Pride of America accidents and incidents

August 2024Structural and Technical Issues

In August 2024, NCL canceled 4x Pride of America Hawaiian cruises to allow a drydocking in May 2025 for routine maintenance works.

The canceled voyages were with scheduled departures on May 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th (2025) and all roundtrips from Honolulu.

All affected bookings received a full/100% monetary refund (of the cruise fare paid) automatically issued to the form of payment provided for the booking. Reservations paid with an FCC (Future Cruise Credit) received 100% of the amount re-applied as a new FCC to the passenger's account to be used and applied towards Pride of America cruises scheduled between April 5th and June 21st, 2025.

All affected bookings additionally received a 10% discount in FCC (non-combinable) for a future booking (any NCL cruise) to be made through December 31, 2025.

16 April 2024Propulsion / Power Loss

On April 16, 2024, the departure from Hilo (Hawaii) was impacted by a technical/propulsion issue which resulted in a major itinerary change. The scheduled visits to Kailua-Kona (April 17) and Nawiliwili-Kauai (April 18) were both canceled.

After 3 days docked in Hilo for urgent repairs, Pride of America finally left in the morning on April 18th and made a shortened visit to Nawiliwili.

As compensation, all passengers received a US$200 in non-refundable OBC/onboard credit (per stateroom) plus 20% of the current cruise fare paid in FCC/Future Cruise Credit, to be used for rebooking by December 31, 2025. NCL also fully refunded all pre-purchased shore excursions for Kailua-Kona and Nawiliwili-Kauai.

August 2023Other Incidents

In August 2023, NLC-Norwegian changed the ship's Hawaiian itinerary by dropping all visits to Kahului (Maui Island) and replacing them with an overnight port stay in Hilo (Hawaii Island).

The itinerary was adjusted due to the wildfires on Maui/near Lahaina (first reported on Aug 11th) and affected all voyages (roundtrip departures from Honolulu) between Aug 12th and Aug 26th.

All booked through NCL America Kahului shore excursions were automatically canceled and fully refunded.

June 2022Other Incidents

In June 2022, NCL America canceled several Hawaiian voyages on Pride Of America, previously scheduled for July and August 2022. The cancellations were due to crew shortages.

Also because of the low-staffing issue, the cruise ship was operated at minimum passenger capacity (2192 lower berths) instead of the max capacity (2630 passengers).

All affected bookings were fully refunded (reimbursed to the original form of payment). As compensation, NCL also added a 100% FCC (Future Cruise Credit) of the voyage’s original cost.

May 2020Other Incidents

In late-May 2020 was issued a report by Hawaii State's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. According to the report, in 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Hawaii could receive ~3,4 million tourists (~67,5% decrease over 2019). The survey predicted that in the following years the tourist numbers could increase to 6,2 million (2021), 8,3 M (2022), 9,4 M (2023). According to the survey, Hawaii's 2019 tourist number (10,425 million, 5% increase over 2018's 9,889 M) could be reached in 2025. Tourist spending is also expected to drop in the following years.

NCL America (subsidiary of NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings) was mentioned in the report as expected to suffer the most among all cruise companies with Hawaii-visiting ships.

The year-round Honolulu homeported Pride of America is currently the only large-sized cruise ship flagged in the USA. This allows the shipowner to operate voyages with itineraries that don't need to visit a foreign seaport (Canada, Mexico, etc). Eventual redeployment of the vessel could include itineraries in Alaska (without visiting Canada's Vancouver or Victoria BC) or USA coastal cruises, which would make NCL America a company with a very unique program.

April 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus) On April 8, 2020, while docked (laid-up) at Port Honolulu Hawaii, the liner reported that 7 crew tested positive for COVID 19 (Coronavirus), including 2 (in serious conditions) who were medevaced and hospitalized. The ship was passenger-free and carrying only staff-crew (500). The last cruisers were disembarked on March 14, after the shipowner (NCLH) suspended operations fleetwide and globally due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The ship was scheduled to enter drydock for general maintenance in late-April.

22 August 2018Other Incidents

On August 22, 2018, due to Hurricane Lane (Category 4 storm), the liner was rerouted and its itinerary changed. The hurricane has max winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph), with higher gusts. The ship had to skip call ports Hilo and Kona, spending the following 2 days at sea prior to the scheduled return back to homeport Honolulu (Aug 25).

15 May 2018Other Incidents

The scheduled for May 15, 2018, visit to Hilo (Hawaii island) was cancelled and replaced with a sea day due to the eruption of Kilauea volcano. Another itinerary change was dropping Kailua-Kona (scheduled for May 16) and replacing it with an extra cruise day in (Maui Island).

16 March 2016Other Incidents

On March 16, 2016, the ship’s first cruise after the San Francisco drydock refurbishment was delayed 1 day due to adverse weather. The vessel left the shipyard on Mar 16 (instead of Mar 15), with embarkation at 3 pm. As compensation, all passengers received a 1-day refund of the cruise fare, 25% future NCL cruise discount, up to USD 300 for covering airline change fees, hotel extension charges reimbursement, plus the option to cancel the cruise without penalty.

28 July 2015Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

On July 28, 2015, the ship was docked in Hilo. During maintenance work on one of its lifeboats, at ~2 pm the ropes gave way and the boat fell into the water from ~45 ft / 15 m. Both crews working on the boat sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized at Hilo Medical Center.

24 July 2015Crew / Passenger Deaths

On July 24, 2015, at 11 pm, a male passenger died in his cabin, suffering a heart attack. The ship was docked in call port Nawiliwili (Kauai). The scheduled 2 pm departure was delayed until 4:30 pm due to the conducted onboard investigation.

16 February 2012Other Incidents

(law news) On February 16, 2012, an investigation by DOL WHD (Wage and Hour Division, US Department of Labor) resulted in NCL America paying ~USD 527,000 in back wages to all its employees.

The investigation found that NCL violated USA’s min wage and overtime working regulations for all the Pride of America ship employees (a total of 2059 staff and crew). Back wages were for the period 2009 July to 2011 November,

The investigation also found that because the line took large credits for meal and lodging, some employees were paid less than the required minimum of USD 7,25 per hour. The cruise company also didn’t pay the cabin staff for cleaning the passenger staterooms between the voyages.

02 May 2010Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(overboard) On May 2, 2010, a male crew fell overboard at ~1 pm, after the ship left homeport Honolulu Hawaii. The vessel stopped, lowered a lifeboat and saved him.

January 2009Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

January 2009, CDC reported on the 7-day Hawaiian cruise (itinerary Jan 17-24), a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected a total of 68 passengers (out of 1837, or 3,7%) and 14 crew (out of 935, or 1,5%). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (vomiting and diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours.

03 December 2007Other Incidents

(mooring failure) On December 3, 2007, while docked in Kahului (Maui) Hawaii, high waves in the harbour caused the ship to broke some of its mooring ropes (connecting it to the pier). The overnight port stay was cancelled, along with the next call port Kona (due to the weather conditions).

16 September 2007Sea Pollution

On September 16, 2007, the vessel was reported for discharging a small amount (~10 gallons / 40 litres) of diesel fuel into the harbour of Hilo (Big Island).

01 August 2007Sea Pollution

On August 1, 2007, the vessel was unofficially reported for water pollution. Kailua residents complained about the ship discharging sewage water into the sea for ~20 min. They reported floating faeces and various debris.

12 June 2007Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

On June 12, 2007, while the ship was berthed in call port Nawiliwili (Kauai), a male crew was diagnosed with tuberculosis. The man was hospitalized ashore. On July 19, 2007, a total of 21 crew were tested positive for tuberculosis.

19 February 2007Other Incidents

(mooring failure) On February 19, 2007, the vessel was berthed in Honolulu Hawaii, when at ~3:30 pm it broke the bow mooring lines and drifted, also dragging the gangway ramp off the quay. Assisted by a tugboat, ~2 hours later the ship was docked back into place.

14 October 2006Propulsion / Power Loss

On October 14, 2006, upon leaving homeport Honolulu Hawaii, the vessel struck a navigational buoy, caught its chain and dragged the buoy (weighing nearly 3000 pounds / 1,5 tons) all the way to Maui. The incident caused propeller damage, which caused itinerary change – an extra day in Maui, and dropping call port Kona (Big Island).

23 September 2005Crew / Passenger Crimes

(sexual) On September 23, 2005, a 44-year-old male crew (from San Francisco) was arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexual assault of a 22-year-old female crew (from Oregon). The incident occurred on board, while the ship was docked in call port Kahului (Maui).

29 July 2005Propulsion / Power Loss

On July 29, 2005, on the 7-day Hawaiian cruise (itinerary July 23-30), the vessel experienced an engine issue that resulted in ~4 hours late arrival in call port Hilo and ~4 hours early leaving from call port Kauai.

14 January 2004Structural and Technical Issues

On January 14, 2004, the first-ever accident on the NCL America ship was at the shipbuilding yard in Germany. Although there was a planned launch for April 2004, the delivery was cancelled and pushed back to 2005 after a heavy storm considerably damaged the vessel being docked at Lloyd Werft. The vessel partially sunk at its berth, with the 3 lower decks sinking underwater. The whole engine area was also flooded.