Pride of America Cost - worth it?

[DandDM]

My family is a huge fan of cruising and have enjoyed our two cruises on NCL (plus many others). So when the family decided on a vacation to Hawaii this upcoming summer, I naturally started to price the Pride of America - and have frankly been astonished with the cost. For four of us the cheapest balcony and inside would cost over $10k for the week we are looking at in July (interestingly, the obstructed view family suite is $8400 which would probably be my choice).

 

Now thinking that Hawaii is just expensive, I checked online and found that for the same week, I can rent a two bedroom condo in Honolulu, or a small house outside of town (both ocean front) for between $200 and $250 per night. Now with a budget of $2000 for a place to stay, I'm wondering what on the cruise would justify the $6400 price difference? (note - saw that two oceanfront hotel rooms in a resort would cost $3000-$4000 for the week, maybe a better comp).

 

The obvious answer is the transportation between the islands, plus dinners and shows, and the convenience of being able to sleep in the same room every night justifies the price difference. But we could do a lot of site seeing and eat some nice meals for that much money.

 

I do understand that the POA is more expensive to operate than other ships, plus we probably chose a popular week, so I'm not complaining about the cost of the POA. Obviously NCL fills it up.

 

So all that said, I'm looking for advice on how I can justify the cost of this cruise to my wife?

 

Thanks

[bonvoyagie]

We had never been to Hawaii so the justification for us was the ability to island hop in a floating hotel. This was back in the spring of 06 when there were three NCLA ships plying the waters.

 

We spent around 5k for the cruise, pre cruise hotel and airfare and probably another 1-2k on excursions through NCL - also about the same as we spent on our first AK cruise.

 

We saw waterfalls, thermal ponds, volcanos, floated in an old irrigation system, saw lots of tropical plants, did a luau, ate a lot of pork and pineapple.

 

It was nice to unpack once, sleep in the same bed each night. We did not go to that many shows as by the time we were done with the touring we were tired.

 

Sometimes you need to look beyond $$ justification.

 

Now if we go back - I would probably not do the cruise but instead find a place on Kauai and spend some time - it was our favorite island

[xlxo]

That was my reaction BEFORE I got hooked onto cruising.... I do notice the price changes week to week, month to month depending on demand.

 

This is how I got around the islands if you don't mind flying and packing each day...

http://www.americaasia.com/tour.aspx?locale=en-US&tourid=1255&tn=Hawaii%20Deluxe%20Tour%3A%20Big%20Island%20(Maui%2C%20Oahu)%202%2F3%2F4%2F5%2F6%2F7%20Days

[zqvol]

You really can't justify the cost. It is too easy to island hop in HI, to use a cruise ship to do it. The only advantage is not having to pack and move rooms. The disadvantage is that you don't have enough time on any island to really enjoy it. IMO you are much better off visiting a couple of islands for longer stays than doing the cruise.

[punkincc]

We have done both the island hop by plane and the POA cruise. The island hop got us only Maui and Kauai, and really not any more "land time" for touring than we had on the cruise. With the overnights, you really can put in some long tour days, 12 hours or more. Plus, with the POA we got to see the Big Island of Hawaii with stops at both Hilo and Kona. With the island hop, you essentially lose a day each time you move with packing/unpacking, airport and check out/ check in. Not how I want to spend a day in Hawaii.

 

Do a realistic cost analysis. A breakfast in Hawaii can run nearly $40 pp. A nice dinner can set you back $100+ pp. If you had a condo, you could buy groceries and cook, but you will have sticker shock at the check out counter. And is that how you want to spend a Hawaii vacation, shopping and cooking, just like at home, or eating out at fast food places to save $$? The inter island flights are cheap compared to flights on the mainland, but check the price multiplied x 4 or more people every time you change islands and then perhaps a flight back to Honolulu for the flight home, perhaps as many as 3 or 4 flights. It adds up quickly.

 

A bit of a premium for the POA is well worth it to me for the convenience and relaxation it affords me as well as for the ease of getting up and walking off the ship for a full day of exploring, and knowing I will not have to cook dinner when we arrive back worn out at 8:00 PM.

 

I think NCL has had a few Friends and Family sail free Promos which included Hawaii. If you could snag one of those, the POA would be a no brainer.

[paulh84]

You really can't justify the cost. It is too easy to island hop in HI, to use a cruise ship to do it. The only advantage is not having to pack and move rooms. The disadvantage is that you don't have enough time on any island to really enjoy it. IMO you are much better off visiting a couple of islands for longer stays than doing the cruise.

 

I totally agree. I've been to various Hawaiian island several times and it's just not a good place to cruise IMO. I know many will disagree with me, but there is too much to do and see in the limited amount of port time you would have. I would much rather visit an island or two and spend an extended amount of time exploring the island rather than making a quick stop. On our last visit to Maui, I took two people who had never been. Even after 8 days there was still so much we hadn't had a chance to see and do.

[NMLady]

My family is a huge fan of cruising and have enjoyed our two cruises on NCL (plus many others). So when the family decided on a vacation to Hawaii this upcoming summer, I naturally started to price the Pride of America - and have frankly been astonished with the cost. For four of us the cheapest balcony and inside would cost over $10k for the week we are looking at in July (interestingly, the obstructed view family suite is $8400 which would probably be my choice).

 

Now thinking that Hawaii is just expensive, I checked online and found that for the same week, I can rent a two bedroom condo in Honolulu, or a small house outside of town (both ocean front) for between $200 and $250 per night. Now with a budget of $2000 for a place to stay, I'm wondering what on the cruise would justify the $6400 price difference? (note - saw that two oceanfront hotel rooms in a resort would cost $3000-$4000 for the week, maybe a better comp).

 

The obvious answer is the transportation between the islands, plus dinners and shows, and the convenience of being able to sleep in the same room every night justifies the price difference. But we could do a lot of site seeing and eat some nice meals for that much money.

 

I do understand that the POA is more expensive to operate than other ships, plus we probably chose a popular week, so I'm not complaining about the cost of the POA. Obviously NCL fills it up.

 

So all that said, I'm looking for advice on how I can justify the cost of this cruise to my wife?

 

Thanks

 

If you want a stay on just one island then you are better off with a land vacation.

But if you want to experience more than one island, factor in the cost of air for your family, plus waiting time in airports, plus the fact your room might not be ready when you get there. And of course packing/unpacking each time.

 

I think that probably just the cost of the airfare to visit two more islands would justify the cost of the cruise. And comfort counts for something.

[j-9]

When we first went to Hawaii we decided to do the cruise because it was an opportunity to explore each island. We liked it so much we did it twice in that year. BUT it also was when there were 3 ships there. I don't remember how much the first trip was, but the second was $349 each for 10 days, on the Aloha. We were in a ridiculously small inside, but for that price, we sucked it up. No question that was great value.

 

With the price now, I honestly would island hop rather than cruise.

-Don't stay on Oahu, get to Maui and/or Kauai as well. Do your research and see which island(s) appeal and plan to stay 3 or 4 days on each. Inter-island flights are pretty easy, and I don't think very expensive.

-Get a room with a fridge or a condo with a kitchen and make breakfasts and lunches easier and more affordable.

 

After those first 2 cruise, we started land vacations. The first couple of times we went to Honolulu and Maui taking an inter-island flight, now we just go to Maui. We are on the west coast so it is our warm weather destination of choice,

 

Whatever you choose, enjoy! It is a fantastic place

[NCMtnBoys]

Cost has always been the main thing holding me back from booking a Hawaiian cruise since NCL is the only one to sail r/t Honolulu each week. I could never get past the $1500-$2000 pp for an OV or balcony stateroom for 7nights, not even including the airfare to get there. Neither of us have been to Hawaii, so we always thought a cruise would be a great first time, seeing several of the islands in one trip, with everything included.

 

So several months ago I came across a phenomenal deal that I booked immediately with one of the large online cruise agencies. Granted we're sailing in late November of next year, so it's not the typically costly summer pricing. But still, I think if you do some searching you may find other deals with agencies other than booking with NCL directly.

 

I normally would book with the cruise line directly but this package deal through the other agency was too good to pass up. The package deal I booked includes transfers from the airport to the hotel, two nights pre-cruise hotel in Honolulu with breakfast each morning, a Honolulu city tour, transfers from the hotel to the ship, $100 excursion credit for the cabin, $100 OBC for the cabin, prepaid gratuities for each of us and a $100 deposit per person, in an OV cabin. This WHOLE package was $1299 per person plus taxes/fees, which is $250pp less than what NCL was selling just the stateroom for. The balcony cabin was $500 more per person which I could not justify since most of the sailing is done at night, and at some point the DEAL starts to become less of a DEAL when the price starts to get up there. And of course our package does not include the airfare.

 

So shop around and watch for different deals to come up, and be open to booking with a reputable agency other than directly with the cruise line.

Edited September 9, 2015 by NCMtnBoys

[FranknBeans]

I agree with punkincc food on the islands is NOT cheap, a quart of milk can cost $8

The number one selling foo in Hawaii is Spam including at Mc D and its number one for a reason.

 

There are good points for both sides but we feel it's a bigger bang for the buck to do the cruise. The two overnight are the best islands for doing so.

 

If planned properly you can cover a lot of ground with cars rentals or you can use non NCL shore excursion companies like Roberts Hawaii and others and save a min of 40 to 50% and for a family that's huge savings, they have proven track records all over the net.

We have done this cruise many times from Canada and our flights are expensive so we always do B2B to get more value.

I don't if these points have been made but NCL buys everything from the islands therefore at import prices, also no casino so NCL has to justify some of those losses,plus they are the only house in town doing this cruise and will continue being the only cruise line as it took them ears to get a US flagged ship into Hawaii waters which I'm sure had big payouts to the govt.

 

This is by far our most favorite cruise for so many reasons.

[VideoTech]

My family is a huge fan of cruising and have enjoyed our two cruises on NCL (plus many others). So when the family decided on a vacation to Hawaii this upcoming summer, I naturally started to price the Pride of America - and have frankly been astonished with the cost. For four of us the cheapest balcony and inside would cost over $10k for the week we are looking at in July (interestingly, the obstructed view family suite is $8400 which would probably be my choice).............

 

So all that said, I'm looking for advice on how I can justify the cost of this cruise to my wife?

 

Thanks

 

If you've never been to Hawaii, the POA offers a fantastic way to get a taste of most of the main islands without the hassle of changing hotels, packing and unpacking, and dealing with airports.

 

As you correctly point out, POA becomes your floating hotel, moving with you from island to island. And because the ship overnights on Maui and Kauai (and really overnights on the big island also, but changes ports to do it), you have plenty of time to spend sightseeing and exploring.

 

We used our POA cruise to get a feel for which islands we'd like to go back to. Unfortunately for us, DW liked Maui and I liked Kauai. *lol*

 

Also, an important point: POA is the ONLY cruise ship which does not have to make the long transit from the US to Hawaii, and also touch port at another country like Mexico before returning home. That means ALL your time is spent in Hawaii.

 

The drawback is that you have to get yourself to Honolulu, and those can be expensive flights.

 

Still, we thoroughly enjoyed our POA cruise. I highly recommend getting a rental car in each of the islands. There are links to my POA review and info on Hawaii rental cars below in my signature.

[DandDM]

Wow! Thanks for al the responses. A lot to consider and I appreciate you all taking the time to respond

[DebJ14]

We did a Hawaii cruise so that we could see multiple islands. It did not work out as anticipated as we were unable to stop at Maui and Kona. Due to high winds and waves it was deemed unsafe to tender. They gave us an extra day in Honolulu. Very disappointing and a huge waste of $$$$.

[aamechs2]

Agree that you absolutely do not need a balcony or even an OV room for a Hawaiian islands cruise. The port days are long and you are not on the ship much. A cruise gives you the chance to see several islands but it's pretty rushed. We loved our Hawaiian cruise but we go back every other year for a week in Maui. It's more relaxing and since we rent a 2 bedroom condo, more fun for the kids to have their own space.

[deeolasingh]

We're booked on the POA for next July and it is a pricey cruise even more than my two weeks touring Europe but I will say the price dropped 300 total for the cabin.. 4 of us in an interior...

[phoenix1181]

I haven't been back for awhile however, Hawaii was where I vacationed for many years. That said, I would never consider a cruise as the way to see, & enjoy, the islands.

 

Do some research, decide which three islands you want to see & plan on a two week trip. My recommendation would be a couple of days on Oahu (Pearl Harbor is a must), four days on Maui, then on to the Big Island staying a few days in Kona then on to Hilo.

 

Going this way, you'll not only do some sightseeing, you'll also have some time to relax & enjoy the beautiful beaches. I've never understood doing so much running around (AKA sightseeing) that you need a vacation from your vacation!

 

Food is extremely expensive but if you're able to connect with a timeshare or condo you'll have the option to prepare breakfast or lunch which will save a bit.

 

Whatever you decide, enjoy Hawaii!!

[Kattus]

The PoA cruise is quite costly, but DH and I are looking at it like a lot of first-time folks are on here; the island we like the BEST will be the one we'll revisit for a land vacation.

[Eriksgarden]

We just returned from our cruise on POA. We started off with 2 days in Honolulu, then the cruise. There are so many places we want to see that we figure this was our only trip to Hawaii. To see Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island in one trip was absolutely perfect. We saw plenty on each island to satisfy us.

[punkincc]

I haven't been back for awhile however, Hawaii was where I vacationed for many years. That said, I would never consider a cruise as the way to see, & enjoy, the islands.

 

Do some research, decide which three islands you want to see & plan on a two week trip. My recommendation would be a couple of days on Oahu (Pearl Harbor is a must), four days on Maui, then on to the Big Island staying a few days in Kona then on to Hilo.

 

Going this way, you'll not only do some sightseeing, you'll also have some time to relax & enjoy the beautiful beaches. I've never understood doing so much running around (AKA sightseeing) that you need a vacation from your vacation!

 

Food is extremely expensive but if you're able to connect with a timeshare or condo you'll have the option to prepare breakfast or lunch which will save a bit.

 

Whatever you decide, enjoy Hawaii!!

 

And not see Kauai, the Garden Isle, at all? Aaarrrgh! This is why the POA, which takes you to all 4 of the major islands is the best option for a first timer. The islands are all so different. You can't just see a couple and think you have seen "Hawaii". After that, you can pick and choose for land vacations if you want.

[Kattus]

And not see Kauai, the Garden Isle, at all? Aaarrrgh! This is why the POA, which takes you to all 4 of the major islands is the best option for a first timer. The islands are all so different. You can't just see a couple and think you have seen "Hawaii". After that, you can pick and choose for land vacations if you want.

 

 

Which one is your favorite?

[DandDM]

Thanks again, everyone! Great info here.

 

We are still undecided, but with all I've read, we definitely want to TRY and make the POA work. However, NCL isn't helping - since I first posted, the cost of the family obstructed suite has increased to $11k, which is the same price as a balcony and inside. . . And being that our two boys are older, I wouldn't try to fit us all into one, non-suite cabin (and the balcony is a personal choice).

 

At that price, I think we could spend two leisurely weeks on the islands and get in a lot of touring.

 

Still have a lot of time until next July, so we will keep monitoring the prices and reading responses.

[punkincc]

Which one is your favorite?

 

That's like asking a mother which is her favorite child!:). I'd have to say, whichever one I am on at the time. They are all special for different reasons. I love Up Country/Haleakala (Maui), Waimea Canyon and Na Pali (Kauai), the Koolau Mts of the Windward Coast (Oahu). I have spent the least amount of time on the Big Island, the equivalent of two days only, but next trip I hope to see things I missed the first time around.

[phoenix1181]

And not see Kauai, the Garden Isle, at all? Aaarrrgh! This is why the POA, which takes you to all 4 of the major islands is the best option for a first timer. The islands are all so different. You can't just see a couple and think you have seen "Hawaii". After that, you can pick and choose for land vacations if you want.

 

It was a suggestion & I stand by it. It's my opinion that Hawaii should be seen & enjoyed as a land based vacation. Too many people spend 6 days of their cruise vacation running from one place to another trying to take it all in & don't have/make/find the time to relax & enjoy what they're seeing.

 

Not that it matters, but I prefer Maui.

 

[punkincc]

It was a suggestion & I stand by it. It's my opinion that Hawaii should be seen & enjoyed as a land based vacation. Too many people spend 6 days of their cruise vacation running from one place to another trying to take it all in & don't have/make/find the time to relax & enjoy what they're seeing.

 

Not that it matters, but I prefer Maui.

 

 

Both land based and cruise options have their positives and negatives. I think an option which combines both is actually the best for me, but maybe not for someone else. A cruise combined with a second week, or several days on one island added on either pre or post cruise is wonderful. The best of both worlds:). But many people do not have that much vacation time, and 10 days or two weeks of land vacation to see the islands is not feasible. For those people, a cruise may be the best bang for their buck in getting them a look at all the islands.

[phoenix1181]

Both land based and cruise options have their positives and negatives. I think an option which combines both is actually the best for me, but maybe not for someone else. A cruise combined with a second week, or several days on one island added on either pre or post cruise is wonderful. The best of both worlds:). But many people do not have that much vacation time, and 10 days or two weeks of land vacation to see the islands is not feasible. For those people, a cruise may be the best bang for their buck in getting them a look at all the islands.

 

You're right. Folks, the bottom line is............. Get there however you can!!