It would take all week to decide if our Penthouse Suite, approx. size: 697sq.ft. (Standard Balcony Cabin 178sq.ft.), aboard NCL’s Pride of America in Hawaii was worth the expense (it was).
We’d been looking forward to our GolfAhoy golf cruise to Hawaii for weeks so we had a feeling it would be a fantastic golf holiday (it was)!
First of all, a one-week stay in an AB Penthouse Suite on this ship costs about the same as a seven-day Tahitian cruise aboard Regent Seven Seas’ Paul Gauguin or a Panama Canal itinerary from Crystal Cruises. The difference is, that you’d be in the lowest cabin category aboard those vessels for this price range while an AB Penthouse Suite is one of the top categories on the Pride of America.
NCL is a mass-market line but they do advertise several suite categories and try to provide some additional luxury VIP services and benefits to lucky Suite occupants. GolfAhoy, which we booked through, primarily uses Penthouse Suites, Deluxe Penthouse Suites, and Owners Suites for their VIP Deluxe Hawaii golf cruise clients. Definitely worth the upgrade from Balcony Cabin. If you going to go, go, first-class, is our motto.
What appealed to us were the following benefits that come only with the Suite categories;
Priority embarkation. No standing in long lines for an hour or more to board the ship in Honolulu.
Butler and Concierge service. Special VIP check-in desk, met by our Butler and whisked right to our Suite where he served us chilled champagne.
Champagne, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and bottled water were served upon our arrival.
Living room, dining room, and master bedroom in our Suite. Great for entertaining, we invited the onboard GolfAhoy golf-PRO and other GolfAhoy golfers to our Penthouse Suite for 19th-hole cocktails and hors d’oeuvres arranged for and served by our Butler.
Private big balcony with hot tub, chairs, and dining table!
A flat-screen TV with DVD player.
Espresso/cappuccino machine. Free delicious coffee all day, yum!
Invitation to VIP cocktail parties and special Captains Dinner Table invite courtesy of our Butler.
24-hour room service with special ‘Suite Menu’ appetizers, entrees, and desserts served on our huge Balcony by our Butler.
Full in-room breakfast menu (hot and cold food menu choices) – served to us course by course on our Balcony by our Butler.
Hors d’oeuvres were delivered during the cruise any time we wanted.
Fresh flower arrangements and fresh fruit baskets are replenished every day.
Priority disembarkation in Honolulu, great if you have an eleven o’clock in the morning flight to Australia like we did.
Our Butler took care of our golf club bags and storage, laundered our golf towels, and cleaned our golf shoes.
I could go on and on – but you have to experience the Deluxe Penthouse Suites for yourself. Worth every penny!
