Table Of Content
Discover the recently refurbished Norwegian Spirit as you witness the South Pacific’s untouched islands on a Hawaii and French Polynesia cruise. Experience the lush forests, crystal-clear turquoise waters and colorful undersea life that will have you feeling like you are in paradise. If you'd rather dive into a snorkel adventure, two top catamaran excursions are the six-hour Molokini Crater & Turtle Snorkel ($249 per person) or the 8.5-hour Lanai Sail & Snorkel ($229). I did Molokini—an offshore crescent-shaped crater that's home to more than 250 species of tropical fish—on my first visit to Hawaii and enjoyed it. Some fellow passengers I spoke with on the recent cruise did Lanai and encountered lots of sea turtles and spinner dolphins. Further west, stop in historic Lahaina, which is home to a massive 149-year-old banyan tree along with galleries, shops, and restaurants.
Norwegian (NCL) Pride of America Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review - Cruise Critic
Norwegian (NCL) Pride of America Cruise Ship Review First-hand Expert Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:54:12 GMT [source]
What's Included
There are quite a few options, from interior rooms without views, rooms with picture windows and rooms with balconies. Some rooms with windows or balconies have obstructed views and are noted in the room category. In some ways, the Pride of America looked brand new – especially in the common areas such as dining rooms, shops, guest relations, hallways, etc. Rappel waterfalls, see Oahu from the sky, or watch for whales on your Hawaii cruise with our list of thrilling things to do. Sit back and enjoy the sights along the famed Hana Highway without having to navigate the twisting, curving road yourself.
Plan activities with the itinerary in mind
First, some Hawaiian cruises start or end in Hawaii and connect to California, Ensenada or Vancouver. Other itineraries combine Hawaii cruises with French Polynesia. The third and most popular type of Hawaii cruise sails entirely within the Hawaiian Islands, or begins and ends in Hawaii and includes one foreign port, such as Fanning Island, in the itinerary. These unique itineraries allow you to explore two of the world’s most popular destinations, Hawaii and French Polynesia, in one vacation. Departing from Pape’ete or Honolulu, these itineraries have been designed to help you make the most out of your time in the region. Relax in Bora Bora, explore the ocean’s depths in Tahiti, or simply sit back and take in the stunning views in Raiatea.
Final thoughts on our Pride of America cruise of Hawaii
Overall, the food was edible, but far from being memorable. The waitstaff seemed to want to provide a good experience, but they also seemed very stretched trying to take care of so many other guests at the same time. With dining being such a big part of most people’s expectations of cruise, we felt that Norwegian fell short.
NEW! Hawaii and French Polynesia Cruises
Check out our video overview from our Pride of America cruise of Hawaii. That said, there's definitely some strategy required to maximize your on-island experience. Having just returned in mid-May from my second Pride of America sailing (the first was in 2006 not long after the ship's debut), I'm happy to share advice that can help you enjoy your Hawaii experience. The itinerary is excellent and the island destinations are fantastic.
Honolulu
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for their “freestyle” dining. You can dine when you like, where you like and with who you like. You are not limited to a set dining time or assigned to a group table. The ship’s plumbing seemed to be an issue occasionally.
For a ship that’s dedicated to sailing within the Hawaiian Islands every day of the year for many years, it sure could use more Hawaiian or tropical decor. If you’ve never been to Hawaii or tend to just go to one of the islands, this itinerary is a very good one. The Pride of America itinerary is especially good if you’re short on time and you want to get a taste of each of the four major islands. It’s a very efficient itinerary in that you travel from island to island while you’re having dinner, enjoying evening entertainment and sleeping. Only Norwegian lets you visit four islands in seven days, which means you're on an island each and every day! Since we are the only cruise line that homeports in Hawaii, offering convenient year-round Saturday departures, you can vacation on your schedule.
Most of the excursions we took were quite long and included lunch. We know the destinations you'll be visiting and what there is to see, do and experience. We offer you a variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit. Pay airfare for one guest, and you'll automatically lock-in roundtrip flights for two. Secure these savings online by choosing your nearest airport in step one of your cruise booking, and enjoy air-to-sea made easy. We'll coordinate your roundtrip flights, and transportation between the airport and cruise port.
Feel free to let the gentle breezes of Waikīkī stir up your Aloha spirit as you set out to explore the Hawaiian islands with Norwegian. Soak up the vibes as you sink your toes in a black-sand beach before your trek to the top of Haleakalā — Maui’s massive volcano. When the sun sets, get ready for unforgettable stargazing well past midnight. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the culture, sights and local flavor of five unique ports including O`ahu, Maui, Hilo, Kona and Kaua`i. Looking to make the most out of your time in the region?
But once you hop the Hawaiian islands with Norwegian, it will become your thing. There are several scenic beaches—including Secret Beach, Lumahai Beach, and Tunnels Beach—along the way, but parking is roadside, access can be tricky via steep trails and swimming isn't advised due to rough surf. NCL has done a nice job curating their menu of excursions to suit both the adventure seeker and the casual sightseer.
The fitness center is by far the largest we’ve ever seen on a cruise ship. It was also one of the most sparsely populated areas of the ship. In addition to the fitness center, water aerobics was offered at the pool. Unfortunately, our full days of exploring the islands plus our jet lag got the best of us most evenings. So we didn’t get to catch one of the evening shows in the Hollywood Theater.
Technical Issue Cancels Two Port Visits for Norwegian Cruise Ship - Cruise Hive
Technical Issue Cancels Two Port Visits for Norwegian Cruise Ship.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:06:31 GMT [source]
Make your Hawaii cruise vacation even more enjoyable by booking your cruise, air, and hotel in Honolulu all at once and save up to $900 per person. See the Hawaii others miss with overnight stays in Honolulu (pre-cruise with package), Maui and Kauai. Only Norwegian lets you capture the pure spirit and soul of Hawaii, we sail to four islands in seven days. You'll leave more footprints exploring dormant volcanoes, rainforests and rainbow-colored canyons. There's always more to experience when you Cruise Like a Norwegian.
There are no days a sea on the Pride of America and every day is spent in Hawaii. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what you’re looking for, you can even post a question of your own. If you love seafood, reserve a table (at least three months in advance) at Mama's Fish House for some of the freshest catches imaginable—yes, it's pricy, but totally worth the splurge. The Pride of America offers quite a bit of entertainment and activities.
As of early June, only Cagney's Steakhouse and Jefferson Bistro are open, along with complimentary dining venues Skyline Main Dining Room, Aloha Café, and Cadillac Diner. The ship, which carries 2,186 passengers at full occupancy but is sailing at 50 percent capacity through at least November 2022, is 17 years old and unique to the NCL fleet. It features a distinctly Americana theme—the main reception area resembles something straight out of Jeffersonian Washington, D.C.—with décor that's kitschy and colorful rather than contemporary and neutral. We did some price comparison between what the ship offered and what we could find independently. We noticed that the closer that we got to our sailing date, the prices of the excursions increased.
We always enjoy Hawaii regional cuisine at restaurants in Hawaii, but we didn’t find anything like that on the ship. At the Aloha Cafe on the final evening, they tried to have a “Taste of Hawaii” dinner, but it was disappointing. So, from a culinary standpoint, the ship doesn’t offer a true Hawaiian experience. A limited number of beverages are included in the standard cruise fare. Regular coffee, tea and ice water are generally your only “free” options, except some fruit juices at the breakfast buffet.
Many times, we opted to climb up or down four or five deck levels instead of waiting for the elevators. Most of the common areas of the ship are decorated with bright, exciting colors. Generally speaking, the decor was in good taste and reflected the excitement and adventure of a cruise. For a “floating hotel” of that size, it never really felt crowded, except for the arrival at Kona, when there were long, crowded waits for the tender boats to shuttle us from the ship to shore. Your adventure starts by viewing historical points of interest while off shore from the village of Kailua-Kona. While zipping down the coast on these fast and fun Zodiac Hurricanes...
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