After reading so many negative reviews of the Pride of Aloha on the Cruise Critic site, I sent NCL a letter expressing my concerns about my up-coming Cruise. I soon received a phone call from a NCL representative advising me that they were trying to correct the problems and that I should "try to go with the flow" and I would enjoy my trip. That response only gave me more concerns. However, she was right. I went expecting the worse and I ended up having a thoroughly enjoyable time. (except for the food)

We arrived two days early from New York and stayed at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Hotel.(a great place to stay) At the Marriott, we pre -registered for the Cruise. We boarded the POA on 9/5/04 at 3pm and it took us only about 20 minutes to board. We had a balcony room and it was clean when we arrived. We called room service and the front desk each day for three days to report that our room was missing a hair dryer. We finally received it on the third evening. We only saw our room steward on three occasions but the room was clean each evening so I know she was busy. My only complaint is that she put ice in our ice bucket only once and we needed it for the drinks we brought on board.

Entertainment on the ship was professional and thoroughly enjoyable. Each day we left the ship and rented a car for approx $33 a day, by catching a free shuttle where we docked.(Budget and Thrifty) It was much cheaper than the organized excursions and we still got to tour the Islands and visit the beaches. The Hawaiian Islands have some of the most beautiful scenery (colorful mountains, beaches, flowers,etc.) I have ever seen in my life and I am ready to go back again next year. Read more