The one and only large cruise ship that operates year-round throughout the Hawaiian Islands finally restarted sailings.
NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America resumed operations from Honolulu (Oahu Island, Hawaii), as she departed on a 7-night cruise to Kahului (Maui Island, Apr 10-11), Hilo (Apr 12), Kailua-Kona (Apr 13), and Nawiliwili (Lihue, Kauai Island). The ship is scheduled to sail back to Honolulu on April 16.
During the first several voyages, passenger capacity will be low, so Norwegian Cruise Line also lowered the number of crew members onboard and some restaurants will not be open as usual.
NCL sent a letter last month to customers booked on the initial cruises to let them know, saying the company would be operating at lower capacities for the initial cruises. As a result, staffing levels would be adjusted to accommodate the number of passengers onboard, "therefore limiting some of the available dining options."
A pair of specialty restaurants, Teppanyaki and Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) will both be completely closed. The Skyline MDR/main dining room will be open only for dinner. Other venues and facilities are due to operate as usual.
Pride of America is the only major U.S.-flagged cruise ship and can therefore only employ U.S. citizens/permanent residents as crew members. She was able to get the U.S. flagging distinction because her hull was built in Mississippi. However, the shipyard was not able to complete the vessel and the hull was towed to Germany.