OCEANCATS

We've used NCL's BAGS program in Alaska and it was great. Did you hear anything about whether it's offered on POA? We're renting a van for sightseeing while waiting for a late flight and it would be great to not have to handle luggage. They picked up our luggage at night like everyone else's, but we didn't see it again until home airport. Also gave us boarding passes.

It would be nice of NCL to offer this in Hawaii but from this link it looks like they are not offering it now. Hopefully I am missing something and they are...

From NCL website: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=EasyFly

"NOTICE: This service is currently not in operation or available"

Wow - thank you so much for this! We have Wings over Kauai booked for our trip next month. Were you in the Cessna or the 6 passenger plane? Could you talk to the pilot? We are really looking forward to this - thanks for all the work that you put into your review.

OK, this is strange. I just found an old review of the POA that included the daily's and on page 2 of the first day there is an add for a wine package. This is from April of 2013 so perhaps something has changed since then?

"Wine Packages: Calling all wine lovers! We are excited to offer you 20% off your price when you purchase 6 bottles or more from our extensive wine list. Hurry as this offer is too good to pass up! Please visit any of your friendly bar staff to purchase your own hand-picked wines."

Not the same as the 4/6/8 bottle package that we have gotten in the past but still nice...

POA sails under US flag and therefore there are a lot of regulations about alcohol sales onboard - that is the reason why the UBP is not offered either.

Oh, thanks for the info - I didn't know about the UBP, either. Good to know ahead of time. Do you know if it is due to sea regulations? For example, Club Med in Fl can offer unlimited drinks - but they are land based... Just curious

I think they do, at least on all other ships than Pride of America in Hawaii.

They don't offer the wine package on the Pride of America?!?!? That is so sad. :(

I would also like to see newer dailies if anyone has them to share.

Thanks!

How sad. Is the beach still accessible or would you recommend another - we will have a rental car in Kona so after visiting a coffee plantation we would like to enjoy snorkeling - if we're lucky spot some turtles...

One of the best places to Snorkel is Kahaluu beach near Keauhou Beach hotel. Free and you can take the Keauhou bus to get there. They rent masks and snorkels there. I lived there 10 years and you will see the most fish there right up close and personal. Take frozen peas or cheese and they will follow you.

Is this beach near Kona or Hilo?

Thanks!

The Allerton gardens in Kauai are spectacular and well worth the trip. Another garden possibility is the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens not far north from Hilo; this one is quite steep, but just breathtaking.

 

In Kona, from the pier you can walk around the town, visit the farmers market, tour the Hulihee Palace (a summer residence of Hawaiian royalty), walk a little less than half a mile to the Kona Brew Pub for great pizza & beer, or take a open air shuttle ride ($2/pp each way) about 5 miles down the coast and back. The shuttle stops at several beautiful little beaches and a shopping area, and passes many lovely waterfront homes along the way. There are several very nice restaurants very close to the pier for a late lunch - Splashers, Fishhopper, the Kona Inn; they all have good food and great views of the pier area and your ship in the bay. Kona Inn has the best MaiTai's in town!

Do any of the shuttles in Kona make it to the coffee farms/plantations? DH would like to tour one...

Thank you!