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Overview

The brand-new, luxurious Pride of Hawaii joins Norwegian's U.S.-flagged Hawaii fleet for exclusive seven-day, four-island cruises, departing from beautiful Honolulu. Experience the elegant Courtyard Villas or choose from an endless number of connecting staterooms and suites that make for family friendly accommodations for any size group. With 10 restaurants and 12 different bars and lounges on board, there is a wide offering of dining and entertainment options.

The arrival of Pride of Hawaii, the largest and most expensive ship ever built to fly the U.S. flag, was the culmination of a partnership between the state of Hawaii; Norwegian Cruise Line and its NCL America division; and Star Cruises, NCL's parent company. Pride of Hawaii joins Pride of Aloha and Pride of America in their homeport of Honolulu; all three will sail seven-day island-intensive cruises without the need to visit a foreign port, and all three are staffed with American officers, crew and hotel/restaurant employees.

The difference between this ship and its siblings is evident as soon as you board Pride of Hawaii. It's much bigger, for one thing, weighing in at 93,500 tons (compared to 81,000 for Pride of America and 77,104 for Pride of Aloha). Oddly enough, the ship only carries 300 more passengers than Pride of America and 460 more than Pride of Aloha; the excess space is used for public rooms.

The decor, too, is different. Whereas Pride of Aloha has a tropical Hawaiian theme and Pride of America's look takes inspiration from the 50 states, Pride of Hawaii's decor features symbols of the fire and water of the South Pacific in the corridors and staterooms, but offers cool, contemporary styling in many of its public spaces and really bizarre and playful design in others. The Medusa Lounge, for example, looks like a room right out of Alice in Wonderland, with oversized mushrooms, Mad Hatter light fixtures, and a bar that glows with ambient jelly fish.

We love the vibrant colors, classy elements and sheer energy of this ship. We love the rich wood veneers, the cozy but highly efficient staterooms and the ability to dine Freestyle whenever we want, with 10 restaurants to choose from. And we love the cheerful and proud American crew who look forward to every day that they are in Hawaii with their guests.

Although the ship's hull was originally designed as a sister ship to Pride of America, NCL decided to enlarge Pride of Hawai`i and make her the sister ship of Norwegian Jewel.

Like Norwegian Jewel, Pride of Hawai`i will feature 10 restaurants including Cagney's Steak House, Blue Lagoon and NCL's signature restaurant, Le Bistro as well as an Asian complex featuring a sushi bar, a teppaynaki table and a Pacific Fusion restaurant. "Bar Central" is a connected martini bar, a champagne and wine bar and a beer and whisky pub.

Cabins will feature cherry wood finishing, refrigerators, tea and coffee makers. Large bathrooms with WC, shower, and washstand compartments separated by sliding doors are featured in the outside, balcony and suite cabins. There will be two Garden Villas and 10 courtyard villas with a private courtyard and sundeck as well as many interconnecting cabins to create a two, three, four or five bedroom area suitable for small or large families.

Other amenities include a spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, an Internet cafe and a 1,000-seat theater and an expansive kids and teen center.

The interior design will highlight Hawai`i's history and culture while the hull art depicts a hula dancer and conch shell blower joined by a Hibiscus lei.

Public rooms

With a ship-wide theme as broad as the U.S., the public rooms have a range of subjects to display, some of them strictly sentimental, some Yankee Doodle Dandy patriotic, and some just kitschy, funky Americana.

I think my favorite spot onboard is the Chicago-style speakeasy Pink's Champagne Bar, partly because it's located so perfectly for people-watching and partly because the piano player/vocalist had me swooning. The Napa Wine Bar is elegant, coolly lined with faux limestone walls; the Hollywood Theatre features life-sized Oscar statuettes at the entrance, the Mardis Gras Nightclub is glittery and the Gold Rush Saloon is ... saloony.

If you're getting some idea of the themes here, beyond the obvious there are some brilliant turns. NCL America has recognized Hawaii's appeal for the meetings and incentive market. If groups can go to land-based resorts, why not to a ship? As a result, Pride of America has one of the best meeting and small convention facilities on the seas, with a circular auditorium and several conference rooms all at the front top portion of the vessel, easily separated for private use if the need arises, but also quite useful for larger lectures and lessons.

Its Hawaiian Cultural Center, basically a series of displays along one of the passageway walls, gives an overview of Hawaii's history through photos and artifacts. I loved looking at the iconic bobblehead hula dancer kewpie dolls from the 1950's; I never realized that they had a real place in popular culture.

The library is well stocked, especially with books about the region. It is open during very limited hours, so make sure to check the schedule if you want to access any reading material.

There's also a great Internet center; rates for both wireless (using your own laptop) and on-site connectivity are reasonable, starting at the standard .75 cents per minute with package buy-downs to as low as .50 cents per minute. I had my own laptop and was able to access the wireless network from my room.

NCL ships usually have fabulous shopping opportunities, but the shops on Pride of America are small and expensive. There is no duty-free option, and all of the local (Hawaiian) items carry hefty price tags. I did find, though, a lovely large bottle of White Ginger cologne at a most reasonable price about $15 and a Pride of America hat for around $10.

Smoking is allowed in limited areas onboard, but not in any restaurant nor in the showrooms. Even outside, smoking sections seem to be quite limited, and since there is no casino, there really wasn't any area that got particularly smoky during my cruise.

While it did seem a little odd to go from the John Adams Coffee Bar (overlooking the aforementioned seal of the United States and a silly-looking replica of the Washington Monument) to the Waikiki Bar or for that matter to dine under the New York skyline while moored in Maui the ship's public spaces celebrate all that America is, including Hawaii. It's fitting to have a ship that is American-flagged, -staffed, and -themed sailing the waters around one of America's most glorious states, and the overall effect with no pun intended is pride in America.

Fitness and Reacreation

Some of the best views aboard Pride of Hawaii are from the rooms of the Relaxation/Wet Area or Aqua-jet Pools within the ship’s immense Ying & Yang Health Spa. With most days spent in port – Pride of Hawaii does virtually all her traveling at night – there’s little disconnect from the island vistas while taking in a massage, soaking in a thermal suite, jogging on a treadmill or hefting the iron! Workouts at your home health spa should be so scenic!

The Ying & Yang Health Spa – operated by the acclaimed Mandara Spa – features separate men’s and women’s Thermal Suites, Saunas, Steam Rooms and whirlpools. The spa also offers over 20 treatment rooms, too, for those seeking total escape and total pampering. NCL’s excellent Body Waves Fitness Center is aboard the Pride of Hawaii, with resistance machines and free weights.

Next door is the Aerobics Room where Spinning, Yoga and Stretch classes are offered. The ship’s Hair Salon is nearby, too.

Fitness hounds who travel up one deck from the Ying & Yang Health Spa will smile when they see the purpose-built Jogging Track (not a “dodge-the-lounge-chairs” add-on), Golf Driving Nets, Shuffleboard Court, Deck Games Area, and a Sports Court for basketball, volleyball or tennis. It’s also up here where the less aerobically-inclined can play chess on either of the ship’s two, giant chess boards.

In the remote chance you overdo your fitness regimen, head for one of the ship’s six whirlpools. Two are located within the health spa; four of them flank the ships’ two main swimming pools. There’s another one reserved for the kids only. Not counted are those for exclusive use of guests who choose Garden and Courtyard Villas. They’ve got private outdoor whirlpools as well as whirlpools within the baths. (Some Penthouse-category accommodations offer in-bathroom whirlpools, too.)

Entertainment

The new Pride of Hawaii brings luxury and choice to the islands. A stunning 10 restaurants and 12 different bars and lounges are on board offering more dining and entertainment options that any other ship cruising Hawaii. Whatever you are in the mood for, you'll find it here.

The three “big-venue” entertainment rooms aboard Pride of Hawaii are the giant, three-deck Stardust Theater, White Mischief Ultralounge and the Spinnaker Lounge. All represent the familiar, formulaic cruise line staples – the main show lounge; the cabaret; and the scenic, top-of-the-ship lounge, respectively.

The biggest entertainment venue is the Stardust Theater. It’s here where NCL’s big, nightly production numbers are presented. Seating is arranged in “theater-style” fashion rather than in a show lounge banquette arrangement found on some older cruise ships. This configuration allows for almost half the ship’s guests to be comfortably accommodated at one time. Plus, the venue’s three levels provide almost obstructed-free seating.

White Mischief Ultralounge is the Pride of Hawaii’s cabaret venue. An eclectic mix of chairs, sofas, loungers and banquettes offer immediate appeal and a variety of sight lines. On her sister ships this is where the casino would be; due to gaming regulations, there is no casino aboard Pride of Hawaii. The Spinnaker Lounge is another of the ship’s main lounges. Its location up on Deck 13 commands excellent views out to sea. At night the action amps up as the room morphs into the disco destination!

Bar Central is an innovative venue for NCL. Three separate bars are lined up in a row, making “clubbing” an easy event aboard Norwegian Jewel. Step from the 1920’s Paris scene at Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar into next door’s 60s “James Bond era” Mixer’s Martini & Cocktail Bar. Then wander down the hall to the easy-going atmosphere at Tankard’s Beer & Whisky Bar. Each bar has its own look, its own feel, its own beverage menu and its own clientele!

Adding to the “club district-feel” of this seagoing neighborhood is Corona’s Cigar Bar located across the “street” from Bar Central. This piano bar pulls in the passers-by like a magnet. For nighttime views of the pool, head up to the Balitlai Bar & Grill. If you’ve made reservations for Cagney’s Steakhouse, try to include a stop at the adjacent Star Bar – a cozy piano bar.

By day, Topsider’s Bar has the edge, what with its convenient pool-side location. Throughout the day, the Java Café is busy, what with its commanding view of the Atrium.

Activities

Play Golf in Paradise
The NCL Golf Hawaii Program, offers golfers a vacation to indulge their golf fantasies on some of the world's most fabulous courses. We’ve selected some of the best courses in the Islands, set up pro shops on board and can guarantee all your tee times in advance. We’ve got everything you need to get into the swing of things.

Gratuity

NCL automatically adds a fixed service charge to your shipboard account which covers all service personnel. The amount is $10 per person per day for passengers age 13 and over; $5.00 per day for children age 3 - 12 and no charge for children under the age of three.

Further tipping is not necesary, however, NCL recommends a 15 percent gratuity for bar service and suggests those receiving concierge or butler services consider offering a gratuity for services rendered. Additional gratuities are at the passenger's discretion.

Ship hightlights

• Hawaiian Polynesian theme
• 10 restaurants, including Le Bistro and Jasmine
• Family friendly Courtyard Villas with butler service
• Health Spa & Beauty Salon
• Fitness Center
• Keiki Kids Club
• Teen's Club
• 12 bars, including White Mischief Ultralounge
• Internet cafe and photo gallery

Recommended for

• Families -small, large or multi-generational!
• Active, young-hearted passengers of all ages
• First-time cruisers
• Passengers looking for an unstructured Hawaiian cruise atmosphere

Not recommended for

• Passengers who prefer a traditional cruising environment
• Cruise vacationers looking for small, intimately-scaled cruise ships