The eruption of the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island in May destroyed homes, displaced thousands of residents, and disrupted travel to the island and the entire state. Now, with a pause in eruption activity, Hawaii is welcoming visitors back. Volcanoes National Park re-opened on September 22, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America is continuing its Hawaii sailings. In an effort to lure travelers back, Norwegian is offering free or reduced airfare to cruisers who book a trip — a major savings.
Announced this week by cruise line president and CEO Andy Stuart, the promo includes free flights from select West Coast cities, including Oakland, San Diego, and Portland. Discounted airfare is available from other major hubs, like Los Angeles and San Francisco ($299 round-trip), Vancouver ($399 round-trip), and New York City ($599 round-trip). The offer currently has no set end date and will continue until Norwegian opts to end the program—so we advise booking soon. Cruise prices start at $899 for seven nights for the most affordable cabins.
Each year, Norwegian’s Hawaii sailings contribute about $436 million to the local economy, which took a hit after the recent eruption of Kilauea on the Big Island. The 2,600-passenger Pride of America departs from Honolulu 52 weeks of the year and spends seven days touring Maui, Hawaii (the Big Island), and Kauai before returning to Oahu. With more than 100 hours in port, a range of excursion options (helicopter tours over the Big Island, a lavender farm tour on Maui), and cultural activities like lei-making and hula lessons onboard, this cruise has a unique destination-centric focus. Plus, considering that inter-island flights alone can cost upwards of $150 each and can be logistically challenging, this cruise is one of the best (and certainly easiest) ways to island-hop in Hawaii.
The airfare offer is valid for all stateroom categories on Pride of America (with the exception of IX, OX, and BX Sail Away Categories) and includes all taxes and fees. It can be combined with the cruise line’s current Free At Sea promo (which offers freebies on drink packages, excursions, and more), too.
In order to qualify, guests must opt for the one-night pre-hotel option and the reservation must be made more than 66 days prior to sailing. It is available only for individual reservations, and up to two guests. To book the Free Air program, call your cruise agent or search for cruises on ncl.com.
