CaribbeanBound

That is an incredibly long way to go for a Character Breakfast. 

You could call the Aulani to see if they offer a car service from Waikiki.  Your other options are: Uber or Taxi. Public buses do not go into Ko'Olina.  Best bet is car rental, depending upon how much time you have to spend renting the car, and the cost.  Drive is 45 minutes to 1 hour during non-busy times from Waikiki.  90-minutes plus for rush hour.

thank you.

Why would you want to buy a future OBC, unless you need points on your credit card maybe?  OBC aren't discounted.  It's just an interest-free loan to the shipline.

For what it's worth, your tour vendor normally knows exactly when you'll be in port.  Just coordinate with them based on local time at port.

Correct, these are 1-level trolleys.  Yes, it's a technically a trolley-shaped bus that runs on the street, not a rail.

Please define: ""two seat ride" (or three)"?

Perfect!  Enjoy. 

A lot of the good eateries in Hawaii start to get lines for lunch as early as 11:00 am or whenever they open.

Another confirmation vote for "Yes" to OBC can be used for gratuities.

Agree with Princeton.  There's not much to see on the way and if you're only iffy on wanting to go all the way, don't bother and go somewhere else.  The last time we took the Road to Hana we found we weren't totally all-in and turned around 75% of the way there as it was taking way more time than we had budgeted for the journey.  

Don't get me wrong, it's worth it if it's a nice day and you have the time.

Also, I personally would not book a "halfway to Hana tour".  That's like giving up in advance AND paying for the privilege. 

Duke may not be full even if their reservations are booked.  When you call, ask what percentage of tables are available for walkup and be sure to tell them you are celebrating an important birthday.

LOL. We make it a habit to NEVER stay aboard a ship when you only have one day in port.

And, no, it can be cloudy up at Waimea Canyon while it's beautiful in other areas of the island.  The South shores of most of the islands tend to get a lot less rain than the mountains.  The clouds often get stuck on the mountains and rain.  The worst you might on the South Shore when it's raining in the mountains is typically a little "pineapple juice" carried South by the trade winds.

Of course you can have a bad weather system that covers the entire island.  I'm just saying don't let the clouds in the mountains keep you from shore activities.

Really good point about the rain.  Agree it is not worth going to Waimea Canyon if raining or deeply cloud covered, as you won't be able to see anything.  When clear, it is GORGEOUS!

I don't recommend it.  It's almost a 1-hour walk, but only a 6-minute taxi or Uber.

My 6pm dinning option was also full 10 months out.

What you can do:

• As suggested, get on waitlist
• Make your select reservations now for each night for 6pm

Agree, ship time is "usually/almost always" port time, but since it's not "always", we can't give you an answer with 100% certainty.

If you google "cruise tip calculator" you'll find several that will calculate all of your tips.

Okay, assuming you are in your rental car...

• It's about an hour from Nawiliwili Harbor to Hanalei Beach on the North Shore, in the Princeville area, and an hour back (pure drive time).
• Waimea Canyon is a little over an hour each way from Nawiliwili Harbor.  Add in Poipu Beach on the South Shore and you can add another 30 minutes (one way, again pure drive time).

So, if you wish to drive to the approximate middle of the North Shore and view a gorgeous bay, then drive to Waimea Canyon, with a stop at Poipu Beach, you're looking at 4.5 hours of drive time, giving you 2.5 hours of visit time.  Yes, the drive is pretty.

Good question by CruiserBruce.  Where exactly did you plan to pick up your car?

In answer to your question, you can pick up and drop off at or very close to the pier.

The big three are:

• Hanalei Beach (North Shore)
• Waimea Canyon  (Western Mountain Range)
• Poipu Beach (South Shore)

I'm sure folks can provide others.

Depending upon how much driving you wish to do...

• It's about an hour from Nawiliwili Harbor to Hanalei Beach on the North Shore, in the Princeville area, and an hour back (pure drive time).
• Waimea Canyon, to the West, is a little over an hour each way from Nawiliwili Harbor.  Add in Poipu Beach on the South Shore and you can add another 30 minutes (one way, again pure drive time).

So, you can indeed drive most of the island in about 4.5 hours.  It's a pretty drive, with lots of sights you may enjoy at sites along the way.  No hiking required.

Last trip to Charlottetown was in 2009.  Here's what we enjoyed...

"Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
8:00am - 6:00pm. We berthed at the Charlottetown pier which is on the edge of town. The cruise ship terminal is a long warehouse building with a few shops and free wi-fi. The town is easy to walk. We started our day at Founders Hall (AAA Gem) about a block and a half from the ship. Pick up your coupon at the InfoCenter kiosk in the terminal. While 4 or 5 of the exhibits were out of service, the step back in time to follow the founding of the Confederation of Canada was very interesting. Founders Hall also has a Starbucks and free wi-fi.

We walked around town and saw the Provence House where delegates first discussed Canada's evolution, and visited Anne of Green Gables Chocolate Shop, near the corner of Queen and Richmond, for a free sample of their chocolate covered P.E.I. potato chips which you can watch them make right in the window. We then set out for local seafood.

We lunched at Water-Prince Corner Shop at the corner of, you guessed it, Water and Prince. We enjoyed a dozen outstanding Malpeque oysters on the half-shell and a pot of Blue Mussels. But we weren't done yet. We had to find a source for the famous P.E.I. lobsters as well. One block from the ship, right on the water, is a restaurant called Lobster on the Wharf. It's great if you want a sit down meal with all the trimmings and a price to match. The real prize is next door at MacKinnon's Lobster Pound. It's in the same building and owned by the same folks. As you approach the restaurant, the door to the right takes you into Lobster on the Wharf, while the door on the left takes you into MacKinnon's Lobster Pound. You can buy 1.00lb-1.25lb cooked and chilled whole P.E.I. lobsters and they will crack them for free (and give you a free plastic lobster pick to help get the meat out). We bought two, which they bagged for us, and walked over to the picnic table in the park next door. No need for drawn butter! The chilled lobster meat was the sweetest lobster we ate the entire cruise. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I have to go back!

Back at Founders Hall, we caught a red double-decker bus for a 1-hour narrated tour of Charlottetown. It's a worthwhile informative tour."

Also, if you're willing to walk a few blocks, you can always get on one stop sooner than the stop where the big line might be.

We thoroughly enjoyed Blu the only time we booked Aqua Class.  It's a small step-up from MDR.  Given the choice, I would eat at BLU.

We did Bermuda back in 2005 and LOVED it.  Here are my notes from that 4-day visit.  Clearly some things have changed (like the prices) but it should give you some ideas...

Bermuda Map
Google has a scaleable map of Bermuda. Use your mouse wheel to drill down for more detail. Click on "Satellite" to jump between an awesome satellite image and the easier to view road map.

Buses and Ferries
You can purchase multi-day passes which are good on all busses and ferries. Buses are plentiful and service most areas of interest. Bus stops are designated by colored poles. A pole with a top that is pink runs inbound to Hamilton. A blue topped pole is outbound service from Hamilton.

As of March 2014, adult bus fare was $3.50 (cash) for one-way transit through up to 3 zones. Longer trips (4 to 14 zones) is $4.50. Children under age 5 ride Free. Children age 5 to 16 are $2.50. There are 14 zones total, and each zone is about 2 miles long. Note: Cash fares require exact change only. Drivers do not make change. Dollar bills are not accepted. (Most visitors find it easier to use the Transportation passes).

Bus routes and schedule information, see Gov.BM Bus Routes.

Ferry routes and schedule information, visit Bermuda Dept of Marine and Port Services.

(Bus and Ferry) as of March 2014:
1-Day Transportation Pass (All Zones) $15.00
2-Day Transportation Pass (All Zones) $25.00
3-Day Transportation Pass (All Zones) $35.00
4-Day Transportation Pass (All Zones) $44.00
7-Day Transportation Pass (All Zones) $56.00

Note: If you dock at the Kings Wharf or Heritage Wharf at the Royal Navy Dockyard, there are 3 Visitor’s Service Bureau offices to serve you. These are located literally at the King's Wharf, Heritage Wharf, and less than a block inland from the Ferry terminal (which is on your left as you exit the pier). They all sell Transportation Passes and have free maps. They are "generally" open daily from 8am to 5pm when ships are in port.

The most popular first destinations via local transportation are:

1. Blue Line ferry for Hamilton City (~ 20 minutes)
2. Orange Line ferry for St George (~ 35 minutes)
3. Buses #7 or #8 to Hamilton (~ 62 minutes. See notes below)
4. Bus #7 to Somerset Bay (~ 9 minutes), Horseshoe Bay (~ 36 minutes), Elbow Beach (~ 48 minutes)
5. Crystal & Fantasy Caves: Take Blue Line ferry to Hamilton then bus #1 or #3 to the caves; or take the Orange Line ferry to St. George and then take bus #1 or #3. Note: Buses #1 and #3 will stop directly at Crystal Cave. You can also take Bus #10 or #11 from Hamilton or St. George but these two will stop at Swizzle Inn which is about 2 blocks from the caves.

While buses #7 and #8 to/from Hamilton and the Dockyard have an "officially reported" average run time of 62 minutes, the #8 route is generally faster. Expect about 55 to 65 minutes for route #7, and 40 to 50 minutes for route #8. This is because route #7 goes by Somerset and the south shore beaches along "S Road" (like Horseshoe Bay). #8 takes "Middle Road".

When heading back to the Wharf from Hamilton, look for the #7 or #8 "Dockyard" bus.
 

C. Hamilton, Bermuda—Day One
We were cleared to disembark the ship around 10am. We bought our Heritage Bermuda Passport (a discontinued museum combo pass) at the Visitor’s Service Bureau which is located within a block just west of the pier. We also bought a 3-day transportation pass for $28 which is good for all busses and ferries for three full days. The Visitor’s Bureau only accepts cash. If you only want a transportation pass, you can skip the line at the Visitor’s Bureau and buy them at the Ferry Terminal next door or at the Bus Terminal a couple blocks away. We walked to the bus terminal to catch a route 10 or 11 bus to the Aquarium where we spent two hours enjoying the informative exhibits. It’s not the newest facility but it does have several cool exhibits.

We then caught the first route 10 or 11 bus back to the ship for a late lunch before walking to the Bermuda Maritime Institute about a mile east of the pier. They have a cool shell collection, some interactive exhibits, and an extensive exhibit featuring treasure and other artifacts recovered from sunken ships that had hit Bermuda’s reefs over the years.

After the Marine Institute, we walked up to Fort Hamilton. This is an incredibly well maintained Fort with 25-foot walls, a giant moat completely surrounding the Fort’s main defensive wall, and interior catacombs worth exploring. Unfortunately we ran out of time and had to return on day two.

D. Hamilton, Bermuda—Day Two
Today was our day to explore the South Shore beaches and collect some pink sand. [Pink sand is created when pounding waves erode the bright red skeletons of protozoan foraminifers and the remains mix with other ocean debris, such as coral, white clam and sea urchins. Eventually, the mixture becomes the rose-colored sand]. For all South shore beaches, grab a route 7 bus. We decided to start at Church Bay at the far Western end of the South shore beaches. It’s about a 20-minute ride. It reportedly had the some of the best snorkeling on the island. Church Bay was closed, and had been for about two years. We understand it has reopened. Even if it were open, I’m afraid it looked too rough for snorkeling the day we were there. We jumped back on the bus and exited at Horseshoe Bay. At 9:00 am this Bay is deserted. Very pretty beach. This is where we started our walk to Atswood Bay, about 1.5 miles East. This is a very pretty walk. You will pass a number of beaches: Chaplin Bay, Stonehole Bay, Jobson Cove, and Warwick Long Bay amongst other smaller coves which can be yours alone. We were told that Horseshoe Bay’s beach looks like Coney Island (sand covered entirely with beach towels) by 11:00 am. So if you go, get there early or walk to the East until you find your own secluded spot. If you duplicate our walk, just follow the horse trail to Warrick Long Bay and you’ll be fine. From Warrick Long Bay, it’s about a 1/3-mile to Atswood Park and Bay via the roadside.
 

After our walk, we caught a route 7 bus back to the ship, ate lunch, and headed out again to Fort Hamilton. Fort Hamilton is a free attraction to visit. You’ll cross over a 25-foot long drawbridge over a deep dry moat and into the nicely manicured grounds of the Fort. There are several large cannons and easy access to the upper elevations of the Fort which afford beautiful views of downtown Hamilton and the Bay. (For your best picture opportunities of downtown, go in the morning. However, you’ll get better pictures in the moat in the early afternoon as there will be fewer shadows). We highly recommend exploring the underground passages and walking the moat which is now a nicely planted garden area with lots of foliage and a pathway. The only way down to the moat is via a 108-step lighted stairway from the middle of the Fort’s grounds to the lighted underground passageway and finally out a doorway into the moat. If you like to explore Forts, this free adventure is tough to beat! On the way back to the ship, we stopped into a cigar shop on Front Street and picked up a Cuban Cigar box. We don’t smoke cigars, we just wanted the box to take home. They did not charge us for the box.
 

After dinner on the ship, we used our Transportation passes to take not one, but two, moonlight ferry rides. The short Pink Route is a 20 minute ride with three short stops and provides nice night views of the lighted cruise ships from the harbor. The Blue Route (or Dockyard Route) speeds across the Great Sound to make two short stops before pulling in to the Royal Navy Dockyard where the mega cruise ships dock and then speeds back to Hamilton. This is a 50-minute round trip. (The wife thought these were beautifully romantic ferry rides and they were basically free as they were included in the cost of your transportation pass).

E. St. George, Bermuda—Day Three
We left Hamilton at about 7:00 am and headed for St. George on the Eastern end of Bermuda. The voyage is worth being up on deck for the entire 2-hour trip. There is lots to see. Approaching narrow St. George Channel, we were fired upon by the Town Crier from a Gates Fort cannon. The Town Crier also greeted us upon arrival into the town.

Our first order of business was to catch a bus to the Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave. Bus 1 and 3 will stop directly at Crystal Cave. Bus 10 or 11 will stop at Swizzle Inn which is within 2 blocks of the caves. It’s about a 20-minute ride. Get there early. They open at 9:30 am. We strongly suggest catching the first available bus as the caves are very popular and will get very crowded before noon. You can catch the bus on Water Street, one long block from the pier. As of March 2014, admission to the caves was $22 for one cave or $30 for the pair. (Children 5 to 12 are $10/$12 and children under 5 are free). Fantasy Cave, which reopened just 4 years ago after a 70-year closure, is BY FAR the better cave. Unfortunately most folks will never learn this fact since the ship excursions only take you to the better known Crystal Cave. Explore both caves if you have the time. If you have a choice, see Crystal Cave first (because Fantasy Cave is better). Do Fantasy Cave if you only have time for one. The best group size is under 20. It got so busy that our group had 40 people. The group behind us had at least 60! They really need to do a better job of controlling group sizes. Your best defense is to go early. The caves are full of stalagmites, stalactites, columns, soda straws, bacon, shield formations and other interesting forms. Both caves are well lit and are full of water (but you won’t get wet). The water is very clear, and believe it or not, it’s all sea water. Fantasy Cave, in addition to being better preserved, also has an interesting spooky side which I will not ruin for you here. Very worthwhile. After exploring the caves, we caught the first 1, 3, 10, or 11 bus back to the ship for lunch.
 

Following lunch, we walked 1 mile (30 minutes) to Alexandra Battery Beach Park. The Battery isn’t much to see, but the real prize here is sea glass! You’ll find it by the handful at low tide amongst the reef rocks at the end of the cement seawall (located between the battery and the beach). There is some scattered on the beach too, but the treasure lies beyond. Especially look for the cave, about 15 feet beyond the seawall, where the sea glass is 5-inches deep and sparkles in the late afternoon sun. Pottery with blue or green stripes, impressions, blue anchors, and inscriptions can be found amongst the white, green, blue, brown, red, clear, and ivory hued glass. We filled 2 quart-sized bags in about 30 minutes. You can do it in 5 minutes, but it was fun to be particular.

Walking back to town, we stopped into the Bermuda National Trust Museum at the Globe Hotel. This interesting museum tells the tale of the profitable blockade running that took place during the civil war. Cool souvenir: they have a press with the official “Great Seal of the Confederate States of America” plates and they make silver-foil copies of the seal with a nice matte border for $5.00. The seal itself was commissioned in 1863, measured 3.5-inches in diameter and cost $700. Around 1864, the seal reached Wilmington, NC on it’s fourth blockade run (then on to Richmond. Today it can be viewed at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia), while the press itself remained in Bermuda.

F. St. George, Bermuda—Day Four
We walked about a mile to Tobacco Bay on the North shore to snorkel. We brought our own gear, but rentals are also available on site. The beach is small, but nice, and the water is calm and protected by reefs. Fish are plentiful here and the snorkeling is fun. There were 2 dozen folks here when we arrived at 9:30 am. By 10:30 the beach was packed. We left and walked to Achilles Bay, a small, fairly hidden beach to the left of Fort St. Catherine.

Fort St. Catherine is a cool fort and museum with lots to explore. Dioramas, videos, and wall plaques along a self-guided tour are highly informative. If you visit here after seeing Fort Hamilton you’ll learn about a few of the unexplained projectile lifts, air tubes, and light boxes you previously saw but maybe didn’t know what they were or how they worked. Next to Fort St. Catherine is St. Catherine Beach. It was very popular, had a snack bar, drinks, and music. It also had some sea glass, but don’t waist your time here. For sea glass by the handful, walk down to Alexandra Beach.

Which we did. My wife wasn’t content with the half-gallon of sea glass we picked up the day before. She decided she wanted more. So we walked a mile to Alexandra Beach to hunt more sea glass. This is a very pleasant walk along the coast. As you leave St. Catherine, turn around just as you walk around the first bend in the road. You'll find an awesome picture-taking opportunity of the Fort. Once at Alexandra Beach, we found the tide was about 3 feet higher than it was the day before. While it made looking between the reef rocks dangerous, the cave was still fully accessible and we gathered 2 more quarts of sea glass, and walked back to the ship.

6 hours ago, BeachTunes said:

Hello! On the topic of upgrading the drinks package on board, is there a cut off day to do so?

 

We currently have the classic package and only 2 sea days on a 7 night cruise. We're thinking about using the classic package for the first 2 or 3 days to decide if the upgrade is worth it. Day 1 is embarkation, Day 2 is a port day and Day 3 is a sea day. We'd likely upgrade on Day 3 or Day 4 if possible. I thought I had read somewhere that one has to upgrade by a certain day... Please correct me if I'm wrong!

 

Thank you!

I understand you cannot test drive the premium drink package.  They will let you upgrade for all the remaining days.  Therefore it should work as you have laid out.  

Yes, easy walk to Aloha Tower which is right there near the port, next to pier 11.  You'll be able to see it as you dock.