POA Cruise and Aulani

[GabStaff76]

So I have only time to get to Aulani for a dinner and come back....is there Uber there, or what is the best/cheapest way to get there?

 

[cgattis]

If you are talking about your sail-away night, I'd be cautious. Traffic can be terrible. I wouldn't miss that ship!

 

[nkereina]

I agree with PP. Traffic is rough. In addition, Uber availability in the Ko Olina area where Aulani is located can be spotty. Where will you be that you only have time to get there for dinner? Maybe we can offer alternative options.

 

[NancyDVC]

I wouldn’t chance it especially if it is on your sailaway night. We took the PoA first then spent 8 nights at Aulani. The traffic can be crazy. I know that scheduled sailaway is 7 PM but you have to be onboard well before that. I believe that the mandatory safety drill takes place around 4 PM.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am sailing POA next May 2019. Is there a reputable shuttle service to get to the port from a hotel? Any recommendations on a stay and cruise package with a hotel that might provide transportation to the port?

 

[NancyDVC]

We chose to book our hotel for the night before ourselves. We did not use NCL’s pre cruise hotel or shuttle. I do not know how they pick you up at the airport but they use large buses from one of the hotels in Waikiki to the pier. We felt it was too pricey to use their package so we booked our own hotel. We used Speedi Shuttle from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the pier they were reasonable. When you arrive at the airport you will have to take a ‘Wiki wiki shuttle’ from the gate are to bagges claim. Baggage claim is in a different building. The Speedi Shuttle folks all wear red Hawaiian shirts /dresses so they can easily be found. They have a desk in the baggage claim area. They were calling names of folks who were expected and check in was easy. Once checked in a staff member loaded all the luggage onto a cart and escorted us to the shuttle. The drivers both days were very knowledgeable and answered questions, gave pointers etc. The shuttle makes several stops depending on which hotel the passengers were going to. On Saturday the driver was on time for our pick up. I asked for an 11:30 AM pick up. We were dropped off at the ier before the family who shared our ride and were heading to the airport. Excellent service. At the pier we were dropped off at the entrance to the building and had to take our luggage to the drop off except for our small carry on. Once we passed security, checked in, had photos taken and boarded there is a free area to drop off carryons in one of the restaurants! We had to pick everything up by 2:30. But it was great not to have to lug those bags with us while e had luch and explored the ship.
The one big advantage to the NCL package is that they take your bags from the hotel to the ship (like DME) so you don’t have to take them to the bag drop on the pier. FYI we loved the cruise. Great ship, wonderful crew and a marvelous way to see 3 other islands. We stayed at Aulani for 8 nights after the cruise. The one problem we had was the time difference. Coming from the East Coast it was a 6 hour difference so we were ready for bed at 4:30 in teh afternoon and up at 4:00 AM the day of the cruise! Feel fre to message me for more info about the PoA

 

[buffettgirl]

I am sailing POA next May 2019. Is there a reputable shuttle service to get to the port from a hotel? Any recommendations on a stay and cruise package with a hotel that might provide transportation to the port?

many of the waikiki hotels will have shuttles and packages. The problem with Aulani is that it's quite far from the pier (in island terms) and traffic there can be a nightmare. If you're staying in waikiki it's only a short cab or uber to the port.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We chose to book our hotel for the night before ourselves. We did not use NCL’s pre cruise hotel or shuttle. I do not know how they pick you up at the airport but they use large buses from one of the hotels in Waikiki to the pier. We felt it was too pricey to use their package so we booked our own hotel. We used Speedi Shuttle from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the pier they were reasonable. When you arrive at the airport you will have to take a ‘Wiki wiki shuttle’ from the gate are to bagges claim. Baggage claim is in a different building. The Speedi Shuttle folks all wear red Hawaiian shirts /dresses so they can easily be found. They have a desk in the baggage claim area. They were calling names of folks who were expected and check in was easy. Once checked in a staff member loaded all the luggage onto a cart and escorted us to the shuttle. The drivers both days were very knowledgeable and answered questions, gave pointers etc. The shuttle makes several stops depending on which hotel the passengers were going to. On Saturday the driver was on time for our pick up. I asked for an 11:30 AM pick up. We were dropped off at the ier before the family who shared our ride and were heading to the airport. Excellent service. At the pier we were dropped off at the entrance to the building and had to take our luggage to the drop off except for our small carry on. Once we passed security, checked in, had photos taken and boarded there is a free area to drop off carryons in one of the restaurants! We had to pick everything up by 2:30. But it was great not to have to lug those bags with us while e had luch and explored the ship.
The one big advantage to the NCL package is that they take your bags from the hotel to the ship (like DME) so you don’t have to take them to the bag drop on the pier. FYI we loved the cruise. Great ship, wonderful crew and a marvelous way to see 3 other islands. We stayed at Aulani for 8 nights after the cruise. The one problem we had was the time difference. Coming from the East Coast it was a 6 hour difference so we were ready for bed at 4:30 in teh afternoon and up at 4:00 AM the day of the cruise! Feel fre to message me for more info about the PoA

Will do and thank you for your comments !

 

[NancyDVC]

BWV Dreamin You are welcome!
As for traffic, we arrived on Friday afternoon before our Saturday cruise departure. As we rode in the shuttle to our hotel my DBFF kept asking why there was so much traffic. I answered that it was Friday afternoon. It is rush hour. We are in Honolulu. Finally I said “Think of it as New York with palm trees!” Then she got it! I guess she didn’t expect there to be traffic in Hawaii!

 

[GabStaff76]

We are doing a 11-day package through NCL. So we arrive Wednesday....have different trips planned during the day through the package, and then board the ship on Saturday. So one of the evenings after we get back to the hotel, I was going to take a taxi/uber to Aulani to have dinner and pick up some souvenirs.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I just received a quote back from Charles taxi which prices flat rates. My quote was $75 to Aulani for 2 people from the port. Before taxes and tip. Is that a good price?

 

[cgattis]

I just received a quote back from Charles taxi which prices flat rates. My quote was $75 to Aulani for 2 people from the port. Before taxes and tip. Is that a good price?

There is an Enterprise car rental right outside the port gate where POA docks. You could rent a car for $75 and see Aulani plus anything else you'd like without an organized tour. Assuming you have a drivers license; otherwise, I would feel safer with a flat rate like that than a regular taxi.

 

[Sakura1017]

I just received a quote back from Charles taxi which prices flat rates. My quote was $75 to Aulani for 2 people from the port. Before taxes and tip. Is that a good price?

Did you end up using Charles Taxi? I wish they would still do it for my upcoming cruise in May, but they said no.

 

[keishashadow]

Zombie thread but wanted to share my experience

BWV Dreamin You are welcome!
As for traffic, we arrived on Friday afternoon before our Saturday cruise departure. As we rode in the shuttle to our hotel my DBFF kept asking why there was so much traffic. I answered that it was Friday afternoon. It is rush hour. We are in Honolulu. Finally I said “Think of it as New York with palm trees!” Then she got it! I guess she didn’t expect there to be traffic in Hawaii!

We ran into the same traffic issue driving over via rental car on a wednesday afternoon before 4 pm. Were told it’s the same every day of the week lol. The drivers were among the least aggressive I’ve seen, anywhere. Cognizant of tourists not knowing the roads.

Was so nice to have our own transportation to explore the beaches and tour the week before our PoA cruise at our own pace.

Rental from the airport worked fine, we used alamo. Rate was comparable to a weekly one at MCO found thru a discounter website, several out there specific to Hawaii via google search

We did 3 days OF at Embassy Suites in Waikiki (great location, value & view!), then another 3 at Aulani pre cruise.

Was so nice to have our own transportation to explore the beaches and tour the area from Waikiki. At aulani we stayed put and soaked up the atmosphere!

Shuttle picked us up at airport. We had to grab uber to port on Saturday after dropping the car & again back to airport. Easy-peasy