3onTour

Just received my eVisa!!!

 

 

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Thanks for the update. I will be starting the process this week and the posts on this thread have been most helpful!

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Anyone have trouble registering on the evisa application site with VFS? You have to register by providing an email address and setting up a password. Fine. I did that. Then it says to activate your registration from an email they send you. No email. I called their help line and they said to wait 2 hours for them to send that activation link email. Sigh.

 

 

 

I guess in today's world of everything being done electronically, being told to wait 2 hours when everything else is within 2 minutes is crazy and annoying.

Please let us know if you get the email (update). Thanks

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having just returned from a cruise on the reflection, i wanted to post a message/tutorial about wifi calling utilizing verizon wireless on my iphone (though i suspect it will work the same with the others). I was able to set mine up relatively easily and it worked extremely well, other than a 1 second delay on my end).

 

First, a few caveats...

 

1) make sure you have an unlimited, or large internet package.

2) critical: Do not allow your cell phone to connect to the ships cell antenna, or you'll be in for a huge surprise when you get your bill. I'll explain how shortly.

 

Here is what i recommend doing, in this order:

 

1) go into settings>phone>wi-fi calling and set to on. I also selected prefer wi-fi while roaming. You'll need to set up an emergency address for 911 services, so put whatever you want in there. I just used my home address. According to the disclaimer, you're supposed to change this whenever you go somewhere, but you only have to set it once. I set mine up before i left the states, but not my wife's phone and she was not able to get this working until we called verizon to do something on their end (i don't know what). Set it up well before your cruise and you'll be able to work out any issues.

 

2) connect to the ship's wifi (after setting up an account)

 

3) swipe up and put your phone in airplane mode. This is critical and is what prevents the phone from connecting to the ship's cell antenna.

 

4) swipe up again and select wifi. You couldn't do this a few years ago, but now you can be in airplane mode with wifi and bluetooth active. You may need to connect to the ship's wifi again.

 

5) it will take a few minutes, but at the top of the phone you should see the airplane mode icon + vzw wi-fi + the wifi signal meter.

 

That's it. I made calls throughout the caribbean with no problems whatsoever, other than the slight delay. I was able to receive calls, as well as both imessages and normal texts. Voicemail was tricky, but i was able to just call my number, put in my pin, and retrieve messages that way.

 

I hope someone finds this helpful. If there's a step i missed, just reply to this thread and i'll edit the post.

thank you sooo very much for this information... :)

We are taking this as a private tour on 5/9. WE found other from our roll call to share the expense and they are meeting us at a later time closer to the pier. Since its private we get to customize it. They have been very responsive to all questions. I have even added more people this week. So far I am really happy with the service. Contact them about a private tour. Its 99pp if you have 4.

Hello......How was your tour with Locally Sourced Havana Tour company? We are sailing on 9/25 with an overnight stay in Cuba and was thinking of booking this company for the Havana Experience Tour. Any feedback would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Has anyone use "Locally Sourced Havana Tour" company?

:)

Try the show at the hotel National also. just did it without food.. very Vegas type but less than other shows.

I have heard of the Hotel National... is it a good show. I am trying to steer clear of the over saturated ship excursions i.e. Tropicana... can you tell me any more about this show. Have you attended one? Thanks!

Lobster tempura at the Boathouse. 1/2 priced during happy hour.

 

Pjk

That sounds amazing... i hope to be there in September 2017. I will look them up! are they easy to find?:confused:

Thank you for the confirmation.

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We are looking for a shuttle service that will take us from same hotel to pier. Didn't know roberts would pick up later than 1pm....maybe I received misinformation. We get from a tour around 230 and need transportation to pier, is roberts best option or should we do taxi?

I can't say how accurate this information is, but my family will be staying at the Embassy Suites Waikiki and the concierge there told me it would be cheaper to take a cab to the pier. the cost about $15. I had originally arranged for a private shuttle to pick my family up that would cost a bit more than $15.

I might suggest calling your hotel to get an estimate. I also read on some of the CC threads, that some shuttles have "connections" with the porters to get your bags taken care of fairly quickly at the pier...:confused:

@beeandkmon.. GREAT Review!!!! thank you for all the insight!:D I felt like I was there already.

Elsa, Ellen and Everyone who contributed to this thread,

Thank you for all the great information!!!:) I have copied and printed the info to take with me. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I do believe I can navigate the public transportation with your directions. This will save my family some extra cash to be spent on other fun things! Booking the tour through POA would have cost over $300 for the 10 of us :eek:

Thank You Elsa!!

Perfect!

Just so I'm clear, the free shuttle to Queen Ka'ahumanu Center is in walking distance? Or do you pick up the free shuttle at the port? I am a walker so this would not be an issue for me.

Also, does the bus run pretty frequently back to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center to catch shuttle back to ship? Do you or anyone else know if the free shuttle is sponsored by the ship or the island and if it stops running after a certain time? Not worried about missing the ship as I would be going the first of the two days in port .

I so appreciate your quick response! Just adore the CC (positive) side of the family! Lol!!

Kathy & Co

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Thank you for this information! took me two hours to find it. one hour plus would not bother me on public transportation (city girl I'm use to it) to save $25 RT, I'm game. The NCL excursions says about 45 mins anyway and is currently $34+tax.

I just need to know where to find the bus once I get off the ship? Is it in walking distance? I found an old thread from 2008 that said you could get the free shuttle to Hilo Hatties and then take the bus ($2 each way) from there. Can anyone verify this? Any help is appreciated... Thanks.

Note: I have been to Hawaii before, so I just want to go to Lahaina again and look in quaint shops, buy Hawaiian Cookie Company souvenirs and just take my time.

Looking forward to more of the review from beeandKmon:)

Thank you for the info! :D I will try very small slider (small bun)type sandwiches that may hold up a few hours, like turkey & veggies in an insulated container.

Enjoying your review immensely! We leave in about 2 weeks...

Question?: what type of snacks are we allowed to carry on? Sandwiches? Will we get through security with food items? We are also traveling with a toddler (2 yr). ATL to HNL is a 10 hr flight:eek: we do plan to bring crackers, etc for her.

Thanks for any help provided

I think it all depends on what you want out of your vacation or cruise experience. Right now, I have no desire to sail out of the USA ------------ that may change one day but for now. A lot of people are shocked to see what 4 of us are paying to sail on POA .. the suite is $10k for the week ... + airfare, hotel in Honolulu beforehand, and rental cars.. not to mention tours & shore excursions. We are not rich people, we've been saving for this for a LONG time I am happy for people who can do Hawaii for less. More power to you. I want to do Hawaii on a cruise ship :)

Ditto & AMEN! Literally in the same boat! Expensive, yes! But saved two years to take this trip with my entire immediate family including, DH (celebrating his 2 year birthday after heart transplant), children & 2 DGD's. This makes it priceless for me! Can't take it with me and I prefer to enjoy it "with" them as to the alternative.

Besides, currently POA has a lock on visiting multiple Hawaiian islands in 7 days. Will I do this every other year, No! But for this trip, it meets our needs.

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MalervyC:

I just want to say, THANK YOU!! sooo much for this awesome review and invaluable information.. I can't say enough how grateful I am that you shared all your research and hard work...:p:D

There aren't any cabanas on POA, I believe they're only on Epic, Breakaway & Getaway.

 

 

 

 

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Thank You! I kind of figured that. Lol! I look forward to a cabana experience one cruise soon!

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Yeah... 2 years ago. The post you responded to was from August 2012.

 

This is why defibrillated threads are so annoying.

Uhhhh...... Time warp? I believe that would be 1 year ago.

I enjoy reading where & when the forum started! I read EVERY post! THANK YOU OP! It is very informative for someone who is experiencing the "Suitelife" for the 1st time.

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Originally Posted by Demonyte

 

AFAIK you can't book a specific cabana as they are assigned automatically in the order of booking, some have said here that they start from the middle cabanas and move outwards to both ends.

On our last NCL cruise I forgot to make a specific cabana request with the pre cruise concierge.

Are Cabanas on the POA? or just the newer. NCL ships?

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http://www.akamaitours.com/. They were really great.

Thank you!

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Mary Lou was booked for our April 2013 stop, but recommended these folks.... So great!! We felt lucky to get them. Just another option... Review :

 

All I can say is "Wow!" My husband and I have traveled expensively and taken many tours and shore excursions around the world. This was truly one of the very best!

 

The response to scheduling was top notch, courteous and quick!

 

Tyler met us at our cruise port and planned a packed day traveling throughout the Island with us and two friends. We went to Rainbow Falls, a huge Banyan Tree, the Volcano, Jaggar Museum, several viewing spots of smoke emanating from volcano, lava fields, a rainforest, a lava tube, an orchid farm, a macadamia nut factory AND a black sand beach!! All the while Tyler filled us with wonderful information about the island and volcano.

 

Tyler is crazy knowledgable, having studied extensively and lived on the island for years. He brought wonderful treats to share... Local fruit, nuts and these great Maui chips! We stopped at so many interesting places and while other tourists stayed in the "usual" spots, Tyler took us off the beaten path to show us the beauty of the island. Even in crowded spots, other tourists stopped their tour to "sneak" onto ours, as Tyler was clearly the most informative and entertaining guide at the museum, etc.

 

He was so accommodating and took tons of GREAT photos of us! His van was quite comfortable.

 

We bought great souvenirs as well, shipping beautiful orchids home from the farm...which all arrived safe and sound.

 

Of our 15 day Hawaiian trip, this day was the absolute highlight because of Tyler. I only hope you are lucky enough to get this tour! Move quickly, as there is NO WAY another guide could surpass him. Can you tell we loved this tour??

Are you allowed to give the tour company's name? Your description of the tour sounds fantastic!

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We looked at booking 2 connecting rooms or a suite that can sleep five and it was not significantly more, but I'm sure that varies according to the ship and time of year.

 

But, the perks of cagney's and priority tendering are pluses for us too. First time we've sailed this way, we'll see if it's worth it!

I am of similar mind....

I too priced connecting cabins for a family of 8, sailing on the POA. It was much cheaper for my family to book a suite. Go figure? Our first time in a suite and not because we're rich, but because it was more economically feasible for our needs. Me, DH & My 4 adult children (over 18) and two toddlers. I booked before prices increased in January/2013. When the children sail free promo was offered, I jumped all over it which saved me $1,200. Even though NCL made me rebook to get the promo & sliced my $300 OBC in half (I was no longer 9 mos out), it was still cheaper to go the "suite life" route and the perks are just icing on the cake!

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I just have to ask those that feel the need to give their opinion on taking children on a cruise. Exactly where in the OPs question did she ask for the pros and cons of taking her child on a cruise? Your posts are making it difficult to find the tips that were asked for. Berating someone for taking their family on a family vacation is not a tip.

 

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Thank You!!!

My two granddaughters will be traveling with our family on an upcoming cruise to Hawaii.

I'm taking my family of 8 on a Hawaiian cruise, which includes the two very intelligent & insightful toddlers. 4 & 2 respectively. They are also well behaved!

DITTO! I Got mine also! How generous you are to share all your extensive. research & hard work!

Thanks again!