Well, we just returned from a week's cruise around the Hawaiian Islands on the NCL's Pride of America. We researched this cruise, the itinerary, the excursions, the cabins, the food, the level of service, etc. So we went into this having read all the negative that had been previously posted regarding this cruise. We had doubts, and like others had said in past reviews we decided that we would make this cruise about the ports and not the ship. This was our 8th cruise and first on NCL. For the record, we had absolutely nothing to worry about. The level of service we experienced was the equal or better than that of service received on other ships we have sailed on. Granted, the balcony cabin was not huge but it more than adequately served our needs. Granted, the shower was not humongous, but it was no way so restricting that I touching all the walls while trying to shower. Now, some of the larger guests (and there were plenty of them) might have found the shower problematic, but for a normal sized adult, it certainly wasn't a deal breaker. Our cabin steward "Jack" was thorough, efficient, and friendly. As good as any cabin steward we have ever had on any of our previous cruises. Previously we have sailed Royal Caribbean and Disney.

I have read a lot about the terrible food, long waits, poor wait staff in the various restaurants onboard. Baloney!!! We ate in the Aloha Buffet, Cadillac Diner, Skyline , Moderno, LaCucina, Teppanyaki, and Cagney's. The food was very good, well presented and the wait staff and hostesses were fantastic. Never did we experience a wait for a table and even when we were early for our reservation, we were promptly seated. I would equate the dinner we had at Cagney's as good as the dinners we have eaten at Palo on the Disney Magic, Wonder, and Fantasy. We both had the Ultimate Dining Package and felt we had value received for value paid.

For those who complain about lack of activities on the ship, I question that. If one were to look at the daily activities paper left by the cabin steward each night on the bed, one would see that there are plenty of things to do during the day if one were not going ashore. But why the heck are you on this cruise anyway if you are just going to sit on the ship. This is Hawaii and there is so much to see ashore that complaining about nothing to do on the ship makes no sense to me. Read more