Questions on Pride of America

[nisky]

We have cruised on other lines, but not on NCL. We'll be taking POA in Hawaii this June and have some questions for the expertson this board:

 

1) Are there safes in all cabins? We have a BA Balcony.

2) Can you check your account during the cruise on your TV or is there another in-cabin option?

3) Can you reserve dining times in the main dining rooms for a series of upcoming days or on a day-by-day basis? Can you do this from your cabin or does it need to be in person at the dining room?

4) Is the buffet opening on time in the morning?

5) Regarding iPhones: is it enough to leave our phones on Airplane Mode in our cabins or do we also need to turn off Data?

 

Thanks in advance!

nisky

[Manbo]

We were on the POA about 2 1/2 years ago and loved it!

Yes, there are safes in the rooms.

When we cruised, you could only check your account at the customer service desk.

You could reserve dining ahead of time, and we used the phone, but I would wait. I don't think there was ever a time we couldn't just walk up and be seated.

Yes, the buffet was open in the morning.

A lot of cell phone carriers cover Hawaii. We used our sprint I phones the entire cruise. We might have went to airplane mode at night to be safe.

hope this helps. have fun!

[FranknBeans]

Manbo is correct about dinner resy's but because this cruise is so port intensive with early morning excursions the buffet is the busiest for breakfast, can be difficult to get seats.

[Jacksobo]

We are planning a cruise on the NCL Pride of America in August, 2016, and there will be 4 adults in our party plus cases. Will there be ''large'' taxi's waiting at the NCL Terminal to take us to Honolulu Airport quickly (or do we need two?) and as we need to be at airport by 10am will they let us off ship early? It docks at 7am. Do I need to order a cab or will there be a queue?

 

Thanks Rob

[Tyskie]

It's been a few years since our POA - great trip btw.

We did have a reservation in the MDR but most of the time it wasn't necessary - I think the last night was the busiest - they did serve flutes of champagne if there was a wait.

 

Before the extra room service fee, we were able to pre-order breakfast (limited menu - egg sandwich) to be delivered to our room. This way we could get ready for the day without fighting the crowds in the buffet. Alas, all good things change. :(

 

One thing we found odd - when returning to the ship, often the buffet wasn't open (transiting from lunch to dinner) - no place to get ice cream/snack. Available at the Cadillac Diner - but I just wanted to "grab a cone & go" not sit and order. A minor inconvenience! :)

[luv261vaca]

My family is going on the Pride of America in July 2016. We are so excited. We have never been on a Norwegian Cruise. Would anyone know if we can use a magnetic white board on our stateroom door? I read that there are coffee makers in the rooms. Do they use basket filters? Is the buffet open all day? Thanks so much.

[dexddd]

My family is going on the Pride of America in July 2016. We are so excited. We have never been on a Norwegian Cruise. Would anyone know if we can use a magnetic white board on our stateroom door? I read that there are coffee makers in the rooms. Do they use basket filters? Is the buffet open all day? Thanks so much.

 

All the pics I've seen have been metal doors. We sail in a little over a week so can do some checking.

[luv261vaca]

Thanks for checking dexddd !

1) Would you also be able to let me know if there is any bagged laundry special midweek? I am traveling with 3 children in their teen/early 20's and their socks and underwear get really sweaty :(

2) Is the aloha cafe usually open for drinks during the day( water, iced tea, coffee, tea)?

[Pszaffveauhraunne]

2) Is the aloha cafe usually open for drinks during the day( water, iced tea, coffee, tea)?

 

They should have at least one drink station open almost all the time.

[luv261vaca]

We have a private excursion scheduled for the port of Kona and would need to leave on one of the first tenders. Would anyone have any experience or advice as to how to get onto one of the first tenders? Do you need to get on line for tickets for the tender?

Thanks

[Mawfacer]

Just got done with my cruise April 01- did not reserve restaurant but I know they must be a day in advance. There are drink stations available- juice, water, hot water(tea bags) coffee. Tenders and disembarkation for excursions are deck 3. Just get down there when you dock. They are metal doors and metal walls- brought magnets to hang paper stuff. Tv does allow you to check bill, your excursion times, dock stuff etc. a few news channels and a sports channel. Coffee maker in our balcony room- small basket type. They provide coffee pods. New bedding blue coloring- nice. Disembarkation allows for you to pick a time post docking- it was pretty quick with our transfer there (we chose 9 last time available to leave the ship). Yes there is safe. I had no problem getting breakfast at Aloha at 6-6:30 am.

[punkincc]

Sailed on the POA in March. The tender procedure for Kona required tender tickets which were available to be picked up at Pinks Champagne Bar deck 6 starting at 6:45 am. Your entire party needs to be present when you get your tickets. They will let you know when you can go down to the tenders. If in a suite, you don't need a ticket, the concierge will escort you off when you are ready. I believe at some point in the am, after the general rush, tickets were no longer required and you could just go when ready. Last tender back to ship at 5:00 pm.

 

I don't believe they open until 7:30, but a nice relaxed and uncrowded place for breakfast is at Moderno which is located aft between the Aloha Cafe and the open air, shaded Aloha Lanai. They have a buffet with fruits, pastries, French toast etc and a station for made to order eggs, omlets. You can dine inside Moderno or walk through the restaurant doors out onto the Lanai. Of course you can make up a plate in the buffet also and then walk aft to the lanai as well if you need to dine earlier.

 

Download the NCL Iconcierge app before you leave home. You activate it on the ship, authorize a $7.95 charge for the week and set up your account. You can text and call others on the ship using the ship's network. You can view your account on it, book dinner reservations, etc.

[socalbeachfam]

we are booked in 9162 which is "starboard aft", but it looks like 2 cabins further aft jut out farther than ours. I'm wondering if it will obstruct our balcony view? Wondering about noise from the stairs/elevator as well. I was thinking of trying to get a cabin further aft or on the port side. We were on the starboard side in 2005 (same cruise). I remember we were right against the dock and I remember the oil smells on the dock, and was wondering if the other side might be better...any views on this? Thanks in advance! :)

[Host Jazzbeau]

I have been told to prefer the Port side on this cruise because that gets the first, and longest, view of the Napali Coast. I would also prefer to avoid a nearby jut-out like your cabin has, as it limits your view to a little more than 90 degrees, rather than the full 180 of a flush balcony.

[socalbeachfam]

Thanks, just emailed our travel agent to see if she could change the cabin.:)

[socalbeachfam]

Thanks for your input...one of the aft facing large cabins just opened up and we got it :) Never had an aft facing, pretty excited!

[Imalismom]

You will love the AFT room! At least I do when I have them

 

One thing about the POA - we went on her last July - I have always been a "must have a balcony" or will not cruise type of person. In fact, we upgraded to the second largest suite a month prior to sailing on the POA. That being said - the suite was great. I absolutely loved it. There was nothing negative to say about it.

 

But.. Monday morning quarterbacking here... For the first time ever - I wished we had saved all the money and gotten 2 inside rooms (we had 4 in our group).

 

We got to the ship and enjoyed the room the day of the sail away - after that - we were NEVER in the room except to shower or sleep. This ship is truly only a floating hotel. You get up in the morning, you eat, you are off the ship - you come back, you shower, you eat and you virtually are falling asleep by this uncannily early hour. The next day you do it all over again, in fact for all the days. The coastal sail by, to truly enjoy it, you end up going to one of the open decks - yes, you can see it from your balcony, but the open decks are where alll the excitement is.

 

There are no sea days to enjoy the balcony. There was a super great piano guy at the pink lounge, but he is no longer on the POA (but will be on the GEM Oct 2016 to Jan 2017).

 

For the first time ever in cruising, I am telling people who want to do the POA, to get the cheapest room they can live with. They will not regret it later.

 

I want to go back and do the POA again, and I will be doing an inside room.

 

Just something to think about...

[sjmbruce]

We have a private excursion scheduled for the port of Kona and would need to leave on one of the first tenders. Would anyone have any experience or advice as to how to get onto one of the first tenders? Do you need to get on line for tickets for the tender?

Thanks

 

It must change from cruise to cruise. During the April 2nd sailing, they let us know the day before where we would pick up tickets. This information will be in the Daily. The location for our pickup was Mardi Gras. We were there right at 6:45 and were part of the first group to leave. Waves were calm so the tenders reached shore by 7:10.

[punkincc]

It must change from cruise to cruise. During the April 2nd sailing, they let us know the day before where we would pick up tickets. This information will be in the Daily. The location for our pickup was Mardi Gras. We were there right at 6:45 and were part of the first group to leave. Waves were calm so the tenders reached shore by 7:10.

 

For both of our POA cruises, tender tickets were in Pink's Champagne Bar, but location may change from time to time based on whatever is going on. The info is always in the daily newsletter delivered the night before that port day. If you have an NCL tour booked, you will probably not need a tender ticket, but will be instructed on the meeting place and time and then you'll be escorted off as a group.

[Mimmy4]

Anyone have any tips about photo package on NCL PRIDE? Is it better to purchase before the trip. Did they offer any specials while you were on ship?

[CactusFlower527]

You will love the AFT room! At least I do when I have them

 

 

For the first time ever in cruising, I am telling people who want to do the POA, to get the cheapest room they can live with. They will not regret it later.

 

I want to go back and do the POA again, and I will be doing an inside room.

 

Just something to think about...

 

I so totally agree with this. After doing a fancy, overpriced/expensive suite .. that we paid $10k for. I would never do it again, We were hardly IN the room. This time we are doing an aft balcony for less than half that price.

There were some nice amenities with the suites, but I can live without all that and save the $$$$$$.

 

we mostly slept/ate on the ship and that was about it. Floating hotel.

[papamouse101]

This seems to be the thread to get questions answered... so I have a couple.

 

1) I heard that the Pride of America did not have any kind of thermal suite?Any input about the spa?

 

2) Do they offer a Chef's Table experience onboard the PoA?

 

3) I understand that the entryways are open 24/7 on the overnight ports... could you actually spend the night ashore without coming back to the ship until next day? (I know ... free hotel, but our honeymoon was in Kauai so looking at staying at hotel we went to then :)

 

Thanks everybody for your insight... we are SOO excited for this cruise!

[Silver Sweethearts]

This seems to be the thread to get questions answered... so I have a couple.

 

1) I heard that the Pride of America did not have any kind of thermal suite?Any input about the spa?

 

2) Do they offer a Chef's Table experience onboard the PoA?

 

3) I understand that the entryways are open 24/7 on the overnight ports... could you actually spend the night ashore without coming back to the ship until next day? (I know ... free hotel, but our honeymoon was in Kauai so looking at staying at hotel we went to then :)

 

Thanks everybody for your insight... we are SOO excited for this cruise!

 

Aloha -

 

1. It supposedly is believed that since most of the passengers will be ashore all day every day, and with the weather usually being warm, there is no real call for a thermal suite or great spa facilities. We cannot speak from experience here, however, and you might want to contact NCL since the ship was renovated this past March and something may have been added.

 

2. They used to (and may well still do it), but it generally seemed to be on Thursday night - which would conflict with your wanting to stay ashore on Kauai overnight.

 

3. Yes, you can stay ashore overnight. Just (obviously) be back before the ship sails on Friday.

[punkincc]

According to some inside info we had ( from a spa worker who was also a blogger ) prior to our March 2016 post dry dock cruise, the spa was scheduled for a major reno during dry dock to the extent of blowing out three or four walls. Unfortunately we never got to view the end result as the work was still under way during our cruise. I do see a picture of some heated stone loungers on the website, but I see no other info. It is a relatively small area, so I don't know if they were able to add any thermal features.

 

Your best bet is to look for extensive POA reviews which may mention the spa or just call and see what NCL can tell you.

[papamouse101]

OK... thanks for the replies. In researching a little more, I did find the info on staying onshore... but doesn't look good for Chef's Table or Thermal Suite. Those are 2 must do's for us when we cruise, but with this cruise being so unique, we don't feel like we will be missing much.

 

My wife is getting to have surgery and her eating patterns will make it a challenge to make eating at upgrade restaurants difficult. I know on other cruise lines, they are starting to offer their signature steaks, etc. on ther Main Dining room menus with an upcharge. Does anyone know if they do this on Pride of America?