Hawaii with no sea days

[welly world]

We are researching a cruise to Hawaii. I know that currently, only POA is doing the cruise of Hawaii with no sea days, so there is no competition for business. Some other threads refer to different lines who have done this in the past. Is there any chance that another line might do this in the future? Or will NCL have cornered the market on this idea? :confused:

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Sorry, NCL has the market on this one. That is because, due to maritime law, only a US registered ship is allowed to cruise to all US ports without visiting at least one foreign port. Since there are no other foreign ports within easy reach (no sea days) of Hawaii & since NCL has the only US Registered ship out of all the main cruise lines you will not see another ship doing this itinerary.

 

To have a ship registered in the US is a major deal and a huge cost commitment. The ship is also supposed to be built in the US. There are no US cruise ship builders and so NCL has to do some wheeling & dealing to have a non-US built cruise ship flagged for the US. It is not likely to happen again. I am not aware of any other cruise lines who have done a similar itinerary in the recent past. I know that some went to another Polynesian island (Figi?) as their foreign port, but that meant extra sea days and a longer cruise (I, for one would like that one!). Today, most cruise lines have up to 4-8 sea days and either go to Ensenada for their foreign port or Vancouver. NCL had 3 ships doing this same itinerary a few years ago, but proved to be too much competition for themselves and pulled out two ships, reflagging them to do the more traditional cruises. Then they were able to raise prices on the remaining ship. Maybe that is what you are thinking of?

 

That being said, we are booked on the NCL POA in 5 weeks. They have a great itinerary and we think it looks like the best way to see multiple islands in a short time.:)

[CruiserBruce]

NCL used to have 3 ships (IIRC) doing various routes in the Hawaiin islands. However, they weren't making money, and this was a few years prior to the current economic problems. So, I guess you could say NCL has the market cornered, but I wouldn't say that has a positive spin to it.

[welly world]

Thank you for your responses. It makes so much sense, having a US ship. We are also looking into NCL for Hawaii and would love to read your review when you get back!

[Love Overboard]

What hasn't been mentioned in all of the above threads is that POA does not have any casino and no bingo.

 

They can also move back the Jade as long as it stays in Europe till their ready to bring it back which I doubt will be anytime soon as long as there is no gambling in the state of Hawaii. And thats is why no other cruise line is jumping on the ban wagon.

 

Here is a link to recent reviews

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=349

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Thank you for your responses. It makes so much sense, having a US ship. We are also looking into NCL for Hawaii and would love to read your review when you get back!

We are sooooo anxious for this cruise! Another good thing that we like about it is that we will have 3 nights pre-cruise at Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu and 1 night post cruise at the Outrigger Waikiki, so we get to extend the Hawaii experience a bit longer.:)

 

Yes, Hawaii does outlaw gambling, so no casino or bingo on the ship since it never leaves Hawaiian waters. We don't gamble, so nothing lost for us. However, the cruise lines do depend on that royalty, so it is a big income loss for them.

 

Also, because it is US flagged it has to hire primarily US workers. That means that the service level is a bit different than other cruises you may have been on. We are prepared for more of a Marriot or even a better Holiday Inn experience than the Waldorf! But since it is being used by us as a floating hotel, we don't mind. Hawaii IS the main attraction. However, I have been told that since NCL condensed down to one Hawaii ship the service levels have improved. They had a hard time filling 3 ships with American crew willing to work as hard as cruise ship life dictates. The reviews lately have been pretty good.

 

I will certainly be writing a review upon my return and including a LOT of pictures!:D

[lv2bgoofy]

Can't wait to hear your reviews....we don't sail until February but I have to say that I am addicted to reading the reviews on the islands....no loss for us either on the casinos since we don't gamble either....seeing all the islands is our draw......

[whale-watcher]

We chose the POA for its itinerary, and were not disappointed...there is NO other way to see so much of Hawaii in such a short time. The overnights in Maui and Kauai (with napali coast sailby) are fantastic, plus two port stops on the BI, and as much time as you want on Oahu; no other cruise itinerary comes close to this, and there is no way to do this ob your own in the same amount of time.

 

This is not the best option if you are looking for a traditional cruise experience, but this is the only way to go if seeing a lot of Hawaii in a short period of time is your primary goal

[hexdragon]

I agree that you really cannot see as much on your own staying at hotels. We have done both. We spent almost as much time packing up, going to the airport, waiting for the plane, waiting for the rental car, driving to the next resort, ect as we did relaxing...

 

The cruise is the way to go. You unpack once. You island hop while you sleep...

[welly world]

Thank you for ALL of your wonderful comments! You have definitely made this decision a lot easier and now, I can't wait to go!

[Budget Queen]

I too, highly recommend this cruise and find the itinerary superb. :) There are plenty of reviews, posted on the ship's page, also ports are reviewed as well. I did my 4th Hawaiian trip on NCL in Feb. and have booked again for next year. I always add at least another week, with next year, probably being 2, with 1 of those being on Big Island.

 

Hawaii, is a "cheap" place for touring, since so much of it is natural beauty, that you just drive up to. I have always used rental cars for my visits, and will continue to do so. :)

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Last time I did this, I was on the Pride of Hawaii which is now the Jade. That is when NCLA still had 3 ships in Hawaii. Service was okay for me but for many, they never saw their room stewards and had to get towels from the lido deck pools. Going on POA in July and can't wait.

 

I also don't gamble but many people do. Since NCL loses that income, the prices are pretty high for this cruise.

[Reimer]

I recommended doing a Hawaii cruise for anyone who is going to Hawaii for the first time. I went for the first time last September. We however sailed out of Vancouver with RCI. The actual cruise Itinerary was pretty much the same except on Maui the ship anchors in Lahaina as opposed to docking in Kahalui. It also does not do a Napali coast sailby. But as a difference to NCL the ship does have a casino and bingo and they only close when the ships are in port otherwise they are open. Also in terms of price I see usually like 900 for a 7 night on POA where the RCI one was 1200 for a 12 night. But of course as you originally pointed it started with 4 seas days I believe. It was a perfect way to relax and mellow out to start a vacation before it was go, go, go time once we hit the islands.

 

Either way the actual Hawaiian cruise was amazing and I can't wait to return. Each island is so unique in it's own way and I would be torn to go back there and just choose one island for a weeks vacation.