Grover-Lee

8 hours ago, mlbcruiser said:

Kauai for sure.

That's a completely different island lol.  But thanks, Kauai has been highly recommended for sure!!  If we ever go back, hopefully that will be one of our stops.  I think we'll stick with the original booking.  It's through Blue Hawaiian and they have great reviews.  

I'm looking to not have to drive very far to get to the Helicopter location.  We tender in Lahaina (on Celebrity Solstice) and would like recommendations for something near there if possible. 

I'm looking for a Helicopter tour in Lahaina.  I have one currently booked in Kahului but am thinking we may not want to do the 1 & 20 drive there and back.  It will just add to the already expensive helicopter tour (we aren't renting a car that day).  

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  

On 1/23/2019 at 10:08 PM, faerievert said:

My itinerary for our Feb 3rd HAL cruise:

 

Kona -- Big Island Air airplane tour -- taking a taxi or rideshare from cruise port to airport 

Tip: Plane tours, where available, cost less than helicopters and far have more generous weight restrictions. My husband would have had to pay 1 1/2 to 2x the price for an already crazy expensive helicopter tour. I'd rather take the longer plane tour anyway!

Honolulu -- Hawaii Food tours -- picking up across the street from the cruise port 

Note: The Arizona platform is closed for renovations until at least March and who knows how much longer with the shutdown. I couldn't deal with the stress of planning around that so we're skipping the WWII stuff entirely in favor of a food tour (will try to do the military history site-seeing when we return in the future for a SCUBA trip).

Nawiliwili -- Airventures Hawaii Biplane tour -- picking up across the street from the cruise port. Yes, you can do an open cockpit biplane tour with old-timey aviator leather cap & goggles!! This is a birthday treat for my husband.

Lahaina -- EXC/HAL tours because nothing I wanted to do fit with the amount of buffer I like to give tender ports

Hilo -- Kamaaina Custom Tours private van tour -- picking up inside the port

Tip: Full day private tours at Hilo (and probably all the ports, but I didn't look) cost less than the EXC small group options, and there are several great private tour companies available! We picked this one because he was most amenable to my itinerary customization requests. If you talk to folks on your roll call, it's likely some would be willing to share costs on a private small group tour. 

Hi faerievert ~ may I ask what you did on your private tour in Hilo?  

16 hours ago, TwinMamainMN said:

 

The app they have is "Hawaii Revealed". In the App store, the icon is 2 red and white beach chairs next to a beach umbrella.

Thanks TwinMamain!!  I'll check it out.  

On 3/11/2019 at 6:17 AM, TwinMamainMN said:

Would you be willing to book independently? I've been reading books such as "Hawaii Revealed" and they give lots of great, independent recommendations about tour companies, hotels, restaurants, beaches, driving trips and where to stop, etc. They also have an App you can download for free, and one that is a subscription that costs $10 a month (I think). We are going to pay the $ for the app before we leave, and then cancel it after the trip. That way we get up-to-the-minute conditions for beaches/volcano activity and can use their GPS aided driving trips. Just an idea.

I'd be interested in knowing the name of those apps?  I'm going on the Celebrity Solstice the end of April, Honolulu to Vancouver.  An app like that would sounds super cool!  

Thank you cccole.  We ended up going with alohaoutlet.com 

We're wanting some matching Hawaiian shirts with some friends of ours for when we meet in Honolulu before we both set off on different cruises.  We've checked out https://www.hilohattie.com/collections/family-matching?fbclid=IwAR2Lx1IIxyI2q1aqEBli8mCKgDspcqaPZLQgBNmUGkPw1AlAIRiu1qG1jOk  and the ones we all like are sold out of the sizes we need.  

We would like to order from somewhere online that are made in Hawaii.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 🙂

That would be fabulous if they stick to that and keep things the same! As our cabin is on the Starboard side! Crossing our fingers.

How did you enjoy the cruise last year?

We will be sailing on the Celebrity Reflection on Feb 9th. And we will be celebrating Mardi Gras when we are in New Orleans for 3 days.

My question is does anyone know what side of the ship will on the land side of the dock in New Orleans?

Thanks everyone!! Uber it is!! :D

Hello! My DH and I will be just in Miami for the day (7-5) arriving at the cruise port and wanting to go South Beach about 9am and back to the cruise port around 3:30pm.

Is a taxi or Uber the best way to go? Any other options? Thank you!!

Chris

Do you recall what it cost for a drink out of the mini bar? Just wondering which makes more sense? I'm guessing buying the larger bottle?

I recently ordered a bottle of orange grey goose for my March cruise. It was $132.... just to give you an example of the price change since the list above was published. I do not recall the breakdown of price vs service charge. It comes with a choice of mixers and garnishes which I will need to request when I am onboard. My bottle has always been in the cabin when I arrived along with the mixers, unfortunately this time the mixers won't be there now that I have to order them once on the ship. This might be a difference between a suite and non-suite. I bring along empty flasks (one of the smuggler ones) to put any remaining alcohol in for the flight home to avoid the risk of a bottle breaking in my checked luggage. If you are in a suite call the onshore concierge. If in a non-suite then the regular NCL line can help with the bar set up order.

 

 

 

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Thanks for the info!

I've been wondering if it's harder to get booze on in your luggage? (Not looking for anyone to come down on me)...I purchase an Ultimate Bev Package, Tip well, but like having something in our cabin.

If I can purchase a bottle of something that doesn't cost crazy $$ I'm ok doing that. :)

I'd be interested in this as well.

Following 😊

If you put "Gratuity" in the search box on the Cruise Critic main page you will see an article titled Op Ed: A Cruise Insiders Guide to Tipping. The person states dollar amounts and reasons behind the amounts. Although it's one person's thoughts, it is a good article to use as a guide.

I could just be a complete dork, but I can't find this. Can you post a link? :D

There are some great lists here ~ thank you everyone!! I like the idea of having something written. I like being prepared.

I'd be interested in a list as well. We'll be in a PH on the Millie in May. First time sailing with Celebrity. Really looking forward to it!! :):):)

I hope it wasn't for the Panamal Canal in September as I hesitated ONE day and now it's gone! THAT will teach me!

:eek: lol no, I didn't steal your cabin. We are booked for in May 2014, Japan to Vancouver.

Super excited about the PH!! We've just booked it for our first Celebrity cruise. Can't wait!! :D:D:D

Fantastic review!! Thank you! We will be checking out The Haven and a S7 cabin this time next week. :D

Love your idea of doing an island tour on the first day. Again, thank you! Best review I've ever read! Well done!

Does anyone know if the UBP will include frozen drinks such as a pina colata poolside?

I'm interested to know this as well. Or will they make me a Long Island Iced Tea? :D

Super exciting! Looking forward to following you. :D