ruth

I would like to hear from someone that has done a hawaiian cruise. Did you feel you were able to see enough during the port days. Also has anyone been on Fanning island? Pretty? snorkling? Do you travel near the coastline? Trying to decide between island hopping for a week or the ncl 7 day cruise..Would love some input.

csears

Hi. we were on the inaugaural cruise in Hawaii in December. Fanning island is a beautiful atoll 1100 miles away from Hawaii, so it is a long way to go for a 1/2 day on the beach. NCL tenders you from the ship to shore and plops you down on the beach along with 2000 other passengers. Many people were disappointed. The island is an experience and you would probably never go there again in your lifetime, so it is a toss up of recommending it. You must like cruising. Tendering was a problem but I hear it should be solved <BR>by now. We had quite rough seas, but you have to remember it is winter there, so winds are high and seas could be rough.

Carol

Our family of four just got back from the this cruise. Fanning Island was a bit of a disappointment. Natives were friendly but only a small bay roped off is available for swimming with over 2000 other passengers. Needless to say it was very crowded. You could choose a bike ride on the island for $10.00 for one hour...take a watch. MY OPINION: Very crowded and not worth the hassle. A long way to go for a short stay 6 hour stay. Tendering went quickly but then we had number 1. I came back to the ship after 1 1/2 hours and they were still tendering people over. OVERALL OPINION: I would not recommend this cruise to anyone with small children, people who get sea sick and people who are on a budget...most all the excursions are very expensive. It's best to get into the towns and get a tour from the locals....much cheaper. The constant advertising and self-promoting was disgusting and the food was so-so. I refused to pay a cover charge for the "better" restaurants. I feel they got enough of my money. The kids-crew was a disappointment. It is only available when "at sea" and it is fragmented. I got tired of going back and forth signing my kids in and out. Most all the staff is friendly (tipping is automatically deducted from your onboard account - in our case $30.00 per day)...the officers in their important uniforms are not friendly - not one ever said hello to me. They do not look your way at all. ANYWAY, this is my third cruise. I have only sailed with Royal Carribean before. I will go back to them. I hear Princess Cruises are wonderful too. LIVE AND LEARN! Good Luck in your future cruising. I'd be happy to answer any specific questions anyone has about this particular cruise.<BR>ALOHA<BR>

John

After booking the 6/9 sailing of the Star I did a lot of research including this board and CruiseCritic and wound up cancelling. When you boil it all down, if you were to spend the alloted times on the islands (and the early cruises didn't because they couldn't always tender to the ports - including Fanning) you would be on land less than 24 hours! This means you are on a "sea day" the majority of the time. I didn't need to spend the expensive airfare to get to cruise that basically sailed around for seven days. We rebooked the Caribbean. We will take a land vacation and see Hawaii the way it was meant to be seen. IMHO.

Paul Therault

<BR>Until an American company gets a ship to Hawaii or the law changes Fanning Island is the only choice. This leaves you only 3 days to see the islands. Doesn't anyone read before they book?<BR><BR>If you wish to see most of Hawaii on a cruise you should take the cruises that are offered by all cruise lines in the spring and in the fall.<BR><BR>Granted you will be at sea for 4 days but you will be on the islands for 6 days. A this time, this is the best way to go.<BR><BR>A land based vacation is fine but in order to see the islands, other than the one you are on, you would have to either sail or fly plus you will be changing hotels and handling luggage. I don't think this is a practical way to see all the islands.<BR><BR>Paul

Peter

Thanks Paul, "Mr. Cruiseline", but my bet is that you are, once again, in the minority. A straw poll would suggest that the overwhelming number of "informed" travelers would say a land based vacation to Hawaii would afford a much more significant opportunity to "see" the islands than any 10 or 11 day cruise. First, in order to have your "six" days on the islands, you'd have to be on one of the Ensenada to Hawaii cruises - the Hawaii to Vancouver/Seattle cruises only stop at four islands for four partial days. Second, you'd have to use the cruiseline airfare option because to book it yourself would cost you more than the cruise. Even at that, the airfare for those cruises would be about $300-400 more from the midwest (for example) than just a roundtrip for a land-based trip. With that extra money, at $99 for island hopping fares you could afford to go to a couple besides the island you flew into. On some of these cruises, you aren't even on the islands past 6:00 pm so what do you do for a luau - go in the afternoon? - real nice.<BR><BR>Paul, I'll bet you'd even recommend a cruise for people wanting an African Safari! You are so slanted - PEOPLE - BE AWARE - this man does not know all.

Jack

My wife and I and two other couples are booked on the Star for an October sailing, and we did read and research. We may have disappointments, but not because we are at sea for two days and that Fanning Island is small. We already know this. I totally agree with Paul, how do some people not know what you are getting into?<BR><BR>We also know that the time is short on the islands, but we are going two days early in order to have some extra island time. This is an option you might want to consider. We decided to do this and avoid the extra days at sea that are required sailing from Mexico or Canada. We chose to cruise because again I agree with Paul, we did not want to repack and change hotels every other day; however, this is also matter of personal preference. So do your homework and do what is best for you. <BR><BR>And Peter, you did your homework and have a good plan for yourself, but why bash Paul? After all this is a cruise forum. This is actually why I was prompted to post a reply. Paul has always offered his opinion and some very helpful advice on cruising. I almost always agree with him, and if not I realize that it is just a difference of opinion. Although I must admit, Paul, your comments on NCL have left me somewhat apprehensive about this cruise. This will be our sixth cruise, but our first on NCL, so Paul, if you can give some good comments about NCL, please do. I have justified our cruise thinking the Star is still a new ship, but it should have been in service long enough that the crew should be accustomed their duties (hopefully). <BR>

Peter

Jack -<BR>The reason I bash Paul is because the average occassional reader on this forum doesn't realize that Paul's livelihood comes from the cruise lines (except, obviously NCL) and he states things that aren't always true so matter-of-factley that someone might make a wrong decision about something as important as their vacation. He is not going to bite the hand that feeds him and will offer any advice that benefits the cruise lines he represents.<BR><BR>You say you've done your homework but go over to the NCL pages on CruiseCritic and you'll see that the Star is still having major problems with: 1. Tenders 2. Dining room capacity and their freestyle concept 3. new ship creaking noises keeping people awake. Why do you think their prices have dropped from $999 inside to under $600 on a few internet sites? BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CANCELLING!

Patty

I also have to agree with Peter here. While Paul provides a great deal of helpful information here, he does have a tendency sometimes to state incorrect information and/or opinions as fact.

Jack

Peter:<BR>Thanks for the response. I have read the comments on CruiseCritic, and on other sites, but have not cancelled yet. There is also a very positive comment about this cruise. I have also read, and hope it is so, that they are working to solve the tender problem, and if so it should be corrected by October. Yes, I would rather see more positive comments, but again I remember that these are one person's opinion and not everyone will see these events as big problems. <BR><BR>I have cruised Carnival several times and have never understood all of the critical comments that appear on this site, for we have not had any complaints, and that is why I am taking the negative comments on the Star this lightly. (On the subject of Carnival, I have always agreed with Paul and not the CArnival bashers.)

Paul Therault

<BR>I can not comment on Norwegian. Too much bashing on this site.<BR><BR>Here's another tidbit concerning cruises to Hawaii and those that do not study the itinerary before sailing. If you wish to visit Pearl Harbor make sure the ship ports in Honolulu. If the cruise either begins or ends in Honolulu you will have to book a hotel for one night.<BR><BR>Best to tell a travel agent of your desires rather than sail blindly.<BR><BR>Happy planning,<BR><BR>Paul

Cheryl

Jack, <BR><BR>I'm also on the Star (the first week in October)...when are you sailing? <BR><BR>We are doing the Honeymoon thing, and I have also read numerous posts on the Hawaiian cruise, (a lot on cruisecritic, however, I also enjoy cruising, and whether or not I get to explore Fanning Island, is besides the point. <BR><BR>I cruise for the enjoyment of cruising...hope we're on the same cruise...if not, have a great time.

xman

If you want to see the ocean, cruise. If you want to see Hawaii and it's neighboring islands don't. Nothing worse then finding your own small bit of heaven only rto find you only have several hours to enjoy it before you have to board the ship or be whisked away to another spot.<BR><BR>One of the key elements of Hawaii is the easy going laid back attitude. Kind of hard to experience that in a matter of hours.

Peter

So Paul - if your cruise ended in Honolulu and you got off the ship at say 9:00 am and your flight back to the states wasn't until say 6:00 pm, there's no way you could see Pearl Harbor without booking a Hotel room? And only the wisdom of a travel agent would allow that awesome thought process?

Jack

Cheryl:<BR><BR>We are on the October 6th sailing of the Star. Are we on the same sailing? Congratulations, and have a wonderful Honeymoon!<BR><BR>Cheryl, it sounds like we have the same expectations for this cruise. We plan on having a great time because we also enjoy cruising. When we planned this vacation, the question was “where shall we cruise this year”, not “how shall we see Hawaii”. <BR><BR>Jack<BR>

Cheryl

Jack, <BR><BR>Glad to see someone else who shares my opinions. <BR><BR>I have been reading a lot lately about how terrible the tendering was, or how high the waves were, or how squeaky the ship was, or how someone had to pay 'extra' for the 'other' restaurants, or how terrible it was that there was no casino on board....it's unreal!<BR><BR>I've been on several cruises, and I personally choose make the most of them.<BR><BR>If I have to wait in line for 15-20 minutes for the chocoholic midnight buffet, then so be it. If I have to wait in line to disembark or embark, well..unfortunately, that's just part of it. I get such a kick out of hearing people complain of such trivial things. <BR><BR>We are on the sailing the week before you...but I am sure it will be a great trip, mainly because it's the experience of the cruise itself, providing us with a 'taste of hawaii'...we know what to expect. <BR><BR>I know that there is no casino onboard, I know that there are 'premium restaurants', I know that I only have a certain amount of time on the various islands...and if the itinerary has to change, we'll deal with it. <BR><BR>Enjoy your trip..I hope you don't cancel, and sorry we won't be sailing together!