Anyone done a Hawaiian cruise?

[Deb in IA]

We are thinking about going to Hawaii next year, and going on a cruise that goes to the major islands.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Any recommendations for cruise lines, and any strategies for getting discounts?

 

[Galahad]

Never done any kind of cruise, but we are hoping to go to Hawaii about this time next year. Never been there at all. So adding to Deb's question any general Hawaii stuff would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Deb in IA]

(answering Galahad's question on my own thread!)

We were at Kauai for our honeymoon almost 16 years ago. It is beautiful - the terrain is so rugged, lush, and relatively undeveloped that it is used for many famous movie shots. Remember the beach where Mitzi Gaynor sang, "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair" from South Pacific? It's there, with the definitely un-romantic name of Blood Beach. The undertow is so strong there that many swimmers have lost their lives there--thus the name.

Other movie scenes shot on Kauai include the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark -- where Indy runs through the jungle, heading for the amphibious plane. Also the last scene of King Kong.

We stayed at a resort in Princeville. We did a helicopter tour, a dophin tour, and drove up to Waimea Canyon (dubbed "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific by Mark Twain).

A few years later, we went to Oahu and Maui. Did the Pearl Harbor visit with the USS Arizona Memorial -- very moving. Hiked Diamond Head. Played on Waikiki Beach.

Would like to visit Molokai someday (to see Father Damien's leper colony) and the Big Island.

 

[mickeyboat]

Can't help you too much. But my boss did one on Norwegian this Spring and loved it. He did say it was a long time to be on a ship, though. I think he gained over 10 lbs.

Denae

 

[nuke]

The major cruise line that does cruises in Hawaii is Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). They have a continuous 7 day itinerary as well as some that do 3 and 4 day cruises. www.ncl.com

 

[Bumbles]

Prnicess also does some Hawaiian cruises..I think Island Princess is the main ship they use in HI

 

[dzneelvr]

We plan to visit Hawaii next year as well and want to stay in a hotel that is not just a major chain.
Isn't there a hotel on one of the islands that even teaches Hawaiian culture, etc. during the day? I tore something out of a travel magazine a few years ago, but must have thrown it away....any help?????

 

[Paradise]

Originally posted by Deb in IA
We are thinking about going to Hawaii next year, and going on a cruise that goes to the major islands.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Any recommendations for cruise lines, and any strategies for getting discounts?

You should check the NCL board at www.cruisecritic.com

NCL seems to be having some problems with the American crew on their Hawaii ships. Passengers are reporting that the level of service is not as good as on other lines with a foreign crew.

 

[Laz]

Originally posted by Paradise
You should check the NCL board at www.cruisecritic.com

NCL seems to be having some problems with the American crew on their Hawaii ships. Passengers are reporting that the level of service is not as good as on other lines with a foreign crew.

That is the same problem that American Hawaii Cruises had. They went bankrupt. NCL formed a new division called NCL America. The Pride of Aloha is American flagge and the Pride of America will be as well. The positive of being American flagged is that the ship does not have to vist a foriegn port. No immigration or custom problems. Regular NCL ships go to the Fanning Islands and you must have a passport.

The Problem with an American flagged ship is that the must have an American crew and pay Union wages and follow union rules. Foriegn Flagged ships do not have those restrictions. While I can not comment on the service, it does lead to higher prices. American flagged ships do not have casinos if that interest you (of course Disney ships don't have casinos as well.)

Other cruise lines will operate cruises from the West Coast to Hawaii in the Winter time. The Cruise will leave either Vancouver or Ensenada (hence the foriegn port) and cruise to Hawaii, around it (stopping off at the major ports), and then let you off in Honolulu. They then reverse the process. If you take these types of trips, think about spending extra time on the islands before or after the cruise. One hint would be to fly to Hawaii first and cruise back because you won't experience "Jet Lag" going home. Holland America is the only one I know that does a complete circle from the West Coast in one cruise.

I am going on my third trip to Hawaii in 2005. To us, it is Paradise once you get away from the tourist areas. Our favorite island is Kuai because it remains the least touristy of the main islands. My family and I feel you wouldn't have time to really see the islands on a cruise (and we are cruise fanatics). We usually rent a car, get a book like "Maui Revealed" and take off!

 

[Mary Ellen]

You can directly go to the Cruise Critic boards here. For info on Hawaii be sure to check out the 'Ports of Call' area.

There are other lines that sail round trip to Hawaii also. I know Holland America (our favorite line) and Royal Caribbean do.

When you look at brochures, no one pays 'list' price, there are discounts. Travel Agencys that do a LARGE volume with a particular cruise line usually get bigger discounts. Shop around.

 

[Jimbo]

I've taken cruises, and I've vacationed in Hawaii. But I've never mixed the two, and I wouldn't consider it.

One of the big benefits to a cruise is that you get to see things you'd have a problem doing otherwise. That's why an Alaskan cruise makes sense. In the Caribbean, you might want to see several islands on a single trip. Or, to put it another way, you might only want to spend a day at some of the islands. So a cruise can be the way to go.

But Hawaii's a different story. These are relatively big islands (compared to the Caribbean), and many of the best things are in the interior, like the big canyon on Kauai, or the Hana Highway and Mt. Haleakala on Maui. But it's easy to get around. It's a state, after all, and that means renting a car isn't a hassle, you drive on the right, the signs are in English, etc. All of that is obvious, but it's a big reason why retreating to the ship each day isn't such an advantage.

So my $.02 is to skip the cruise and pick two or three islands. Spend some time soaking up the culture and atmosphere. It is a really great vacation!

 

[Travelnut]

We are going on a 10 day Hawaiian cruise in March 2005. It starts in Hawaii and ends in Ensenada. This cruise is with Royal Caribbean. I was also wondering if there was a good discussion board out there like the Disney boards. We will be going to Hawaii 4 days before the cruise starts. We have found when doing cruises, you do not have enough time off the ship without feeling rushed. I know nothing about Hawaii and would welcome any suggestions.

Robin

 

[Deb in IA]

Welcome to the DIS, travelnut!

Mary Ellen posted a link to the Cruise Critic boards. I've been over there to look around, but haven't registered yet.

Let me know what you think of your RC cruise, Ok?

 

[WDWLVR]

We had wanted to do the NCL 4 days sea/3 days land vacation in early '05. That was supposed to be with the Pride of America, but then it sunk in the shipyard and that put them behind schedule. Still hoping to do it someday.

DH has never been so we'd like the beauty of doing a taste of 4 islands and then spend some time on Oahu.

 

[Travelnut]

Thanks Deb,

I'm over lurking on the Cruise Critic boards right now finding out some things.

 

[mickeyfan1]

In 1992? I can't remember the year, but it was on American Hawaii USS Constitution. I promised my mother that I would take her to Hawaii, and the cruise was too good of a deal to pass up. I paid $3600. 00 back then for a base rate cabin for 2, airfare was free for both on my FF miles. ANyway, I think it was a great way to see all that Hawaii has to offer. We started in Honolulu, we went to Kawaii, Maui, and Hawaii. We did some shore tours, we went to Haleakala Crater, the VOlcanoes National Park, we did a macadamia nut farm tour, a garden tour, we saw the USS Arizona memorial, we went to the Ioau (sp) needle park. Probably other stuff that I don't remember. I did a snorkeling tour in Kona.

We did not do a helicopter tour, way to high dollar for that, but we saw the vocanic lava flow from the ship as we sailed from Hilo to Kona.

It was a wonderful cruise, the service was excellent. Unfortunately Amer Haw was bought out by the Delta Steamboat company. The Constiotution sank on her way to dry dock, Delta Steamboat declared Bankruptcy. THey still sail at least one paddleboat on the Mississippi, but no more in Hawaii.

I have not sailed on NCL, so I can't help you there. But to me cruising is the only way to go. Unpack once, see all the different ports. The only drawback I can say there was, I could never aadjust to the 6 hour time difference from Atlanta. If I was to do it again, I think I would fly out, stay for 3 days on land there and then board the ship.

Aloha!

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks for the info, mickeyfan1!!

We have been to Kauai, Oahu, and Maui in the past, and were looking for something to give the kids (who will be 14 and 10) a sample of each of the islands, rather than spending the entire time on one of them, and the convenience of a cruise seemed to be the way to go.

I'll look into what the cruise lines have to offer, and check with our TA as well.

 

[Laz]

I just read where NCL America has made their prepaid gratuity non-refundable. NCL will evenentually do this for the rest of the fleet. NCL says you should complain about the service right away rather than waiting untill the end of the cruise. I do not like this new policy at all