Cruising to Hawaii

[Jeanny]

I posted on the Carnival board, and thought I'd ask here on the Hawaiian board;

 

My daughter & her boyfriend (both 30) want to do a cruise to Hawaii and asked me if I could ask your opinions. They've been on Carnival twice, but don't have to do Carnival again if say NCL has a good itinerary.

 

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 :-)

[donscomp]

I posted on the Carnival board, and thought I'd ask here on the Hawaiian board;

 

My daughter & her boyfriend (both 30) want to do a cruise to Hawaii and asked me if I could ask your opinions. They've been on Carnival twice, but don't have to do Carnival again if say NCL has a good itinerary.

 

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 :-)

 

We were at 15 days and it was a Round Trip.

It was outstanding and we are doing again. It was on Princess however.

Now they are 14 days. But we LOVE the sea days. We went in Oct. and it was great!!! A little cheaper and still NICE seas and weather. But weather is always a gamble.

Link below has some pics.

[coilover88]

We had a very enjoyable time on Pride of America last December. There is no gambling in Hawaiian waters which incidently the ship never leaves. Hawaii is about sightseeing and excursions. As long as your cabin is viewed as a hotel you are fine. Ncl no longer has but one ship in Hawaii. Good luck to you.

[Jeanny]

thanks for the help... didn't even think about no casino!

 

wicked cool pictures Don!! I wish I was back there, Lahaina looks the same!! Maui is my favorite island. Kauai is my daughter's favorite island.

[donscomp]

thanks for the help... didn't even think about no casino!

 

wicked cool pictures Don!! I wish I was back there, Lahaina looks the same!! Maui is my favorite island. Kauai is my daughter's favorite island.

 

Thank you. We really enjoyed it, so were doing it again.

One thing about the 15 or 14 dayer. Casino for 10 days :)

Learned that casino pays a bit better the 1st day out coming and going. LOL It seemed anyhow.

[Caroldoll]

If you sail from LA, is there a casino any time? I know that in Hawaiian waters, there is no casino.

[beachchick]

I posted on the Carnival board, and thought I'd ask here on the Hawaiian board;

 

My daughter & her boyfriend (both 30) want to do a cruise to Hawaii and asked me if I could ask your opinions. They've been on Carnival twice, but don't have to do Carnival again if say NCL has a good itinerary.

 

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.

 

This is an entirely personal decision based on what they want to do. If they want to see whales, they have to go in winter. If they want the warmest water, they need to go in early fall. If they want less rain, then summer is usually best. Ocean conditions are usually, but not always, a bit calmer in the fall.

 

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.

 

Okay, the only cruises that depart from Honolulu year round are the NCLA cruises on Pride of America. Those are the 7-night, Hawaii-only itineraries. They are the only cruise line that is allowed to do Hawaii only.

 

Most of the other cruise lines do mainland round-trips at different times from Los Angeles or San Diego. These cruises have at least 8 sea days for the going over and coming back; they also usually have less time in Hawaii and not always all the major port stops. All have a non-US port call.

 

The other option is only in the spring and fall. These are the repositioning cruises that some lines do coming and going to Alaska/Canada for the summer season. In the spring it's either CA to Hawaii (about 12 days) or Hawaii to Vancouver (also about 12 days). Fall is the reverse. Most have about 4 sea days with about 7 days in the islands. All have a non-US call at Ensenada or Vancouver.

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

 

If a casino is a must, then they will have to do a mainland-Hawaii r/t or o/w because Hawaii does not allow gambling of any kind. Not even bingo is offered on the PoAm. The other ships do have their casinos open during the ocean crossing. Some have them open between islands, depending on how far out they go from the islands (they must be out of Hawaii's official waters).

 

Do keep in mind that the day(s) closest to the mainland will be cooler. It gets warmer the closer the ship is to Hawaii. (Well, I guess that's kind of a "no kidding" item.) What I mean though is that not all days will be good for lounging by the pool.

 

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

 

Some of the best advice I can give is for them to determine what kind of cruise they want. If the ship experience is primary with the islands being a nice "bonus" for the cruise, then a mainland-Hawaii cruise is the way to go. If spending as much time as possible in Hawaii is the goal with the ship's amenities being not as important, then PoAm is the best bet. PoAm is a nice ship, but she was designed specifically for Hawaii. There are not as many onboard activities, either during the day or at night, because there are no full sea days (only one partial day for the cruise around the Na Pali coastline) and the full port days mean most people are pretty pooped in the evening and tend to go to bed a bit earlier to prepare for the next port day.

 

The best way to ensure a satisfying cruise is to make sure they book the kind of cruise that suits them best. If they choose PoAm, I highly, highly recommend that they add land days either pre- or post-cruise (or both) to get into the aloha mood and to be able to take in more of the islands. A cruise is a great way to get a small taste of the various islands, but that's what it is: A taste. There are literally hundreds of things to do in Hawaii. Even a week on each island wouldn't be enough time to do them all. So, they'll also need to decide what type of port activities are best for them, and they'll need to make choices. It's not possible to do and see everything they will want to do and see, but they can make the most of their island time by choosing the things that appeal most to them--and not what others tell them they "should" want to do and see.

Thanks!!! Jeanny :-)

 

Hope that helps. Bottom line is that they can't go wrong, but that's JMHO.

 

beachchick

[donscomp]

If you sail from LA, is there a casino any time? I know that in Hawaiian waters, there is no casino.

 

All days except the 4 around the Islands and I am not to sure about Mexico but I think it was closed then also. So you have around 10 days to take OR give money to the casino. This is the way it was on Diamond Princess anyhow.