NCL Pride of America
NCL Pride of America
Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Pride of America is really unique as it is the only U.S. flagged large ship. This means it can operate solely between U.S. ports without any foreign stops and because of this is offers the same cruise all year around!
The Pride of America offers a 7-night round-trip cruise from Honolulu and visits multiple Hawaiian Islands: Maui, Hilo, Kona and Kauai. This itinerary allows passengers to experience so much of what Hawaii has to offer in terms of its diverse landscapes, from volcanic terrain to lush rainforests and pristine beaches.
Whilst this ship isn’t necessarily in line with other NCL ships in terms of size and amenities offered, it gives guests a unique cruising experience by allowing them the convenience of unpacking just once but with the opportunity to explore multiple Hawaiian islands. The focused itinerary allows for in-depth exploration of Hawaii’s natural beauty and culture.
The ship itself has US-themed interiors celebrating American culture and history.
Staterooms
The Pride of America has 1094 staterooms and has a wide range of different room choices including a solo studio specifically designed for solo travellers!
Solo Studio - 100 sq ft: Include a full sized bed along with a small bathroom. This room category gives you exclusive access to the Studio Lounge which is a great place to mingle with other studio guests.
Inside Stateroom - 132 sq ft: 4 different options here with some having room for up to 4 guests (see our photos below as to how they fit these in!) They are a great value option for the whole family and offer two lower beds (that can convert into a queen bed) with two single beds coming down from the ceiling too.
Oceanview Staterooms - 144 sq ft: 5 different options here which are modern, comfortable and stylish and all have a window with clear views of the ocean.
Balcony Staterooms - 217-233 sq ft: 6 different options here which all have floor to ceiling glass doors which open onto your very own sweeping balcony.
Suites - 494 to 1382 sq ft: Experience luxury and privacy in these spacious suites where butler and concierge services are also included.
Dining
Lots of food is included within your cruise fare, including two main dining rooms, a large buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices.
Cadillac Diner
This casual diner is open 24/7 and includes classics such as burger, chicken wings and milkshakes!
Aloha Café
This is the indoor buffet and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are themed nights meaning the menu changes daily and we were impressed with both the quality and service here.
Key West Bar & Grill
Casual dining to suit every taste at this pool bar where the menu features favourites such as burgers and hot dogs.
Liberty Restaurant/Skyline Restaurant
These are the two main dining rooms serving up a variety of foods with a contemporary flair and featuring stunning ocean views.
There are also a variety of speciality dining and room service options which come at an additional charge. Restaurants include Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian), La Cucina (Italian), Cagney’s Steakhouse, East Meets West (Asian Fusion), Jefferson’s Bistro (French) and the Teppanyaki (Japanese). These range in price from a $40 - $60 per person cover charge.
Bars & Lounges
Aloha Lanai Bar
Full bar offering an extensive beer, wine and cocktail menu with stunning views on deck.
Gold Rush Saloon
Wild West inspired bar with some great wine, beer and cocktail options.
John Adams Coffee Bar
Just off the main lobby atrium you can get your daily fix of speciality coffees, teas, pastries and cookies.
Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge & Nightclub
It’s Mardi Gras every night at this New Orleans-inspired lounge and club. Grab your beads and dance the night away!
Napa Wine Bar
Enjoy different wines by the glass at this stylish California-inspired bar.,
Ocean Drive Bar
Poolside bar where you can enjoy beer, wine and cocktails.
Pink’s Champagne Bar
Gorgeous champagne bar inspired by Hawaii’s Royal Palace Hotel on Waikiki Beach.
Waikiki Bar
Another open air bar where you can sip on cocktails, beer and wine as you take in the amazing ocean views.
Pools
The Pride of America has three main pool areas. The South Beach Pool (Deck 11), the Oasis Pool (Deck 12) and a kids’ pool with slides and a paddling area (Deck 12). The ship also features 4 hot tubs which are great to relax in after a long day exploring all Hawaii has to offer.
Family Fun
There is lots to do as a family on this ship including basketball, deck games such as chess, ping-pong and shuffleboard, the Hollywood Theatre which stretches over 2 decks, a jogging and running track. Our kids also loved the onboard arcade!
Kids Clubs
The kids clubs on this ship have scheduled opening times (and these vary daily). They offer Splash Academy (ages 3-12), Entourage (ages 13-17) and then Guppies (under 3) where there is no drop off available but it offers a useful play space for parents to join their children and use the various toys within the space. They also offer a late night programme for ages 3-12 but there is a fee payable for using this service. Whilst the spaces didn’t look particularly exciting, our children actually enjoyed their visit to the Splash Academy. The counsellors made a huge effort in organising group games (gaga ball was a favourite) and meant that our children asked to go back several times!
Adventures x Paradise Review
We had an absolutely wonderful trip on the Pride of America in August 2023. We had some real concerns about this beforehand as we had only done Disney Cruise Line to this point and knew that it was going to be a completely different experience. We went in thinking of this ship as a floating hotel and just an easy way to get to see as much of the Hawaiian Islands as we could whilst minimising our flying. We were really pleasantly surprised with how much we enjoyed our time onboard the Pride of America.
Whilst the room we had was small (we had the cheapest inside room), it was actually fine for the week and we all found it nice and cosy! The pools on the ship were great and we all spent a lot of time in here. The food was good (we didn’t pay for any speciality dining and just used the buffet and main dining rooms) and we all enjoyed being able to unwind at the end of the day playing some basketball, shuffleboard or ping-pong and just taking in the amazing Hawaiian sunsets.
Our vlog below gives a full tour and review of our time on the Pride of America.
TOP TIP - Make the most of your time on the islands - we loved that the ship docked overnight at a few ports which meant we could have some really long days exploring Hawaii without the usual stress of making sure you are back long before the all aboard time as the ship sets sail to another destination!