I had cruised on this ship back in 2006. It was redone in 2013. What a difference! This ship is the only cruise ship made in America. It's hull was built in Mississippi. It is registered in the U.S. It was originally part of Project America, a federal gov't. program to foster American jobs. However, the original company, American Classic Voyages, went bankrupt and the sale of the hull was approved for Norwegian Cruise Line which finished the ship. Everything about the ship is American. Pride of America is a paean to the United States. Everything onboard the ship celebrates American culture and history, from the 1950s kitsch of the Cadillac Diner to the sober statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Liberty Dining Room. You get a feel for the ship as soon as you board: Stepping into the marble lobby, you're greeted with a huge seal of the United States embedded in the flooring. It almost feels irreverent to walk across it.

What makes the Pride of America so special is it's crew. Since it flies the American flag, over 75% of the crew is American. Many of them reminded me of myself. The stewards, waiters, and servers were young college students earning money for their education. The crew were fantastic and the service was really great.

Because it is the only US flag cruise ship, it is the only ship allowed to go from one Hawaiian island to another. No other ship can do this. The itinerary was excellent Read more