Pride of
America
June 2005
Inaugural Preview
by Linda Coffman
Show
Us Your Red, White & Blue—PRIDE
OF AMERICA
Nothing can keep America down and the same spirit
applies to NCL America's PRIDE OF AMERICA. The largest US-flagged
passenger ship to fly Old Glory in over fifty years, her future looked
grim in 2001 when the former American Classic Voyages declared
bankruptcy. The partially finished ship languished at Ingalls shipyard
in Pascagoula, Mississippi until purchased by NCL America and towed to
Germany for completion. Then disaster struck at her fitting-out pier
when a winter storm caused the ship to take on water up to the third
deck. Refloated, her introduction was delayed a year, but she's
everything we hoped for and more.
Pride IN America
From bow to stern, Pride of America celebrates her
homeland. According to NCL America President & CEO Colin
Veitch, her broader theme is the best of America. Public rooms are
decorated to suggest regions and cities across the United States and
each of three stairwells features a vertical slice of Americana. Huge
photographic murals in the stair tower landings depict the beauties of
natural America, man-made America, and Pride of America's cruising
region--Hawaii. The beauty doesn't stop there, though. Veitch points
to her all-American crew as the heart and spirit of the vessel. We
found them to be enthusiastic and eager to please.
Dining
Eight distinct restaurants serve a variety of regional and
international cuisines and offer open seating and the flexibility of Freestyle
Dining. What would a cruise through the Hawaiian islands be
without the best local pupus (appetizers), kupas (soups), nui
mea'ai,'ais (main courses), and ono mea'ia momonas (dessert)? Pride of
America has that covered with signature dishes created by seven of
Hawaii's most celebrated chefs. One is featured each night in the main
restaurants along with a menu of traditional fare.
-
Skyline Restaurant—One
of two main restaurants with a cosmopolitan decor inspired by the
skyscrapers of New York City
-
Liberty
Restaurant—The
second main restaurant, which celebrates important moments in American
history in a colonial-era setting
-
Lazy
J Steakhouse—Angus
beef, seared to perfection, just the way you like it in a Texas atmosphere
($20 cover charge)
-
East
Meets West—Exotic
Asian dining featuring Japanese cuisine, a Teppanyaki room, and a sushi and sashimi
bar ($10 cover charge & a la carte pricing for the Teppanyaki room and
sushi dishes)
-
Jefferson's
Bistro—Boasting an exquisite representation of Thomas Jefferson's
library at Monticello, NCL's
signature upscale French Mediterranean restaurant features nouvelle and
classic French
cuisine ($10 cover charge)
-
Little
Italy—A traditional Italian
restaurant where pasta, pizza, and crispy salads are
specialties and authentic Italian desserts are squisito
-
Aloha
Café/Kid's Café—Buffet
style indoor/outdoor eatery open around the clock with special kid-sized
serving buffet and tables
-
Cadillac
Diner—Diner-style eatery offering snacks and fast-food around the clock
and even has outdoor seating on Promenade Deck
For
attacks of the munchies, head for Key West Bar and Grill, the lively Key
West-style beach bar overlooking the South Beach Pool for burgers and snacks. Of course, room service never closes and
dining on one's private balcony is a sublime treat.
 |
|
~
Skyline Restaurant ~
|
While there is a charge for some restaurants, no one is pressured to dine in
them and, of course, there is never a charge for the main restaurants.
As Colin Veitch has stressed in the past, dining fees
in the specialty restaurants are levied for capacity control, not exclusivity.
This is Freestyle Cruising
and passengers can choose resort casual attire every night or dress up
for a special dinner. The only "dress
code" caveat is that no jeans, t-shirts, shorts, cut-offs,
tank tops are allowed in any of the restaurants at dinner. Most passengers
select an array of "country club casual"
outfits, ranging from pant-and-top ensembles to cocktail dresses.
Aloha shirts are always appropriate. Pack light and think mix 'n match with various
accessories. Without assigned dinner partners, it's unlikely that
anyone will notice a "repeated" garment.
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
So many categories, how do you select the right one? Although there are over two dozen
fare categories listed in the brochure, Pride of America's
accommodations range from standard inside and oceanview staterooms to
oceanview staterooms with balconies and a variety of spacious suites,
including accommodations that are particularly family-friendly.
(Accommodations are illustrated in the Photo
Tour, Part 2).
 |
|
Oceanview
with Balcony #10594 |
All staterooms
have gleaming wood cabinetry and paneling accents, a small refrigerator,
personal safe for valuables, telephone with voice mail, and in-cabin coffee service. A
professional style hairdryer with real power is mounted over each
dressing table. Bathroom amenities include shampoo and soap
dispensers.
At
144 square feet, the
standard oceanview staterooms are somewhat compact but nicely laid out
for efficiency. Although you can't overcome their 132 square foot
size, even inside staterooms are cheery and the use of
colorful Hawaiian inspired prints and
strategically placed mirrors achieves an open feeling.
One
of the most desirable of all stateroom amenities is a balcony and there are a whopping
660 of them on Pride of America. Standard balcony cabins measure 178 square
feet.
Stepping
up the level of
luxurious amenities
and available space, deluxe penthouses, owner's
suites, and the grand suite are some of the
chicest digs at sea. Who wouldn't want their very own hot tub on the
veranda?
For
large families, family penthouses and family suites, plus many interconnecting standard staterooms and suites
are ideal quarters offering space and privacy for all. Passengers with disabilities
haven't been overlooked either—cabins of various types have been
designed for their special needs.
Continued --> Pride of
America (Part 2)
Pride
of America Photo Tour, Part 1
Public Areas
Pride of America Photo
Tour, Part 2
Staterooms
Christening PRIDE OF
AMERICA
