10 Night Vancouver to Hawaii, costs, food, casino, etc.

[roxievegas]

We have just returned from Celebrity Solstice Vancouver to Hawaii. We have completed 8 cruises with Celebrity and are now Elite with the completion of this cruise. I originally booked this cruise at a cost of $1899pp (classic beverage, gratuities, $200 OBC) for balcony - by the time we left we were Concierge cabin, cost $1399pp with classic beverage & $200 OBC - lost the gratuities, but with $1,000 total savings we paid for that separate.

 

We live in southern calif, so I booked our airfare with Celebrity - paid $149 one way each from John Wayne Airport to Vancouver the day before. Cost of taxi is a flat rate from airport to the Canada Place area $25. I booked the Hotel Le Soleil on line for $233 us plus $39 taxes (total $271) - the room was a suite and very nice. It is a short walk to Canada Place and with our roller bags we had no problem. check in was easy except we had a lady that was working her first day and she had a few problems. We were greeted in the Concierge line by our "guy" who told us to go to MDR and have lunch. This was nicer than fighting the crowds at the buffet and as always the food was good. Afterwards we went to the Cafe al Bacio for a coffee and waited for the all rooms are ready.

 

Cabin:

we had a balcony #1010 with the sofa in the middle and the bed near the sliding doors. We like the balcony cabins on Celebrity better than Princess, but the closet area is nicer on Princess. We also like the bathrooms with the sliding door on the shower, not the curtain that Princess has. We had no problems with the cabin except we could hear our neighbors - something that we have not noticed in the past (coughing, tv noise, etc)

 

Food:

we ate dinner in the MDR 6 nights - food is good. We ate 2 nights at Sushi on Five (items are priced al la carte but you can do a $30 per person and eat all you want - we were fine ordering 3 different sushi rolls at a cost of $10 each - so we paid $15 each.

We had coffee every morning at Cafe al Baco, we had lunch in the Buffet and we had breakfast in the MDR a couple of times. We had OBC to use so we booked one night in Murano - we had a girl come to us in the buffet area and ask if we would like to book one of Specialty restaurants and we said yes - but only if we could pay $30 each. She checked with her boss and came back and said $35. No one should pay full price - they ran specials the whole cruise giving you 30% off all the specialty restaurants. We ordered room service for dinner one night. We ordered again for breakfast on our excursion days - one day our food never came and when I called I was told that they did not have our order - I waited on the phone for over 10 minutes.

 

Internet

did not purchase the package. $30 per day for one device - and more for more devices.

 

Excursions

we had purchased through Celebrity four excursions. Two weeks before we left, we received notice that two of our excursions were cancelled. One in Hilo and one in Maui. Never got an explanation why.

We had an excursion in Kona - "Kona Highlights" - do not recommend. Gone 4 hours and three stops. One at a Coffee plantation, the painted church, and Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (place of refuge) - our driver was informative and we learned a lot of Hawaiian history, but still disappointed.

In Maui we did the "Maui Deluxe Sightseeing" - do not recommend. Not worth the money. Gone 5- 6 hours. went to 3 places.

(could not hear the travel guide, even after telling him that we could not hear him) Went to the Maui Ocean Center (a $29.95pp) included in our excursion price, then went to IAO valley and then to Maui Pineapple Plantation - spend way too long there. Not happy with our guide.

 

Booking new Cruise

booked a new cruise, paid $200 deposit - refundable - received $300 OBC and took gratuities as 2nd perk. Now that we are elite we get our drinks in the afternoon and we also receive 90 minutes each for internet. We are not big alcohol drinkers and we did not come close to drinking $55 a day each on this cruise.

 

Leaving the Ship

last day is horrible. We were told to wait in Silk Harvest - available 8 - 9:40 a.m. - got there at 8 and nowhere to sit. We left and got in line to get off - no personnel were around to tell people where to line up - just a cluster of people at the exit door. We got off - grabbed our bag and went to the taxi line - waited 10 minutes and were off. Celebrity had bus transportation to airport for $24.95pp - we paid $29.10 plus tip for the taxi

 

the airport is horrible. It took over an hour in line to get through TSA - no air conditioning. We had booked return flight with Celebrity on United. $249pp, but I paid extra to get plus seating.

 

Summary:

Concierge Cabin $2,798

gratuities 280

insurance 178

taxes n port fees 208 - total $4247

 

air/luggage fee/upgrade seating total - $1,120

 

taxi vancouver $30

hotel vancouver $271

taxi Honolulu $35

shuttle home from airport $60 total $396

 

ship excursions (2) $202 Grand Total $5965

 

Gambling:

 

we played in the casino - they offered extra play for tables or slot machines 100 gets you 110, 300 gets you 340 and 500 gets you 575 with a max of $2,000 (giving you 2,300) they had days where you would get free drinks if you were playing, but I only had one offer and since I had a drink package I didn't need their free drinks.

 

Pros vs Cons

 

we felt that a lot of the personnel were uninformed. If you asked a question, the answer was wrong and you could ask 3 people and get three different responses. The personnel in the MDR were great as they always have been. Food has always been good to us.

Our next two cruises are on Princess going out of LA - we want to avoid flying at all possible. We have booked our future cruise on Celebrity 14 night Canada/New England - goes out of Newark - but that may change before Sept 2019.

 

Go to Walmart to buy your souvenirs - one box of macadamia candy was $2.98 walmart - aiport was $11. macadamia nuts 10 oz bag is $8.98 walmart - all other stores over $10, mostly $14.00. Airport food is costly - burger king $15 for a combo meal, and not many places to eat.

[Duanerice1]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a wonderful time. So sad to hear about your excursions. That's why we usually rent cars, we go exploring on our own for usually less than the excursion.

 

So, $5,965 for a cruise that costs $1,399 pp. That's why I never calculate the final cost. Once it's done, it's done. I don't want to know! lol

[A Sixth?]

Thanks for your input. Booked Van-Hawaii April 2019 B2B's :D:beer-toast:

:beer-toast:

[Georgia_Peaches]

Thank you for the review and the cost breakdown. Seems like you got a great deal for a 10 night vacation. Nice to know the Elite perks pay off...we make it to Elite after our cruise in April.

[Georgia_Peaches]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a wonderful time. So sad to hear about your excursions. That's why we usually rent cars, we go exploring on our own for usually less than the excursion.

 

So, $5,965 for a cruise that costs $1,399 pp. That's why I never calculate the final cost. Once it's done, it's done. I don't want to know! lol

It breaks down to $300pp per day...IMHO that's pretty good considering it includes pre-cruise hotel and transportation. But like you, I don't ever look at the bottom line..if I did, I'd be disappointed.

[maggieq]

Thanks so much for taking the time to post this review. It is a cruise I am looking at for next September.

[awhfy]

We’re doing the Vancouver to Hawaii cruise on 22 Sep 19 on Eclipse (did Hawaii to Vancouver in April 2016 on Solstice). Hawaii is expensive—Vancouver is even more so. We’ll fly in day before cruise then spend 5-7 days in Hawaii after. Is it expensive? Sure. You only have one 50th anniversary!

 

 

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[roxievegas]

If you are planning to stay over in Hawaii after the cruise, I would like to make a suggestion ;

many people feel that Mauu is the best place to stay of all the islands. I have been to the four major islands and I like them all.

But you could get off the ship before heading to Honolulu, stay in Maui and then fly home from Maui. Honolulu is a busy city.

If you get off in Maui, you have to get permission.

[BCJO]

Thank you for the breakdown of this trip. Did you keep a watch on prices and change category due to price drop, or were you offered an upgrade? Also good advice re Maui. Thx again.

[roxievegas]

After I book a cruise I watch the cruise line website and my travel agent website daily - if price drops on either I call my Travel Agency and get them to call the cruise line and get a price change. If it is more than 90 days out they just re price the cruise - If it is before 75 days (i have to pay for the cruise at 90 days) then I get a refund to my credit card. Once it is with 75 days, you can only try to get a better cabin or move up next category. I originally booked a balcony 2B - got a refund, then prices changed again but within the 75 days and I got moved up to Concierge cabin.

remember that if you booked with perks and prices change, the perks may not move with your new price, so compare the new price with old and figure in the perks.

Our first cruise in 2010 I didn't know about price changes, so never checked. Once I found this website and read the comments , I became a price checker daily. I have not booked a cruise that I have not got a price change since that first cruise.

Good luck and have a wonderful cruise.