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PRIDE of AMERICA ~
Designed
specifically to sail Hawaii !
Tell
us about Pride of America . . .
History
of her birth reads like a fairytale, with all the suspense, dark moments,
and eventual
success of a conquering queen who came to take her rightful place
on the throne.
"Pride of America" was planned to be the first modern passenger
ship constructed in the USA
using all American crews and then to sail under the American flag.
She was originally designed
by American Hawaii Cruise Lines and her keel was laid in a shipyard
in Mississippi.
 American
Hawaii Cruises had been sailing old 1950's era
ships in Hawaii for many years and knew this would be a good
design for Hawaii only itineraries. As construction began on
this beautiful dream ship, hopes were high for the future,
but the 911 attack caused them financial disaster and American
Hawaii Cruises bankrupted, leaving this ship half finished and
languishing in the Mississippi shipyard.
It looked like this was the end, but then Senator Daniel Inouye
of Hawaii and Norwegian Cruise Lines took up the challenge and
came to terms on a new plan. The plan was for NCL
to form a
USA corporation that would build and sail ships in USA waters using
all American crews with union contracts providing new jobs for Americans.
Then the new
company, NCL America, was to buy this partially finished ship in Mississippi
along with
other assets from American Hawaii and complete construction of the
new ship. She then
was to go into daily service in Hawaii as the first modern American
flagged passenger ship.
Once launched in Mississippi, Pride of America was taken to Europe
to finish construction
and detailing, but massive delays in the European shipyard made her
scheduled Hawaiian debut
impossible to meet. When it was obvious that she wouldn't be ready
in time, the new NCLA
company scrambled to find an alternative. They did this by taking
another NCL ship into the
shipyards of San Francisco and in just 3 weeks created the beautiful
Hawaiian themed
Pride of Aloha which was substituted in place of Pride of America
for the first year.
Pride of America was nearly lost to the difficulties after 911, but
symbolically rose from
her own
ashes to become an American theme ship. She now sails exclusively
in Hawaii
year round with American crews and American pride. Various areas on
the ship have
different American themes. Each area on board the ship is representative
of a different
part of the USA or American history.
 Floating
Hawaiian Resort . . .
Different
from cruise ships in the rest of the world, the NCL American
fleet in Hawaii focus is more on day long Island visits into paradise
and less on daytime shipboard activities. You are truly on a floating
resort-at-sea that places you at a new island paradise almost daily.
But when you come back at night, that's when the party begins.
Restaurant choices, lounge shows, pool parties, incredible stage
shows, dancing, and evening activities abound at night as you spoil
yourself to all this floating resort has to offer. Hawaii State law
prohibits gambling, so no casinos are to be found, but there is
much to do, you would never find time anyway.
Honolulu
departures on Saturday . . .
"Pride
of America" departs from Honolulu each week.
Sail from Honolulu Saturday afternoon. 7 days later
you are back in Honolulu for a morning departure.
Freestyle
Dining sets a casual resort atmosphere . . .
 Dining
is anytime you want in the main ship restaurants. The
main restaurants feature uniquely different menu items each night
with no surcharge. Specialty restaurants offer upscale cuisine,
service, and atmosphere with small fee to reserve your private table
any night you wish. Dress is anything during the day and resort casual
at night, no more formal nights to deal with. After dinner, enjoy a
top
stage show, or listen to soft live music in one of the intimate lounges,
or rock it out in the disco, or join in a singing contest, or simply
take a glass of wine to the top
deck and relax under the warm tropical stars far away from it all.
 Every
day is shore day . . .
Your
floating resort wakes up in a new Hawaii port every
morning, so no boring days at sea. Jump ship each morning
and have a new experience every day. Take an organized tour,
play golf at a spectacular course, or rent a car and get away
from everyone to safely explore today's island on your own.
Remember you are still in the USA, so roam freely and enjoy
each island's delights. On 2 nights you are in port overnight so
stay out until the wee hours of the morning and come "home"
when you want. No matter how late, you will always find a warm
cup of coffee and your comfortable bed waiting for you.
Specially
designed for groups and business . . .
Pride of America was specially designed to host American business meetings
and group adventures.
With corporate America in mind, Pride of America has twice the meeting
space and break out rooms
of any other ship and more than most land based hotels. With enormous
kitchens and a vast staff at
hand, Pride of America is one of the best designed and best suited meeting
venues in the world.
And best of all . . . NO passports are required because we never leave
the USA !
Tax
Deductible Meetings . . . because Pride of America is an American flagged
ship, your company can reap the same meeting tax deduction benefits
as you would at any USA hotel or resort on land.
These tax breaks are not available on any other cruise ships.
Just
look at all Pride of America offers:
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