We did the 7-night Hawaii cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America, and honestly, we went into this one with slightly cautious expectations.
Not because we weren’t excited, we were going to Hawaii with family for a special occasion, so obviously the excitement levels were high. But before we left, we did what any sensible traveller does and read far too many online reviews until we had completely overthought the whole thing.
And the reviews were… mixed.
Some people loved the itinerary but weren’t so sure about the ship. Others seemed disappointed that it wasn’t newer, bigger, shinier or more dramatic. So by the time we boarded, we were expecting the Hawaiian islands to do most of the heavy lifting and the ship to be more of a practical floating hotel.
But actually, we were really pleasantly surprised.
We had cruised once before on Celebrity Ascent, which is very new and very glamorous, so this was always going to feel different. Pride of America is not that kind of ship. She’s older, more traditional and very proudly American. And we mean very proudly American. The interiors are patriotic in a way that is not subtle. Think stars, stripes, historical references and a general sense that someone, somewhere, might burst into song.
But once we settled in, we kind of liked it.
The Ship
Pride of America is the only major cruise ship flagged in the United States, which makes her a bit unique. That American identity really comes through onboard, both in the styling and the overall feel of the ship.
The ship had also been recently refurbished, and we have to say, she looked much better than some of the reviews had led us to believe. No, she isn’t brand new. No, she doesn’t have that ultra-modern, mega-ship sparkle. But she was comfortable, clean, easy to navigate, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time on.
The whole ship felt relaxed and unfussy, which actually suited the itinerary perfectly.
This cruise is really about Hawaii. You’re there for the islands, the views, the ports, and the joy of unpacking once while still waking up somewhere new most mornings. The ship doesn’t try to outshine the destination, and honestly, that’s probably a good thing. Hawaii is a tough act to follow.
Our Stateroom
This time around, we weren’t in a suite, just a regular stateroom. And you know what, it was better than expected.
Cruise cabins can sometimes feel like you need to reverse into them and breathe in to open the wardrobe, but ours felt surprisingly spacious. We had enough room to unpack, move around and not constantly be in each other’s way. For seven nights, it worked really well.
The bathroom was small, though. There’s no dressing that up. The shower wasn’t huge and if you’re someone who likes a big hotel-style bathroom, this is not going to be your moment. But it was clean, functional, and completely fine for what we needed.
The Spa Pass Was Worth It
One of the best decisions we made was buying access to the spa when we boarded.
They offer discounted spa access at the start of the cruise, but they only sell a limited number of passes each sailing. We jumped on it and we were so glad we did.
The spa became part of our daily routine. We used the sauna, steam room, and relaxation room almost every day, usually after getting back from exploring. It was such a nice way to reset before dinner. Quiet, calm, warm and just a little bit indulgent.
If you’re someone who loves a spa moment, and we absolutely are, we’d really recommend it. It gave the cruise a little extra luxury without needing to book a suite or spend every afternoon having treatments.
Food and Drink
The food was another area where we were pleasantly surprised.
Most nights, we ate at Liberty, one of the main dining rooms, and we couldn’t really fault it. The food was consistently good, the staff were lovely and it all felt easy. No fuss, no drama, just solid dinners with attentive service and we often got to sneak in an additional serving.
We also tried some of the specialty restaurants, including the Italian and the French. We loved the Italian so much that we went back again and special shoutout to Frank, who made the experience even better.
However, the French restaurant was the one that really surprised us. It was genuinely some of the best French food we’ve had, which is not something we expected to be saying about dinner on a cruise ship. But there we were, eating beautiful French food at sea and wondering if we’d underestimated the whole thing.
We also need to mention Cadillac Diner, the 24-hour diner onboard. It had a good selection of comfort food and was perfect when you wanted something casual. Sometimes you don’t need a full dining experience. Sometimes you just want something easy and satisfying, and Cadillac Diner did the job nicely.
And yes, there’s even a Starbucks onboard.
The Champagne Bar also became one of our favourite places to sit. It’s in a great central spot on the ship, perfect for having a drink and watching the nightly entertainment. Special shoutout to Doug and Patricia, who made it even more enjoyable. There’s something lovely about finding “your” bar on a cruise, and this became ours.
Pool Deck and Outdoor Space
The one area we thought could have been better was the top deck.
There seemed to be a fair bit of unused space up there, and we kept thinking how nice it would be to have a few more sunbeds, shaded seating areas, or little spots where you could sit with a drink and enjoy the views.
Because the views are incredible, you’re cruising around Hawaii, every time you look out, there’s something beautiful happening. So it felt like a bit of a missed opportunity not to have more comfortable outdoor spaces designed for just soaking it all in.
The pool itself wasn’t huge, so we didn’t really bother with it. It was there, it was fine, but it wasn’t calling our names. Between the ports, the spa, and the bars, we were more than happy elsewhere.
Onboard Entertainment
The onboard entertainment was easy to enjoy without feeling like we had to plan our whole evening around it. Most nights, there was something happening around the ship, and we often found ourselves settling into the Champagne Bar with a drink and watching the performances from there.
It wasn’t the sort of ship where the entertainment felt huge or overly produced, but that actually suited the vibe of the cruise. After full days exploring one of the islands of Hawaii, we weren’t necessarily looking for a massive late-night production. We wanted a good drink, a comfortable seat, a bit of music or performance, and an easy evening with family and Pride of America delivered that nicely.
The Champagne Bar became our favourite little viewing spot, helped along by Doug and Patricia, who made it feel even more welcoming. It was one of those simple onboard rituals we ended up really enjoying.
The Staff
The staff were fantastic. Truly, we couldn’t fault them.
Everyone we dealt with was helpful, friendly and ready to assist. From the dining rooms to the bars to the spa, the service really stood out. And on a ship that isn’t relying on being the newest or flashiest, good service matters even more.
It made the whole experience feel warm and easy, which is exactly what you want when you’re travelling with family and celebrating something special.
What We Loved
We loved the itinerary, first and foremost. Cruising around Hawaii is such an easy way to see multiple islands without constantly packing, flying, driving, and reorganising your life every two days.
We also loved how much the ship surprised us. After reading so many mixed reviews, we expected to tolerate the ship and love the destination. Instead, we actually enjoyed both.
The spa pass was a huge win, the dining was much better than expected, and the staff were consistently excellent. The French restaurant was a real standout, and the Champagne Bar became a favourite evening spot.
What Could’ve Been Better
The bathroom in the stateroom was definitely small, especially the shower.
The pool area didn’t really tempt us, and the top deck could be used much better. A few more shaded seating areas and sunbeds would make a big difference, especially with those Hawaiian views.
And the patriotic interiors won’t be for everyone. They didn’t bother us, and in some ways they added to the character, but subtle it is not.
The Takeaway
We went into our Pride of America cruise expecting the itinerary to be amazing and the ship to be just okay. In the end, we were genuinely impressed.
No, it’s not the newest or most luxurious ship out there. If you’re expecting a shiny mega-ship with endless pools, rooftop gardens, and ultra-modern everything, this probably isn’t that. But if you want a comfortable, easy, well-run way to cruise around Hawaii, Pride of America does the job really well.
For us, it was the perfect setting for a special family trip. It was relaxed, comfortable, full of lovely staff, and had enough little surprises, like the spa, the French restaurant, and our Champagne Bar evenings, to make it feel memorable beyond just the itinerary.
Would we do it again? For Hawaii, yes. Absolutely. And next time, we’d buy that spa pass again the second we got onboard.
-Craig and Drew
