NCL Cruises, Pride Of America Reviews
Latest Reviews
★★☆☆☆
“Dissapointed in entertainment. Nothing to do. Boring...”
Written on: 16/01/2011
Dissapointed in entertainment. Nothing to do. Boring shows at night. Do RCC instead. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Other Hawaiian cruises like the 15 day from San Pedro,...”
Written on: 04/08/2010
Other Hawaiian cruises like the 15 day from San Pedro, California or from Vancouver will be a better choice for a Hawaiian cruise. The ship is smaller than the 7 day Mexican Riviera Cruise by Royal Caribbean. Decks were not properly designed. Decks 5 & 6, where the shops and specialty restaurants have limited "flow" you can enter and exit these premises using just the left side of the ship. I highly NOT RECOMMEND this cruise ship as there are others out there that are more superior in terms... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“On check in which started at 12oclock we were on board...”
Written on: 17/07/2010
On check in which started at 12oclock we were on board soon after .But cabins were not ready until 3.30pm!!! Do not atempt too take any alcohal in your bags as the screen all bags and take it off you , The two free restants had a menue nearly the same !, service was slow and food basic !The other 6 restants had a sircharge .Shame on NCL for doing this as when you pay for a cruise you think all meals are included.The evening intertainment was disappointing .One up side was tea and coffee... (read more)
★★★★☆
“Went on this cruise with a group of friends so...”
Written on: 24/05/2010
Went on this cruise with a group of friends so external entertainment was not our top priority but what we experienced we enjoyed for the most part. Food was good and plentiful in all restaurants save for one disappointing meal in the Liberty Restaurant. Staff were all extremely friendly and helpful. Downsides were the confusion over gratuities and the over-priced excursions. There was a compulsory amount automatically deducted for gratuities and that was supposed to be the end of it,... (read more)
★★★★☆
“Category AF - Family Suite with Balcony, 10678. Two...”
Written on: 12/12/2009
Category AF - Family Suite with Balcony, 10678. Two adults in one room with queen, two boys 16 & 11 sharing a queen sofa bed and daughter 14 in separate room with king single. Massive Balcony with lounges, deck chairs and views to die for! We read a lot of reviews prior to booking so we feel obligated to make some comments.
Arranged accommodation prior on "www.hotwire.com" we booked the mystery hotel. Do your research and you can almost guess the hotel with a good discount to any other...
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★★★★☆
“This cruise exceeded our expectations in many ways,...”
Written on: 19/10/2009
This cruise exceeded our expectations in many ways, but especially the service provided by all the crew. They were extremely friendly, very thoughtful and helped in any way they could. Our cabin (handicapped) was fantastic - very comfortable king bed and lots of storage. Loved evenings on the balcony watching the full moon shining on the ocean and birds following the ship. The shows were worth staying up for even though we were up and on the go early each morning. To make sightseeing easier... (read more)
★★★★★
“Before we travelled to Hawaii we read lots of negative...”
Written on: 27/09/2009 by wildesa (1 review written)
Before we travelled to Hawaii we read lots of negative reviews and were quite anxious however we needn't have been. The NCL Pride of America was brilliant, the food was excellent in the Aloha Restaurant for breakfast and dinner lots of choice and variety. The entertainment was adequate and we especially enjoyed the magician, The Second City and the Polynesian celebration evening. We did think the cost of water $4.50 a bottle was expensive but got our own on shore. The staff were all... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Worst cruise. Been on twelve. NCL has gone too far its...”
Written on: 30/08/2009
Worst cruise. Been on twelve. NCL has gone too far its cut backs. Save your money. Island hop by plane or just pick one. Too many things were closed without announcements. Some staff were rude. Menu items were not available early on. No real entertainment. Cruise director was the headline singer. (read more)
Davidbiron's Comment
Written on: 08/08/2010
Dude, you go there to see Hawaii, not to stay onboard the whole trip, is that what you did? If so, poor you, of course there's no HUGE attractions and shows, it ain't Vegas my friend! Have REAL expectations my friend!!
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★★☆☆☆
“Regarding the Pride of America 18 july 2009 Hawaii...”
Written on: 26/07/2009
Regarding the Pride of America 18 july 2009 Hawaii sailing
From the start we found that staff put their rules above customer service. We tried to put our daughter 2 weeks from her 10th birthday (and a 5th grader) into the 10-12 kids club, rather than with her 7 y/o brother in the 6-9 y/o group, but they refused. Next, a staff member yelled at my wife for taking some popcorn from the popcorn maker before that staff wanted to serve it. (This I still do not understand) Later, I wanted my...
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Educator On The High Seas's Comment
Written on: 06/12/2009
FYI ...kids club cruise staff have mandates from corporate that children have to be with the age group that they currently are in...even if their birthday is a few days, weeks or months away. I know when you go on vacation and spend your money...you feel entitled to anything that you want...but just try to broaden you perspective some and think if there were not rules regarding children in place...imagine how chaotic the ship could become.
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<br/>Keep in mind there are thousands of passengers, and hundreds of children each and every week. If they were to allow your child to go to the older group (or run on walk on the tredmill)then what about all the other children...and where do you draw the line.... what about parents who want their children to enroll in an older group because their b day is 3 weeks away, or 4 weeks away...
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<br/>I am a teacher in a large school system, and we have a cut off date as to when a child can enter a particular grade, birth dates have to fall before or on sep 30th of that year...if the child is born Oct 1 ...which is only 1 day past the cut off date, the child will have to enroll in the previous grade. This is life, there are rules, and there must be to ensure a civil society...and that even goes for cruise ships!
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<br/>I say that your complaint is not an issue of bad coustomer service...those rules are in place because they are critical to the smooth running of the ship...and I am sorry that you feel that rules don't apply when you are on vacation...and if they are not bent for you and your family then you have recieved poor customer service. However, I greatly disagree...and hope in the future you will have a broader perspective!
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<br/>Disclaimer:I am not speaking on behalf of NCLA....just my own personal opinion.
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★☆☆☆☆
“Just returned from Pride of America cruise in Hawaii...”
Written on: 26/05/2009
Just returned from Pride of America cruise in Hawaii and it was the worst cruise I have been on. The entertainment was poor at best, the rooms were not clean with dirty floors, soiled towels and blood on our bedding. The food was worse than any Chuck A Rama I have been to. I would not recommend this cruise to anyone. Hopefully they will soon get some competition again so that they can raise the bar on service and quality of food. (read more)
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Showing 1 - 10 of 47 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Travelled all the way from Scotland. We have been on...”
Written on: 05/04/2009
Travelled all the way from Scotland. We have been on many cruises. Will never use NCL Cruises again. Food was disgusting unless you paid extra in one of the LOTS of restaurants you paid a supplement for. On ALL the cruises I have been on before the food was of extremely high quality without having to pay for it. Standard of cleaning in the cabin was very poor and the towels soiled. Entertainment was also the worst experienced. (read more)
★★★★★
“Everything about this cruise was wonderful. The ship...”
Written on: 25/01/2009 by Robyn Jones (1 review written)
Everything about this cruise was wonderful. The ship was beautifully decorated with lots of colour and fun, just as you would expect of a ship built specifically for the Hawaiian islands cruise! It was always very clean everywhere we looked. Our balcony stateroom cabin was very spacious and the bed was huge. It was always kept spotlessly clean, and one night we came back to our room to find that our towels had been made into two beautiful swans, sitting with their beaks together ,making a... (read more)
Shelli's Response to Robyn Jones's Review
Written on: 29/05/2010
Just want to thank all the folks who have taken the time to write reviews on the NCL Pride of America cruise through Hawaii. We will be sailing June 26, 2010, and have been doing all the research we can on this cruise so that we can be prepared and know what to expect. Opinions on excursions, restaurants, staff, service charges, etc. have been very helpful. To those folks from Australia who have been unhappy with the double dipping on the service charges - I am with you! Maybe that is standard practice on cruise ships (this will be my first), but that is not a typically American way of doing business. A one-time tip for a service is generally all that is expected. It seems that most reviews are quite positive, with a small few that have been negative. So we are prepared for things to not be perfect (are they ever?), but to find the trip enjoyable. Again, thanks to all for commenting, and I will do the same upon our return.
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★★★★★
“My husband and I have just returned from a wonderful...”
Written on: 06/10/2008 by jstew (1 review written)
My husband and I have just returned from a wonderful cruise on the Pride of America. We were first time cruisers and had read all the reviews before we booked, so had a fair idea of what to expect in terms of cleanliness and the quality of the food and the freestyle dining experience. Also the idea of not having to dress for dinner. We had the most magnificent time. The ship was so amazing. Extremely well maintained, clean and polished. At one stage during breakfast that we had in the... (read more)
★★★☆☆
“We cruised on Pride of America from July 19th to July...”
Written on: 24/09/2008
We cruised on Pride of America from July 19th to July 24th.
My 82 year old father, my husband, myself, 17 year old daughter and 14 year old son.
About the 20th cruise for my father, 4th cruise for the 4 of us, first time for us with NCL, although we had a great time, I wouldn't recommend NCL as a cruise line for most people. As I mentioned the food wasn't great and state rooms small. But my kids had a wonderful time and happy teenagers make for a happy vacation. They are still in contact with...
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★★★★☆
“We have just arrived back from a 7 day Hawaiian Cruise...”
Written on: 21/07/2008 by Leonies (1 review written)
We have just arrived back from a 7 day Hawaiian Cruise on the Pride of America. My husband and I, 2 kids (teenagers) and Grandma (78 with a fractured arm). This was one of the best holidays we have ever been on. The boat was fantastic, the food was great and the service excellent. The kids loved the freestyle dining and lived in the Cadillac and Aloha buffet. We loved the Jefferson and Liberty restaurants. No problems getting bookings at the time we wanted. Our excursions were booked online... (read more)
Teresa Tapp's Response to Leonies's Review
Written on: 24/07/2008
I found this review helpful because...it sounds like your expectation of the cruise were realistic, unlike some who have posted here. I hope to be pampered, but do not expect to be waited on "hand and foot". Going to the bar to retrieve a drink should not be a problem! You need to pay top dollar to get the kind of service some seem to expect. This is an affordable cruise.
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★☆☆☆☆
“No party going on when you first come on board. Had to...”
Written on: 24/06/2008 by spy4u2 (1 review written)
No party going on when you first come on board. Had to get my own drinks, nobody walking around with drink trays full of drinks. You did not feel like you were being catered to. The pool area decor left a little to be desired. We will never go on NCL again. Look around on the internet and you will see people saying the same thing. (read more)
Socram13's Response to spy4u2's Review
Written on: 15/11/2008
I totally disagree with this review because obviously the reviewer was expecting to be waited on hand and foot - but at a budget price... If you want a luxury cruise, you don't go Freestyle cruising with NCL. <br/>Yes, do read other reviews, and generally the ones complaining are ones with expectations way above the cruise price. Read the positive reviews for a balance, and then make up your mind if NCL is for you. Obviously it is not to everyone's taste, but if it is clean (it is), the food is good (it is) the cabin is well serviced (it is) and the staff are pleasant and helpful (they are), the shows are entertaining (they are) and embarkation and disembarkation is efficient (it is), what is the problem?<br/>You didn't get a welcome party? You didn't have someone coming round with a tray of drinks? Oh dearie me. What a tragedy.<br/>It is grossly unfair to criticise a cruise that delivers what it promises and NCL delivered far more than we expected, given the price, and rated it a bargain 7 day break that was cheaper than the cost of a bed only for 7 days, at many hotels and motels I could list and I have lost count of the number we have stayed in over the years in many different countries.
<br/>Be fair.
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★★★★☆
“Had read some really scary reviews of this cruise...”
Written on: 08/04/2008 by scooterbby (1 review written)
Had read some really scary reviews of this cruise ship, but I had no complaints whatsoever! Our room steward, was very helpful, polite, friendly as were the servers, We had a blast the whole time we were there. The excursions were wonderful, the drivers always full of information about the island for the curious visitors. 99% of the help spoke to us and was friendly, always there with a smile and ready to serve. Room was clean, always had fresh towels and ice in the bucket. Didn't go in... (read more)
Socram13's Response to scooterbby's Review
Written on: 17/05/2008
So pleased that you were able to overcome the negative reviews! Currently debating whether or not to do the same trip again in 2009 with more friends, so will be keeping an eye on all new reviews.
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Sberb's Response to scooterbby's Review
Written on: 24/05/2008
We have a sail date of June 28th on the Pride of America around Hawaii and am looking for feedback on tours offered from the ship, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Socram13's Response to scooterbby's Review
Written on: 28/05/2008
Although the ship offers quite a few, suggest you investigate 'Roberts Tours'. Cheaper. The on board presentation by the ship's personnel was pathetic and biased, trying to pressure you into booking with them. On Maui, we (two couples) hired a car and it was extremely good value. From memory, about $26 plus another $23 for insurance. Fuel wasn't too bad. Compare that to the cost of 4 of you taking an organised your... We purchased an excellent "Guide to the Hawaiian Islands" before we left NZ and that was invaluable.
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<br/>Wife and I did a bus tour on the Sunday, and it was $50 a head. Not bad, but had to wait several hours to get a coffee - at the macadamia nut farm - factory closed as it was Sunday and maintenance time, but cafe and shop open. The main advantage of the coach tour is the commentary.
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★★★★☆
“This was my first cruise, but I completely enjoyed it....”
Written on: 25/03/2008 by Triscuit (1 review written)
This was my first cruise, but I completely enjoyed it. The few negative points I have listed here were minor compared to the overall enjoyment of my time spent in onboard. (read more)
Socram13's Response to Triscuit's Review
Written on: 17/05/2008
We too found the speciality restaurants not as good as other aspects of the ship. Although we had no complaints about the front desk, we also got the impressions that they were not as helpful as they could have been. We NEVER accept photographs in those situations! So, agree with your review.
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423370_Sweber25's Response to Triscuit's Review
Written on: 07/12/2008
LEAVE THE FRONT DESK STAFF ALONE! Maybe that's why they're rude! People automatically go up to the front desk with out making any effort to solve the situation or question on their own!
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★★★★☆
“You staff and crew do fantastic job, see you all in...”
Written on: 18/02/2008 by douglascameron (1 review written)
You staff and crew do fantastic job, see you all in may 2008 on Pride of America . I have sailed with NCL I can say taking for my family we all had a wonderful time this is the reason we are back on NCL (read more)
★★★★★
“I too was a little hesitant about this trip on the...”
Written on: 07/02/2008 by rhodeje (1 review written)
I too was a little hesitant about this trip on the Pride of America after reading all the bad reviews. This ship services over 2000 people and I've come to the conclusion that the bad reviews are coming from folks who are looking for bad things.
When we first arrived the check in was real fast. I bet we didn't spend 5 minutes walking up to the counter getting our passes and walking on the ship. Our room was clean and everything was in it place.
The whole trip was wonderful. The islands were...
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Socram13's Response to rhodeje's Review
Written on: 17/05/2008
Glad your impression was the same as ours! We are even contemplating doing it again with friends in 2009!
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Oceanella's Response to rhodeje's Review
Written on: 29/07/2008
Well I am so glad to hear some positive reviews as I am going with my husband next July for our 20th wedding anniversary! I have cruised mainly with RCI in the Med (we live in England) so this is going to be a long trip and I am hopeful that it will be great. Any suggestions for extra special excursions on the Islands or "must sees" - and thanks again for some constructive and positive comments.
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Davidbiron's Response to rhodeje's Review
Written on: 08/08/2010
WOW!! Finally some positive reviews! I feel better right now cause we(few member of our family) are going on that same cruise on Sept 23,2010 and after reading A LOT of reviews, i was almost scared to leave home! I have real expectations and i don't think that this ship is a 5*, but you are going there for the beauties of Hawaii, not to stay onboard. We gonna stick around the free style dinners( free buffets and restaurants) as we PAY for it. I hope to be able to book some amazing excurtions and some scuba-diving around the ship and on the islands,i guess it's gonna be more expensive there than booking something before leaving,but that's almost normal!! I don't really believe those bad reviews cause it cannot be as bad as they said; if so, why there's so many trip per year already full?? Well, i guess we'll have to discover it ourself and write our own review.
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Showing 11 - 20 of 47 Reviews
★★★★★
“Let me start by saying that ALL aspects of this cruise...”
Written on: 05/12/2007 by H Montel (1 review written)
Let me start by saying that ALL aspects of this cruise were EXCELLENT. Having said that I must admit that I was some what concerned about this ship and it's crew after reading the multitude of bad reviews. Frankly, I don't know what ship these grouches were on, but it certainly wasn't NCL's Pride of America that I sailed on. Furthermore, this was my 18th cruise and an avid traveler, so I have lots of cruising experience enough to know the difference between good and bad. I am also the kind... (read more)
Werner Schulz's Response to H Montel's Review
Written on: 07/12/2007
I found this review helpful because...
<br/>I had considered this cruise line in the past and will now definitely seek them out when planning our next trip
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Rhodeje's Response to H Montel's Review
Written on: 30/12/2007
Well good for you!! I'm so glad to hear positive! I also am a big cruiser - we love it! We will be on the Pride of America the 26th of January 2008. I also am a travel consultant. I have found that most people that complain about their trip are normally angry people to begin with. They should stay home an aggravate their neighbours. These folks that look for the worst will sooner or later find it or make someone elses trip bad. I have been on several cruises, and the only thing I've found bad about them are the angry people that think they have something coming. I say ANGRY PEOPLE "STAY HOME" and let the rest of us enjoy our vacation!!
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357743_Teresatapp's Response to H Montel's Review
Written on: 08/04/2008
I found this review helpful because after reading all the negative reviews AFTER we booked our cruise in February for this August, I was very concerned we had made a mistake. Either way we will make the best of this vacation, but it is good to see the positive reviews, especially from someone who has cruised before and knows what to expect. Thank you for putting our mind at ease. We will be celebrating our 25 wedding anniversary and want it to be special.
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Socram13's Response to H Montel's Review
Written on: 17/05/2008
Thanks for that! When people criticise your review, it rankles, and I felt that some complainers from the early days couldn't accept that things had improved. We loved it so much, that we are contemplating doing it again with the same friends as last time - plus a few others!
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Grasskirt's Response to H Montel's Review
Written on: 02/12/2008
At last a positive remark! I was beginning to regret booking this cruise ( we are on for Dec. 2008) after reading all the bad reviews. Oh well, I agree with the others that we do not need those grouchy passengers around. STAY HOME!!! Please do not add to the negative energies around. Am sure mother nature will even things out. Aloha!
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Educator On The High Seas's Response to H Montel's Review
Written on: 06/12/2009
Thank you for submitting this positive review. Like others said...it is just unbelievable WHAT some people will find to complain about! They should try switching positions with those who work on cruise ships...and then see what their feeling are. Glad to hear you had a great time!
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★★★★★
“Easy check in from boarding the plane to being...”
Written on: 09/10/2007 by vivianaldridge (1 review written)
Easy check in from boarding the plane to being shuttled to the airport. No luggage problems at all.
Lots of food to choose from. 99 percent of it was of good quality.
I had no problem with noise while in my balcony room. Privacy was good.
We had a few problems but someone always promply answered the phone and the problem was resolved if not immidately but within the hour.
Staff was friendly, and helpful. A+ Many had a wonderful sense of humor.
I would have liked to experienced the sailing...
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Kujayhawk's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 12/10/2007
You must of NOT been on the same cruise that over half thought it was terrible. I and most of the other people on the cruise you were on will NEVER cruise NCL again. This is my 25th cruise so how many have you had to compare with?
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Socram13's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 14/10/2007
I agree with most of this review. e didn't bother with the wine and we only had a couple of beers, and they were reasonably priced. We were happy enough sailing overnight - why waste a day?
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<br/>I checked the internet costs (not Wifi) and that was identical to Disney's Cruise prices. Seems as though ship internet costs are usually high and speed is slow.
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Socram13's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 16/10/2007
Re comment number #1. The number of previous cruises is irrelevant and this reviewer had a good cruise, and so did we. Half the reviews may be poor, but that does NOT relate to half the passengers on this cruise or any other.
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<br/>It was my first cruise, and although I had no other cruise as a comparison, I have had over 60 years of eating and sleeping - and the last 30 have been spent travelling the world, also sleeping and eating, so I think that I am well able to comment on dining and cabins. Inexperience as a cruiser is irrelevant.
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<br/>It appears that the most negative comments regarding these cruises come from experienced cruisers who obviously had an expectation that was not met (apart from the hiccups with plumbing which are genuine problems of course).
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<br/>This is Freestyle, relaxed, budget cruising, and not the luxury cruising that some people seem to have experienced elsewhere and seemed to expect on this cruise. Our fellow cruisers (and we met many of them) were happy and friendly and the ship was full. The overall atmosphere was wonderful.
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Kujayhawk's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 17/10/2007
We are all here reviewing CRUISES...NOT 60 some years of eating and sleeping. The word expertise means that a person can do a certain thing and also comment on this certain thing with a GREAT deal of authority and in mine and a lot of others who have a expertise in cruising feel NCL's itinerary in the Hawaiian islands, aboard the Pride Of America is POOR. We didn't get our luggage for over 12 hours, our toilet was NOT working for over 13 hours, was missing towels about EVERY day, very rude customer service people, food was NOT of good quality and COLD many times, public restrooms closed....I could go on forever, BUT I have to go to work.
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Socram13's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 19/10/2007
I think you are missing the point. I believe, as do most others, that our lack of cruising experience does not mean that we are incapable of assessing the quality of food and bedding. An 'expert cruiser' as you put it is not better qualified to assess the quality of food than a first time cruiser who has been a professional caterer.
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<br/>I detect from reading many reviews, that there is a trace of snobbery from those who have cruised many times, who seem to think that a budget cruise line should perform at the same level as a luxury liner.
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<br/>There is no excuse for poor plumbing, or poor service, but as our plumbing was fine and all our dealings with the staff very friendly, we can't complain. There again, we are always friendly to service staff everywhere, and strangely enough, rarely encounter poor ongoing service, as a polite but firm and friendly manner usually resolves most issues amicably. We were not impressed with the restaurant staff, nor the restaurant food, but as that was only three meals out of about 17, we soon learned where to get the food that suited our needs!
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<br/>Having read several reviews just before we cruised, we were more than a little apprehensive, and as the cruise exceeded our expectations in just about all respects, we were happy.
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Kujayhawk's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 23/10/2007
I'm glad your experience was a good one on NCL and you are definitely entitled to your opinion, BUT ours and many others weren't as good as yours and that's our opinion. I know trying to compare NCLK with Royal Caribean is not fair, BUT service and mechanical things should always be in working condition with customer service being "job 1".
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357743_Teresatapp's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 08/04/2008
This was useful as we are thinking about renting a car on a couple of the islands instead of the "group tours". I have also been told to consider a taxi driver who will give you a tour of the island. Any thoughts??
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Vivianaldridge's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 16/04/2008
We rented a car ahead of time on a couple of the islands. At some ports bicycles and motorized scooters were also around for rent. I enjoyed both those things over the group tours.<br/><br/>Have fun. I am sure you will have a good time :-)
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Socram13's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 16/04/2008
Renting a car is relatively easy and we hadn't even pre-booked. If you study a good guide about the islands in advance, you'll know where to go. Maui car hire was cheap but our second island hire was not.
<br/>Some so called attractions are really not worth looking at, such as a waterfall we travelled for ages to see, only to find we couldn't get within a 100 yards and it was far from spectacular!
<br/>We found that a car on Maui gave us the opportunity to go for a swim/snorkel at our leisure, yet a coach tour on a Sunday on the first island stop had no opportunity for a cup of coffee until about lunch time. Parking a hire car overnight at Maui was a bit fraught, as there were undesirables cruising the area and they were definitely not keen on tourists.... Overall, I would think that the car hire option was worth it, but we weren't able to do it in advance due to a late decision to take the cruise and the travel agent wasn't much help. When the car hire coach arrives at the dock, just ask if they have spare cars available, climb aboard and head to their depot.
<br/>Best of luck.
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423370_Sweber25's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 07/12/2008
If everyone were bringing their own booze on board they wouldn't sell any! Of course drinks are high, it's how they make up for the incredible cost of operating that ship! It costs them well over 1 million dollars to operate a 7 day cruise!
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423370_Sweber25's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 07/12/2008
WiFi? Free? What is this a business trip? You DON'T need the Internet while on a cruise! You're on vacation, not work!
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Vivianaldridge's Response to vivianaldridge's Review
Written on: 16/12/2008
NO, I do not want to work. LOL. I enjoy free wi-fi to either look up information (say about the island) or saying hello to my friends and updating my travel blog...but that's just me.
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★☆☆☆☆
“This is really hard to know where to begin with this...”
Written on: 09/10/2007 by KUJayhawk (1 review written)
This is really hard to know where to begin with this NCL Cruise. First I will say the check-in for Pride Of America went very smooth, but that's where it ended. The toilet was not working for over 13 hours and when I called as soon as I saw this all I got on the phone was a rude customer service person that said it will be fixed within the hour. 13 hours later it worked, but the next day it was again NOT flushing. The operator also said there were plenty of restrooms outside our rooms, but... (read more)
Socram13's Response to KUJayhawk's Review
Written on: 14/10/2007
It seems as though the restaurants (as opposed to the buffet) let down the NCL experience. As posted elsewhere, our three restaurant meals were the worst of the week, but we overlooked that if they were the 'no extra charge' restaurants, we could have asked for more food, but as the service was so dozy, we couldn't be bothered anyway, so in that respect I agreed with this review.
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<br/>We enjoyed the buffet meals and although there might have been a delay with cutlery now and again, that was no big deal.
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<br/>We had no problems with our cabin housekeeping and the only glitch was that the interactive part of the TV system never worked.
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<br/>Overall we rated the cruise highly, so although this review will be correct for this person, our experience was positive, hence we disagree only on the overall experience rating.
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<br/>Hopefully, NCL will address these ongoing issues!
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★☆☆☆☆
“I don't even know where to start. Everything was a...”
Written on: 30/08/2007 by dane1212 (2 reviews written)
I don't even know where to start. Everything was a disaster. When I boarded the Pride of America my toilet was plugged, and there was sand all over my carpet (which was stained as well). I was moved to three staterooms during the voyage. First because they would not fix the toilet, then because it was too noisy! All my staterooms were like a jail cell.
The food was the worst part. It was boring looking, always cold, and buns were stale. For some reason, on day 2 they ran out of pineapple...
(read more)
Socram13's Response to dane1212's Review
Written on: 01/09/2007
I totally disagree with this review on the buffet food, because it sounds as though the reviewer was on a different ship! How on earth anyone could complain about any aspect of the buffet is totally beyond me.
<br/>
<br/>Breakfasts were fantastic - great poached eggs, corned beef hash, beans, hash browns, two types of sausages, scrambled eggs, fried eggs and omelette's cooked to order, plenty of fruit, fresh waffles and French toast, pastry's, cook your own toast, reasonable espresso coffee, cranberry juice and orange juice, porridge, cereals.
<br/>
<br/>We had plenty of hot food, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe I'll post a pic of one of my breakfast plates to prove a point.
<br/>
<br/>There were plenty of satisfied diners around, lugging full plates of food, to relax on the back deck.
<br/>
<br/>The only area of agreement on the food would be that the main restaurants were a joke - and we must have been on the ship around the same time, as our cruise ended August 25th 2007.
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<br/>We didn't miss any shows, and we enjoyed most of them except for the opening show.
<br/>
<br/>Our room was very quiet - which is more than can be said for the two sleepless nights in Waikiki. The cabin was compact, clean, comfortable and very efficiently set out, and I am over 6ft tall - but who wants to spend time in the rooms when on holiday anyway?
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Rhodeje's Response to dane1212's Review
Written on: 04/09/2007
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 means of getting from one island to another. If you want to be pampered, I recommend you go with Crystal!
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★★★★★
“The cruise ship offers 3 major dining choices. The...”
Written on: 28/08/2007 by socram13 (9 reviews written)
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... (read more)
Rhodeje's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 30/08/2007
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.
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Dane1212's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 30/08/2007
I disagree with this review because... I had a terrible experience aboard this ship!
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Rhodeje's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 31/08/2007
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!
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Socram13's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 03/09/2007
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.
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Rhodeje's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 04/09/2007
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?
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Socram13's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 05/09/2007
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.
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<br/>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...
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Dane1212's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 06/09/2007
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.
<br/>Note: For cruisers about to book this cruise, please read dane1212's review, so you know the problems I had!
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Socram13's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 07/09/2007
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.
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<br/>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.
<br/>
<br/>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.
<br/>
<br/>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!
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Dane1212's Response to socram13's Review
Written on: 08/09/2007
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
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★☆☆☆☆
“My husband and I traveled NCL Sun to Alaska in 2005....”
Written on: 18/08/2007 by neves (1 review written)
My husband and I traveled NCL Sun to Alaska in 2005. We had a wonderful time, the service the food everything was great. we decided to take our kids to Hawaii (21 and 13) and what a waste of money.
So we are giving NCL one more chance. We are Pacific Coast cruising Vancouver to LA at the end of September... I hope this will be as good as the first..
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Socram13's Response to neves's Review
Written on: 28/08/2007
I disagree with this review because we loved it (especially the food) and unless you devoured all aspects of the buffet every day, there was plenty of daily variety. Our room was immaculately maintained.
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☆☆☆☆☆
“I ended up sleeping on the top open deck since my room...”
Written on: 08/08/2007 by marsha20201 (1 review written)
I ended up sleeping on the top open deck since my room was so noisy and they did not have another room or were just fobbing me off, which is the more likely.
Even with reservations, we had to endure long waiting times for a dining table and then service was very slow, sometimes taking over 2.5 hours to serve 8 people.
(read more)
Socram13's Response to marsha20201's Review
Written on: 28/08/2007
I disagree with this review because the poster obviously didn't try the buffet, where the food was excellent and service wasn't an issue. I do agree that the restaurant food and service left a lot to be desired and overall wasn't as good as the buffet, but it is unfair to down rate the whole food aspect based on the restaurants.
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Dane1212's Response to marsha20201's Review
Written on: 11/07/2008
I agree with this review. Overall I had a very bad experience in almost all aspects. NCL had better pick it up! I know I will not sail with them ever again. My cruise was a waste of time and money. This by the way is too bad since the ports were so great.
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★★★★★
“Once I got used to NCL Cruises, Pride Of America, I...”
Written on: 22/05/2007 by akelly (1 review written)
Once I got used to NCL Cruises, Pride Of America, I sort of forgot about the decor and the stinky smells. The bathroom was tiny, but it was sufficient for our needs. We always tried to eat early (around 6pm) and usually didn't have to wait in line. Every time we had a reservation we were seated immediately. We spent the most time possible on land because that is what we were there for. The cruise was an inexpensive way for us to visit Hawaii and go to the four major islands easily. We... (read more)
Rhodeje's Response to akelly's Review
Written on: 15/08/2007
Akelly has read your review. We are going to be on the Pride of America in Jan and Feb 2008. We also are using the ship as an island hop. Could you give us some advice as to what is not to be missed on the island. We have never been to Hawaii. We want to take it all in in a short amount of time. Like a Luau and things like that? Leave a comment below.
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Rhodeje's Response to akelly's Review
Written on: 15/08/2007
I found this review helpful because we plan on going in Jan and Feb. A little heads up helps.
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Akelly's Response to akelly's Review
Written on: 16/08/2007
The best things to do in Hawaii is very personal and it depends on who you ask. I've never heard anybody complain about a helicopter ride along the Napali Coast in Kauai. I also have heard many people say you MUST drive the road to Hana in Maui. And everyone goes to a luau. Oddly enough, I"ve never tried any of those. But I plan to when I return and have more time. You should get a couple books and do some research before you arrive. If you wish to rent a car, do it now. Many people waited and they were all booked. And lastly, it might be worth it to you to wait in the LONG excursion desk line on the first night of the cruise to get one-on-one help with the ship-sponsored excursions. Just a thought!
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Rhodeje's Response to akelly's Review
Written on: 17/08/2007
Thanks for the information. The private things comes without saying that well understood no matter where you go. The other stuff I have books and I have read up on some stuff----renting the car before we get there good idea! Thanks.
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★★★★☆
“Prior to our cruise, I had read the online reviews and...”
Written on: 09/05/2007 by leis (1 review written)
Prior to our cruise, I had read the online reviews and they were very helpful, in terms of avoiding areas of concern. We booked our dinner reservations as soon as we boarded so we didn't have any problems getting in at the specialty restaurants. We particularly enjoyed the two evening shows with Broadway singers. We found all of the ship staff to be friendly, taking the time to talk with us and asking how we were faring etc. Overall, we were pleased with this cruise, the great weather... (read more)
Socram13's Response to leis's Review
Written on: 28/08/2007
I generally agree with this review because it is a balanced view of the cruise.
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★★★★★
“The MS Pride of America and crew are great. We loved...”
Written on: 28/03/2007 by nursecastle
The MS Pride of America and crew are great. We loved the free style dining, it fit into all the things we wanted to do in Hawaii. I can't say enough about our trip. Usually the anticipation is better than the actual trip but this was not the case. The trip far exceeded our expectations. This was not a restful trip for us as we wanted to see and experience all that we could in one week in Hawaii. We felt we wanted to lounge around and stay on a ship, we could have paid less money and... (read more)
Socram13's Response to 283632_nursecastle's Review
Written on: 28/08/2007
I agree with this review because the reviewer approached the whole experience with the correct frame of mind and our experiences were identical.
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See next 10 reviews
Showing 21 - 30 of 47 Reviews
★★★★☆
“It was a good Hawaiian cruise and I had fun on the NCL...”
Written on: 26/02/2007 by malvernkid
It was a good Hawaiian cruise and I had fun on the NCL Pride of America but personally I did not find there to be a plethora of things to do in Hawaii. If you aren't into snorkelling, hiking, helicopter tours etc. you may find that some days there just isn't that much to do. I did enjoy the Volcano National Park as well as the Na Pali coast line but some days all there was to do in port was shopping and that doesn't interest me at all. Still it was enjoyable, with good food, good staff... (read more)
Socram13's Response to 279930_malvernkid's Review
Written on: 28/08/2007
I agree with this review because it was balanced. Also, as a foreigner, I understand what they mean! How can you have a history of American beat music without Rock 'n Roll or New Orleans Jazz - or Elvis?
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★★☆☆☆
“I sailed December 16th with my fiance, his parents and...”
Written on: 05/01/2007 by danigirl240 (1 review written)
I sailed December 16th with my fiance, his parents and his sister and her husband.
We got to the boat with about an hour to spare, no pictures taken, no welcome etc. Our luggage came somewhat promptly but one bag was missing. Nobody could tell us why. Then we got a call from security saying our luggage was in secondary security. All for a couple of corkscrews we brought as gifts. Big hassle for nothing, especially considering our dive gear with dive knives had been delivered to our room...
(read more)
★★★★★
“Overall, a great cruise!! My wife and I were...”
Written on: 25/12/2006 by djkeyboard (1 review written)
Overall, a great cruise!! My wife and I were celebrating our 30th. We're not into the dressy affair for a cruise, we want a relaxing vacation, so the freestyle was perfect. The buffet food was a bit above our expectations as service crews keep the food fresh and refreshed under the lamps, so things didn't get too dried out or stale. Creative dishes also for a buffet - tri tip steaks, sweet and sour fresh tossed shrimp, carved meats, and pretty good desserts. Coffee was excellent, as well as... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Very disappointed. We were not impressed by the...”
Written on: 22/12/2006 by Georgian Hock (1 review written)
Very disappointed. We were not impressed by the quality of service or the food. We would not recommend the cruise to anyone. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Overall, I was very, very, very disappointed with NCL....”
Written on: 20/12/2006 by violet7 (1 review written)
Overall, I was very, very, very disappointed with NCL. There isn't a rating low enough to describe how disappointed. I know my family would NEVER consider NCL for another family cruise and I certainly wouldn't recommend this cruise line to any of my friends.
If you want a quality cruising experience, I would highly recommend Royal Caribbean or Carnival!
It's a shame the name of the ship is called Pride of America.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“At this point in time I would not recommend the Pride...”
Written on: 04/11/2006 by Ernesta1 (1 review written)
At this point in time I would not recommend the Pride of America NCL cruise. They need major staff training, and they need to hire people that are willing to service the clients. If they are not people oriented they should not be in the people business. The ship can have all the riches in the world, but with their current staff it can't help but fail. (read more)
Djkeyboard's Response to Ernesta1's Review
Written on: 25/12/2006
I'm wondering what ship the negative reviewers were on? The experience we had on the Pride of America NCL cruise was that most of the staff were overly friendly and cheerful. Of course, I noted many grouches travelling as passengers. We spotted one couple who NEVER smiled the whole trip, not even at the comedy routines, which were really funny. I joked with staff, asked lots of friendly worded questions, and I never received one rude or discourteous response.
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★★★★☆
“Our Cruise encountered the Earthqake and propeller...”
Written on: 03/11/2006 by Josephine McDermid
Our Cruise encountered the Earthqake and propeller trouble on Oct 14, which was handled well and caused us no problems; extra activities were organised. Not every cruise has the excitement of earthqakes and entangled propeller but we thought it an adventure. Loved it all. I have experienced other cruises and can find no fault with this one. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Their lack of communication with passengers in times...”
Written on: 26/10/2006 by knobby (1 review written)
Their lack of communication with passengers in times of worrying events was unforgivable. When a captain comes on the speaker and says "we don't know where we are going and when we are going" you know you are in trouble. NCL Pride of America's offer of $100 on-board credit didn't come near to repaying for the frustration and the missed two days of shore experience. (read more)
★★★★★
“If you want a vacation that will be absolutely no work...”
Written on: 16/09/2006 by FETNU (1 review written)
If you want a vacation that will be absolutely no work for you, with lots of fun and relaxation in Hawaii, this is the trip for you! To begin, let me start with a little background. The purpose of this cruise was for my sister to get married on the island of Maui and fellow passengers (who also contributed to this review) included my mom and dad (early 60's), sister and her fianc (both in their mid 30's), one niece (age 5), two nephews (ages 6 and 11), my wife, 1 year old son and of... (read more)
★★★☆☆
“The Pride of America NCL cruise needs better food. The...”
Written on: 25/07/2006 by Paulette Egervari Gervais (1 review written)
The Pride of America NCL cruise needs better food. The service was good, and the ship was clean, and on and off the ship was fast.
The entertainment wasn't so good, or the selection on the menu, and there were not enough restaurants open during the day. We had to make reservations for almost all the restaurants, unless we wanted buffets.
(read more)
See next 10 reviews
Showing 31 - 40 of 47 Reviews
★★★★★
“We just returned last night from our pre-cruise stay...”
Written on: 14/06/2006 by lambs2
We just returned last night from our pre-cruise stay on Waikiki and our 7 night cruise of the Hawaiian islands on the Pride of America. We had a FABULOUS time and were thrilled with the four ports we visited. We rented cars on each of the Islands and explored just about everywhere we could drive! Thrifty was the best deal on cars we found and so very easy! Become a Blue Chip member (free and done online) and they take extra good care of you! We just breezed through pick-up and checkout each... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Very disappointed with the NCL Pride of America...”
Written on: 09/05/2006 by Carol Burton
Very disappointed with the NCL Pride of America cruise. For a cruise line being named 'Pride of America', it certainly did not show me any pride!
I would not recommend this cruise line.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Generally, we had a very good trip, but we experienced...”
Written on: 31/01/2006 by J Kelly
Generally, we had a very good trip, but we experienced so many inconsistancies that my wife and I agree that our next trip to Hawaii will not include NCL Cruises. The staff was young and sometimes energetic, sometimes apathetic. There appeared to be very little capable management. Kids supervising kids is not a good way to run a cruise ship. The housekeeping in our cabin was very good, but the housekeeping in the public areas was pretty weak. The quality of the food ranged from very good to... (read more)
★★★★★
“NCL Cruises, Pride Of America was by far the best...”
Written on: 30/01/2006 by MeetVirginia (1 review written)
NCL Cruises, Pride Of America was by far the best cruise we have been on. We have sailed with everyone and LOVED this ship!
We did the Innaugural cruise from San Francisco to Hawaii!
(read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“This NCL Cruise cannot even be rated. Ratings do not...”
Written on: 30/01/2006 by HUGHESDH (1 review written)
This NCL Cruise cannot even be rated. Ratings do not go that low. Service was so poor we left zero tips and asked for our onboard bill to be corrected. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“This was our 11th cruise, first with NCL, and we...”
Written on: 22/08/2005 by drdt (1 review written)
This was our 11th cruise, first with NCL, and we expected a first class cruise. We were in for many suprises. NCL arranged airport transportation but they were difficult to find once we arrived. They were very disorganized and mixed people going on the Norweigen Wind and the Pride of America. The adventure had begun. Embarkation at the pier was good and fairly fast. Luggage delivery to your stateroom was a different story. The first of four bags arrived within three hours, the next two 4... (read more)
☆☆☆☆☆
“I wanted to have an extra day in Hawaii before my...”
Written on: 21/06/2005 by lynnA
I wanted to have an extra day in Hawaii before my Pride of America cruise, after talking with the NCL agent who told me I would have plenty of time on the day I arrive to go to the beach and do some sight seeing. But when I received my documents I found out after spending $600 to stay at a hotel I wasn't arriving until 5:00pm. What a rip off. Never book with NCL. Even their customer service was very uncaring. It was already paid in full so there is nothing they can do. (read more)
overview
Top 5 Hawaii Cruises
To calculate the top 5's we take the following factors into account:
• All the star ratings the company/product has received,
• The number of reviews
• How recent the reviews are
As rated by real users
-
1. NCL Cruises, Pride Of America
47 reviews read latest review -
2. NCL Cruises, Pride of Hawaii
4 reviews read latest review -
3. Holland America, Zaandam
2 reviews read latest review -
4. Princess Cruises, Golden Princess Caribbean Cruise
10 reviews read latest review -
5. NCL Cruises, Norwegian Wind
5 reviews read latest review
Latest Reviews in Hawaii Cruises
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Princess Cruises, Golden Princess Caribbean Cruise
"We paid £500 extra for a..." Read More
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Holland America, Zaandam
"The Best Service I've Encountered" Read More
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Sludger's Comment
Written on: 03/05/2010
I found this review very helpful because...
<br/>We are a family of 4 Aussies from Perth booked in this exact suite and we were very interested if the balcony was actually as big as it looks.