Will Starbucks Change Hawaii Cruises Forever?

Pride of America enters dry dock on May 3 and returns with its own Starbucks on May 31. It will have undergone a round of renovations that added cabins, updated public areas, and made a few changes to the onboard experience. However, whether Starbucks is enough to change its standing among Hawaii travelers remains uncertain and debated.

What’s new aboard the Pride of America?

Norwegian Cruise Line is leading its announcement with a Starbucks. The headline upgrade for Pride of America’s dry dock is adding a Starbucks location in the ship’s Capitol Atrium on deck 5. Whether that signals real progress or a caffeine distraction is debatable.

Twelve new club balcony suites and three new interior staterooms on deck 12 are also planned. The sports court will be equipped for pickleball, and the youth and teen clubs are relocating to deck 6. A new library and card room will take over the former Shuffles space.

No changes to dining venues, entertainment, or overall cabin design were announced. That’s notable since travelers routinely cite tired rooms, average food, and limited onboard activities as some of the ship’s most significant drawbacks.

One traveler described the situation as “a mediocre hotel, but we loved the stops and never having to repack.”

Why are travelers divided on this Hawaii cruise experience?

Recent reviews of Pride of America continue to show a familiar pattern. Guests love the islands and the convenience of avoiding airports and hotel changes, but question whether the ship still holds up. One traveler said they wouldn’t cruise with the line again, while another commented that the ship “just looks and feels old,” even after earlier renovations.

That perception isn’t entirely off base. Pride of America entered service in 2005, but its origins go back even further. Originally commissioned as Project America by American Classic Voyages, the ship was meant to revive U.S.-flagged cruising. Following the German company’s bankruptcy, the unfinished hull was acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line and towed to Germany for completion.

Then, in 2004, while under construction at the shipyard in Bremerhaven, the ship partially sank during a storm that flooded the drydock. Significant water damage forced a major delay and extensive repairs before the boat finally launched in mid-2005.

For a brief time, Norwegian operated three U.S.-flagged ships in Hawaii, but the others—Pride of Aloha and Pride of Hawaii—were quickly reassigned. That left Pride of America alone in the island market, flaws and all.

Some guests continue to praise the service, especially in upgraded suites. One traveler said crew members “genuinely seemed to enjoy their jobs” and highlighted excellent concierge support for logistics like rental car bookings. Others described the staff as helpful and upbeat throughout the voyage.

But food and entertainment continue to draw criticism. Travelers reported that specialty dining wasn’t worth the extra cost, and one guest said the food was “so salty it caused a daily salt hangover.” Others noted that onboard activities were sparse. One summed it up this way: “If you like casinos or nightlife, this isn’t the ship.”

The missing magic: Na Pali Coast sail-by.

The most glaring omission in the drydock plans is something the ship no longer offers—the iconic Na Pali Coast sail-by on Kauai. This once-magical sail out of Nawiliwili Harbor on the Friday evening before the cruise ended was discontinued and quietly removed from the itinerary in 2024.

The cruise line still does not indicate that it will ever return. BOH editors felt that was the most memorable part of the week-long cruise, which continues to offer chicken-skin reminders years later. Did it do the same for you?

We explored this cruise element loss in detail in NCL Cancels Kauai Na Pali Coast Sailing From Its Itinerary. The absence continues to frustrate past and prospective guests. One traveler said, “That was the magic moment. Without it, it’s just a ship taking you from port to port.”

Some guests feel the experience no longer justifies the price tag without the sail-by, even with the new suites and Starbucks.

DIY tips for exploring Hawaii ports.

Across dozens of recent trip reports, travelers say the best way to experience this cruise is by doing your own thing in port. Excursions booked through the ship were described as rushed, very expensive, and sometimes underwhelming. Many said they rented cars on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, which gave them flexibility and saved money.

Rentals were generally easy to access, with free shuttles or other options near most ports. On Maui, a few guests mentioned confusion about overnight parking, with conflicting signage at nearby malls. Visitors should vet that before sailing.

The consensus was clear: if you want to explore at your own pace and avoid the herd, go independent.

The ship’s value is under pressure.

One of Pride of America’s ongoing challenges is the cost relative to what it delivers. Cruise prices are often comparable to or higher than staying at Hawaii resorts. And while interisland transportation, meals, and accommodations are bundled, guests have become more vocal about what they feel is missing.

Multiple travelers said the cabins were clean but dated. The internet was described as frustrating, with guests needing to log in and out repeatedly. In our own experience, the internet via regular providers is accessible most of the time in any event. Several noted limited power outlets, advising others to bring an extension cord.

It’s worth noting that NCL now has Starlink fast Internet service at sea on the Pride of America.

Given the lack of a casino, weak entertainment lineup, and underwhelming food, one guest even compared the ship to a 2003-era cruise experience, saying it hadn’t evolved in two decades.

While it may surprise regular cruise ship passengers, Pride of America does not—and legally cannot—offer a casino. Because it is U.S.-flagged and sails entirely within Hawaiian waters, it remains under U.S. and Hawaii jurisdiction at all times, where all forms of gambling are banned. This explains a key difference from most other cruise ships that visit Hawaii as part of an international itinerary and helps set expectations for first-time guests.

So what happens next?

Pride of America will resume Saturday departures from Honolulu at the end of May, offering the same interisland itinerary minus the Na Pali Coast cruise-by. Due to its U.S. registry and exemption from foreign port stop rules, it remains the only ship of its kind. For now, no other cruise line offers this itinerary.

But this drydock may also not move the needle much. Guests often say the ship is fine inasmuch as it is functional, serviceable, and adequate—albeit not great. And in the current Hawaii travel landscape, “fine” may not be good enough.

Are you thinking about cruising in Hawaii? Have you taken this cruise before or considered it? What would it take for Pride of America to win your booking? Share your thoughts in the comments—we read every one.