Pride of America
NCL America
June 2005
Inaugural Preview
by Linda Coffman
Aloha! (part 2)
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~ Capital Atrium ~
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Public Areas
The Capital Atrium just might inspire you to stand up and salute. Beneath a "dome" reminiscent of our nation's own capital and a back-lit glass ceiling, you'll find yourself standing on a decorative stone floor inlaid with the Great Seal of the United States. Surrounded by faux stone walls and decorative white balustrades, it's easy to believe you're a special guest at the White House. Nearby, guests sip specialty coffee at the John Adams Coffee Bar, check in at Reception, and discuss tour options with the Shore Excursion staff. Tucked into one corner is East Meets West restaurant and another has comfortable seating in the Atrium Lounge.
Forward, you'll pass Newberry Street Shops on the way to the Hollywood Theater where theater-style seating is comfortable and sightlines are good throughout. It's a grand setting for the lavish production shows presented on its proscenium stage. Aft, a long photo gallery spans the passageway between Jefferson's Bistro and the Skyline Restaurant.
Should you choose to ascend the grand staircase from the atrium, you'll pass a miniature Washington Monument replica before reaching Pink's Champagne & Cigar Bar. While we love the tropical feel of Pink's, the oddly pink-toned ceiling left us cold, especially since it's visible from the very dignified atrium below. Opposite the open grand staircase are the Hawaii Museum showcases, chocked full of artifacts and items of interest. Surrounded by the 360° promenade, each public room on this deck has a distinctive style. My personal favorite is the huge SS United States Library with its cozy seating and seemingly endless bookcases. When fully stocked, it will be the best library on a mainstream cruise ship.
Other spots to freestyle the nights away should appeal to a wide array of tastes... the rollicking Gold Rush Saloon, the Mardi Gras Cabaret & Nightclub where good times are sure to roll, and the ultra-chic Napa Wine Bar. The Lanai Bar & Lounge appears to be a late-night favorite spot for a nightcap. Is there something won't find? A casino, which is not allowed due to Hawaii's gaming prohibition.
Finally, there are outdoor bars, an Internet center, several meeting rooms, a lifestyles room, card room, and lovely chapel.
For Your Active Lifestyle
Head for the Santa Fe Spa & Fitness Center and book your appointments early. Staffed by the acclaimed Mandara Spa, it boasts a full menu of salon treatments and spa indulgences and reservations go fast. Plus, there is a fantastic Relaxation Room and you'll find saunas and steam rooms in the men's and women's changing areas. For those who consider perspiration a sign of good health, the 24-hour fitness center sports state-of-the art equipment and a wide range of classes taught by certified instructors.
Joggers are sure to admire the unique wall murals while doing their laps on the wrap-around Promenade Deck. If sunning is your thing, you have your choice between the South Beach and Oasis pools, each with ample deck chairs and nearby bars. Did we mention the trampoline (with harness, of course) and the space-age looking gyroscope "ride" on the deck above the South Beach pool? Both look like a lot of fun.
The Pride of America Experience
From the refined setting of the Napa Wine Bar to a brewski and darts in the Gold Rush Saloon, Pride of America's Freestyle Cruising should satisfy the tastes of even the most discriminating passenger. A bonus is the Hawaii-themed activities that demonstrate the tradition and culture of the islands. Learn the hula and Tahitian dance techniques; make kukui nut leis, ribbon weave leis, opihi necklaces, and beaded bandanas; discover the history of tattooing and its evolution as an art form; and weave palm fronds along with an inside look at how Polynesians use the entire tree. On select sailings, distinguished historians will present Lifestyle Sessions as part of NCL America's Lifestyles Enrichment Program.
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~ Rascals Kid's Club ~
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Parents can relax while their children are being entertained in the Kid's Crew Program at Rascals Kid's Club. Children are also well fed from one of the special menus designed to suit even the pickiest junior passengers. Families have the option to dine at their own table or mom and dad can savor a "Night Out" while their youngsters are having a pillow fight at a pajama party. Teenagers, always difficult to please, can choose to participate in a wide range of sports, dance parties, and entertainment options or simply "do their own thing" with new-found pals in the Blast Off Video Arcade or Connections Teen Club with its coke bar and jungle print decor.
What You WILL Find:
- Abundant choices
- Tasty meals, creatively presented
- Service by an All-American staff
- Activities to suit a wide range of interests for all ages
- Freestyle Cruising lifestyle & enrichment programs
- Well stocked shops (not duty-free; this is a US-flagged ship)
- A chapel for weddings, marriage renewal of vows ceremonies, and religious celebrations
- Numerous connecting staterooms and suites for families
- Huge, well-equipped areas for children and teens, including Rascals Kid's Club and adjacent kids-only pool
- Duvets on supremely comfortable beds
- Concierge and butler service for suite guests
- The very best entertainment afloat
- Extensive meeting facilities
- A fixed service charge is automatically added to all accounts in the amount of $10/per person, per day for adults and $5 for children aged 3 to 12 (there is no charge for children under 3)
What You WON'T Find:
- A casino
- Structured dress codes
- Rigid dining schedules
- Boredom
Fast Stats
- 81,000 tons
- 926 feet long
- 106 feet wide
- Speed 22 knots
- 2,138 guests, double occupancy
A Carefree Aloha Spirit Permeates Pride of America
Set to sail weekly cruises year-round from Honolulu, Pride of America will spend every day in port and overnight at two islands--Maui and Kauai. In addition, upon leaving Port in Hilo, she promises an evening sail past Mount Kilauea, the active volcano on the big island of Hawaii.
Back to Pride of America Preview (Part 1)
Pride of America Photo Tour, Part 1
Public Areas
Pride of America Photo Tour, Part 2
Staterooms
Photos © Author's Collection & Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line
