reviewer
ricardomnt
Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Pleasantly surprised!!!!
4 star rating

cruise lover, married, Every day computer user, interested in comfort, value conscious, will pay for quality, family traveler, love to travel
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Pros

    Itinerary, Beautiful decor, good service


OCT
25
2007

Norwegian Cruise Line - Pride of America — 

Our family of (5) which included 2 adult teens and our 24 yr old daughter had a wonderful Hawaiian cruise aboard NCL's Pride of America. We had read numerous reviews, prior to our Sept 22, 2007 venture, many of which were negative. Being a highly critical person I was not expecting the cruise quality we had previously experienced with both the Princess and Celebrity lines. I must say in all honesty that NCL and Pride of America provided a very comparable level of service during our cruise. The food was excellent and although NCL does offer 5 or 6 "surcharge" restaurants (none of which we tried) the experience in the main dining rooms was marvelous. In that  we were a party of (5)  NCL staff advised we arrange reservations for dinner..We were treated with the utmost of friendly and efficient service thru-out the week.

The stateroom accomdations (my wife and I had a balcony) and the others an inside room , though small were more than adequate and maintained well and often by housekeeping staff.

In that the major draw of this cruise was the itinerary , my only somewhat negative opinion is directed towards NCL/POA's excursion push. Though I understand the economics involved anyone thinking of taking this cruise should know that there are many viable and much cheaper alternatives to the POA booked excursions. The islands are quite easy to negotiate with a car rental.  Also there are many sites that we would have missed had we gone with a tour bus... Plus its fun to explore on your own.All rental companys pickpup and return passengers to the ship readily. The use of the NCL auto rental offering was essentially a shuttle to the local Alamo Car rental facility where folks had to wait in significant lines and waste valuable and unnecessary time . I had reserved cars with Thrifty and registered in their Blue Chip program. We picked up our rental and were off and self-touring within minutes. (get a good island guidebook)

Overall I highly recommend the NCL Pride of America. I would have no hesitation sailing with them again. A word to the wise...or anyone traveling from the east-coast...Go a day or 2 early from the west coast and either stay  in the islands after debarkation, or just back to California for a day or 2..The 11 hr flights are not something I would attempt again... 



I_thumb_up Norwegian Cruise Line - Pride of America is recommended by ricardomnt

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about ricardomnt’s Review

 


ricardomnt wrote on Jan 28, 2008 at 5:14PM

In response to ronnieg's comment from Jan 28, 2008 at 3:50PM:

Hi..
You're going to have an awesome time..We booked excursions ..I'll list a few and also rented a car a did self touring. Don't let NCL disuade you from going off alone..and take my advice and rent separate from NCL.. Go to the Thrifty web-site and register for Blue Chip service..We saved significant time this way.. All the major car rental companies are regulars at each port/pier..Their shuttle drives were a great resource tips ...etc...
In Hilo we went off on our own to the Volcano Park (30 mins) plus a couple hrs driving around the loop..Don't miss this..Te enback to Hilo to Akaka Falls a few miles north..easy to find...
On Maui we did the Crater snorkling via NCLwhich was fun but a bit of stamina needed to stay in the water for an hr or two... If you like crazy driiving go down the Hana Highway...craziest road I've ever driven..we did about 20 miles or so..awesome views..ran into another family from Medford there.. In Maui my wife and daughter did the Hakela Volcano Sunrise NCL excursion,,,departs ship 2:30 AM..they loved it..... Kauai was our favorite...rent a car ..there is really only 1 main road..go north to Hanalei (state park and beach in town)and Kees Beach a few crazy miles further north..actually the road ends there and the Napili Coast begins...magificent sight...then double back and go to Waiemea Canyon...absolutely incredible..hawaii is the most wonderful place I've ever been..already planning to go back
You can email me here or at (Ricardomnt@comcast.net )if you like..I have more info I can share re. the NCL cruise and the like..We loved it..
Rich

ronnieg wrote on Jan 28, 2008 at 3:50PM

Hi Rich, My wife and I life nearby in Whiting, NJ . We are leaving Feb. 23rd on NCL Pride of America for a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. I am 70 and in good shape and my wife is a young 61 and in good shape as well. Can you recommend some of the side trips that you think we might enjoy. We would like to rent a car and possibly go it on our own or take a catamaran ride to some great beaches. Any suggestions you might offer will be helpful.
Thank you!

sunflower wrote on Nov 19, 2007 at 1:01PM

In response to ricardomnt's comment from Nov 16, 2007 at 2:40PM:

Believe it or not, there was so much to do on Kauai we didn't go snorkeling, also because my sister who I went with doesn't snorkel. Yes, we drove around the whole island & did go to the end of the road to Kee's Beach. That day we watched surfers since it was fairly windy. This time I'm going with my husband so we'll go snorkeling from the Body Glove which we booked out of Kona. By the way, if you ever go back to Kauai, go on the helicopter if you can afford it. I couldn't but my sister did and she said it was "the best" and has some awesome pictures. Question: How did the formal dress nights work on the ship? Did they have two & was it for certain restaurants?

ricardomnt wrote on Nov 16, 2007 at 2:40PM

In response to sunflower's comment from Nov 16, 2007 at 1:05PM:

We went snorkling at Molokini Crater, Maui via an excursion...It was wonderful..though as with most NCL excursions expensive...Also our adult children went Snuba(ing) at Kona via Snorkle Bob(separate booking on our own,), They loved it..They were able to Snuba within walking distance to the pier at Kona(ships ancors offshore here).. Since you spent a week on Kauai I imagine you're aware of snorkling at Kee's Beach just past Hanalei at the literal "end of the road"....

sunflower wrote on Nov 16, 2007 at 1:05PM

In response to ricardomnt's comment from Nov 16, 2007 at 12:11PM:

That's where we saw the whale too,,,coming back from a dinner cruise to the Na Pali coastline. We're planning to doing a catamaran snorkel cruise from Kona & hoping to see dolphins there. Did you do any snorkeling? And thanks for the info on the shows....it's going to be hard to fit everything in, so it helps to know what not to waste your time on.

ricardomnt wrote on Nov 16, 2007 at 12:11PM

In response to sunflower's comment from Nov 16, 2007 at 12:00PM:

Hi... We went to several shows the only (1) we thought good was the Comedian..The talent show put on by the ships crew etc is worth missing. The musical shows featuring the Pride of America House Band and Duet were good. As for Dolphins, we did see several during the cruise along the Na Pali Coastline... which by the way is absolutely awesome!

sunflower wrote on Nov 16, 2007 at 12:00PM

In response to ricardomnt's comment from Nov 16, 2007 at 5:37AM:

Thanks, I read your other article with more information. Couple questions: Did you go to any of the shows on the ship? Do you have any recommendations from what you saw or heard about them? And did you see any dolphins anywhere? I spent a week in Kauai last December (we loved it!) and a humpback whale actually came up to our catamaran. Would like to see dolphins too this time.

ricardomnt wrote on Nov 16, 2007 at 5:37AM

In response to sunflower's comment from Nov 15, 2007 at 3:03PM:

Yes I did...Cruise Reviews.com published it last week... Go to their site then click on NCL then click Pride of America...Scroll to bottom of the page where the reviews are listed...Mine is Rich Sept '07...Feel free to email me with any questions etc.etc...
I have more info to fill you in on if you like..
Rich

sunflower wrote on Nov 15, 2007 at 3:03PM

We are going on this cruise December 2nd. Said you wrote another article? Would like to hear more.

Matt wrote on Oct 26, 2007 at 8:38AM

In response to ricardomnt's comment from Oct 26, 2007 at 6:48AM:

Thanks for following up. Not planning one right now, but if we do I will be sure to ping you then. Thanks again.

ricardomnt wrote on Oct 26, 2007 at 6:48AM

In response to Matt's comment from Oct 25, 2007 at 7:55AM:

Thanks..Are you planning/considerring a similar cruise? I have wrritten a more thorough review for "Cruise.com" which has yet to be published...but I have more information I can provide if it would help.
Rich (ricardomnt)

Meredith wrote on Oct 26, 2007 at 5:26AM

I agree with your point about exploring areas on your own without a guided tour. Excellent review!

Matt wrote on Oct 25, 2007 at 7:55AM

Excellent review. I really appreciate how you provided relevant and pertinent details. Thanks so much.

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