I've cruised over a dozen times on four different cruise lines and this Hawaiian itinerary on Pride of America is, hands down, my favourite vacation yet. I went into it with average expectations, mostly from what I've read in other reviews, but every part of the vacation exceeded all my expectations.
We flew into Honolulu and boarded the ship after travelling for 14 hours. I would not recommend this approach to anyone because of the extreme jet lag, though it was efficient! Also, spending a couple of days on Oahu would have given us more time to see this unique island as well.
NCL was offering a great promotion, so we ended up booking a suite for our family of five for a similar rate to booking two inside cabins, which is our usual habit. The amenities that came with the suite--priority embarkation/debarkation, in-cabin espresso machine, nightly treats, butler and concierge services--made us feel like royalty. The cabin wasn't large, but was sufficient. We had a balcony on the 13th deck overlooking the main pool area, which was a great vantage point for following all the action. When the doors were closed, it was completely sound proof.
Smaller than some of the balcony cabins, but still very roomy and comfortable for five people. Featured a large king-bed, a murphy bed and a pull-out couch. Had a large closet and large bathroom with tub. We really enjoyed the espresso machine! Our balcony overlooked the midship pool area, which was a fun vantage point to watch all the action, but totally soundproof with the doors closed.