NCL America, a division of NCL operates Pride of America, a unique vessel as she is the first American ocean going cruise ship in almost half a century since the Argentina of Moore Mc Cormack Lines was taken into service in 1958. Originally she was the first of a planned series of six ships of Project America. These 70,000GRT vessels were to be built with heavy federal subsidies. Project America aimed at improving the competiteveness of US shipyards constructing passenger ships. Project America I as the ship was known during the project stage, was to replace both older vessels Patriot (1983, former Nieuw Amsterdam of Holland America Cruises) and Independence (1951, originally built for American Export Lines) of America Hawaii Cruises.
Two vessels were ordered for Hawaii – interisland service with an option for an additional four. However, when American Classic Voyages (parent company of AHC) collapsed and went bankrupt in October 2001, the United States Maritime Administration immediately stopped all funding thus forcing the yard, Litton – Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi to cease all construction work. At this time, the ship was 40 % complete, with almost all materials needed having been ordered. In August 2002, Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the partly finished hull and had it towed to Germany where she would be finished at the Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven.
She was to be operated by a newly formed divison, NCL America as Pride of America. Her hull was lengthened by 20m to 280m and her gross tonnage increased to 80,4000 GRT. Sadly, a severe storm hit the yard in January 2004 damaging Pride of America to such an extent that she sank at her berth. Her hull suffered minor damage, but al technical equipment and machinery and part of her interior fittings needed to be replaced having been submerged by over a month. Fleetmate Norwegian Sky, renamed Pride of Aloha needed to step in to launch NCL America as planned for the 2004 season. Finally, in June 2005 Pride of America left the Lloyd Werft saluting her fleetmate the ss Norway docked also at the Lloyd Werft opposite her. She had been taken out of service after one of her boilers exploded and was now serving as shipyard workers accommodation working on Pride of America.
Her crew solely consists of US citizens. The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-US registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Point-to-point transportation between two US ports is prohibited on foreign flagged ships. For Pride of America to become an American flagged ship, needed an official exemption from this law as he was mostly constructed out of the US and only vessels completely constructed at a US shipyard can fly the American flag. Now Pride of America does not need to visit a foreign port on her regular cruise itinerary.
She had been designed by a team of designer John McNeece featuring a four deck atrium, an outdoor performance stage for Hawaiian-style performances and a gorgeous library among others. The ship’s theme is America which is clearly shown in her Cadillac Diner restuarant serving typical American food, reception area and the Liberty dining room featuring a statue of Abraham Lincoln. 2200 passengers are accommodated in 1096 staterooms and can choose from 34 grades including 69 suites, 613 balcony staterooms, 178 outside and the remainder being inside cabins and studio’s for single occupancy only (studio guests have exclusive access to the Studio Lounge). Of her 14 decks, 11 are accessible for guests, 8 are cabins only and the remaining 3 house public spaces. 9 restaurants, of which the 2 main dining rooms located above each other, the Liberty and Skyline, the free of charge Cadillac Diner, its buffet restaurant the Aloha Café and specialty restaurants La Cucina (serving Italian food), Cagney’s Stake house, Jefferson’s Bistro (French specialties), East Meets West (Asian dishes), Teppanyaki (Japanese food) and Brazilian Stakehouse Moderno Churrascaria being the most important ones.
Entertainment options include the before mentioned outdoor stage for Hawaiian-style performances, the Hollywood theatre, which is a one level theatre and rather small compared to the mega-theatres seen on board new tonnage being built today. One deck up the Mardi-Gras can be found, a multi-purpose room for intimate shows and parties by night and for movies, lectures and activities like dance classes at daytime. NCL’s production shows are famous, and Lights, Camera,Music!, a tribute to the greatest moments of the Hollywood Musical and Vegas! The Show where the Norwegian Production Cast recreates the most famous moments in Vegas’ history performed onboard Pride of America are fine examples hereof. Highlight of each cruise is the NCL’s Fireworks show.
Her naming ceremony took place on June 17, 2005. Godmother Elaine Chao (who had held different positions in US administration connected with transport and maritime matters) christened her at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York. During a 7-day preview cruise the morning show Living with Regis and Kelly (by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa) was broadcast from the ship and they gave away 1000 free cruises to their viewers. Her maiden cruise took her to homeport Honolulu via the Panama Canal and calling at San Francisco on the way. Since then she sails on a weekly itinerary visiting Kahului, Hilo, Kailua-Kona and Nawiliwili.
Pride of America was overhauled during a 2-week drydock in March 2013 in Honolulu at a cost of USD 30 mio. Wifi was installed and flat screens in her staterooms, new carpets throughout, her art gallery, gift shop and photo-gallery were redone and 24 luxury The Haven-suites (replacing the former conference center) including two-deluxe owners suites measuring 53 sqm having balconies 38 sqm large, 4 inside staterooms and 4 single-occupancy studios were added. Also her buffet restaurant Aloha Café was renovated and a new Brazilian style stake-house Moderno Churrascaria was added. In 2016-and 2018 Pride of America was refitted again, this time in San Francisco. This refurbishment was part of ”Norwegian Edge” a 2-year fleetwide USD 400 mio program costing 35-40 mio USD per vessel.
This time all staterooms were redone with new furniture and bedding, and her interiors received new carpets, flooring, furniture in public spaces etc. On the technical side, Pride of America was fitted with a scrubber-system, technology using filters to reduce the poisonous gas sulfer oxide from the ships exhaust gasses. NCL was the first cruise company retrofitting exhisting tonnage with this new technology.
Pride of America was laid up in 2020 when cruising came to a full stop worldwide because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of writing (Oct. 2021) she is docked in Portland at the US west coast where she arrived in June for maintenance and drydock work in a local shipyard. She is expected to return to service in January 2022 according to NCL.
