Other Cruise Lines

[we"reofftoneverland]

Sorry, but I have to strongly disagree with your friends. I don't know what they mean about dysfunctional, but we loved it so much, and the people so much, we wanted to go back every year (if I could stand that long flight). From the minute we got off the plane in Honolulu and checked into our hotel, we felt so welcomed. Everyone seemed happy and the fragrance of flowers was everywhere -- even as you walked through the airport you could smell the Plumeria. we paid for a car service who greeted us at the airport with leis and started us off right. Everywhere we went on the island was stunning and we felt we had truly entered a different land (I felt the same way when we went to Alaska).

After the cruise we flew to Maui (a whole 25 minute flight) and stayed for 5 nights, renewing our wedding vows in a Hawaiian ceremony on the beach (under the cliff where Oprah Winfrey and Clint Eastwood houses are), and had our celebration "reception" at the Lahana Luau. The place we stayed was a local resort -- on eo fhte originals (Ka'anapoli and they literally welcomed us with open arms. The only problems we had that whole three weeks was the American crew on the ship. The people on land were awesome. We rented cars at two of the ports and even the car rental people went out of their way to make sure we had all the information we needed to enjoy their island. My husband had a co-worker who fell in love with it so much they moved there.

This article has a picture of Pride of Aloha. The front of it was so gorgeous. http://www.cruiselines.us/cruiseline_norwegian.html

Thanks for the article. It is good to hear you had good experiences in Hawaii!

Ok, I have to disagree too. We've been to the Big Island 4 times, Maui twice, Oahu once, and Kauai once. I wasn't crazy about Kauai. For me it wasn't touristy enough and we didn't think the people were very friendly. We went to a waterfall there and in the parking lot there were teenage boys shooting chickens with a BB gun and then picking them up and tossing them in the bushes. You could tell they were doing it to get a rise out of the tourists. That was over 10 years ago and my most vivid memory of that island. But we LOVE the Shearton Ka'annapali on Maui and the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island. We'd go every year if we could!

We will check out those hotels. I think cruising may not be the way to see Hawaii.

 

[MyDisWorld]

We will check out those hotels. I think cruising may not be the way to see Hawaii

I agree, to really experience Hawaii, you need to be immersed in the culture. I personally don't think you can capture the real essence spending a limited amount of time on the Islands. That being said, Disney Aulani is absolutely fantastic, and highly recommended.....even by the Local's. You can on occasion find some good deals too. Unfortunately the Air Fair is costly. We went for a week for our 15 year anniversary, and absolutely loved it. In our case however, to go back with our son, it will cost more in airfare to get there, than our stay at Aulani.

 

[MickeyD]

I didn't know that about the other two ships. Tell me more! You are right that a hawaiian themed ship would be better in hawaii. The early american history theme really appeals to us, but it does make more sense somewhere else. We like themes in general. The move seems to be towards blander ships like the breeze or vista, nice but plain. I wonder if ncl lost market share in Hawaii? Or if less people are cruising or going there in general. I suspect it is the latter if dcl couldn't fill ships to Hawaii. We had some friends go to Hawaii recently and they said that even though hawaii is beautiful it is very dysfunctional and not such a great place to visit.

I am not sure what your friends mean by dysfunctional? The islands certainly are beautiful and each one has their own unique charm, but dysfunctional? I have been to each island at least 3 times (we own timeshare points and use them a lot in Hawaii), I have enjoyed each visit. Now Honolulu traffic is a bear and I wouldn't recommend being on the H1 during rush hour, but we stay over in Ko'Olina (by Aulani) and it is peaceful and tropical and the people are friendly. On Maui everyone we met was friendly and we loved staying right at Ka'anapali beach and walking along the path that runs all the way down the beach. Their traffic can get pretty bad too, as can Kauai's--so maybe that is what your friends are talking about? They are islands and their infrastructure is minimal, so when cruise ships and planes off load tons of tourists daily, it can get crowded. As for NCL withdrawing ships from hawaii, from what I hear (gossip only, not really fact, I don't think) is that it was too expensive to travel to Papeete and back, or to Ensenada because the other two ships were flagged in a foreign country, so had to travel to at least one foreign port. So they commissioned POA to be flagged US and they could save money and just stay in Hawaii. Too bad they didn't try and make it a more authentic experience with the theming on POA.

 

[cruiser21]

We loved our Hawaii cruise on DCL. I've been to Hawaii probably 6 times. I'm not sure what pp meant about dysfunctional. Hawaii is amazing. Honolulu meh..to crowded, but Maui is heaven.

 

[perditax]

I mentioned that we did Princess for the British Isles cruise. They had the best food and best buffet set up on any line we have been on. Beautiful ship, too (Royal Princess). Would definitely do them and HAL again. My daughter enjoyed the trip and we didn't see as many "older" folks on Princess as we did on HAL -- but then again we ARE one of the older folks now LOL.

We're doing our second Carnival cruise in September. We were so surprised after the first one how much we liked it. The ship was clean and the rooms were huge. Very nice decor also

We were on the Royal Princess in October. The buffet blew me away, especially at dinner. My primary buffet experience is on the newer NCL ships, where I can usually find something agreeable, but the Royal buffet was in a whole other class. Rather than "cafeteria" or banquet food, it reminded me of a potluck hosted by people who know how to cook. Lots of good protein options, usually more than one (carving stations, fish, roasted chicken or coq au vin, etc). The funny thing was how much better it was than Celeb's buffet, when Celeb us supposed to be the "food" line.

 

[RedSox68]

We were on the Royal Princess in October. The buffet blew me away, especially at dinner. My primary buffet experience is on the newer NCL ships, where I can usually find something agreeable, but the Royal buffet was in a whole other class. Rather than "cafeteria" or banquet food, it reminded me of a potluck hosted by people who know how to cook. Lots of good protein options, usually more than one (carving stations, fish, roasted chicken or coq au vin, etc). The funny thing was how much better it was than Celeb's buffet, when Celeb us supposed to be the "food" line.

Perfect description of why their buffet was so amazing. You never really felt like you were at a buffet with typical options, but more about just walking through and being able to select food that was a much higher standard than "buffet food". I love the comment about being hosted by "people who know how to cook" LOL.

Now I'm curious as to whether all the other Princess ships have that type of buffet standards.

 

[perditax]

Perfect description of why their buffet was so amazing. You never really felt like you were at a buffet with typical options, but more about just walking through and being able to select food that was a much higher standard than "buffet food". I love the comment about being hosted by "people who know how to cook" LOL.

Now I'm curious as to whether all the other Princess ships have that type of buffet standards.

Me too. I have a feeling it's not quite the same. I almost jumped on some smaller ships for a quick spring thing (Crown or Carrib princess, respectively) but they were both sold out by the time I got serious.

 

[MickeyD]

Now I'm curious as to whether all the other Princess ships have that type of buffet standards.

The Grand Princess did not. I seem to remember it being much like Cabanas, but with less options.

 

[RedSox68]

The Grand Princess did not. I seem to remember it being much like Cabanas, but with less options.

I fear I may never see that great a buffet again