CruiserBruce

The pizza absolutely doesn't compare. On Zaandam, you can choose from whatever they have prepared. On the Pinnacle class ships, your pizza is custom ordered and built just for you, fresh. Worlds apart.

The 26 Glacier tour is excellent and highly recommended. But with your mind already leaning heavily negative, I doubt you will enjoy it.

You don't need to speak French, although it would be helpful, particularlywhen it comes to menus. Signage is pretty good. Lots of people speak English. You could rent a car in Bayeux so you could do custom designed days. I didn't get the sense that many tour providers there will build custom tours. The distances aren't huge, but you will want to lump some things in close proximity into one day.

You want to stay at Aulani? That answers your hotel question right there.

@gdlamberth, are you planning on renting a car, or use tour companies? I think a rental car would work best for you, and your sites to visit list is awesome....however there are many options for tours to help you complete your list. We did a very similar trip ( our third visit) to Bayeux and the D Day area just last summer.

You indicated you needed to know how soon you needed to book the hotel. If you don't need to put down a deposit, nothing should restrict you from booking now. People ask this a lot...you can monitor prices and rebook if cheaper, then cancel the more expensive booking.

Customs, zero time, as it won't be done. Immigration will probably be a quick run past an official with your passport open, if anything.

I don't know about the separate area, but from what I have heard, it's a very big serving...enough for two.

Agree. There are many hotels to choose from, all sorts of qualities. However, there aren't many "near...the cruise port". You want to be in Waikiki. Do a search around this board, there are many threads on the topic.

April of 2025 might be a little far out.... Coco Cay is a "private island" correct? How many ships could be there? You can always Google search Port schedules. I find that the most accurate.

Welcome to Cruise Critic! Have you looked on TripAdvisor?

@princeton123211, the OP is sailing to Sydney. Hawaii is a stop along the way.

What day of the week? Weekends maybe (LAX). Weekdays, wouldn't try LAX.

Have you asked on the NCL board?

Just common sense...