Pride of Hawaii trip report

“Cheeseburgers in Paradise” is the phrase that best sums up the Pride of Hawaii. You can eat your way around the heavenly Hawaiian islands with 10 onboard restaurants. Spend a day surfing on Oahu, then come onboard and eat sushi in the Jasmine Garden. Play a round of golf on Maui, and end your day with a juicy steak in Cagney’s Steakhouse. Bike down a volcano, and then satisfy your cravings for comfort food, tapas, or Italian back on the ship.

Actually, I’m not in Hawaii so I’m just eating my way up and down the Pacific Coast. There’s not enough time to dine at every restaurant but I’m trying my best.

The ship is decorated in psychedelic Hawaiian decor with bright oranges and purples glowing all day and night. The hallway light fixtures are in the shape of Hawaiian flowers, and the Medusa Cabaret Lounge features a jellyfish design. The Spinnaker Lounge has the comfiest chairs—green plush seats surrounded by purple plush leaves. If you can’t walk the fine line between fun and tacky, stay away from the Pride of Hawaii.

This ship is nearly identical to the Norwegian Jewel in layout, and features the luxurious and spacious Garden and Courtyard Villas. You can spend a week onboard for what other families pay in college tuition. Or for a less extravagant budget, you can mix and match connecting staterooms so that Mom and Dad can have their own cabin while Sister and Brother sleep in an adjoining room. NCL America wants to accommodate family groups of all sizes and budgets. They even have services for deaf, blind, and wheelchair-bound cruisers, though vegetarians may struggle a little in certain dining areas.

And here’s a little secret: The staff at the Galleria Boutiques is trained in the hula dance. If you ask really nicely, they’ll put on a performance for you. It’s just as fun (if not more so) than the evening performance shows.