My Pride of America Review 1/21-1/28

[karfest]

Good Morning! it's a balmy 40 degrees here in Green Bay and I would give anything to be back in rainy Hawaii! Oh well...maybe next year.

 

-If I found a good deal on a suite, I would certainly take it, but we were very happy with our regular balcony room. We didn't spend much time on the ship and wouldn't have been able to use all of the suite amenities. Our cabin had a pull out couch, but it would be cramped with 4 people- especially the bathroom.

-I booked our own excursions and car rentals at the end of December. I booked the NCL circle island excursion on the second day of the cruise. We had a rental car for Honolulu but changed our minds after we boarded. You wil want to book cars in advance, Thrifty had none left for walk-ups.

-The deluxe circle island tour went from 10:30-7:30. We stopped at the Dole Plantation for about 20 mins, a north shore beach for 20 mins, Turtle Bay resort for 1-1/2 hours, a mac nut farm for 20 mins, a snorkle beach for 20 mins, and Waikiki for 2 hours. I guess that seems like a lot of bus time, but the guide was interesting and always pointing out things so it didn't get boring.

-You certainly won't get restless on the ship, we spent every last minute we could in the ports because there was so much to see. The hours in port are long and the overnights are really a great way to get more out of the island experience.

- My parents were booked through NCL and didn't get their docs and flight info until 2 weeks before. We had ours more than a month out.

 

Happy Sailing!

[karfest]

I was just reading a review about this ship on another board that brought up the lack of a casino. Evidently, there are people out there who don't do any research before they book a ship.

 

It is not NCL's fault that there is not a casino or Bingo. I would assume NCL would want a casino as it generates lots of revenue. The state of Hawaii does not allow gambling- which is why they get some sweet deals to fly to Vegas from HNL!

 

Anyway, we always enjoy drooping a few dollars in the casino after dinner but did not miss it at all. In fact, it was nice to NOT hear bingo announcements every 5 minutes! Like I have said before, the ship is not the main attraction so don't go expecting to be entertained every minute you are onboard. Unless you plan on your own in-room entertainment;)

[budgetED]

Karen:

Wow, I havent stopped by this site in several months...I read your review eagerly and luckily I didnt have to wait to read your, "Next.." because they are all here now.

 

It's too bad about the rainy weather but somehow after reading your review, I can tell that a rainy Hawaii is still beautiful and better than many other vacation spots with great weather. What a nice, adventurous vacation.

 

Nancy and I have yet to book our next cruise but are looking at June, perhaps to Bahamas again or somewhere in the Caribbean. Although she's pretty adamant about Hawaii. Either way, I can think of tougher decisions to make in life. :)

 

I still want to return on the Star someday to Mexican Riviera even though it would be a 4th Mex. Riv. cruise for us...we thoroughly enjoyed the ports on the Star and had a wonderful time onboard as well as in the cities we visited.

[karfest]

Hi Ed!

Good to hear from you! I think Nancy should win this time and you go to Hawaii. If I did this again, I would stay an extra week- that is a LONG,expensive flight, considering we can't go direct from here.

 

We might skip a year of cruising and go to Zihuatenejo- I would love to retire in that area (or possibly Puerto Vallarta)so I want to start looking at land. Maybe we'll have to take the Star again!

 

If you decide on Hawaii, let me know, I have lotsa books and info:D

[budgetED]

Hi Karen! Ixtapa/Zihua was a place we decided we definitely had to go back on an air/land pkg..so beautiful and not yet over commercialized...in fact my bet for buying property would probbaly be there because of that instead of PV....anyway, both are lovely and let me know what u decide...maybe we can rent from you! :p

 

Just yesterday a friend of ours made us an offer we couldnt refuse...she bought a vacation (this June) for her family of 4 and 3 of us (Tiff is in college and her schedule won't allow her to join us)...3 nites in Fort Lauderdale, 5 day cruise out of Miami to Key West and Cozumel, and 3 days in Orlando...suites on land, rental car and oceanview cabin on cruise...she's paying for all that and we pay the airfare for all 7....these are best friends of ours, she works with me (known her since high school) and we are all Godparents to each other's kids....anyway, we're very close and our kids are the same ages....we travel together every couple of years. Sounds great huh?

 

I have vacation again in August so maybe we'll do Hawaii then. Been working those 16 hr shifts...work is so crazy especially lately, lots of riots...i work hard and am ready for vacation! and Nancy works hard too.

 

talk to u soon Karen,

Ed:)

[janniebabe]

Hey karfest,

 

My DH and I are planning a Hawaiian cruise that is a ways off yet, but it was so nice to read your reviews of the cruise. Was interested to read that you are from Green Bay, we are from Iron Mountain!

Thanks again for good reviews!

[karfest]

Ya Hey Der!! You will find Hawaii much more tropical den da UP, and so?

 

(Yooper is the only foreign language I have learned while living in 'sconsin!)

 

Enjoy your trip- after the past few weeks of snow and sub zero temps, I am wishing we had missed the ship and stayed in Hawaii:D

If you need any assistance, I'm willing to help!

[rozmat]

I have a question if you'd be so kind to provide an answer.

 

Years ago when I was on the SS Independence, American Hawaiian cruise ship, in Honolulu when we left the port there was a little hula show on the dock and the mayor came out to send us off. A fire boat led us out of the port with water spraying from it, and the people on shore sang to us. A very touching moment for me. We also had streamers to throw. Anything like that happen on your sail away?

 

We have less than a week now, and the level of excitement is growing each day.

 

Thanks again for all the information you've shared with us.

[Ali70]

Karfest,

can you remember which ship excursions your parents went on as I plan on taking the ships excursions every day of my cruise in August?

[segerd]

Just off the ship this morning, there was nothing on the pier the night we sailed away a week ago. I went on the Aloha in July of 2004 and there was entertainment on the pier for that sail away. What a great week we just had on this ship!

[rozmat]

Thanks for responding. I was really hoping they still did that. It was such a nice touch to start the cruise.

 

Maybe when you get some rest you will share some details of your recent experience on the POAM. Tell us what made it such a great week.

 

Thanks again.

[DaisyL]

Karfest,

can you remember which ship excursions your parents went on as I plan on taking the ships excursions every day of my cruise in August?

Also looking for more info on ship sponsored excursions.

 

We have always intermixed ship tours and on-our-own, but we like the variety of the ship's tours to get a good feel of a new island with limited visiting time.

 

We have been to Maui before, 16 yrs ago, and think we can rent a car and tour on our own. We want to see Iao Valley, Kaanapali Beach, Lahaina, maybe the Maui plantation or Maui Ocean Center, and just stop at some beaches.

 

But how about some tours for the other islands?

 

BTW, I also follow the Hawaii thread but most questions are geared around renting cars or adventure tours. I really do not want to spend my whole vacation running around, beat-the-clock, squeezing in as much as possible, all day in a car, reading maps, get back to the ship on time ... and come home exhausted. Been-there-done-that! If I see one highlight on each island and spend the remainder of the day by the pool with a foo-foo drink, I will be happy.

 

Any insights from your experiences will be appreciated.

 

segerd, looking for your review too!