Pride of
Aloha
NCL America's First US-Flagged,
"All American" Ship
Take A
Look Inside
by Linda Coffman
When is a
cruise not a cruise?
There
are a few responses we can think of, but in our case it was when a
highly anticipated sailing on Pride of Aloha was cancelled.
Disappointed? Sure. With
our bags packed, who wouldn't be? The only happy faces at
CruiseDiva.com headquarters belonged to two felines, who are always
glad to see suitcases being emptied and stored away.
What
happened? From NCL America...
 |
|
Pride
of Aloha Atrium |
"Pride
of Aloha’s crew has been working around the clock to assist in the
effort to introduce this entirely new U.S.-flag product and to launch
the first modern U.S.-flagged cruise ship in almost 50 years. Before
beginning operations, this crew completed an intense training schedule
and a rigorous certification process. The crew worked a 14-day
repositioning cruise from San Juan to San Francisco and, since the dry
dock, Pride of Aloha has undertaken two revenue cruises, a two-night
inaugural cruise out of Los Angeles and a series of travel agent
luncheons on the West Coast. The combination of all of these factors
plus the fact that we have a brand new crew aboard the ship has
led us to make the decision to cancel the two night inaugural cruise
out of San Francisco to give our crew a break to revitalize in preparation
for the Trans-Pacific cruise and our arrival into Honolulu on July 2. Once
the ship arrives in Hawaii, the crew will begin a regular schedule with a set itinerary every week
and the ship in port every day."
"The
first
modern U.S.-flagged cruise ship in
almost 50 years"
 |
|
The
Pride of Aloha Reception area features murals of Hawaiian scenes |
Yes, you read that
right. And, yes, the now-defunct American Hawaii Cruise Line did
have a U.S.-flagged fleet;
featuring an aging ocean liner and one semi-newer ship, the Patriot (former
Holland American Line Nieuw Amsterdam of 1980s vintage). However, Pride
of Aloha is the first truly modern ship to fly Old Glory—she
was launched in 1999 as
the Norwegian Sky.
Despite the minor cruise
cancellation setback, CruiseDiva.com is aware of reader expectations and, thanks to
NCL America, has information and some initial photographs to
share. Plus, happily, we sailed on Norwegian Sky in January of 2000
and are quite familiar with the layout of this lovely vessel. We look forward
to a future cruise on Pride of Aloha to examine the changes and
upgrades first-hand and offer an extensive photo tour. In addition, we
plan to explain the Passenger Services Act of 1886 and how a U.S.-flag
fleet differs from its foreign-flagged cousins. In the meantime, aloha
and welcome aboard our 'virtual' cruise.
Dining
A hallmark of Norwegian Cruise Line is Freestyle Cruising
and a diversity of dining choices. On board Pride of Aloha, they
include:
-
Palace Restaurant—One
of two main restaurants, vibrant tropical colors set the tone for
leisurely, five-course meals.
-
Crossings
Restaurant—Grand
yachts of the Trans Pacific yacht race from Los Angeles to Honolulu inspire
the theme of the second main restaurant.
-
Kahili Restaurant—Serving
contemporary Italian cuisine, the decor of this alternative restaurant evokes the
history and pageantry of the Hawaiian monarchy.
(a $15.00, plus tax cover charge applies)
-
Royal
Palm Bistro—Similar to NCL's
signature upscale French Mediterranean restaurants, but with a garden motif reminiscent
of Hawaii's Victorian era. (a $15.00, plus tax cover charge applies)
-
Pacific
Heights Restaurant—Serving
modern Hawaiian cuisine with a Pan Pacific flair. Expect steaks, fish from
local waters, Asian specialties, and even pizza served amid the modern art
work of Hawaiian artists.
(a $12.50, plus tax cover charge applies)
-
Hukilau
Café—Buffet
style indoor/outdoor eatery embodying the laid-back Island spirit of a
community feast.
 |
|
Royal
Palm Bistro |
Sprinkles
Ice Cream Bar serves frozen treats with all the trimmings and, of course, room service never closes.
Dining privately on one's own balcony is a sublime treat.
While
there is a charge for
alternative
restaurants, no one is pressured to dine in them and there is never a charge for the other restaurants.
Freestyle
Cruising offers the flexibility of dining when you wish and with whom you
choose. What a delight... eating when you're actually hungry! Freestyle Cruising
also allows passengers the option to choose resort casual
"island-style" attire every night. For parents who want to share a romantic dinner for
two, the Kid's Crew
program and group babysitting solves the problem of child care.
Staterooms
Pride of Aloha's
accommodations range from Standard and Superior Inside Staterooms and
Standard Oceanview Staterooms to
Oceanview Staterooms with Balconies, Penthouses, and Owner's suites.
One
of the most desirable of all stateroom amenities is a balcony, particularly in
Hawaii. Book yours fast—Oceanview Staterooms with Balconies
are a hot seller. Penthouses
with a balcony are even more desirable with additional square footage and
storage. Stepping
up in posh, Owner's Suites are some of the
chicest digs in the Pacific.
All
accommodations are equipped with televisions, refrigerators, and personal safes.
For
families, numerous staterooms in all categories are available for
three and four occupants. Passengers with disabilities
haven't been overlooked—cabins have been
designed for special needs guests.
Continued --> Pride
of Aloha Preview (Part 2)
Photos Courtesy of
Norwegian
Cruise Line
Norwegian
Cruise Line - Cruise Reviews
Norwegian
Cruise Line Profile
