merdon

We like Dukes, but prefer the bar, or the outdoor seating on the patio in the evening. Friday late afternoons are wonderful on the patio with great music. We like the Hula Grill upstairs with a table on the balcony. Magic!!!! Other recommendations...Lulu's across from the beach and Kapiolani Park. There has been a recent review and photos. Have fun. Cherie p.s. If you decide on Dukes, Hula Grill, or Lulu's, make sure you make a reservation and give your preference for view.

I second the Hula Grill upstairs. It's just beautiful sitting on the balcony with the tiki torches lit on the beach in the evening and the ocean lapping the shore near by. Oh and the food was delicious too. :D

We did the sunrise tour through NCL. Yes it's very early but well worth the experience. We probably left the ship around 3:20 AM, stopped at a convenience store (gum and/or ginger candy was advised to help with altitude change) and we're parked by 5:00 AM. Takes a while for the sun begin to appear but that's the point to get there early to see it rise under the clouds. It's a phenomenal experience.

We did the Road to Hana with Valley Isle Excursions Day 1 (excellent) and then Haleakala Crater at sunrise with NCL Day 2. Although it is very early, it was so worth it and then you have the rest of the day to relax.

Here are a few more pics . . .

 

Radio

 

After dinner this was in my cabin

 

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Sorry you missed Cococay. I'm hoping the dock will be completed and available for our October sailing

We did this excursion 2 years ago through RCCL. The ferry going across is very rough (take motion sickness meds the night before and don't eat breakfast ;p). It's a long day but to me worth it. It's one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

Love your "LIVE" reviews Radio. Thanks for always sharing your adventures.

We sail on her in October so this will be a sampler for me. :)

Subscribing!

Interested in this information also.

Just wondering if anyone was able to go here lately.

During our pre cruise stay in Waikiki, we also hiked Diamond Head. I would recommend doing this, the views are beautiful. We went in early afternoon and it wasn't too crowded, but seems like the lot was full earlier in the day based on signs that were up. I have heard if you go in the morning to go very early to avoid the crowds. Here is a short video of our hike.

 

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Awesome!. We are doing this Saturday morning before we board the POA.

Thanks for sharing.

Just beautiful. Can't wait to sail next month and see it in person.

Thanks for the pictures.

Thanks for the review. We sail next month and are eager to explore Hawaii.

Oh boy, we too will be traveling via nonstop flight from the east coast. :eek:

I plan on packing our travel pillows, eye masks, ear plugs, etc. along with portal chargers for our electronic devises. :D

Thanks for such an in depth review. We sail next month in an Owners Suite so hopefully we'll have a nice butler. :D

Thank you for your review. We sail next month and are extremely excited to see Hawaii.

Cafe Puerto Rico!! Across from the Christopher Columbus statue in the town square

 

 

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Another vote for Cafe Puerto Rico. Love their mofongo with sweet plaintain. Delish!

Hi Kerri,

Glad to hear you had an amazing trip.

Following.

We cruised POA in one of the forward owners suites in April/May 2017 and had wonderful service from our butler. She told us to just write anything we wanted on our room service card and she would do her best to accommodate. We never requested anything unusual, but she always delivered to our request. She actually seemed disappointed that we did not request more from her, and she regularly reminded us to call her for anything we wanted. At the end of our cruise she told us that if we ever cruise POA again to please request her as our butler. Was not previously aware that it was an option. Her name was Susanna.

We are in a forward facing Owners Suite in October. Hope we get Susanna as our butler. :)

By the way, did you experience a lot of motion in the front of the ship?

Count me as another who had a pretty good experience for the second time on the POA last year. Wondering what happened to Thomas, who we thought was the finest and most attentive Concierge we'd ever had. Hopefully he was taking his extended leave, replaced by Mr Lines, and he will return before your cruise.

 

Yes, all those people are getting off the ship every day, but they still want breakfast first, and they all want it want it early, at virtually the same time.;) Therefore, they have made the "No Cagneys room service ruling. But, that does not mean that you can't get pretty much anything you want for an in suite breakfast. We were instructed by our Butler to simply write in on the room service menu anything we did not see. Omlettes, eggs anyway you want, French Toast, fruit. Items specific to the Cagney's menu, like Tahitian French Toast, no, but French Toast, yes.

 

 

Actually, most breakfasts we ate out of the cabin, and had no difficulty getting ready, getting there and getting served well before time to disembark. So much more relaxed, and so much more to choose from that way. A very nice alternative to Cagney's is the small breakfast buffet with egg station they set up inside Moderno restaurant, which is adjacent to the open air aft deck area called the Aloha Lanai. It's not really crowded. I think most people may assume it's for Suites only since the specialties are generally not open for breakfast. You can eat inside, or carry out your plate to the Lanai tables and enjoy there.

 

 

We also enjoyed a couple dinners from Specialties in our suite, served white tablecloth and with a smile. It certainly was the same experience we have had as a suite guest on any other NCL ship. In fact, I'd have to rate it as the Best suite experience we have had.

Thanks for the information. Good to know.

We're in the same situation. NCL offers a 4 hr excursion to Pearl Harbor with airport drop off. So I'm thinking we may switch from seeing PH before boarding the ship since we're also spending a couple of days in Waikiki until after with this excursion. There's a young lady in the same situation and doing this excursion, so I'm waiting for her response on how it all went until I decide. Here's a link to her post: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2448070

OP back. I booked this excursion through NCL on the POA.

 

 

I can't believe I am leaving next week :-)

I will post back when I get home.

Kerri

Hi Kerri,

I also have a 3:00 PM flight at HNL in October. Please do reply back to let us know how the excursion worked out.

Thanks!

Thanks for your very information review. We sail this October and are looking forward to experiencing the Hawaiian islands. We're also flying in 2 days early to acclimate to the time change from the east coast. We too are mixing up our excursions between private tour companies and NCL. I did extensive research before booking excursions thanks to all the great information on these boards and Trip Advisor.

Thanks for doing your review. Looking forward to more.

Looks like you had a wonderful trip. Thanks for the review.

We sail in October this year.

We sailed the POA last September. We took the road to Hana tour through valley isle excursions. It was spectacular. Also took the helicopter tour of the volcano at Hilo through Blue Hawaiian. Don't miss this! Do not book through the ship. It is cheaper to book outside the ship.

Leave a day or two in between to stay on the ship and relax!

 

We did book the Pearl Harbor tour through the ship as they included airport drop off.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

We are booked to do the Road to Hana with Valley Isle this October. I read a lot of reviews before we selected them. Thanks for the heads up! :D

Thoroughly enjoyed your review and your pictures are outstanding.

We'll be sailing in October and can't wait to experience the Hawaiian Islands for ourselves.

The pearls!

 

 

This is my ring, which I've worn nearly every day since I got back. I love love love it. It's silver, with plumeria on either side.

 

There are Pearl-picking places all over the islands. Mine is from Maui Divers Jewelry, the one inside the macadamia nut factory on Big Island. They have places everywhere.

 

I'm pretty sure the whole idea is to get you so excited about getting a Pearl -- or two! -- you immediately splurge for a nice expensive setting. I was prepared for this. I tend to wear silver anyway, so when the fast-talking sales lady whipped out platinum, I said "no-no -- silver!"

 

I was ready to buy it for myself, but my husband snuck up behind me and said something along the lines of "I'm buying this for the pretty lady!"

 

Anyway, I loved the whole thing. It's an experience. They had coupons on the table for 50 percent off choosing a Pearl (there are coupons this everywhere). Picking an oyster is about $15 (pre-coupon), the lady advises you to get an ugly one for the best pearls, then she opens it right there.

 

I had two pearls. She tried to convince me to put both in a setting but that was too big for my hand. We kept the second one loose, then decided to see if the store on board could set it.

 

Na Hoku is on on the POA. They also have a Pearl picking station and settings that were quite a bit less than Maui Divers. I think the ring for my daughter was about $40? It's very pretty and I hope she'll like it for her 17th birthday this month.

 

Oh yes, and both places gave me lots of lifetime guarantee paperwork for the rings!

 

In sum: loved it, suffering no illusions it's museum quality, and it's a wonderful souvenir!

 

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I love the idea of pearls as gifts for my daughter, daughter-in-law and niece. I was thinking of getting them a bracket and charm made of koa wood but I really like the idea of picking pearls from oysters and setting them in jewelry. Thanks so much for the suggestion.