Cruising to Hawaii

[Jeanny]

My daughter & her boyfriend (both 30) want to do a cruise to Hawaii and asked me if I could ask your opinions. This will be their 3rd Carnival cruise.

 

When is a good time to cruise (not necessarily the most inexpensive time)...

do you feel the fall or spring is better? They can basically go anytime.

 

7 day or a 12 day?? They'd probably depart from Honolulu which I think is usually 7 day. Would 12 day be "too long"? We're in the prelimenary planning stages right now. He's in San Francisco now, she's still here on the east coast, joining him sometime within the next year. They have no problem flying over to Honolulu or down to San Diego.

 

If it was allowed, he'd live in the casino, she's content to sit by the pool and read.

 

I know everyone has a different opinion, that's why I'm asking for your help.

Thanks!!! Jeanny :-)

[mom&me_cruising]

Well, the Carnival Hawaii cruises are repositioning cruises so only has 4 trips a year (April and September) and all are 12 days. Norwegian is the cruise line that has a ship in Hawaii and has 7 day cruises with weekly departures from Honolulu. You might want to post this on the Norwegian board.

 

Personally I would rather just fly to Hawaii and stay at a hotel instead of cruising because Hawaii has too much to see and 1 day per port is just not going to be enough.

[Pegs222]

My daughter & her boyfriend (both 30) want to do a cruise to Hawaii and asked me if I could ask your opinions. This will be their 3rd Carnival cruise.

 

When is a good time to cruise (not necessarily the most inexpensive time)...

do you feel the fall or spring is better? They can basically go anytime.

 

7 day or a 12 day?? They'd probably depart from Honolulu which I think is usually 7 day. Would 12 day be "too long"? We're in the prelimenary planning stages right now. He's in San Francisco now, she's still here on the east coast, joining him sometime within the next year. They have no problem flying over to Honolulu or down to San Diego.

 

If it was allowed, he'd live in the casino, she's content to sit by the pool and read.

 

I know everyone has a different opinion, that's why I'm asking for your help.

Thanks!!! Jeanny :-)

 

Actually Carnival only goes to Hawaii four times a year and they sail from Vancouver to Hawaii, then Hawaii to Vancouver. I think there is also a Hawaiian cruise that has a stop in Mexico on her way to California. You can not sail from one American port to another American port. All the Hawaii cruises are 12 days with the Vancouver to Hawaii and reverse five days at sea.

 

Check out this link: http://carnival.com/cms/fun/destination/Hawaii/

[Jeanny]

Well, the Carnival Hawaii cruises are repositioning cruises so only has 4 trips a year (April and September) and all are 12 days. Norwegian is the cruise line that has a ship in Hawaii and has 7 day cruises with weekly departures from Honolulu. You might want to post this on the Norwegian board.

Personally I would rather just fly to Hawaii and stay at a hotel instead of cruising because Hawaii has too much to see and 1 day per port is just not going to be enough.

 

I'm posting to NCL and the Hawaiian board. They don't mind visiting one port per day, they want to visit a few islands to decide which one they want to be married on

 

Actually Carnival only goes to Hawaii four times a year and they sail from Vancouver to Hawaii, then Hawaii to Vancouver. I think there is also a Hawaiian cruise that has a stop in Mexico on her way to California. You can not sail from one American port to another American port. All the Hawaii cruises are 12 days with the Vancouver to Hawaii and reverse five days at sea.

 

Check out this link: http://carnival.com/cms/fun/destination/Hawaii/

 

yeah, that's what I thought, that's why there were just going to fly to Honolulu & depart/return there. Thanks for the link! I had checked that briefly

[Kurbanfan]

Personally I would rather just fly to Hawaii and stay at a hotel instead of cruising because Hawaii has too much to see and 1 day per port is just not going to be enough.

 

I agree! Not to mention NCLA is so overpriced it is pathetic:cool:

[Pegs222]

I'm posting to NCL and the Hawaiian board. They don't mind visiting one port per day, they want to visit a few islands to decide which one they want to be married on

 

 

 

yeah, that's what I thought, that's why there were just going to fly to Honolulu & depart/return there. Thanks for the link! I had checked that briefly

 

We took the Vancouver to Hawaii cruise and had a wonderful time. I think your daughter and her boyfriend would have a wonderful time. Carnival also does weddings. I sound like a Carnival Rep LOL

[mr. cruiser]

Actually Carnival only goes to Hawaii four times a year and they sail from Vancouver to Hawaii, then Hawaii to Vancouver. I think there is also a Hawaiian cruise that has a stop in Mexico on her way to California. You can not sail from one American port to another American port. All the Hawaii cruises are 12 days with the Vancouver to Hawaii and reverse five days at sea.

 

Check out this link: http://carnival.com/cms/fun/destination/Hawaii/

Not 100% right, in spring it goes Ensenada to Hawaii, then Hawaii to Vancouver then in the Fall it is reversed for a total of four trips. My way of thinking is to go from Vancouver, as you get closer to Hawaii the weather would get better.

[RatherBFishin]

Actually Carnival only goes to Hawaii four times a year and they sail from Vancouver to Hawaii, then Hawaii to Vancouver. I think there is also a Hawaiian cruise that has a stop in Mexico on her way to California. You can not sail from one American port to another American port. All the Hawaii cruises are 12 days with the Vancouver to Hawaii and reverse five days at sea.

 

Celebrity, HAL, Princess and RCL all have Hawaii round trips that leave California ports. They only have to stop at a foreign port once during the entire trip. So they usually visit Ensanada, Mexico for an afternoon, the day before returning to California.

 

I would never personally go on NCLA, if for no other reason than principal.

[Fazzdaan]

The Carnival Spirit is the ship that does the Hawaii cruises and it does four Hawaii itineraries a year as it transitions from Mexico winter service to Alaska summer service. The cruises are all 12 days. The two remaining cruises in 2008 are sold out.

 

The next available cruise on the Spirit will go from Ensenada, Mexico to Hawaii on April 12, 2009 and then cruise from Hawaii to Vancouver, BC on April 24, 2009. The reverse routing will leave Vancouver on September 16, 2009 and then leave Hawaii on September 28, 2009.

 

Ensenada is south of San Diego and Carnival provides ground transportation from San Diego to Ensenada. My understanding is this is necessary because of the restriction on foreign flagged ships travelling from directly one US port to another US port. So Carnival busses folks from San Diego to Ensenada while, I believe, they load the luggage on at San Diego and then carry it to Ensenada where the passengers then board for a 9:00 PM departure. There is also, I believe, some form of transportation into and out of Los Angeles but I do not know any specifics on how that works.

 

I hope that helps.

[bullydogsmama]

someone correct me if I'm wrong, But I don't think any ships that "do" the Islands can have a casino on them. At least When we took our cruise on the NCL Wind in 07, the last time out for her, Someone said Hawaii doesn't allow casinos. That was why the Wind had no Casino. I don't think POA has one either.

[RatherBFishin]

someone correct me if I'm wrong, But I don't think any ships that "do" the Islands can have a casino on them. At least When we took our cruise on the NCL Wind in 07, the last time out for her, Someone said Hawaii doesn't allow casinos. That was why the Wind had no Casino. I don't think POA has one either.

 

That's not true. Carnival Spirit, RCL Rhapsody of the Seas, Golden Princess, HAL Zaandam, Celebrity Millennium, and Radiance of the Seas all have Casinos.

 

NCLA's ships (including POA) don't most likely because they are never going to leave American waters. The normal cruise ships just have to leave the Casinos closed until they get to International waters.

[Pegs222]

someone correct me if I'm wrong, But I don't think any ships that "do" the Islands can have a casino on them. At least When we took our cruise on the NCL Wind in 07, the last time out for her, Someone said Hawaii doesn't allow casinos. That was why the Wind had no Casino. I don't think POA has one either.

 

Not true, the Spirit has a Casino and she goes to Hawaii. The Casino and the shops are all closed when in Port. All the Carnival ships have a Casino, they make the big bucks in the Casino and the bars :eek:

[mom&me_cruising]

I'm posting to NCL and the Hawaiian board. They don't mind visiting one port per day, they want to visit a few islands to decide which one they want to be married on

 

Congratulations!

 

I got married on Oahu with Diamond Head in the background at the lovely pink palace (Royal Hawaiian Hotel). Got many lovely sunset pics because I timed the wedding just before sunset. We then had a wonderful reception/dinner at the hotel, and afterwards we and a bunch of wedding guests (minus parents) continue the celebrating at a dance club. Now, Waikiki is not the most secluded beach, but there are other much less crowded beaches on Oahu, I just happen to want to be married at Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Then honeymooned on Maui (left parents on Oahu).

 

Please suggest that they rent a car at each port and drive around to check out all the nice places to get married. (The ports and the general vicinity are not the most scenic so a car to explore is a must.)

 

Do they like sunset beach setting? Do they like lush valleys (very green but could get rained on)? There are tons of great wedding locations on each island, might want to talk to a few wedding coordinators on various island to get ideas.

 

Also check out the web for tons of info on weddings in Hawaii. This website shows you some possible locations with pictures.

http://www.hawaiianweddings.net/locations.html

[eltigre]

My daughter & her boyfriend (both 30) want to do a cruise to Hawaii and asked me if I could ask your opinions. This will be their 3rd Carnival cruise.

 

When is a good time to cruise (not necessarily the most inexpensive time)...

do you feel the fall or spring is better? They can basically go anytime.

 

7 day or a 12 day?? They'd probably depart from Honolulu which I think is usually 7 day. Would 12 day be "too long"? We're in the prelimenary planning stages right now. He's in San Francisco now, she's still here on the east coast, joining him sometime within the next year. They have no problem flying over to Honolulu or down to San Diego.

 

If it was allowed, he'd live in the casino, she's content to sit by the pool and read.

 

I know everyone has a different opinion, that's why I'm asking for your help.

Thanks!!! Jeanny :-)

 

In 2006 we went Vancouver to Hawaii 12 day in Sept. (flew home)to get married.

It was just the 2 of us.

With much internet research & google earth I found a Hawaiin minister, a flower shop, the exact beach I wanted, a photographer for pics & video, the licencing agent, the hotel to change clothes & another hotel for our bridal meal.

 

After a beautiful relaxing ocean voyage enjoying the ship, we got our licence at the first Maui port then spent the day enjoying the island in a rented car.

 

The next day we explored more from the other Maui port ( now they just over night I believe)picked up our flowers on the way to a hotel to change & get ready that was on the way to the beach where we met the minister & photographer for a sunset wedding.

 

We had dinner at the Four Seasons Wailea, waterfront dinning steps from the beach. Beautiful & great food & service.

 

On our way to drop off the car the photographer had our discs ready for pick up & we were back to the ship for 10pm sailing.

 

Costs were 1/2 what ships charge or wedding planners & I had a Maui Wedding with leis & bare feet on a deserted beach with palms, volcanic rock, an island & ocean for a backdrop.

An authentic Hawaiian minister with conch shell & ukulele in ancient Hawaiin dress. Flower petals sprinkled on the sand & the "first dance" inside a heart oultlined in the sand.

A wedding toast in the sunset with our names engraved in Hawaiian on the champagne glasses.

 

Then another 1/2 a cruise & ports & so much fun....still to go.

We are talking friends into a 2010 trip the same as it is so great!!!

[Kurbanfan]

someone correct me if I'm wrong, But I don't think any ships that "do" the Islands can have a casino on them. At least When we took our cruise on the NCL Wind in 07, the last time out for her, Someone said Hawaii doesn't allow casinos. That was why the Wind had no Casino. I don't think POA has one either.

\

 

Your are correct, Hawaii does not allow gambling. NCLA has no gambling on board on their 7 day cruises. Now the other lines do but not sure how far they have to be out at sea in order for their casino to open.....

[eltigre]

OPPS!!!

 

Not exactly the same as we are already MAUID:p

[mr. cruiser]

\

 

Your are correct, Hawaii does not allow gambling. NCLA has no gambling on board on their 7 day cruises. Now the other lines do but not sure how far they have to be out at sea in order for their casino to open.....

12 miles, I believe

[Kurbanfan]

OPPS!!!

 

Not exactly the same as we are already MAUID:p

 

 

Too cute! LOL!

[Jeanny]

see, this is exactly why I love these boards!! Thanks for all the suggestions and help.... I wasn't even thinking there would be no casino.

 

thanks SO much!!!!!

[Hap]

A couple of years ago we did the Princess Hawaii/Tahiti cruise. It is a 14 day cruise that starts in Honolulu and ends in Tahiti. Then from Tahiti back to Honolulu. It was the best cruise I was ever on. Get on there web site and find out when and if they will be doing again this year. Bora Bora and Moorea are the most beautiful islands I have ever seen.