rakuroda

Hi Rakuroda, I swear I read the entire thread and I did see: do not overpack several times... But there's sooooo many good ideas that I want to pack them all lol. I'm pretty good with time management and I plan to leave lots of time to return to the ship. I was just curious if extortion is the norm or if my parents just had a bad cabby. Believe me when I say I'm trying to research and I find it's a bit overwhelming but I will figure it out. I believe we are going to be doing a few excursions with the ship and also a few on our own as I have notice there are a lot of exclusion that seem better priced and more interesting. Don't be a penny wise and a pound foolish.... I can honestly say,I have never heard that term. I like it though. I work with convicts, I trust no one lol. Thank you for replying!

Aloha iconix :D

Sounds like your parents just got a bad cabby. Mostly it's just common sense stuff to avoid problems when traveling. You're doing your research so you're doing the right thing to try to protect yourselves. If your spidey sense starts tingling, stop & pay attention. You work with convicts so you know what I mean. I'm related to some convicts so I know what you mean. LOL ! !

"penny wise and pound foolish" is actually an old English idiom that is can be searched online.

Another favorite of mine is "Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later" from a Fram oil filter commercial which meant that the consumer had a choice of paying a small amount for an oil filter now, or a large amount for a ruined engine later. After thinking about the logic of the phrase, I saw that it also could be applied when purchasing one of two similar items that would be used over time. An initally cheaper item that would need constant repair & maintenance, or a more expensive item of better quality that reportedly never gave the purchaser any problem. Besides paying for the cheaper item in repair & maintenance, how do you value aggravation over the life of the cheaper item?

That is where your research (aka due diligence) is supposed to provide you with info, but only you can make the value judgement for yourself. Like I always told our kids, "we won't make the decision for you because we won't be the ones suffering the consequences"

Enough of my preaching, Good Luck with your cruise.

Aloha :D

Thank you all soooooooo much, just went through the entire thread... Thinking I'm going to need a suite case just for all the stuff people suggested. This is my first cruise and more or less my first time leaving Canada. I'm a bit of a penny pincher and trying to fins the best adventures without going though the cruise. One thing I am concerned about is not making it back in time for the boat.... Parents told me about this one time in St Thomas they had cab tell them it was going to be x amount to take them to their excursion and then half way there he stopped and said they had to pay more to get to where they had to go. Luckily my uncle to more money with them.... Does this type of thing happen often? I just don't want my fiancé and I getting stranded or be taken advantage of or worse me arguing with the cabby. Thanks again everyone!!

Aloha iconix :D

If you truly read the whole thread, how did you miss the part about don't overpack? Especially if you're going to the Caribbean! Everybody seems to be saying that they only used half of what they packed. And do you know what? Nobody really cares if you wear the same clothes over and over again. We don't care if your clothes are wrinkled! We really don't. We're on vacation! There are no clothes police on the cruise ship. And there will not be a full page ad back home telling everyone what you wore on your cruise.

And having a cabby try to extort you by stopping in the middle of your rush to get back to the ship, that can happen anywhere. Why would you wait until you're going to be late to leave wherever you are? Why wouldn't you give yourself enough time just in case something happens trying to get back to the ship, like a cabby trying to extort more money from you. If you give yourself enough time, you could always flag down others returning to the ship and ask for help. If you're the type that wants to be the last returning to the ship and expect the ship to wait for you, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT! And if you are trying to return from someplace nobody else goes when they are on the cruise, DUH!

If you're that worried about getting stuck somewhere, just pay the man! Do your due diligence and research your ports and find operators with good reputations. If you use the cruise line approved vendor, you're paying for the due diligence they did to find reputable operators and you can still have a problem with them. Do your homework and don't be pennywise & pound foolish! Ever hear that phrase?

It's kind of like driving up somewhere and a guy walks up to you and says, "Hey man, want me to park your car?" Would you just hand him your keys? Think man! Just because you're on vacation, don't stop thinking. Anytime you're offered a deal that seems too good to be true, guess what, it probably is! Just don't set yourself up to be taken. Most people get taken by their own greed.

Aloha :D

I'm actually booked on my 2nd cruise and my first cruise was awesome but, as I'm sure you all know, you learn as you go! There are definitely some things I will do differently on my 2nd cruise now that I get it a bit more. For me, I've learned that it's best to pay cash for expenses if possible, the unlimited drink package is not a very good deal unless you're a heavy drinker, and do a ton of homework and book your excursions before you leave! For those who have cruised before, what's one thing you wish you knew the first time? Any unexpected info you've picked up along the way that has made your travel easier? Thanks!!

Why is it best to pay with cash? This puzzles me. Roz

Aloha Roz & Mia Bella :D

Taken in context, she doesn't mean literally to pay cash for your drinks on the ship because you can't on cruise ships. She means don't buy the drink packages on the ship because the daily charge is a lot more than most people can drink in 1 day. I find the daily drink package amount to be truly outrageous, unless you are someone that will drink a case of beer a day for example. She means to charge your individual drinks to your shipboard account and settle up at the end of the cruise or the night before you disembark.

Mia Bella, we've learned to not do too much in each port. You'll be exhausted if you do too much in the ports. You're paying to relax & enjoy the ship, and shipboard amenities. You don't have to see all of the different show on board either. Take you time and enjoy the food. I've learned over the years that my diets are for "home" only. I don't diet when we're on vaca. I don't workout either when I'm on vaca, and don't check email. If it's an emergency, they'll call the ship and if it isn't, what do they expect me to do about it from thousands of miles away?

Aloha :D

We would like to plan a trip from the west coast to Hawaii and would like to know when the best time to go would be and why. Thanks for any help you can give us. :)

Aloha vtwgalmm :D

If you are looking for the "at sea" days, figure on the weather on the west coast.

If you are looking for the days in Hawaii, I would fly to Hawaii and save the cruise money for the hotels and outstanding meals (cruise food all tastes the same after a while). Food in Hawaii is year around (many different cultures mean many different foods and flavors), and most people don't realize that "Chinese" food has many different styles, Hong Kong, Cantonese, Sichuan, Mongolian, Taiwanese, etc. and all have different flavors (chop-suey is a made up American dish). Since the weather is almost the same all year around, anytime is the "best" time depending on what you want to do. If you think you will get a feel for Hawaii at the port stops, they are too short for you to experience Hawaii. Each island is different and has its own personality. For example, winter if you are looking for the big surf (but no guarantee that there will be a winter storm in the artic to generate waves) or whales, summer for beach or snorkeling (actually anytime for beach or snorkeling, but summer has better sun). Hiking is summer (not as wet maybe?), driving to watch the sunrise is winter because you don't have to wake up as early. Snow in Hawaii is winter. Hula at the Merry Monarch Festival is April, just hula is year around. RELAXING, ALWAYS I only travel because my wife tell me that I want to travel (otherwise I'd just stay in Hawaii, where would you go if you lived here?).

So as you can see, best time in Hawaii is whenever you can be here with enough money to enjoy yourself. We do have McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried, Denny's, etc. so you can eat on the cheap, but only in Hawaii will you find a McD's big breakfast with scrambled eggs, white rice, portuguese sausage, and fried Spam! Or you can have banana hot cakes with lilikoi syrup, Zippy's chili spaghetti or oxtail soup. So many good different foods! (Can you tell I'm a foodie?)

Aloha :D

We arrive in Honolulu late sept for 3 nights. Can you give me some must do's as we board our cruise Oct 2. Thanks :)

Aloha Keeki :D

OK! 1st things 1st. In Hawaii, there are no "must do's", but many "want to do's"! In order to make suggestions (and remember these are suggestions and recommendations), I need more information, like what are you like and what do you like to do.

Just so you know where I'm coming from, we are going on our 3rd cruise in Sept. Over the years, we have learned that we do not like to rush around trying to do everything there is to do when we are on vacation. We've taken the Alaska to Vancouver cruise tour and gone on the shore excursions and circled Hokkaido and gone on the shore excursions. We've flown to Europe and toured by train, flown to NYC and driven to Maine (won't do that again, driving that is), visited Florida, Yellowstone Nat'l, etc., get the picture? All over the U.S. and now we know that we really have no "must do's" when we travel, but several "want to do's" or "might do's". Heck we're paying for it. Personally I like to see what the people in the different places do and eat where we travel.

Okay so far? My wife and I have figured out what we like to do and plan accordingly. Personally, we worked for our livings so we watch how we spend, but don't scrimp and scrape when we're on vacation (that's for at home to save for the next vacation), because we figure we can't enjoy the vaca if we're worried about running out of money or running up the charge cards.

When I decide I want to just relax here at home, I drive around and just stop and look at what I find interesting or stop to eat something I think might be interesting. We have food from all different cultures around the world, so if you're a foodie, tell me.

The more information you provide, the better I can figure out what to suggest. I have hung out with some crazy Aussies that like to drink (and boy could they drink) that strong Australian and NZ beer (I don't drink like that anymore), so I won't tell you where the best places to drink are.

Do you have any physical limitations? Are you independently wealthy? So what do you like to do? Visit historical sites? Hike? Snorkel (Gold Coast, Australia)? Eat? Shop? Drive & explore?

I'll look forward to hearing from you. If you don't want to post your specifics on the message board, let me know and I'll give you my email address. Ball's in your court now!

Aloha :D

Did you know? That famous country music instrument the steel guitar.

Wikipedia Steel Guitar - "Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries"

"The earliest use of an electrified steel guitar was first made in the early 1930s by Bob Dunn of Milton Brown and His Brownies, the original Western Swing Band from Fort Worth, Texas; the instrument was perfected in the mid to late 1930s by Fort Worth's Leon McAluff, who played for Western Swing's greatest band ever, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Nashville later picked up the use of the steel guitar in the early days of the late 1940s and early 1950s "Honky Tonk" country & western music with a number of fine steel guitarists backing names like Hank Williams, Lefty Frizell and Webb Pierce."

Now for the age old question, why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?? :D:D:D:D Len

Aloha :D

Same reason there are interstate highways in Alaska (49th state)! Plus in Hawaii, we have menehune drivers that can hold their breaths for a really long time driving on special menehune only roads!

Aloha :D

I have my booked my first cruise and have been reading all the great information on this site. I have learned so much! I have also read a lot of negative things that make me a bit nervous about our cruise. I notice that most everyone here has been on lots and lots of cruises - I love seeing the list in your signature lines. So, I would like to hear why you love going on a cruise so much. What are some of the best things about vacationing this way? Thank you! Cath

Aloha cathj003 :D

Not all of us have a lot of cruises under our belts. This is only the 3rd cruise for us. The 1st was 7days, Alaska to Vancouver; 2nd 7day, circle Hokkaido (Japan); and now our 3rd, 9day NE/CA.

1. why you love going on a cruise so much. What are some of the best things about vacationing this way?

By cruising, we go to several different places and my wife doesn't have to unpack/pack which she really hates. That is why we don't go on vacation tours, different city every day, ride bus, hunt for food & bathrooms, etc. By ship, comfortable seating during change of location, good food for each meal that we don't have to prepare, and we've prepaid most of our expenses so we know what it costs. We don't have to do anything if we don't feel like doing anything (just relax, biggie for me). Nobody forces you take any shore excursion, it's your choice. If you want to just stay on the ship by the pool while everybody else is off ship running around, you can just do that. I personally don't like to take any shore excursions, I prefer to just hang around the port or catch a taxi to where we want to explore or if there is a HOHO trolley we will do that if we think it's a good idea for us; the shore excursions planned by the cruise lines are very tiring to us and I fall asleep most of the time on the buses. You have to personalize your cruise to fit what you feel like doing! For goodness sake, you're paying for it. Why would you pay for something you don't want?

1. It is crowded around the pool and hard to get a seat. Why do you need a seat? If you want to get wet, go in the pool. If you want sun, there are other places you can just get sun. Why does it have to be around the pool? You are allowed to sit/lay on your towel on the deck if there are no lounges available. And you can ask the attendant to let you know when one becomes available.

2. You buy the drink package, but then you can't find a bartender and have to wait for a long time to get a drink. Trying to get a drink from a bartender can be hard no matter where you are, even if you're sitting at the bar at home. Even though the tip is included in the drink package cost, it is amazing what a few dollars ($1 or $2 handed to the bartender or waiter) can do (and they remember those that tip directly) and they will come back to check if you need anything else. Additional tips work wonders even for the room service delivery.

3. The ports are dirty/dangerous - especially Nassau. If that is the case, nobody will make you get off the ship in Nassau. How do you know that Nassau is dirty/dangerous? Did somebody you trust your life with tell you that? Why would you book a cruise to Nassau if you thought that Nassau is dirty/dangerous in the first place? If you get off the ship and check for yourself & think it is dirty/dangerous, nothing stops you from getting back on the ship.You could just enjoy the ship amenities while the ship ports in Nassau. And you'll probably find a lot of seats around the pool! !

4. Excursions are expensive/not worth the money. Ship excursions always cost more than booking directly with an operator, because the ship will receive the complaints. To avoid the complaints, the cruise line must vet the operators they use. To avoid problems, the cruisers are encouraged to use the ship excursions. That being said, many cruisers themselves research the tour operators for quality of their product and book directly with the operators. Problems can arise either way, and again, if you feel Excursions are expensive/not worth the money., excursion are not mandatory on cruises, they are a choice.

If you are looking for reasons not to cruise, you have just listed a bunch, but if you want to try something you haven't done before, then try a cruise like you are doing. Maybe the person that told you all of the negatives went on a cruise and hated it and never went on another. I have found that over the years my tastes have changed and things that I really didn't like when I was in my 20s, I like now and things that I loved in my 20s, I can't stand now. If we don't try different things, how will we ever know or change or grow?

This is not written to discourage you, but as with anything in life, you need to think about what you are going to do before you do it. As I tell the kids I know, if you want to know about making mistakes, ask me because I've made almost all of them, some more than once or twice! But I do try to learn from the mistakes I make (slow learner).

Aloha :D

See now too much to choose from and that's biggest problem with Hawaii

Aloha ekajun1957 :D

Too Much To Do In Hawaii! Is exactly correct. Many people think that if they take a cruise in Hawaii with short port stops that they can experience Hawaii.

In all of our traveling, we have never found that a short port stop is long enough to experience any area or city. It's like going to Disneyland thinking that you can experience it in one day. IMPOSSIBLE! Flying to Hawaii and staying on one island for several days is the only way to actually get the feel of any one of the islands. A cruise should only be considered to whet your appetite for Hawaii.

Since you said that you wanted "something very relaxing to do that first afternoon/evening that also would put us in the Hawaii Island mood", I figured that you were like my wife and myself and liked to take our time and not feel like we are rushed. My suggestions are written with this focus in mind.

Here is a link for a review from a lady from Arizona that visited back in 2011 that had a few pre-cruise days then went on the 7 day POA cruise. What she did is more along the lines of a relaxing first visit to Hawaii. She realized that they would have to return to Hawaii to actually get a full experience each of the islands. I don't know that they ever returned to vacation here but it sure sounds like they loved their 10 day Hawaii experience. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1419574

Figure that it's like visiting Las Vegas. I really like to visit all of the big hotels and casinos and walk around and look at the opulence, sample the restaurants, see the shows, then if I have extra time, gamble back at the hotel I'm staying at to earn comps. That way, I can take my time and make sure I get sufficient rest during our stay (we normally stay at least a week and rent a car so we can drive to all of the different hotels), eat nice meals, and shop. Many people visit Las Vegas for just 2-3 days and rush to do everything at once or feel they missed something. Visiting Hawaii is the same thing. Every visit, something has changed, things are renewed.

Aloha :D

We strolled all around the Marriot Resort and it was lovely. However, I did not see any facilities that I would pay extra to use. I agree that the beach is lovely. Also, the Duke's restaurant is nice with a nice beach view - also a lot of shopping right there. Here are my pictures from Day 1 when we strolled around the Marriott Resort and Kalapaki Beach, followed by a tour through Roberts in the afternoon of the Fern Grotto and the Smith Family Luau.

 

We did a sightseeing flight with AirVentures Hawaii which was considerably less expensive than a helicopter flight on day 2. We were also on a budget, but decided to do this just a few weeks before we left. I am glad we did as it was wonderful. Pictures from Day 2 are mostly of our flightseeing tour and the Napali Sail-by. The link to my full review is in my signature!

Aloha :D

I have not recommended the various air tours on Kauai because of the cost, but if it is in your budget, an air tour over Waimea Canyon and down and along the Na Pali coast would be outstanding. Kauai is not a very big island so most air tour s cover most of the island and takes much less time than driving. The tour that seems to get the best reviews is Blue Hawaiian Helicopters on Kauai. http://www.bluehawaiian.com/

At about half the price are air tours that use small planes that can fly up and over some of the valleys like Wings Over Kauai Air Tours. It's a matter of budgets. http://www.wingsoverkauai.com/

Sunny AZ Girl did the small plane tour since they were on a budget and her post is above. As I said, because the air tours are all over $100/person for a 60min. ride, it can be expensive, but I think it is worth it if you can afford it. I personally like the helicopter tour even at twice the price since they go lower and it was easier to see.

Most of the pilots are ex-military so I would ask about a discount, and marathonrunner123, it's a lot cheaper booking direct than thru the cruise line, as much as 30% less.

Aloha :D

If you had to make a choice of which two of Waimea Canyon, North Shore, or Road to Hana which two would it be and why? Assume just for discussion it is using a tour to see them. There is just so much in Hawaii and we leaving August 1st on POA and need to make decisions, we just booked this week as my scheduled freed me up and I think the prices we got were very good. Anyone else want to add some MUST DO items elsewhere on the trip please do.

When we were on Kauai, ... My family ... took the road north and stopped at Poli'ahu heiau, Opakea'a Falls, Kilauea Wildlife Refuge, Hanalei Valley overlook, Hanalei pier, Lumaha'i beach, Ha'ena beach, the dry caves (directly across the street from Ha'ena, and Ke'e beach.

Aloha ekajun1957 :D

Just be sure if you go to the Waimea Canyon Lookout, you continue on to the Kalalau Lookout. That view from the top of the mountain to the ocean is spectacular.

When you say "North Shore" what do you mean? North Shore of Kauai as described by greatlakesgirl?

And Hana is on the island of Maui so your question is not clear. Anyway, on a cruise, I wouldn't spend the time to go to Hana. The attraction is "The Road To Hana" and all of the views on the way to Hana, not the little town of Hana itself. It is a long drive and you'd be better served doing something else on Maui during your cruise. The Road To Hana is better saved for another trip when you have a much longer time on the island of Maui.

Aloha :D

At Kahului we thought of taking the Taste of Maui tour as it hits shops and things the wife would like and another day not driving just laying back. That would give us lay of the island and we could pinpoint where the next day to go straight to with a rented car. Relaxed drive to few spots missed on the tour and then head back to the boat.

Then when we get to Hilo do a volcano / Water falls tour and then rent car next day in Kona.

Then rent car in Nawiliwili first day and end the day at a luau. Next morning I was told there is a trolley to get over to a beach and hotel area in Nawiliwili and we relax on beach few hours the last day.

When we return on Saturday we are leaving Honolulu late on Sunday so chance to relax and get in just a bit more of Oahu and Waikiki and Honolulu.

Of course if others have suggestions on tours or other activities we are very open to suggestions.

Aloha ekajun1957 :D,

I did a search on the Hawaii thread and found this link. Please read it carefully. I've seen several posts by Susan-M who has been posting on the Hawaii thread for quite a while.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1869357&highlight=taste+of+maui

Hilo, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park & Rainbow Falls State Park is a good choice for the day.

Kona, (actually Kailua-Kona) the NCL shore excursions seem to have the best variety. Otherwise, I would just spend the day looking around at the shops and hotels and relaxing on the ship. There really isn't any beach in the area, mostly lava and unless you have somewhere in particular you want to see, I wouldn't rent a car in Kona.

Nawiliwili, renting a car is a good idea but do you know what you want to see on Kauai? There is no road that goes completely around the island. If you head west to Waimea Canyon and the Kalalau Valley Lookout, that's a little over 42 miles, then 48 miles back thru Lihue to the Smith's Garden Luau. Google Map says 3 hrs. driving. If you are going to drive out to Waimea, on the way back, you might stop at Poipu Beach Park which is one of the best beaches on Kauai. You'll probably want to spend a couple of hours at this beach relaxing, so stop on the way back from the Kalalau Lookout and pick up a picnic lunch.

For the Smith's Family Garden Luau, you can book thru NCL $99, or directly online $78 http://www.smithskauai.com/garden-luau/. NCL charges for the transportation, but since you have a car, why not save and drive yourself.

On your last day, take the shuttle over to Kalapaki beach and walk to the Kauai Marriott Resort and look at the gardens on the upper level. The resort uses the Kalapaki beach and Duke's Barefoot Bar http://www.dukeskauai.com/menus/barefoot-bar opens at 11am for pupus and drinks.

Aloha :D

I have been to Maui and did road to Hana and Haleakala. Any suggestions of what else we should do the day we have full day in Maui ? Thanks!!

Aloha Roziewear :D

You posted on the NCL Roll Call for July 11 and Sept. 5, then said that Sept. 5 is sold out, then asked about August crowds.

I have no idea what you are trying to get information about. Have you actually booked a cruise or are you just fishing around for information?

Aloha :D

Aloha ekajun1957 :D,

Although the outrigger canoe ride near dusk is a fun activity, be aware that all passengers in the canoe have to paddle (with deference to chipmaster). To get into the Hawaii mood or as we like to call it "Polynesian Paralysis" after a long day traveling, I recommend you stroll Kalakaua Av., check out the Moana Surfrider and Outrigger hotels looking for someplace where you could eat an early dinner (check the pupu menus in the bars, I drink diet soda in the bars) and watch the 7:30pm sunset. Or go back to your hotel and relax by the pool at the Moana Terrace Bar & Grill and have pupus/dinner and watch the sunset from there.

On Friday, if you go to Pearl Harbor and do your own walking tour to the Royal Hawaiian and Halekulani hotels, and the US Army museum, that will be a full day with some time for the beach before you have dinner. On your way back from the US Army museum, you can stop in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (same street to go to the Royal Hawaiian hotel) and have dinner there. There are a several good restaurants (including a Wolfgang's Steakhouse) and a food court in the shopping center, all of which cater to visitors.

As you have said, you are looking for "something very relaxing to do that first afternoon/evening that also would put us in the Hawaii Island mood". That is the way you need to approach your entire pre-cruise and cruise to maximize your enjoyment. There is simply too much to do and see in Hawaii to do it all in just a few short days, so I would focus on enjoying Waikiki during your pre-cruise days. If you just want to see some other stuff near Waikiki, look at the Waikiki Trolley panoramic and scenic HOHO tours. For the amount of time you have pre-cruise, I would skip the historic downtown tour.

On the POA, your first port is Kahalui, Maui. I would rent a car (shuttle will pick you up at Kahalui harbor) and drive to Lahaina (the first capital of Hawaii) looking at the landmarks and shops. Then drive to Kaanapali and look at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa and the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali, then on to the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. These luxury hotel/resorts and the beaches that front them are amazing. This is about a 40 mile drive from Kahului and with stops should take up the entire day, giving you time to drive back to the harbor, park, and eat dinner aboard. Reviewing this should give you an idea if you want to drive the second day before you sail for Hilo, Monday night. One good thing about driving on Maui is that you really have to try hard to get lost.

If you like these ideas, let me know & I'll make further suggestions.

Aloha :D

We arrive into Waikiki around 130PM on Thursday afternoon to catch the POA on Saturday. Was looking for advice on something very relaxing to do that first afternoon/evening that also would put us in the Hawaii Island mood. We are at the Waikiki Beach Marriot Resort for two nights. Any ideas?

Aloha ekajun1957 :D

After your long (10-12 hr.) flight arriving at HNL @ 1:30pm (5:30pm LA time), by the time you get your bags & ride to the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, it will be late enough for you to check in. You may not think you are tired, but with the travel time and the 4 time zone change, when you finally lay down, you will have no problem falling asleep.

For "something very relaxing to do that first afternoon/evening that also would put us in the Hawaii Island mood", I recommend you change into beach attire, grab your sunglasses, & stroll along Kalakaua Av. on the ocean side, looking at beaches and the Prince Kuhio and Duke Kahanamoku statues. Remember that Waikiki is a destination in itself & walking on the wet sand wetting your feet & sitting on a beach watching the surfers and the other beach goers is a Waikiki activity. You will be facing the sunset if you stay on the beach or you could go to the Moana Terrace Bar & Grill at your hotel, relax and have hors d'oeuvre (pupus) or an early dinner. To avoid overextending yourselves on your first night in Hawaii, this is the limit of the activities I would recommend.

Planning a Pearl Harbor tour for Friday is a good idea since it's too late to reserve the tickets to the Arizona Memorial yourselves. Most of these tours will drive you thru the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (buses are not allowed to stop and let passengers off even to take pictures) and downtown Honolulu. If you take the early (6am, 10am LA time) tour, they say you will be back in Waikiki by 1pm, giving you time to see other Waikiki landmarks like the Royal Hawaiian (pink) & the Halekulani hotels. If you decide to walk down to the Halekulani, a little farther down the road is the U.S. Army museum at Fort DeRussy (free). Total walking distance according to Google Maps is 20min., 1 mile, but it is a little farther having walked the route myself on several occasions, I would allow several hours to walk and see.

Aloha :D

I'd love some pointers and tips on any great restaurants you visited. My son just finished his Infantry officer course (IBOLC) and is leaving next week as he is going to be stationed in Oahu for the next few years!! Needless to say, my plane tickets are already booked for October. Since he doesn't know if he is renting a house or condo, I've booked our hotels and rental cars. He will work during the week days but we have nights and weekends with him. Doing 7 nights in Oahu and 3 in Maui. Any must see's that we can't miss on this visit?

Aloha :D

Good god have you lucked out!

Since you son is an active military officer, ask him to check about staying at the "Hale Koa" in Waikiki. It is a really nice hotel right on the beach run by the Army MWR . Google "MWR Waikiki". Category 1 priority is "Armed Forces and their Families". I don't know if everyone needs a military ID to stay there but if he can swing it you'll love it there. It is right next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village complex on the west end of Waikiki. Hawaii is a big military R&R location and the rates are based on his "O" level (O-6 pays more than an O-2).

On the military ID, I don't know if your son is married, but ask him to check if his mother can become his dependent. The military also has visitor cottages on some of its facilities around Oahu and if you can stay there, it's outside of the Waikiki. Most military facilities can be accessed with visitor passes unless there is a high alert. Since admirals and generals visit Hawaii often, they have VIP facilities on the bases. If there are VIP facilities available on the base, you would love it.

I'll be back later regarding some restaurants and other stuff.

Aloha :D

We are part of a tour by POA. will we have to find tickets? wait in lines?

Aloha :D

You need to call NCL/POA and verify that the ticket for the 150 person tender ride to the actual Arizona Memorial is included in the POA tour. But, I can't imagine that with the amount they charge for the tour that the "free" ticket isn't included. There are national park rangers that provide a narration as you go to the memorial and I believe the POA tours include a hand held audio self play device ($7.50 included with the tour). I haven't been on the any tour for a while (I probably should go again since it's been a while) and see what it's like now that the old superintendent has been transferred to Mass.

After the scandal with the walk up tickets being diverted I'm pretty sure they've tightened up the distribution. How the tour companies (including POA) are getting their block of tickets hasn't been published in the newspapers. I do know that there is an educational program where the schools can get bulk tickets for school excursions to the Arizona Memorial. I think the tour company tickets are from the 3000+ that are reservable, and that's probably why when individuals try to call in to reserve tickets as private parties there are so few available. Tour companies are probably robo-calling.

Aloha :D

I am so happy to have this information. The photo is beautiful and this place looks like a great spot, especially at sunset. :)

Aloha :D

I overlooked the thread about Kauai before and am spanking myself. My father-in-law was born on Kauai, so with family there, we have visited many, many times. I remember when there was only one traffic light on the whole island, and that was to prevent traffic collisions with the trucks that hauled the harvested sugar cane.

Where to start? Driving to the southwest part of Kauai on Kaumualii Hwy is the little town of Waimea where you turn right onto Waimea Canyon Dr. and drive up the mountain to the Kalalau Lookout where on a clear day, the view down the Kalalau valley to the ocean is spectacular. This 18 mile drive takes you past the Waimea Canyon Lookout, the Lodge at Koke`e, and the Koke`e Natural History Museum, and some of the most beautiful flora you will see in Hawaii. If you notice the road sign says Koke`e Rd., don't worry, Waimea Canyon Dr. merges with Koke`e Rd. on the way up to the Kalalau Lookout. The drive alone with the winding mountain road takes about an hour without stops, but if you want to sightsee Kauai, take two hours and take your time.

I recommend using Fodors for more information about thing-to-do on Kauai. http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/hawaii/kauai/things-to-do I like the way the site is organized.

I mentioned to my wife that you were spending 7-8 days on Kauai and she said, "Wow! So long! Tell her to spend some of those days on Oahu before her cruise. There's more to see here."

BTW, there are some less expensive motel type places near the beach in Kapaa across a nice neighborhood type shopping center (completely safe).

Aloha :D

Considering a 14 day cruise to Hawaii ... We did a cruise to the island some years ago, then we simply explored what was available near the port, don't recall that much was near the ports. What we would really enjoy is visiting towns on our own. Wonder if we can simply take a taxi (we prefer not to rent a car in an area we don't know) from the port to near by towns on the islands of Hilo, Maui and Kauai? We like to do is shop, see how folks live and enjoy some local foods. Any suggestions?

Aloha :D

You sound like me. On the island of Hawaii (Hilo) the only big attraction is the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that can be accessed by tour from the Hilo cruise port. This takes quite a few hours. Whether you book thru the cruise line or directly with the tour company, it's basically the same tour. I depends on how many hours you have in port.

Hilo is on the same island as Kona. Many ships stop at both. There are normally shuttles from the ports to the shopping areas and all of the island ports have a lot of locals living in them, so a lot of local foods and you don't really need a car. I always ask people I meet at attractions and in stores where and what they eat, explaining that I want to enjoy their culture (trust me that Hawaii is not that different from San Mateo). I am basically a foodie and eat when we travel.

We're going on a 9 day, NE & CA, tour in Sept. and plan to walk in/from the ports into the town areas and eat lobster and shop. The only place where we will be using ground transportation is Boston. We're taking the Old Town Trolley HOHO loop because my wife said we are.

One thing about getting "senior" is the memory lets me meet new people every day and I eat different things all of the time. My computer crashed at the end of last year and I lost my back-up drives at the same time so I can't look at the old pictures I took on our vacations. So everything is new again!

Aloha :D

Great pointers here already. I only want to add that for anyone that plans on snorkeling, please do buy and wear reef-safe sunscreen. There has been an increasing death of coral in quite a few areas of Hawaii, and many think the sunscreens worn by snorkelers, (or those doing other water activities as well), could be a big contributor to this. One other thing most of my snorkeling friends do is to make a small investment in rash guards with sunscreen properties.

 

Have fun and don't get fried in Hawaii! ;)

Aloha :D

I agree that the rash guards that provide UV protection are a good way to go, but don't forget the back of your legs can easily sunburn in Hawaii because of the warm water in most snorkeling areas. I personally don't get chilled when I snorkel in the shallow waters of many areas.

Also, don't touch the coral underwater. The coral reef polyps are very fragile and tiny living animals that can be damaged if touched. Many snorkelers don't understand this and think they can just stand on or grab ahold of the coral. Please don't.

Aloha :D

My husband and I booked our first cruise, 7 days in the western Caribbean on the carnival glory in November! We leave out of Miami and go to Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, and grand cayman. i have a couple questions.

Aloha katie1234 :D

Welcome to CC. The first thing you need to do is READ, READ, READ. Figure out how to use the Search This Forum & Search This Thread functions. You've found the First Time Cruisers thread so search for clothes to pack. Regarding how much cash to bring depends on how much you have to spend. DO REMEMBER to bring tip cash for cruise port luggage handlers and room service servers to ensure good service. Shore excursions you need to READ, READ, READ.

Read the Carnival Glory Roll Calls and find the one for the date of your departure. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=329

Then read the Florida departures thread about others that have cruised from the Florida ports http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

Then read the Ports of Call for the Caribbean to learn what others have done in there. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

Write down your questions on a note pad and search again for similar questions. Finally, organize your questions and then post them in the appropriate thread. You get better answers that way.

There are tips galore on this website, there is even a thread about how to smuggle liquor onto the ship on your body (what a waste of time). Just take your time and SEARCH & READ.

Aloha :D

I'm a college student, graduating in the spring. My boyfriend and I, as well as a close family friend, are interested in taking a Med cruise. The trouble is, the choices are overwhelming. I must warn you that this post will be quite long, as I wish to get all the details and important info down, in hopes of someone willing to help me make the right decisions.

Aloha nicksfix :D,

First What kind of budget do you have to work with? If cost is not a factor, then you could plan a 7-14 day vacation in the Med, but as a graduating college student I don't suppose you have $100k to work with. All of the stuff you want to do will cost! You need to know how much you have to work with in order to figure out what you can afford to do. If you fly to a starting point in Rome for example, how much will your flights cost? If you cruise to the Med, how much is a cruise for three? And this doesn't even begin to figure how much the shore excursions will cost. And you must remember that the amount of time you will have in each port will be limited so time restricts the number of things you can do in each port.

Aloha :D

We are driving from Ontario Canada and sailing out of Bayonne in January 2016. We are an hour north of Detroit.

We've booked the Newark Penn Station Hilton for two nights. got a bit of a reduction due to my CAA membership but Yikes, the exchange rate is a killer. Ah well. So I'll start looking at what we should see in NYC and how to get there. Thanks everyone. (Oh, how do we get to Bayonne and the ship from there??)Marion

Your transportation choices to Bayonne are car service/taxi or public transit via PATH and light rail and local cab from the 34th St Bayonne Station into the port.

Aloha Mar56 :D,

138east/Carol has driven in from Boston so she is familiar driving to the area. I figure you are looking for driving directions (900km) to the Hilton and from the Hilton (18km) to the cruise port and a parking recommendation.

As to what to see in NYC, you can take the PATH to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in the NY Financial district and from there take the ferry over to the Statue of Liberty and/or Ellis Island. Then there is Central Park, Grand Central Terminal, and of course the big Macy's on 34th & 35th Streets. Other sights and things to do can be found at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60763-Activities-New_York_City_New_York.html With the limited time you have for sightseeing in NYC, you need to be selective and take the weather into consideration.

Aloha :D

I stayed at the Robert Treat in January. At that time they offered free parking, free breakfast, free airport shuttle, and free local shuttle to Newark Penn Station. The hotel was on a low traffic street that faced on a nice park. The street had no commercial stores - just offices and what appeared to be Rutgers University Buildings.

 

Newark is a highly urban area. You should not be walking around on the streets at night. However, I don't see any problem staying there and taking the train or PATH to NYC for the day and the hotel shuttle to and from the station. There are also plenty of cabs that are reasonable for short distances.

Aloha Mar56 :D

138east/Carol give excellent advice and if I were traveling alone, I would take her advice on the Best Western Plus Robert Treat Hotel. The rate is probably half of the Hilton Newark Penn Station (HNPS) and apparently it still includes parking. This hotel advertises a complimentary continental breakfast, but since you have a car, I wouldn't let this be a deal breaker.

That being said, I don't make the decisions, I only research and report. The boss does the bookings and she told me that she liked the fact that the HNPS (while pricey) is connected to the Newark Penn Station so we wouldn't have to take a cab, or wait for a shuttle. Google Map shows a 200m. walk to/from HNPS to the station. HNPS website says, "Complimentary breakfast and dinner with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres for Executive Lounge guests" but I don't know about non-Executive Lounge guests. There is a restaurant that offers breakfast that is a little pricey for me.

HNPS is connected to the Gateway Center, Newark http://www.advancere.com/one_gateway_center_site/Docs/Features.html that shows a number of restaurants including The Gateway Bistro 5:30-5:30 M-F, 7-3 Sat., 9-2 Sun., which shows a number of decently priced (to me anyway) breakfast items http://www.gatewaybistro.com/

Aloha :D

This entire thread makes me NOT want to adventure outside my hotel during our pre-cruise stay and not go anywhere near the "sightseeing areas". Gasp! :eek:

Aloha :D

New York is like any big city where if you don't use common sense you can get scammed. It's not like it used to be in the 70s because they really have tried to clean it up. Just keep in mind if it seems "To good to be true." it is. It's not like most of us don't speak the language or don't understand the currency exchange. These are the prime targets of the scammers. Kind of like going to Cleveland or Cincinatti, if the area looks suspect, it probably is not a good idea to go there.

I live in Hawaii where most locals are raised to be trusting, but even here you've got to learn to think when dealing with others. When I feel like I'm being approached by someone sketchy, I simply say, "I'm sorry, I'm trying to quit!", then turn and walk away. I've received many confused looks but it gives me an opportunity to walk away without being nasty (believe me, I can be nasty when I need to be).

So don't be afraid to venture out and experience. That's one of the reasons I travel! Learning! Otherwise we'd just stay at home.

Aloha :D