Pride of America Review
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This was my first and last cruise with NCL. Wait staff could care-a-less about you. I eventually quit purchasing priced beverages. You will be expected to find a waiter, order, then wait and wait and then have a mandatory 15% gratuity foisted on you.
A.M. breakfast room service was a joke. On day two I finally figured out that I would have to go to main desk and ASK for menu and cards to fill out and hang on door knob. The next day when I have a 7:45 a.m. ship excursion, it was almost 30 minutes late! I complained -- was told that I needed to call and tell them I need it on time because I will be on an NCL excursion?! So the following day it is then 30 minutes early! There were more issues with room service -- suffice it to say they make it so that you don't use it.
Excursions were extremely over-priced. Plan ahead and rent a car -- we did for Maui and that was one of the best days we had heading up the observatory and then to a few beaches. We also used Roberts to go to Volcanoes National Park and saved hundreds (we were a group of 8 people). NCL staff is programmed to not answer any questions beyond sponsored excursions and shopping, so you really must plan ahead or be at their mercy. One thing I wanted to do was an outrigger canoe ride and ship staff was very dismissive every time I brought it up. Fortunately I knew ahead of time that I could probably get it done in Kona via the King Kamehameha hotel, which I was able to do. We chartered one for an hour, saw spinner dolphins all around us -- it was awesome! We did use NCL for Waimea canyon, jungle kayaking and the luau. The NCL excursions were nicely executed, but very pricey. If you do the jungle trek and kayaking bring serious lace-up water shoes or dive booties. The literature just says water shoes recommended, but you need footwear that can handle ankle deep mud and lava rock for when you get to the falls. I did not have adequate footwear and the quality of the day was greatly diminished. The luau was actually very fun, great show, open bar and local vendors selling lots of neat craft items.
Cabin Review
Family Inside
Room was very small -- smallest interior cabin I have ever had. We opted to not have the two twins put together or there would have been no room to maneuver without banging your head and shoulders because of the overhead bunks on the two side walls. There was an extra round stool that we put in the closet because the room was that small.Closet and drawer storage is OK.Also AC did not seem to remove humidity from room -- by the end of the cruise all of our stuff was cold and damp.Lighting was also quite dim -- had to use my cell-phone light to locate my glasses when they fell off the nightstand.Spots of mold in shower.