New to Cruise Critic Forum--Hawaii Question

I would like to hear comments from those who have done the NCL 7 nite round trip out of Honolulu. I am considering it in spring 2017. Thank you

I would like to hear comments from those who have done the NCL 7 nite round trip out of Honolulu. I am considering it in spring 2017. Thank you

Welcome to CruiseCritic!

Here is a link to the NCL subforum of CC:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=107

You'll find more discussion of that there.

NCL is the best bang for your buck on this cruise no other lines offer the amount of time in ports that NCL does.

You also have difficulty booking off ship excursions with other lines because they are not in ports that long, most islands only have one road in and out so if there is an accident you could be held up in traffic therefore few tour companies will take the risk.

Just a note to say that this isn't a cheap cruise nor are flights so you want to get as much out of your trip as possible. This ship also doesn't have a casino so your paying some for that.

We've done this cruise 3 times all b2b plus 5 to 7 days on land and are doing it again in Jan.

I would like to hear comments from those who have done the NCL 7 nite round trip out of Honolulu. I am considering it in spring 2017. Thank you

With a bit of a search on this board you can find some trip reports which will give you a fair idea of what it's like to do Hawaii on the POA. We have sailed this ship twice. Did you have any specific questions?

NCL is the best bang for your buck on this cruise no other lines offer the amount of time in ports that NCL does.

 

You also have difficulty booking off ship excursions with other lines because they are not in ports that long, most islands only have one road in and out so if there is an accident you could be held up in traffic therefore few tour companies will take the risk.

 

Just a note to say that this isn't a cheap cruise nor are flights so you want to get as much out of your trip as possible. This ship also doesn't have a casino so your paying some for that.

 

We've done this cruise 3 times all b2b plus 5 to 7 days on land and are doing it again in Jan.

Ditto...........

We sail on our third POA Cruise in September!:):):):D

It's a good cruise but really unlike any other you'll go on. There is very little sea time and you'll spend almost all of it off the ship exploring the islands. The ship is more like a floating hotel than anything else.

Although some will disagree, I think that it's really the best way to see the islands for the first time. It's easy, you get to see most of the islands and have to waste very little time at sea. I love sea days but I can get those on cruises that are much closer to home.

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Thanks for the messages. I understand the cruise is more ports than at sea, but that is what I want to see the islands. I've been around the islands but my wife has not; so, I thought this cruise would be great to avoid the hassles of multiple airline security lines flying between islands as well as eliminating packing, unpacking, repacking etc. Sounds like this cruise is what I need. Are there rental cars near the ports in Maui and Kauai that will allow easy access to explore the islands? When is the best time to see whales--Feb, Mar, Apr? Thank you in advance for your replies

As first timers to Hawaii, I felt the POA cruise was the best way to see the most islands. I would definitely recommend searching for cruise reviews here on the Hawaii board and also on the NCL board for POA specific reviews.

A lot of people who wrote a review have a link in their signature, like mine below. I found a lot of reviews that way as well.

The POA cruise is a fun way to see the islands; we went about two and a half years ago and a great time. We rented cars at each port except for Kailua-Kona. We went through Discount Hawaii Car Rentals, couldn't have been easier. You can reserve a car without a credit card and they won't bill you until you actually pick it up. And all the major rental companies send shuttles to the ports to pick you up and then return you to port after you drop your car off.

Lots of others on here have used DHCR. A google search will find it. Renting a car is an easy, less expensive way to see what you want to see. February is prime whale time, and that's when we went. We saw so many. Literally every single day. From the ship, from the shore, on our snorkel excursion when we were on Maui. Amazing experience!

Echoing everyone's advice to read a few reviews. Mine's kind of old, but it's there in my sig line of you want to see it. There's some pics in it, too.

Here is my review from April. It was different, but our best cruise ever!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2345996

Another possibility is a repositioning cruise. I am doing a 12 night from Honolulu to Vancouver in May 2017 on RCCL with the same amount of times in Hawaii Ports as the NCL cruise. When I booked it the price per cabin was virtually the same as the NCL 7 night but with 5 sea days at the end to relax. Not trying to talk you out of the NCL cruise but rather give you another option. Whomever you choose to cruise with I wish you a wonderful time

Thanks for the messages. I understand the cruise is more ports than at sea, but that is what I want to see the islands. I've been around the islands but my wife has not; so, I thought this cruise would be great to avoid the hassles of multiple airline security lines flying between islands as well as eliminating packing, unpacking, repacking etc. Sounds like this cruise is what I need. Are there rental cars near the ports in Maui and Kauai that will allow easy access to explore the islands? When is the best time to see whales--Feb, Mar, Apr? Thank you in advance for your replies

Here is the most popular rental site that caters to all rental companies and has the best prices. Don't know when your looking at sailing but car rentals are limited as the cars have to be shuffled around from island to island therefore not cheap.

We booked our cars for all the islands for both weeks back in April for this Jan. and the prices have at least doubled and with a couple close to triple.

We have used this company numerous times for our trips to Hawaii in the past without any issue.

The price's also allow for 2 drivers.

http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/?utm_source=Adwords&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Br&gclid=CjwKEAjwlZa9BRCw7cS66eTxlCkSJAC-ddmwheuA9-2rxGmisuDeUaDvyErIEU29VZ8CJ4USK8T69hoCJBHw_wcB

Best time for whales is Dec to May but we prefer Jan.

Here is a link to Pacific Whale Foundation, their costs are reasonable but more so they follow the gov't guide lines as to how close boats are allowed to get to the whales as well as do studies and are very knowledgeable.

You could find tours on shore for maybe cheaper but they are NOT for us.

http://www.pacificwhale.org/cruises/whale-watches

Another possibility is a repositioning cruise. I am doing a 12 night from Honolulu to Vancouver in May 2017 on RCCL with the same amount of times in Hawaii Ports as the NCL cruise. When I booked it the price per cabin was virtually the same as the NCL 7 night but with 5 sea days at the end to relax. Not trying to talk you out of the NCL cruise but rather give you another option. Whomever you choose to cruise with I wish you a wonderful time

I'm on this cruise, too, and then I'm staying on the ship (Radiance of the Seas) for b2b Alaska cruises. :D