Creauxman

Thanks to all for the advice!

Hello, all! My wife and I will be sailing on the Emerald Princess on 9/10/17. We've been considering using an independent party for excursions at the ports we will be visiting. We've never done it before due to concerns about missing the ship at departure time, dishonest vendors, etc. However, I've been checking on one in particular called "Alaska Shore Excursions". It certainly looks legit (don't they all?) so I was wondering if anyone here has used them or others offering excursions. I've reserved an excursions at all three stops through Princess but I've found some through Alaska Shore Excursions that are almost the same but for half the cost. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Hawaii is an easy itinerary to see and do a lot with rental cars. I go to Hawaii a couple times every year, and have been on the NCL ships over 10 times.

 

Only as an alternative, but those listing the Volcano National Park, Waimea Canyon, above and taking the ship tours, are going to be paying multiple times more what a car rental would be and will be seeing the least. All of these tours are basic, with the opportunity for superior experiences going independent.

 

Also with Old Lahaina Luau, should be well prepared for having to use the alternative parking at the dock, since it's common for the convenient lots to be full. Tickets are going to be given out, if you aren't in compliance. Also with free unlimited booze at the Luau, don't even take a chance with DWI. I've seen police out, stopping cars, on the routes you will be taking. If you are turning in the car that night, the shuttle buses are over, so, be prepared for taking a taxi back to the ship.

 

If going independent is the plan, the Revealed books are excellent references. I also like Fodor's Hawaii and Frommer's Hawaii. Try your library for a copy.

Thanks for the advice...I will do more checking! I am the only one of my party that wants to do more stuff with rental cars without involving NCL but I've been outvoted on all but the luau. I've tried to point out that with the ship staying overnight in most of the stops, we don't have to worry too much about being left behind on Maui and Kauai. With the exception of the Na Pali trip, everything we've selected is $100 or less so not a huge deal.

Aloha!

It's nice that y'all can piggy back the cruise along with the work conference!

I checked and boarding in Honolulu begins at noon.

We did book through NCL on both the Na Pali and Pearl Harbor excursions. You can read about both on the NCL website. There is also a video on YouTube about the Na Pali trip. You are in a Zodiac boat and you are very close to the shoreline and actually go through some caves and arches along the coast.

According to what I've read, the Pearl Harbor tour allows you to take (or store) your luggage along and, once the tour is done, everything and everyone heads for the airport. Since our flight doesn't leave until 7pm so that works out good for us. I have also heard about the Smith Luau so I'm sure it's fine, too. We picked the Old Lahania luau on my cousins recommendation so if it's a bust, he'll hear from me!

Since we have a car in Maui we've thought about the Road to Hana and possibly adjusting our car pickup and drop off times but I've heard it's a long drive and I don't wanna be too tuckered out for the luau.

My wife and I aren't big coffee fans so the coffee plantation tour, while interesting, just isn't our thing. However, my sister and her hubby might be interested so they may talk us into coming along. I think I mentioned that they will be on the cruise with us but if I didn't, they are! Our cabins are side by side on deck 8. I asked about removing the barrier between our balconies but was told that due to fire restrictions, we can't. It's hard to believe that the little gate-like thing could deter fire but rules are rules, I guess.

20 days to go!!

I'm probably behind the ball somewhat! Planning for Hawaii has been a bit more time consuming than other places of travel..So far, we have a hotel for the Friday night we arrive into Honolulu. As for Maui, we will be renting a jeep and probably doing the Road to Hana the first day. Second day in Maui, more than likely we'll drive to Haleakala crater for the sunrise and the remaining of the day I'm not yet sure. Haven't decided anything for Hilo or Kona, although I'm susupecting we'll want to do the Volcano National Park in Hilo...not sure if it's worthwhile to retn vehicles in those two ports? Kauai I haven't even gotten to yet..We'll be stying in Oahu on Waikiki beach after the cruise is over for a few days. Pearl Harbor that day we disembark and probably a luau on Oahu versus Maui or Kauai (due to timing). Can't decide on that either!!! What about you?

We will also arrive in Oahu on Friday afternoon. We've made no plans for Friday night but hopefully we'll use the time to help get over the jet lag. My cousin visits Hawaii nearly every year but has never cruised around them before. He recommends the Old Lahania Luau on Maui. We've reserved a rent car and we plan to drive there from the cruise ship on Sunday afternoon (about 25 miles)...the luau begins at 6p, I think. We are picking up the car Sunday morning but we haven't planned anything before the luau. I suppose we'll figure something out between now and then. I did some research concerning other cruise ships that might be there at the same time we are. There will be two other ships visiting Maui while we are there but both will be at Lahania rather than our location. The Ruby Princess and the Grand Princess will be there...one on Sunday and the other on Monday but I don't recall which ship on which day. Doesn't matter which, I guess, but the bottom line is Lahania may be more crowded than usual both days as well as other touristy places on the island. The good news is that I didn't find any other ships scheduled at any of our other stops for the rest of the cruise. Anyway, we plan a beach trip on Monday morning before we set sail for Hilo.

On Hilo, we plan to take the Volcano and Akaka Falls excursion offered by NCL. The excursion was originally titled Rainbow Falls but I read somewhere that due to some construction we go to Akaka Falls instead. The next day in Kona we plan another beach day.

On Kauai we are taking the Na Pali Explorer excursion the first day and we'll just do a bit of shopping the second day there as the ship leaves at 2p.

Our plane doesn't leave until 7p for the flight back to Houston so we are going to Pearl Harbor after we disembark.

I was curious about what excursions if any you had selected. I've read every opinion and write up I could find on each stop and we've selected a few!

Maybe so but I'll still let 'em know! FYI we are in a mid ship balcony deck 8.

We will be from 4/11-4/18/15 so I'll let you know what I think!