Norwegian Cruise Line - Pride of America Review

Hawaii was beautiful.  NCL Pride of America July21 2007 sailing was terrible - food was mediocre, poor quality, lobster was rubbery and tasteless. 

Freestyle dining was crowded - can't make reservations - first come first served and only one of 2 of these restaurants was open at any time.

Speciality restaurants were extra charges $20 per person and they served the same quality food.  Tepanaki specialty restaurant served vegetables and rice separately before meat and fish and actually counted out 1 vegetable per person at the table - we left there hungry as they don't offer additional portions.  Specialty restaurants had nice decor, nice presentation, but the food was awful and not worth the extra $.  The duck at the French restaurant was tough and the fish sour and bitter - only the dessert and presentation was good.  I rate food 2 out of 10 - NOT CUISINE and specialty restaurants not plentiful.  Waiters were inattentive, brought out wrong selections or omitted selections altogether.  Specialty restaurants had to be reserved and when you returned to the ship you'd find a message that the reservation was changed (and in our case during the time shows were on).  Unlimited soda charge for 1 week per person was about $50, meticulously measured liquor mixed drinks $10.  You paid for your own drinks during the advertised "cocktail hour". 

Use of their internet was 75 cents per MINUTE.

Entertainment was terrible - like a high school performance.  Don't book Tony & Tina's wedding - we paid for standard seating and were charged stage seating - either way, the performers act on the dance floor, and during dancing, they performed, and those sitting couldn't see or hear what was going on - not worth the $36 charge - and the food they served was Ragu or something lesser quality.   

Also, don't book the Polynesian Luau - the food was worse - salty pork, tough Mahi Mahi, bitter macaroni salad (is this Polynesian anyway?), the drinks were watered down, 1 per person, and you had to get back on line to get a drink for your partner, all for $99.  The show was good provided you sat facing the performers (round stage) and you can't choose seats and staff doesn't know seating when you book.

Don't take any of their excursions - they are double the price of Roberts of Polynesian Adventures.  Ship actually used Polynessian Adventures for the Luau - so why pay double?? Come prepared with travel ideas and brochures because their excursion department only pushes their tours and can't provide any outside information other than their tours.  And, despite what they said, there is public transportation on some of the islands, they just don't know and therefore you book their tours.

The rooms are supposed to be non-smoking - ours was smokey, they tried to use ionizers twice, but we ended up opening the balcony doors everyday to air out the room in 90 degree weather.

Carpets were soiled.

The staff had to be requested to change the sheets and to replace complimentary coffee.

Customer service desk DID NOT follow through or follow up on any complaints, concerns, or questions, and there was always a long line (lots of unhappy customers). 

The main pool was closed several days for maintenance.  The towel supply was frequently empty and finding staff to replace towels were difficult (had one guest attempt to take 2 towels off my chair and then criticize me when I told her I was holding them for my friends who were in the pool). 

This ship was a glorified ferry - not a cruise line.  Friends sailed 2 days later on Pride of Aloha and had similar bad experiences.