Checking in from POA

[buckeyeinmd]

Just docking at Kona. If you have any questions about cruise, just ask. I will try to answer when I can. Having a great cruise so far

 

Doug

[Zeno]

thx for checking in

A few questions:

1. I assume you are tendering at Kona rather than actually docking. What time did you arrive? What time did the tenders start to run? Do you know if it was hard to get an early tender ticket?

2. If you rented a car - where did you park on Maui?

3. Is there a Polynesian/Hawaiian themed show? If so - which day and at what time?

4. Do they have any Hawaiian themed food? Buffet or dining room?

5. What time could you board in Honolulu?

6. Any embarkation advice?

7. Were taxis easy to get to the dock in Honolulu?

 

Sorry for the interogation but we are going in Sept. and all info is useful.

Thx again!

[rockabutzer]

thx for checking in

A few questions:

1. I assume you are tendering at Kona rather than actually docking. What time did you arrive? What time did the tenders start to run? Do you know if it was hard to get an early tender ticket?

2. If you rented a car - where did you park on Maui?

3. Is there a Polynesian/Hawaiian themed show? If so - which day and at what time?

4. Do they have any Hawaiian themed food? Buffet or dining room?

5. What time could you board in Honolulu?

6. Any embarkation advice?

7. Were taxis easy to get to the dock in Honolulu?

 

Sorry for the interogation but we are going in Sept. and all info is useful.

Thx again!

 

 

That wasn't an interrogation, that was a grilling! :D

[funat55]

Is there gambling onboard

[rockabutzer]

Is there gambling onboard

 

 

NO!!! :cool:

 

Aloha

[spacepotatoes]

I can take a stab at a couple of these...

 

thx for checking in

A few questions:

1. I assume you are tendering at Kona rather than actually docking. What time did you arrive? What time did the tenders start to run? Do you know if it was hard to get an early tender ticket?

2. If you rented a car - where did you park on Maui?

We parked right at the dock, there are spaces. We didn't have the car overnight, though. If you are planning to do this, be aware that parking is very limited.

3. Is there a Polynesian/Hawaiian themed show? If so - which day and at what time?

Yes there was, but don't remember when. There was also a luau excursion while the ship overnighted in Kauai.

4. Do they have any Hawaiian themed food? Buffet or dining room?

Not that I can remember, unless you do the luau.

5. What time could you board in Honolulu?

We got there around 11 AM. They didn't start boarding until noon and we were one of the first onboard.

6. Any embarkation advice?

7. Were taxis easy to get to the dock in Honolulu?

 

Sorry for the interogation but we are going in Sept. and all info is useful.

Thx again!

 

Is there gambling onboard

 

No casino. It's against Hawaiian law and the ship never leaves Hawaiian waters. Also no duty free.

[JJAuckland]

Hi Buckeyeinmd

 

Hope the weather is great. We are sailing in October & cant wait. Just let us know "everything" (what you ate, drank, saw, did etc..lol) when you get back & post photos if you can.

Cheers Julie

[bassnharp]

Dear Doug-

I hope you are having a terrific vacation - jealous! I do have a couple questions for you: Is there a chef's table on POA and if so, which night? Thanks so much for offering to answer our questions. Enjoy yourself!

[Zeno]

Thanks for asking the questions. I had some of the same. Don't worry about others. I think some people forget how they may have been helped on cc with simple questions, and are just unkind. They are the people that make people uncomfortable with asking questions on cc. But, for one of those types there are 100, kind helpful people here.

 

Thx chris - you are very kind. And you are absolutely correct - most people come to this board to ask for help and to provide help and to discuss their experiences and get feedback and provide different viewpoints and yes even occasionally to argue. And that is why the board exists.

 

Every once in a while you get someone who is all attitude and has nothing useful or helpful to add to the dialogue just makes snide comments to stir the pot. I guess it's the nature of the internet.

[Hikini]

Kona is one of my favorite places on earth. Enjoy!

 

Thanks for checking in.

 

Have a great time!

[buckeyeinmd]

Wow. Just trying to be helpful. For those going on POA, we are having a great time so far and I will answer all when I can. Hard to remember all that has been asked when trying to do all on iPhone. Kona is the only port we tender in and it was easy to get on the first tender

 

I will have to look back at the questions. Someone asked about chef's table and I saw a sign in the Jefferson Bistro yesterday for it

 

It has been cloudy for part of the day but remember when on your cruise, a cloudy, rainy day in paradise is better than any day at work

 

Doug

[herdingdogmom]

Just docking at Kona. If you have any questions about cruise, just ask. I will try to answer when I can. Having a great cruise so far

 

Doug

 

Aloha - have a wonderful rest of the cruise. Is there any lava flowing? Any chance you had a sail by last night?

[Mrs_Tiki]

Buckeyeinmd,

 

So glad to hear you are having a great cruise! We board on Saturday, can't wait.

 

Based on the weather you have experienced this week, would it be a good idea for us to pack a windbreaker or light jacket?

 

Thanks for checking in!

[buckeyeinmd]

Aloha - have a wonderful rest of the cruise. Is there any lava flowing? Any chance you had a sail by last night?

 

Saw no lava at VNP yesterday. Drove to it from Hilo. However, talked to people that did helicopter tour and they said they saw it

[buckeyeinmd]

Buckeyeinmd,

 

So glad to hear you are having a great cruise! We board on Saturday, can't wait.

 

Based on the weather you have experienced this week, would it be a good idea for us to pack a windbreaker or light jacket?

 

Thanks for checking in!

 

Had some rain in Maui, Hilo and kona so I would suggest a light raincoat. Rain comes and goes

 

Doug

[buckeyeinmd]

thx for checking in

A few questions:

1. I assume you are tendering at Kona rather than actually docking. What time did you arrive? What time did the tenders start to run? Do you know if it was hard to get an early tender ticket?

2. If you rented a car - where did you park on Maui?

3. Is there a Polynesian/Hawaiian themed show? If so - which day and at what time?

4. Do they have any Hawaiian themed food? Buffet or dining room?

5. What time could you board in Honolulu?

6. Any embarkation advice?

7. Were taxis easy to get to the dock in Honolulu?

 

Sorry for the interogation but we are going in Sept. and all info is useful.

Thx again!

 

In answer to your questions

1. Tenders start at 7 in kona. We met on the 6th deck and were there by 630. Everyone there by 7 was able to get on the first tender. They have 3 tenders going so I don't think there is much of a wait

2. Rented car in Maui. There was limited free parking at the pier. They have 2 lots. First one is real small right by ship. It was full so we asked security guard who told us of the other one and said come see him if that one is full. We got the next to last spot at 930PM

3. I don't think so

4. Not sure

5-7 can't help with that. Our plan was delayed and we got to ship at 515 while they were mustering. Honolulu airport isn't that big though

 

Doug

[herdingdogmom]

thx for checking in

A few questions:

3. Is there a Polynesian/Hawaiian themed show? If so - which day and at what time?

4. Do they have any Hawaiian themed food? Buffet or dining room?

 

There is a Polynesian Islands show the second night. It was the only one we saw on our cruise and we liked it. We saw no Hawaiian theme night in the main dining rooms or speciality restaurants, but apparently there is a pig, poi and all the fixings in the buffet on Wed or Thurs. night. Here is a thread on it from earlier this year. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1573818&highlight=pig+in+buffet

 

Have a great cruise.

[hill6]

Have a wonderful cruise.

 

I was wondering if the ship has wireless or if I need to bring a cord to plug in our laptop? We leave in 14 weeks.

[Zeno]

Thx for info!

I am especially relieved to hear that getting an early tender at Kona does not appear to be a problem - we have an early excursion.

[buckeyeinmd]

Thx for info!

I am especially relieved to hear that getting an early tender at Kona does not appear to be a problem - we have an early excursion.

 

You are welcome. It wasn't a problem for us. We were concerned since we had booked a 8AM excursion on our own but it went fine. The tender takes about 8-10 minutes from getting on to getting off

 

Doug

[buckeyeinmd]

Have a wonderful cruise.

 

I was wondering if the ship has wireless or if I need to bring a cord to plug in our laptop? We leave in 14 weeks.

 

I honestly don't know. Have been using my iPhone the whole time. Have Verizon and have a signal almost the whole time. We keep expecting to find it saying roaming but havent

 

Doug

[SharonK]

Hey Buckeye, What did you do in Kona?

[buckeyeinmd]

Hey Buckeye, What did you do in Kona?

 

In kona we had booked an excursion with dolphin discoveries (I think that was their name) and swam with the dolphins. There were only 4 families on it so it was nice. Then wondered around town and shopped

[SharonK]

In kona we had booked an excursion with dolphin discoveries (I think that was their name) and swam with the dolphins. There were only 4 families on it so it was nice. Then wondered around town and shopped

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing about all the ports.

[buckeyeinmd]

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing about all the ports.

 

That was the only excursion we booked. Rented cars everywhere and saw much more than excursions tend to do. Will post when home

 

Doug