Pride of America Photo Blog – March 2016 Post Drydock Cruise

[AryMay]

Great photos!

 

Thanks so much! :)

[AryMay]

I just finished a post on my blog from our second day in Honolulu...(link is in the signature)

 

We started the day with a visit to the Punchbowl Cemetary, drove up Round Top Drive for an amazing view of Honolulu and the did some shopping at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.

 

 

Later we used the Gypsy Guide Phone app, and did a tour of the North Shore of Oahu. We made stops at the Dole Pineapple Plantation, several beaches to watch the surfers, the sea arch near Laie, and then back to Waikiki to watch the sunset.

 

 

[bermudafan8]

Wonderful review!

[AryMay]

Wonderful review!

 

Thanks! Hoping that our experiences may be of help to others who are in the planning stages of their cruise! (Or bring back memories to others who have already been lucky enough to go to Hawaii!) :)

[AryMay]

I just finished the last couple of blog posts for our trip...and it has only taken me about six weeks since we returned! :rolleyes: Here is the link one more time... My Souvenir Memories Blog

 

Our last full day on Oahu was spent touring the southeastern part of the island using the Gypsy Guide app (Beaches & Volcanoes Tour.) The views from that side of the island are so beautiful...

 

 

 

The guys also did the hike up Diamond Head and took some pretty incredible photos. I plan to go on our next trip to Hawaii...provided they have installed an elevator by then. ;)

 

 

 

Overall our first cruise on NCL was better than I anticipated, even with the delay and ongoing construction following the drydock. I'm not sure why I had such a negative impression of NCL prior to the cruise, but it was a pleasant surprise at how much we enjoyed it.

 

I think having the four extra sea days at the beginning of our cruise gave us a chance to really enjoy the ship which we would not have done on the regular POA route with all port days.

 

The sea days also provided a chance to actually get to know the entertainment crew. When we disembarked in Honolulu, they were all standing on the pier saying good-bye and gave us all hugs...something that has never happened on any of our other cruises. I felt like we were leaving friends...not just cruise staff.

 

Although others on this cruise have complained repeatedly about the loud construction noise, areas that were off limits, foul smells, etc. the only thing that really bothered me was the poor service in the main dining rooms. We chose not to pay to eat in the specaility dining restaurants, but would have liked to eat in the MDR most nights. Instead, we ate many of our meals in the buffet just because we didn't want to spend so much time waiting.

 

At this point we have received a refund check form NCL to cover the day that the cruise was delayed leaving San Francisco. I am still waiting to be reimbursed for our hotel costs for the extra night in a hotel. I have talked to a representative and been assured that we will get a credit in the amount of 50% of what we spent on the POA cruise to apply to any future cruise within the next year. All in all we are very happy with the compensation we are receiving from NCL. In addition we paid far less for this cruise (for 10 days) than what we would have spent to go on the regular 7 day route.

 

Thanks to everyone who has taken time to check out my blog. I love seeing the counter on the blog go higher and higher because I know "someone" must be reading! Even better...I would love to get your feedback and comments...either here on CC or on the blog itself!

 

 

[nisky]

We have enjoyed your blog immensely! The pictures and text brought your cruise alive for us. We're really looking forward to our June 4th POA cruise.

Thanks again.