MS Pride of America is a cruise ship operated by NCL America, a division of Norwegian Cruise Lines, to sail itineraries in the Hawaiian Islands. Construction of the ship began in 2000 in the United States as part of a plan for a US-built and US-flagged cruise ship under Project America, but the project failed and she was eventually purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines and completed in Germany. She was inaugurated in 2005 and was the first new U.S. flagged, deepwater cruise ship in nearly fifty years since the SS Argentina of 1958
As the only U.S. flagged cruise ship, Pride of America sails year-round from Honolulu, giving you the freedom and flexibility to holiday on your timetable. Visit four Hawaiian Islands and five ports in seven days whilst you cruise through paradise in style.
MS Pride of America‘s wide variety of restaurant and entertainment offerings allows passengers with different interests to find the place that works for them. The Gold Rush Saloon, for example, is a nice spot for those looking for a casual evening of beer drinking and listening to karaoke.
On the other side of the spectrum, those who want a fancier evening (with posher drinks) can go to the Napa Wine Bar and Pink’s Champagne Bar. The Hollywood Theater is a good place for those who want to hear show tunes and see Broadway-style performances while Club Mardi Gras is perfect for people who are more interested in a lounge atmosphere and want to dance well into the evening.
This diversity of venues, including restaurants, lends itself to a fairly spacious atmosphere while onboard. It doesn’t often feel like there are more than 2,000 people on the ship at the same time. The spacious vibe is also helped by the fact that most of the ship empties when in port, and the ship is in port every day.
Each of the MS Pride of America cruise ship deck plans is conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and a detailed review of all the deck’s venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides a piece of extensive information on Pride of America staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans, and amenities by room type and category.
NCL MS Pride of America cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 1096 staterooms for 2192 passengers (max capacity is 2630) served by 930 (all-American) crew-staff. The boat has 14 decks (11 passenger-accessible, 8 with cabins), 18 dining options (8 complimentary), 9 lounges and bars, 3 swimming pools, and 5 Jacuzzis (outdoor whirlpool hot tubs), 10 elevators.
Pride of America deck plan changes 2016-2018 refurbishments review
Ship’s drydock refurbishments in 2016 (March, 3-weeks long) and 2018 (February) were done in San Francisco CA, and resulted in the following deck plan changes:
- All cruise cabins and the public areas were renovated. The renovations included new decors, furniture, lighting, and flooring.
- New in the Skyline Main Dining Room is the entrance, carpet design, furniture upholstery, window drapes, and columns. The La Cucina (Italian) was updated as well. All other restaurants were also redecorated, including East Meets West (Asian), Jefferson’s Bistro (French), and Cagney’s Steakhouse.
- New dining room menus were introduced (based on the NCL Escape’s menus).
- Mandara Spa was expanded (with more treatment rooms) and re-decorated.
- The Conservatory received new decor, furniture, flooring.
- The wedding chapel was relocated and updated with new furniture and flooring.
- The card room and the library received new furniture and flooring. The library now has 6 Internet PC stations.
- New for the ship is Soho Art Gallery, Perspectives Photo Studio, Dolce Gelato (gelateria).
- The pool deck area was completely refurbished with a renovated swimming pool, new sun loungers, new Jacuzzi tubs, redesigned Ocean Drive Bar.
- All passenger rooms were upgraded with new furniture, bedding and flat TVs.
- During drydock 2016, Pride of America was retrofitted with new “scrubbers” (exhaust gas cleaning systems). The new scrubber technology reduces the equivalent of approx 1500 tons of the poisonous gas Sulfur Oxide. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise company to retrofit with a scrubber hybrid system vessels while in service. The new in-line scrubbers (5 units) are lightweight and able to operate in a dry mode, as well as in open and closed loops.
Both drydocks (2016 and 2018) were part of NCL’s “Norwegian Edge” program for fleetwide upgrades (a 2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.
Pride of America deck plan changes 2013 refurbishment review
The list of changes after ship’s 2013 drydock refurbishment (done in Honolulu Hawaii) included:
- (Deck 13) The old Lanai Lounge was transformed into 24 new suites. Here were added 24 “The Haven” luxury suites (sizes range 363-416 ft2 / 34-39 m2, balcony size 245 ft2 / 23 m2, max occupancy 6 pax), including 2 Deluxe Owners Suites (size 566 ft2 / 53 m2, balcony size 410 ft2 / 38 m2, max occupancy 4 pax, with connecting doors to the family suites for up to 10 pax if booked together) and 2 wheelchair accessible suites. The new 24 luxury cruise suites are with butler service, also featuring luxury mattresses, Lavazza coffee makers, Elemis bathroom products, speciality private dining, etc. Also, 4 new Studios (single-occupancy cabins) were added here (featuring full-size bed and separate bathroom) with the exclusive Studio Lounge. Another addition on deck 13 is the 4 new Interior rooms.
- (Deck 12) Fitness centre equipment was also upgraded
- (Deck 11) Interior decor renovations were done in the buffet restaurant “Aloha Cafe”. New Brazilian Steakhouse restaurant was added (named Moderno Churrascaria). The old “Little Italy” Italian restaurant was renamed “La Cucina”.
- (Deck 6) The old “Lazy J” steakhouse was renamed “Cagney’s”.
- (Deck 5) Photo Gallery and Art Gallery renovations.
- All cruise cabins (both passenger and crew rooms) were upgraded with new flat HD TVs.
- The list of other shipwide upgrades includes video-sound-light systems, new carpeting ((both in cabins and public spaces), Wi-Fi internet access (including in the crew/staff areas), and also to the digital signage system.
- The 2013 ship refurbishment project cost NCL over USD 30 million.
PHOTOS
FULL SPECIFICATIONS
| Name | Pride of America |
| Owner | Pride of America Ship Holding Inc.[2] (NCL America)[1] |
| Operator | NCL America |
| Port of registry | Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Route | Honolulu; Maui (Kahului); Hilo; Kona; Kauai |
| Ordered | October 6, 1998 |
| Builder |
|
| Yard number |
|
| Laid down | 10 October 2000[2] |
| Launched | 16 September 2002[2] |
| Christened | June 17, 2005, Godmother Elaine Chao |
| Completed | 7 June 2005[2] |
| In service | 2005–present |
| Identification | |
| Status | Finished drydocking/refit at Vigor Shipyards, Portland Oregon and resuming service. |
| General characteristics (as designed) | |
|---|---|
| Tonnage | 80,439 GT |
| Length | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Capacity | 2,500 passengers |
| Notes | Purchased by NCL in 2001 as an unfinished vessel following the bankruptcy of American Classic Voyages. |
| General characteristics (as built)[2] | |
| Tonnage | |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 106 ft (32.2 m) |
| Draught | 26.2 ft (8.0 m) |
| Depth | 65.8 ft (20.07 m) |
| Decks | 15 |
| Installed power | 6 × Wärtsilä 8L46C (6 × 8,400 kW)[3] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 22.2 knots (41.1 km/h; 25.5 mph)[3] |
| Capacity | 2,186 passengers[4] |
| Crew | 927 |
