What's a great deal on a Hawaii cruise?

[smariner]

What would you consider as a great deal for a 7-day Hawaii cruise?

 

I wasn't actively looking to go on a cruise, but my agent called me & said that there was a "one-time special" for $1000/person that includes a 7-day cruise+RT airfare from SEA+all taxes+transfers (on NCL; in December/2006; in a standard inside cabin)? I don't mind going on this cruise if it's a great deal, else I'll do it next year (since I already have cruised once this year).

 

Would you consider this a great deal? Has anyone come across a better deal for a similar package?

 

Thanks.

[spleen93]

How much is RT airfare now from Seattle to HNL? I'm going to guess around $300 to 400 or so? Given that, the cost of the cruise plus transfers/taxes would be around $600/person. Doesn't sound too bad a deal to me. I'm assuming this is on the Pride of Aloha?

 

Spleen

[smariner]

How much is RT airfare now from Seattle to HNL? I'm going to guess around $300 to 400 or so? Given that, the cost of the cruise plus transfers/taxes would be around $600/person. Doesn't sound too bad a deal to me. I'm assuming this is on the Pride of Aloha?

 

Spleen

 

Yes....on the lower end, RT fares from Seattle to HNL are $350+ (and could be as high as $600+). The price I'm getting is on "Pride of Hawaii".

[spleen93]

On the POH, I'm going to say that it's a very good deal.

 

Spleen

[emalemi]

smariner:

 

My parents were offered this same deal from Vegas-

I agree with spleen...think it is a good deal too.

Then they talked us into joining them. (twisting of the arm...NOT... :-)

 

We'll fly out of Baltimore for $299 more PP. I priced flights alone from Balt and the best price we could find was $600 RT PP, so I think we did pretty good.

 

Good luck!

[moondoggie21536]

Sounds like a good deal to me to! I will cruising 10-14 on NCL POA. Leaving from Pittsburgh with a Balcony room for ~2300.00

 

Last minute deals are always the best!

[envy4u]

NCL is not the way to go if possible. I have heard and read so many complaints about this cruise line . I am sure there are die hards that just sail NCL and love it . See if you can go with Princess , Celebrity or RCCL for the same price . One step above IMHO.

[emalemi]

NCL is not the way to go if possible. I have heard and read so many complaints about this cruise line . I am sure there are die hards that just sail NCL and love it . See if you can go with Princess , Celebrity or RCCL for the same price . One step above IMHO.

 

envy4U:

 

Sorry to hear you have had a bad experience on NCL but we fully intend to have a great trip no matter what. We are going for the destination....(our mode of transportation is not that important)..HAWAII YIPPEE!! How could you not love Hawaii?? We always have a great time together with family...that's the most important thing. This will be our first time on NCL, but we have cruised Royal, Princess and Carnival in the past. We definitely have our favorites but enjoyed each and every vacation, it's a vacation afterall!!

[envy4u]

envy4U:

 

Sorry to hear you have had a bad experience on NCL but we fully intend to have a great trip no matter what. We are going for the destination....(our mode of transportation is not that important)..HAWAII YIPPEE!! How could you not love Hawaii?? We always have a great time together with family...that's the most important thing. This will be our first time on NCL, but we have cruised Royal, Princess and Carnival in the past. We definitely have our favorites but enjoyed each and every vacation, it's a vacation afterall!!

 

You are correct but the destination (Hawaii in this case) alone may not be enough for some people . Sometimes the destination is the ship and if this is what someone is looking for than NCL would be my last recommendation .

[uomograsso]

NCL is not the way to go if possible. I have heard and read so many complaints about this cruise line . I am sure there are die hards that just sail NCL and love it . See if you can go with Princess , Celebrity or RCCL for the same price . One step above IMHO.

 

We are cruising on PoH in December. The prices on NCLA and significantly lower than other cruise lines. The price per day may be the same, but when you add on the 4 or 5 additional sea days the prices jump. We have booked a mini-suite for the price of an inside cabin on Princess, Celebrity, or RCCL.

[beachchick]

NCL is not the way to go if possible. I have heard and read so many complaints about this cruise line . I am sure there are die hards that just sail NCL and love it . See if you can go with Princess , Celebrity or RCCL for the same price . One step above IMHO.

 

I'm not discounting your opinion, which you are certainly entitled to, but I do have a few comments.

 

First, all the major mass-market cruise lines have bad reviews and complaints. I think you are probably referring specifically to the NCLA ships? If so, then yes there have been problems; some the fault of the cruise lines and some the fault of pax who do not do their homework and expect the same kind of cruising as they are used to (casinos, somewhat subservient staff, lots of sea day activities). These ships are not going to be the same old thing because they can't have casinos, are staffed with US crew (and let's face it, we Americans aren't exactly into being subservient), and have no sea days. It's an entirely different cruise. When someone comes back and complains that the staff wasn't "attentive" enough or that they couldn't get in to dinner when they wanted or that there weren't enough onboard activities, I have to wonder if they actually paid attention to the type of cruise they booked. When they come home with real complaints, such as beds not being made at all or rooms not cleaned or dining rooms not staffed or serious food or safety issues, then I think NCL needs to address them. However, there are many members coming back with good reviews, so I don't paint the whole NCLA cruise concept with a black brush. NCLA is certainly still working out significant issues with the US-flagged ships and has a ways to go, partly because they are still new at the US-flagged ship thing and partly because they just need to get their act together and continue improving things. (Don't take this to mean that I'm "defending" NCL; I'm not and I think they have work to do.)

 

Second, there is no other line that can offer the same cruise (and almost certainly not at that price) because NCLA is the only line that can do the 7-night Hawaii-only itinerary. Many people simply don't have 16 days off to devote to a mainland R/T cruise or 11/12 days for a mainland o/w repo cruise (which are pretty limited anyway)

 

Third, you say you have heard and read about the problems, which means you haven't actually taken this cruise on any of the three "Pride" ships. I'll admit, neither have we (although we are booked on PoH this winter), so I don't speak as an authority and recommend that people avoid a cruise or cruise line I've never actually cruised with. Perhaps we should let people do their own reading and decide for themselves.

 

beachchick

[randlandk]

Actually we signed up for the whole package for about $1100 a person....of course we are midwest and the price to fly from where we are is $800pp and that is the cheap price...course that could be also that we are going during the holiday season...once they booked everything for us...we ended up only paying about $1000 per person. We were very happy with that!!!

 

Letha

[cruisingisforme]

I think you got a great deal, air, cruise and tax in for $1000.00 pp. That is an awsome price. Someone had mentioned to go on a better cruise like Princess, but that would be a 2 week cruise not one week and you definitely would not be paying $1000.00, it would be more expensive. Alot more. As well you will see more of Hawaii as those other cruise lines only give you 5 days in Hawaii whereas you will have 7.

 

I am sailing on the POH and there have been some negative reviews but some good ones as well. I know there will be some issues with the staff, and dining and room etc. But I am prepared and still looking forward to sailing and seeing Hawaii. I can't wait

 

C.:)

[wasup254]

where you got the great deals on the NCL Pride ships and it included air??? We are looking for a Dec cruise on one of the ships, we live in Florida and we are not sure where to find these great deals that include air...

 

wasup254@aol.com

 

thanks alot

[smariner]

where you got the great deals on the NCL Pride ships and it included air??? We are looking for a Dec cruise on one of the ships, we live in Florida and we are not sure where to find these great deals that include air...

 

wasup254@aol.com

 

thanks alot

 

I just sent you an e-mail with the links (not sure if I can post them on this forum).

[beachchick]

Actually we signed up for the whole package for about $1100 a person....of course we are midwest and the price to fly from where we are is $800pp and that is the cheap price...course that could be also that we are going during the holiday season...once they booked everything for us...we ended up only paying about $1000 per person. We were very happy with that!!!

 

Letha

 

Don't feel bad. We're on the west coast and fly from a regional airport, and the lower prices to Hawaii most of this year and next are between $700 and $900 (that's the low end range). Some of the large hubs have specials from time to time, but even from SFO, LAX, or SEA, the prices are up there. I tried LAX and SFO for our winter trip and the prices were only about $75 less than from our regional--so the average low end was still more than $600. There are specials at the hubs from time to time, but usually the dates are limited and the flight times are horrid (IMO). We got a "bargain" fare for our DD from SEA for $550 in 2005, before the latest surge in fuel prices and airfare.

 

beachchick

[smariner]

Don't feel bad. We're on the west coast and fly from a regional airport, and the lower prices to Hawaii most of this year and next are between $700 and $900 (that's the low end range). Some of the large hubs have specials from time to time, but even from SFO, LAX, or SEA, the prices are up there. I tried LAX and SFO for our winter trip and the prices were only about $75 less than from our regional--so the average low end was still more than $600. There are specials at the hubs from time to time, but usually the dates are limited and the flight times are horrid (IMO). We got a "bargain" fare for our DD from SEA for $550 in 2005, before the latest surge in fuel prices and airfare.

 

beachchick

 

Sorry, what is DD? If you got a 7-day cruise+air+taxes all-inclusive package from Seattle for $550 -- I'd have to say that it's the best deal that I've heard so far!!

[born2cruize]

We are cruising Hawaii this December. Our air is $530.00 each from Seattle. So a thousand dollars per person is a tremendous deal.

 

Remember this includes transfers to and from the ship. So you're looking at a 7-day cruise for around $450.00.

[beachchick]

DD = Dear/Darling daughter

DH = Dear/Darling/Darn husband

DW = Same but wife

MIL = Mother-in-law

SIL = Sister-in-law

BIL = Brother-in-law

 

Sorry, all the prices I listed were air only.

 

beachchick

[suncruiser]

We just returned from the Pride of America on 9/9. We booked a balcony cabin with air from Baltimore with insurance for $3800 for 2 people for that cruise. I thought the price was very good.

 

Speaking from experience, I had never been to Hawaii, therefore I thought it was a great way to get an overview of several different islands. I would recommend it for those who want to go to several islands, but not have to unpack.

 

On the other hand, it was my first experience with NCLA and freestyle cruising. Without going into real specifics, we did not care for NCLA or freestyle cruising. I much prefer traditional cruising and not having to hassle with trying to get reservations in restaurants every evening and scrambling the first day to do it, or you don't get a reservation (most restaurants only take reservations - not walk ins). The American staff is in no way as attentive as we are used to on foreign based cruiselines.

 

Again, you have to take it in stride and not let it ruin the beautiful place you are visiting. Like others have said, just use it as a floating hotel where you are able to visit all of these islands and not have to pack and unpack and you will have a great time.

[trbasso]

I don't know where I go wrong. I always think I'm getting a great deal when I book, but then I hear about lots of people (like yourselves) that do so much better! We booked directly through NCL for POH in February and our price for cruise & taxes (without air because we are using our FF miles) is $960 pp for inside guarantee.

 

For those of you that find these great deals, do you find them online, through a personal travel agent or directly through the cruise lines?

 

Thanks

trbasso@yahoo.com

[Jimmyfan]

We just booked a balcony at the back of the ship for $3,500 but this did not include air fare. It is for next April/May 2007. We found airfare for $435 pp from Boston which we thought was pretty good. We are going out a few days early to visit our son who lives in Honolulu. Anyway, I am thinking I paid too much for the cruise????

[pearlaz]

We are on the PofAm in October. Price for a balcony (BF category) including air from Baltimore, taxes, fees, transfers 3213.00 total for 2. We did not buy NCL insurance but purchased it for less independently.

[beachchick]

We just booked a balcony at the back of the ship for $3,500 but this did not include air fare. It is for next April/May 2007. We found airfare for $435 pp from Boston which we thought was pretty good. We are going out a few days early to visit our son who lives in Honolulu. Anyway, I am thinking I paid too much for the cruise????

 

That is truly an excellent fare. Good for you!

 

Is the price for the cruise for two? If so, then that is considerably higher than what we paid, but you need to keep several things in mind. First, April into May is still spring break in some places, so prices tend to be a bit higher. Second, your cruise is a ways out. I noticed that the further out the cruise is the more consistently high the fares are and how you will see week after week at the same rate. I think this is kind of a "baseline" fare. Then, as the cruise gets closer (for us on PoH this winter it was about 4 or 5 months out), they see how the cruises are selling and lower fares on those that aren't. Or they might add state resident discounts or senior fares. Keep checking fares. If your cruise fare is lowered and you are outside final payment date, they will lower the fare (as long as it's not one of those "new bookings only" deals). Our cruise had two fare drops in two weeks. After final payment, NCL doesn't typically give you any lower fares if the rate drops. However, I've heard that you can sometimes sweet talk your way into OBC or an upgrade if the fares drop closer to cruise time. There doesn't seem to be any guarantee of that though.

 

At this point, I think the rationale is that you are paying what they are charging so that you can lock in your cabin selection and date. The holiday, summer, and school break times can fill up pretty fast, so it's hard to say if yours will or if they will be lowering those fares to get the ship booked. Again, keep checking those fares!

 

Good luck (and you got a great deal on that airfare:D).

 

beachchick

[cruisingisforme]

Hey Jimmyfan,

 

I think you got an excellant rate for the airfare, $435.00 is awsome. Out of Toronto the usual rate is about $900.00 cad, so you did very well.

 

I would keep an eye on the cruise rate, you are sailing a long time from now. Prices can change. Did you book thru an agent, if so ask them to keep checking for a better rate. You are travelling at a higher season. The weather will be better, should be less rain than the winter months.

 

Prices can change depending on what state or province you live in. The cruise lines will have different rates just because you are a resident of a certain state. Not fair but thats what they do. Never try to figure the cruise lines out, you will never win. The best you can do is keep checking and look forward to your cruise.

 

C.:)