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The significance of Norwegian Cruise Line's return to Hawaii cannot be understated. Since 2005, Pride of America has been a staple of these Hawaiian Islands, arriving with punctuality into its weekly ports of call, much like the Matson Line ships that used to sail weekly from the U.S. Mainland to Hawaii and points afar and which are still a huge part of local folklore here. Expect to be scolded for nearly everything you might do pierside -- including calling an Uber or Lyft.
My Best Travel Tips
Seeing Pride of America return for the first time in two years represents a return to normalcy for people in port. For those who rely on the tourist trade brought by the cruise ships, it's a return to financial stability. 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.
Avoid Deck 8 Balcony Cabins
Here are my top shore excursion picks for Maui and Kaua’i offered by Viator (owned by Trip Advisor). Come aboard Pride of America, the only cruise ship that sails round trip from Honolulu year-round so you can vacation on your schedule. As you journey from one island to the next, learn about the Hawaiian culture from local ambassadors on board the ship. Fortunately, there is a way to see the islands of Hawaii in a much more efficient and economical manner. Taking a seven-day cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line Pride of America is hands down the best method to see all the main attractions Hawaii has to offer in the most economical use of your time and money.
Book Private Excursions
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. 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.
With the drink package included as part of Free at Sea, you’ll have the opportunity to try any drink you like, up to $15, which includes most beverages. We especially like the Mai Tai from the Aloha Lanai Bar. There are several specialty dining restaurants available on Pride of America. We also tried the Italian restaurant La Cucina which was pretty good. Then, it visits two ports on the big island – Hilo and Kona – enabling you to more easily see things on both sides. The final destination is Kauai where it again stays overnight.
Don’t try to do it all – you’ll have all week to see and do everything. My recommendation is that you keep just the essentials with you in a small bag or backpack and pick just one thing to do until your room is available. Not only is there a large amount of planning that has to be undertaken, but the actual logistics can also be quite stressful and time-consuming. Each leg of the trips between the islands entails time spent waiting to board and disembark, and then you will have to unpack and pack at each hotel. Your meals each day will also take time in getting to the restaurants and waiting to be served. All of this is wasted time that could be better spent on actually enjoying the many activities on your itinerary.
Touring the road to Hana with Valley Isle Excursions
The ship sparkles thanks to its extensive refit, and what its crew lacks in polish it makes up for in raw determination. I've watched bartenders run off their feet all week, mixing drinks as fast as their hands will allow. I've seen gift shop workers unpacking box after box of merchandise and doing it with a smile. I've seen crewmembers teaching others how to make cappuccinos, and what the difference is between a latte and a cappuccino and a flat white.
For this reason, it is advisable to organize shore activities in advance. Pride of America offers a plethora of exciting shore excursions for a fee (ziplining, kayaking, bus tours of Volcanoes National Park, luaus and more). Shore excursions are such a big deal on this ship that they often fill up before the ship leaves port the first day. Do some research before you go and try to sign up way in advance for the best slots. All are grateful to be here, to have passengers onboard once again - and so are most passengers I spoke with onboard.
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How many islands should you visit during your Hawaii vacation?
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Along with outstanding scenery, we’ve also included some recommendations for learning about the culture. While you might see people wearing beautiful leis at the airport in Honolulu and be tempted to purchase one, hold your horses (or your luggage in this case). You will receive a free fresh flower lei for women (pictured above) or a shell lei for men as you enter the cruise terminal. You’ll also have the opportunity to make additional leis later in the cruise (I’ll get to that shortly). 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. Our gift shops onboard carry everything you’ll need for fun in the sun.
The Pride of America offers quite a bit of entertainment and activities. The “Freestyle Daily” lists the complete schedule of what’s happening each day. There’s so much going on — Hawaiian cultural lessons, culinary demonstrations, cornhole tournaments, trivia, live music, pool games, dance classes, karaoke and much more. If you are traveling with children or teens, the ship offers youth programs for them.
Our cruise fare with a balcony room, the beverage package, speciality dining package and some nominal credits totaled $4,768 for the two of us. The food and stateroom experience felt budget-level, but the cruise cost was far from being a budget price. A limited number of beverages are included in the standard cruise fare.
The best way to sample this Hawaiian favorite, however, is in bowl form. There are several varieties of poke, with modern versions substituting avocado and spicy mayo for classic accompaniments like seaweed and rice. Seafood is an important part of the Hawaiian diet, but there's so much more to enjoy. Visit Hawaii and prepare for a feast like no other, with nods to Polynesia, Japan and even the American heartland.
No biggie, I called guest services and they refunded our credit card. It actually pays to do this every few days (you can view it on the TV in your cabin) or even daily as lines and waits for guest services can be longer toward the end of the cruise. 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).
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. The ship was built in 2005 and refurbished in 2016.
This means that evenings are pretty tame and child-friendly (you likely won't see people shot-gunning beers and cheering at the poolside bar). Americans make up the majority of passengers followed by Australians (thanks in part to Australia's proximity to Hawaii). You'll also be sailing with British citizens, as well of people of Hispanic and Asian heritage. Pride of America's wide variety of restaurant and entertainment offerings allows passengers with different interests to find the place that works for them.
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