Norwegian Cruise Line

MV Pride of Hawaii

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Operator: Norwegian Cruise Line
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 2006 / 2006
Length / Tonnage: 848 / 93,000
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 1,200 / 2,400
Officers / Crew: Norwegian / American
Operating Area: Year round Hawaii

Pride of Hawaii joined the NCL fleet in June of 2006 and is part of the line's three U.S. Flagged ships. She is the largest US flagged passenger ship ever built, and offers seven-day, inter-island cruises visiting the beautiful 50th state's four main islands.

Purpose built for NCL's signature Freestyle Cruising, Pride of Hawaii features a vast array of accommodations including two luxurious Garden Villas with their own private gardens and sun decks, 10 Courtyard Villas sharing a private courtyard, pool and sundeck on deck 14, and a spectacular top-of-the-ship Owner's Suite. The ship also features multiple lively public rooms, 10 restaurants and impressive onboard amenities.

At over 93,000 gross tons, and with a passenger capacity of close to 2,400, Pride of Hawaii employs over 1,000 crew. The ship's dramatic hull artwork features iconic images of Hawaii with a hula dancer on one side and a conch shell blower on the other. Each design is joined by the quintessential symbol of Hawaii's gracious welcome, a flower Lei, made up of yellow, red and orange Hibiscus blooms.

Passengers can relax at one of Pride of Hawaiis 12 bars including the Bar Central area, NCL's popular new entertainment concept first introduced on Norwegian Jewel. Bar Central features a martini bar, a champagne and wine bar, and a beer and whiskey bar all connected but touting three distinct personalities:
  - Mixers Martini and Cocktail Bar, a 1960's-inspired lounge decorated with silhouettes and artwork reflecting the jet set dressed for the cocktail hour;
  - Magnum's Champagne and Wine Bar, an Art Nouveau bar using Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspired design elements and colors;
  - Tankards Beer and Whiskey Bar, a contemporary bar with low seating and tables along with mood lighting that compliments the backlit artwork of whiskey bottles/brands from around the world.

Pride of Hawaii also features the Corona Cigar Club and the Medusa Cabaret Lounge and Nightclub featuring an underwater, tropical coral reef theme. The ship features a Kumu Cultural Center designed by Mary Philpotts, a well-respected designer from Hawaii whose vision and work has been instrumental in the remodeling of Pride of Aloha and the Kumu Cultural Centers on Pride of Aloha and Pride of America.

Pride of Hawaii offers the latest in relaxation and fitness at the contemporary Japanese-themed, tranquil Ying & Yang Health Spa and Beauty Salon. Hawaii-based Mandara Spa, the world's leading operator of landside resort spas, operates the spa, pampering NCL America guests with an exotic menu of spa and beauty treatments combining the best of East and West. The ship also features The Galleria Shops, offering a wide selection of brand name watches, jewelry and accessories.

As on all NCL America's Hawaii based ships, Pride of Hawaii features an NCL Golf Pro Shop and the NCL Golf Hawaii Program offering golfers an opportunity to indulge their golf fantasies on some of the world's most fabulous courses. Guests are able to rent equipment, book tee times on all four islands and consequently, can play up to eight rounds of golf on one week-long Pride of Hawaii itinerary.

The Sports Deck contains a basketball, volleyball and tennis court, while the Body Waves Fitness Center boasts state-of-the-art cardiovascular workout equipment – each with its own flat-screen TV -- aerobic and yoga area with a sprung wooden floor, steam and sauna rooms and a whirlpool and hydrotherapy pool.

Pride of Hawaii also offers a new, advanced Internet Café and Photo Gallery with kiosks to print photos from digital cameras as well as the latest laptops, which guests can rent to use around the ship. Passengers can take advantage of NCL's signature WiFi capabilities. This family-centric ship also features the Keiki (Kids) Club as well as the surf-themed Wipe Out Teen's Club.

Pride of Hawaii features 10 restaurants including NCL passenger favorites such as Cagney's Steak House, Blue Lagoon and NCL's signature restaurant, Le Bistro. In addition, she also offers:
  - Grand Pacific – A grand restaurant inspired by the first-class designs from the Matson Liner ships that sailed from San Francisco to Honolulu;
  - Alizar – A contemporary restaurant featuring colorful, modern artwork inspired by Mark Rothko inspired by abstract art of the late 20th Century and special, colorful lighting effects which create an exclusive ambiance;
  - Jasmine Garden – A modern Asian restaurant touting Hong Kong and Shanghai-influenced architecture. The restaurant features popular Asian dishes, including Shabu Shabu, an entertaining cooking method where thin slices of beef are "Swished" back and forth in a pot of boiling broth; a sushi bar and a Teppanyaki area offering seating for 32;
  - Paniolo – A Spanish-influenced restaurant featuring a Hawaii cowboy-theme and bright colors featuring tapas and Tex-mex cuisine;
  - Papa's Italian Kitchen - Dedicated Italian restaurant that resembles a farmhouse kitchen with a long wooden table running through the center of the room to create the feel of traditional home style Italian dining;
  - Aloha Nui Café and Lana`i – An indoor/outdoor buffet-styled eatery with a Hawaii theme making it bright and cheerful. Aloha Nui means "much Aloha." Features "food action stations" including prepared-to-order omelets, waffles, fruit, soups, ethnic specialties, and pasta; offers extensive and varied selections.

In addition to her dining offerings, Pride of Hawaii also features NCL's innovative Freestyle Dining information system. This allows guests to view all restaurants on board and make reservations for the entire cruise or just a specific night and restaurant. Plasma screens are located in high-traffic areas around the ship and outside each restaurant that illustrate the status of each restaurant. Indicator bars reflect when each restaurant is "full," "moderately busy" or "empty." If a restaurant is full at a specific time, the screens also indicate to guests an estimated wait time in that restaurant and what table sizes are available.

If a restaurant is full and guests would like to wait for an opening, they are quoted a wait time and issued a pager that works everywhere on the ship, so they can sit down in a bar, enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, and listen to one of the ship's many entertainers until their table is ready.

Pride of Hawaii offers an extensive choice of cabins including some of the most luxurious accommodations afloat. Guests have the opportunity to cruise in style in one of the impressive Garden Villas, each spanning about 4,000 square feet. These extravagant Garden Villas offers a spacious living room, dining room and three separate bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. Garden Villa guests also enjoy their own private Jacuzzi and steam room in their private garden, plus their own butler and concierge service.

A new category of stateroom accommodation to NCL with the introduction of Norwegian Jewel and also featured on Pride of Hawaii is the Courtyard Villa, 10 of which share a private courtyard, complete with swim-against-the-current lap pool, Jacuzzi, male and female steam rooms and a small gym. These villas also share a private sundeck with sun beds and hammocks. Positioned high atop the vessel, the villas tout sweeping views of the ocean and an impressive assortment of amenities typically found at five-star land-based resorts. Together with the Garden Villas, the Courtyard Villas comprise the most luxurious suite complex at sea.

High above everything else is a new Owner's Suite, with commanding views of the ship and the surrounding ocean and scenery. This suite offers a master bedroom, en-suite bathroom, and dining/living area, together with not one but two private sun terraces, one connected to the living/dining area, and one directly accessible from the master bedroom.

Also onboard are NCL's latest amenities in standard staterooms with rich cherry wood finishing, hair dryers, safes, refrigerators, tea and coffee makers in every room, a larger bathroom unit than many other ships, containing separate WC, shower, and washstand compartments separated by sliding doors in the outside, balcony and suite staterooms. For families of all sizes, Pride of Hawaii offers a large number of cabins (including suites and mini-suites) that can interconnect to create a two, three, four or five bedroom area.

Pride of Hawaii, departs Honolulu on Mondays on an itinerary that includes a full day in Hilo, Hawaii; two days in Kahului, Maui; a day in Kona, Hawaii and two days in Nawiliwili, Kaua`i.