Hawaii cruising: A ship to match the islands

The culinary options truly set NCL apart from every other cruise line. Dining choices include the ship’s two dining rooms (traditional and contemporary menus), Aloha Nui and Aloha Nui Lanai cafes (informal buffet fare), Papa’s Italian Kitchen, Paniolo Tapas & Salsa Restaurant, and Blue Lagoon (an American-style diner offering comfort food).

For a cover charge of $5 to $20 per person, you can also dine at the following premium venues: Le Bistro (gourmet French cuisine), Jasmine Garden (sushi, teppanyaki and Pacific fusion) and Cagney’s Steakhouse (steak and seafood). Still hungry? There’s an on-deck grill, a coffee shop, an ice cream bar and 24-hour room service.

With the launch of the Pride of Hawaii, NCL America has made some changes to make the dining service run more smoothly. The biggest change is the addition of flat-panel monitors all around the ship that display information on seat availability and wait times for each restaurant. If you have your heart set on eating at Le Bistro and there’s a 30-minute wait, the maitre d’ will give you a pager that works anywhere on the ship. You can also reserve space at any restaurant through the maitre d’.

Karaoke in public or private
The three-deck-high Stardust Theater is the place to go for the ship’s spirited theatrical performances, which are always well-attended. In addition, there are evening Waikiki Beach pool parties with changing themes. One night was a Hawaiian-themed “Rock-a-Hula”; the other night was a ’70s “Flower Power Party.”

There is no casino on the ship, so the liveliest place on board is Bar Central, a new concept for NCL that was unveiled on the Norwegian Jewel last year. Bar Central is a hub of three separate but interconnected bars. Hang around long enough and pretty much everyone on the ship will have made a pit stop here.

Upstairs from Bar Central, nightlife can get really funky at the Medusa Lounge. It has a festive undersea motif, which makes you feel like a mermaid. I heard a terrible but hilarious version of “Wind Beneath My Wings” in the karaoke section. If you love karaoke but don’t like public humiliation, you can belt out your own songs in one of the three private karaoke rooms. If you prefer a bar with a view, head for the Spinnaker Lounge on Deck 13.

Entertainment for children can be found at the Keiki Club (for younger kids) and at the surf-themed Wipe Out Teens Club. Passengers can also take advantage of NCL’s new shipwide Wi-Fi capability. While I had no problem with the Wi-Fi on the pool deck, I did have difficulty with it in my cabin. Fortunately, there’s a broadband hookup in the cabin that worked great.

Body Waves Fitness Center on Deck 12 is open 24 hours a day for those who are so inclined. The facility has all the latest weight machines, cardiovascular equipment and free weights, plus a separate room for fitness classes. Aerobics and stretch classes are free; Pilates, yoga and Spinning classes cost $10 apiece. There is also a jogging track and sports deck with bleacher seating that accommodates basketball, volleyball and tennis. There are also two driving nets for golf, a shuffleboard court and ping-pong tables.

The Ying & Yang Spa, operated by Mandara Spas, is the perfect place to unwind and get pampered. The best part of the spa is the relaxation rooms, which have great sea views, a hydrotherapy pool, tropical-experience showers, a plunge pool, aromatic steam rooms, a sauna and heated chaise lounges.

Service: NCL has learned from its mistakes
Service has been a problem for NCL America since it launched its first ship with crews that had little or no shipboard experience. Fortunately, the cruise line has learned from its mistakes and service has improved. The company credits better hiring practices and new training, including a three-week training course at the Seafarers International Union of America training center in Piney Point, Md.

“We’ve seen a dramatic improvement over where we were in the beginning,” said Andy Stuart, NCL’s executive vice president for marketing.

I doubt the NCL America service will ever be as refined as the service you get on internationally crewed ships, but the crew on board the Pride of Hawaii is certainly the most enthusiastic crew I’ve ever sailed with. I found a group of young people who are eager to please and quick to make fun conversation.

In the end, this cruise isn’t about the food or the service; it’s about the destination. Active volcanoes, lush rain forests, pristine beaches and cascading waterfalls are the stars of this voyage, and the ship says “Aloha” from the moment you set foot on board.

Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel. Anita's columns have appeared in major newspapers and many Internet outlets, and she is a contributor to Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises 2006." E-mail Anita or visit her Web site anitavacation.com.

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