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Onboard, the crew of Pride of America have worked diligently to bring this ship back into service. The ship sparkles thanks to its extensive refit, and what its crew lacks in polish it makes up for in raw determination. 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.
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NCL returning to Maui, with community's support - Seatrade Cruise News
NCL returning to Maui, with community's support.
Posted: Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
So if you book tours or explore on your own via a rental car or public transportation, you don’t need to worry about what time you get back to the ship – the gangway will stay open all night and into the next day. Here are my top shore excursion picks for Maui and Kaua’i offered by Viator (owned by Trip Advisor). Pride of America has 9 restaurants, including 2 main dining rooms, the no-charge Cadillac Diner and the casual buffet Aloha Cafe. Better make a reservation if you prefer dining at a specific time, at a certain venue. Wednesdays and Fridays are the busiest nights in all extra-fee restaurants; Sundays are the slowest.
Plan activities with the itinerary in mind
I had an absolute ball sitting at the bar chatting to friendly bartenders, sipping on the “Cocktail of the Day” and munching on free buttered popcorn! This Wild-West themed sports bar has a great line-up of live music, hosts karaoke and plays the NBA/NFL Games. Highlights included Jurassic Park Falls, Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and the Napali Coast sea cliffs. The itinerary departs Oahu every Saturday and returns the following Saturday.
NCL America's Hawaiian cruises removing Maui from itineraries due to fires
There are bubblegum hues in Pink's Champagne Bar, for instance, and a riot of vivid bead-inspired colors in the Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge & Nightclub. There are two pools, multiple hot tubs and lots of appealing outside deck space—including the Aloha Lanai Bar aft on deck 11—ideal for sail-away cocktails at sunset. The ship, which carries 2,186 passengers at full occupancy but is sailing at 50 percent capacity through at least November 2022, is 17 years old and unique to the NCL fleet. It features a distinctly Americana theme—the main reception area resembles something straight out of Jeffersonian Washington, D.C.—with décor that's kitschy and colorful rather than contemporary and neutral. According to Norwegian Cruise Line, before ending the current cruise in Honolulu on April 20, 2024, the 2005-built vessel is set to make a shortened visit to Nawiliwili. From top to bottom and from bow to stern, Pride of America has enough onboard activities to fill every minute of your cruise.
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This is a noticeable difference for passengers used to cruising in places like the Caribbean where most activities can be found immediately on shore. For this reason, it is advisable to organize shore activities in advance. Pride of America offers a plethora of exciting shore excursions for a fee (ziplining, kayaking, bus tours of Volcanoes National Park, luaus and more). Shore excursions are such a big deal on this ship that they often fill up before the ship leaves port the first day.
Enjoy delicious pasta made with the freshest ingredients inside our chic Italian eatery, La Cucina. No matter what you choose, our specialty dining options feature the tastes you’ll crave. Serving a wide variety of culinary delights to please every palate, our complimentary dining options include two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices.
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. There are quite a few options, from interior rooms without views, rooms with picture windows and rooms with balconies. Some rooms with windows or balconies have obstructed views and are noted in the room category. Most of the common areas of the ship are decorated with bright, exciting colors. Generally speaking, the decor was in good taste and reflected the excitement and adventure of a cruise.
Don’t Purchase A Lei At The Airport, You’ll Receive One At The Cruise Terminal
All rates & offers are capacity controlled, are subject to availability & confirmation, & may change without notice. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed -- please confirm details at time of booking. Stateroom photos are for sample purposes only -- actual design and layout may vary. Even if you’ve already eaten multiple desserts from the restaurant, there’s always room for a made-to-order crepe.
Kailua – Kona – Big Island
Several bars, like the Gold Rush Saloon, Key West Sports Bar and the Waikiki Bar on Deck 13 are shuttered as well due to the lack of passengers, though all of the ship's interior bars are open for business. Most of the completely closed venues are outer-deck locations, though opening hours have been adjusted for several bars, including John Adams Coffee Bar and the Napa Wine Bar, both of which close at 10 p.m. It may be early days as far as the Hawaiian cruise restart goes, but Norwegian and the crew aboard Pride of America have turned the ship into a destination in its own right. I found myself wishing for more days at sea to enjoy the comforts of the ship and that Pride of America itself was so quiet, well-maintained, and well-run. Seeing Pride of America return for the first time in two years represents a return to normalcy for people in port. For those who rely on the tourist trade brought by the cruise ships, it's a return to financial stability.
Norwegian Cruise Line Returns to Maui Beginning September 3 - Travel Agent Central
Norwegian Cruise Line Returns to Maui Beginning September 3.
Posted: Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
NCL expects to add crew members and open additional restaurants and bars in the coming month but doesn't anticipate being at full capacity with all venues open until late November or December. For the best value, book when NCL is offering a Free at Sea promo that includes a complimentary beverage package, Wi-Fi, and specialty dining as well as discounts on shore excursions since this can save you a bundle. Come aboard Pride of America, our only cruise ship that sails round trip from Honolulu year-round so you can holiday on your timetable . As you journey from one exotic island to the next, learn about the Hawaiian culture through the eyes of native ambassadors on board our ship. Come aboard and learn why no one does Hawai'i like Norwegian.
In some ways, the Pride of America looked brand new – especially in the common areas such as dining rooms, shops, guest relations, hallways, etc. The boat has 14 decks, of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins. 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.
NCL has done a nice job curating their menu of excursions to suit both the adventure seeker and the casual sightseer. For adventures, there’s hiking, zip lining, kayaking and snorkeling. For the sightseer, there are many tours filled with amazing island scenery that hit some of each island’s highlights. Skim through this link for some examples of the excursions offered through NCL. The staff delivers a “Freestyle Daily” to your cabin every night with information for the following day. It was usually four pages in length and full of great information on activities and entertainment.
In both Kaua’i and Kona there are free or inexpensive things to do within walking distance of the ship (or near Kailua Pier where your tender boat will deliver you, in the case of Kona). As such, you won’t do much lounging around the ship in your robe with a cocktail in one hand and a soft serve cone in the other, turning the pages of your book with an elbow. I still have four more days of adventure aboard Pride of America in Hawaii to go, and I'm already looking at how I can come back and do it all over again.
Decor-wise, we liked the restaurants and lounges that had a “Hawaiian-feel” to them, but there weren’t many places onboard like that. The Aloha Cafe, the main buffet restaurant of the ship, had some Hawaiian touches. We normally grabbed breakfast from here and took it out to the adjacent Aloha Lana’i Bar seating, which is alfresco.
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