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Skyline is decorated like something you would see in an art deco style building in New York City. That was all interesting decor, but seemed really out of place for Hawaii. Possibly one of the very best aspects of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America Hawaii cruise is the itinerary. It starts in Honolulu on Oahu on Saturday, sails to Maui by Monday morning and stays overnight in Maui. Next, the cruise moves to Hawaii, the Big Island with a day in Hilo followed by a day in Kona. From there, the cruise goes to Kauai with an overnight stay there.
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Plus, our Main Dining Rooms offer a menu that changes daily, Chef's Signature Dishes and carefully selected wine recommendations, guaranteeing a different culinary adventure with every visit. When each Hawaiian island offers so much to see and do for a week-long land vacation, how do you best spend your limited hours at each port? We’ve gone on many land vacations in Hawaii and we’ve taken the NCL Pride of America cruise of Hawaii, so we know Hawaii very, very well. As such, we’d like to share some thoughts and suggestions on the top tours to do in each port. And the third difference, directly related to the second, is cost. You’ll likely pay a much higher per night cruise fare on the Pride of America than other ships that sail to/from Hawaii.
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So what makes the Pride of America so weird, I mean, “unique? ” As the only American flagged ocean cruise ship, you’ll notice three major differences between the Pride of America and other ships that sail to/from Hawaii. First, the Passenger Vessel Services Act does not apply to American registered ships, so the Pride of America isn’t required to stop at a foreign port.
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Guests spend two days on Maui, two days on Hawaii Island (one in Hilo, one in Kona) and one and a half days on Kauai. As I mentioned earlier, due to the port heavy itinerary, it may not be worth paying the service charges to receive the Hawaii Beverage Package as a perk and definitely wouldn’t be worth it for most people to purchase it outright. But depending on how much you plan on drinking, this is something to consider.
Have in mind that not all specialty restaurants are open on embarkation day. The two MDRs, Skyline and Liberty, are one above the other, both located at the aft. These carry through Americana themes, with Liberty paying homage to American patriotism and Skyline serving as a Deco-version of NYC. There are pianos in both main dining rooms, and occasionally a musician provides background music for dinner.
If you don’t want to rent a car, look for a guided tour that includes some of the sites just mentioned. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is about a 50-minute drive from Hilo. The ship will offer tours, but if you want to consider an independent operation, we had a great tour with Keikana Tours’ Hoppa On Hoppa Off. If you prefer to DIY, it is possible to rent a car and drive the road to Hana. You’ll want to do a lot of research first to make sure you use your time wisely.
It’s these extras that make the difference, so if you’re an Aussie looking to experience the ultimate Hawaiian Island adventure consider booking with MyCruises.com.au. While I normally love planning a cruise almost as much as the cruise itself, my regular pre-cruise excitement was tainted with worry that we’d miss the boat. If you do elect to fly in the day of, be sure to buy travel insurance that will cover the cost of any possible delays. I’d advise against booking insurance through the cruise lines – it will be costlier and may not cover everything you need. My regular readers (hi mom and gigi!) may have been surprised to learn that we sprung for a balcony cabin on the Pride of America – we normally book the cheapest cabin category available, allowing us to cruise more often.
Norwegian Cruise Line is returning to Maui - Travel Weekly
Norwegian Cruise Line is returning to Maui.
Posted: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
“We are eager to resume our journey around the Big Island, committed to making the remainder of your time with us as relaxing and enjoyable as possible,” the company said. “Ensuring the safety of both our guests and crew remains our top priority,” Norwegian said in a statement sent to guests onboard. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise holiday every step of the way. One of the most fascinating attractions in all of Hawaii is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It’s a park that is worthy of exploring for more than just a day, but as you’ll likely only have a day here, you’ll get to see some of the park’s highlights. Don’t miss it, especially if you have the opportunity to see volcanic activity.
There's Often a Lack of Information on Port Facilities
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa awarded their viewers with 1,000 free NCL cruises in a campaign before the show. Starting from the 16th of May they were giving 20 cruises to winners every day until the 10th of June. From there, head back east and then north for stops at Wailua Falls and the charming town of Hanalei, where you can grab lunch and enjoy views of Hanalei Bay and the verdant green peaks of Kauai's legendary North Shore. There are several scenic beaches—including Secret Beach, Lumahai Beach, and Tunnels Beach—along the way, but parking is roadside, access can be tricky via steep trails and swimming isn't advised due to rough surf.
New – we’ve compiled a detailed list of what to see and do on a cruise at each Hawaiian port. The ship provides soap and shampoo in dispenser containers. It’s nice that you don’t have to worry about individual plastic containers and that’s a win for the environment.
With dining being such a big part of most people’s expectations of cruise, we felt that Norwegian fell short. NCL changed the ship's name to "Pride of America", as well as its dimensions - tonnage (from 72,000 GT to 80,450 GT) and LOA length (from 850 ft / 260 m to 920 ft / 280 m). Delivery date was scheduled for 2004 but due to a storm damaging the vessel this happened in 2005. The US Government made an exclusive act giving a ship predominantly built in Germany a USA flag. Norwegian's Pride is the biggest cruise ship in the US register and the only USA-flagged ship home-ported in Honolulu Hawaii.
On the first day, a trip out to Waimea Canyon, combined with a fern grotto cruise and a luau may be the best day of different experiences possible in Hawaii. The experiences and sightseeing tours from this location are short and rich in the culture and history of the area. Unfortunately, the rides tend to be long and the stops short due to time constraints.
Norwegian Replaces Calls to Maui, Pledges Donations - Cruise Critic
Norwegian Replaces Calls to Maui, Pledges Donations.
Posted: Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Pride of America has Japanese, Spanish and German translators on staff. Translation services --including the translations of the ship's "Freestyle Daily" schedule -- are available with advance request. The 2005-built Pride of America cruise ship is operated via the brand NCL America as a unique Project America-class (one-vessel only).
Most excursions offered through the cruise ships only go to Hana and turn around, but there’s much to see beyond Hana. We opted for a tour with Valley Isle Excursions, which took us well beyond Hana in a long loop back to Kahului. The second port of call on the Pride Of America cruise gives you a chance to check out this historic town and visit an active volcano.
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