I recently spent some time visiting most of the major islands that make up Hawaii.  This was my first trip to the 50th State, and I had a hard time making a decision about where to stay when I got there.  I spent countless hours scouring the internet and various forums to get an inside scoop as to what island I would enjoy the most.  What I found is that each island has a great deal to offer, and my ideal vacation would be spent seeing them all.  That’s where Norwegian’s Pride of America came to the rescue.

THE SHIP

Norwegian Cruise Lines –Pride of America set sail in 2005, and she is the first US flagged ship built in nearly 50 years.  One look at this glorious vessel; and you can tell that the name “Pride of America” goes further than just the lettering on the outside. Everywhere on this boat you are reminded of what a great country the United States is, and most of the lounges, restaurants etc… have an American theme. Some reviewers have commented that they felt this was too tacky, however, I beg to differ, to an extent, these ships are all tacky, and this one seemed to fit the bill, however, the décor was tastefully done, and the layout of the ship itself was very functional.

One major difference on this ship is that themajority of the staff are American Citizens.  The online forums are filled with mixed reviews on the level of customer service they received while onboard. Many attribute this to the staff being American; however, I find this to be much too narrow of a thought process.  I did find certain instances where the service was lacking, however, you’re on vacation, try to ignore these limited instances and enjoy yourself.  For the price you’re paying for what you experience, it can be overlooked.

To learn more about this cruise and additional cruise deals, visit:  http://www.travelvulture.com/