Experience the Ultimate Hawaiian Adventure on NCL Pride of America Cruise
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- čas přidán 25. 11. 2023
- Hello Everyone!
We are Paradise Falls Family - we're a family of four who love to explore the world together. We are hoping by sharing some of our top tips for each destination we will inspire you (and save you some research!)
We had a wonderful trip to Hawaii in August 2023 and have done a series of videos we hope will help with your planning!
This video shows our time on the Norwegian Cruise Line - Pride of America Ship. We did a 7-Night Hawaiian Cruise from Honolulu and stopping at Hilo, Kona and Kauai. We also got to cruise the stunning Na Pali Coast
This vlog is a family guide to the ship itself and all of the wonderful activities offered.
Come and chat with us over on Instagram - / paradisefallsfamily
#paradisefallsfamily #family #travel #travelvlog #familytravel #familytravelvlog #usa #travelvlogger #explore #explorewithkids #explorewithchildren #cruise #roomtour #hawaii #hilo #kauai #kona #honolulu #oahu #bigisland #ncl #norwegiancruiseline #prideofamerica #cruiseship #cruisehawaii
I will be joining the POA crew in two weeks as an Assistant Waiter, and I’ve heard that the service is hit or miss. I plan to make every guest I interact with have a memorable and positive dining experience!
Amazing! I hope you love it onboard. We met some fantastic crew members and they really made a positive difference to our trip!
I live in Hawaii and my young daughter always sees this ship. She’s been wanting to do the cruise, looks like she’d have a good time on it
What an amazing place to live! Yes I think you would definitely enjoy cruising around the islands on this ship ❤️
We are going April 2024 can't wait
You will have the best time, it’s an amazing way to see the islands!
Going next week. Great vid, looks fun
I hope you have a wonderful trip - it’s a great way to see the islands!
My wife and I were on the August 12-19 cruise with you. It was definitely a great cruise. The food was really good. We did experience the Jefferson (French Cuisine), The Italian and Brazilian restaurants dining. All of the food was great. All I can hear is the "Alooohaa, this is your Cruise Director _____Marie"
Ahh that’s wonderful you were on the same one! We didn’t go to any of the speciality restaurants so it’s great to hear those were good too. Yes, I really miss hearing someone saying ‘Aloooooooohaaaa’ each day! What was your favourite port and activity?
We loved Kauai. We did the tour of the grand canyon of Hawaii and the train ride to the luau. The canyon tour was beautiful and very scenic. It was really more than the canyon. When you do the luau with the train, you get to sit up front at the entertainment portion. The food at the luau at the plantation house was authentic hawaiin cuisine. The best of Hilo excursion was good also. It was a visit to many waterfalls and more.
@@fliporent sounds fantastic! We loved Kauai too ❤️
Your accent makes me think you're from Ireland ? Scotland? Anyways I enjoyed listening to your commentary, and I feel you were very fair in your views, especially taking into consideration staffing shortages. Your video was really great and informative. It was great editing both on and off the ship. Your honest opinion was absolutely great and pleasant.
Thank you so much, I’m so pleased you found it useful! I’m from England, but the north east. I have what people call a Geordie accent and lots of people do think I’m Irish when we go to the USA!
we are doing this cruise in February this year, thanks for your info !! have only done one other cruise over 30 years ago and at 77 and 83, nervous !!!!
You’re very welcome! You will have an amazing time - enjoy!!
How was it ????
great video, wife and I will be going in March 2024, can you please tell me what time you boarded or do you know what time is the earliest you can board.
I’ve just checked my photos for the times. We got there at around 2pm and boarded at 2.30pm. I can’t remember the earliest we could board though sorry, I just remember we were not in any particular rush so definitely could have gone earlier!
And have a wonderful time on your trip!
12.30-1pm is the earliest time - but you have pick that time when you check in online a couple of weeks before sailing
Did you use Uber or another not-taxi service on any of the islands?
We used Uber quite a bit, it was really easy. We used a mix of Uber and local taxis (whatever was most convenient).
Is the sauna on the cruise complementary?
We didn’t use it but I believe it is free!
Paradisefallsfamily, well I can tell by your accent that you're not Americans, lol 🙂 (I'm an American lol) Is that an Irish accent? Or Scottish? 🙂
Also, was the ship crowded? She doesn't seem crowded at all in the video. I think maybe because they have her registered under a good flag (USA) as opposed to a Flag of Convenience. I would think that good flags like Japan, USA, UK, French, Italian, Netherlands and Norway flags would probably not let the company take on so many passengers that there becomes a safety issue should there be an emergency situation. That's my theory anyway 🙂
A lot of bad things happen on non-passenger ships that are Flag of Convenience (I was Navy on submarines), so as far as a passenger one, you couldn't pay me to go on a FoC one. Good flags all the way 🙂
One cruise I want to do is a cruise around the British Isles aboard a P&O UK ship that's flagged in UK (Britannia, Arvia or Iona). 🙂
I’m English but from the north east so I have what’s called a Geordie accent (could sound similar to Scottish!)
I hadn’t realised where the flag was registered would make a big difference. It was a full ship and there were times we couldn’t find a seat at a bar but other than that it didn’t seem too crowded!
We’ve never done P&O but have family who sailed on the Iona last year and loved it!
Does the cabin has a hair dryer?
Yes! It’s in the desk area of the cabin and works well.
I put a deposit down a few days ago for the 11 day Hawaiian Islands package which includes 3 days in Wikki at the Hyett then the seven day cruise on POA for mid to late October 2025 in there Deluxe Owner's Suite.
Since you have been on POA recently do you feel it was worth the cost? Also considering ALL the bad reviews I have read on cruise Critic not only post covid in 2022 ( which I expected being cruising was still under staffed etc) but I did see a lot of bad reviews from 2023 and from here in January 2024.
I'm on the fence about pulling my deposit and going elsewhere for our first trip to Hawaii as this trip will be a bucket list trip and even though it's a port intensive itinerary and Hawaii is the main attraction we still want great service and food and feel comfortable on NCL. I would say like staying in a upscale hotel like a Hilton, Marriott or Hyett for what NCL charges because it's under a American flag and operation hence the lofty price tag. Lol.
Thank you for sharing your cruise as people's real experiences help to give someone like me some idea of what this first time trip to Hawaii and on NCL POA could look like.
We had read all of the bad reviews and were concerned too. Hopefully this vlog puts your mind at rest a little bit. We didn’t spend a lot of time on the ship and knew going into it that it would be a good way for us to travel around the islands without the hassle of flying and moving hotels so often. We thought it was perfect for that and would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to spend their time exploring the different islands rather than just having one (or two) bases!
Thank you for your return comments. We decided to pull back our deposit and have our TA work with different cruise lines and Itinerary for 2025 to Hawaii.
Just too many BAD reviews from
NCL and there ship Pride Of America with multiple sites and plenty of customer complaints most recently in January 2024 and many in 2023 and 2022.
When you are spending thousands to visit the Hawaiian Islands we have a expectation. I know not everything is perfect but my wife and I just didn't feel comfortable going with NCL and there ship Pride of America. I will say before calling my TA I thought I would contact NCL customer service and to my surprise no pushback from them asking me in depth questions of why we canceled our 11 day cruise tour in there Deluxe Owner's Suite. I nicely told her that why we made the decision we did and that she should pass the information up to NCL executives to look into why so many people are complaining that makes there brand look bad. I have taken two cruises in the past with NCL in 1993 and 2017 one was great and the other good so I don't despise the brand as I think it's more isolated.
Thank you again for sharing your experience and we are glad your experience was a good one.
Cheers!
@@bobcarr5497 I hope you have a wonderful trip to Hawaii, however you end up doing it!
Is there an after hours bar?
I believe the Mardi Gras is open on an evening.
@@paradisefallsfamily Thank you
im going in two weeks im so cooked bruh im 18 💀💀💀
Have an amazing trip!
I went on NCLPride of America in December 2023, worst cruise I’ve ever been on. No fun on ship after 10:00 pm. Comedy show 2 nights for 30 minutes, Motown show 2 nights 30 minutes, 1 movie night for the kids, and that was all the entertainment. Beside the music around the pool area in the afternoon. Paid extra for Wi-Fi upgrade it only worked when ship was dock, I expected it to work while we were cruising for island to island. Excursions in Hilo, the tour bus dropped us off in a parking lot with a tent city homeless camp, felt very unsafe. I was very disappointed with both services on and off the ship.
Ah it’s such a shame you didn’t enjoy it. We always knew it would just be a floating hotel for us so we were not really interested in other entertainment so it’s good to have another view where priorities are different.
Duh 😂its not a cruise its a floating hotel.
Didn't they have like a late night dj and dancing somewhere like on other ships?
@@Alexacapetownwe didn’t use it but I believe there was a nightclub in the Mardi Gras lounge later at night.
@@paradisefallsfamily thank you for your response and all the information you provided, appreciate you 😊