From the ship’s exterior with a floral lei painted on her hull to the interior brightened with murals of the South Pacific, blue carpets with tropical fish, birds, flowers and shells, Pride of Aloha sings Hawaii. The focal point of the ship is the eight-deck-high atrium awash with colorful Hawaiian art and motifs. Everywhere in the public areas, bright colors glow, monkeys peer out from columns, and the Longboard Bar honors renowned Hawaii surfer Duke Kahanamoku. At the impressive Kumu Cultural Center, passengers can watch a multimedia presentation on volcanoes or view historic movie posters, menus from vintage
cruise ships, and pieces of surfing memorabilia.
Pride of America has as her theme the “Best of America,” reflected in the decor and names of public rooms—you can’t miss it, starting with the design of the atrium, called the Capitol Atrium, inspired by the U.S. Capitol and the White House. The nine dining outlets and many lounges have such names as Liberty Restaurant, Lazy J Steakhouse, Cadillac Diner, and Napa Wine Bar, among others. In keeping with
NCL’s new signature, painted on the hull of Pride of America is a vibrant, artistic interpretation of the Stars and Stripes and the bald eagle. In addition to an abundance of public rooms, the ship has state-ofthe-
art entertainment venues, two pools, extensive children’s facilities, and large meeting facilities. It also sports several NCL firsts, including a conservatory, a new category of family suites, a tennis court, and an art
gallery—all named and decorated to reflect America’s diversity. Pride of Hawaii, a twin of the Norwegian Jewel, was the sixth new Freestyle Cruising ship to be added to the NCL fleet in only five years. The theme of her decor is Hawaii’s culture and history. The ship has ten restaurants, including Cagney’s Steakhouse, Blue Lagoon, and Le
Bistro, as well as the line’s typical Asian complex with a sushi bar, teppanyaki table, and a Pacific fusion restaurant. The ship also has one top-deck Garden Villa and ten Courtyard Villas with private courtyard and sundeck. The ship has another new NCL concept—Bar Central—
three connected but very different venues: a martini bar, a Champagne and wine bar, and a beer and whiskey pub.
In February 2008, NCL plans to withdraw Pride of Hawaii from
Hawaii cruising temporarily and deploy her in Europe as a result of the steep increase in competition in Hawaii during 2007. The ship will undergo a short wet dock when a casino will be added, her name changed to Norwegian Jade, and she will be re-flagged to Bahamas registry. As Norwegian Jade, she will sail on 12- to 14-day Eastern and
Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Istanbul, and Athens, and later reposition to Southampton for a series to the North Cape, Europe, and British Isles intended primarily for the British market.
Unofficial Guide © 2009
.jpg_thumb.jpg "Santorini sunset")
