Boarding the Pride of America Although POA doesn't sail until 7:00 pm, the muster drill takes place at 4:30 pm. That still leaves you plenty of time to explore Honolulu before boarding. Of course, you can get on board around 11:30 and start your vacation right away.

For the Pride of America, which sails weekly round-trip from Honolulu, boarding typically begins in the early afternoon, usually around 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. However, in 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) utilizes a high-fidelity "Staggered Boarding" system where guests must select a specific Check-In Time during their online check-in process. Your specific boarding time will be listed on your e-docs. While the ship officially departs from Honolulu at 7:00 PM, the "High-Fidelity" rule for cruisers is that all guests must be checked in and onboard no later than two hours prior to departure—meaning the boarding gates typically close at 5:00 PM. Many travelers choose to arrive in Honolulu a day early to avoid flight delays and ensure they can enjoy the high-fidelity lunch buffet and explore the ship's amenities the moment their boarding group is called. If you are staying in an NCL-booked hotel or are a Latitudes Rewards member with high-fidelity status, you may be granted earlier boarding privileges, often starting as early as 11:30 AM.