cruisethirsty

We've done both and prefer to be on our own as long as it isn't too foreign or threatening. Hawaii meets the criteria for renting since you'll feel comfortable driving there and can see more at a lower cost. Just a few comments about renting in each of these ports. Maui doesn't have any rental cars by the port so you have to arrange for them to pick you up (driver only) and it can be rather inconvenient. On Kauai the airport is very close to the cruise ship dock and most of the companies will come and get you for the very short ride. In Hilo, it varies a lot from company to company as to distance and pick-up policies but shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks. Actually, I did get a reply this time after I e-mailed them in Spanish! In case you are interested, the times are noon, 1pm and 2pm.

Does anyone know at what times the El Tatich boat ride is given at Punta Sur Ecopark inCozumel? I've e-mailed the park but have never gotten any reply from them. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I called the Bermuda Health Ministry today (Sept 27) to inquire about why the Beyond wasn't on the list. I was told that they would pass this info along to their IT people and that we should wait a few days.

Dan G got it right but I'll add some---we did the Quick Shuttle once and it is a VERY long ride with the stops. It left Seatac on time but was quite late getting into Vancouver. I don't know about Amtrak but their reliability reputation is, shall we say, less then stellar. One way car rentals are sometimes available. They are expensive but it is another option.

I agree with the other replies that you never know. Having said that, over the past 5 years (excluding Pandemic years), HAL is the most consistent provider of cruises departing San Diego. Princess, Carnival and, to a lesser extent, Royal Carib show up from time to time. I suggest you go to cruisetimetables.com and put in San Diego as your departure port. It will give every cruise leaving from san Diego from now through a couple of years from now, as long as the cruise lines have announced their schedules.

Disney does have quite a few activities for adults so you shouldn't be bored on a TA. However, keep in mind two things: First, the formal entertainment on Disney is geared more towards children and families so you might not enjoy this part of the cruise experience as much as on some other lines. Second, the number of children on Disney and the constant children's activities was never a problem for me on two short Disney cruises that I took (5 nights). It might, however, become a bit tiresome on a longer cruise. While I do like Disney, I wouldn't consider them the best choice for an adult doing a Trans-Atlantic.

Thanks to all who replied. It does seem that Manhattan will be the dock but I'll just have to wait and see. Not that it's a disaster if it's Brooklyn (I used to live there!), just more time spent in getting to places. I agree with Skynight that Princess shouldn't make such a big secret about this. Of course, if you call them, they give you the old Sgt. Schulz reply---"I know nothing".

I did look it up and it says Brooklyn or Manhattan. The port of New York has a listing of all cruises but it currently is only updated through the end of 2022. Thanks for your reply.

I know that Princess usually embarks and disembarks from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. However, I am taking a Princess cruise that has New York City as a port of call. Does anyone know if they then use the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. It seems to me that Brooklyn would be rather inconvenient as a port of call since public transportation isn't very good at that loction.

Thanks to all who answered. I believe that I received enough confirmations of my concerns. Looks like if I want to sail round-trip to Hawaii that I'll have to go with Princess.

The last time I sailed on Holland America was in February, 2019 (Nieuw Statendam) on a 7-night Caribbean cruise. They did not have any cruise staff---only a Cruise Director and an assistant. The result was that there were much fewer activities (especially in the daytime) than I have become used to. Now I am considering an 18-Night Hawaii cruise on the Koningsdam. Does anyone know what the cruise staff/activities situation is like these days. Since this cruise has so many sea days, I wouldn't take it if there wasn't a more active cruise experience than I had last time. Any insight from recent HAL cruisers would be greatly appreciated.