NCL Cruises, Pride Of America Review

Overall Rating

Given the bad reviews read before the cruise, the buffet food was way above our expectations, the cabin was immaculately serviced, the face-on staff were fantastic, the ship was clean and even though it was full, in the buffet at least, there was never a waiting problem.

There was a lot of pushing of the company's products for considerable extra costs and many of the extra costs just weren't worth it. The introductory tour presentation was pathetic, and any presenter who demands that you laugh at their so called jokes, should never be allowed on stage with a microphone. Even the tours could generally be had for half the price using an exterior company and the presenter tried to make out that to do anything, you had to go on one of their tours. Wrong. There were always shuttles or alternative tours to be had. Internet was extremely slow and very expensive, with a $3.95 set up fee, and a choice of credit plans (with no rebate) or $0.75c a minute. Far too slow to send pictures.
A Sunday evening total power failure obviously spooked some of the systems, including the drainage system up the front end - it was rather smelly for a couple of days. We never did manage to get the in room interactive TV system up and running, in spite of three requests.

The cruise ship offers 3 major dining choices. The buffet; then (main dining) restaurants with no extra fee; speciality restaurants with an extra fee. Other reviewers have criticised the quality and menus in the main dining rooms. I agree totally that although the theory is sound, being waited on with incorrect orders, erratic and small portions, some intrusive and or incompetent wait staff rather soured the experience, and I found myself longing to be at the buffet instead. We travelled with another couple and reluctantly, dined in the main dining rooms three times with them. They were without a doubt, the three worst meals on the whole cruise.

The buffet however had variations every day, the staff were brilliant and the food extremely good. Better eggs benedict for example, than many restaurants and cafes I could name, and the staff always happy to almost cook to order. I couldn't see the point of queuing for a breakfast omelette or a dinner pasta dish though.

Grill chef was excellent as was the pizza chef and the carvery chef. Evening carvery ranged from an enormous leg of beef, to the best roast pork we've had in a long time, to roast lamb, roast chicken, rib of beef, ham and even a whole suckling pig! (Drat, that was a night we missed out on). There was also plenty of fish, other meats such as BBQ beef, pork, chicken and kebabs and heaps of vegetable choices each night. Those who criticised lack of variety must have been walking with their eyes closed or never ventured out of the main dining rooms. I would have been happy eating at the buffet for every meal and believe me, I really do enjoy my food. Lunch was also taken several times and that was fine too, though it was nearly always chicken.

The Liberty restaurant "surf and turf" was one slice of scrappy beef with a half of a very small lobster tail - and very little else other than creamed potato. That is an incomplete main meal...

The entertainment was varied but as another reviewer pointed out (malvernkid) left a lot to be desired and could have been done better. The lounge pianist was excellent, as was the magician and the first comedy duo (Full Impact). The next comedian was OK, but not in the same league. The singers and dancers were excellent with very slick costume changes. Leaving out New Orleans Jazz, Elvis, and rock was a surprise when covering a history of US music!

I loved it. Loved the Freestyle, loved the ship, loved the food and we met several very nice people. It's a budget cruise not a luxury cruise. If you want to be served in a (main) restaurant, I'd ask, "Why?" The extra pay restaurants might have been OK, but we didn't try them. There really didn't seem much point and they wouldn't accept advance bookings for less than 5 people anyway. Still trying to work out why. And yes, the dress code was enforced. People in front were turned away wearing jeans and tee shirts.

Downsides now we know, would be avoided next time, and there will be a next time I'm sure, even though its a long way for us to travel. Not Hawaii though. Been there, done that.

Members' Comments onsocram13's Review

• rhodeje on 30th Aug 2007

  This is very helpful! We are booked to cruise on the Pride of America in late January. We are looking at the ship as a means of Island hopping. It's good to know to book sites off of ship.

• dane1212 on 30th Aug 2007

  I disagree with this review because... I had a terrible experience aboard this ship!

• rhodeje on 31st Aug 2007

  What year did you cruise? The latest cruise was just three days ago. Do you suppose that just maybe NCL has made some changes? I'm hoping they have. I have been on 7 cruises. We have been pampered on most, but we also have experienced one of our worst cruises on the most expensive cruise lines you can go on. So I guess it's what you make it. Like I said, this cruise is just a mean of getting from one island to another. If you want to be pampered, I recommend you go with Crystal!

• socram13 on 3rd Sep 2007

  Our cruise was August 18th to 25th 2007. First time cruisers - with bright and sunny dispositions... Off cruise tours, Roberts were the cheaper alternative on most of the islands. Car rental on Maui was $26 a day plus $23 insurance. Alamo - and we hadn't pre-booked either. May be cheaper than several people on a paid tour.

• rhodeje on 4th Sep 2007

  Thanks so much socram13 for the advice. The comments I made on Aug 31st were meant for dana1212. Not all cruise are great! You have to learn not everything is going to be as you see in the books. It's more fun sometimes to take a bad situation and try to make it good. How could a trip to Hawaii be bad?

• socram13 on 5th Sep 2007

  Thanks rhodeje. Some people are never satisfied. We are well traveled and want to enjoy wherever we go. This was a great holiday, on a great ship with great staff and the availability of great food. Most reviewers complain about the main restaurants and seem to overlook the benefits of an excellent buffet, where there is no waiting and the choices are excellent.
  
  There is a perception that the main (free) dining rooms must be better than the buffet, but they are not. You have a great attitude and because of that, I am sure you'll enjoy it. Just make friends with the housekeeping staff on day one and they'll do anything for you. No ship is perfect, and for these prices, we thought it was as good as we ever want cruising to be. We'd go again tomorrow...

• dane1212 on 6th Sep 2007

  OK, this is getting ridiculous! My cruise aboard the Pride of America in 2005 was plain awful. The staterooms were small, and like I said in my review. I never saw my steward until the last day, when he barged in on my nap. The food and service was worse then McDonald's. The food was flat out sick, and the staff were unfriendly. Please read my review. I personally dined with a family who left the ship at a port to fly home, because the ship was so terrible!! And all others I talked to said they would never sail with NCL AGAIN! So socram, who knows how you ever had that good of a time. Maybe it was your first cruise and had no expectations, and if you go on any other line you will love it, and understand my point of view.
  Note: For cruisers about to book this cruise, please read dane1212's review, so you know the problems I had!

• socram13 on 7th Sep 2007

  Quite simply, NCL have obviously listened to the poor reviews when the ship first went into service and you were unfortunately an early traveller as the ship entered service in 2005. Yes, I was a first time cruiser, but I am a very experienced traveller around the world.
  
  NCL must have listened to the adverse early reviews such as yours as you are not alone, but any statistician will tell you that if all the early reviews are poor (and they were...), then the rankings are never going to rise above mediocre for a long, long time, which is tough if they have addressed the issues.
  
  Given a choice between a car of the 30s and a car of the 90's, one would hope that the 1990 version would be better.
  
  I stand by my review, being August 2007, but do not for one minute deny that a 2005 review may be totally different. I hope I'm not judged on past childhood misdemeanours, but on the person I am today!

• dane1212 on 8th Sep 2007

  You know socram after reading your comment I for one have just realized what you are saying. I mean i did have such a bad time, and beacause of that will not cruise with NCL but if your fact is right then maybe things have changed! Thanks