NCL’s  Pride of America: A Great Way to See Hawaii

Features Two-Day Stops At Major Islands

 By Larry Taylor

It was 9:15 pm. After a day in Hilo, we had just had our dessert when the waiters in the ship’s dining room urged us to hurry out to top deck to see the lava show. Everyone rushed, taking cameras to capture the awe-inspiring view of rivulets of molten lava flowing from Kilauea , the most active volcano on earth.

We had seen Kilauea  in years previous but always from land and we’d seen nothing like this–fiery red streams gushing into the sea, creating clouds of steam. The sky glowed, and we could feel the heat and smell the sulfur from our lookout on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America.

My wife and I have been to Hawaii many times and visited all the islands. During a stay at Kona last year we saw the large, brightly decorated hull of the Pride of America anchored off shore. It looked most impressive, so we decided that we would take this cruise. It might give us new  insights on the islands we love.

Now after a delightful seven days aboard this spring, we recommend this cruise, wholeheartedly, particularly for those who have never been to Hawaii or for people who have not yet visited all the islands. This itinerary provides a wonderful overview of what this tropical  paradise is like. It certainly gave us a new appreciation for this Pacific paradise.

NCL’s Pride of America, along with Pride of Aloha and Pride of Hawaii, are the only American-flagged cruise ships in the world. This means, without going into legal details, that these vessels can sail seven-nights among Hawaii’s four main islands  without having to embark or disembark in a foreign city, such as Vancouver or Ensenada or, alternatively, spend  a day sailing to Fanning Island., part of Kiribati, near the equator.

Another positive feature about the ship is that it has a mostly American crew . Other cruise lines have largely foreign citizens working onboard, many from Indonesia and the Philippines.  On this ship, all speak good English, service is top notch and it’s fun talking with  kids from back home, many of whom think of this as a big adventure in their life.

Pride of America is a very large ship, 81,000 tons, standing an imposing 195-feet high out of the water. On our cruise , there was some 2,300 passengers. The ship is laid out, however, in a way that makes it easy to get around. Fighting crowds was not a problem.

To go with its patriotic theme, the public areas are filled with Americana–photographic murals of national parks and U.S. cities such as Chicago and Hollywood filled the stair wells.

An original concept is NCL’s freestyle dining. Guests are free to dine anytime they want and with whomever. Altogether there are nine restaurants onboard, including two main dining rooms, a casual buffet and a Little Italy restaurant. With these there is no extra charge.

The four other dining spots do require a surcharge ranging from $10 to $20–with reservations essential. In fact, a good idea is to, first thing, make reservations for every night, even in the non-surcharge restaurants. Happily, with freestyle dining, there are no formal nights. Casual or informal wear are fine.

Both the main dining rooms, Skyline and Liberty, are located aft, one above the other. The Skyline is decorated in New York art deco, while Liberty’s style salutes America in general. Both offer the same menu, short on selections but very tasty, while Little Italy offers typical Italian restaurant fare: Caesar salad (prepared table-side), minestrone soup, pastas, fish and meat dishes.

The ship’s signature restaurant, and certainly our favorite, is the French-influenced Jefferson Bistro, designed after the president’s library in Monticello. The ambience of the dining room, the presentation of the meal, and the quality of service made this an outstanding experience.

Not far behind on our list is Lazy J’s Steakhouse, Western themed but dedicated to the paniolos, Hawaii’s cowboys, who can be seen herding at Parker Ranch on the Big Island. It specializes in a variety of cuts of tender beef, thick lamb chops and prime rib.

East Meet West is also good. The room is divided into various areas. We could choose from Asian-fusion cuisine, shabu shabu , teppanyaki or partake at a sushi bar. While we’re big sushi fans, we chose the Asian-fusion dining room, where we could sample a bit of all Asian cuisine.  Among the dishes was an Asian cabbage slaw that was creamy, delicate and delicious.

Particularly popular with kids is Cadillac Diner. The decor was ‘50s, with most booths made from Caddy hoods and rear ends–overall the look was straight out of “Grease.” Featured were juicy burgers, meatloaf and shakes. Many kids were happy to eat here while parents relaxed in the elegant restaurants.

The colorfully decorated cabins are not large but everything is conveniently located, and with all the drawers and shelves we had plenty of room for things.  Staterooms with a balcony (62 percent of rooms had balconies) are recommended. Here the space is considerably expanded with the tropical atmosphere becoming part of the room. As well, the ship has designed staterooms in multiple configurations to accommodate families in comfort.

What struck us about the cruise were the varied ages of the guests, ranging from honeymooners, families with youngsters to seniors like us. And there was plenty to do for everybody on ship what with two pools, a well equipped spa and fitness center. In addition, there are activities designed for children of all ages from toddlers to teenagers.

Each night there were shows in the large Hollywood Theater, usually at 7:30 and 9:30. A 12-member ensemble of young talented singers and dancers performed shows dedicated to American themes. One, “America’s Beat,” took us though U.S. history with song and dance. There were also Hawaiian shows; as well, comedians and jugglers took the stage some nights.

Opportunities for on-shore excursions were abundant. Favorites while on the Big Island are a trip from Hilo to Volcanoes National Park, for up-close views of the numerous craters. On the other side of the island, the trip along Kona Coast up to Waimea and the Parker Ranch is popular, giving a different view of island life.

On Maui for two days there is plenty of time to see Haleakala Crater, hike around the Iao Valley and visit the old whaling town of Lahaina. In Kauai many take the tour to see Waimea Canyon or take the tour up to the Na Pali Coast.

Of course, for beach goers, snorkelers and divers, Hawaii is a paradise, a good time to do their own thing. On most stops, we rented a car and visited our favorite places.