Hawaiian Cruises any good??
Mar 24th, 2007, 05:36 AM
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Hawaiian Cruises any good??
My wife and I are thinking of taking a cruise to Hawaii sometime spring of 2008. We have never been on a cruise before, but we have been to Hawaii on our honeymoon in 2003. We loved Hawaii and can't wait to go back.
Here are the questions we have. What are some really good cruises we can take to Hawaii if we would like to leave from either Los Angles, San Francisco or San Diego? Is it really worth the trip to go for a 10, 12, 15 etc. day cruise to Hawaii if you only bounce around a couple of islands for 3 or 4 days? What would be the cheapest time of year to take a cruise like this?
We live in Wisconsin and are going to be taking a small trip out west next year. This is why we would like to leave from California if we do take a cruise.
Any information that anyone has would be greatly appriciated.
Here are the questions we have. What are some really good cruises we can take to Hawaii if we would like to leave from either Los Angles, San Francisco or San Diego? Is it really worth the trip to go for a 10, 12, 15 etc. day cruise to Hawaii if you only bounce around a couple of islands for 3 or 4 days? What would be the cheapest time of year to take a cruise like this?
We live in Wisconsin and are going to be taking a small trip out west next year. This is why we would like to leave from California if we do take a cruise.
Any information that anyone has would be greatly appriciated.
Mar 24th, 2007, 09:45 AM
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We took our family on a Celebrity Christmas cruise LA-Hawaii-LA, 15 days. I think you have to like to primarily cruise without touring days. If your idea is to see Hawaii, this is not for you. We were in Honolulu for two full days, Kona and Hilo for full days(and one other place, my mind is BLANK) and it was wonderful for us, we loved it, but it is not worth the long trip if you aren't a veteran cruiser and like the non-tour days. A really nice tour from the east is NYC or ? to Nova Scotia area and St. Lawrence, plenty to see and do and still cruise.
Mar 24th, 2007, 04:28 PM
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IMHO Hawaii is a land vacation really. We wwere on the BI a few yrs. ago and to really see it takes time. We had 9 days and flt one or two more would have been better. Hawaii is a place to go to, relax, and see it leisurely. A cruise doesn't really give you enough time. JM2C.
Apr 4th, 2007, 06:27 PM
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My wife and I just returned from a 7 day Hawaiian cruise with NCL on the ship, Pride of Hawaii. We liked the cruise because the ship spent the day in port and moved between islands at night. For us, it was a big moving hotel complete with food and entertainment. When we booked, we requested airfare to be included. We were flown on United to Chicago then on to Honolulu. One recommendation is if possible, schedule an extra day in Honolulu at the beginning of the trip. That way if the airlines go through a melt down or you have a late plane connection, you will not miss the boat. If possible, late March is a great time because the whales start to depart for Alaska in April.
Apr 6th, 2007, 02:19 PM
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We are going on this cruise in late June. I am glad to hear some positive feedback. My husband and I are going with 3 other couples. A vacation is what you make it. We have never been to Hawaii so we are looking forward to the experience.
Apr 7th, 2007, 04:56 AM
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diann: Our cruise on the Pride of Hawaii 3/26 was a first for us also. While we had a blast, we did hear complaints from others such as the waiter doesn't know my name, line at buffet is too long etc. Nothing that was a deal buster in my estimation. My wife and I did a write up of our experiences on the trip. If you would like a copy, drop me a note at [email protected] and I would be happy to send it to you. Have a great trip. Hawaii is a beautiful place.
Apr 11th, 2007, 12:14 AM
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Holland America has a good reputation, but its passengers tend to be older (70+ years). It leaves from San Diego....and all the passengers I've met from the ships are addicted to it.
NCL does the trick, but you need to fly to Hawaii. Their food is not that great compared to the other lines. Also please note that the Pride of Hawaii is leaving the Hawaii fleet as of February 2008.
NCL does the trick, but you need to fly to Hawaii. Their food is not that great compared to the other lines. Also please note that the Pride of Hawaii is leaving the Hawaii fleet as of February 2008.
Apr 11th, 2007, 05:40 AM
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Pride of Hawaii leaving? What's the deal there? We met a couple that had just come off the Pride of Aloha. They told us while it was a good ship it was starting to look weary. The PoH was great and I would be sorry to see it leave.
Apr 11th, 2007, 06:43 AM
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MelissaHI,
I don't know where you get your statistics from, i.e., passengers on HAL are 70+.
We have cruised HAL 3 times, are no where near 70 & have not met any over 70 passengers. Yes, the passengers are "older", but in my experience, 40's & 50's. Also tend to have fewer children aboard, which is a plus for us.
Please don't offer unsubstantiated demographics on this board. Someone might take you seriously.
I don't know where you get your statistics from, i.e., passengers on HAL are 70+.
We have cruised HAL 3 times, are no where near 70 & have not met any over 70 passengers. Yes, the passengers are "older", but in my experience, 40's & 50's. Also tend to have fewer children aboard, which is a plus for us.
Please don't offer unsubstantiated demographics on this board. Someone might take you seriously.
Apr 11th, 2007, 08:01 AM
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Hi MarkyMark60 -
My husband and I cruised on Pride of America back in October. We went to Hawaii and then back several times before taking the cruise. We were hesitant to take the cruise since we are not into cruises. We found the cruise just to be a hotel and place to eat breakfast and dinner for us. We would definately do it again someday.
Really liked going to a new port each day and seeing old sights from previous trips. We did a couple of excursions through the ship but for the most part rented a car and went back to our favorite places on each island.
We are from NJ so we booked the flights through NCL. The rates were good in the fall. The only change I would have for the next time is to stay an extra day either before or before and after in waikiki.
Have a great trip!
My husband and I cruised on Pride of America back in October. We went to Hawaii and then back several times before taking the cruise. We were hesitant to take the cruise since we are not into cruises. We found the cruise just to be a hotel and place to eat breakfast and dinner for us. We would definately do it again someday.
Really liked going to a new port each day and seeing old sights from previous trips. We did a couple of excursions through the ship but for the most part rented a car and went back to our favorite places on each island.
We are from NJ so we booked the flights through NCL. The rates were good in the fall. The only change I would have for the next time is to stay an extra day either before or before and after in waikiki.
Have a great trip!
Apr 11th, 2007, 08:17 AM
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Last year we cruised Summit of Celebrity and loved it. We had been to Hawaii in the 70s a few times and just wanted to see some places again without the "island-hopping" by planes and packing/unpacking all the time.
The cruise was just what we wanted. 4 seadays, 1 day on Oahu, Maui, Kaui each and 1 day Hilo and 1 day Kona. Back again 4 seaays. We rented cars in all ports and drove to what we wanted to see.
Passengers were a mix of 50plus and various nationalties.
The cruise was just what we wanted. 4 seadays, 1 day on Oahu, Maui, Kaui each and 1 day Hilo and 1 day Kona. Back again 4 seaays. We rented cars in all ports and drove to what we wanted to see.
Passengers were a mix of 50plus and various nationalties.
Apr 11th, 2007, 10:20 AM
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Hi Arizona, I work at the pier that HAL docks at, and I work directly with the port lecturers as well as the shipping agents. I'm sorry if my stats offended you, but I see every HAL ship that comes through Hawaii, not just 3.
For Pride of Hawaii, here is the article:
http://tinyurl.com/22t6sh
I'm sorry to see it leave as well. I've boarded the Pride of Aloha, Pride of America, and Pride of Hawaii, and the PoH is by far the prettiest of the three. You'd think they'd have that one stay to cruise the Hawaiian islands, and move one of the others! NCL's Norwegian Wind is also leaving the Hawaii fleet at the end of this month.
For Pride of Hawaii, here is the article:
http://tinyurl.com/22t6sh
I'm sorry to see it leave as well. I've boarded the Pride of Aloha, Pride of America, and Pride of Hawaii, and the PoH is by far the prettiest of the three. You'd think they'd have that one stay to cruise the Hawaiian islands, and move one of the others! NCL's Norwegian Wind is also leaving the Hawaii fleet at the end of this month.
Apr 11th, 2007, 12:09 PM
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Your "stats" didn't offend me, Melissa, I'm just wondering where your "stats" came from.
Are you and the port shoppers polling all passengers & asking their ages? I think that a Hawaiian cruise probably attracts older passengers who are less mobile. I have no desire to cruise Hawaii, but might when I am much older.
Are you and the port shoppers polling all passengers & asking their ages? I think that a Hawaiian cruise probably attracts older passengers who are less mobile. I have no desire to cruise Hawaii, but might when I am much older.
Apr 11th, 2007, 12:24 PM
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So your HAL experience was not on a Hawaii cruise? Are you putting the word "stats" in quotes because you still don't believe me, or....?
The demographics vary by cruise line, not necessarily by destination. Carnival tends to attract younger travelers; Holland America tends to be older (sometimes the AVERAGE age of the passengers is 71); NCL has a wide variety, usually budget travelers, and it depends if there's a charter or not.
The demographics vary by cruise line, not necessarily by destination. Carnival tends to attract younger travelers; Holland America tends to be older (sometimes the AVERAGE age of the passengers is 71); NCL has a wide variety, usually budget travelers, and it depends if there's a charter or not.
Apr 14th, 2007, 12:14 PM
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Melissa, I think the question is 'where did the stats come from?". From observation? My experience is that once an individual hits about 50, it becomes very difficult to guess an age. From HAL? I doubt that they publish that information. (Maybe they do.) I'm 71 and I love HAL. I'll run 5 miles with you. If one wants to make a stereotyped observation about HAL it would be this. The passengers are more mature and that is reflected in their behavior and in their entertainment tastes. Put that way, if one wants a hot nightlife scene,HAL isn't the way to go. A lot of age is attitude.
Bill
Bill
Apr 14th, 2007, 07:29 PM
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Hi sk84fun!! looking forward to it.
bill--as I said, I work directly with the port lecturers as well as the shipping agents. these are personnel on the ships. they get off the boat and tell me what the average age is. I can't predict the age per se, but I know the ages once they dock.
bill--as I said, I work directly with the port lecturers as well as the shipping agents. these are personnel on the ships. they get off the boat and tell me what the average age is. I can't predict the age per se, but I know the ages once they dock.
