Hawaii

[JennyBooms82]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the boards and was looking for some information. My husband and I just booked our first cruise with NCL, a 7 day Hawaii this summer. I have cruised before on RCL. I was wondering who out there has done this cruise. Any tips, advice, things to do, or NOT to do? Any information would be great...Thanks:D

[NewYearsBaby]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the boards and was looking for some information. My husband and I just booked our first cruise with NCL, a 7 day Hawaii this summer. I have cruised before on RCL. I was wondering who out there has done this cruise. Any tips, advice, things to do, or NOT to do? Any information would be great...Thanks:D

We did this trip in August 2007; things certainly could change in 4 years, but we had a fabulous time. Your questions were fairly general. I may be saying things you already know, but here goes. It's not like other cruises I've been on, in that there is no casino, and there are no sea days. With 2 overnight stays in port, it is more like a floating hotel than a cruise. It's a cost-effective way to see a lot of the islands in a short time but not a good representation of what to expect on an NCL cruise. We usually ate breakfast and dinner in one of the main dining rooms and lunch out and about in port. We were pleased with the the ship's food. The service was fine, too. We weren't out and about on the ship enough to get to know the crew. Our needs were adequately met.

We didn't book any shore excursions. Instead we rented a vehicle at each port and found our own way around the islands.

 

I lived in Hawaii for three years in the 1970's and have returned to the islands three times since. I could probably answer some of your specific questions.

 

Welcome to CruiseCritic. Enjoy your cruise! Aloha!

[JennyBooms82]

Thanks. I guess I am just looking for information on the Pride of America ship in general and the stops. Any recommended excursions or things to definately do or see on the islands?

 

Does the cruise line have your 'typical' captains dinner nite? What is the enterainment like on the ship?

[Salty The Sea Dog]

Yes, I was on the POA a little over a year ago in November of '09. All the ports are very laid back and very lax on parking and security. In Honolulu the ship is literally downtown and there is a metered parking lot right at the pier gate. The guy directing traffic told me not to bother putting money in the meter because no one ever checks them. Since the ship leaves so late, we parked, embarked, got settled in our cabin, had lunch and then went back out in Honolulu.

 

My recommendation is you should invest in a GPS and rent a car IN ADVANCE in just about every port. In Maui Advantage Rent A Car (a division of Hertz) is very close to the port and a short walk. It will be listed as an airport location, but airport customers are actually shuttled to this location...

 

Maui, Kahului Airport (OGG) HI, US

22 Hana Highway

Maui, Hawaii 96733

Phone : 808-877-5039

Hours of Operation: 7:00am-10:00pm, 7 Days

 

If you want to keep your car overnight for the second day they have a small parking lot at the port which is free and first come, first served, but it usually fills up early in the evening. There are about 4 spaces for loading and unloading that no one ever parks in and the gate attendant told me no one ever monitors. I parked there overnight and didn't get towed or ticketed. Advantage discourages overnight parking at their office, but there's a shopping mall next door.

[Salty The Sea Dog]

Thanks. I guess I am just looking for information on the Pride of America ship in general and the stops. Any recommended excursions or things to definately do or see on the islands?

 

Does the cruise line have your 'typical' captains dinner nite? What is the enterainment like on the ship?

 

Who cares?!

 

You're in Hawaii get and see the islands.

 

If you book a balcony cabin make sure it's on the starboard side for the lava flow thingy. If not, you better get a good spot on the rail early because it fills up 2 or 3 deep.

[JennyBooms82]

Doesn't that get costly getting a car in every island?

[Salty The Sea Dog]

Doesn't that get costly getting a car in every island?

 

No, rental cars are pretty reasonably priced and much, much cheaper than excursions. For June 5th pick up in Maui at Advantage (using discount code ADVAN) it's as low as $35 a day inclusive of all taxes and fees. Can you get an all day and night excursion for $17.50 per person?

[hawaiilvr]

Doesn't that get costly getting a car in every island?

 

No. Hawaii is fairly inexpensive place to rent a car. It is also much less expensive than ship tours.

 

I would highly recommend that you get the "Revealed" books at your local bookstore or library - i.e. Oahu Revealed, Kauai Revealed, Maui Revealed, Hawaii the Big Island Revealed and study them. There are more tips and tricks in there than any other guidebook I have encountered.

 

We had a great time on the POA and found each port to be a great deal of fun.

 

As far as tips go, get up early and to to the top of Haleakala on your second day in Maui. It will be an experience you'll never forget - bring a jacket, though, it gets cold up there.

[toomuchluggage]

Go to this link and start reading all the recent reviews on this cruise and ship

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=349

 

Go to this link

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62

 

and ask away with Hawii questions you can also find the Hawaii board on the main page under "Ports of Call"

 

We have done this cruise twice and are booked again for 1/2012 it's frankly the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck by cutting out sea days and just concentrating on the islands. This is a trip/cruise that not many folks will do more than once so make the best of your time.

[Salty The Sea Dog]

As far as tips go, get up early and to to the top of Haleakala on your second day in Maui. It will be an experience you'll never forget - bring a jacket, though, it gets cold up there.

 

And a compact umbrella. You never know when it's going to rain...suddenly.

[Smudgeman]

I just returned on January 8th, first time on cruise, and it is very laid back, just be sure for the ladies and children, to bring a sweater, jacket if you are going to be on deck, even the restaurants are cold. I just posted what we did on the ship's review on this site. As others have mentioned it is a fabulous way to see Hawaii, way better than dragging around suitcases from airport to airport. We rented a car on each island, and it was no problem, no hassle and we got to see everything we wanted. A lot cheaper than a tour and the one tour we took to the volcano was a waste of time anyway, should have rented a car, more about the shopping than the volcano. Pack your lunch from the breakfast buffet or ask for a boxed lunch, for your port excursions, we brought zip locks from home and a collapsible cooler, so didn't have to stop at a restaurant to eat, loved eating on the beach with a view or up a mountain. Very tired in the evenings, pretty quiet boat after 10:00, early mornings and so much to see. We loved the convenience of a floating hotel.

[0106]

How do I ask and when should I ask if I'd like to get a box lunch?

Thanks

[TATAR63]

Favorite things we have done:

 

Honolulu: Pearl Harbor, Hike Diamond Head, Circle Island Tour, Dinner at Dukes during sunset

Hilo: Volcano Hike, Black Sand Beach

Kona: Captain Zodiac snorkel trip

Maui: The town of Lahaina, Haleakala, Lanai 4 X 4 trek

Kauai: Napali Explorer, Hike the Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon drive

[karen327]

If you don't want to spend extra money on lunch when your off the ship, at least last feb they had sandwich meats and chips in the buffet at breakfast time. You could bring a collapsable cooler and some baggies and pack a lunch. Very convient if your going to spend your time in a park or on the beach.