The Hidden Gem Of Cruise History: Project America Ship Model Makes A Surprise Return

Published on October 12, 2025

Hawaii’s beautiful beaches and islands make it a cleanable spot for cruising. The Pride of America is simply a vessel that holds peculiar worth to history and is portion of nan galore ships that cruise cruising Hawaii. Unlike different ships, Pride of America is nan only vessel to service a humanities value. Most recently, a exemplary of nan Project America ship, which helps to understand nan eager plans that we person not yet travel to life, became disposable for purchase.

The Vision Behind Project America

American Classic Hawaiian Vintage is an eager institution that, successful nan precocious 90s, decided to capable nan American cruising history gap. The institution was to build a vessel for Hawaiian inter-island and civilization American routes. The cruises were aimed to springiness nan Americans an authentic acquisition cradled successful American history.

The Beginning of nan Project America Ships

The Project America Ships were going to beryllium nan first ample cruise vessels to beryllium built successful nan United States successful complete 40 years. These ships were projected to measurement 71,000 tons and clasp astir 1,900 guests. American Classic Voyages teamed up pinch Ingalls Shipbuilding successful Mississippi and sewage to activity pinch optimism.

The Change of Plans: Acquisitions and Bankruptcy

Unfortunately, things took an unexpected move for nan worse. American Classic Voyages went bankrupt successful 2001, but nan Project America ships were still going to beryllium built. Norwegian Cruise Line bought nan first Project America vessel and an unfinished hull to turn their fleet. The unfinished hull was towed to Germany to beryllium completed and heavy redesigned.

The vessel successful mobility was renamed Pride of America and relaunched successful 2005, earlier yet becoming a celebrated show successful Hawaiian waters. After navigating nan regulatory hurdles, Norwegian Cruise Line entered into a woody pinch nan U.S. authorities and was capable to run nan vessel nether nan U.S. flag. This allowed nan Pride of America to connection inter-island Hawaiian cruises, completing nan imagination for Project America.

The Pride of America Today: A Success Story

The Pride of America’s troubled past has done small to inhibit its occurrence and reputation, now astir 20 years on, and nan vessel is still offering inter-island cruises astir Hawaii. 2025 will people nan 20th day of nan ship’s service, and it’s now a proud characteristic of nan Hawaiian cruise market, pinch galore enjoying nan caller refurbished vessel and added staterooms made during nan extended refurb activity done connected nan West Coast to nan nationalist and cruiser spaces to meet nan caller demands of upscale Hawaiian cruising.

Although Project America remains a disappointment, nan cruise vessel Pride of America has exceeded expectations and is 1 of nan astir in-demand U.S.-flagged cruise U.S. flagged ships and is simply a much-loved Hawaiian cruise.

A Model Resurfaces

A fewer weeks ago, nan Project America exemplary ship, which had been portion of nan company’s original vision, resurfaced for waste connected nan marketplace for nan first clip successful years. This 29-inch model, featuring nan ship’s original design, which was modified and enlarged by Norwegian Cruise Line, was sold connected eBay. The exemplary serves arsenic a souvenir of a not afloat realized vision, which nevertheless contributed to nan successful completion of nan Pride of America. The model’s intricate specifications exemplify nan standard and nan ambition of nan original Project America plans.

A Glimpse Into nan Past

Although Project America did not wholly execute what it was meant to, nan Pride of America still sails nan Hawaiian islands, and it still offers passengers a chance to bask nan history and beauty of Hawaii. The exemplary ship’s resurfacing serves arsenic a testament to nan intended imagination that sought to toggle shape cruising successful nan U.S. Today, travelers connected nan Pride of America get to bask a portion of history while taking successful nan breathtaking views that person made Hawaii a apical recreation destination. The exemplary has brought backmost immoderate liking successful nan project’s astonishing history and, for many, serves arsenic an illustration of really a elemental thought tin turn bigger and past longer than anticipated.