improvements aboard this unique ship. When I embarked Pride of America in Honolulu on Saturday, I found a ship that has matured.
The 80,439-gross-ton ship is now en route to Nawiliwili for a much shortened visit. Originally, guests were to be able to enjoy the port for a lengthy overnight stay from 8 a.m. Now, the visit will instead be from approximately 8 a.m. Many guests arrive and stay for a couple of nights before or after in Waikiki. We recommend coming in a couple of days prior so you can enjoy the island of Oahu and then fly out the day the ship returns to port.
The ship provides soap and shampoo in dispenser containers. It’s nice that you don’t have to worry about individual plastic containers and that’s a win for the environment. It would have been better to have had a name brand soap and shampoo or something with a tropical scent to fit the Hawaiian Islands, instead of of what appears as a mass-produced, inexpensive product. The following photo actually makes it appear larger than it really is.
Several bars were completely overhauled, private cabanas were added to Deck 14, the suites were refurbished and the spa was upgraded. The results of this effort are impressive and immediately apparent upon boarding the ship. In addition to a fresh paint job in patriotic colors, the interior resembles that of a five-star resort. As I mentioned earlier, due to the port heavy itinerary, it may not be worth paying the service charges to receive the Hawaii Beverage Package as a perk and definitely wouldn’t be worth it for most people to purchase it outright. But depending on how much you plan on drinking, this is something to consider. While you might see people wearing beautiful leis at the airport in Honolulu and be tempted to purchase one, hold your horses (or your luggage in this case).
As the only U.S. flagged cruise ship, Pride of America sails year round from Honolulu, giving you the freedom and flexibility to vacation on your schedule. Visit four Hawaiian Islands and five ports in seven days while you cruise through paradise in style. NCL Pride of America itinerary program is based on 7-day Hawaiian Islands voyages from Honolulu. The roundtrip itinerary calls at the most exotic islands in the popular travel destination – Hawaii, Kauai and Maui, with several optional shore excursions in the region. On her standard 7-night itinerary, Pride of America provides overnights on Kauai and Maui, as well as calls at Kona and Hilo, and an afternoon sailing of Napali Coast. All are grateful to be here, to have passengers onboard once again - and so are most passengers I spoke with onboard.
No comments:
Post a Comment