Sunfinder Vacations

With the long-awaited and long-delayed debut of NCL America's Pride of America, the line will now have two U.S.-flagged ships sailing "all Hawaii, all the time" cruises. Pride of America, of course, joins Pride of Aloha (the transformed Norwegian Sky), which was the first NCL America ship to land in Hawaii.

Indeed, the two ships will follow each other around the islands each week, sailing the same seven-night itineraries (Pride of America departing from Honolulu on Saturday, Pride of Aloha beginning its cruises on Sunday). Pride of America will also bear the unique NCL America stamp in its staffing -- officers, staff and crew all hail from various points in the U.S. and its territories.

But that's about all they'll share. Pride of America is the first newly built ocean going cruise ship to fly the U.S. flag in over 50 years, and so was designed with its destination in mind. That means you immediately sense a much lighter ambiance throughout the ship, from public rooms, which feature expansive windows, to staterooms, because the ship features a far higher ratio of cabins with balconies -- a most crucial amenity in Hawaii.

Unlike Pride of Aloha, which carries a Hawaiian theme throughout, this ship celebrates various symbols of America -- interpretations focusing on history (such as the almost-out-of-Monticello Jefferson's Bistro) and pop culture (the wacky Cadillac Diner, a 1950's retro-style fast-food joint in which booths are tucked between the hood and fins of a huge recreated Cadillac). Other public areas simply center on particular regions; we especially loved the Napa Wine Bar, decked out with fieldstone walls that really reminded this former Sonoma resident of that region.

There's also a strong emphasis on incorporating contemporary pre-requisites: the spa is large, the pool area is whimsically decorated and features the usual (pool, bars, stage, whirlpools) and the not-so usual -- a bungee jumping trampoline!

Ultimately, the real conundrum about Pride of America is that it feels much more like a destination itself than did Aloha, which seemed, to me, more like a hotel that just happened to cruise from island to island. On Pride of America, the lure of staying onboard -- enjoying everything from the fabulous outdoor areas to the spa, and relaxing in lovely indoor spots like the S.S. America library and Capitol Atrium -- is strong!

NCL is, of course, the "Freestyle Cruising" cruise line and offers a great range of restaurants on Pride of America. Some are included in the cruise fare, others levy a service charge and a handful price some to all of their menu items on an a la carte basis.

Skyline, inspired by New York's skyscrapers, and Liberty, an oh-so-patriotic stars-and- stripes-themed room, are the ship's main restaurants, serving open-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner. The top-deck lido buffet, the Aloha Cafe, represents a departure from previous ships in that the cafeteria-style design has given way to the more crowd-friendly station set-up. That means that you can go for hot food at one area, salads in another, sandwiches at yet another, etc., which cuts way down on lines. The dining area for Aloha stretches all the way to the back of the ship, where there's outdoor seating (and a supplementary buffet and bar). We love NCL's trademark kid-sized buffet and seating area.

The most romantic restaurant onboard is Jefferson's Bistro -- while the decor honors Jefferson's library in the historic Monticello, the menu is French themed, consistent with bistros on other NCL ships (which is appropriate, as Jefferson was quite the Francophile). There's a $10 per person charge here.

For Asian fusion there's East Meets West; here you'll also find a small sushi and sashimi bar along with a Teppanyaki room. East Meets West levies a $10 service charge and features some a la carte priced menu items; the sushi and Teppanyaki bars are a la carte, price-wise.

For the ultra-low-carb experience the Lazy J Texas Steak House should fit the bill -- there's a $20 per-person service fee here. More eclectic is the Cadillac Diner, with an Elvis-meets-Waikiki theme; this is the place for burgers and other diner specialties and it's got outdoor seating. And finally there's Little Italy, which serves, yeah, you guessed it, Italian.

I'll be frank: Standard cabins -- insides, outsides, balconies -- are almost claustrophobically small, and this is not a ship that's encouraging folks to nest indoors (though balconies are also compact, they at least have far more comfortable chairs than do those on Pride of Aloha). They're well appointed, however, with a color television with NCL network, a small desk, a chair or divan depending on the category, and a pretty, tropical color scheme. Key amenities are provided as well, such as a hair dryer and a safe -- we love the empty mini-fridges (so you can store your own stuff). Bathrooms are very tiny and are shower only; NCL branded soaps and shampoos are provided.

It may be worth it to upgrade -- and this ship offers a good range of opportunities. Folks who stay in the Grand Suite, the six Owner's Suites, and the three deluxe penthouse suites enjoy separate living and dining areas (the former has a grand piano) and fabulous balconies with Jacuzzis. Bathrooms, with all the expected touches (separate shower and tub, etc.), have windows overlooking verandahs. Flat-screen televisions and DVD/CD technology are de rigueur.

Totally new to NCL is a series of family-friendly accommodations. There are two deluxe family penthouse suites (featuring a separate second bedroom) and eight family suites (about half the size) as well as four suites that are comprised of two interconnecting cabins.

• Cruise line - Norwegian Cruise Line
• Passenger capacity - 2146
• Decks - 15
• Total cabins - 1073

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