Pride of America Review

better than expected

Review for Hawaii Cruise on Pride of America
User Avatar
dukeblue1
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Feb 2008

There's something consistently bright about NCL ships. Having cruised this itinerary twice before on the Pride of Aloha, one of my favorite all-time ships, I expected to be disappointed by the Pride of America. America's a beautiful country and I am a proud American, but American-themed decor can be tacky and has never been my cup of tea. Not so on this ship! Every stairwell has a different panoramic mural ranging from scenes from New England to the Grand Canyon. Even the red and blue carpet was nice. Overall, this is a very attractive ship and that adds to the experience.

The cabin, though nice, had its issues. Cruisers who book suites need to do careful research. As a group of five adults, we had some minor challenges with the deluxe family suite. The suite appears to have two separate bedrooms and a living room, but in fact there are only two bedrooms. The living room is an extension of the main bedroom, and the only privacy afforded is a curtain. The second bedroom has two single beds and one pull down single bed. This may work for a family with three kids, but it is not so great for five adults of different sexes. Also, the espresso machine, while a great touch, did not work after the first day. The balcony is somewhat cramped and uncomfortable for more than two or three people at a time.

Food was overall very good to excellent and choices abound. Jefferson's Bistro was the consensus favorite. Ironically, at least some of the wait staff in the Bistro came over from the Kahili restaurant on the Pride of Aloha. Service was absolutely top notch from start to finish. The Asian restaurant (actually four restaurants within a restaurant) was also excellent. We were less impressed with the steakhouse-in fact, I cannot even recall the name of it. For breakfast, there are the normal choices (buffet or dining room), but also a specialty restaurant, the Cadillac Grill, serving diner fare like waffles and biscuits with gravy. We never had difficulty getting a seat anywhere, with the exception of the Italian restaurant, which was free of additional surcharge (the food was very good, but not great. I think its popularity stems from the lack of a surcharge).

Cabin Review

previous reviewnext review

Find a Pride of America Cruise from $899

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.