Review PofA Hawaii Nov 28-Dec 5, 2009

[flashdog_1]

We were a mother/daughter combo, 69 and 33, traveling from Atlanta to Honolulu. We used frequent flyer miles on Delta to get there, checking in on line before we left. We stayed the night before the flight at Drury Inn airport Atlanta which gave 14 free nights of parking, free breakfast and free snacks and alcoholic drinks! (total with tax $99). We did not use, but they had free long distance, free internet, too. There was a pool, whirlpool, exercise room, and coin laundry on site, as well.

 

Arrived HNL at 3:40 p.m. Took VIP van to our hotel. We used points for a free night at Courtyard Marriott Waikiki. Room was upgraded, but very small. Hotel had a free massage chair room which we used. Conveniently located. We ate dinner at Roy's at the beach. Fine food w/wine each course for $52 each I think. Next morning walked to Duke's for breakfast bar $14.99, and to watch outrigger canoes and surfers. Shopped a little knowing we'd not be in Honolulu again since we took an excursion straight from the ship upon disembarkation.

 

Hawaii was cooler than we thought it would be. Even having seen charts of average temperatures, and not experiencing any rain during our cruise, it was still necessary to carry a sweater. And on board it was very cold in the restaurants, uncomfortably so. When your nose gets cold it's as if you are standing outside in a winter storm.

 

VIP picked us up and took us to the pier before noon. Used the Latitudes line (only 1 person ahead of us) and were finished in no time, & on the ship drinking bubbly. The Aloha Cafe was the only lunch venue available. It was not too awfully crowded yet so we enjoyed it. Many people were still out touring, not arriving until time for the muster drill at 4:30 p.m.

 

Our cruise critic roll call met at the Key West bar right after muster drill. I'd guess about half came. It was fun to be able to call someone's name as we saw them thru the week. We had some first timers who are now "sold" on cruising.

 

I've cruised Celebrity, HAL and twice before on NCL, but I think this was my favorite cruise, even though I was tired all the time. The atmosphere on board was welcoming. No one had an attitude!

 

We like time on board ship, so we chose to spend our full day in Honolulu on the ship, booking spa appointments and specialty restaurant reservations, learning our way around etc. Found the Waikiki bar where I could smoke, and made friends with the staff there, especially Eric and Gia.

 

We had a BA stern balcony just below the cafe. Only 3 times did anything "drop" or "blow' down from there (all packages of Equal). Not noisy. The first morning I could hear the loud speaker from the Hawaii Ambassador's talk while I was on the balcony, but went up for the 7:30 a.m. talk other days. The room was tight but manageable if you didn't mind not being able to hang all your clothes. It would have been difficult with 3. Balcony almost as large as the cabin. One lounger, one adjustable chair and one table. (looked on other balconies and saw that they had non-adjustable straight back chairs). Room stewards were fine. No towel animals, however, if that's important to you. Robes in the cabin but no other perks. Everyone had a fridge. We removed most items and put in our own sodas we'd bought at a pharmacy in Waikiki ($3.98 for a 6 pack). This location was great for everything. We did not have to overlook the commercial harbor since we could see the other side as well. Note: twice the ship docked straight in, putting the starboard guests facing the port side.

 

I keep saying it but I'll say it again. We were so tired! To be sure we saw the active volcano, we went to bed at 8 p.m. and DD set her alarm for 10:30, jumped up & saw nothing, hit snooze and we went back to sleep for two more "snoozes." On the second snooze DD shouted, "MOM!" We were just starting to turn away, which meant we had a full view from the stern. It was said on board that this was the closest they'd gotten to it in weeks. Very interesting, and free excursion! We could have viewed the NaPali coast from the cabin, but chose to go on deck. It was getting dark by the time were were there (dark comes before 6 p.m.) so visibility was not superb. We wanted to be able to hear the Hawaiian Ambassador's narration. We learned that just ahead is a privately owned island (the only one) where only pure blooded Hawaiians live in the old way.

 

The ship was lovely and staff were friendly and helpful. I think having a crew who really spoke English made for more cohesion and communication.

 

There were two large groups from Australia and Japan. They even had menus in Japanese. I'm not implying all those people were with one particular travel agency, but those were the two main groups other than Americans that I noted. Didn't see many kids. All ages on board. No age group dominated.

 

Knowing we'd be going almost every minute of the week I tried to schedule us with adequate sleep/rest time, but this meant we did not do shows or any night time activities. DD squeezed in a Hula lesson one afternoon and planned to do it other days, but was just too needy of sleep. She made several trips to the spa. I watched her hula, and booked a hot stone massage special. There is no acupuncturist aboard, and they no longer do the teeth whitening, both of which I was hoping for. You probably know there is no casino, and no liquor or cigarettes for sale on board.

 

Of course I looked for our own cruise critic member who works on board, James Byrd, OhioNCLcruiser. He recognized me one day as I was walking thru the lobby (after not finding him in the first two times I'd tried to meet him). Service at the front desk was super and friendly.

 

The only problem I ran into was that my letter of confirmation for our post cruise excursion was apparently not on their books, but we were able to book it. I didn't know this until we did not receive the designated black luggage tags the last night (for those taking tours. Everyone else selected the time they wanted to get off). I asked our steward and he said there was something wrong. So we went down to the desk. The young agent I spoke with was half panicked that I might not be able to do the tour since the Shore Excursion desk was not open at that hour, but he found someone who booked me and gave me the tickets and luggage tags. i guess we were really lucky. The tour was not completely booked up. I noted that the tour # on my confirmation was slightly different than the # on my new ticket. So somewhere between last June and now they changed it and my reservation did not get transferred. Next time, if I take a post cruise excursion, I'll know to look for the charge on my bill, and if it is not showing, double check.

 

So if we did not do night time activities, what did we do? We ate!!! and ate! I do not understand the people who've written reviews who said they felt the food was inferior etc. It was great and I'm a foodie. There was a great variety in the appetizers, and cold soups were still there, too. I'd never seen Cajun popcorn crawfish on the menu before so had to get it. We liked Skyline best for decor so ate there 4 nights, once at Liberty, and twice at specialty restaurants. Other than being what we felt was freezing cold, the specialty restaurants were fine and our service was attentive, especially in Lazy J's (Cagney's). We had lunch off ship or late lunch in Cadillac diner, having to try everything anyone on cruise critic said he'd loved. I gained quite a bit but enjoyed every bit of it. I'm not telling pounds, but I could not fasten two pair of pants size 6 that I'd bought just before we traveled.

 

Excursions were all privately arranged except for the post cruise North Shore thru NCL. In

Maui we had a two day car rental thru Thrifty. I had signed up for the Blue Chip program which put us 2nd in that line, ahead of maybe 20 waiting in the regular line. Were upgraded to a Jeep something or other that was smooth riding, not the regular jeep. We did not go with the mobs at 8 a.m. I hate mobs. So waited until 9 when crowds were thinner. We did half way to Hana, burning up a memory card at least. On the way out we'd seen a cave that no one had mentioned in any of the literature or in reviews, but there was no where to park, so we caught it on the way back! Be sure to roll your windows down so you will be able to hear the rushing waters. Most "waterfalls" were cascades, not tall water falls, but still beautiful. Half way for us was the state park (with real bathrooms) just before Kenai (Sp).

 

There do not appear to be pelicans in Hawaii. But there are lots of chickens! We saw Minah birds which were imported for pest control, and some red headed bird I could not identify, and of course the camera would not work when I tried to photograph it. And then it flew away.

 

We returned to the ship for late lunch, then hit the road again. I'd asked the security guard about where we could park (right there at the pier, nothing hard about it) and also how we could know if it were raining at the Iao Valley. We looked up and pointed to the clouds. He exclaimed, "you're going to that cold, windy place! Take a coat and a raincoat." Sure enough we needed them and the umbrella for mist only. It is a very quick drive there, and all of a sudden you are between two huge mountains that look like those you see in photos of Machu Pichu, with the wind whistling between them. And it's pronounced, "YOW" valley. As far as making a judgement about startlingly beautiful and unexpected, I'd have to say YOW did it for me. Others in tee shirts commented at our attire or looked enviously at our raincoats and winter coats. Had not seen it mentioned that it is cold there.

 

Had dinner in Jefferson's Bistro.

 

We think NCL needs to list all major ingredients in its description of foods. I ordered the Bouillabaise and no where did it say there were mussels in it. It tasted all right and was plenty to eat without the mussels, but what if I'd been allergic to them instead of just not liking them? (I guess if I'd been allergic I'd have asked ahead of time). (We noted this several other times that we received something that did not match the description. One dessert was described as chocolate and it was coffee, not molka even). The vegetables in the soup were an afterthought, cooked separately and not of stew consistency. You'd have needed a knife to cut the carrot, so I just left them. Next time I will not order it. DD's lamb chops were great.

 

Day 2 in Maui we again did not rise at the crack of dawn since DD was hoping the cruise would be restful for her. So we hit the road about 9:30 and headed to the south beaches and then the north ones, stopping on the way back in Lahaina at the Aloha Mixed Plate Lunch which was delicious and authentic Hawaiian. They provide the Luau food for the Luau events at night. DD did not like poi, but I loved it all. Returned the vehicle in time to get us to the ship before our spa treatments and a nice dinner in Skyline. We never had a long wait to get seated in any restaurant. Sometimes we'd be first or second in line. At the most there might be 10 total waiting, but they seated everyone right away, asking if anyone wanted to share a table in order to be seated sooner.

 

Hilo rented from Thrifty again. This time there was only one agent on duty so there was not really a Blue Chip line. They upgraded us (even though I had a coupon for such it was not used at either location) to a Lincoln Continental. We headed out to the black sand beaches on the north east coast of Hilo. Then Banyan drive and to Rainbow falls. Then we went up the coast on rt 19 for the 4 mile scenic route. ALARM bridge is out so we could go less than half way. Very disappointing, but still beautiful. Decided the Donkey Trail was too steep so did the one before it. Back to the main road to Akaka falls. I did not know there was another large falls within the area so it was a 2fer. All these activities were free BTW. If you skip the 2nd falls you will not have as far to walk. The walk is all on concrete with rails, up and down. Waterfalls beautiful.

 

We tried to catch the other part of the scenic bypass but it was closed before anything scenic arose, so we stopped for a shave ice. Bought a wooden wind chime & Kona coffee (she said it would be cheaper in Hilo and it was!) I'd say 6 locals came in while we were eating or shopping and every one of them bought Spam!

 

One of Thrifty's vans had broken down, so getting back to the ship was slow. Also, there was no "crowd control" whatsoever (one employee was driving the bus and the other was constantly taking cars back to the garage or wherever they store them). Consequently late comers just having gotten out of their cars would be close to the van when it came, and just jumped on, leaving behind those who'd waited longest. That was the ONLY rudeness I saw the entire cruise from passengers. Being who I am, when the next crowd showed up, I nicely told them that those in the chairs had been left behind last time and would go first on the van. And when the van arrived, he remembered us and told us to board first, with the late comers begging to get onboard. Live and learn.

 

Our Roberts' Historic Kona was not until 10 a.m. so we tendered in at 8:45 and did some shopping. DD's memory card was full. People advised her to go to the camera shop and she did. He quickly made a disc of all the shots on the card, erased the card and she was set. $5.

 

The driver was fun but the tour other than going to the Place of Refuge was nothing to write home about. I am an East of the Mississippi girl and loved the wet side of the big island, not the dry side (I mean that flying west of the Mississippi I feel like I'm on Mars due to the lack of green). The town of Kona was nice, though. Tender lines were long, but each tender held 100 people so it moved quickly. Back on for some more gorging at Cadillac.

 

For Kauai we'd booked the Movie Tour with the original people. It was great. The tour guide was full of researched facts and quite personable. We'll never remember all the sites for the movies but be assured we saw some beauty even if we'd not seen the movies! The van has a movie screen in it and as you approach a movie set they show the excerpt from the movie. There was some "sing along" but not as much as I'd been lead to think there would be.

 

Day 2 in Kauai we'd booked a helicopter tour with Island Helicopters who had an internet special for $178 each if you paid in cash, so we did. DD and I sat up front with the pilot. My view had the center post from the windscreen so was somewhat obscured, so I'm depending on DD's pictures to become my own. It's really hard to imagine a waterfall that is almost a mile long, but if you believe that the mountain IS a mile high and the waterfall starts just below the tallest point, then it's almost a mile. Looks like a trickle. Kept looking to see if there were reservoirs and did not see any. I did not know that the lava rock held rain water and that's what comes out for waterfalls (you can see it seeping from other spots, too). We ate lunch in the Skyline, and dinner, too.

 

I filled out 3 comment cards for outstanding service from 3 employees: one from Skyline, one from Lazy J's and one from Waikiki bar. Probably should have done one for a front desk lady, too.

 

After dinner the last night we printed our boarding passes. And we had a surprise. It said, "free" next to baggage, so we checked 2 each. We have no idea why. We were not flying first class.

 

Final morning ate at Skyline again (heard the mobs were heavy in the buffet), toured around looking in cabins that had been vacated, then met our group in the theater. Promptly at 8:45 we descended to the luggage area. Each color was very clearly marked and separated from all others. This system of picking your own time allows that NCL"s way be much less chaotic than on other lines. Luggage was stowed under the bus and off we went to the north shore with the most entertaining of tour guides (bus driver).

 

Apparently fairly recently NCL bought the Adventure Tours I think it said on the bus, so our driver was now an employee of NCL and could go on the cruise for $150 on a more or less standby basis, which he hoped to do during "off season" just after New Years.

 

The North Shore post cruise excursion was delightful. We went first to the North Shore to avoid the surfing crowd that we anticipated due to 30 foot waves. Stopped for several photo stops lengthy enough to shop if you so chose to do. Then to the shrimp farm (lunch $10-12) just past Turtle Bay resort. Then to a coffee/Macadamia nut farm. Final stop was at a Buddist temple. Very peaceful there. We were stuck in the tunnel for a while waiting for a motorcycle accident to be cleared. Fortunately no one had a flight any time soon so we were not inconvenienced. Fun group always had a quip to add to the jollity.

 

Budget Queen, if you're reading this, whales were spotted off Kauai on Dec 3rd by helicopter. The same night this couple took a dinner cruise off NaPali and saw them again.

 

I did not do justice to this wonderful cruise. I do not see how, if you plan ahead of time, and do what YOU want to do, not what you think you should do, you could fail to have a wonderful time. You can't do or see it all in one cruise, so pick what YOU want to experience. One young lady was so happy with her choice that she asked everyone she saw what they'd done so she could reciprocate by saying, "I did the zipline!" Others got sunburned at the beach. Some people stayed on the ship to do all the Hawaiian activities. It's freestyle, and all up to you.

[pizzalady1]

I am really glad that you had such a great time and enjoyed the islands. There are so many negatives about the food and service on NLCA and I really don't understand it. We also had a wonderful cruise with great service and excellant food when we went on the POH.

 

Thanks for the review. Are you going to submit it as a review? Please do so.

[flashdog_1]

I am really glad that you had such a great time and enjoyed the islands. There are so many negatives about the food and service on NLCA and I really don't understand it. We also had a wonderful cruise with great service and excellant food when we went on the POH.

 

Thanks for the review. Are you going to submit it as a review? Please do so.

 

Yes, I submitted it with minor differences. Wish it had been a B2B!

[proud daddy of two]

Thanks so much for the great review on your trip. My wife and I are getting ready to go on the POA, January 16th, and your post just added to our anticipation! Thanks again.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Phyllis, I loved your review, and I'm making sure my husband reads it as well. We have a long time to plan before we do the cruise in 2011.

 

We have booked one of the stern BAs on Deck 10, too. Given your experience, would you recommend that location over either the port or starboard side? My fear is that the balcony is so deep that we won't be able to see much of the Na Pali Coast or the volcano unless we're standing by the balcony railing.

[flashdog_1]

Phyllis, I loved your review, and I'm making sure my husband reads it as well. We have a long time to plan before we do the cruise in 2011.

 

We have booked one of the stern BAs on Deck 10, too. Given your experience, would you recommend that location over either the port or starboard side? My fear is that the balcony is so deep that we won't be able to see much of the Na Pali Coast or the volcano unless we're standing by the balcony railing.

 

One of the advantages of the stern balconies besides the size is that there is no wind to prevent your using it. It's never hard to light a cigarette back there! It's almost impossible on windy side balconies if the wind is strong. Its largeness also allows you to be in sun or shade as you prefer, since half of it is covered. It drizzled one night and I used it under the covered part.

 

We like the location because it's close to the spa and fitness center. We did almost nothing at the forward end of the ship. DD noted from the drawing of the "map" they give you that the deck 9 balconies looked much deeper than any other stern ones. Maybe someone who has had one will comment.

 

I have had a couple of balconies on the sides on X and found for such tall people with long legs (6'3 and 5'8") that it's not real comfy to spend much time out there. You have to sit pretty erect in those chairs (neither of us can cross our legs on an airplane without struggling, much less use the tray table with legs crossed, to give you an idea of our sizes. I think our photo is under my user CP). But the stern chairs being larger make it easy to spend time on the balcony. If you like to be the first in the buffet when it opens at 6 a.m. (this is an hour earlier than on most ships) for a full breakfast, it is convenient from the stern balcony. But it's not inconvenient to take the elevator down to 5 for Skyway, either since both cabin and restaurant are at the aft elevator.

 

As far as using the stern balcony for NaPali viewing, it would be possible, but you might miss the commentary. Then again, you might hear it from loud speakers in the great outdoors 1 deck above. We did go to deck 6 to view it. Everyone sat on the storage containers since there were not adequate loungers out for all who were there. The commentary did not come until the last 15 minutes anyway. So you could try it from your balcony to see if it felt awkward, and if so, go to decks 11 or above, or to the promenade deck 6, to view it.

 

FORGOT SOMETHING IN THE REVIEW: no tender tickets needed after 10:30, but before that you go pick them up when your entire party is ready. We didn't wait more than two minutes before they announced we'd all go on the next tender. Location of ticket give out will be on page two of your daily as a question/answer column entitled, "What is Tendering?" In other words you do not have to get in line at 8 a.m. to hope for a seat by 10. Just go when you are ready.

[brissygirl]

Hi Phyllis, It was a great cruise wasn't it. My only complaint is that there were no sea days. Being in port everyday we wanted to see 'everything' so didn't really get to spend a lot of time just enjoying ship time. Managed to get in the hot tubs twice. We had a balcony mid ship portside on deck 9 and couldn't fault it. We were very happy with the overall cleanliness of the ship. Our cabin steward was wonderful and we had cute towel animals everyday (sometimes twice).

 

We were lucky being in a group of six - meant we were able to book a table in the Skyline and Liberty. We enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Jefferson Bistro on our first evening. They kept encouraging us to 'try another entree', try another dessert', we all overate (everyday). I didn't have high expectations of the food after what I'd read in the reviews - but can't fault any we had. We enjoyed all our meals and the service. Wasn't the pineapple soooo sweet.

 

Found a couple of the shows a bit disappointing, so don't think you missed a lot having early nights.

 

I do plan on writing a review in the next few days. The sensible thing to do would have been to do it as we went along as I had my laptop with me.

 

Have you got your next cruise planned. I've booked an Alaskan cruise next year and a Canada/New England. Cruising can certainly be addictive.

 

Look forward to reading your review. Julie

[SeasideMermaid]

Where did you take hula lessons, on the ship?

[Cruise_More_Often]

Thanks, Phyllis, for answering my question about the stern balcony. I think we'll stick with it. Didn't they have the commentary coming through the TV like they do for the other announcements?

 

You have made me so excited. Now I just have to calm down, since I have over a year to wait!

[kj_connections]

Amazing review, so detailed and I like to read reviews where people did their own excursions.

 

I booked this cruise for the same time next year (Nov 27-Dec 4, 2010).

 

Phyllis, what was the weather like for you?

[flashdog_1]

Where did you take hula lessons, on the ship?

 

Yes, they had them every day. Sometimes it was at 8:30 a.m. and other times 4:15 to 6:15 p.m.

 

they also had lei making, including a bill folding for a lei, a beaded scarf folding, napkin folding, towel animal making. We missed most of it being off the ship.

 

Daily the male Hawaiian Ambassador gave a talk on the port at 7:30 a.m. It was held in the outdoor buffet.

[flashdog_1]

hi phyllis, it was a great cruise wasn't it. My only complaint is that there were no sea days. (sometimes twice).

 

Yes, missed sea days. That's why you need a back to back so you can stay on the ship at least one day. Ha

 

have you got your next cruise planned. I've booked an alaskan cruise next year and a canada/new england. Cruising can certainly be addictive.

 

Yes, canada/new england sept 12, 2010, dh and dd and me so far. Maybe 2 more.

 

Look forward to reading your review. Julie

 

we'll be on dawn next sept. How about you, what ship?

[flashdog_1]

Didn't they have the commentary coming through the TV like they do for the other announcements?

 

I honestly do not know since we didn't turn the TV on until the last morning! Maybe someone else can tell you. Brissygirl?

[flashdog_1]

Amazing review, so detailed and I like to read reviews where people did their own excursions.

 

I booked this cruise for the same time next year (Nov 27-Dec 4, 2010).

 

Phyllis, what was the weather like for you?

 

Well, I put it to my daughter concerning the 2nd day in Maui re possibly booking a helicopter tour over Molokai vs. car rental: Would you rather spend $40 or $400? ha "Since you put it like that, let's spend $40."

 

Weather: No rain during the day. Highs at the start of the cruise were 84° and later in the week highs were about 78°. Night time was in the 60s. You can use your robe to be on your balcony at night!

 

I think we really lucked out. our helicopter flight was smooth as silk the last day. They said the day before it had been choppy and cloudy. So you just don't know how it will be. Weather is weather, and we had good!

[tripster]

Great review and very informative. Thank you for posting. Glad to hear you had a great time. Looking forward to my cruise in June.