Pride Of America report 6/2 - 6/8

[redknob]

The wife and I just returned from the Pride of America, and we can say we had a great time. After reading some of the posts here I must admit I was a little hesitant about the trip, but the ship, crew, and trips were all pretty good.

We booked through NCLA and airfare (going and returning) was just fine. The shore excursions were fun, and for the most part, worth the money. We used the easy-fly program for our return, and are glad we did, as some other passengers touring with us the last day had some problems with their luggage. I’ll try to break the cruise down into sections, and if the post gets too long, I’ll split it up.

We were met at the airport my NCLA, and escorted to the ship. Our luggage arrived at our room by 9 PM. The ship was clean and looked fresh. The only problem was a sewage smell that hit the ship two times during the week. Since we could smell it inside and not out, it was a ship problem. Our room a/c broke down one evening, but one call to the desk and it was fixed within an hour. We also could hear every toilet flush within several rooms and decks. I didn’t recall this from other ships I’ve been on.

The freestyle dining had its pluses and minuses. While I did miss the assigned seating on other cruises, which gave you a great opportunity to meet new friends, being able to choose whenever you wanted to eat was handy. I didn’t care for the ‘specialty restaurants’ that charged you for the meal; I guess I can’t get over the ‘everythings’ paid for’ part of other cruises. While casual dress for dining was requested, and we obliged, others dressed in shorts etc., and were not turned away or looked down on. The dining room staffs were great, and the food was very good. The all day grills were also good.

The ice cream machines were often empty, but the passengers were hitting them pretty hard all the time.

I’ll go into the shore tours we took, and would love to hear from others who have done the same or other tours.

Hilo- we took the Volcanoes Nat. Park and Rainbow Falls tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and funny, making the trip enjoyable. Rainbow Falls was a letdown, though, because the island hasn’t had rain for a couple of weeks and the water over the falls was pretty scarce.

Maui- we first took the Road to Hana trip. We have mixed feelings about this one. Our driver, though very knowledgeable and good humored, seemed to think he was driving an Indy Car. Within the first five minutes of the twisted road, three of the passengers were sick. The driver was reluctant to either slow down or pull over. So if you are easily sickened in a car, ride in the front seats and you should be okay. We were upset we didn’t stop at many good photo spots, and we spent more time at a flower farm than we did at the Seven Pools park near Hana. Once again, because of the drought, the wateralls were disappointing. I spoke with some other passengers who rented cars and they said it was an exhausting drive and that they couldn’t see things from the car that we could from the bus. Definitely a good trip but mixed feelings nonetheless.

Next- Molokini crater and Turtle Arch snorkel. This was a great trip and well worth the money. The water was great, and neither of us needed the offered wetsuits (for extra $’s of course). Highly recommended.

Kona- we took the Captain Zodiac Snorkel tour, and it was one of the high points of the week! Lots of fun, good snorkeling, and a good tour of the rough Kona coast and it’s history. Saw lots of dolphins too.

Kauai- definitely our favorite island. We took the river and grotto tour. In our 40’s, were were about the youngest on the tour. Pretty boring, but beautiful. We went because I couldn’t talk the wife into the Zipline tour.

Next- the Luau. My advice, skip the meal and just watch the show. The show was great, but everything else on the trip sucked. We arrived at the ship theater for the tour early, was given a table assignment, then were seated far away from the stage at the show and were the very last table to eat (a blessing, it turned out). Everything at the plantation is for sale, and the food was really under par. But the show is very good.

Next day- we took the tubing the ditch tour. A really fun excursion, and the guides kept it fun and witty. Recommended.

Last day- plane didn’t leave until late in the evening, so we took the Pearl Harbor and Missouri tour. Really a good time for the most part. The memorial was striking, and the tour of the ship was great (at least for me.) The tour of the Punch Bowl cemetery is really a waste of time, as you can’t get out of the bus, and photos of the area out of the bus were not easy.

Overall, a very good anniversary trip. The ship and crew rate very good. I should note that I heard some staff mention that their tours were up soon, so there could be some turnover among the crew, meaning delays and poor service. We didn’t encounter that, though. When we return to the islands, we know where we want to go and what we want to do. We really loaded up on the shore trips this time so we could learn what we could for future trips. We didn’t even have time to stroll down a beach, so we’ll definitely be returning.

Let me hear from others how they feel about their cruise, and maybe some suggestions for those still awaiting theirs.

[Zeno]

nice report with useful details for future cruisers!

[MommyJamiex4]

Thanks for the review! You did many of the tours that we are planning to do. I saw that you did the Tubing the Ditch tour and that you recommended it. Were you just in a lazy river type area or in a real river? The photos I have seen online are disappointing. Thanks!

[redknob]

The ditch is an irrigation canal dug by hand in the early 1900's. The water speed goes from meander to fairly swift. You go thru a few tunnels in the mountain wearing headlamps also. It reminded me of riding inner tubes in canals when I was younger, only without the biting flies. We didn't take a camera for photos because it could be wet, and we didn't have the underwater cam that day. It was fun, though.

[MommyJamiex4]

That sounds so cool! Did you book it through the cruise line or an independant company? Thanks!

[judyf]

We're also thinking of tubing the ditch. Same question as above ship or on your own.

 

More details please? How long a drive abd how long did it take.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post a review!

[cruisingsthebest]

Thanks for posting your review, it's nice to read positive things about the PoAm.

[redknob]

Yeah, we booked through NCLA. The whole tour is about three or so hours. Inbound you stop for gear, the ride is beautiful and the guides are young and funny. Try to get the van with Chow, he is fantastic. The tube ride is about an hour or so, but because it is so much fun it seems like much less. Then you go to a pretty little picnic area by a pool for a light snack lunch. good time!

[judyf]

Yeah, we booked through NCLA. The whole tour is about three or so hours. Inbound you stop for gear, the ride is beautiful and the guides are young and funny. Try to get the van with Chow, he is fantastic. The tube ride is about an hour or so, but because it is so much fun it seems like much less. Then you go to a pretty little picnic area by a pool for a light snack lunch. good time!

 

GREAT! Thanks for the info. I think this is just want we want to do. It just might be my girlfriend and I, as my SO doesn't want to do this. Why???? :D