NCL Hawaii cruise

[sunlover47]

Hi everyone,

 

Just looking for some feedback if anyone has done the NCL hawaii cruise out of honolulu. I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary and this looks like a great way to see the islands. Any suggestions??

[MOFamilyof4]

We took our daughter 17 and son 14 last December and had a wonderful time. Its a great way to see the different islands. :)

[repeater]

Hi everyone,

 

Just looking for some feedback if anyone has done the NCL hawaii cruise out of honolulu. I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary and this looks like a great way to see the islands. Any suggestions??

 

 

TAKE IT.

 

We loved it---did more than anyone else on the ship, and made memories like crazy! We rented a car in every port ---quite cheap if booked early, and way less than any tour you'd find-- and did our homework so we would be able to fit everything in that we wanted to do. That was silly a couple of times; we went to a top ten beach, with exactly 2 hours 45 minutes designated for relaxing, so relax already! Another day had us snorkleing at another top -ten-for-snorkeling places at 6am. Nuts? maybe, but we had other things to do later on, and the memory of the tropical fish under the water and the rainbow arching right over our heads can't be beat.

 

NCL has the best itenerary; for example, Princess has a 14 day that only has 3 port days! It's very port-intensive, different than a normal cruise, but we loved it!

[sunlover47]

TAKE IT.

 

We loved it---did more than anyone else on the ship, and made memories like crazy! We rented a car in every port ---quite cheap if booked early, and way less than any tour you'd find-- and did our homework so we would be able to fit everything in that we wanted to do. That was silly a couple of times; we went to a top ten beach, with exactly 2 hours 45 minutes designated for relaxing, so relax already! Another day had us snorkleing at another top -ten-for-snorkeling places at 6am. Nuts? maybe, but we had other things to do later on, and the memory of the tropical fish under the water and the rainbow arching right over our heads can't be beat.

 

NCL has the best itenerary; for example, Princess has a 14 day that only has 3 port days! It's very port-intensive, different than a normal cruise, but we loved it!

 

Thanks! I liked this because the port calls are long. This is our 25th anniversary and i am thinking of flying in to honolulu and staying a few days prior to the cruise of the islands....I will have a book and get my plan in place..thanks!!

[Cubechick]

The Pride of America in April was one of the best cruises/vacations we've ever been on. Am plotting our return as I type. If you click on the link to my blog, you'll find my review there.

[pam vessels]

We live in Honolulu and took this trip with 45 friends....it was a few years ago so maybe things have changed but this NCL ship was a huge disappointment. The ports were great but the food and service were beyond bad. I know that everyone has their won opinion on individual ships but we have cruised on many others....even NCL and found this ship to be unsatisfactory on all levels. Hopefully they have changed and you will love the ship. I know you will love the ports. Aloha

[Cubechick]

We live in Honolulu and took this trip with 45 friends....it was a few years ago so maybe things have changed but this NCL ship was a huge disappointment. The ports were great but the food and service were beyond bad. I know that everyone has their won opinion on individual ships but we have cruised on many others....even NCL and found this ship to be unsatisfactory on all levels. Hopefully they have changed and you will love the ship. I know you will love the ports. Aloha

 

They have improved dramatically. I was cautious when I booked this trip, knowing all about the growing pains on the America. Now they have an experienced crew who love their jobs and take pride in their ship.

[Cruiser Bruiser]

I did this cruise in 2010 and it really was my best vacation ever. You're in port for 110 hours, the ship mainly sails at night, and you only have to unpack once. How else are you going to see four islands with this level of convenience?

 

Highlights: sailing past the Big Island's Kilauea volcano at night and watching the huge orange steam plume as lava flowed into the ocean; sailing past the Napali coast of Kauai at sunset with a helmet of beer in the hot tub; 4-hour catamaran sail and snorkel in Kona with lunch and booze included.

 

I had never been to Hawaii before, so this cruise was an excellent way to see Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai in one trip. The ship was fun; the crew were excellent. Do it, and have a good time!

[Pokeraddict]

Have done this cruise twice on POA and booked again for January it's a great cruise and Itinerary.

Book well in advance and watch the price increase and most often will sell out before final payment is due.

It's the only cruise line that sails from Hawaii, so it seems demand is high.

 

There is also no casino or gambling of any sort in Hawaii including the ship which is another reason why this cruise is more expensive than others.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

We have done this cruise twice. Three years ago, to my surprise, it was great. Last month, not so much. I was terribly disappointed in the service quality. Still had a good time but ihad expected improvements now that the Pride is the only NCLA ship inhawaii but, sadly, it was the opposite. You can read my review for details.it is still the best and cheapest way to do the hawaiian islands just lower your expectations from ncl's usual quality

[Fitzemt]

My wife and I did it for our 25th last year...it was wonderful. The ship is the ONLY way to do it. It's not a HAL cruise, but it is great because you are just using it for transportation and a hotel room. The islands and the people of Hawaii are your intertainment. That said, We went not expecting too much from the POA, and was pleasently supprised. Ship is pretty, food was good (what we ate on board), and staff could not have been better. TIP.....get an aft balcony...you can see both sides of everything and all of your sail bys last longer. If you can swing it, go a couple of days early and see more of Honolulu.......Hula pie at Dukes.....Sunset at House without a key.:D:D

[Pokeraddict]

My wife and I did it for our 25th last year...it was wonderful. The ship is the ONLY way to do it. It's not a HAL cruise, but it is great because you are just using it for transportation and a hotel room. The islands and the people of Hawaii are your intertainment. That said, We went not expecting too much from the POA, and was pleasently supprised. Ship is pretty, food was good (what we ate on board), and staff could not have been better. TIP.....get an aft balcony...you can see both sides of everything and all of your sail bys last longer. If you can swing it, go a couple of days early and see more of Honolulu.......Hula pie at Dukes.....Sunset at House without a key.:D:D

 

There is a better mix of staff now that NCL as has been transferring staff from other ships so they have a better mix of American, Flipino and others. I think one of the incentive's is a shorter contract.

 

I think its safe to say that the American crew have never been used to working such long hours days and weeks and then throw in union, days off etc. Makes it pretty hard to run a ship.

 

As for the food we have never had a problem but then food is a hot topic anyway no matter what ship/line your on, you can't please everyone and for that reason I have never paid any attention to food complaint's.

[Azure Moon]

Hubby and I sailed on NCLA's Hawaiian cruise for our 25th anniversary (2007, Pride of Hawaii). We loved it! Absolutely fabulous cruise and port stops.

 

Hubby scraped together 10 days for the trip, so the 7 day cruise was the perfect way for us to get to see as much of the islands as we could. We flew in the day before the cruise and flew home the day the ship returned to Honolulu. We didn't have much time before or after the cruise, but we did pretty good by getting to the Pearl Harbor Museum and tour the Arizona, walking down Waikiki Beach, and walking around some of the downtown area.

 

We took some excursions through the ship and did some on our own. Through the ship, we snorkeled at Molokini, took a Zodiac tour and snorkeling, and attended a luau. On our own, we rented cars on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai.

 

We'd love to do another all-Hawaiian cruise with NCLA, but we've been putting it off in hopes hubby could add another night or two to what we had before.

 

If you are able to, add days before the cruise, after the cruise, or both so, if needed, you'll have time to recover from a long flight, have time to adjust to the time zone difference, and have time to explore Oahu.

 

The cruise is slightly different in that people tend to turn in early due to the time zone difference, the port-intensive itinerary, and the tremendous amount of activities one can pack into each day.

 

You're sure to have a wonderful time in Hawaii and on Pride of America. Congratulations on your 25th anniversary!

[Umbarger]

Hi everyone,

 

Just looking for some feedback if anyone has done the NCL hawaii cruise out of honolulu. I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary and this looks like a great way to see the islands. Any suggestions??

 

Loved this trip and have done it several times.

 

My suggestion? Schedule a restful vacation after your POA cruise. :eek: I'm not joking. This is a busy, active cruise. Up and out early every morning and back late each evening. You are always going, going, going. We were lucky if we got to see the shows at night. We were in bed asleep by 9pm. You are in port every day.....no days at sea to rest up. I was seriously exhausted after my Hawaii cruises.

 

If I ever get to take this cruise again. I am going to try harder to relax more.

[RumpunchGirl]

DH and I were on POA for our 25th in March of 2009. It was more affordable than trying to see 2 of the islands on a land vacation. We really enjoyed every port. We flew in 3 days early to see Honolulu. We did a lot of interesting things at each port. Our only disappointment in port was the rain. As luck would have it, it was completely overcast or raining 9 out of 11 days we were there!:( A lot of locals told us that it was the worst weather they had seen in 30 yrs. On the day of debarkation, we had a later flight and took the excursion to Pearl Harbor and Polynesian Cultural Center. It had rained so much for so long that they had to close the roads to Pearl Harbor!:eek: So we didn't get to see that. But, I still think it is a great way to get a feel for the Islands!

[Princess Patches]

We sailed on the POA last year and had a great time. This cruise has a wonderful itinerary. Be sure to book a portside balcony cabin for the Na Pali Coast/North Shore sailby on Kauai.

[NengEuis]

We loved this cruise! We went on it in the middle of a year-long deployment. I recommend it to everybody.

[sunlover47]

hi everyone,

 

just looking for some feedback if anyone has done the ncl hawaii cruise out of honolulu. I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary and this looks like a great way to see the islands. Any suggestions??

 

 

 

thanks everyone!! It is now a done deal booked for september!!!!!!!!! Cant wait~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[sunlover47]

My wife and I did it for our 25th last year...it was wonderful. The ship is the ONLY way to do it. It's not a HAL cruise, but it is great because you are just using it for transportation and a hotel room. The islands and the people of Hawaii are your intertainment. That said, We went not expecting too much from the POA, and was pleasently supprised. Ship is pretty, food was good (what we ate on board), and staff could not have been better. TIP.....get an aft balcony...you can see both sides of everything and all of your sail bys last longer. If you can swing it, go a couple of days early and see more of Honolulu.......Hula pie at Dukes.....Sunset at House without a key.:D:D

 

 

Thanks so much! we are actully planning on a few days prior and a few days after the cruise. Its a done deal now...i just wanted to get some feedback before i put money down. soo excited..thanks for the help!

[grandmompooh]

Hi Everyone, I'm new posting on Cruise Critic, but not a new member. My husband, Burt, and I are cruising Hawaii Dec. 3-10 for a second honeymoon (20 years). I'm 58 and he's 70. I wanted to be in Hawaii to observe the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, in memory of my dad who was a WWII vet, serving in the South Pacific. We love cruising and train travel. I am a registered nurse and Burt is a retired science teacher and optometrist. We look forward to meeting Cruise Critic members at the Meet & Greet! We'll be staying at the Marriott Waikiki before and after the cruise.

[densol]

We have just booked our cruise for next August. Travelling over for 3 weeks ( from the UK) 4 nights in New England, then onto Niagara Falls, then flying to Honolulu, staying at the Disney DVC for a night, NCL 7 night cruise, then another night at DVC after the cruise, onto LA and then finishing in Las Vegas !! Cannot wait ....soooo looking forward to seeing Hawaii :D

[Pokeraddict]

Loved this trip and have done it several times.

 

My suggestion? Schedule a restful vacation after your POA cruise. :eek: I'm not joking. This is a busy, active cruise. Up and out early every morning and back late each evening. You are always going, going, going. We were lucky if we got to see the shows at night. We were in bed asleep by 9pm. You are in port every day.....no days at sea to rest up. I was seriously exhausted after my Hawaii cruises.

 

If I ever get to take this cruise again. I am going to try harder to relax more.

 

Or you could do what we do and book b2b cruise, keep the same cabin and spread your excursions across two weeks. And the biggest win for us is leaving winter behind for another week

We also book a week in Waikiki prior to cruise because its such a long and expensive flight from Canada.