Pride of America
Pride of America is a United States-flagged Norwegian Cruise Line vessel offering round-trip cruises around the Hawaiian Islands.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Pride of America is a cruise ship operated by NCL America, Norwegian Cruise Line’s United States-focused operating division. The vessel is dedicated primarily to inter-island Hawaiian itineraries, normally sailing round trips from Honolulu and calling at Kahului on Maui, Hilo and Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi Island, and Nawiliwili on Kauaʻi. Its identity is closely associated with the American maritime program that produced it: it is a U.S.-flagged passenger ship designed for domestic U.S. cruising and is widely described as the first newly built U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built deep-water passenger ship of substantial size in almost half a century, although much of its eventual completion took place in Germany. The ship began as Project America 1, the first of two proposed approximately 70,000-gross-ton vessels supported by federal assistance. The program was intended to strengthen U.S. shipbuilding and revive large U.S.-registered passenger service to Hawaii. American Classic Voyages planned to use the ships under a renewed United States Lines concept, replacing older vessels and a temporary ship used by its American Hawaii Cruises operations. The keel was laid at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in October 2000. The design was planned around Hawaiian themes and included a large atrium, substantial dining and theater spaces, a cabaret lounge, and an outdoor performance area. The original project collapsed in 2001 after American Classic Voyages entered bankruptcy and the U.S. Maritime Administration ended funding. Construction stopped when the hull was roughly 40 percent complete. Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the unfinished hull, materials, and equipment in 2002 and transferred the project to Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. During completion, the ship was lengthened from about 850 feet to approximately 920 feet, and its gross tonnage increased to more than 80,000. A severe storm in January 2004 damaged the ship at the German yard and caused it to sink at its berth. The hull remained intact, but equipment and interior components required extensive repair or replacement, delaying delivery. Pride of America was completed in 2005, conducted sea trials in May, and left Germany in June for New York. Elaine Chao, then United States Secretary of Labor, christened the vessel at Manhattan Cruise Terminal on June 17, 2005. After a promotional East Coast voyage and a longer positioning voyage through the Panama Canal, San Francisco, and onward to Honolulu, the ship began its regular Hawaiian service. The vessel’s U.S. registration is central to its commercial proposition. Because it operates under the U.S. flag and is intended to remain in U.S. waters, it is staffed largely by U.S. crew and is subject to applicable U.S. labor requirements. Unlike most foreign-flagged cruise ships, it does not carry a casino because it does not leave U.S. waters. Its registration also enables it to sail between U.S. ports without relying on the foreign-port routing generally required under the Passenger Vessel Services Act. Major refurbishments have kept the ship in service. A 14-day dry dock in Honolulu in 2013 added 24 suites, additional staterooms, a Brazilian-style steakhouse, ship-wide wireless connectivity, new carpeting, flat-screen televisions, refreshed public areas, and fitness-center upgrades. A further dry dock took place in February 2016 at BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair. During the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger operations stopped after March 14, 2020. Crew infections were reported in April 2020, and the ship remained at Honolulu Harbor with a reduced operational crew while service was suspended. After later maintenance and preparations, passenger service resumed with a departure on April 9, 2022. Pride of America remains positioned as a Hawaii-focused cruise product combining Norwegian’s onboard hospitality model with a U.S.-flag operating structure.
History
Pride of America originated in the Project America program, a U.S. government-supported effort to encourage construction of large American passenger ships and restore U.S.-registered service to Hawaii. American Classic Voyages signed a letter of intent with Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding in October 1998 for two ships, with possible options for additional vessels. The first ship, then called Project America 1, was conceived as a roughly 70,000-gross-ton vessel with extensive public spaces, including a multi-deck atrium, a large dining room, a theater, a cabaret lounge, and an outdoor stage designed around a Hawaiian theme. The keel was laid at Pascagoula, Mississippi, in October 2000. The project was linked to plans for a revived United States Lines and was intended to support inter-island Hawaiian cruising while improving the competitiveness of U.S. shipyards. The program did not survive American Classic Voyages’ financial collapse. The company filed for bankruptcy in October 2001, and federal funding was discontinued. Work stopped on October 25, 2001, with the ship only partially erected and a substantial portion of its materials already purchased. Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the approximately 40-percent-complete hull, equipment, and materials in August 2002. The hull was towed from Mississippi to Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany, where Norwegian’s newly established NCL America division completed the vessel. The ship was lengthened from approximately 850 feet to 920 feet, while its gross tonnage rose from about 72,000 to more than 80,000. The conversion and completion process also allowed Norwegian to adapt the ship to its own onboard product and to the requirements of a U.S.-flagged Hawaiian operation. A serious setback occurred in January 2004, when a storm caused the ship to sink at its berth at the German shipyard. The hull was not considered structurally damaged, but machinery, equipment, and interior fittings had been underwater for more than a month. Repair work and replacement of affected components delayed delivery from the originally anticipated 2004 schedule to 2005. The delay also led Norwegian to adjust its Hawaiian fleet plans and temporarily redirect another ship into the NCL America operation. Pride of America completed sea trials in May 2005 and left Lloyd Werft in June. It was christened at Manhattan Cruise Terminal on June 17 by Elaine Chao, then U.S. Secretary of Labor. The ceremony emphasized the ship’s significance as a new U.S.-flagged cruise vessel. A promotional voyage from New York to Boston, Philadelphia, Norfolk, and Miami followed, with television programming broadcast from onboard. The ship then made a positioning voyage through the Panama Canal, called at San Francisco, and proceeded to Honolulu. Once deployed in Hawaii, Pride of America operated a recurring inter-island itinerary from Honolulu, visiting Kahului, Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Nawiliwili. Its U.S. registry distinguished it from the majority of international cruise ships, which commonly use foreign flags and operate with multinational crews. Pride of America’s domestic operating model meant that it could focus on U.S. ports without the same foreign-port routing constraints applicable to foreign-flagged ships. It also meant that the ship did not operate a casino because it remained within U.S. waters. The vessel underwent a substantial refurbishment in Honolulu in March 2013. The work added 24 luxury suites, four studio cabins, and four interior cabins; converted former upper-deck spaces; introduced a Brazilian-style steakhouse; expanded onboard wireless connectivity; and refreshed cabins and public areas with new carpeting, televisions, signage, and décor. The fitness center, gift shop, photo gallery, and art gallery were also upgraded. Another dry dock took place in February 2016 at BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair, as the ship’s usual Pearl Harbor facilities were unavailable. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the ship’s service. Passenger operations stopped after March 14, 2020, and the vessel remained at Honolulu Harbor with approximately 500 crew members before the complement was reduced to a smaller group required for safe operation. In April 2020, Hawaii authorities reported several positive crew cases, including members who required hospital treatment. By June 2021 the ship was undergoing dry-dock work at Vigor Industrial in Portland, Oregon. Norwegian later announced plans for a January 2022 restart, although the first post-pandemic passenger voyage ultimately departed on April 9, 2022. Pride of America continues to represent Norwegian’s Hawaii-focused, U.S.-flag cruise offering.
- 2022
Post-pandemic service resumed
[1]The first passenger cruise after the pandemic interruption departed on April 9.
- 2020
Passenger service suspended during COVID-19
[1]The ship stopped carrying passengers in March and remained in Honolulu while crew levels were reduced and reported infections were managed.
- 2016
San Francisco dry dock
[1]Pride of America underwent another dry-dock period at BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair.
- 2013
Extensive refurbishment in Honolulu
[1]The ship received new suites, cabins, dining, connectivity, furnishings, televisions, and public-area upgrades during a 14-day dry dock.
- 2005
Christening and inaugural deployment
[1]Pride of America was christened in New York, completed its positioning voyage, and entered regular Hawaiian cruise service.
- 2004
Shipyard storm caused major delay
[1]The vessel sank at its berth during a storm at Lloyd Werft, requiring extensive repair and replacement work.
- 2002
Norwegian acquired the unfinished vessel
[1]Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the incomplete hull and related materials and moved the project to Germany.
- 2001
Construction suspended
[1]The Project America program ended after American Classic Voyages’ bankruptcy and the termination of federal construction funding.
- 2000
Keel laid at Pascagoula
[1]The keel for Project America 1 was laid at the Litton-Ingalls yard in Mississippi.
- 1998
Project America contract planning began
[1]American Classic Voyages signed a letter of intent with Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding for two large passenger ships intended for Hawaiian service.
Products and positioning
A Hawaii-specialist cruise ship offering convenient inter-island itineraries from Honolulu, differentiated by U.S. flag registration, a largely U.S. crew, and a strong American and Hawaiian cultural identity.
Cruise itineraries · 2005
Hawaiian inter-island cruises
Pride of America’s core offering is a round-trip Hawaiian cruise from Honolulu. The itinerary is designed around domestic travel between the principal visitor islands, commonly including Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, and Kauaʻi. The ship’s U.S.-flag status allows this port-to-port pattern without requiring a foreign port of call.
Accommodation · 2005
Staterooms and suites
The ship provides conventional cabins, studio and inside staterooms, and higher-end suites. The 2013 refurbishment expanded the suite inventory and added additional accommodation categories while updating televisions, carpeting, décor, and other guest-room features.
Food and beverage · 2005
Onboard dining
Dining is part of the vessel’s onboard hospitality proposition and includes main dining facilities alongside specialty venues. The 2013 refurbishment added a Brazilian-style steakhouse, broadening the ship’s restaurant mix for guests on its weeklong Hawaiian itineraries.
Onboard experiences · 2005
Entertainment and recreation
The original design included a large theater, cabaret lounge, atrium, and outdoor performance space. The broader product also includes fitness facilities, retail, photography, art-gallery services, and public areas intended to support a resort-style cruise experience between Hawaiian port calls.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005East Coast publicity cruise
United States
Before its Hawaiian deployment, Pride of America made a promotional cruise from New York to Boston, Philadelphia, Norfolk, and Miami. A morning television program was broadcast from a temporary platform built on the ship’s sports court.
Outcome. The voyage generated public attention for the new U.S.-flagged cruise ship before its positioning voyage to Hawaii.
Brand decisions
2020
Suspended passenger operations during the pandemicStrategyBackground
Cruise operations were suspended globally to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks, and infections were reported among Pride of America crew members.
Action taken
The ship stopped carrying passengers after March 14, 2020, remained in Honolulu, reduced its crew complement, and later underwent dry-dock and restart preparations.
Aftermath
Passenger service eventually restarted with a cruise departing on April 9, 2022.
2013
Approved a comprehensive refurbishmentOtherBackground
The established vessel required refreshed accommodation, dining, technology, and public spaces to maintain its appeal in the Hawaiian cruise market.
Action taken
Norwegian placed the ship in a 14-day Honolulu dry dock and added suites, cabins, specialty dining, wireless internet, updated furnishings, televisions, and facility improvements.
Aftermath
The refurbished ship continued operating its established Hawaiian itinerary with an expanded accommodation and onboard amenity mix.
2005
Dedicated the ship to Hawaiian domestic cruisingStrategyBackground
The vessel was designed to support a U.S.-registered passenger service focused on the Hawaiian Islands.
Action taken
NCL America assigned Pride of America to weekly round-trip itineraries from Honolulu, calling at several major Hawaiian ports.
Aftermath
The ship became Norwegian’s principal Hawaii-focused U.S.-flag cruise product.
2002
Norwegian adopted the failed Project America vesselM&ABackground
The original owner’s Project America program collapsed after bankruptcy and the withdrawal of federal funding, leaving the partially built ship at the Mississippi yard.
Action taken
Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the unfinished hull, materials, and equipment and transferred completion to Lloyd Werft in Germany under NCL America.
Aftermath
The project became Pride of America and ultimately entered U.S.-flag Hawaiian service in 2005.
Recent events
- 2022
Passenger operations resumed after the pandemic suspension[1]
Product launch · Other
Following an extended halt in passenger operations and additional maintenance, Pride of America resumed cruising with a departure on April 9, 2022.
- 2020
Crew COVID-19 cases reported during service suspension[1]
Other · Regulation
Hawaii transportation officials reported COVID-19 infections among crew members while the ship was docked in Honolulu during the pandemic.
- 2013
Major Honolulu refurbishment completed[1]
Product generation
A 14-day dry dock added suites and staterooms, specialty dining, wireless internet, updated cabins, refreshed public spaces, and fitness-center improvements.
- 2005
Pride of America entered Hawaiian service[1]
Product launch
After christening and positioning voyages from New York through the Panama Canal, the ship began regular round-trip cruises around the Hawaiian Islands.
- 2004
Storm damage delayed delivery[1]
Other
A major storm at the Lloyd Werft shipyard caused the vessel to sink at its berth and submerged equipment and interior fixtures, pushing completion into 2005.
- 2002
Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the unfinished Project America hull[1]
M&A · Other
Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the partially completed hull and associated materials, transferring the project to Germany for completion as Pride of America.
- 2001
Project America construction halted after program collapse[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Construction of the future Pride of America stopped after American Classic Voyages entered bankruptcy and federal support for the Project America vessels ended.
Sources2 sources
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