Cruise Complaints: Esp. Hawaii

[Sally Forth]

Originally Posted by InTheCruisingYearsOfLife

(Emphasis added.)

DW and I love Hawaii, and even owned a coffee plantation in Kona for five years. Dreams changed, abilities changed, volcanic activity changed, sensitivity to "vog" changed, and we never moved to it, but sold it instead. Still, we love the islands.

But we've never cruised them. We know all the major islands well enough that we always have several days worth of itinerary in mind every time we set foot adirt.

What would really make a good POA cruise for us would be the option to bail off the ship at the port of our choice, and climb back aboard a week later. If they'd regularly do that with a handful of staterooms, maybe there would be enough of a market of like-minded wanderlusters that they could interleave 'em all and experience no difference in overall occupancy. To be fair, I'd expect to pay extra for housekeeping, and a couple hundred bucks more for their profit margin, which I'd save by not having to do the whole airport ritual. I'd do it in a heartbeat.


(Sidebar: In response to your gripes about high costs of land vacations: tip for cheaper dining in Hawaii when doing land trips: Go to Costco and pick up a cheap propane BBQ. Buy yourself the best steaks and mahi-mahi, as well as fresh pineapple, papaya, starfruit, mango, avacados. Barbie your dinner on the beach at the City of Refuge as the sun sets (watch for the green flash), or out on the pahoehoe at the end of Chain Crater Roads, as the twilight gives way to glowing lava flows in the distance. Put the Barbie on the curb with a sign "Free to a good home" the night before you fly home to your day job, and feel good about the several hundred dollars you kept in your pocket by doing so.

For DW and I, we don't keep those dollars in the pocket, but it makes it tenable to visit our few fav restaurants over the course of our usual two-to-four week itinerary.


CruisingYears

I really like your barbeque idea. We've been to the islands many times, and cruised them twice. (once to Fanning and once on the last Pride of Hawaii cruise before it became the Jade) We were recently looking at land prices to go again and they just couldn't compare to cruising due to adding meal prices in.

Viv

[Giantfan13]

Maybe I'm out of line here, but I agree with the OP. Visiting Hawaii is a true vacation, but visiting Pearl Harbor should be foremost on all Americans minds. To say we are on vacation and can't be bothered seeing a part of your countries history is just wrong. You are probably the ones who are first on line at the supermarket on Memorial Day for your BBQ, and first on line at the mall for Veteran's Day. It's easy being an American, when you don't even care about visiting the memorial to maybe it's worst day in our history, and paying your respects.
Yes, I am prejudiced. I am a Viet Nam vet, and although I do not rub the flag in every one's faces, you sure cannot ignore why we are free to do what we want, just because we are on vacation.
You obviously don't care about the men who sacrificed their lives so you can enjoy your vacation.

[halos]

Originally Posted by Giantfan13

Maybe I'm out of line here, but I agree with the OP. Visiting Hawaii is a true vacation, but visiting Pearl Harbor should be foremost on all Americans minds. To say we are on vacation and can't be bothered seeing a part of your countries history is just wrong. You are probably the ones who are first on line at the supermarket on Memorial Day for your BBQ, and first on line at the mall for Veteran's Day. It's easy being an American, when you don't even care about visiting the memorial to maybe it's worst day in our history, and paying your respects.
Yes, I am prejudiced. I am a Viet Nam vet, and although I do not rub the flag in every one's faces, you sure cannot ignore why we are free to do what we want, just because we are on vacation.
You obviously don't care about the men who sacrificed their lives so you can enjoy your vacation.

If I ever get to Hawaii, I will surely be visiting Pearl Harbor...but I totally disagree with your statement, especially the last sentence.

[imsulin]

Originally Posted by Giantfan13

Maybe I'm out of line here, but I agree with the OP. Visiting Hawaii is a true vacation, but visiting Pearl Harbor should be foremost on all Americans minds. To say we are on vacation and can't be bothered seeing a part of your countries history is just wrong. You are probably the ones who are first on line at the supermarket on Memorial Day for your BBQ, and first on line at the mall for Veteran's Day. It's easy being an American, when you don't even care about visiting the memorial to maybe it's worst day in our history, and paying your respects.
Yes, I am prejudiced. I am a Viet Nam vet, and although I do not rub the flag in every one's faces, you sure cannot ignore why we are free to do what we want, just because we are on vacation.
You obviously don't care about the men who sacrificed their lives so you can enjoy your vacation.

I've been to Hawaii twice (Maui and Kauai), and haven't visited Oahu or the Memorial. I'm really offended by your post!! You are definitely rubbing the flag into our faces! I'm an Army Brat, and my Dad was a POW in the Phillipines and a survivor of the Bataan Death March, so please don't tell ME what it means!

[salty dingo]

Originally Posted by Don Haynes

The problem with Hawaii is that the islands are so closed to each other and close to their home port, unlike other itineraries. There aren't any sea days.

That's a problem to some and a blessing to others...

My first cruise was a southern caribbean from San Juan, where we had seven ports in seven days. I LOVED it.

I have learned to love sea days as well... very relaxing... but as long as I am able I want to see as many ports as I can. Ports beat sea days for me.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Giantfan13

Maybe I'm out of line here, but I agree with the OP. Visiting Hawaii is a true vacation, but visiting Pearl Harbor should be foremost on all Americans minds.

Why? Because it is it is of interest to you? If I were with someone who wants to go, I would go. I know personally that I am bored at museums and anything that has to do with history. That does not mean I don't respect what happened. It does not mean that I am not aware of the sacrafices that were made. It means that people have different interests. Everyone who goes to Hawaii does not visit the memorial, so obviously I am not alone in my feelings.

[flashdog_1]

Originally Posted by Bold Spirit

Although the food and service on the POA is not as good as other ships, we loved the itinerary and would do it again!!!

Things have improved since you were there in 2007. I've never seen any more organized restaurant seating than on Pride of America. Service was in no way lacking. Food was just like on any other line with lots of variety, and it was well prepared and presented. We were not disappointed in the slightest. Give it another try!

[Don Haynes]

There are a few changes to keep in mind with cruising Hawaii with NCL. For starters, there is that long plane flight and jet lag to contend with. Secondly, there are no relaxing sea days during the week, a port of call every day.

People don't allow enough time to overcome the jet lag, and are grumpy from the beginning. Without the relaxing sea days by the pool, others are tired by the too many constant shore excursions. Grumpy and tired passengers tend to lead to snappy reviews of the American crew...

[sailincajunns]

WOW, what a great observation. We are sailing POA on 04-03-2010. From the very first consideration of this trip a couple years ago, I have always been 100% comfortable with the concept that while NCL makes an effort to assure this is a 'cruise' experience, there as so many deviations from POA to other 'normal' cruise ships it is almost unfair to measure them against each other. We are looking forward to our first visit to Hawaii, and know that we we will have is a Reader's Digest 'snapshot' of each of the Islands, made possible by our 'floating hotel' in the form of a pretty nice ship. As for the 'attitude' of the American crew, I have found that all crew members tend to respond in the same way they are treated. Most people are kind if treated kindly, and care if they sense they are cared about. Not all, of course, but most. I will keep my expectations about 'on-board' reasonable and enjoy the glory of the American paradise.

On another note, I've enjoyed the string of comments about Pearl Harbor. I am not a Vet. I cannot imagine visiting Hawaii without visiting Pearl Harbor, but everyone has their own perception of history and their own way to value it. If a person has never been and makes the statement they see it as a "waste of time", I can respect that they have the right to be wrong. However, if a person HAS been, and THEN makes the statement that it was a "waste of time", then I must agree with one of the original posts........that person has a hole where their heart should be. How any American could stand on that site and not feel it was worth their time, when it was worth the lives of thousands of our bravest simply escapes me.

[sailincajunns]

Greetings, CruiseDog...... I enjoyed your post, and thought I'd chime in. I am not a Vet, but I think they are the last American heros. I cannot imagine visiting Hawaii without visiting Pearl Harbor, but everyone has their own perception of history and their own way to value it. If a person has never been and makes the statement they see it as a "waste of time", I can respect that they have the right to be wrong. However, if a person HAS been, and THEN makes the statement that it was a "waste of time", then I must agree with the point of your post........that person has a hole where their heart should be. How any American could stand on that site and not feel it was worth their time, when it was worth the lives of thousands of our bravest simply escapes me.

[Firefly_Nelie]

Hi all, I took my first ever cruise on the POA is October and i have nothing but fantastic memories

I was aware there would be no sea days and it would be go go go once we got on so i planned accordingly. As i had to fly in from Australia we had a long flight and Jet lag to contend with so we flew in on Wednesday morning and i am glad we did. We were a wreck, it wasn't until Friday we were up to going and doing something apart from hanging on the beach and walking through the markets,(we hiked diamond head) i would recommend taking a day or two before and after the cruise as it can be hectic.

I found the food on the cruise to be very good. i am a real fussy eater and on previous holidays (around Australia) i have come home starving. (I was dieing for a cheese and tomato sandwich after my trip to Tasmania). This wasn't the case on the ship. I'd love one of there steaks or chicken breasts that i got in the main dining on several occasions , right now. The service was a bit hit and miss in the dining room we got the same guy 2 nights in a row. The first day he was a bit rude and arrogant the next day he was really happy to see us, go figure? The rest of the staff on the ship that we interacted with were fantastic, Ben from the piano bar , DJ Orlando, and the rest of the entertainment staff.

As far as i am concerned there is to much to do on the ship, right now i am thinking man i didn't get to go do this or that. I'd look at the daily the night before and be like geez if we weren't doing our excursion tomorrow i would have done .... I think i am still recovering from my holiday even now. I spent way to many late nights "shaking it" in the Mardi Gras and the getting up early to go see the sites. I would love to go and do this cruise again. I never thought about cruising before and the only reason i went this time was because of my friend. She was going to Hawaii and i said wow I'd like to go sometime so she invited me to go with her. She was going with just herself and young son and would love another adult. I jumped in head first at the opportunity and then she mentioned cruise and i was like WHAT. Now i am in the process of planning another cruise, lol.

I spent 6 days in Oahu 3 before and 3 after the cruise. I didn't visit pearl harbor. Why?. Well for 1 I'm Australian i figure i was never gonna feel the way some Americans feel about. We never learned much about it in school either, i could have taken an American history class in yr 11 but i didn't , maybe they learned about it then. what i do know about ti i have picked up from tv shows like M*A*S*H, JAG and NCIS. I know really bad. I am the kind of person who would research it first and then go and see it. I was also traveling with a 9 yr old boy and didn't think he would really understand hes still very much like "but why". The trip i did with my friend is very different to they way i would have done it with say my husband. If i were to go back to Hawaii with him then i think it may be something we'd do.

I had a great time and would go and do it again. GO CRUISE HAWAII !!!!

[mbisson]

My wife & I have been on about 20 cruises and our NCL Hawaii cruise is probably our favorite.

While on one level I hear you Cruisedogatl, on another level I disagree. I'm glad we did Pearl while there, but a great thing about being American, we all can choose what's important to us. So I guess, being an American is somewhat like liking NCL---to a point, we're free to 'whatever'

I can't wait to go back again-by ship or land vacation (or hopefully a combination of both again). Don't know if I'll do Pearl again though-highly emotional for me. To the point where I don't know I want to be in that state of mind again (don't get me wrong though-I'm glad I did it once, and still may go again)

Originally Posted by cruisedogatl

I've been reading with interest some of the reviews about cruising Hawaii on the PoA.

Someone said touring Pearl Harbor was a waste of time! Now there's a real American patriot for you. I've never met anyone that has been to the USS Arizona memorial and wasn't moved. They would be the same people that would visit Gettysburg and find it disappointing because they couldn't find a picnic table.

They should be required to turn in their American passport.

One reason there is not hardly any entertainment onboard the ship is because there is so much to do on the islands you are visiting. If you like being on a cruise ship, just go to the Caribbean. If you go to Hawaii: visit Hawaii not the cruise ship. Any cruise ship in Hawaii should be regarded as your hotel only.

Get Out There! Enjoy the beauty of Hawaii and all it has to offer. Renting a car on the islands and getting yourself around is strongly recommended.

[natty bummpo]

Originally Posted by cruisedogatl

I've been reading with interest some of the reviews about cruising Hawaii on the PoA.

Someone said touring Pearl Harbor was a waste of time! Now there's a real American patriot for you. I've never met anyone that has been to the USS Arizona memorial and wasn't moved. They would be the same people that would visit Gettysburg and find it disappointing because they couldn't find a picnic table.

They should be required to turn in their American passport.

One reason there is not hardly any entertainment onboard the ship is because there is so much to do on the islands you are visiting. If you like being on a cruise ship, just go to the Caribbean. If you go to Hawaii: visit Hawaii not the cruise ship. Any cruise ship in Hawaii should be regarded as your hotel only.

Get Out There! Enjoy the beauty of Hawaii and all it has to offer. Renting a car on the islands and getting yourself around is strongly recommended.

I am a Vietnam veteran (enlisted) and felt honored to be selected to participate in the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam War Memorial readings on the Mall. I'm going on vacation to New Orleans in January but wasn't planning on going to the World War II Museum there. I was wondering if you could evaluate my level of patriotism based on that choice and possibly plan the rest of that vacation for me. I wouldn't want to make a mistake.

[billie5]

OP makes a good point, but does not go far enough.

The Tea Party people do not have the empathy I feel for the very poor in our society. They should turn in their passports.

The mainstream Republicans do not feel the emotion I feel about the handicapped and are talking about cutting back on the SSDI program for the disabled. They should turn in their passports.

The Democrats do not feel the respect I have for the rich who create so many jobs in the US. They should turn in their passports.

The church-going folk do not give their emotional support to the gays who only want to get married. They must have holes where their hearts are, and should turn in their passports.

Good golly, I seem to be the only one left who is worthy of being an American. Well, maybe my wife too, but she didn't cry when Lassie died, so I am having doubts about her as well.

Bill

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

Originally Posted by billie5

OP makes a good point, but does not go far enough.

The Tea Party people do not have the empathy I feel for the very poor in our society. They should turn in their passports.

The mainstream Republicans do not feel the emotion I feel about the handicapped and are talking about cutting back on the SSDI program for the disabled. They should turn in their passports.

The Democrats do not feel the respect I have for the rich who create so many jobs in the US. They should turn in their passports.

The church-going folk do not give their emotional support to the gays who only want to get married. They must have holes where their hearts are, and should turn in their passports.

Good golly, I seem to be the only one left who is worthy of being an American. Well, maybe my wife too, but she didn't cry when Lassie died, so I am having doubts about her as well.

Bill

LOL!! Awesome post...point made.

Love the previous idea of NCL allowing guests to embark on the ship on one island to sail to the next and disembark. What a nice day trip over flying. Charge a couple hundred bucks and sail off to the next island. Reminds me of that very inexpensive European line that does this.

[JPACHTMAN]

I cruised on the Pride of Alhoa in Hawaii which is now called the Sky and is in Miami doing the Bahamas. I have been on over 30 cruises and that was hands down the worst cruise ever. It was all American staff. Thats the problem. We Americans are too spoiled to work on ships. We should only go on as passengers. Sad but true. I would not reccomend an American staffed cruise for anyone.

[SPMorrissey]

Originally Posted by cruisedogatl

I've been reading with interest some of the reviews about cruising Hawaii on the PoA.

Someone said touring Pearl Harbor was a waste of time! Now there's a real American patriot for you. I've never met anyone that has been to the USS Arizona memorial and wasn't moved. They would be the same people that would visit Gettysburg and find it disappointing because they couldn't find a picnic table.

They should be required to turn in their American passport.

One reason there is not hardly any entertainment onboard the ship is because there is so much to do on the islands you are visiting. If you like being on a cruise ship, just go to the Caribbean. If you go to Hawaii: visit Hawaii not the cruise ship. Any cruise ship in Hawaii should be regarded as your hotel only.

Get Out There! Enjoy the beauty of Hawaii and all it has to offer. Renting a car on the islands and getting yourself around is strongly recommended.

Because I find Pearl Harbor and Gettysburg so sad I have no desire to visit them. Does that mean I only have to turn in my passport or do I have to renounce my citizenship as well?

[billie5]

No, only your passport. But you do have to be sad about turning it in.

Bill

[mbisson]

Originally Posted by JPACHTMAN

I cruised on the Pride of Alhoa in Hawaii which is now called the Sky and is in Miami doing the Bahamas. I have been on over 30 cruises and that was hands down the worst cruise ever. It was all American staff. Thats the problem. We Americans are too spoiled to work on ships. We should only go on as passengers. Sad but true. I would not reccomend an American staffed cruise for anyone.

Funny thing about opinions though...our Pride of Aloha cruise was one of our favorites. We had a fantastic time, both on the islands and on the ship