Just returned from an NCL cruise to Hawaii

[NCRedding]

Since Disney made me addicted to cruising, I am now branching out to other lines and itineraries. We have tried on other cruise line (RCCL to Alaska), and weren't that pleased. However, we really loved this cruise--it was an older ship, but the people and the food were wonderful. I'd be happy to answer any questions.

 

[challada]

Yes, yes, yes...I have many questions!

1. What is the age group on board the NCL versus the RCCL compared to Disney?

2. Do you have kids and was there anything for them to do on NCL (I'm assuming you did the older boat instead of the newer boat around Hawaii based on your statement)?

3. How much did you spend on the extra dining on NCL?

4. Did you have NCL book your flight in/out of Hawaii or did you do it yourself?

5. Do rooms fit 4 people?

Hope it was wonderful!
THANKS
Chris

 

[one princess]

Can you tell me what you did and didn't like about the Alaska trip? I am looking into the Seranade of the Seas for 2007. Is this the ship you took?
I just got a wild hair and invited my MIL so I want it to be really good. She has never been on a cruise before.

Thanks for any feedback,
Jackie

 

[NCRedding]

Let's see if I can answer:
1. The crowd was older than average on a DCL cruise. Our RCCL cruise was to Alaska which I think traditionally attracts an older group. This cruise was a 10 night cruise, so I think that also affected the age.

2. We were on the older ship, the Wind, built in 1993 and stretched in 1999. It seemed much smaller than the Magic/Wonder and the Radiance that I had been on before. I liked its size. Our DD is 12 almost 13, at that awkward age, so she didn't want to participate in the kids program--she said it looked too childish, and didn't like the idea of having to have a parent check her in and out. The kids programs are divided in age groups2-5, 6-9, 10-12 and then teens. The actual kids area is very small, but they make use of the rooms around the ship--they go to hula lessons, movies, shows, etc. I thought I had brought home the "dailies" for all kids, but can only put my hands on the on for 10-12 and the teens.

3. The only paid alternative restaurant on the Wind is LeBistro which costs $10 per person cover charge. On the nights that they offered lobster, the total cost per person was $15. The first night they offered a special price of $5. We didn't eat here--we thought the food was excellent in the regular restaurants, plus it seemed more of "date night" restaurant, so we didn't think our DD would enjoy it.

4. we booked our on air, because we were staying in Wakiki a few nights after the cruise for a convention.

5. They do have some rooms that would hold 4, but it would be tight. We splurged and got two connecting oceanview rooms on the lowest floor. The room would have held 3--two in the bed, and one on the fold out sofa bed. (It was still cheaper for two rooms than one room on the DCL cruise).

 

[NCRedding]

We were on the Radiance from Vancouver. Loved Alaska, and the scenery more than made up for the minor problems with the cruise.

I just didn't care for the food on RCCL, found too few activities during the day (since I don't gamble or bingo). I also had a few negative encounters with the staff. In retrospect, I think my expectations were so high because on the wonderful DCL cruises I had been on, that RCCL just couldn't live up to.

 

[mickey2000]

My first two cruises were also with Disney and I have also branched out and moved on as I'm now hooked on cruising! This will be my 7th cruise.
My next cruise is also to Hawaii! Air from Phl to Hawaii, 3 nts land Marriott, insurance ,7 nt NCL Pride of America cruise (balcony) all for less than the Disney 7nt package..........I'm excited..

PRIDE OF AMERICA

 

[one princess]

Thanks for the reply on the Alaska cruise. That is pretty much the same thing I am getting from other reviews. I know I will compare with Disney and RCCL will come up short but I am excited to see Alaska and will just have to make the best of it.

Jackie

 

[HeelMD]

Could you post the itinerary for the 10-day Hawaii cruise?

 

[mickey2000]

Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 3nts. pre cruise

The newly renovated Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa offers deluxe guestroom accommodations, restaurants, lounges, Hawaiian entertainment, 2 swimming pools, a fitness facility, shops and boutiques.

The resort is located across from world renowned “Waikīkī Beach” and is within walking distance from the International Market Place, Waikīkī Aquarium, Honolulu Zoo, Diamond Head and other major Waikīkī attractions.

NCL Service Center
Located in the Lobby of the Waikīkī Beach Marriot Resort & Spa

• Advanced ship check-in with expedited boarding process.
• Priority pre-booking of Hawaii Shore Excursions program.
• Ability to customize your Oahu experience.


Day Port Arrive Depart
Sat. Honolulu, Oahu - - 8:00pm
Sun. Hilo, Hawaii 8:00am 7:00pm
Evening sail by Mount Kilauea
Mon. Kahului, Maui 8:00am overnight
(Optional tour to Lanai is available)
Tue. Kahului, Maui - - 6:00pm
Wed. Kona, Hawaii 7:00am 6:00pm
Thu. (Scenic cruising)
Nawiliwili, Kauai 10:00am† overnight
Fri. Nawiliwili, Kauai - - 6:00pm†
Sat. Honolulu, Oahu 7:00am* - -

 

[NCRedding]

10 night cruise: Honolulu (WED); Hilo, Big Island (Th); 2 at sea days; Fanning Island (SUN); 2 at sea days; Nawiliwili, Kauii (Wed); Lahaina, Maui (Thurs); Kona, Big Island (FRI); Honolulu (SAT).

They also offer an 11 night which leaves on a Saturday and returns on Wed. with an overnight stay in Lahaina. Unfortunately, they are moving the Wind next April, so the Fanning Island stop will end. Fanning is a small island near the equator which has no running water or electricity. NCL sails there and has improved one of the beach areas for cruisers. It was beautiful and the people were very friendly.

 

[Jsme]

We have been considering the NCL that goes to Hawaii. We have cruised NCl before but it was years ago. I do not know how your cruise was cheapier than DCL but I believe you. Everytime I have gotten a quote it was about the same as DCL. Then we woul dhave to include the airfare. That allow adds another $2000 for us. I just do not see it happening anytime soon.

Can you tell me more about the dining. Is the Hawaiian cruise also freestyle dining? How many restaurants do they have? Can you tell me more about LeBristo? Can you eat there as many times as you want? Do you have to make an reservation? Is this and all adult restaurant?

I know I am asking lots of questions. But I so want to do this cruise. The more informed I am the better my chances of talking DH into it.

Did it compare at all to DCL?

 

[mickey2000]

Pride of America is the first newly built ocean going cruise ship to fly the U.S. flag in over 50 years, and so was designed with its destination in mind. That means you immediately sense a much lighter ambiance throughout the ship, from public rooms, which feature expansive windows, to staterooms, because the ship features a far higher ratio of cabins with balconies -- a most crucial amenity in Hawaii.

Unlike Pride of Aloha, which carries a Hawaiian theme throughout, this ship celebrates various symbols of America -- interpretations focusing on history (such as the almost-out-of-Monticello Jefferson's Bistro) and pop culture (the wacky Cadillac Diner, a 1950's retro-style fast-food joint in which booths are tucked between the hood and fins of a huge recreated Cadillac). Other public areas simply center on particular regions; we especially loved the Napa Wine Bar, decked out with fieldstone walls that really reminded this former Sonoma resident of that region.

There's also a strong emphasis on incorporating contemporary pre-requisites: the spa is large, the pool area is whimsically decorated and features the usual (pool, bars, stage, whirlpools) and the not-so usual -- a bungee jumping trampoline!

Ultimately, the real conundrum about Pride of America is that it feels much more like a destination itself than did Aloha, which seemed, to me, more like a hotel that just happened to cruise from island to island. On Pride of America, the lure of staying onboard -- enjoying everything from the fabulous outdoor areas to the spa, and relaxing in lovely indoor spots like the S.S. America library and Capitol Atrium -- is strong!

It may be worth it to upgrade -- and this ship offers a good range of opportunities. Folks who stay in the Grand Suite, the six Owner's Suites, and the three deluxe penthouse suites enjoy separate living and dining areas (the former has a grand piano) and fabulous balconies with Jacuzzis. Bathrooms, with all the expected touches (separate shower and tub, etc.), have windows overlooking verandahs. Flat-screen televisions and DVD/CD technology are de rigueur.

Totally new to NCL is a series of family-friendly accommodations. There are two deluxe family penthouse suites (featuring a separate second bedroom) and eight family suites (about half the size) as well as four suites that are comprised of two interconnecting cabins.

Mealtime

NCL is, of course, the "Freestyle Cruising" cruise line and offers a great range of restaurants on Pride of America. Some are included in the cruise fare, others levy a service charge and a handful price some to all of their menu items on an a la carte basis.

Skyline, inspired by New York's skyscrapers, and Liberty, an oh-so-patriotic stars-and- stripes-themed room, are the ship's main restaurants, serving open-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner. The top-deck lido buffet, the Aloha Cafe, represents a departure from previous ships in that the cafeteria-style design has given way to the more crowd-friendly station set-up. That means that you can go for hot food at one area, salads in another, sandwiches at yet another, etc., which cuts way down on lines. The dining area for Aloha stretches all the way to the back of the ship, where there's outdoor seating (and a supplementary buffet and bar). We love NCL's trademark kid-sized buffet and seating area.

The most romantic restaurant onboard is Jefferson's Bistro -- while the decor honors Jefferson's library in the historic Monticello, the menu is French themed, consistent with bistros on other NCL ships (which is appropriate, as Jefferson was quite the Francophile). There's a $10 per person charge here.

For Asian-fusion there's East Meets West; here you'll also find a small sushi and sashimi bar along with a Teppanyaki room. East Meets West levies a $10 service charge and features some a la carte priced menu items; the sushi and Teppanyaki bars are a la carte, price-wise.

For the ultra-low-carb experience the Lazy J Texas Steak House should fit the bill -- there's a $20 per-person service fee here. More eclectic is the Cadillac Diner, with an Elvis-meets-Waikiki theme; this is the place for burgers and other diner specialties and it's got outdoor seating. And finally there's Little Italy, which serves, yeah, you guessed it, Italian.

Nifty and New

Well, the bungee-like trampoline above the pool deck definitely qualifies. The family suites are a nice new addition. The Capitol Atrium, only two decks high, is quite dramatic. Also, note that in July the company expects to add a funky new reservation system for its restaurant, in which flat-screen televisions posted near prime eateries will give up-to-the-moment info on wait times and seating availability. The ship has a huge business center with lots of meeting rooms -- one is even round.

Grand Old Favorites

NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" approach to dining -- in which you can choose to eat where, when and with whom you want -- is a definitely a huge part of the line's appeal. The Kumu Cultural Center, dedicated to showcasing Hawaiian history, is smaller here than on Pride of Aloha but its location is much more central (so perhaps passengers will spend more time there).

Huh?

While the ship's design scheme has a cohesive theme -- America -- interpretations are pretty broad (from the elegant Capitol Atrium to the wacky Cadillac Diner) and as such can feel a bit schizophrenic. There's a dedicated teen center but it lacks imagination and innovation and I can't see it attracting too many teens.

Bottom Line

NCL has succeeded in building a ship that has something for literally everyone -- families, couples, and business and incentive travelers (and I applaud its designers for attention to detail for passengers with disabilities) -- and that, coupled with the fantastic Hawaiian itinerary, makes it a ship worth taking.

Got this from another site!

 

[dairyou]

Hi,

We looked into this cruise last year but didn't book it and went on RCCL instead. Big mistake!

I've hear the beds on NCL are rock hard. Can you tell me what your experience was compared to DCL? Also are the pools fresh water? How much time did you really get to experience the ship since you were traveling to different islands all the time?

We are very much interested in doing this cruise because we could see many islands on one trip

Deb

 

[NCRedding]

jsme: We couldn't believe how relatively cheap NCL was compared to others. The 10 night was actually cheaper than the 7 night NCL on the Pride of Aloha. Our airfare was from Greensboro--about $590 per person. My DH was travelling for a convention, so his airfare and post-cruise hotel stay was paid for.

DINING: Our cruise was freestyle which I liked much better than I expected. We experienced a 30 minute wait one night, and a 10 minute wait another. Other than that, it was walk-in. There are two regular restaurants which served the same menu--The Terraces was smaller and more elegant; the Four Seasons was louder, and less formal (they allow shorts, etc). We prefered the Terraces. La Trattoria is a smaller restaurant that served Italian for 8 nights, and mexican for 2 nights. We were never able to eat here due to the wait times--over an hour. You could make a reservation, but only for 5:30 or 8:30. The Sports Bar had a different buffet each night and was pretty good for a buffet. LeBistro was reservation only. The cover charge was $10 per person most nights, and $15 per person for lobster nights. There is no limit to the number of nights you can eat here, but you can only book 1 or 2 nights in advance. we decided not to eat here because we enjoyed the regular restaurants just as well. There is also a pizza place on the pool deck--they said it was open until 3 am, but being east-coasters, we were never up that late . They also had room service.

The pools are salt water, and appear to be slightly larger than the goofy pool.

My bed was hard, but I like hard beds. DH's side was softer--we both slept like babies, as did my DD.

We had 4 at sea days, so we spent alot of time on the ship. I did miss the movie theatre on those days, although they played movies in the room on two channels.

Compared to DCL: I never expected to say this, but it rates favorably. I though the food and presentation was at least as good as DCL. I missed Plutos for chicken fingers, hamburgers, etc. The staff was just as friendly as on DCL, although I missed not having the same servers each night. We had the same server in Terraces the first few nights, and she remembered us later
in the cruise. The entertainment--I love Disney Dreams and Hercules. NCL had live performance shows--the stage band was excellent and I enjoyed most of the productions shows alot. We had outside performers--some I liked and some I didn't. There were a lot of activities during the day--trivia 2 times a day, craft classes, hula lessons. This was what I missed on RCCL (very limited adult activities). I give a slight edge on entertainment to DCL--but let's face it that is the business they are in.

In all, I will be looking to NCL for future cruises, unless I can run across a great deal on DCL, or until they have a change in itenerary. (Although my heart will always belong to DCL)

 

[Cass]

Hi NRedding, glad you have a nice time on your Hawaiian Cruise...

We sailed with NCL to Alaska last August and just loved it.

 

[Jsme]

jsme: We couldn't believe how relatively cheap NCL was compared to others. The 10 night was actually cheaper than the 7 night NCL on the Pride of Aloha. Our airfare was from Greensboro--about $590 per person. My DH was travelling for a convention, so his airfare and post-cruise hotel stay was paid for.

We fly out of Greensboro as well. For 4 of us that is over $2400 and then the pricing on when we could go on a Hawiian cruise is pretty high. For us the cruise would be pretty expensive considering I would want to do a several excursion. I have looked into the excursion I thought we would enjoy and I came to around $1000 for those alone. Then add our normal cruise tab and that is another $1500-1800. This does not include the cruise. When I have looked the times in which I could arrange it into our schedule a small love cat cabin alone was well at $1200 pp. For us you are looking at close to $10,000 once it is all said and done. I just can not see spending that much money on a cruise when all we would be getting is a small cabin. No suites or anything. If I did not have to take the kids I could cut the amount in half, but this would be a once in a lifetime thing and I do not know if I could in good conscience not take them.