kgymn

Wondering if anyone can clarify for me how they deal with charges on a credit card versus a debit. My husband is talking about basically doing a cash dump onto our credit card so we don't have to use cash for our account. Do they not do holds? Or are the holds lifted immediately? I'm wondering how much available credit we would need on the card in comparison with how much our total bill would come to.

~Katy

I saw on KGMB news that traffic cameras have been added at Lanikai to help residents by preventing parking on one side of the street. However HPD wouldn't disclose the camera locations.

I didn't see that report but I would imagine it is to prevent people from parking in the bike lane. I always park on one of the streets perpendicular to the beach. It's always a good idea to check for signs.

~Katy

Katy I would love to see your list of beaches and your thoughts on which ones would be "must see" ones (and ones to avoid)! I will be on Oahu for 7 days at the end of October.

These are a few of my favorites:

Windward (east) side:

Lakinai. Park off the street in the neighborhood. One of the most famous on Oahu, for a reason! Also can be crowded because of that. On clearer days there's some limited snorkeling at some parts.

Waimanalo. There is a beach park with facilities, lifeguards, and a parking lot. I personally go north of the park and park in the neighborhood, much quieter than Lanikai any day of the week.

Kailua beach park. close to Lanikai. Has facilities and lifeguards and a parking lot. Busiest on weekends of course.

Kahana Bay. North part of the windward side, wooded park. No lifeguards and limited facilities but has camping on weekends. Out of the way, surrounded by evergreens with the koolau mountains going up on either side. Gorgeous. Water can be on the murky side especially after a rain.

South:

Eh. I'm not a fan of many of the beaches on the south side. Tend to have rocks and coral, so best with water shoes. Waikiki beaches are OK mostly because you have so much close by. But they are crowded.

If you want to go to a beach with old lava flows running into the water (and not so good for swimming) diamond head beach is pretty. It's a climb down and up though, and also be prepared for no or minimal cell signal since it's in the shadow of diamond head. Nimitz beach is nice and white plains always had nice small waves and plenty of surfers.

West (leeward) side:

Makaha. Fairly far north. The farther north you go the prettier it gets. Has facilities and lifeguards. Surfers to watch. Rarely crowded, even on weekends. Sandy bottom with some occasional pebbles, though south of the south lifeguard stand there can be bigger rocks and broken coral. If you swim out far enough there's snorkeling and often you will see boats out with snorkelers or scuba divers off shore.

Makua. Literally you park on a dirt road off the main street. Be careful in a low sitting vehicle or one without AWD. No facilities or lifeguards. Very pretty. Some rocks in places but stretches of sandy bottoms.

Yokohama. As far north as you can go on the west side!

Ko Olina Lagoons. These are man made on resort grounds and very pretty. Very calm water. Limited parking unless you want to pay $10 at the marina. Sometimes you can find turtles in the lagoons. OK for snorkeling.

Electric Beach. Not the best for a "beach day" but AMAZING snorkeling. You need your own equipment though (or to rent some elsewhere for the day) I've snorkeled with sea turtles both times I've been there so far.

North Shore:

Honestly I don't make it to the north shore often enough.

Waimea Bay. On calm days very nice for swimming, on high surf days stay OUT of the water but nice for watching surfers. If parking is crammed, across the bridge and across the street you can pay $5 and park there. Has lifeguards and facilities and a great open grassy area.

Turtle Bay resort has a protected cove. You can still go, there is some public free parking, even if you aren't staying at the resort. Has some snorkeling. Good for days when you have been watching the pounding waves and want to swing by somewhere close by for a swim.

Three Tables and Sharks Cove. Good for snorkeling. Relatively protected but still may want to avoid if waves on the north shore are big enough.

Laniakea. Haven't been there personally but hear it's great for seeing sunning turtles.

My personal hands down favorites right now are Makaha, Makua, Lanikai, and Waimanalo. Always check the surf forecast before going, especially in the end of october you could see some big swells starting to come in on the north and west shores or could still see some of the swells on the south though Waikiki is pretty protected from those. Bring water shoes for south and north shore beaches especially. If you can only make it to one beach away from Waikiki, Lanikai would be my pick. But I highly recommend trying to hit at least one on each side, they're amazing in different ways.

I have a flickr with pictures at some of these beaches. I can post a link if you would like!

~Katy

I'm now in the final weigh-in period for my diet bet, and I have made my goal weight! It was close after a stressful weekend- I ate fine but the stress and not enough sleep and not enough water caused some water retention. Back down now, though, so when I submit my official weigh in in the morning I will be all good. I'm .3 pounds below my goal right now but I can't weigh in since my husband is asleep.

I never used to take much stock in people insisting that drinking more water helped but this past month it has been what made all the difference. I was at a plateau for a week or so, hadn't lost as much as I'd wanted to a couple weeks ago and then I started to drink a lot more water instead of soda (still drinking my diet soda, one or two a day now though instead of like 4!) and more water in ADDITION to the soda and it helped so much. Now the days I don't get as much water in I can really tell on the scale, especially if I ate salty foods (which lets face it is often!)

Now just another 6 pounds to go before I cruise next month!

~Katy

The only surprises I've ever had are how much my husband spent in the casino and on drinks ;)

I prefer to prepay our DSC so we don't have to worry about that while onboard (we use cash for our onboard account, prepaying DSC we can do with a debit card easily.) Anything else that carries an additional charge IME (on another line but I can't see NCL being any different) is clearly marked. That makes it perfectly easy to know ahead of time what you are spending and if you don't want to pay extra for something you can just choose not to purchase it.

Things like gratuities for drinks should be printed on the receipt as well that you sign, so there should be no surprises there (except maybe the first if the % recently changed)

~Katy

Katy- This thread is a commentary on a balcony cabin, not cabins in general..what do you think would've happened if I ( or someone else) posted a thread called "Thanks, inside cabin, a commentary", or worse, "Thanks suite cabins are THE only way to cruise" or similar? if I read a thread like those, I would EXPECT the OP to push inside cabins or suites...if you read a "Why I dine in the MDR" thread, I expect that poster to push dining in the MDR ...I have been called a moron, idiot, person who wastes money because I have stated that I like specialty dining venues and to me $20-35 PP is not that much to spend for a special night out..I believe my wife is worth a special romantic dinner- yet I have also been ridiculed for that...I never said balconies are the "only " way to cruise..if I did, it was tongue in cheek... very few have complained about my observations..in fact, I suggest you read the responses, which Cruisindiaz also mentioned...I remember her, and I was glad to help...of course not everybody needs to enjoy a cruise in a balcony..I had a great time on our first 7 nighter on the RCI Majesty Of The Seas..I just hated our inside cabin..119 SF & dark, cramped..bathroom was designed for 10 year olds ..never again for us...variety is the spice of life & to each his own...

Again, did YOU read my original post in this thread? My problem isn't with your original post, which was nice and informative. It is with your ad nauseum replies which as much as YOU want to call "commentary" go far beyond that scope.

I guess I will repeat myself, as you seem so fond to do such yourself. My problem isn't that you like balconies. My problem is the manner in which you replied to those who stated their reasons for NOT choosing balconies. Which was basically "oh, no, I KNOW BETTER than you do, balconies are awesome" rather than just being respectful and stating "Yes I can see why that works better for you" or even simply ignoring them.

~Katy

Ladies ( I think?)- I think you are being both unfair & rude to Big Al...have you also gone to the threads on inside cabins or suites and ridiculed them? If you read the posts on this thread ( 95% are glowing & positive, BTW..) , you will find that many have stated that they ONLY cruise in suites or above...why not mock them as well??

I feel as though you did not even read what I wrote. By all means, Al is allowed to say he only sails in balconies. What I made QUITE clear was I find it unacceptable to then not only imply but outright INSIST that others, regardless of their very valid reasons, MUST also sail in a balcony. Also, I would not say we are "mocking" him. No, He is being SCOLDED for being disrespectful.

Again, our issue is not that Big Al has a certain opinion. It is the way in which he is PUSHING it on others, even when they have presented their own very valid and IMO irrefutable reasons for not sharing his opinion. Are THEY not allowed to also have their opinion, and book outside or inside cabins and *gasp* ACTUALLY BE PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH THEM?? Not according to Al. He has made it QUITE clean that he believes the only reason anyone may be OK with less than a balcony is that they simple are not taking all the factors into account, because if they were they would HAVE to agree with him. So basically, anyone who doesn't agree with him is either stupid, wrong, or misinformed. That's very disrespectful.

Like I said, the problem isn't that he has an opinion. The problem is that he is trying to push that opinion on others.

Al, did you ever consider the possibility that the reason XX is a millionaire is precisely because he doesn't waste his money? There may be reasons he prefers an inside (acrophobia, needing total dark to sleep?) Whatever, he has the discernment to chose what he wants and not fall into the trap of thinking that if something is more expensive it must be 'better' - a sure sign of insecurity and having more money then sense.

 

If you ever find yourself sharing an MDR table with a canny Scot, or sensible Yorkshireman I dare you to call then 'cheap' :eek:

You quite literally took the words out of my mouth. One doesn't become a millionaire by spending all their money, no matter how much your income is if you spend it all you don't have it and thus aren't a millionaire. Most people who are truly well off, financially, don't splurge often. They are quite sensible with their money, and that indeed is WHY they have so much.

___________________________________________________________

My husband and I have splurged on a balcony for our upcoming cruise, and I have NO doubts that we will enjoy the balcony. But I simply do not agree that a balcony is the ONLY way to cruise. If we are between no cruise at all, or going with an inside... we will go with the inside every time AND I promise will will enjoy every single minute of our cruise. Just because we have stayed in one of the nicest rooms in a nice resort on vacation once doesn't mean it is below us to stay at the cheapest place the next time. We all have our reasons for choosing our vacations the way we do. Balconies are great. Suites even better. But that doesn't mean they are the right choice for every cruiser, every time.

~Katy

Sorry have to say I am another poster who is rubbed the wrong way by this thread, big als posts in particular. Nothing wrong with the original POST. But coming back again and again to beat the SAME points over the head with the exact same words over and over is a little overboard. It sounds like an infomercial, and IDK about you, but I'm not a fan of infomercials. They're annoying.

I also think that your opinion on inside cabins is biased. As Sea Green, I have enjoyed MANY of the experiences you seem to think are exclusive to balconies, even while I was booked in an inside cabin. Perhaps part of it is that we were on Carnival, and the insides are larger than the outside cabins on some other lines.

I understand that when you were in an inside cabin technology was not what it is today. When my husband and I were in an inside cabin I spent PLENTY of time in the cabin. We had quite a bit of rain that week. But all I had to do was turn on the deck cam and see if it was wet or dry out. And keeping my eye on that allowed my to easily get a deck chair on the serenity deck (sometimes one of those awesome big circular ones) where I was able to relax, and enjoy many of the things you suggest are balcony only experiences, like seeing other cruise ships in the distance. Or eating out in the open air. Or "feeling connected to the ocean" (I tend to book cabins where I will feel more motion, just cause I like it.) Staring off into the water. An inside cabin is also pretty useful for my husband who gets migraines, and the pitch black is a HUGE benefit on that front.

I think the BIGGEST example, Al, of how you are PUSHY in this thread and not simply stating an opinion, is when the posted indicated they do not book balconies because of cancer and insisted that YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THEM what is right for their health. Are you their doctors? You do realize UV rays bounce off the sea and even in the shade you can get a significant amount of sun exposure.

The fact that you can't gracefully say "Yes I can appreciate why that would make an inside/outside cabin a better choice for you" you instead always reply, reiterating your personal reasons for preferring balconies. We GOT that. In the first post. And THAT is why you come across as PUSHING your opinion rather than just stating it.

We get it. You don't understand why people would choose to not sail with a balcony. You don't have to understand. That's why it is an opinion, because everyone gets to have a different one.

~Katy

I like to meet them if for no other fact that it makes it easier to ask them for something, if we happen to pass them. Our last cruise we were in our cabin a lot and saw our steward nearly every day. I feel like meeting them makes the whole experience more personal, guess.

~Katy

A little late to the party but we JUST booked pride of america for April 4! I've been somewhat steadily (minus the holidays LOL) losing weight since august- 23 pounds so far. Been doing diet bets which has been super motivating. And now I have even more motivation to lose some more before the cruise since I know I will gain during it!

My eating plan is to eat under or around 1400 calories per day, and to eat no more than 100 grams of carbs most days. For exercise, I have taken up hoop dancing. So some days I hoop. Others I go to "the gym" (the beach) and get my exercise by swimming. And climbing up piles of sand.

So far so good, but I suspect I am soon to hit the spot where it is harder and harder to take each pound off. So I ordered a Jillian Michaels DVD to add a little something more traditional.

~Katy

I have to disagree about weather being the same year round. Each island is a little different but on Oahu in the winter there are days when the temperature doesn't go above 70 and it rains off and on. Definitely not beach weather. Summer is dryer, so less likely to have a rainy day ruin your plans. And its always warm enough to swim. Rain ruins plans pretty often in the winter, at least on Oahu.

~Katy

What is the latest on parking @ Laniakea Beach...I'd love to make a stop there, dip my toes in the water & "hopefully" see some turtles ;)

You can park in the dirt on the side of the road directly across from the beach. Some days are easier to find parking than others.

Incidentally that is on the list of beaches I haven't made it to yet! Next time the weather and waves are nice perhaps.

~Katy

I HAVE been to 39 different beaches on Oahu though so if you need any help choosing the right beach, I'm your girl LOL

~Katy

Sorry my personal experience with traffic is primarily from leeward (west) oahu to before and not much past the airport. Not quite sure what the morning rush is like during those hours between those two points.

~Katy

The whales this year arrived in October, though my understanding is they arrive in November more typically. And through April. That also coincides with the winter "wet" season, as well as big wave season for the north and west shores. Best beach season is summer months, which is a dryer season, and more likely to have safer waters for swimming. The best months for whales are definitely the worst months for the beach (as a beach addict, who lives on Oahu and has been frustrated with the non-beach weather since the new year.)

I agree that April may be you best bet if you're looking for both whales and good beach weather.

~Katy

Traffic heading east into Oahu in typically the worst. Highway wise, H1 eastbound can be messy early in the morning and H1 westbound as well as H201 westbound get messy for the afternoon/evening rush. The closer to those highways the worst the traffic on the side roads.

~Katy

Hi and welcome to CC :)

If you look at the menu bar, you can use the "Roll Call Tool" to find the discussion for your particular sailing, and you can read through the past discussion to see if they have a specific meet and greet planned and when and where that may be.

~Katy

That doesn't sound right. The policy is that NOBODY under 25 can get the UBP during the spring break season. Not limited to the promotion, it cannot be purchased either. So they are trying to upsell you something they aren't even allowed to sell.

~Katy

They have Dole Whip at the Dole plantation and at the ABC store at Ko Olina (possible the other ABC stores as well.)

The traffic can be frustrating during rush hour but if you avoid driving in honolulu, aiea, pearl city during the 3:30-5:30PM hours it's not too bad. It's quite easy to leave in the morning (traffic is clear before 9 AM typically) head to, say, the north shore. Spend some time in Haleiwa, visit the shrimp trucks for lunch, see Waimea Bay (and go swimming if the surf is low enough) and go across the street to Waimea Valley, walk through the botanical garden to the waterfall. Once you're done with that traffic in Honolulu will have died down, and even if not you're going the opposite direction of rush hour traffic heading back to town as everyone else is leaving.

~Katy

We have never been charged , on RCL your allowed 2 bottles per state room

RCL has different rules. NCL doesn't limit you to 2 bottles but charges a corkage fee at boarding for each bottle.

~Katy

Darn near anywhere, honestly. They sell wine and liquor at grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, ABC stores (souvenir shops), Target, Walmart

The closest ABC store is at 766 Pohukaina St. The closest Walgreens is 116 S Hotel St. Those are probably the closest places to the pier to grab some wine.

If you want somewhere that may have a larger selection, The Liquor Collection at 1050 Ala Moana Blvd #1200 is not much farther than the ABC store.

~Katy

Some kids have a fondness for arcades and sweets. There are many ways to spend money on the cruise without realizing it, especially with kids. I'd say shore excursions is a pretty big one, unless you prebook and prepay or go through other companies those are added to your ship account.

Souvenirs, too. Inevitably someone wants a shirt or a glass or something to remember the trip by.

~Katy

OP, do you happen to know if they were seasick in general or particularly on sea days? The POA has no sea days, so that could make a big difference. There are 2 overnights where the ship doesn't even leave port. This could make all the difference in whether or not they get so sick.

~Katy

After 40 years at sea, in nearly every ocean in the world, I know that there is almost no correlation between seas and swells at sea and surf ashore. I've seen 20-40' seas that were not producing much storm surge or surf because of the nature of the shore and the wave direction, etc., and I've seen very small 2' seas produce very high surf again depending on wave frequency and direction. My point is that just because the north shore of the islands gets high surf in the winter, does not equate to the seas being rougher than the Caribbean.

Hawaii has a surf competition that only runs when the ocean swells hit 20 feet leading to the waves breaking at 40 feet. If there was no correlation between the open water swells and the surf at the shore, this wouldn't be a qualifying factor to run the competition.

~Katy

I don't think having to pay by the drink will prevent the people who are destined to be unruly from being unruly. There were no beverage packages years ago, and yet the spring breakers managed to be just as unruly. Limiting the package sales makes it seem like they are controlling things, but really it's up to servers to notice they have intoxicated passengers who should not be served. Unfortunately, that hits the servers in the wallet, so drunk people continue to get served.

Eh, I'm not so sure about that. The UBP, were it available when I did spring break on a cruise, would have led to me drinking less in port and more on the ship. Which probably would have been more disruptive to other guests (if I were the rowdy drunk type.)

There's also that mental component of, even though you technically paid for it, the feeling that it is free. "Well, it's not going to cost me more to have a couple more drinks so I may as well!"

There are always going to be a few people who are going to drink what they want no matter how much it ends up costing them, but let's be honest your average college student is on a budget and can't afford to let their bar bill run away from them.

~Katy