What Crew Members Say About Pride-Of-America

In a dramatic series of events on July 29, 2025, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake near Russia triggered tsunami alerts that forced several cruise ships, including the renowned 'Pride of America', to abandon the port of Hilo, Hawaii. Despite efforts to communicate with guests, the ship departed ominously at 4 p.m., two hours ahead of schedule, after notifying passengers through SMS to seek higher ground. Those on excursions were left in panic, desperately trying to reach Norwegian Cruise Line's customer service to request the ship's delay. Initially, NCL assured guests that the ship would remain until their return. However, citing guidance from the state's Department of Transportation and prioritizing safety protocols, the cruise line ultimately chose to sail. As the ship moved away from the harbor, excursion-goers found themselves transported uphill to Waiakea High School, where they had to spend the night on gym floors or in tour buses. The situation began to ease the following morning when Hawaiian authorities lifted the tsunami advisory, providing relief for both locals and stranded passengers concerned for their safety. For in-depth coverage and images, visit the New York Times report [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/travel/tsunami-hawaii-cruise-ships-passengers.html).

On November 16, 2024, the 'Pride of America,' a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, commenced its festive cruise around the beautiful Hawaiian islands. However, on November 17, the ship was faced with an unexpected challenge during its scheduled overnight stay at Kahului Pier in Maui. Due to an issue with the fresh water line, the vessel was unable to refuel its fresh water supply while in port. This unforeseen circumstance forced the cruise to adjust its itinerary and cut the port call short. Initially, passengers had until 6 p.m. local time on November 18 to enjoy the sights and sounds of Maui. However, guests were required to return aboard by 8:00 a.m. on the same day, significantly earlier than planned. The seven-night cruising adventure, which regularly departs from Honolulu, includes various stops at captivating locations such as Hilo, Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island, and Nawiliwili on Kauai, in addition to the now abbreviated visit to Kahului, Maui.

On April 16, 2024, the cruise ship 'Pride of America' encountered a technical malfunction while docked in Hilo, Hawaii. This unforeseen issue led to significant modifications in its planned itinerary, resulting in the cancellation of stops in Kona on April 17 and Nawiliwili, Kaua’i, on April 18. Local experts were promptly engaged to address the technical challenges. After a three-day docked period, the vessel successfully departed Hilo on the morning of April 18, making a brief visit to Nawiliwili before concluding the cruise in Honolulu on April 20. To compensate passengers for the disruption, each stateroom will receive a $200 non-refundable onboard credit along with a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to 20 percent of the paid fare for this cruise. This FCC can be utilized for any of Norwegian Cruise Line's published itineraries through December 31, 2025. Furthermore, guests who had pre-booked excursions for the recently cancelled ports will receive full refunds.

In a concerning development, six crew members aboard the 'Pride of America', currently docked at Honolulu Harbor, have tested positive for COVID-19, with two individuals requiring hospitalization. The cruise ship, which boasts a total crew of 500, has not welcomed passengers since March 14, 2023. Authorities in Hawaii are collaborating closely with the cruise line while adhering to CDC guidelines to evaluate when the remaining healthy crew members may be permitted to disembark and return home. The vessel is expected to depart Hawaii later this month as it prepares for a scheduled dry dock.