Help - visiting Hawaii
 

We have a party of 4 adults (me, husband, daughter & her boyfriend). We will be arriving Honolulu on Dec 10, aboard the cruise ship on Dec 11, which will take us to the other 3 islands - the Big Island, Maui & Kauai, back to Honolulu on Dec 18, will go back home the same evening.

(1) I guess I had picked the wrong time with so many major events happening in Honolulu. I encountered big difficulty in finding a decent place to stay within budget ($300) for the night of Dec 10. I want to get a one-bedroom suite. I tried every web-site I could possibly find, no luck. Any suggestion!

(2) I have been in Honolulu once before, but not the other islands. The cruise ship will stop at:
Hilo, Hawaii - 24 hrs
Kahului, Maui - 34 hrs
Kona, Hawaii - 24 hrs
Nawiliwili, Kauai - 31 hrs
Our time in each island is very limited. Please advice on what to see and do?

(3) Is transportation conveniance in these islands? Do I need to book a car in advance for any of them?

We did this Hawaii cruise this past spring.I would advise renting a car for each out island, and yes you will need to pre-book. With four adults it is the most cost effective way to see the islands. All of the major rental companies will pick you up at the pier and take you to the rental office. Do a little research here on Fodors and you might want to read the boards pertaining to your particular cruise line on Cruisecritic.com. You will find LOTS of information there from past cruisers. Have fun!

Poconolady, thanks a lot for your info.

I never cruise with NCL before, I had called the cruiseline for some of my concerns, but I got different answers from different persons. Can I get some info from you on the followings:

- How's the food quality (the free one, not the one with cover charges).
- Is there a couch in the inside cabin? We have a JJ inside cabin on deck 9 in Pride of Hawaii.
- On the 1st day, I planned to board the ship at around 1 pm. Settle down in my cabin, eat and then come back out to town, because the ship won't leave Honolulu til 8 pm. Am I allowed to come back out after checking in?
- On the last day, after leaving the ship, is there any storage service at the Port that we can store our luggage? How much? Our flight leaves at 10 pm that night. We don't want to carry the luggage with us when sight-seeing.
- Any good excursions we should join?
- Which is the best way to go to Wakiki from the Airport (HNL)? To the Port from Wakiki? And back out to Wakiki from the Port? How much?

I guess our itineraries are the same, 2 days at each island. Can you advise us on what to see and do on each island?
- Honolulu, Oahu
- Hilo and Kona, the Big Island
- Kahului, Maui
- Nawiliwili, Kauai

The Honolulu Marathon is on Dec. 10th--one of the top 3 largest marathons in the country. Major events are planned for the entire weekend due to the large influx of visitors. So yes, you will have trouble finding a decent room this late.

You should book a car for Kauai, and maybe Maui if it docks in Kahului and Hilo on the Big Island. If you dock in

Lahaina or Kona, you don't really need a car unless you intend to visit an attraction that is not in walking distance. In any event, taxi cabs are usually at all of the harbors. I would just catch a cab unless you intend to visit the crater or volcano or do other long drives.

Offlady, my friend visited Maui before (may be 6, 7 years ago) and told me that there were no way I could get around town without a rental car, is this true?

You suggested rental car for Nawiliwili (Kauai), Kahului (Maui) and Hilo (the Big Island). Does that mean these ports don't have any taxi services? Or, may be the taxi is too expansive?

If we can get around every ports with Taxi, and the prices are affordable. I certainly don't mind. Because I may feel pressure driving around new places.

For 4 adults in 1 taxi to get around town, approximately how much it will cost?

Thanks :)

I just learned this on Monday: Once you check in, you cannot leave the ship. SO, you may want to bop around Aloha Tower Marketplace, eat lunch, shop, etc....but with your luggage. (www.alohatower.com) I am sorry, but the Marketplace does not have any storage for luggage due to tight security in the port. Many cruise ship passengers just walk around with their luggage. Like the airport, you will not be allowed to leave your bags unattended.

Another option is to check with NCL on their &quot;Easy Fly&quot; option. I'm not really sure how it works, but it I believe it is a baggage storage program (for a nominal fee). I'm pretty sure this could be used when you disembark, before you head home. I <i>don't</i> know if this can be used prior to boarding.

There are various ways to get to &amp; from <b>Waikiki</b> but it depends on whether you mean with your luggage or not. There will be a line of taxicabs on the days you board and disembark. Otherwise, the bus stop is just beyond the taxis, between Aloha Tower Marketplace and the Maritime Museum. If you book a door-to-door shuttle service, you need to call at least 24 hours in advance.

Melissa, thank you for your helpful info. Now, I can arrange my embarkment day more efficiently. I will also check with NCL about the Easy Fly program.
Are you familiar with the cruise ship &quot;Pride of Hawaii&quot;? Do you know whether there is a couch in the inside cabin?

Tong, there is now a bus service on Maui but not too many visitors know about it as it is fairly new, and tour operators aren't telling the visitors about it. All you need to do is walk across the street from Kahului Harbor to the Maui Mall, and catch the &quot;Maui Bus.&quot; The bus is free to Wal Mart and Queen Kaahumanu shopping center (the main, larger mall and transfer point). If you want to venture further out to the Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea, take the free bus from Maui Mall to Queen Kaahumanu Center, and transfer to the Maui Ocean Center. This bus route will cost $1. No kdding! You can transfer again at the Maui Ocean Center and go to Kihei and Wailea in South Maui for $1.

If you want to go to Lahaina in West Maui, take the bus to Queen Kaahumanu Center and take the bus to Wharf Cinema Center (also $1) The Maui Bus is operated by a private tour bus company but is subsidized by the Maui County. Taxi fares from the harbor to Lahaina or Wailea will run around $80 to $90. Here's the bus schedule:

http://www.mauicounty.gov/bus/commuterbus.pdf
http://www.mauicounty.gov/bus/busschedule.pdf

If you intend to go to Haleakala/Iao Valley/Tropical Plantation, do not book through the cruise ship. (I recommend this tour.) Instead, book directly with the tour operator (Polynesian Adventures) and you will save a ton of money:

http://www.polyad.com/

You will need to book the tour for the second day . So, if you arrive in Kahului on Wednesday, then book the tour for Thursday. You will save a money by booking direct because the cruise ship charges horrendous booking fees (double or triple of the cost, I'm told). If I were you, I would book this now.

There should be taxis waiting at all of the harbors. It will depend on where you want to visit and how far it is from the harbor, of course. There is nothing around Nawiliwili on Kauai so take a tour (book direct). Waimea Canyon (called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), Wailua River, Fern Grotto. In Kona there are shops and restaurants you can walk to in Kailua-Kona town. In Hilo there are many beautiful sights to see so I recommend a tour here also--Akaka Falls, Waipio Valley Lookout, Volcano, etc. Again I recommend you book directly with the tour operators and NOT with the cruise ship agent. You will be surprised to see how much you will save.

If you have done other cruises before this one, or expecting fine dining, you may be disappointed at the quality of food. Also, freestyle dining has its pros and cons. Tipping is a bit confusing.

Just consider that this cruise is a great way to see four Hawaiian islands in a week.

Sorry--I sailed one night on the Pride of Hawaii, but I had a small outside cabin. I don't think there is a couch for the inside cabin, but don't quote me!

This was just my opinion, but the food was not that great. We compared it to airline food....although I will admit that was the best burger I've ever had, in their cafeteria! Everyone raved about the steak house and the french restaurant (the ones with a premium cover charge), but of course it was impossible to get a table.

The spa is abso-friggen-lutely wonderful! After your massage you can relax in these heated tile reclining .... chairs? Not sure what to call them. But they are positioned at the front of the ship so you can see the expanse of ocean before you. It's so relaxing that you will not want to leave the spa.

OH, if I remember: tomorrow morning I will try to email you a pdf of discount coupons that you can use in Aloha Tower Marketplace.

Offlady and Melissa, thank you, thank you, thank you ..... for all these valuable information. I feel much more comfortable now about the trip, not so much in the dark as before.

Tong,
We had an inside cabin in May and yes there is a &quot;small&quot; couch in the cabin, not one that you can sleep on, two people sitting together are actually crowded.
Even after reading the recomendations for taxis, bus service ,etc, I still recomend a car for four adults. It offers you the ease of going where you want,when you want without the crowds and lines. There are many things to see and do on the islands, including our favorite, finding a beautiful beach and just relaxing for awhile. Without a car this is difficult. If you just want to shop at Walmart there are busses for that--but really, you can do that at home-a vacation is a time to do the things that you can't do at home!
Unless they have recently changed things, yes you can get off of the ship and come and go as you please up until 30 minutes before sailing. The Aloha Marketplace at the pier is ok, but if you have the time, catch a cab into Waikiki and walk the beach, go to the International Marketplace, or shop in some of the world class stores.
Food on the ship is in the OK category, freestyle diing is a problem unless you make a reservation (even in the main dining rooms). Take the opportunity to eat at some of the fabulous restraunts on some of the islands, there are options in all price categories.
Shore excursions are very expensive and very senior oriented. Do your own thing by car, that way you get a custom vacation that meets the needs of all of the travel group.
NCL is not classified as a luxury cruise line- but that does not mean that you won't have a wonderful time. It is a very casual line, you will not need dressy clothes (unless you want to dress up for the one formal night, but that is not mandatory)
Again, I urge you to go to www.cruisecritic.com, there is an absolute wealth of information there on your particular cruise. Look for tips on all kinds of things to see and do, they will save you money and time.

I would definately set up a rentalcar at each port now. Only excursion I would consider would be a Volcano tour out of Hilo. The rest, I would personally do on my own.

Kauai, I would just drive north, check out the lighthouse and a few northshore beaches, and do a little hanging in Hanalei. Likely Hanalei will be swimmable, although the other beaches may have high winter surf so use extreme caution wherever you go in hawaii.

Maui, I would head to Paia for lunch and watch the windsurfers, and then head to Big Beach in Makena for some beach hanging. Maybe tour the grounds of the grand resorts of Wailea.

Kona? Perhaps a visit to Place of Refuge, some snorkling and a drive north?

So many options on the islands. But you will truly get the flavour of the islands by heading out on your own. And as far as getting lost and not knowing the lay of the land....you really can only get so lost before you find your way again on the islands.

NEVER turn your back on the ocean! Have fun!
gyppie

Please do yourself a favor and rent a car in every port.

With that little time on each island, I'd want to be in control of my destiny and not spend any time sitting on a bus wondering where the hell I'm going.

-pila

I am not sure if this was already mentioned, but there is a &quot;Cruise&quot; board right here on Fodor's that may be able to give you some more answers to your questions.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgTopic...31&amp;start=0

Be sure to go to Volcano National Park on BI. It is amazing!
Debi

I can only comment on BI and Oahu, but I'd say DEFINITELY see the volcano (about a half hour from Hilo) -- you can do it on your own, and you can pick your level of activity. If you're not very active, Devastation Trail is short, flat and breathtaking (and aptly named). Kilauea Crater is four miles -- three easy miles and one tough uphill mile. But you get to stand in the bottom of an active volcanic crater, and where else will you do that? Hiking to the lava flow is HARD, especially when the lava is flowing far from the parking area -- sharp, uneven terrain and a loooong distance. Then again, my husband and I did all of the above in one day, so it's possible.

In Kona, I'm putting in another vote for snorkeling at Place of Refuge. You might want to pack a noodle, because even the bays can be choppy. We cut a noodle in half and it fit in our suitcase easily. Made snorkeling a lot less tiring. :)

On Oahu -- I wouldn't spend my day at the Aloha Tower, IMHO. You can go to the mall at home. I'd vote for renting a car and driving to the North Shore (in the winter, you can watch the big wave surfers) or if you want to swim, hang out on Waikiki Beach or Kailua Beach Park. Of course, if you really love shopping, Aloha Tower is perfect.

Have fun! Wish I were there ((R))

My husband and I did the Pride of America in early October. We are ready to sail again since we had so much fun! Before the cruise, we traveled to Hawaii on several vacations.

The food quality was better than we expected. After reading so many reviews we were nervous but found it to be good. We only did the free restaurants. We couldn't get into the ones with cover charges.

We basically use the ship as a hotel. When we were at port, we were on the island sightseeing. Definately rent a car at all ports. The only excursion we did was the sunrise on Maui on top of the Halalakela (spelling). We did that since we didn't want to drive in the dark on unknown roads. It was worth it!

The other thing I would suggest is the Easy Fly. It is $20 per person. You don't see your luggage from the last night until you hit the airport at home. It was very nice not having to lug our bags.

When we arrived back in Waikiki at the end of the cruise, we called Thifty to pick us up and got a car for the day since our flight wasn't until late in the night. It gave us some time to revisit Waikiki. We rented at Thrifty on all islands except for Dollar in Kona. The Dollar rental office is inside the hotel right at the Kona port so no need for a shuttle.

Have a great trip!

Shopping and dining! We have shopping and dining!

Actually, realistically, you could not spend the whole day at Aloha Tower Marketplace. But do check it out before you board (or after you disembark). Also the Tower itself--80 years old as of Sept. 11--is open daily from 9-5 and you can catch the elevator to the top for free.

The Aoha Marketplace is also a good place to pick up some of those &quot;room supplys&quot; tat you may need, water, soda, snacks and all of those toiletry items that you don't want to pack or won't fit into your i quart baggie when you fly. There is an ABC Store there (or a version thereof) that is just to the right side of the gangway.

If you rent a car on Kauai, check with the agency if there is any parking. The harbour does not allow any rental car parking, and there is no parking allowed anywhere near the ship!