This was our first trip to Hawaii, so our travel agent suggested we take Pride of America to familiarize ourselves with the state rather than picking just 1 or 2 places to visit. GOOD CALL- This is a terrific introduction to the 50th state and we have some good ideas about future trips based upon our experience. BAD CALL - was this really a cruise? I love cruise vacations for their relaxed pace, but with ports every day, there is really very little cruising and no full cruise days.POTENTIAL UPSIDE - Some ports are overnight, so the dining rooms and entertainment venues are sparsely populated.
We planned the trip at the last minute (30 days out) so the prices of suites and balcony rooms was very close. We took the bait and upgraded to a suite. In hind site, this was probably not a good cruise to upgrade to a suite since most of the time is spent in port and the emphasis is on excursions.
If you are looking to explore Hawaii, take this cruise. If you are looking for a relaxing cruise, this may not be for you.
As a suite guest you also get priority check in and first in line service at other points, such as the dining rooms. You carry a different colored card and the staff recognize them.
