Day 1 - Polynesian Cultural Center.
This day’s tour is billed as visiting the Dole Pineapple Plantation and the
Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). What
is not mentioned is that the stop at the Dole Plantation is only to give people
on the cruisetour a chance to have a bio-break before reaching the PCC shortly
before it opens at noon.
A cruisetour visitor to PCC gets an entry ticket for daytime activities. If one wants to attend PCC’s night time luau,
it is an extra expense, and the visitor must make separate arrangements to
return to the hotel. Sadly, I found that
4 hours at PCC is not enough, and I hope to visit the place again on my next visit
to Honolulu.
Day 2 - Pearl Harbor.
This day’s activities involve much less driving than on Day 1, as Pearl Harbor
is in the Honolulu metropolitan area.
The cruisetour package provides the visitor with a ticket to enter the
USS Missouri, the Pacific Aviation Museum, and the SS Bowfin. It does not include a ticket to take the
ferry to the USS Arizona memorial. If
one wants to visit the Arizona, one must buy a timed ticket from Recreation.gov beforehand for a 12:00 pm time slot, and hope that the weather will be safe for the short ferry ride.
Visitors to Pearl Harbor must note that this is still an active military base,
and that certain restrictions apply. For
example, no opaque bags are allowed on the base. This means that most women will need to check
their handbags, or carry a clear “stadium bag” for this part of the trip. I strongly suggest that people consider this
before visiting Pearl Harbor.
Day 3 - Kualoa Valley Ranch.
This day’s activities involve a drive to the other side of Oahu. To facilitate the needs of people on the
cruisetour, a stop at a Buddhist temple and a shopping stop is made before
reaching the ranch. Although the temple
is in the middle of a cemetery, it is worth visiting for photo opportunities
alone. Once the bus reaches the ranch, a box lunch (selected on Day 2) will be provided before the Kualoa Valley Ranch tour which takes visitors past the sites where many movies were filmed. Following the visit to the ranch, the bus
will deliver people to the ship to begin their cruise.
Embarkation & Muster Process:
The Pride of America is a unique ship for many reasons. First, it is the only major US flagged, staffed,
and owned cruise ship sailing today. Due
to this unique status, it is the only ship now allowed to sail between Hawaiian
ports on a “closed loop” cruise without having to stop at a foreign port.
Most people taking the 7-day Pride of America cruise will arrive at the ship
before 3:00 pm on the day of sailing.
However, people taking the cruisetour will arrive later than that. This means that if one wants to reserve
specialty restaurant dining or confirm shore excursions must try to do so
either before embarkation, or immediately after embarkation due to the timing
of the mandatory muster drill.
The embarkation process is relatively simple, as the ship
never sails outside of US waters. Although I could have used my driver’s
license for identification,
I used my passport card which I carried in my wallet. Once one has checked in
at the desk, one will pass through a photo station where one will get a lei and
pictures taken. These novelty pictures
were the only ones I found interesting from the cruise.
All cruisers must attend a mandatory muster drill before the ship leaves port.
Unlike many ships sailing then, the Pride of America (POA) practiced an old fashioned (pre-pandemic)
muster process, where people must report to their muster stations and watch
ship’s crew demonstrate how to use a life vest. All ship activity stops during the muster drill period, and this might interfere with booking the 2 free specialty dinners for those cruisers with
Platinum loyalty status, as well as causing problems for people on the next day’s
shore excursions.
Public Areas on POA:
The first thing one notices once onboard the Pride of America is how much effort NCL has taken to have this ship “Ooze America” out of every pore. For example, the Great Seal of the United States adorns the floor of the atrium. One will notice “Federalist” architecture clues on the grand staircase in the atrium, as well as an obelisk to symbolize the Washington Monument in DC.
Two of NCL’s specialty restaurants have been either renamed (Le Bistro / Jefferson’s
Bistro) or decorated in a way to make it clear this is an American restaurant
(Cagney’s steakhouse, where pictures of the late actor adorn the place.) And
the restaurant space which is known as O’Sheehan’s or The Local on other NCL
ships is called the Cadillac Diner, and is made to resemble a classis 1950’s
diner.
Although POA is a 20-year-old ship, it has been well maintained. The public spaces were all clean during my
cruise. Due to the ship’s lack of a
casino, it had a reasonably sized, library/internet room. (Note: This area is being moved in the May 2025 drydock.) One will find shopping venues, but not the duty-free
stores found on other cruise ships. Because of the port-intensive nature of this cruise, one will often find many areas
such as the pool, hot tubs, gym, and spa empty during the day. In short, the Pride of America is not a typical cruise ship. Instead, it is a comfortable resort that
sails between 5 Hawaiian ports.
Stateroom:
When I booked this cruise, I could only justify an inside
cabin due to the high price of a balcony cabin with the Single Supplement. However, due to this ship sailing below
capacity (cabin sales were still affected by the pandemic), I was able to upgrade to a starboard balcony cabin for a little over
the minimum upgrade bid.
I cannot remember much about the cabin, as one cabin tends to blend into
another after a few cruises. However, the cabin was comfortable, had more than enough space for two cruisers with enough space to stow my luggage when I unpacked for the week. In short, there was nothing about the cabin to wow me, nor was there anything about the cabin that made me say "Aaargh!"
Unlike some cruises, there is no "right side" of the ship on which to book an ocean view or balcony cabin. When the ship is in port, there is little to see. When the ship is at sea, both sides have a great ocean view. If the ship is scheduled to pass by the Na Pali coast (very few POA cruises do this anymore, as NCL is looking to use less fuel in its cruises), try to get a port side cabin instead of a starboard cabin. This way, cruisers can (weather and schedule permitting) see this scenic coast from the comfort of their cabin.
Entertainment:
Unlike other NCL ships, the Pride of America does not have
big name Broadway style shows due to the nature of the cruise. On most cruises, the ship provides most of
the entertainment. On POA, Hawaii is the
entertainment. Because of this POA has more
intimate shows in the main theater, as well as decent entertainment in its
lounges.
Itinerary:
With very few exceptions (such as a bad weather day preventing the ship from porting at Kona, the Pride of America follows the above route every week. The ship leaves Honolulu for Maui every Saturday and makes port there for 2 days. From there, the ship heads for the Big Island, where it makes port first in Hilo, and then the next day in Kona. Following that is a 2 day stay in Kawai, after which, the ship returns to Honolulu for its next 7-day circuit. At times (often during the winter), Kona is skipped because tender boats can't make it to and from port. As a result, the stop at Kona may be replaced with a sea day. On the rare times that this cruise is abbreviated to 6 days, the 2 days in Kawai will be cut to a single day for the cruise and the ship may sail the Na Pali coast.
Food/Dining Venues:
Buffet:
The buffet on the Pride of America did not have the variety that I have found on other NCL ships. Although it was good enough for a grab and go hamburger or something typically American, there was very little on the buffet that I couldn't find at a local Denny's. (Note: The food at Denny's often tastes better than the POA buffet.) Maybe, I wasn't looking hard enough for tasty food. But the awkward design of the buffet discouraged me from looking for more appetizing foods while I was there.
Cadillac Diner:
I spent a lot of time at this dining venue, as it specializes in traditional dishes associated with the typical 1950's "greasy spoon". In the morning, one can get their eggs (any style). In the afternoon and evening, one can get a freshly cooked burger and fries. If diner food is your thing, then the Cadillac Diner is for you.
Main Dining Rooms:
Unlike any of the other dining venues, I did not get the chance to eat in either of the main dining rooms. Although I can't state things from first hand experience, I have to assume that the MDR experience is on a par with other ships in the NCL fleet.
Specialty Restaurant - Cagney's Steakhouse:
The POA steakhouse is on a par with the rest of NCL's ships. Service was excellent, and the steaks were cooked to perfection. The only negative was that I could only make reservations for this venue when I made final payment for the cruise. By the time I got to the ship, there were no more openings for me to use either of the free specialty meals I get with my Platinum loyalty status when sailing on an NCL cruise.
Specialty Restaurant - Jefferson's Bistro:
NCL's French restaurant, Le Bistro, is called Jefferson's Bistro on POA. It's a fitting tribute to our 3rd president, as he served as minister to France in the early days of our republic. The French food served in the bistro is on a par with the rest of NCL's ships. Le Bistro is one of the few places where I will eat escargot, as I rarely see it served in onshore restaurants.
Specialty Restaurant - Teppanyaki:
It's impossible for me to rave about Hibachi style restaurants. Once you've seen the show in one of these restaurants, it's hard to be enthused about seeing it again. Although Teppanyaki's Hibachi Grill show is good, the food is even better. I'd recommend eating here at least once, especially if you've never been to this style of restaurant before the cruise.
Debarkation:
The Pride of America arrives in Honolulu very early in the morning. If one is lucky, one can get a photo of the sun rising over Diamond Head on the way to the pier. Unlike any other cruise I've been on, passengers leaving the ship do not clear customs, as the ship never leaves US waters. This simplifies the disembarkation process. Once a passenger's color code has been called, they leave the ship, and will easily find their bags in the spacious terminal building.
Although NCL offers 2 post-cruise shore excursions, neither of them interested me as the cruisetour already gave me enough time on Oahu. Instead, I found a day use hotel I could stay at (The Holiday Inn Express Waikiki), and rested until it was time to go to the airport.
Shore Excursions:
NCL offers a wide range of shore excursions, each with differing levels of activity. Given that I am a senior and have to be careful in the activities I choose, I limited myself to those requiring a minimum level of activity. If I were to do this trip again, I might have chosen activities that require a greater activity, such as a walk to the lava tubes.
Since I can't critique each and every NCL shore excursion in Hawaii, this link points to NCL's information site for the excursions available at each one of its ports. I highly recommend booking one's shore excursions shortly after booking the cruise, as many of the best shore excursions sell out very quickly.
Map of Maui, HI
Maui:
Deluxe Road to Hana Tour.
This excursion is an all-day drive in small, private vans to/from the town of Hana on a narrow and twisting 1½ lane road. One takes this excursion if one likes to view the lushness of Maui's landscape and see hidden waterfalls and black sand beaches. Lunch and refreshments are provided by the tour guide. However, one has a limited choice in what to eat, as no special provision is made for those on restricted diets.
Haleakala Crater Tour.
This excursion is a half day drive to/from the top of the extinct Haleakala volcano. Although the weather might be 84°F at sea level, it might be only 34°F at the crater's upper visitor's center. In addition, weather at the top of the volcano will often be different than that at sea level. So, bring a sweater or a windbreaker for this part of the excursion. Unfortunately, this excursion can be a hit or miss proposition, as the clouds can (and often will) prevent visitors from seeing much at the peak.
Map of Hawaii ("Big Island")
Hawaii - Hilo:
Volcanoes National Park Tour.
Like the Haleakala Crater Tour, this excursion is hit or miss depending on the weather. When I visited, it was drizzling when we reached the park, and that got in the way of seeing one of the craters. However, there are walking paths that one can take that allows one to view Sulphur deposited on the soil brought up from steam vents from below the surface.
Hawaii - Kona:
Taste of Hawaii Tour.
I'm not sure if I'd recommend this tour to people. The tour I wanted (Historic Kings Trail to North Kohala) had sold out, and I had no other good options for this port. This tour was the one acceptable substitute, and it involved an all-day drive around the Big Island, stopping at a Macadamia Nut Factory, a distillery, and a brewery. Although I enjoyed this tour, it left me wanting to see a little more of this island close up.
Map of Kauai
Kawai:
Kalamaka Luau - Premium Seating.
What can I say about this luau other than to say it is a must see? One of NCL's Kauai excursions include a plantation train ride before the luau. Since I've ridden many trains before, the experience of simply taking a short ride on a narrow gauge railroad doesn't interest me. Yet, having a good meal does. If I were to rate the luau on the quality of the food, I'd say Meh! But, when the meal is followed by a spectacular stage show, the luau starts to become a must-do activity. And when one has ("premium") seats close enough to the stage to feel the heat when the dancers start playing with lit torches, this becomes a highlight of the trip.
Journey to Waimea Canyon.
This would be my last shore excursion of the cruise. Although it took a long time to reach the canyon for a 30 minute visit, it was worth the time spent in getting there. The photos I took do not do this place justice, as it best compared to the Grand Canyon - but in a smaller and more lush setting.
After the visit to the lookout point, the tour took us to the town of Waimea, where we were able to buy lunch before proceeding back to the ship Due to the ship leaving early in the afternoon, we weren't able to do anything more before our return. Now that cruising by the Na Pali coast has been removed from the itinerary, I expect that this tour may be expanded, so that the excursion becomes an all-day affair.
Conclusions:
NCL's Pride of America cruisetour is not for everyone. It is expensive, and is not geared for a person traveling alone. With that being said, it is a great trip to take if one wants to check Hawaii off of their bucket lists. Shore excursions of all types are available for cruisers. However, one must book these excursions as early as possible to be sure of getting the excursions one really wants.
Although there are luaus on several of the islands, the one in Kauai was the only one that NCL encouraged its passengers to visit. (Things have changed since then.) It is possible for cruisers to take shore excursions not supplied by NCL. However, they should be taken on the first day in Maui and on the first day in Kauai, as the ship overnights in these ports.
If one is the type to stay on the ship when in port and enjoy its facilities, it can be done on this ship. But there are better cruises on which to do this. Getting off the ship and seeing Hawaii is the reason for this cruise, and there are better ships than POA for the onboard resort facilities.
Hawaiians joke that gambling is only allowed on Hawaii's 8th island - Las Vegas. Gambling is officially prohibited in Hawaii, and there is no casino on the Pride of America. (I found it funny that NCL sent me a "Casinos at Sea" package prior to this cruise. I guess that even to NCL, this cruise/ship is a total outlier to its way of doing business.) If one enjoys playing blackjack, rolling the dice at the craps table, or even getting robbed by a "one armed bandit", this may not be the cruise for you. But if you want a sedate cruise where you can get a feel for this tropical paradise, this cruise is for you.
Miscellaneous:The Pride of America will have completed a Dry Dock by the end of May 2025. Several spaces on this ship (such as the library and card room) are being moved, so that more space is available for revenue generating functions.
The state of Hawaii may soon enact a set of new "Hotel" and Visitor taxes (11% per night in Hawaiian ports) which will disproportionately affect prices on this ship's cruises. Although it is unlikely that this ship will cease sailing its current 7-day Hawaiian route, prices for this cruise may rise both for the increase in taxes and for competitors' ships not doing their Hawaii runs from the mainland.
