oSUwriter

Hello all! My family and I are taking a cruise on the Pride of Hawaii in January for my parents' 30th wedding anniverary and my husband's 30th birthday (yes, I have read the mixed reviews about the Pride of Hawaii cruise and we have set our expectations accordingly! Unfortunately, with our timeframe and large party, it's the best way for us to see several islands in a little over one week)

Here are my questions:

1. For those of you who have cruised recently on the Pride of Hawaii (or other "Pride" ship), when can we realistically expect to disembark? I know disembarkation starts early in the morning, but don't know how long it will actually take to get off the ship. Ideas?

2. Depending on how long it takes, we may have a several hours to visit Oahu's North Shore. (We have early evening flights back East and need to be at the airport around 3:00 pm).

Does anyone have any recommendations for small, private tour companies or private drivers to give us a brief tour of the North Shore? (There are nine people in our party, although not all may be want to go). I'm not looking for large tour bus companies, but rather a smaller operation (one-two minivans - local drivers are OK)just to show us a bit of the North Shore before we have to fly back. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Or would it just be easier to disembark, catch a cab to the airport, check our bags, rent a car and drive to the North Shore and then return it just in time to catch our flights?

Any and all suggestions will be much appreciated!

THANK YOU!

DebitNM

We recently were in HI and had a 7:30 pm flight back to mainland. We checked out of our hotel at 10am and went to airport to check in our bags. I strongly suggest you do that...it sure beats dragging bags with you for the day.

I can't help too much with the part about going to north shore. I will tell you that traffic around 3 is going to be something to consider FI you do go north. Not sure how much time you would have. Hopefully someone will helps you with that.

As an aside, we took a city bus to Waikiki after checking in our bags and returning the rental car. There were several folks on the bus back to the airport that had been on the cruise so that might be an option for you.

Hope this helps...
Debi

suze

You'll need to see what time you are actually off the ship, but I think it might be a little too tight to go up all the way to the North Shore and back by 3pm. Would you consider touring Waikiki/Honolulu instead?

oSUwriter

To clarify, we're actually spending two nights in Waikiki pre-cruise. Thought about doing Pearl Harbor one day and Diamond Head the other before boarding the cruise later that night. Or should we save Pearl Harbor for the day we get off the cruise? I'm just afraid that it will be terribly crowded. Is this a better schedule:

Day 1 (arrive Honolulu @ 2:30 pm): ???
Day 2 pre-cruise: North Shore
Day 3 pre-cruise morning: Pearl Harbor (then board cruise later that day)

Post-cruise few hours before 5:15 pm flight: ???

Please help - I know this doesn't leave a lot of time, but unfortunately that's all the time we have on Oahu! I don't know when we'll get back, so Pearl Harbor is a must-do.

DebitNM

If one of the pre-cruise days is M - Th, I would do Pearl Harbor that day. F, S & Sun are busier.

That said, I would [if pre-cruise days are both weekend days]...do Pearl Harbor on Day 2 and go to North Shore on day 3.

You need to get there by 7:15 or 7:30 am [to get your tickets for USS Arizona tour] to get morning times. We got there at 7:30 am on a Thursday last month and were on the 8:15 tour. After USS Arizona, I would do the USS Missouri tour. If you can do it, the Explorer's tour was great! It was just DH and me and the guide. [Entertainment Book offers discount on USS Missouri admission]. We spent 3 hours on Missouri between the tour and just walking around on our own.

After seeing Pearl Harbor, I would rent a car and drive on Day 2 up to north shore and stay overnight there. Explore that day and next morning and then head back to HNL to turn in car and board the ship.

After cruise, you can check-in your bags at airport, hop on the city bus and spend some time at Hilo Hatties. Be sure to get a free transfer, good until 3:45pm. It will cost $2 per person [EXACT CHNAGE] for the round trip.

Then take Hilo Hattie's FREE bus to Aloha Tower [or stay on it to Waikiki] and then take city bus to Waikiki. Then jump back on city bus to airport.

Hope this helps...
Debi

MelissaHI

Disembarkation should be available by 8 a.m. on Monday morning, but you should confirm with NCL. I didn't think the process took very long at all, in fact, I kind of felt rushed! It can take you anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how mobile everyone is.

I'm actually kind of leaning toward your doing Pearl Harbor instead of the North Shore on that disembarkation day. It takes a long time to get to the North Shore and back, and if there is traffic--good night! That might tie you up! Or as Suze says, maybe tour honolulu instead?

oSUwriter

OK, I think we've determined that Pearl Harbor or the North Shore post-cruise is too hectic. What about a nice hike of Diamond Head? Any recommendations on how to get from the pier to Diamond Head conveniently? What about luggage?

Has anyone else done anything post-cruise before leaving later that day?

MelissaHI

NCL has a program called 'Easy Fly' that I *think* takes care of your luggage dilemma for you. You should check with your agent or the cruise line about this service.