Ander026 Posted September 4, 2012 #1 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Good evening to all CC. I have recently returned home from my first NCL cruise on the Pride of America. I had a great cruise around Hawaii. Here is the background. I am from FL and cruise at least 2-4 times a year. I have cruised on HAL, Carnival, and RCCL. I mostly cruise with RCCL where I am at Platinum status. This cruise included my family - Mom, Dad, Sister and Nephew. The last cruise all 5 of us were on was last year on the Freedom of the Seas. We had 2 aft balconies wich wear JR Suites. More on that later. This cruise was also booked about a year ago. This review I will to a review of the ship Pride of America, the ports that we visited, the tours that I did, and my overall review of the POA and the crew. During the review I will also be including pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopes4 Posted September 4, 2012 #2 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Can't wait! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander026 Posted September 4, 2012 Author #3 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Well my Family and I ended up getting to Hawaii 3 days before the cruise for a pre-cruise stay at the Disney Vacation Club. This was a great resort with a fantastic room, pool areas, and bar/eating areas as well. My Dad and I also played golf at the course next to the DVC. We used Private Limo Company for transportation from Airport-DVC-Port-Airport for our transportion needs. The company did a great job. We did have a great pre-cruise stay as well. During the pre-cruise I played some golf and relaxed. I also caught up with a former co-worker as well. On Saturday 8/25 it was time to go and check in for the cruise. The check in did have a different feel in that you did not need a passport for this cruise. First we checked our baggage which got to us before dinner, then we checked in. We were able to check in as a family. Once checked in we had to wait about 15 minutes till our number was called. Once on the POA we went to the guest relations to get new cards printed as we re-adjusted the cabin roomates of the 2 cabins. This whent fast. After that we went to the buffet and met up with a solo cruiser and waited till our deck was ready and called. To me the buffet area never got full, always a seat available. That night I went back to the buffet for dinner because I was watching sail-away at 1900. After that I went to the welcome aboard show to meet up with my sister and new friend the solo cruiser (SC). I was picked by the comedian to come up to the stage that night. After the show we went to the Waiki Ki Bar to finish up the night. This was a great first day because my family practicaly adopted a solo cruiser on the first day. That solo cruiser would hang out with my sister and me thoughout the rest of the cruise. That SC would also be with us once for dinner during the week. Next up photos of Day 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander026 Posted September 4, 2012 Author #4 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Here are some photos from Day 1 - Embarkation Day. Note the captions are at the bottom of photos. This is the check in area for the POA A view of the front of the POA from the dock as I was boarding A view of the Gangplank to the POA The gangplak is removed and ready to sail. Pulling away from the dock A view as we are pulling away to start our cruise vacation This was a great sail-away. Was able to get alot of great shots. I will include more shots tomorrow when I get home from work. Well that is all for tonight more tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacepotatoes Posted September 4, 2012 #5 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Great start! You're bringing back lots of memories :) Glad you had a good time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitt Lady Posted September 4, 2012 #6 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I can't wait to read more! We will be on her in Jan 2013. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSUmom Posted September 4, 2012 #7 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thank you - I can't wait for more!! We leave in a week for our Hawaii Cruise!!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYGirl1002 Posted September 4, 2012 #8 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Oooh....Hawaii!! I can't wait for the rest of your review and more importantly your photos!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeno Posted September 4, 2012 #9 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thx so much! I am enjoying this a great deal since we will be on Sept 22 cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boopsahoy Posted September 4, 2012 #10 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Loking forward to reading more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGBanks Posted September 4, 2012 #11 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanks for taking time for your review ~ I thought the last picture when you were leaving was beautiful ! We will be sailing November 10th and I'm getting all ramped up :-) Can't wait for the next "installment" of your review ~ Cindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabutzer Posted September 4, 2012 #12 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Great start. Really looking forward to your pictures. The ones you posted so far are awesome :cool: Aloha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIvacationgirl Posted September 4, 2012 #13 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I can't wait to hear more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris153 Posted September 4, 2012 #14 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thank you soooo much for doing this. We plan on doing this cruise next year and are looking forward to the rest of your great review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbeaujo Posted September 4, 2012 #15 Share Posted September 4, 2012 We will be on it march 2013, and staying also at Ko Olina ! Anything you can tell us about that ship will be so great. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. it is really really appreciated :D ps: would you have the daily journal that they deliver to your room ( sorry, dont remember the name on ncl ) Thanks again, Josee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander026 Posted September 5, 2012 Author #16 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Good evening to all, Here are some more of Day 1 Embarkation day. We arrived around 1130 and got on the ship around noon. After a stop at Guest Services we made our way up to the Aloa Diner which is the buffet. We found a table of 6 and was able to stay there till our rooms were ready around 2pm. As I mentioned before we had Aft Balconies. My Parents said that they were JR Suites, but to tell you the truth I thought they were smaller than an E-2 on the RCCL Voyager Class ship. The balcony was huge though. The aft balcony had 2 regular chairs and 2 loungers. Below are a couple of photos of our stateroom where my Sister, Nephew, and I called home for a week. Here is the Stateroom where the bed was together. We got that seperatated and the couch pulled out for a 3rd bed Here is the balcony facing aft. Not a bad stateroom but I now prefer a bacony on the side and on a hump if available. Tonight was also the first theme night at the Waikii bar. This bar was outside on deck 13 aft. Tonight was the Toga Party. The Cruise Director Staff participated in this event. Here is another shot of us leaving port on the first night Next some photos of the other areas of the ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander026 Posted September 5, 2012 Author #17 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Here are some general ship photos that I took during the first couple of days. These photos show the general guest areas. First is the Oasis Pool which I think is the adults only pool. However I never went in the pool and never saw anyone in the pool. This pool is deck 13 aft right below the Waikiki Bar These next 2 photos show the outside Promanade. This is on Deck 6. This walkway is very wide and does goe all the way around the ship. In the front it is coverd but in the back you do have great open areas to take pics from. This next photo is of the main swimming area, This is a small area but greatly utilized. In this area you do have 4 hot tubs and 2 pools. This area also has its own bar as well. I did go in the hot tubs and pool. It did appear that the pool is fresh water (I tasted). Well that is all for tonight. Tomorrow I have to uploade some more photos in Photobucket so I can continue this reveiw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ander026 Posted September 5, 2012 Author #18 Share Posted September 5, 2012 We will be on it march 2013, and staying also at Ko Olina ! Anything you can tell us about that ship will be so great. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. it is really really appreciated :D ps: would you have the daily journal that they deliver to your room ( sorry, dont remember the name on ncl ) Thanks again, Josee Unfotunatly I did not keep the daily journal. You will enjoy the stay at the DVC. They had a great pool area and ocean area as well. If you play golf they have a golf course that is 10 min walk from the resort alont with a great ice cream shop. Also the Luau show is also a 10 minute walk from the DVC resort. Unfotunatly I will not include any pics from my stay at DVC as it does not pertain to the current post. If you want pics from the resort let me know and I can email them to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msar1076 Posted September 6, 2012 #19 Share Posted September 6, 2012 What a great idea. Thank you for posting pictures and your review. I will be going in July 2013. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinderella97 Posted September 6, 2012 #20 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Looking forward to the rest of the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shipcats6 Posted September 6, 2012 #21 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks for your review. We will be on the September 15th sailing. Packing now! Happy dance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill6 Posted September 6, 2012 #22 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Nice review. Can't wait to read more. We leave in nine weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deladypilot Posted September 6, 2012 #23 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thank you for the wonderful review and photos. Im reliving my cruise on POA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSUmom Posted September 6, 2012 #24 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Thanks for your review. We will be on the September 15th sailing. Packing now! Happy dance! I will be there on the 15th too - stop in on our roll call and meet up with us on ship if you would like!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSUmom Posted September 6, 2012 #25 Share Posted September 6, 2012 What aft cabin were you in? We will be in 8206. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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