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aberthelot

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    Please post your planned or completed itinerary

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    Our cabin was small...but functional. All of the cabins received new carpet, artwork, flat screen TV's, etc. during the drydock so they are like brand new.

     

    Initially we had booked this cruise for last November and had booked the obstructed ocean view cabin 7554 and our friends were in adjoining cabin 7556. With the small size, I knew I needed a little bit of daylight or I would have problems with claustrophobia! When we switched to the cruise out of San Francisco, NCL was running a promotion where we could get a free upgrade to a balcony. Although we didn't use the balcony too much, it was still nice having it for the longer cruise. (I even kept the door open on the cool nights crossing the Pacific.)

     

    We moved up a deck to cabin 8550 and I thought the location was perfect...very close to the forward elevators and just a couple of decks above the theater and Mardis Gras lounge where we spent time each night.

     

    A group of people from our CC roll-call put together a cabin crawl for our second sea day and two of them were in the obstructed view cabins that we had originally booked. They were behind the smaller rescue boat and their view wasn't too bad. They did mention that their cabin was very noisy with squeaking and such. Here are a couple of photos I took...

     

    mXhUzqdsUWRrObdr_rRw5LMpo0a15GoNL2OwmheTI2dZy_zHOZYTypy-JZkS33EU2I1jBQ=w1549-h969-rw-no

     

    rM922XLchp2RkZw5Eq9Ea2HPb8dcmw5oig_qUCfXZ9L9TY2tRnzV7_HOO7UaH_IfWg-lZw=w1549-h969-rw-no

     

    I looked at the deck plan and it appears that your cabin is between lifeboats so that is good. It also appears that your cabin should have the small couch which was nice (compared to bunks that drop out of the ceiling.)

     

    Thank you so much for the wonderful review!

    :)

    Please post your planned or completed itinerary

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    Oh, this is a cool idea! I went back in October (had a week pre-cruise stay on Oahu), but hopefully it can still give people some ideas! Condensed version listed below, more detail in my review ^^

     

    Day 1 – Fly to Honolulu

    Day 2 – Ala Moana Mall, beach time (Waikiki)

    Day 3 – Waikele Premium Outlets, walked around Ala Wai Harbor

    Day 4 – Polynesian Cultural Center: All Day + Luau

    Day 5 – Climbed Diamond Head, Kahala Mall, beach time (Waikiki)

    Day 6 – Island Tour with Ron of Oahu Spot Tours (I really wanted to go to Kaena Point, but no tour operator I spoke to would go there), U.S. Army Museum, walked along the Ala Wai Canal

    Day 7 – Parasailing with Paradise Watersports, Royal Hawaiian Center, watched the Firework display (on every Friday)

    Day 8 – Embarkation Day

    Day 9 – Road to Hana Tour with Valley Isle Excursions. Mom went to Lahaina via a ship excursion.

    Day 10 – Haleakala Sunrise excursion via the ship, breakfast at Kula Lodge

    Day 11 – Hilo Tour with Marylou of Marylou’s Big Island tours

    Day 12 – I had a snorkeling excursion through the shop in Kona. Mom had a Kona Tour with Marylou of Marylou’s Big Island tours (they do both sides of the island).

    Day 13 – I went horseback riding through a ship excursion. Mom had a Waimea Canyon/Fern Grotto tour with Roberts Hawaii.

    Day 14 – Through unexpected circumstances this became a sea day, though we were able to see the Na Pali Coast. I originally had a ziplining excursion with the ship, and my mom didn’t have anything planned.

    Day 15 – Debarkation and fly back home.

     

    Hi there,

    How did you like Marylou's tour of Hilo?

    Thanks!

    Angela

    Authentic Luau on Oahu?

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    I have done Germaine's luau, and I personally liked it very much. I would do it again. I've also done Paradise Cove, and I would not want to do that again.

     

    Perhaps it was the company that made the difference, but Germaine's was a much more intimate setting, and I felt that the food was even better. Paradise Cove reminded me of going through the lunch line at a summer camp when I was a kid.

     

    Hi there,

    Trip Advisor says the opposite! Now I don't know what to do!

    Angela

    Private tours on Hilo and Kona

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    A highly rated small group tour for the big island of Hawaii is Mary Lou's Big Island Tours. Often mentioned here as well as Trip Advisor. We had Mary Lou and I believe it was $75 cash when we did it a few years ago in Hilo, but I think it has gone up to @ $90? We hit VNP, Lava Tube, steam vents, Rainbow Falls, Mac nut place, coffee processor with tasting, beach with turtles and a few others. These are very small group tours, probably 6 to 8 people and family guided by Mary Lou, husband Ken and son Kyle. They are each very engaging and friendly.

     

    Rather than run back and forth between Hilo and Kona, they have branched out and Kyle now runs his own tour company called Island Wide Tours working I believe mainly out of Kona, but they probably have more flexibility now, depending on where the demand is. We did Kyle's land tour in Kona last year which hit all the main historic sites and a lot of scenic as well plus a coffee plantation and honey operation with tastings. Kyle also offers a snorkel tour at Two Step near Kona with some land stops as well I believe.

     

    The great thing about these tours are that they are willing to be somewhat flexible based on what YOU want to see and do rather than a fixed itinerary. Once you contact them, they will give you a list of possibilities and you let them know what your priorities are and they will let you know if they can accommodate. If you have any limitations, let them know and ask for their recommendations. Book early. In Hilo for instance their availability will likely be 2 or 3 vehicles holding 6 to 8 depending on whether Kyle is available.

     

    Hi Brenda,

    Do you actually get to see the molten lava at VNP?

    Thanks!

    Angela

    My Hawaii adventure by land and sea

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    Hi Angela. Thanks for reading! We stayed at the Pacific Beach Hotel in an ocean front room. It's not a flash hotel, probably three star, but it was perfectly fine for us and it made it affordable to have the ocean front room. The room was large, with two double beds, fridge, microwave and dressing table area. The best part though was the fantastic view I woke up to every morning. If I am ever lucky enough to go back I think I would stay there again.

    Hi! Thank you so much for all your recommendations!

    Angela

     

    Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

    My Hawaii adventure by land and sea

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    If anybody is interested I have created a blog and have started to write about our fantastic Hawaiian holiday back in May. We did a combined land and sea holiday which is why I am posting it here and not on the NCL board.

     

    We were in Hawaii for three-and-a-half weeks and had the best time including our first ever cruise on the POA around the islands. We live in Perth, Western Australia and it was quite a trek to get to Hawaii. We had six nights in Honolulu pre cruise, seven nights on the cruise, then flew to Kona for four nights and finally seven nights in Maui. On our way home we spent two nights in Brisbane.

     

    Anyway, if you're interested I have gathered the blog posts on to one page, the ones that are finished are red links and the others are the blogs yet to be written. I am currently working on day 5, the Thursday before the cruise started.

     

    https://gosomeplace.wordpress.com/hawaii-2016/

    Hi there,

    Thanks for the great review. I just started reading your blog, and I think I may be reading for awhile! We are headed to Hawaii in September 2017 from Vancouver. I am a bit nervous about traveling across the Pacific! What hotel did you stay at in Honolulu? I didn't come across the name?

    Thank you!

    Angela

    Courtney Taylor?

    in Jamaica

    Posted

    Hello Sue

    I just returned from Ocho rios and a fabulous tour with Courtney. I too worried about the meeting instructions - all for naught!! Here is what happens:

     

    Our ship docked at 7 but it took some time to clear the ship. We planned an 8 am departure and that was perfect. You walk down the pier and there is the dispatcher sitting under an umbrella. I gave her Courtney's name and she sent us in a tour line not the self disembark line. As we approached the terminal there was another security area where I gave Courtney's name again. Instead of going into the terminal they directed us outside the gate and there was Courtney. He was gathering up another 5 pax. When I mentioned I booked a private tour he said not tp worry that he was taking us out of the port to a meeting location. It was a matter of min before we arrived at a parking lot and he directed everyone to their appropriate tour van. Since I booked a private tour to the Blue Hole, we got Courtney himself.

    We had a great morning with him. He is a class act giving a great tour for $39 each plus entrance fees. (Blue hole was $10). I would book with him again in a heartbeat. He has tours in every Jamaica port/city.

    The Blue Hole was simply the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I am so happy I put my fears behind me and literally took the leap. My DH and I are in our seventies. We walked slowly and deliberately and in some areas relied upon our marvelous guide, Robert.

    I will be happy to answer any specific questions.

    BTW: water shoes are a MUST for this tour!!

    Kathleen

    Hi Robert,

    We just returned from a tour with Courtney Taylor's service. We had a super guide whom we really enjoyed. I was just wondering about the charges. You mentioned that you paid 10 pp for the Blue Hole. We were charged 15 pp! Also, we were charged 20 pp for the Dunn's River Falls. We had a private tour and paid 45 pp.

    SCUBA in Cozumel - Private Companies?

    in Scuba and Snorkeling

    Posted

    As many will say, get your certification at home and then come dive.. It takes a lot of know how and learning, when you first start to dive. As an advanced PADI diver, I would not recommend this on a vacation. Plus, you are not going to get the required dives under your belt, along with certifications, to get a national recognized license (you may get a "resort" license but it would only be good to go back to that place, to dive)..

    Good advice, thank you.

    SCUBA in Cozumel - Private Companies?

    in Scuba and Snorkeling

    Posted

    Cozumel has so many dive ops, and most of them good ops. No need to go with ship's excursion here.

     

    This time we're going with Dive with Cristina, for my daughter and I diving. It's a bigger (and slower) boat but should be comfortable for my wife and son who are just riders.

    Hi, thank you for the advice. I am really nervous about trying this for the first time! I see you have been to Belize. I would love to spend a week there someday!

    SCUBA in Cozumel - Private Companies?

    in Scuba and Snorkeling

    Posted

    Aldora or DeepBlue....

     

    In Cozumel...of all places....don't use the ships excursion...so many dive operators in Coz you can get a better trip, smaller boat, more dive master attention, better sites....AND better price.

    Hi, we are looking at Deep Blue Cozumel Diving...it will be our first time diving and we will have to take the instructional dive. Do you recommend this company for our first dive?

    Thanks.

    3 Weeks on a Small Ship: Our Ultra Un-Cruise Report

    in Alaska

    Posted

    Thanks for the comments.

     

    I'm going to post some of what I consider highlight photos in this thread. I know not everyone wants to take the time to look at such a long report. And, selfishly, I am planning our 2015 return to Alaska, and this gives me a reason to go back and review.

     

     

    Tracy Arm Fjord

     

    Eastern%20Coves%20May19-3-L.jpg

     

     

     

    Early View of South Sawyer Glacier:

     

    Eastern%20Coves%20May19-12-L.jpg

     

     

     

    The Glacier Face

     

    Eastern%20Coves%20May19-23-L.jpg

     

     

     

    Close to the face - taken from the zodiac:

     

    Eastern%20Coves%20May19-26-L.jpg

     

     

    One of the groups out on the water/ice:

     

    Eastern%20Coves%20May19-48-L.jpg

     

     

    Will add some more later.

    Amazing!

    Norwegian Sun May 26 - Jue 2, 2014 Northbound to Alaska

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted · Edited by aberthelot

    I did not see one lobster at meal time. We were told to eat in the "cafeteria" the first night. Mostly salmon was served and I was not a fan of the way it was cooked. They bbqed salmon steaks one night and they were full of bones! I come from the east coast of Canada and we know how to cook fish properly. That salmon was gross! Sorry to be so negative. I had a nice piece of steak on day 5, but took sick that evening. I think the Caesar salad had expired!

     

    Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2

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