Pride of America Review
From Where I Sit: A Positive Wheelchair Driven Perspective
Rating by category
Additional details
4 prior NCL cruises and a great fondness for the Hawaiian Islands sealed the deal for this 21st anniversary present to ourselves, a trucker driver and an RN, ages 54 and 62. We started with a 5 1/2 hour flight to Honolulu 2 days before embarkation, staying at the Embassy Suites Beach Walk in the heart of Waikiki.
Embarkation Day we shared a van ride to Cruise Dock 2 with a friendly couple of Canadian ladies from our CC Roll Call and would have been among the first to board our ship around noon, except the wait for my wheelchair escort. As everyone must be off for disembark by 10:15, I am not sure what the hold up is on the WC, but one arrived shortly after noon and the remainder of the boarding process went very smoothly.
After a tasty lunch in Skyline MDR, our 8th deck Forward AC stateroom was ready, and we dropped off our carry-ons and inspected the premises and view before heading down for our M&G in Napa Wine Bar, 6 Midship. About 20 of our original 25 signed up were present and light refreshments, introductions and a short Q&A with ship's officers ensued.
Cabin Review
Balcony
AC cabin 8554 is 1.5X size of standard balcony. Foundation bedding was odd, extra padded mattress pads added to help disguise lumpiness and hardness. No sofa due to room configuration, 2 very hard uncomfortable and narrow chairs instead plus one desk chair. Good amount of storage space. Small flat screen TV. 2 outlets at desk with low power hair dryer. Closet has dowel bar that detaches and comes down to WC height for ease of hanging and retrieving clothes.
5 drawers and numerous open cubbies for your stuff. Doorways 36" per ADA requirements. Sink undercut so you can wheel up to it. Grab bars on both sides of toilet plus 2 in no threshold shower area. Shower chair holds 300 lbs. Liquid soap and shampoo, no conditioner. Panic buttons and rocker panel light switches and climate controls within WC height. Steel ramp out to naroow balcony, about 4 x 12. Just cabins above and below, good location near elevators but crew door just opposite, very noisy on last night as luggage was being removed through that door.