Island Princess to the Big Pineapple 2-20-06

Kaylas Mom · December 1, 2004

Hey, I hadn't focused on the British part of this email. Hi Pete -- we're just across the sea from you in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

I notice some of you are thinking about the cruises that stop here in Belfast -- lucky you! This is a great place. If you need any help with what to do, where to go, how to get there, just ask and I am happy to help.

Also, Peter, just wanted to let you know (in case you are as worried as I was) that our family did the trip from here to Honolulu last Easter and survived. In fact, I think that, despite that fetc that it took 26 hours over, it was one of the more pleasant flights I ever had. We organized it so we would arrive in Hawaii at 10 pm and go straight to sleep. The only thing that went wrong is that another hotel guest accidentily phoned my room at 4:45 am and woke me up, thus messing up my plan to recover from jetlag....

Cathy

(AKA Kayla's Mom)

Pilgrim Pete · December 3, 2004

Cathy - I hope you thanked them kindly and wished them a pleasant day!

Our journey to the islands should be a little more bearable although a lot longer as we fly from BHX to LAX with one change, in about 14 hours, a three day stop over in Long Beach and then 4 days at sea on the Island.

Kittycat · December 3, 2004

Pilgrim Pete - did you book your flights with Princess? We are having a pre cruise stay in LA, but our flights are (I hope) direct, although we have to fly from Heathrow.

DonahCBrown · December 5, 2004

Donna

Not too much information Donna. I enjoy every tidbit.

It's snowing here right now, so thinking about Hawaii is certainly a

better idea. If you want to see snow check out the Travel chanel.

Thank you again for the information. Our climate is just like where

you keep the frozen fish.

Aloha

Dave & Linda Hansen

Glad to hear I didn't bore you to tears! There's something about having been a reference librarian in a former life...Although it also helps to make me the Princess Cruise Trivia Queen...

We DO get snow here in Hawaii, and coming in Feb. you are more than likely to see some, if it is a clear day. We get snows atop Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, and very occasionally on Maui atop Haleakala, all of which are over or well over 10,000 ft. elevation - Mauna Kea is over 13,000 ft.

Not to worry, though, the temps at sea level are much nicer - 70s to low 80s, although I'd advise packing a sweater or light jacket for trips to the Volcano (at about 8,000 ft., often misty/rainy) and for the evenings when the temps can drop down in the mid-60s. (that's all in farenheit, BTW, for the metric system folks - don't remember the exact conversions from my trip to New Zealand, but it's pleasantly warm to pleasantly cool - we're large on pleasant here in the islands!)

You should also have lots of whales around, particularly in and around Maui and the Big Island Kona side. Not so many on the Hilo side, although the population is growing sufficiently for some to have been seen over there for the first time last year raising their babies. The humpbacks come down here from Alaska, starting in November, and peaking in Jan/Feb to give birth and breed. They return to Alaska in Apr/May. You'll be here when they usually are in the midst of breeding season, and the males do a lot of showing off and breaching to impress the females. Keep your cameras handy, and when a male or pair of males start to breach, keep the camera pointed at the spot, as they will often times do several breaches at a time and you can get some really spectacular pictures.

While watching for whales, look for the "steam" from their breathing. If you see a large "spout" and a smaller one that is more frequent, you'll be looking for/at a mom and baby.

Donna

Pilgrim Pete · December 5, 2004

Kittycat - We booked our flights and partially paid for them with Airmiles, and then used our FF miles to upgrade with Continental who fly from Birmingham to Newark. Direct flights would be nice, but BHX is local to us in Tamworth (20 minutes) and avoid the hassle of flying out of LHR for a direct flight.

Looking at the schedules there are not many direct flights out of LHR only Virgin and AA. If there are enough UK travellers Princess could charter a flight with Virgin, I believe this is quite common for P&O.

Dave Hansen · December 9, 2004

Hi Dave,
I'm also booked on the same cruise. Nothing like planning ahead. You're not the only one. I'm looking forward to all the sea days. They should be very relaxing.

Marcy

We haven' heard from you in awhile. Hope everythings

OK.

Dave Hansen

mlymd · December 9, 2004

Hi Dave,

Sorry I have not posted lately. We are leaving on Jan 14 for Sydney on the Sapphire Princess. We will be gone for 3 weeks so I have been busy planning for this cruise. When we get back, we will start all our planning for Hawaii. Somewhere in between these two cruises, we will try to book one more. We have been to Hawaii before and loved every minute of it. Have you looked into any tours yet?

Marcy

Dave Hansen · December 20, 2004

Marcy, Have a wonderful time down under. We haven't been there yet

but it seems like a good idea. Our next cruise is Feb. 27th out of

Jacksonville. 14 days where they raise palm trees.

Fair Winds & Following Seas

Dave Hansen

jjssitters · December 21, 2004

Hi Every One,we Just Got Off The Island Princess In Nov.we Did The 15 Day Round Trip To Hawaii And Last Year We Were On The Celebrity Infinity To Hawaii.i Will Gladly Answer Any Of Your Questions That You Throw At Me If I Can :) .i Do Have One Recommendation ,we Took This Tour Both Years And Had A Great Time. The Movie Tour And Helicopter Ride In Kuaui.it Was A Good Way To See Most Of Kuaui And The Helicopter Over Kuaui Was The Highlight Of The Cruise Both Years.we Did Not Book This Tour With The Cruiseline It Is Independent.let Me Know If There Is Anything I Can Answer

mlymd · December 21, 2004

Thanks Dave. I'm sure we will have a wonderful time. I'll post when we get back and let you know how it was. It is only one degree here and I am really thinking of our cruise to Hawaii. Wish I was there now!!

Marcy

ho · December 21, 2004

jjssitters,

What did you like and dislike about the two cruises. We were booked on the Infinity for April 05 but changed to the Island Princess. I was able to get the Island for a little cheaper price then the Infinity and picked up another 4 days of cruising. Which cruise did you prefer and why? Thanks for the information.

Ho

jjssitters · December 21, 2004

hi I just copied and pasted my thoughts that I posted when we came back ,we loved this cruise.you will love the island princess,what a beautiful ship and the staff was the best we ever had.here it is

I WAS A DIE HARD CELEBRITY FAN,WE JUST CAME HOME FROM HAWAII ON THE ISLAND PRINCESS,IT WAS A FANTASTIC CRUISE.THE ISLAND PRINCESS IS BEAUTIFUL.WE DID THIS SAME ITINERARY LAST YEAR ON THE INFINITY AND THAT ALSO WAS MAGNIFICENT.I WENT INTO THIS CRUISE WITH AN OPEN MIND THAT THE TWO CRUISES WOULD BE DIFFERENT AND HOPED THAT I WOULDNT BE DISSAPPOINTED IN PRINCESS,I WASNT.HERE IS WHAT MY OPINIONS WERE OF THE TWO LINES.

BOTH SHIPS WERE BEAUTIFUL BUT THE ISLAND PRINCESS WAS MORE TO MY TASTE,SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.

BUFFET FOOD - PRINCESS,MORE VARIETY AND OPEN TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY.FOOD WAS DELICIOUS

DINING ROOM FOOD,WHILE BOTH WERE VERY GOOD I THINK CELEBRITYS IS A LITTLE BETTER

ENTERTAINMENT-THEY SAY THIS IS CELEBRITYS WEak point but I did not find this to be so, it was very good ,however I think princess was a little better and the crew on the island princess were terrific.

SERVICE ON BOTH LINES WAS GREAT WE HAVE NO COMPLAINTS SOME PEOPLE ON BOARD SAID THAT SERVICE WASNT WHAT IT USED TO BE ON PRINCESS,WE DIDNT FIND THIS TO BE SO ,THEY BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO PLEASE.I DO FEEL THOUGH THAT CELEBRITY HAS LITTLE TOUCHES THAT PRINCESS DOESNT,THE COLD WASH CLOTHES IN PORT,THE CHAMPAYNE ESCORT TO YOUR CABIN UPON BOARDING,THE SORBET AT THE POOL SERVED BY WAITERS AND IN THE BUFFET WAITERS TAKING YOUR TRAY TO THE TABLE. THIS ARE LITTLE THINGS THAT ADD UP TO PAMPER YOU SO IF I HAD TO VOTE ON SERVICE I WOULD VOTE CELEBRITY,NOT THAT I DIDNT THINK PRINCESS WAS GOOD,IT WAS.

DRESS CODE- CELEBRITY WAS ON THE DRESSY SIDE BUT MY HUSBAND AND I ENJOY GETTING DRESSED FOR DINNER.I DRESSED THE SAME WAY ON PRINCESS AND DID NOT FEEL OUT OF PLACE.I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT ON PRINCESS EVERYONE WAS DRESSED AS NICE AS ON THE INFINITY AS I HEARD IT WASNT AS DRESSY.AT NIGHT AT THE LATE SEATING ALL THE WOMEN HAD ON VERY NICE PANTS SUITS OR DRESSES AND FORMAL NIGHT THEY WERE DRESSED TO THE NINES.

I DID SEE ALOT OF TUXES,MORE THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD AND YOU MEN SHOULD WEAR THEM EVERYDAY,HOW HANDSOME YOU ALL LOOK IN THEM THE WOMEN DID WEAR GOWNS AND EVERYONE LOOKED SO NICE.THE DINING ROOM DID TURN AWAY ANYONE THAT WAS NOT DRESSED FORMAL WITH THE OPTION TO GO TO THE BUFFET ,I DID WITNESS THIS AND THEY ENFORCED IT.SO I DONT THINK I CAN VOTE ON THE DRESS CODE AS I THINK THEY WERE THE SAME.

ALSO ANYONE THINKING OF DOING THE ROUND TRIP TO HAWAII THIS WAS A FANTASTIC CRUISE.

I WILL NOT HESITATE TO BOOK CELEBRITY OR PRINCESS AS I THINK THEY ARE BOTH EXCELLENT CRUISELINES JUST SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND NOT ENOUGH TO SAY I WOULD TAKE ONE OVER THE OTHER,IT WILL DEPEND ON ITINERARY AND WHO GIVES THE BETTER PRICE.I WAS SO NERVOUS GOING INTO THIS CRUISE THAT I WOULDNT LIKE IT AS MUCH BUT KEPT AN OPEN MIND AND COULDNT HAVE BEEN MORE PLEASED.

I posted this on princess boards too but I dont think they liked it lol,I wasnt putting either cruiseline down, just my opinions.we were originally booked on celebrity to hawaii when I spotted the island princess on an internet travel site, on sale,it was a promo,it was 2600.00 cheaper for a balcony cabin.we had booked a balcony cabon on the infinity too.with such a difference in price we decided to change our booking.I was very nervous about this and really didnt think we would like it half as much. but we did.

one more note I WANT TO MAKE ,THE BAYOU CAFE ON THE ISLAND (SORRY HIT CAPS),IS A JAZZ DINNER CLUB,THE MUSIC WAS GREAT DURING DINNER AND WAS NOT CROWDED.THERE IS A SEPERATE SECTION FROM THE DINING SECTION NEAR THE BAR WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST LISTEN TO THE BAND AND SINGER PERFORM.WE REALLY ENJOYED OUR DINNER THERE FOR TEN DOLLARS.WE HAD A BIG BOWL OF PEEL SHRIMP,SOUP,SALAD,FILET MIGNON AND DESSERT.IT WAS VERY GOOD.

IN THE FUTURE I WILL MAKE MY DECISION BASED ON ITINERARY AND PRICE.YOU CANT GO WRONG WITH EITHER CRUISELINE.I AM REALLY GLAD I FEEL THIS WAY WITH THE NEW PRICING POLICY CELEBRITY IS DOING,IT GIVES ME MORE OPTIONS.

jjssitters · December 21, 2004