jkbec101

I still don't understand the waiting until 21 days prior.  Let me enter most of the information when I book the cruise or at least when I make the final payment.

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

According to the DNV database, yes, the POA is due for dry docking in June.

I checked the DNV database and I could not find any mention of her going into drydock in June.  I'll admit, that I am not quite sure what I'm looking at.  I'm set to sail on her the first week of June, so this information is kind of relevant to me.  

Can you post a link or cut and paste where you see this information?

55 minutes ago, Panhandle Couple said:

It has been posted that POA will dry dock for 2 weeks in June, so maybe another item that they can add to the list of repairs then. 

 

We sailed POA 5 weeks ago, still in reasonable good shape, but certainly needs some TLC during dry dock that you simply can't do on a cruise.

Where did you get this information?  I can't find it and would appreciate a link to the post or article.

H Mart?

We're boarding the POA.

We're renting through Turo and I haven't found anything yet, but where would you all recommend dropping off the car at or near the port.  I just need a parking lot, but I have heard that at the pier is not an option.

We were in the Haven on the Epic back in 2022 for a European Cruise and it didn't bother me but it is commented on with increasing frequency and I have never heard anyone give a reason.

I looked but couldn't find anything.  

Anyone ever been or seen a reason why the Haven Restaurant menu remains static while the MDR changes?  It would seem to me that of any restaurant on the ship, the Haven would be the one to have a rotating menu fleetwide.

Thinking back, I never paid sales tax while in Miami (2023) or Barcelona (2022)

1. We used the NCL transfer and we were in the Haven, so we basically walked right on.  However, they longest line to get through security but the line wasn't that long.  After boarding, we went back down (there are shops on your way to the ship) to purchase a couple of things and the lines were moving fast.

2.  It can depend on how closely they are checking.  My MIL has platinum status and we just boarded with her and no one said a word.  I think it really depends on how big your group is and just keeping your head down. All the while being prepared for the possibility that they may make your sister wait.

3. There is priority access and it is for embarkation, disembarkation at various ports and tender access.  It has nothing to do with getting back on board when you return from port.  At least that's how I understand it.

2 hours ago, princeton123211 said:

Is it dual engine or single engine? How many hours does the pilot have? Not sure if I would be looking for the best price in a rotor operation. Personally would feel safer using a fixed wing option to tour. 

So do you have any company that you'd recommend?

Looking for recommendations for a helicopter tour in Kauai.  Who provided the best experience for the best price?

Not sure what questions to ask because I've never done one before.

Anyone ever used them?

15 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

Can you be a bit more specific about the type of food you enjoy, your budget, general location and so on so the choices can be narrowed down?  Mahalo.

We'll skip Chinese, Tai and Vietnamese, most everything else would be ok.  Not concerned about budget, but not looking to spend $500/person though.  As for location, give me the entire island, as I have no clue where we will be, plus we're willing to travel and we're used to it living in Southern California.

We'll be on the POA in June and my wife and I are looking for a nice, maybe a bit romantic restaurant for dinner on Maui.  We already have plans to go to Mama's Fish house for lunch, so we're looking for somewhere else.

Thanks!

We stayed in the Haven on the Epic and it was great.  My wife got injured on an excursion and the concierge reworked our excursions, cancelled one for my wife (too much walking on a sprained ankle) and at the restaurant they helped prop her foot up and took great care of her. 

We loved Posh and the bartenders there and never had an issue.  The bar in the Haven lounge was one spot we wish we spent more time at and we regret it.  We discovered on the last night, that this was where the party was all week. 

Back to the Haven restaurant.  The service was hit and miss.  Some times, they were johnny on the spot and at other times, they acted like they could care less we were there.  It was frustrating. 

We were on the Epic in September 2022 for a Mediterranean cruise.  The pool was open and did not close.

For those who have been on the POA recently.  Did you feel that you needed to upgrade to the unlimited WIFI or was being in US waters and at US ports enough?  I realize that there are times where reception will suck like in between ports, but how was reception on port days?

Has anyone stayed at this hotel?  Currently, it's ranked #2 for Venice hotels on TripAdvisor. It's also close to the train station.

Looking for current(ish) opinions.

Thanks!

On the Escape last June, there was no Haven perk, or at least no one from the Haven used the perk, because we were one of the first to get in and there was no one already in the club (Prom night show).  

I know some won't like this, but I send my adult children to hold my place in line.  We were finishing dinner at La Cucina and I sent them (twins) to go get in line, we followed shortly thereafter (we were a party of 6).  

I'm a former Disneyland cast member (worked on Space Mtn for three years) and I have strong feelings about waiting your turn and waiting in line.  If a quarter of your group or more is waiting in line, then they can hold the spot for the rest, especially if you have people in your party with mobility issues.

Years and years ago, my wife took a tour that took them up to the mountain top for sunrise and then they biked all the way down to the ocean.  

From what I have read and what I can tell is that they no longer do this.  Most tour operators do the top portion twice, then put you in a van to just near the bottom, where you get back on your bike again to ride through town. 

I guess there is a large portion of the bike route that was closed (even prior to the fire) by the government.  Anyone know why.  Anyone heard if it will be opened back up again?  I have tried to find out why it was closed but all my Google searches aren't producing any results.

We never paid taxes on any drink when we embarked in Barcelona.  It didn't matter if we were in port or not.  This was in 2022.

The safety video is the same one during check in, but you'll get a bunch of emails asking you to watch it, even though you already have.  I was poking fun at how many times I've been asked to watch it between check-in and embarkation.

Watch the safety video, watch the safety video again, then watch the safety video a third time.

Once on Board, head to your muster station and have your card scanned, and you're done.

As a courtesy to your fellow passengers, please do this as close to boarding as possible.

We're flying into Venice prior to our cruise out Trieste.  

We'll have roughly a day and a half in Venice.  For those of you who have had a similar amount of time, did you use a tour operator to see the major sites or did you do it on your own?  

Looking for recommendations.

35 minutes ago, carohs said:

I think you've gotten some pretty good answers into what is generally similar/different on the POA. But what is it you're looking for experience-wise? Are you looking for a ship first, destination second for a vacation? What I can say is that they still had a comedian, bands, bars etc. Layout all very similar, still feels like an NCL ship. It was nice to not walk through a smoke-filled casino. But, you won't find much entertainment during the day or even at night. Don't expect to be on the ship and have many options for things to do at any given time. It was all well and good for us, because we weren't there for the ship amenities and what was there was more than enough for when we went looking for it. We didn't care too much for the food tho. With no at sea days, and two overnight stops, you just won't have the same vacation vibes as a Caribbean destination for example. 

We're headed to the islands to celebrate my youngest son and oldest daughter's graduations (HS and College).  When we priced out two islands with airfare, hotel, food etc. and compared it to the cost of the POA, it made sense for use to do the cruise.  

The only one of our family who's ever been to Hawaii is my wife and that was 30+ years ago.  So, we're going for the destination, but we also want to enjoy where we're sleeping too.  I just know that POA is different than say the Sun or Spirit and that difference has a lot to do with where the ship is flagged.  I just didn't know what the differences were, which is why I asked.  

You see, I'm a planner and by profession, I need to know everything in advance, I try and watch every Youtube video I can about the ship and destination.  When we sailed on the Epic our of Barcelona, I knew that ship like the back of my hand and I could walk from my hotel to all of the major sites blindfolded (not really, but you get the point).  What none of these videos or websites can tell you is, what's the service like, how do the various NCL ships compare to the POA from a guest perspective.  Not everyone wants to write a review and prefer to answer questions when posed.  

I just wanted to get a realistic picture of what to expect, nothing more, nothing less and I got what I asked for.

7 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

 

Is there something specific you are trying to find out?

 

 

Someone else answered regarding service from an all US crew.  I've only cruised on ships with foreign crew members, so I can only imagine that things on a US flagged vessel are different, from the service, to the quality of the food, to certain policies and procedures while on board, that's what I'm looking for.  

I'm not looking so as to change the booking, but I'm asking in order to manage expectations.