Pride of America - Hawaii Cruisetour Observations (12/07/22 - 12/17/22)

 

The following are my unfiltered observations in regard to the Pride of America Cruisetour offered by NCL.  No two people will feel the same about NCL's offerings, nor should they.  To me, the Cruisetour offers the most Hawaii-intensive experience one can have while cruising.  For example, Princess Cruises offered a 15 day Hawaii cruise out of Los Angeles for $1199/pp.  Only 4 of these days would be spent in Hawaii.  Compare this with a 10 day Cruisetour being offered by NCL out of Honolulu for $2630/pp.  The  Princess cruise is almost $300/day/pp for its time in Hawaii, while the NCL Cruisetour is only $263/day/pp for the time in Hawaii.  Which do you think is the better deal, exclusive of airfare?

Flight Arrangements:

1. When one allows NCL to book one's flights, you have absolutely no control over which airline, flight, and  (on occasion) airport you will use to reach Honolulu.  Only after NCL has booked your flights will you be able to contact the airline for seat assignments and luggage reservations.
2. On the return trip from Honolulu, many people are booked on "Red Eye" flights out of Honolulu, so that they can reach the West Coast early in the morning, then make it to the East Coast by mid afternoon. This might not be the best thing for some people, as they might prefer "Red Eye" flights out of the West Coast, so that they can reach their destinations in the morning.
3. NCL can book flights for the Cruisetour, allowing cruisers to arrive up to 2 days before the tour, and depart up to 2 days after the cruise.  However, NCL will not provide hotel transfer arrangements for early arrivals or later departures.

Pre-Cruise Hotel Arrangements:

1. NCL has selected a good hotel near Waikiki Beach for its Cruisetour customers.  There is an ABC Store on thr ground floor of the building which contains many of the sundries one might have forgotten at home (e.g. Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Feminine Hygiene Products, etc.)  For anything else, one may need to take a cab to the store of one's choice.
2. Once at the hotel, your luggage will be transported to your room as you are checking in.  By the time I got to the floor my room was on, I saw the man delivering my luggage - and he directed me to my room, as it was not where I expected it to be.
3. NCL's pre-cruise excursions leave from a side street where the tour buses are found.  This hotel entrance/exit is not easy to find until you've been shown where it is.  This is not a complaint.  The ground floor of the building is designed to be an outdoor shopping mall; tour bus entrance and egress is designed to blend in with the mall's appearance.
4. NCL does not supply a map of where nearby restaurants can be found.  This doesn't seem like much, but the last thing I want to do is eat at an overpriced restaurant when other places are nearby.

Pre-Cruise Activities/Tours:

1. NCL makes a note that people can relax on the day they arrive at the hotel, enjoying a nice swim at nearby Waikiki Beach.  This is possible only if one's flights are on time.  In my case, this didn't happen as expected.  I was lucky to make it to Honolulu in time for the first tour.
2. NCL contracts out the tour part of the Cruisetour package.  The tour company provided good service, and helped me out with transfer arrangements when I should have called the transfer company directly.
3. There are 3 main destinations for the tours before the cruise: 
   - The Polynesian Cultural Center (returns to the hotel when finished)
   - Pearl Harbor (returns to the hotel when finished)
   - The Kualoa Valley Ranch (returns to the ship when finished)
   
4. On the first day of touring, NCL had to deal with organized chaos, assigning people to their tour buses, then leading them to the buses for the first time.  In my case, NCL did not record that I was present for the first tour.  As a result, they sent me a message to remind me to be there for the next day's tour.
5. On the last day of touring, NCL has us delivered directly to the terminal.  Although we were told that our bags would be on the ship before us, this was not the case.  It paid to check with guest services shortly after arrival, as we were able to determine that my luggage had just arrived.

Embarkation/Settling in.

1. Checking in for the cruise is easy.  Once you make it through security, most of everything has already been done for you.  (In my case, I had to have my picture retaken.)
2. Once done with check in, you will get lei'd.  (These seem to be fresh flowers.)   If you want a souvenir picture taken, this might be one you might like.
3. If you haven't made specialty dining arrangements, do so now.  By the time one gets to the ship, most of the good times and restaurant choices will be unavailable.  In my case, I had to settle for one restaurant I prefer not to eat in.
4. Excursion information may not be complete, and they may need minor info to complete ticket issuance.  In my case, they wanted to know if I was traveling with others, so that we could all be seated on the same bus.  This was a waste of time, as they could have gotten this information before the cruise, or implied it from my booking arrangements.
5. Unlike other NCL cruises I've taken, I did not see my room steward until the 3rd day of the cruise. This was an inconvenience, as I would have wanted the Mini Bar emptied, along with other minor things I wanted taken care of in this cabin.

Room Layout.

1. This appeared to be a balcony cabin that could sleep 3 people comfortably.   Both closet and drawer space was plentiful, and I had no problems finding convenient places to put my stuff.
2. The bathroom needs to be upgraded for modern needs. 
   - There was only a shower curtain separating the shower area from the rest of the bathroom.
   - There were no shelves where cruisers could place their toiletries. (No space on the sink.)
   - The shower area needs a foot rest to make it easier for a woman to shave her legs.
3. The cabin interior looks like other NCL ships built 20 years ago.  It is clean and well maintained.
4. There are 3 American power outlets in the room.  Only 1 European power outlet was in room.
5. Lighting was adequate for most purposes, save for applying makeup at the desk area.

Restaurants.

1. The Buffet. (Complementary)
   - On the first day, I had to ask for napkins and silverware, as they weren't on the tables.
   - Not as wide a selection of foods as found on other NCL ships - POA caters to Americans.
   
2. Cadillac Diner. (Complementary)
   - This venue replaces O'Sheehan's and The Local venues found on other NCL ships.
   - The decor mimics a 1950's/1960's diner.  Two Elvis themed movie posters adorn a wall.
   - This restaurant is open 24 hours/day.
   - The only item served that is not complementary is the thick shake. ($4.00)
3. Cagney's (Ala a Carte - Steak House)
   - Both service and food quality were top notch.
   - Portion size was relatively large.
4. Jefferson's Bistro (Ala a Carte - French Bistro, also known as Le Bistro on other NCL ships)
   - Both service and food quality were top notch.
   - Portion size was relatively large.

Excursions.

1. Maui - Road to Hana.
   - The "Deluxe" tour that I took had a friendly and informative driver.  
   - Although the road was 39 miles long, it took 2 1/2 hours to reach its destination.  
   - The driver provided us with lunch - no ability to inform of dietary needs.
   - Lunch consisted of Salad, a chicken wrap and a fish wrap.
   - The road itself is the destination, not Hana.  The visual delights make the trip worthwhile.
   - At each of the photo-op locations, the driver made an effort to get pictures for each rider.
   - The driver knew local customs and history, and kept us entertained along the way out and back.
2. Maui - Kalealaka Crater.
   - The driver made sure we knew that we may not see anything due to weather at the summit.
   - Unfortunately, we couldn't see anything at the summit due to fog and rain.
   - The driver was friendly, and gave us a history of Hawaii to keep us entertained on the drive.
   - The driver made an extra stop on the way back, so we could buy a few items at the store.
3. Hilo - Volcanoes National Park.
   - The weather is unpredictable.  One might not get to see the crater.
   - This is a tour where there is more driving than being in the park.
4. Kona - Scenic Taste of Hawaii.
   - This tour had a friendly and informative driver.
   - The driver provided us with lunch - no ability to inform of dietary needs.
   - Lunch consisted of a Turkey sandwich, chips and a cookie.
   - I wasn't impressed by the local brewery, as I don't like "flavored beers".
   - I was impressed by the rum distillery, as we were shown how to detect and enjoy a good rum.
5. Kauai - Luau
   - This excursion was close to the pier. It appears that tour buses ran as a shuttle to/from luau.
   - Luau had enough food types for most people.  However, vegans would have limited choices.
   - The first set of performances was generic.  
   - The second set of performances focused on Hawaiian myths told in dance.  Very interesting.
6. Kauai -Journey to Waimea Canyon
   - This excursion was about an hour's drive from the ship.
   - Although we had a bio-break at a park, most of the time spent was driving to/from Waimea.
   - Waimea Canyon was well worth the trip.  It was an amazing place to visit.
   - At least one viewing platform was handicap accessible.
   - After the canyon, we had a hour in town to shop and to eat.
   - The driver was of native Hawaiian blood, and gave us history from an indigenous viewpoint.

Post-Cruise Activities and Tours.

1. For those with late flights, NCL offers 2 tours which drop people off at the airport at 6 pm.
2. NCL will provide airport transfers for those purchasing these options.
   
3. A day use hotel selection should be provided for those on the Cruisetour to avoid redundancy, when flights are scheduled for post-6:00 pm departures.

Miscellaneous Items of Note.

1. There is no casino on this ship, as gambling is illegal in Hawaii.
2. The ship's library is larger than what is usually found on NCL cruise ships.
3. Most cruises will now bypass the scenic Na Pali coast, unlike cruises given previously.
4. Hawaii tax is charged on all sales while in port, including drinks on Hawaii Beverage Package.
5. The Hawaii Beverage Package includes alcoholic beverages, sodas, and boxed water, unlike alcoholic beverage packages offered on other NCL ships.

Cruising - How to select a cruise

 

There are many factors that should go into selecting a cruise.  Some of these include: Length of cruise, Cruise Itinerary, and Total Price (including taxes, fees, and add-ons).  But this is simply a start to the process of selecting a cruise.  However, there are more factors that must be considered, in order to have an enjoyable cruise.

To me, the most important factor in choosing a cruise is the stage of life one is in, and that of one’s travel companions.  For example, if I were a young parent with small children that is cruising on a tight budget, my choice of cruise line would be a value conscious line that would serve the needs of both parents and children.  If I were a solo traveler who does not have to worry about budgets, I would likely choose a different cruise line from that young parent. 

Cruise Critic has a great article on How to Pick a Cruise Line. But this is only the start of the process.  Although I tend to cruise on NCL, as it sails from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, I have also sailed on Princess and Holland American lines from other ports.  The latter two lines tend to have an older group of cruisers, and do not have as many of the Kid-Friendly activities that most new NCL, Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships have. 

Once I have determined which cruise line fits my needs, I would then focus on choosing a cruise embarkation port, a cruise itinerary, and a cruise duration, as these factors further contribute to the total price of the cruise.  If one lives near a cruise port, one can minimize some expenses by driving to the cruise port and choosing a cruise that departs from that port.  (This only works for cruises that return to the port of origin.)  Both cruise itinerary and cruise duration are important factors in which cruise is best for a person.  For example, I am not a beach person, and do not enjoy cruises with a lot of beach days.  I also enjoy longer cruises, as I am retired and have the time to savor the cruising experience. 

The process of selecting a cruise should also involve determining what activity level a person wants while cruising, and to make sure that that the cruise offers that level of activity.  For example, I recently found out that I would not enjoy a Galapagos Islands cruise, as I am not prepared for the level of activity needed for the excursions.  Yet, I enjoyed a port intensive Hawaii cruise, where I was able to visit sites such as Pearl Harbor and the Halealaka Crater, then cruise the scenic Na Pali coast without causing me to get overly exhausted. 

Although I have not had to dress up for most of my cruises, a smart cruiser will check out the dress code required onboard ships in a cruise line.  NCL has the most relaxed dress code of them all, while Cunard at the other end is very formal. One must take this factor into consideration when choosing a cruise, as many areas of a ship can be off limits to cruisers if they are not wearing cruise-appropriate clothing (as defined by the cruise line).

Even a ship’s size can be a factor in choosing a cruise.  I have sailed on medium and large cruise ships, and I have found that I prefer smaller ships with fewer people on board.  My favorite cruise was one taken at the end of 2021, when a medium sized ship was sailing at 40% of capacity.  Other people thrive when a ship is at full capacity. 

Just as important as itinerary and cruise duration is when the cruise is being offered.  If one does not want to deal with lots of small children, one may want to sail when the kids are in school.  Sailing in “shoulder seasons” also provides lower cost options for many people to sail, as off-peak rates are often lower than peak rates for many cruise itineraries.

In addition to the factors above, I would also factor in the age of a ship.  Most newer ships on the 4 major ocean-going cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC) have more amusement park like amenities (e.g., Go-Carts, Flow Riders, Roller Coasters, etc.) than their smaller and older ships.  New ships on these lines tend to be larger than their older ships.  Their size allows them to carry more passengers, but also limits the places they can go because many ports can not handle large numbers of visitors. So, if one wants a more quiet and sedate experience, one might want to consider an older ship instead of a new ship.

So, how would I put all of this into practice?

Example 1 - Traveler:

• Middle-Aged Single (traveling with companion).
• Low 6 figure income ($100k-$200k).
• Wants a one-week trip.
• Lives near Los Angeles.
• Enjoys trips with moderate activity.

I might suggest that this person consider a 7-day Hawaii cruise (only NCL offers this), enjoying activities such as snorkeling and hiking while in the islands.  The same person might enjoy a 7-day Alaskan inside passage cruise out of Vancouver or Seattle.

Example 2 - Traveler:

• Young parent traveling with spouse and two young kids.
• "Value Oriented” cruiser - Mid 5 figure income ($50k-$60k)
• Can reach warm weather ports such as Galveston, New Orleans, Port Canaveral, and Miami with a ½ day drive.
• Vacations are limited to times when school is not in session.

I might suggest that this family try a 5–7-day cruise from one of these ports.  Any cruise shorter than this is likely to be a “Booze Cruise,” and not appropriate for young families. One should be sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s, NCL’s, or Carnival’s ships that are no less than 4 years old and no more than 8 years old.  These ships are most likely to be affordable, while providing many of the amusement activities that children may enjoy.  Additionally, most of their ships have areas where children can be left under adult supervision, allowing the parents to have some “us” time for themselves.

Example 3 – Traveler:

• Older solo cruiser (under 70 y/o) in excellent physical shape.
• Retired, with mid-7-digit portfolio ($4m-$6m net worth)
• Comfortable with travel to exotic destinations
• Interested in unusual wildlife and exotic destinations.

I might suggest that this person take a 14+day cruise from South America to visit Antarctica, sailing on a line specializing in excursions to exotic destinations, such as Hurtigruten.  The southernmost continent is on many bucket lists, and traveling there on an excursion ship would be a once in a lifetime chance to visit this “empty” continent.

Example 4 – Traveler:

• Younger solo traveler (25-34 y/o) in average physical shape.
• Working, with a Mid 5 figure income ($50k-$60k)
• Looking for new, yet familiar experiences
• Has flexibility in scheduling vacations.

In this case, a cruiser has many options.  The best ones will often involve flying to the origination cruise port.  I might suggest a 7-day Alaskan cruise from Seattle or Vancouver, a 7-day Caribbean cruise from any of the major Florida ports, or a 7-day New England/Canada cruise from New York or Boston. 

No matter what cruise a person ends up taking, it is best to have done some research before selecting a cruise to have the most enjoyable cruise possible.