MS Pride of America is a cruise ship partly built in the United States, now a member of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet. Inaugurated during the 2005/2006 cruise season as the first new US-flagged cruise ship in nearly fifty years, Pride of America was designed to pay homage to the spirit of the United States, from the patriotic artwork on the hull to the American-themed public spaces.

History

For much of her early (pre-commissioning) history, Pride of America was known as Project America 1; the first of a pair of 70,000 ton cruise ships to be built at the Litton-Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi with heavy federal subsidies. Project America was intended as a means of improving the competitiveness of American shipyards in performing commercial (non-military) construction, as well as creating the first American-registered passenger ships of any real size in decades. Project America program collapsed in 2001, when American Classic Voyages Inc., the company that was to operate the ships under its United States Lines division, filed for bankruptcy.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd acquired the unfinished ship and had her towed to Germany for completion as Pride of America for their newly launched NCL America division. In the process, she was lengthened from 850 feet (260 m). to 920 feet (280 m), increasing the gross tonnage from 72,000 to more than 80,000. Under NCL America, the ship was initially slated for completion in 2004, but the delivery date was pushed back to 2005 after a major storm hit the Lloyd Werft shipyard and caused considerable damage to the vessel, partially sinking her at its berth. A special exemption on the part of the US Government allowed the partially foreign built ship, and her mostly German-built sister, to attain US registry.

After the transfer of Pride of Aloha and Pride of Hawaii, she is currently the only American registered major cruise ship serving the Hawaiian market from Honolulu.

There are 15 F&B outlets and services onboard:

Included restaurants: Liberty and Skyline Restaurants, Aloha Café, Cadillac Diner, Key West Bar & Grill and 24h Room Service.

Speciality restaurants (for an additional cover charge): John Adams Coffee Bar, Carlo's Bake Shop, East Meets West, Teppanyaki, Sushi Bar, Jefferson's Bistro, Cagney's Steakhouse, La Cucina and the Moderno Churrascaria.

Major refurbishments

2013

Pride of America entered a 14-day dry dock on March 23, 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii and received the addition of 24 ultra-luxurious suites, four studio staterooms and four inside staterooms; Moderno Churrascaria, the line’s signature Brazilian-style steakhouse; ship wide wireless internet connectivity; new carpeting throughout; flat screen televisions in all staterooms; updated décor; upgrades to the fitness center; new directional signage; renovations to the gift shop, photo gallery and art gallery; and much more.

2016

Pride of America entered a 24-day dry dock period in February 2016, at the BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair facility. Normally, the ship uses facilities in Pearl Harbor, but these were already fully booked. Described as "its first major refresh since the ship launched in 2005", the ship is due to receive improvements or renovations in the spa, passenger cabins, restaurants, and also to receive the addition of a wedding chapel.

Vessel class

Pride of America is a one-off ship design. She was originally designed for United States Lines under the class name Project America. Project America was originally to have two ships in the class.

Livery

Pride of America's livery consists of red, white, and blue stars and stripes and a stylized bald eagle.