Access to shore in HAWAII (and non-NCL activities)

[crw]

I am looking for information about how open shore access was on an NCL Hawaiian cruise. Once docked, could you come and go as you pleased? Was tendering required. If so, was tendering a 24/day thing, or more restrictive?

 

Basically, I want to know if I can get on and off the ship with ease so that I might participate in shore activities not sponsored by NCL.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Chris

[bonvoyagie]

on our PoAM sailing 5/20/06 we could come and go as we pleased, security was open from the time we docked to when we set sail again. The only place we tendered was in Kona. In most ports there are shuttles that run to Hilo Hatties etc. not sure how long they run. If you are renting a car there are parking lots $ close to the ship where you can park overnight. There are only two islands where the ship was in port overnight Maui and Kauai, Hilo and Kona are day visits.

[Poconolady]

On NCLA Hawaii cruises, all three ships, the passengers are free to come and go as they please. The Security points are always open to reboard the ship. The only tender port is Kona, and all passengers, whether they are on NCLA sponsered excursions or not, wait their turn in line to board the tender back to the ship. On debarking in Kona everyone waits in the same line, it doesn't matter if you are on a tour or not. The lines for the tenders was the only time that there was any wait to get on or off the ship. Passengers who are planning to "do their own thing" have shore access at their own discretion.

[KeystoneCruiser]

With the exception of Kona, there are very few things to do available near the port. You will need a rental car or tour.

 

The thing to remember about booking your own tours is that the ship will not wait for you. (the ship will wait if an NCL sponsored tour is late however)

 

 

Like Bonvoyagie said, the gangway is open 24 hours in Maui and Kauai, the overnight stops. In Kona, the tenders run the entire time, but you will have to get tender tickets to get off the ship. They usually hand those out the day before. Those in VIP suites and on NCL sponsored shore excursions have priority on early tenders.

 

All aboard is always 30 minutes before sailing in all ports.

[tomluvsaida]

With the exception of Kona, there are very few things to do available near the port. You will need a rental car or tour.

 

The thing to remember about booking your own tours is that the ship will not wait for you. (the ship will wait if an NCL sponsored tour is late however)

 

 

Like Bonvoyagie said, the gangway is open 24 hours in Maui and Kauai, the overnight stops. In Kona, the tenders run the entire time, but you will have to get tender tickets to get off the ship. They usually hand those out the day before. Those in VIP suites and on NCL sponsored shore excursions have priority on early tenders.

 

All aboard is always 30 minutes before sailing in all ports.

 

So the tenders are 24 hours also?

[hncg57c]

The tenders aren't 24 hours in Kona because the ships don't stay there overnight.

[KeystoneCruiser]

So the tenders are 24 hours also?

 

 

Like hncg57C said, the tenders are only used in Kona and they run from about an hour after arrival to a half hour before departure.

 

The tenders are necessary because Kona harbor is too shallow for the ships to dock. Therefore they anchor offshore and the little tender boats run you back and forth. (about 15 minutes from ship to shore)

 

The ships pull up to docks at Maui, Kauai, Hilo and Honolulu. They put out the gangway and you walk right off the ship and onto shore. No tender boats needed in these ports.

[tomluvsaida]

The tenders aren't 24 hours in Kona because the ships don't stay there overnight.

 

Oh, ok. So I guess up to 30 minutes before it sails them? (although I realize tha is cutting it close.)

[tomluvsaida]

Like hncg57C said, the tenders are only used in Kona and they run from about an hour after arrival to a half hour before departure.

 

The tenders are necessary because Kona harbor is too shallow for the ships to dock. Therefore they anchor offshore and the little tender boats run you back and forth. (about 15 minutes from ship to shore)

 

The ships pull up to docks at Maui, Kauai, Hilo and Honolulu. They put out the gangway and you walk right off the ship and onto shore. No tender boats needed in these ports.

 

Thanks a lot! That answers my question.