Pride of America and air

[georgiacat]

We are considering using the Pride of America for our Hawaiian cruise if/when things may get back next year.  We have never been on an NCL ship.  Tell me about Pride of America; I understand that it is different from the normal international ships.  We usually sail with Princess.  We enjoy Princess' EZAir.  I believe that NCL has similar air arrangements.  Are they reliable?  How do you find them?  We can find the cost of Princess EZAir just by looking at the booking.  Please give us advice.  Thanks.

[Budget Queen]

First,   take a look at the deck plans.     Realize,  with this very port intensive itinerary,  the ship is merely lodging in my opinion.    I am gone,  most of the port day,   lucky to make it back for dinner.      There are a couple very nice Hawaiian programs to also consider.      Think and plan carefully your port times    There is far more than you can do and include in the time.    I always have a car.    

 

In my opinion,  when I go on this cruise,  I ALWAYS add time-  usually 3+  weeks.    So,  I'd suggest you consider at least adding several days.       As for Air-  it's simple to just book your own,  with a LOT more options and YOU in control of the booking.      But-  the add on option is offered.  

[foodsvcmgr]

NCL frequently offers excellent airfares for the Hawaiian cruises, i.e. $399 r/t from New York.

The only negative unlike Princess you have zero input, choice, or even knowledge of your flight details until after final payment.

They will allow pre or post cruise flight date changes for $25 to add to your stay.

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, georgiacat said:

We are considering using the Pride of America for our Hawaiian cruise if/when things may get back next year.  We have never been on an NCL ship.  Tell me about Pride of America; I understand that it is different from the normal international ships.  We usually sail with Princess.  We enjoy Princess' EZAir.  I believe that NCL has similar air arrangements.  Are they reliable?  How do you find them?  We can find the cost of Princess EZAir just by looking at the booking.  Please give us advice.  Thanks.

It is a regular cruise ship. Regular cruise ship activities.... but you are in port every day with a couple of overnight stays (allowing you to go out to dinner shows/luaus and wake up early for sunrises on top of volcano). So, you're not really going on the ship for the cruise ship 

 

Yes, because it never leaves Hawaiian waters, the State of Hawaii prohibits gambling, so there isn't a casino. 

 

Yes, because it never leaves Hawaiian waters, you pay Hawaii general excise tax on anything purchased onboard. 

 

Biggest consideration is that it is a 12ish hour flight to Honolulu. And a 5 or 6 hour time difference (depending on the time of year). We always try to get there a couple of days early to sync with the local time in Hawaii. NCL allows you to deviate and also sells a pre/post cruise hotel package.

[hallux]

11 hours ago, foodsvcmgr said:

They will allow pre or post cruise flight date changes for $25 to add to your stay.

I believe the deviation allowed on the NCL free/reduced airfare is only up to 2 days (so you could extend by 4 days, 2 on the front and 2 on the back), and it's $25 per person.  That decision MUST be made before flights are scheduled, I would say make that decision before final payment.

[georgiacat]

Thank you all for the input.  I get the feeling that it may be better to schedule my own flights if it matters to me about how/when we fly.  Princess has me spoiled with their lower prices (than I can arrange on my own) and the control they give me with flights.

 

Are there "formal" nights?  Does my husband need a sport coat/suit; do I need a long dress?  Or is Hawaii strictly casual?

[ColeThornton]

6 minutes ago, georgiacat said:

Are there "formal" nights?  Does my husband need a sport coat/suit; do I need a long dress?  Or is Hawaii strictly casual?

 

 

There are no "formal" nights on NCL ships.  Dress up or dress down as you wish.

[Crazy planning mom]

The vibe is definitely casual on the Pride of America.   We arrived in Oahu 4 days before our trip to enjoy the island.

I recommend you arrive at least 2 days beforehand  to see the island and adjust to the 6 hour time difference from NY.  We enjoyed staying at the Outrigger Reef beforehand which is in a quier part of Waikiki.  We also spent sometime during the day at the Turtle Bay resort if you dont like cities.

[hallux]

39 minutes ago, georgiacat said:

Princess has me spoiled with their lower prices (than I can arrange on my own) and the control they give me with flights.

 

My understanding is that Princess will act as a TA for booking the flights, but you get to select what you want.  In the case of NCL you just tell them that you want the flights (I've only seen it as a free/reduced airfare perk, not an actual additional option/feature) and NCL will book whatever flights should get you to the ship on time and will leave late enough that you have time to get to the airport from the ship.

 

I used the free/reduced airfare perk in October last year - the flight from the east coast could have been later since I flew the day before, I ended up in LA before noon.  Flying home was a red-eye that gave me all day to hang around LA, which was kind of nice because it gave me a chance to head to the Griffith Observatory and see some other sights.  For the flight home - there really weren't many other options so I couldn't complain about that, and I had the same situation flying home from Vancouver in May with flights that I booked.

[Budget Queen]

15 minutes ago, georgiacat said:

Thank you all for the input.  I get the feeling that it may be better to schedule my own flights if it matters to me about how/when we fly.  Princess has me spoiled with their lower prices (than I can arrange on my own) and the control they give me with flights.

 

Are there "formal" nights?  Does my husband need a sport coat/suit; do I need a long dress?  Or is Hawaii strictly casual?

Yikes,  no formal nights.   Leave that stuff at home.  
 

This is a unique cruise   Again it’s about what’s off the ship 

[lauracruises]

I am platinum with NCl. The POA is an older ship, however it is very pleasant. The cruise is port intensive . We flew from NYC 5 days before Hawaiian air , direct flights and stayed at Disneys Aulani Village for a few days. That allowed us to really see the Honolulu sites. We used Roberts tours instead of NCl They are terrific. We were there during the volcano and they were very helpful during the change of itinerary . Entertainment in the evening was lovely. 

[Budget Queen]

33 minutes ago, lauracruises said:

I am platinum with NCl. The POA is an older ship, however it is very pleasant. The cruise is port intensive . We flew from NYC 5 days before Hawaiian air , direct flights and stayed at Disneys Aulani Village for a few days. That allowed us to really see the Honolulu sites. We used Roberts tours instead of NCl They are terrific. We were there during the volcano and they were very helpful during the change of itinerary . Entertainment in the evening was lovely. 

I was there June 1018  and spectacular  volcano activity.     The typical cruise itinerary was just reinstated and the viewing from the ship-  was over 3 hours,   nonstop.   🙂      I'd done this cruise multiple times-   with no activity/viewing.    And several times,  with spotty viewing.      This was a special trip,  that I'm glad I picked up when people were canceling (and the cruise was given away)     

 

I don't know why people simply settle on just spending "extra" days,  on Oahu.    There is SO much more to consider,     I typically add another week on both Maui and Hawaii-  usually 3+  weeks ,  with the cruise-  every trip.   I go there twice/year.    (except may only be 1 this year  😞  )   

[DCGuy64]

1 hour ago, Budget Queen said:

I was there June 1018  and spectacular  volcano activity.     The typical cruise itinerary was just reinstated and the viewing from the ship-  was over 3 hours,   nonstop.   🙂      I'd done this cruise multiple times-   with no activity/viewing.    And several times,  with spotty viewing.      This was a special trip,  that I'm glad I picked up when people were canceling (and the cruise was given away)     

 

I don't know why people simply settle on just spending "extra" days,  on Oahu.    There is SO much more to consider,     I typically add another week on both Maui and Hawaii-  usually 3+  weeks ,  with the cruise-  every trip.   I go there twice/year.    (except may only be 1 this year  😞  )   

Wow, that's awesome, but those of us who work can't just add 3 weeks to a trip. (at least I can't, and my wife only gets about 2 weeks total vacation for the year). You must be retired or have your own business. I agree with you on Hawaii, it's lovely. Took my wife there for her birthday 3 years ago. We hope to travel there again some day. You are right, there is so much to see!

[farmersfight]

Anyone do a B2B on POA to be able to spend more time on the ship? I know the port calls would be repeated, but you could do a different excursion (or no excursion at all but sight see somewhere different) in each port on the 2nd visit. I would also add as much time as I could before and after the cruise(s). I'm retired so that could be potentially a lot of time! All depends on the $$.

[Budget Queen]

27 minutes ago, farmersfight said:

Anyone do a B2B on POA to be able to spend more time on the ship? I know the port calls would be repeated, but you could do a different excursion (or no excursion at all but sight see somewhere different) in each port on the 2nd visit. I would also add as much time as I could before and after the cruise(s). I'm retired so that could be potentially a lot of time! All depends on the $$.

Yes I have done b2b on this ship.  But no  interests in staying on the ship. Again-  had a car and was gone all day.    Plenty to see and do-  even for me with multiple trips and NCL Hawaii cruises.   (been traveling there when they had 3 ships).   I had a job with a lot of paid time off.   

[farmersfight]

5 hours ago, Budget Queen said:

Yes I have done b2b on this ship.  But no  interests in staying on the ship. Again-  had a car and was gone all day.    Plenty to see and do-  even for me with multiple trips and NCL Hawaii cruises.   (been traveling there when they had 3 ships).   I had a job with a lot of paid time off.   

 

Thanks Budget Queen. I'm a maritime academy grad (Texas), so I'm a "ship guy". For that reason, I do like days at sea while on a cruise. As you previously pointed out, this cruise on the POA is port intensive with limited underway time. That's why I thought of doing the b2b, to give more time to spend on the ship (even while docked in port) and to also see different things in the ports on the 2nd half of the b2b.

 

I have never been to Hawaii, so it's definitely on my "bucket list". Good to hear that there is plenty to see and do even with multiple visits and NCL cruises.

 

Sounds like you had a great job to have a lot of paid leave. I'm recently retired, so time is not an issue for me either. All about how much $$ I am willing to spend. Well these days, not all, due to covid it's also about when cruising will resume and hopefully resemble some type of pre-covid normalcy (i.e. vaccine).

 

 

[4774Papa]

I have never taken Pride of America.   From what I know, the ship is designed differently, I don't think it has a casino.  

It tends to be more expensive that other NCL cruises, but since it doesn't have to travel from the mainland, all your time is visiting ports.

 

My Daughter has done POA and loved lt.

I have talked with other cruisers that had a different vibe on POA.  They were disappointed by the service and felt it was not as good a service as normal on NCL.  The staff is largely US and under US labor laws.  Some have opined that may factor into the difference, if any.

 

We have been to Oahu and Maui and enjoyed Hawaii, but frankly were not WOWed, I guess that is because we had traveled to so many other places prior to Hawaii.  Still, we didn't go to the big island and everyone seems to say that the big island is amazing.

[hallux]

2 hours ago, 4774Papa said:

I don't think it has a casino

Addressed in a previous post in this thread.  No, it doesn't.

[Budget Queen]

5 hours ago, farmersfight said:

 

Thanks Budget Queen. I'm a maritime academy grad (Texas), so I'm a "ship guy". For that reason, I do like days at sea while on a cruise. As you previously pointed out, this cruise on the POA is port intensive with limited underway time. That's why I thought of doing the b2b, to give more time to spend on the ship (even while docked in port) and to also see different things in the ports on the 2nd half of the b2b.

 

I have never been to Hawaii, so it's definitely on my "bucket list". Good to hear that there is plenty to see and do even with multiple visits and NCL cruises.

 

Sounds like you had a great job to have a lot of paid leave. I'm recently retired, so time is not an issue for me either. All about how much $$ I am willing to spend. Well these days, not all, due to covid it's also about when cruising will resume and hopefully resemble some type of pre-covid normalcy (i.e. vaccine).

 

 

Yes,  I had an excellent job.     Just another point of view.    the POA  is an expensive cruise-   and it isn't because of the ship.   🙂 🙂      Hawaii-  is worth the expense and the reason for it;     So,  it may be of more advantage to consider this cruise for -  Hawaii  and forget about wasting a premium cost on the ship?     

[Budget Queen]

4 hours ago, 4774Papa said:

I have never taken Pride of America.   From what I know, the ship is designed differently, I don't think it has a casino.  

It tends to be more expensive that other NCL cruises, but since it doesn't have to travel from the mainland, all your time is visiting ports.

 

My Daughter has done POA and loved lt.

I have talked with other cruisers that had a different vibe on POA.  They were disappointed by the service and felt it was not as good a service as normal on NCL.  The staff is largely US and under US labor laws.  Some have opined that may factor into the difference, if any.

 

We have been to Oahu and Maui and enjoyed Hawaii, but frankly were not WOWed, I guess that is because we had traveled to so many other places prior to Hawaii.  Still, we didn't go to the big island and everyone seems to say that the big island is amazing.

I completely disagree on your "service" "report".      This gets hashed over and over,  and especially with you never even sailed on this ship,    I simply do NOT see it.     I've gotten excellent service with no complaints.     I've sailed it 4 times in the last 2 years.      If you want to find fault and complain,  of course you can find something.       I'm not looking for 1 on 1 attention-  am fine with waiting my turn etc.    I'm NOT on a private yacht.     

[farmersfight]

36 minutes ago, Budget Queen said:

Yes,  I had an excellent job.     Just another point of view.    the POA  is an expensive cruise-   and it isn't because of the ship.   🙂 🙂      Hawaii-  is worth the expense and the reason for it;     So,  it may be of more advantage to consider this cruise for -  Hawaii  and forget about wasting a premium cost on the ship?     

 

Yeah, I saw that the POA was an expensive cruise. I thought it was due to the fact that the POA was U.S. flag and had largely a crew made up of U.S. citizens. I know U.S. mariners, especially officers (deck & engine) are paid well on U.S. flag deep draft ships. Hence why you see so many other cruise ships (& other merchant ships) registered under flags of convenience - to save  on labor costs. Also for regulatory and tax purposes.

 

I hear you and agree that Hawaii is worth the expense. Love me those ships though, so part of the cost for me would be to experience the ship. I guess I would have to strike that right balance between the ship and the shore. I'm also especially interested in the POA because she is the only U.S. flag large passenger vessel.

 

Regarding the service on the POA compared to other foreign flagged cruise ships, I think I read where there was a problem with the service when the POA first started operating but that NCL corrected the problem.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2020 by farmersfight

[Budget Queen]

39 minutes ago, farmersfight said:

 

Yeah, I saw that the POA was an expensive cruise. I thought it was due to the fact that the POA was U.S. flag and had largely a crew made up of U.S. citizens. I know U.S. mariners, especially officers (deck & engine) are paid well on U.S. flag deep draft ships. Hence why you see so many other cruise ships (& other merchant ships) registered under flags of convenience - to save  on labor costs. Also for regulatory and tax purposes.

 

I hear you and agree that Hawaii is worth the expense. Love me those ships though, so part of the cost for me would be to experience the ship. I guess I would have to strike that right balance between the ship and the shore. I'm also especially interested in the POA because she is the only U.S. flag large passenger vessel.

 

Regarding the service on the POA compared to other foreign flagged cruise ships, I think I read where there was a problem with the service when the POA first started operating but that NCL corrected the problem.

 

 

I have always had excellent service on this ship.   Of course,  nit picking-  will find complaints.     It gets claimed over and over,   sometimes,  by,  one hit wonders,  who cruised the fleet years ago,  or who haven't even been on it.       As I mentioned above,   I've sailed this ship,   4 times in the last 2 years and really  like the itinerary and what wonderful touring it offers me-  every time.     

[4774Papa]

12 hours ago, Budget Queen said:

I completely disagree on your "service" "report".      This gets hashed over and over,  and especially with you never even sailed on this ship,    I simply do NOT see it.     I've gotten excellent service with no complaints.     I've sailed it 4 times in the last 2 years.      If you want to find fault and complain,  of course you can find something.       I'm not looking for 1 on 1 attention-  am fine with waiting my turn etc.    I'm NOT on a private yacht.     

Budget Queen,

Glad you had great cruises on the POA.   Like I said, my Daughter sailed on POA and loved it.  My comment was that OTHERS that have sailed felt the service was not as good as on other NCL cruises.

 

I would note that I can read reviews on this website for the same cruise that we took that found the food inedible, service lousy and entertainment worthless.  This amazes me because we have never been on a cruise with those problems.

Different strokes for different folks.