Monday, April 1, 2024

Hits and Misses on a Hawaii Cruise on NCL's Pride of America

pride of america hawaiian islands cruise

If you are on the NCL Pride of America cruise, you should have plenty of time to see all of this on the first day of your stop at Kauai, which includes an overnight stay. 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 road to Hana is one of Maui’s top attractions. This rainforest drive offers lush, tropical scenery, a black beach, waterfalls and beautiful coastal views. We found a mistake on our final bill – we were charged for several drinks that should have been included in the Hawaii Beverage Package.

HILO

After working my way through more island classics — Pina Colada, Orange Crush, Blue Hawaii — it's high time for more than liquid sustenance. Dinner tonight is in Cagney's Steakhouse, a surf-and-turf extravaganza followed by classic apple pie and ice cream. It's as American as, well, apple pie, just like the waiters.

Norwegian's Pride of America Cruise Itinerary

My husband and I are software engineers by profession and explorers at heart. Only after a life-changing realization of how important it is to feed and nourish our souls I changed our lifestyles, and since then, we have traveled to all 50 states in the US. The Big Island of Hawaii, also called the “Island of Hawaii,” is the southernmost and the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Hawaiian Airlines operates regular direct flights to Honolulu's main Daniel K. Inouye International Airport from Sydney.

Cruising Hawaii and Renting a Car

It’s a great way to see the four major islands in seven nights, though, as the itinerary is planned, there’s minimal sightseeing time for Oahu. Hawaii is a large draw for families, which brings down the average age of Pride of America passengers a bit (the median age on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship is around 50). You'll find a good mix of families and older couples with some younger (in their 30s) mixed in, but you won't find many college-aged spring breakers.

Departing from Honolulu at sunset on Saturday night, it's Mai Tai o'clock before we've even pulled out of the harbour. Launched in 2005, the ship has a vintage vibe, particularly in Pink's Champagne Bar. Wearing a colourful fresh flower lei around my neck, it feels right to order a frozen mango daiquiri. The current policy is that bookings are within 75% penalty if cancelled 60 to 31 days prior to departure and 100% penalty if cancelled within 30 days. Make no mistake about it, this is not the Pride of America of 2005. It's a win-win for Norwegian, and we can't wait to set sail again on this one-of-a-kind ship.

pride of america hawaiian islands cruise

How To Best Enjoy Hawaii On A 7-Night Pride Of America Cruise

Fly in early, book a hotel in Waikiki and try your hand at surfing or outrigger canoe paddling. If you feel energetic, reserve a time (early morning is best) to hike to the summit of Diamond Head for panoramic views. Or visit Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum to experience the royal Hawaii of old. Further west, stop in historic Lahaina, which is home to a massive 149-year-old banyan tree along with galleries, shops, and restaurants. Quantum of the Seas® takes you on an epic adventure to the best of Hawaii.

Our stay in Waikiki was fantastic and we shared the highlights in our Waikiki Beach post. ” Kauai, popularly known for its Na Pali Coast, has a lot more to offer, including gorgeous beaches, rainforests, rivers, waterfalls – Kauai Travel Guide. Maui, renowned the world over for its idyllic beaches, coastal vistas, & the Road to Hana, the most scenic coastal drive on the planet, is a true Eden on earth! You get two days in Maui, of which I recommend spending one day exploring West, Central, and Upcountry Maui; you can find more details in my Maui Travel Guide, and one day driving the iconic Road to Hana. When it comes to the entertainment on Pride of America, there’s never a dull moment. Tickle your funny bone during our comedy variety show inside the Hollywood Theatre.

pride of america hawaiian islands cruise

The Norwegian Pride of America

The best way to see Hawaii is on a cruise - 9Honey Travel

The best way to see Hawaii is on a cruise.

Posted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 02:27:34 GMT [source]

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. We hope you’ve allowed at least an extra day or two to explore Oahu either on the front end or the back end of the cruise. Here is our Oahu vacation itinerary that you can adjust to your available days. If you are on the Pride of America, the ship will make its way around Kauai to cruise by Kauai’s stunning Na Pali Coast. You will have some time, probably a couple of hours, from when you leave the dock to when you can see the Na Pali Coast.

NCL returning to Maui, with community's support - Seatrade Cruise News

NCL returning to Maui, with community's support.

Posted: Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Check with guest relations for their estimated timing for that day. Cruises are a great way to see many Hawaiian islands in a short period of time. With so many options and such little time in each port, it’s a daunting process to choose what you will see and do. The Hawaii Beverage Package includes most alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including boxed water which is nice to have for port days) up to $15 (and you’ll just pay the difference for any drinks over $15).

Oahu, Hawaii’s most populous island & home to the state capital, Honolulu, features unfathomably beautiful nature and an amalgam of Native Hawaiian traditions & modern western culture! You must plan on spending a couple of days before or after your cruise to explore Oahu’s golden beaches, historic sites, surf towns, rich history & culture – Oahu Travel Guide. Spend a few days pre- or post-cruise in Hawaii's capital city to enjoy Waikiki beach, sunset luaus and plenty of shopping temptations. Here you'll find the most interesting museums and historic sites in Hawaii, including Pearl Harbor, Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design, and Iolani Palace. Perhaps the island has changed in the ensuing two decades or, more probably, I have, but in any case this time I appreciate the natural beauty much more.

It doesn't often feel like there are more than 2,000 people on the ship at the same time. The spacious vibe is also helped by the fact that most of the ship empties when in port, and the ship is in port every day. The reason we chose the road to Hana for day one of our two-day stop at Maui is that this tour takes all day.

Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Check out our NCL Hawaii Cruise YouTube video where we show the highlights of the Hawaiian Islands Cruise portion of our Hawaiian Islands adventure.

Here’s a list of general items you’ll need or want for your excursions. – Kalapaki Beach is a nice beach and just a short (approximately 0.5 miles) walk or shuttle ride from the cruise terminal. – Another one of our favorite tours is the Kauai Secret/Sacred Falls Kayak and Waterfall Hike. In both Kaua’i and Kona there are free or inexpensive things to do within walking distance of the ship (or near Kailua Pier where your tender boat will deliver you, in the case of Kona). The photo above may cause introverts to run, hyperventilating, to the nearest paper bag (I’m breathing into one right now!). If you prefer a more private and serene place to relax, hit the sun decks above the Lido for comfortable and more secluded lounging options.

However, the significant expense involved in getting to and from Honolulu makes booking the Pride of America unique. Entertainment onboard is more low-key than on other NCL ships, which are known for their Broadway musicals and high-gloss production shows. Aboard Pride of America, performances are limited to vocalists, comedians, movie screenings, and game-show-like contests. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise vacation every step of the way. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers. If you happen not to find what you’re looking for, you can even post a question of your own.

This cuts out the "fun days at sea", and the Pride of America is able to sail directly from Honolulu at the beginning of its seven-day cruise. The islands of Hawaii are a group of eight major islands and various atolls, islets, and seamounts in the northern Pacific Ocean that stretches 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii to Kure Atoll. The four most populous islands are Hawaii, which is the biggest island, and Maui, O'ahu, and Kauai. Each of these islands has its own distinctive natural and historical attractions, and many who visit Hawaii try to see these four islands during the course of their vacation. However, this requires intensive planning for the hotels, transportation and dining requirements needed for island hopping.

For a “floating hotel” of that size, it never really felt crowded, except for the arrival at Kona, when there were long, crowded waits for the tender boats to shuttle us from the ship to shore. Several bars were completely overhauled, private cabanas were added to Deck 14, the suites were refurbished and the spa was upgraded. The results of this effort are impressive and immediately apparent upon boarding the ship. In addition to a fresh paint job in patriotic colors, the interior resembles that of a five-star resort. – As we mentioned above, for some fun, we love the Mountain Tubing Adventure.

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