Pride of America to return to Big Island next week

The Pride of America cruise ship will make her return to Hawaii Island next week, days after it was announced that the island had been removed from the ship’s itinerary.

Stops at ports in Hilo and Kailua-Kona are back on the schedule starting June 12, according to an email sent out Thursday from the state Department of Transportation.

Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line, which operates Pride of America, had informed businesses that the Big Island had been removed from the ship’s itinerary “until further notice.”

NCL had cited concerns about adverse conditions and air quality related to the Kilauea volcano lava flow as reasons for skipping the ports.

The Pride of America, which has a 2,186-passenger capacity, has skipped its weekly calls to Kailua-Kona since May 9, despite volcanic activity being focused in East Hawaii. The vessel has skipped port in Hilo since early May.