POH Excursion Questions

[CruiseAddict58]

Our family will be on the POH Thanksgiving cruise. I am in the process of selecting excursions all of which we plan to purchase through NCL. I know they are more expensive, but I really don't want to book privately.

Below is a listing of the excursions we are considering. Any advice from people that have taken any of these will be most appreciated.

Hilo-"Volcanoes National Park Odyssey"

Kahulului, Maui-Golf "The Dunes of Maui Lani" and Pacific Paradise Luau, and "Beach Day at Ka'anapali"

Kona-Golf-"Big Island Country Club" and Kona Tiki Hula Cruise

Nawailiwili, Kaui-Golf "Puakea Golf Course" and "Mudbug & Waterfall Safari"

Honolulu-"Best of Oahu Grand Finale Tour"

[diamondf467]

Hilo-"Volcanoes National Park Odyssey"

Kahulului, Maui-Golf "The Dunes of Maui Lani" and Pacific Paradise Luau, and "Beach Day at Ka'anapali"

Kona-Golf-"Big Island Country Club" and Kona Tiki Hula Cruise

Nawailiwili, Kaui-Golf "Puakea Golf Course" and "Mudbug & Waterfall Safari"

Honolulu-"Best of Oahu Grand Finale Tour"

Hi,

We just came back from POH. We did the Volacones national park odyssey. Very informative, we had a great guide who answered all of our questions. We did not see any lava just steam. We also went through the Thurston Lava tube. The end of the day was best when the ship sail by the hot lava meeting the ocean. Spectacular!

We also did the Mudbug and Waterfall safari. Also a great day. We all got really dirty and had fun doing it. We went swimming in the waterfall where we also had a picnic lunch. The tour supplies clothing and shoes so you really don't get your own clothing dirty, however, we were still covered in mud. My kids felt this was the highlight of their trip

[DMRick]

Can you tell me more about this? What it includes, how long. I can't find anything about them on the net. We had planned to rent a car and go off on our own (4 of us)..do you suggest this instead? Thanks

[Kay240]

We planned to go on BEST OF OAHU also, but had no luck with it as a TOPIC QUESTION a couple of weeks ago. MY QUESTIONS:

1- Do we enter the Polynesian Cultural Center @4 PM or much earlier in the day?

2- Does it include a buffet dinner or the LUAU (which I understand is VERY HIGHLY RATED)?

[Kay240]

I spoke to "CLARA" today at NCL Shore Excursions. She put me "on hold" about 5 minutes while she consulted with "George" who is an "Inventory Specialist". He said the dinner was "award winning" and that it was a LUAU. :)

 

I said we didn't want to wait for our LAST DAY to experience a luau, and then discover it was just a buffet...

[Kay240]

Still nervous about whether Best of Oahu was "buffet" or "luau", I phoned NCL (again) yesterday. Strangely, I was connected to different people and finally told to phone the Waikiki Marriott... There I was assured it was a luau! :)

[Kay240]

Still nervous about whether Best of Oahu was "buffet" or "luau", I phoned NCL (again) yesterday. Strangely, I was connected to different people and finally told to phone the Waikiki Marriott... There I was assured it was a luau! :)

[CruiseAddict58]

Hilo-"Volcanoes National Park Odyssey"

Kahulului, Maui-Golf "The Dunes of Maui Lani" and Pacific Paradise Luau, and "Beach Day at Ka'anapali"

Kona-Golf-"Big Island Country Club" and Kona Tiki Hula Cruise

Nawailiwili, Kaui-Golf "Puakea Golf Course" and "Mudbug & Waterfall Safari"

Honolulu-"Best of Oahu Grand Finale Tour"

Hi,

We just came back from POH. We did the Volacones national park odyssey. Very informative, we had a great guide who answered all of our questions. We did not see any lava just steam. We also went through the Thurston Lava tube. The end of the day was best when the ship sail by the hot lava meeting the ocean. Spectacular!

We also did the Mudbug and Waterfall safari. Also a great day. We all got really dirty and had fun doing it. We went swimming in the waterfall where we also had a picnic lunch. The tour supplies clothing and shoes so you really don't get your own clothing dirty, however, we were still covered in mud. My kids felt this was the highlight of their trip

Thanks for the information. I've had several people tell me that we need to do VNP on our own. I prefer excursions though where we don't have to be responsible for anything. Glad to know you liked the NCL excursion.

[CruiseAddict58]

Still nervous about whether Best of Oahu was "buffet" or "luau", I phoned NCL (again) yesterday. Strangely, I was connected to different people and finally told to phone the Waikiki Marriott... There I was assured it was a luau! :)

Thanks for update! Just waiting to get our flight info from NCL so I will know if we can do this excursion or not. I know it is 12 hours, but sounds like a great way to spend our last day in Hawaii! Sure would love to hear from someone that has taken this excursion before.

[CruiseAddict58]

Still nervous about whether Best of Oahu was "buffet" or "luau", I phoned NCL (again) yesterday. Strangely, I was connected to different people and finally told to phone the Waikiki Marriott... There I was assured it was a luau! :)

Thanks for update! Just waiting to get our flight info from NCL so I will know if we can do this excursion or not. I know it is 12 hours, but sounds like a great way to spend our last day in Hawaii! Sure would love to hear from someone that has taken this excursion before.

[CruiseAddict58]

Hilo-"Volcanoes National Park Odyssey"

Kahulului, Maui-Golf "The Dunes of Maui Lani" and Pacific Paradise Luau, and "Beach Day at Ka'anapali"

Kona-Golf-"Big Island Country Club" and Kona Tiki Hula Cruise

Nawailiwili, Kaui-Golf "Puakea Golf Course" and "Mudbug & Waterfall Safari"

Honolulu-"Best of Oahu Grand Finale Tour"

Hi,

We just came back from POH. We did the Volacones national park odyssey. Very informative, we had a great guide who answered all of our questions. We did not see any lava just steam. We also went through the Thurston Lava tube. The end of the day was best when the ship sail by the hot lava meeting the ocean. Spectacular!

We also did the Mudbug and Waterfall safari. Also a great day. We all got really dirty and had fun doing it. We went swimming in the waterfall where we also had a picnic lunch. The tour supplies clothing and shoes so you really don't get your own clothing dirty, however, we were still covered in mud. My kids felt this was the highlight of their trip

Did you write a review of your recent POH cruise? Sure would like to hear your opinion if you have a chance.

[Host CMLA]

Still nervous about whether Best of Oahu was "buffet" or "luau", I phoned NCL (again) yesterday. Strangely, I was connected to different people and finally told to phone the Waikiki Marriott... There I was assured it was a luau! :)

It should be a luau with a buffet. They don't serve you. You serve yourself. Why would they ever offer a buffet as an excursion?

[mbmam2]

Our family will be on the POH Thanksgiving cruise. I am in the process of selecting excursions all of which we plan to purchase through NCL. I know they are more expensive, but I really don't want to book privately.

 

Below is a listing of the excursions we are considering. Any advice from people that have taken any of these will be most appreciated.

 

Hilo-"Volcanoes National Park Odyssey"

Kahulului, Maui-Golf "The Dunes of Maui Lani" and Pacific Paradise Luau, and "Beach Day at Ka'anapali"

Kona-Golf-"Big Island Country Club" and Kona Tiki Hula Cruise

Nawailiwili, Kaui-Golf "Puakea Golf Course" and "Mudbug & Waterfall Safari"

Honolulu-"Best of Oahu Grand Finale Tour"

 

 

We were on the POH 8/7 and booked all of our excursions through NCL. It worked great doing it on line once I found the correct spot on their website. We got the confirmation back in a few days via email and were all set. The only problem we had was the Hollywood tour on Kauai was sold out. Also the cancelled the begginer scuba on kauai because of lack of sign ups.

 

The Mudbug tour on Kauai was the abolute highlight of our trip. As another poster said, you will get full of mud, especially if it rains, but it is so much fun to drive those things through deep mud puddles. My teenagers loved it, though my wife was not too fond of getting so dirty. They take great pictures for you and sell you the CD at the end of the trip for a reasonable price, so don't worry about a camera. They also give you all the clothes, so no need to wear anything special. Just bring a towel from the ship becuase they give you a place to hose off the mud at the end, but no towels.

 

I would also highly recommend the Captain Zodiac tour in Kona. If you are at all adventurous and like snorkeling, it is well worth it. Your kids will like the zodiac boats and the guides, but be prepared to go very fast!. One of our passengers (Over 65, should not have been on the trip) called it the suicide death trip from hell! Not bad though, really!

 

Good luck and have a great cruise!

 

MBMAM

[CruiseAddict58]

Thank you for the advice. So many posters have encouraged us to rent cars instead of taking excursions. Personally even though it costs more, I like to have the convenience of not being responsible for everything and book our excursions with NCL. I've booked everything but the Mudbug, so based on your recommendation, think I'll go ahead and book it in the morning.

 

Did you write a review of your cruise? Sure would like to hear about your onboard experience.....dining, etc. Thanks again!

[beachchick]

I just wanted to mention that by denifinition, luaus are pretty much serve yourself deals. When the ohana (family) gets together for a luau, all the food is put out and you're on your own. So, when you go to a commercial luau, in many if not most cases it will be "buffet" style. That's why it's pretty easy to get confused about whether it's a buffet or a luau; it's probably a luau buffet.

 

beachchick

[Breezey]

Thank you for the advice. So many posters have encouraged us to rent cars instead of taking excursions. Personally even though it costs more, I like to have the convenience of not being responsible for everything and book our excursions with NCL. I've booked everything but the Mudbug, so based on your recommendation, think I'll go ahead and book it in the morning.

 

Did you write a review of your cruise? Sure would like to hear about your onboard experience.....dining, etc. Thanks again!

 

 

We did the 9/4 sailing and did excursions and car rentals. Rented in Kona and Kaui and took excursions in Hilo and Maui. We did the Volcanoes National Park Deluxe Tour. There were only 6 of us in a van and were guided by a park ranger. It was terrific. However, on the other hand, all we did in Hilo was the park while our friends who did rent a car saw tons more. We saw only one part of Hilo.

[mbmam2]

Thank you for the advice. So many posters have encouraged us to rent cars instead of taking excursions. Personally even though it costs more, I like to have the convenience of not being responsible for everything and book our excursions with NCL. I've booked everything but the Mudbug, so based on your recommendation, think I'll go ahead and book it in the morning.

 

Did you write a review of your cruise? Sure would like to hear about your onboard experience.....dining, etc. Thanks again!

 

I hope you all enjoy getting muddy, because if you do, it is really fun! I tried to attach a picture, but it is too big.

 

I wrote a very long review, but it is not posted for some reason. If you do a search on my name, you will get the one I posted here in messages, and also some other threads where I posted regarding dining. Hope they are helpful.

 

Have a great cruise!