Tendering in Hawaii! Any problems?

[skywalkervadar]

Hey or eh,

 

We are seriously thinking about the Celebrity Summit for a 14 day April 2006 Hawaii cruise. Right now we are weighing the Summit (great service, food, etc but lots of sea days [8 in total] and less Island time) vs. NCL's Pride of America (great itinerary but it sounds like they have really bad room and dining service problems). We've been on Celebrity Constellation for a Carribean cruise 2 winters ago and found the ship experience to be amazing due to the great food and the look of the ship.

 

One of the factors we've thought about is the tendering though. Of the 5 ports for Summit, 3 are listed as tender ports so I was wondering if there have been any problems in the past with Summit or it's sister Hawaii ship, Infinity not being able to tender due to rough seas, etc.

 

If anyone has any info from their past Celebrity cruises to Hawaii, please comment.

 

Thanks in advance,

SkywalkerVadar

 

February 2004 - Celebrity Constellation - Carribean Cruise

December 2004 - Holland America Zuiderdam - Carribean Cruise

March 2006 - Celebrity Summit (crosses fingers) - Hawaiian Cruise

[sasset]

Eh or Hey...

 

We did the same itinerary last year on Infinity. Then we only tendered at Maui and Kona. We are booked again this year same/same, but the itinerary now lists tender at Kauai as well. Don't know why. The dock there can accomodate two ships, mayber Ifinity will be number three that day.

 

Anyway, we had no problems with tendering. The onlt hitch was Maui and it really wasn't a problem. It called for a 3PM departure, but lines for tendering kept the ship in port till nearly 5.

 

Regards

[yankeeseven]

Hi Sasset; My DW and I are scheduled to sail on the Summit to Hawaii departing in March of 2007 with a similar itinerary as the April, 2006 cruise as referenced by skywalkervadar. My question is, do you feel you had enough time in Hawaii or were you disappointed that you did not fly over to Hawaii and stay longer? Also are there any shore excursions that you would recommend. I am just in the planning stages at this point, but I appreciate any information you can offer. Thanks, Kerry

[lisiamc]

Hi Kerry,

 

It's good to "talk" to you again. I would say that if this is going to be your one and only trip to Hawaii, then a cruise is not the best way to do it. You'll see so much more on a land-based vacation to Hawaii.

 

If you're after a taster, and planning to take a land-based trip to Hawaii in the future, then the cruise becomes a much better idea.

 

If you're not sure that Hawaii is a place you'd like to visit in more depth, then a cruise will surely convince you that you want to go back!

 

Good luck with your decision!

 

Lisa

[sasset]

Kerry:

 

Overall we were happy with the "sampler" provided by the itinerary, with the exception of Maui. With a 3PM scheduled departure, meaning you should be at the tender by 2, we couldn't see much of the island. It seemed that car rental would take up too much time just in the pick-up and drop-off and we didn't have priority tendering (to get an early tender) since we weren't on a ship's excursion or in Consierge Class. We are going to check out hiring a driver in adavnce nexttime.

 

We didn't feel too restricted in the other ports. We had spent a week on Kauai before, so we knew where we wanted to revisit. We were able to do Volcano's National Park and walk out onto the flows and see alot of the Big Island with two stops there (Kona and Hilo). Lots of time too in Honolulu.

 

Can't recommend any shore excursions. We rented cars everywhere but Maui. You can see alot of Kauai and the Big Island by car. If you want to do the Arizona Memorial, the Missouri and Bowfin, you probably won't need a car in Honolulu. Get one though if you want to see more of the islan, ie. North Shore, etc.

 

Regards

[morriscats]

Sasset,

Just curious - what did you want to revisit in Kauai. This is the only island we have not been on and are torn between the ship tours and renting a car - but we have no idea where to go. Any info appreciated.

Karen & Jess

[kindacrazytwo]

Hi there. Last October my family and I were on a ship in Hawaii. It was RCCL not X but tendering is tendering I think. It was rough in one port. Thinking but can't remember which one. Really rough. The tenders kept running but it took awhile to load and unload them. The staff was really good and were helping everyone on and off whether you wanted them to or not! :D My DH didn't love the 2 men taking him by the arms but hey, you've got to be safe! I think if it got any worse they would have shut the tenders down. The seas would have calmed eventually and if they were late leaving port it wouldn't really matter as it was a short sail to the next port. Not sure, just my opinion!

 

Sarah

[CelebrityMan]

Hi Sky,

 

We've done Summit in the Islands and loved every moment of it! The tendering was never a problem, and the only 'rough' time were a few choppy waves going back aboard ship in Maui -- and not enough to be a problem.

 

Well..., except for the one dear lady who pulled out her keycard the moment she stood up to disembark the tender at the ship. She made it off the tender, but while standing on the suspended dock rolled with a small wave, and "Ooops!" there went the card feathering down into the deep blue. The dolphins got an interesting souvenir.

 

And, when she stepped aboard ship the officer in charge would only let her board [without much hassle] since several of us could vouch for the fact we had witnessed her card being lost. She was escorted to Guest Relations and given a new card.

 

Go to Hawaii, enjoy the island vistas from the deck of ship, and don't forget to toss your lei in the waves as you leave, assuring that you'll one day return.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

 

 

 

CM

[yankeeseven]

Hi Lisa; Great to hear again from one of our CC Alaska friends. Thanks a lot for the advice on Hawaii. I am going to have to weight me decision carefully. We did book the cruise, so I guess we could transfer the reservation to another Celebrity cruise and still retain our shipboard credits.

 

I was just concerned about the high cost of everything in Hawaii. I mean food, lodging, etc., The cruise may be a cheaper way to go, when you consider everything. Kay and I really want to go, so we will have to think about it for a while.

 

Lisa, take care, keep in touch and thanks again for all your help when we were on the ship. Kay still has a caugh from that virus she picked up on the ship.

 

Kerry

[sasset]

We returned to Waimea Canyon with my in-laws. That was all they were up to. Next trip we will return to the north shore, to the lighthouse and secret beach.

 

Kauai is a real easy island to drive, since it is small, although some of the roads to some sights are a little rough on a Chrysler Sebring convertible. We may get a Jeep nexttime. Waimea Canyon is no problem for a regular car and fills a port day fairly well. Be sure to continue up as far as the road goes, past the Air Force Facility and the Boy Scout camp. Stop at all ofthe designated overlooks. It is spectacular.

 

Regards

[morriscats]

Sasset.

When are you going this year. We are on Infinity 10/9 and thought Kauai was a docking port. Do you know anything different. We were going to try and do The Movie Tour independantly but it starts at 8:30 and the schedule for Kauai is 7AM - if it docks that would work but not if we tender. Any info appreciated.

Karen

[sasset]

Last year we docked at Kauai. That was on the December 5 sailing from San Diego. We arrived at Kauai on December 10, our first port. This year we are on the November 6 sailing from San Diego. We are scheduled to be in Kauai Sunday, November 13. This time it will be the third port. I don't know why it is scheduled for tendering. Maybe we are the third ship in. I think the dock can accomodate two ships. Maybe someone on the board knows why Infinity is tendering this time. Hope that it changes to docking. That will give us more flexibility. Hope yours stays docking.

 

Regards

[morriscats]

Sasset,

I have no clue anymore. Our itinerary says we are tendered. Called Celebrity today and they said the same thing - but others say we dock. I am not taking a chance on the Movie Tour as monies are not refunded. Whatever we do - dock or tender - we will have a nice time. Just wish this were clearer.

BTW - our itinerary also says we dock in Kona and I know that's not the case. :>(

[A Little Pixie Dust]

I know this is off subject but I have a question- we are booked for theSummit cruise to Hawaii. My Mom realy wants a lei once we arrive in Hawaii. I have been trying to locate a lei greeting company. I have found some that will meet us at the ship for arrival in port. Has anyone who has gone to Hawaii on a cruise had any experience with this?

 

Sorry to go off subject!

 

Thanks!

 

Desiree

[hancock]

Lei greetings are quite expensive but are available at the airport. Can be found on the net. Not sure you could have it done at the pier. Head for any supermarket in Hawaii and you will find a lei there. There are some lovely ones at Costco as well. Leis are available at Hilo in the dock area. I'm crazy about flowers and had a total of 5 leis on my cruise there last Dec.

[hancock]

Unable to edit my reply. Prices of leis you buy yourself are quite reasonable.

[debjac]

We did a respositioning cruise in May, 2003 that left from Honolulu and Celebrity gave each passenger a lei before the the embarkation photo. It was a very pleasant surprise. We are sailing out of San Diego to Hawaii this October and was wondering if anyone who has previously sailed out of California can answer if you maybe get a lei when you disembark at the first Hawaiian port???

[LSilver]

It's been 2 years and 3 years respectively since my 2 Hawaiian cruises -- so my memory may be a bit rusty...

 

But I recall getting a lei at our first port, Hilo.

[morriscats]

Hey Deb,

We can exchange our fiesta beads for beautiful lei's. Oh, can't wait!!

[safein]

We were on the Infinity in April that left Honolulu for Ensenada. Leis are available, but you have to buy them. Definitely provided a wonderful perfume for our room!

 

Despite what Celebrity says, (because they said the same to us!) we tendered in Kona and Lahaina. The tenders are from the ship and are manned by the ship's crew. They're very careful getting people on and off the tenders. On our cruise, we had quite a number of passengers with wheelchairs. Not one had a problem!!!

 

We did tours on all the Islands through the ship, although if you go to Roberts Hawaii they are the tour operator for most of the Celebrity shore tours. The only one that we did that wasn't was the whale watching tour.

 

Since this will be the end of their season in the Hawaiian waters, consider it as a must see. You'll see some even from the ship. Look towards the island of Lanai in the early morning hours and you might see some.

 

The land tours we did were the Highlights of Kona, Waimea Canyon and the Volcanoes National Park tour.

 

You can also tour the Islands by rental car, just don't try to rent one in Honolulu!!! Traffic there is horrendous.

 

Also, head to the Hawaii Ports of Call Board. Spleen, SueBee and a few others who live on the Islands are extremely helpful and knowledgable.

 

Have loads of fun!!!!!

 

Anita

[sasset]

Our November 6 itinerary now say we are docking at Nawiliwili. I also noted that we now deprt Honolulu at 7PM rather than 11PM.

 

Hopefully yours has changed to docking as well.

 

Regards

[morriscats]

I just read on our roll call for 10/09 trip that we depart Honolulu at 9:30 - I hope they don't change it to 7PM now.