The 1,212-passenger ship will sail at 9 p.m. every Saturday from Honolulu. Patriot is promoted as the largest ship dedicated exclusively to Hawaiian cruising and its cruises as a way to see all of Hawaii by unpacking just once. Whale watching from the ship will be a popular activity from January through March, with naturalists aboard to explain the behavior of humpback whales that winter in Hawaiian waters. Patriot's passengers also can choose from 80 optional shore excursions. A kumu , a Hawaiian teacher, shares the islands' history and lore with passengers in a Kumu Study decorated Hawaiian style.
Passengers can learn Hawaiian phrases, dance the hula, play a ukulele and more.
Nieuw Amsterdam was built in France in 1983. Patriot has an expanded business center and new activity areas for children and teens. The ship's stack now is adorned with a stylized bald eagle on a field of gold stars. Patriot has nine passenger decks and two outdoor pools. Its Manhattan Dining Room offers regional American and Pacific cuisine.