Cruising Hawaii!

[papillons4u]

I have cruised three times and am thinking of cruising to Hawaii..would love to hear the pros and cons from those of you that have done one of these cruises?

 

Thank you,

 

Joyce from Maine

 

[Fatherdav]

Have done it once myself, and DO plan on doing it again. One thing I'd HIGHLY recommend is leaving from Mexico or Canada and not starting in Hawaii. With the days at sea getting to Hawaii, it builds up the excitement. The big excitement of the trip is at the end, and not the beginning of the vacation.

[Folgy]

I also will do again with only one change.

I will fly to Hawaii and cruise home to Vancouver. Doing it the other way around pooped me out going home.

 

Celebrity Infinity May 28/04

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Serenade of the Seas (My Big 50)

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[cruisinMike]

Well I did it from Mexico to Hawaii last year and extended my stay. This year we are going the opposite way, Hawaii to Mexico and we leave next weekend for a pre-cruise get-away. If I can find this thread, I'll give you my 2 cents worth. Either way, I would try to get a few extra days in Hawaii. One thing I do enjoy is the days at sea. When we got to the islands last year we were trying to pack in all we could see so you are tired at the end of the cruise. My hope this time is to just "play" with the last 4 days at sea.

 

'till we sail on the Legend in Hawaii

 

'till we sail on the Voyager of the Seas

 

'till we sail on the Brilliance

[BEVEROO]

We cruised from Hawaii to Ensenada and would do it again in a heart beat. I liked having the sea days at the end of the trip as by the time we got home we felt really relaxed. Of course, we love the sea days anyway. I think if we did it the other way around we would too exhausted at the end. Just my opinion. Happy sailing!

Bev

 

Sail On Forever!!!!!!!

[papillons4u]

Please do let me know your thoughts! Everyone has such good points! What do I do! I guess it will be great either way as long as I get there. It must be a much more expencive trip? Please try to find this thread or e-mail me at papillon@gwi.net. Have a great trip! We just got home from a eastern cruise a few weeks back and am having withdrawls really bad! I guess it is time to book a trip to Hawaii! I bet the flight is going to kill me... (cost wise) We are from Maine!

 

Joyce

 

[ugyvel]

We too are doing the Hawaii Mexico route. We've not cruised Hawaii before, but have vacationed there about 5 times. That trip back is a killer. Your only options are to leave in the afternoon, meaning you get back (to the Midwest) in the morning (with time changes). We always were so wiped out from the return trip that it took days to recover (I can't sleep much on planes, so that probably accounts for some of it). The trip over on the other hand seems like a breeze, we've never had any problem adapting. That's my two cents worth.

 

Golden 11/01

Monarch 12/02

Fantasy 6/03

Serenade 9/03

Radiance 11/03

Brilliance 6/04

Enchantment 9/04

Legend 3/05

[cruisnfool]

I agree with the Hawaii to Mexico route....having those days at sea last were a welcome rest after 7 busy days around the islands. You also get away from jet lag since you fly home from San Diego.

We sailed Celebrity Infinity and it was wonderfull. The captain anchored of the coast of Hawaii at 1030 pm so we could watch the erupting volcano spill into the blackness..it was a highlight.

Sometimes the cruislines offer reduced air (ours was $199 from midwest which allowed us to afford a higher category blacony.

If the casino is important to you don't sail Princess becasue they only have theirs open during the crossing.

The new NCL ship will not have one.

Enjoy...we loved it and would do it again.

 

First ever European adventure on Splendour of Seas

 

[yarlenna]

One thought, as you cruise west (toward Hawaii) the days get longer. When you come from Hawaii back toward the mainland, the days get shorter. I'd rather have the long days.

 

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

 

[Murphy]

We leave May 1 for a 6 night pre-cruise trip (one night in SFO, 5 nights in Kauai) and will board the Legend on May 7 for an 11 night cruise which ends in Mexico. We choice the at sea days at the end to recouperate from what we expect to be a very busy week. But planned the pre-cruise so we will be adjusted to the time difference by the time we board and can enjoy all our days touring. Will post a review on our return. Look for it at the end of May. There are 2 couples on our sailing who are doing back-to-backs! Wish I had the vacation time to do that!

 

7 previous cruises, Hawaii on Legend scheduled May 2004, and Enchantment Oct 2004

[atonal1]

I cruised Hawaii on the NCL Star, and when I do it again, (2005) will sail NCL. I really like the idea of sailing the Hawaiian Islands without an international stop. Plus, I will spend 2 or 3 additional nights post cruise in Maui.

 

Inspiration 6/96, 12/01

Carnival Destiny 7/97, 11/00

Rhapsody of the Seas 11/98

Norwegian Sea 7/00

Norwegian Star 6/02

Paradise 11/02

Sovereign of the Seas 8/03

Serenade of the Seas 12/03

 

 until Carnival Triumph 8/04

 

 until Adventure of the Seas 11/04

 

 

[Serious Cruisers]

We are sailing on the May 19th Serenade Hawaii to Vancouver (11 days) however spending two weeks prior to the cruise in Honolulu.

 

Definately looking forward to those 5 days at sea on the way home!!

 

Teri

[superjerryw]

I think the main drawback to a cruise in Hawaii is the fact that you have so little time on each island. In the Caribbean a day is enough on most islands as there is not that much to see. In Hawaii there is so much to see on each island that you need a few days on each one just to see the highlights.

 

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Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[Serious Cruisers]

Our cruise is actually in Maui for 2 days!!

[Brandylee]

We're cruising Hawaii to Vancouver on the Serenade in May also, and can't wait. We chose to have the 5 days at the end for the same reason as others - the relaxing days at sea after the busy time on the islands appealed to us (we don't have to catch a plane home as we live here) - as does the fact that I am bound to gain some weight as we go along -and as we get closer to Vancouver and it gets a bit cooler - I can cover up a bit more!

[papillons4u]

Ok.. serious question............. Royal Caribbean verses Norwegian...Is there much difference???? All my previous cruises have been with Royal Caribbean and I think they treat us soooooooooo Nice..

 

 

Joyce from Maine

 

[superjerryw]

I think you would be OK on one of Norwegian's newer ship like the Norwegian Star. If the ship you are considering is one of their older ship such as the Norwegian Wind or Norwegian Sea I think you will be disappointed compared to the ships that RCCL sends to Hawaii.

 

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Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[papillons4u]

I hear ya! My last 7 day cruise on Royal Caribbean I gained 10 lbs!!! Can you imagine??? It is not coming off either! I must have to learn to cruise better! What ship are you going on? and what have you been on before?

 

Joyce

 

[Brandylee]

Hi Papillon,

 

Not sure who your last post is to - but I can so relate to the weight gain on the ship. It's inevitable isn't it? I am on the Suzanne Sommers (Atkins with more vegetables/fruits) and have lost 10 lbs. that I can't believe! It works. I doubted it at first, but I have kept the 10 lbs off for 8 months now. I follow the diet and then eat what I want on Sundays (tomorrows Sunday!).

 

Anyway . . . I'm going to try and keep this up on the ship because it is easier than any other "eating plan" I have been on. I will do the diet until the last 3 days (and then eat what I want for the last 3 days) and see how that works. I know from this diet that I can lose 5 lbs pretty quickly - so I'm not toooo worried. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have too many sugary temptations!

 

We have been on the Radiance and Rhapsody to Alaska in the past and of course gained weight. This is our first 'warm' cruise. Hoping it goes well. But I know I will have fun.

 

We are leaving on May 19th and will write a review when we return.

[Serious Cruisers]

Hey BrandyLee

 

We too are from Vancouver! We are leaving May 5th for Hawaii (2 weeks before cruise). We are you leaving for Hawaii? We are flying Aloha Airlines - pretty good 1st class rates.

 

This will be our 10th RCCL.

[abridalmaven]

We did 5 days pre cruise in Hawaii, thus having no jet lag when we started our cruise (Coming from NY). Then we did the LOS around the islands and then to Ensenada. 2 days Maui, 1 day Kauai( which is smaller) 2 day Hawaii.And then a realxing trip back to Ensenada. That is more time than on any caribbean island. Since they ports days were sooo busy, the rest felt very good! But we also did it Christmas week and Christmas Day was at sea, very nice!

 

My vacation picshttp://community.webshots.com/user/abridalmaven

Norwegian Dawn May 23

[papillons4u]

Thank you, the ship and they way we are treated is very important to us. RCCL is very nice, I wish I would have started with something not so grand and worked my way up. Fresh carpets and new looking decor is major with us along with the service that RCCL gives us. I always feel like a princess..AND for the money I spent.. I think I should be! LOL. What would you say the big difference between the lines are? Is it Decor.. or service?

 

Joyce

 

[papillons4u]

Brandylee..

 

I have been on the same diet for over a year. I CUT loose on the cruise and gained the 10 lbs. It would be easy to stick with the susan somers diet . I just drank WAY too much..and then said.. Hell.. I am paying for this food... I know the diet will take it off when I get home..and it will.. just have to put my mind to it!!

 

How was the Alaskan cruise? I can't imagine cruiseing when it is not hot!.. My husband wants to that that cruise..can't wait to hear how you like Hawaii!

 

Joyce from Maine

 

[papillons4u]

Would it be rude of me to ask how much you got for first class rates? I have to fly all the way from maine!

 

Joyce

 

[Serious Cruisers]

Joyce

 

From Vancouver to Honolulu (935.00 Cad) one way

check out their web site at alohaair.com