CruisinChills

You are making me really re-think our reservations for the luau/show at PCC pre-cruise. My theory was, we have 4 days in Oahu and need to eat, let's do the luau there! While on the ship, we figured to eat on the ship since meals are already paid for. ;-) But if the PCC show is really not good, I want to make sure we get the best experience.

I should also add that I have not traveled on HAL since my 2nd cruise waaaaaay back in 1988 ... so I can't really give you a great picture of differences between the two lines at this point. I can, however, tell you as a frequent NCL cruiser that there are likely to be plenty of families on a trip like this, especially if you go when schools are not in session. That may or may not be an issue for you, but my impression from HAL is that younger kids are not the norm, or at least not in the quantity they are on some NCL cruises. Dining may be another area where you will note differences from HAL ... but note I say differences, I don't know what the current quality of HAL food is. I expect that it is quite good. With the rare exception, I have almost always been happy with my meals on NCL, particularly in the specialty restaurants.

I can't offer any first-hand knowledge as we are still counting down to our sailing on POA in June. However, from what I've learned in our pre-cruise planning, major differences would be:

- primarily American staff/crew due to no foreign ports being visited

- no casino on board

- the typical NCL drink package is not offered on POA due to local laws

- less emphasis on onboard entertainment/activities as it is a port-intensive itinerary and there are no sea days

But what I'm expecting to GET in return is a fabulous way to visit all 4 major islands, see incredible views from my balcony, and enjoy some wonderful meals that I don't in any way have to prepare. ;-)

WOW, thank you for all the tips and info, especially about all the great local food spots! (And I didn't even remember to ASK about food, which is clearly one of the most important elements of a vacation! ;)) I am going to have to update my itinerary tonight to include some of these stops. Thanks again!

Thanks for replying! Yes, we'll be staying at Turtle Bay, and no, we won't be bringing his golf clubs for just one day of golf. (Gives him a good chance to test drive some new ones.) We definitely want a little beach time over that week because during the cruise there is not a lot of downtime! We are planning to go to Ko Olina on the way from Turtle Bay down to Waikiki later in the week and spend some time on the beach that day as well. Swimming, maybe a little snorkeling, I doubt anyone will surf, but perhaps SUP.

Bumping in the hope that someone will have some answers or help? Thanks!

And one more question I forgot to add: People who have stayed at the Marriott Waikiki Beach through NCL (free night before the cruise), what time (-ish) does NCL transfer to you to the port to board on Saturday? (I could ask this on the POA forum if this isn't the right place for it.)

We will be traveling on POA in June and spending 5+ days in Oahu first. I've got all the cruise ports figured out but now would like to get a little more "scheduled" on some of our Oahu days! So, a few questions:

- We are staying on the North Shore for the first 4 nights. One of those nights we are attending the luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I know the center opens around noon, but the question is: how much time do we really need at the PCC before the luau? Is it really an all-day thing?

- While on the north shore, would like to drive down the east side of the island at some point, any recommended must-sees or stops?

- Spending the last 2 nights at Waikiki before the ship departs. Will be doing Pearl Harbor on the Friday, and would like to get some feedback about how much time we will spend there. I am expecting at least 3-4 hours, but have seen as much as 7. I guess the real question is, is this something where you really should see ALL the monuments? (Bowfin, Missouri, etc.) Or is visiting the Arizona and the visitors center the real meat of the trip? Both my husband and I are very interested in history and will probably want to read every sign/placard. :') However our teenage daughter and niece will likely be doing this -- :rolleyes: -- after the first couple of hours (if we're lucky). So trying to get the right balance!

- While I'm at it, and recommendations for best place to golf on Oahu (I'd love my husband to get a round in), and also somewhere to go horseback riding, preferably on a beach?

I read on another thread that the ship passes the Napali coast and then turns around, so that both sides would get a view. Is that not still the case?

On Maui, we used Roberts for Haleakala and Road to Hana.

Did you find that the Roberts tour stopped frequently enough to enjoy photo ops/waterfalls/etc on Road to Hana? Did they pick you up at the cruise port or did you have to get to the airport? Did you to the Haleakala sunrise tour or a different one? Concerned about timing of doing a non-NCL tour on the departure day (don't want to miss sailaway). ;-)

I found it to be true' date=' once we tried a suite, every booking after that was in a suite; until the most recent booking. Because of the increase in suite prices, we have booked a balcony for our next cruise, and though we are Platinum, know we will miss those suite perks! :( Though we have never been on a ship large enough to have a separate Haven restaurant, we always enjoy breakfast and lunch in the suite venue, as well as the larger bathrooms and cabins.[/size']

 

 

 

If you have done this, what was your experience? Did you really miss all those suite perks? Did you manage fairly well in an "other than suite" room? Just want to know others' experiences.

So our first suite experience (and our first NCL experience) was on the Dawn to Bermuda 6 years ago. There is no Haven on the Dawn but my parents took the family on a "once-in-lifetime" trip in the Garden Villa (which became a "twice-in-a-lifetime" experience when we repeated it 2 years later). My only two trips on Dawn have been in that magnificent villa, and we have subsequently sailed in the Haven on Epic, Breakaway, and Escape. I don't get all jazzed about concierge/butler, or even breakfast at Cagney's (although the Haven is a nice peaceful breakfast), but I do love the extra cabin space, and the number one reason I can't picture sailing NCL without being in a suite or Haven is because I love to relax in the pool or hot tub, and the main pools are SO CROWDED. I remember thinking on our first Dawn cruise that I would never have been able to get wet on the ship without our own hot tub -- the main pool was chock-full of people, essentially bobbing in place because you couldn't do anything else, and the water was hot from so many bodies crammed in. Now in the Haven I admit the pools are very snail, but I'm not trying to swim laps -- just float around a bit. Swimming is something I usually only get to do on vacation and I would be disappointed not to do it.

HOWEVER ... we veered off NCL for the first time in 6 years this spring with a Disney Fantasy cruise, in a balcony (non-suite) cabin. Suites were way too expensive on DCL and it turns out we didn't miss the suite at all on another cruise line. Now this could be because Disney is such a great line or it could be because we weren't sitting on a Haven ship knowing what we were missing in the Haven!! So for us going off NCL got us back to a balcony and it was still a wonderful experience. That said, we are back on NCL next year in a suite on POA for our 25th anniversary. Some things require a little splurge. ;-)

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Following

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Also following, as we will be sailing on Fantasy that day ...

Still 5 months away from my first DCL cruise (also on Fantasy) but eager to read the rest of your review!

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You could just book transfers through DCL from the hotel to the port and from the port to the airport. The price is reasonable and much less hassle than renting and then parking a car.

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It wouldn't surprise me, but that doesn't mean it won't be back on a future promo. They are probably having trouble using it as a perk now that they only want to give it to the first 2 adults in the cabin (which goes directly against their original policy of "if one person in the cabin has it, everyone has to have it" to prevent "sharing").

Agree with suggestion to go over to St. John, we did the Champagne Catamaran Snorkel and it was a fun morning out on the water. Had time left over back at St. Thomas to go up the gondola for the views of the bay.

If you want to go to Jost Van Dyke in Tortola, book NOW! That excursion sold out quickly and we couldn't get on it. Then all the locals proceeded to tell us how awesome Jost Van Dyke is. I don't recommend the Tortola island tours, to say the island is "hilly" is an understatement and the whole experience felt very treacherous! We also visited Cane Garden Beach which was "OK", but really busy with tourists. Jost would be your best bet for a beach break.

In Nassau if you want to splurge and have any interest in dolphins, the Blue Lagoon dolphin swim was a favorite with our niece and daughter.

As far as the ship goes -- make a point of going to see Howl at the Moon at least once (we go every night they play, which is 4 times!). They musicians on Escape were not the best I've seen (I loved the ones on Breakaway a couple of years ago the most), but the whole vibe is always fun and festive, and they're certainly still very talented musicians. Also highly recommend the tube water slide (not as scary as it looks), the ropes course (my kid went three times), and a dinner at Le Bistro and/or Teppanyaki. Enjoy!

Within the next 2½ year, after Escape later this month, there will be no NCL new build setting sail.

Isn't the Bliss currently under construction and sailing in early 2017?

How do I make a reservation online pre-cruise and ensure i get the seats needed without having to pay for a full adult meal?

You can't. In order not to be charged in the first place, you'd need to call and make the reservations, or as some have said, make them as soon as you get on the ship. To me, it's a flaw in the online booking system (as is the one where you need a reservation for, say 7 people, and you can only book it for 6 or for 8).

You're not sailing during a school vacation week or peak vacation period which will help. I have sailed on vacation weeks though and never had a problem registering my child. I will say that on Breakaway (sister to Getaway), the queue was VERY lengthy, the longest I have ever seen, to register on day 1. My recollection is fuzzy but I think we did NOT go to the very earliest afternoon registration, rather to the one later in the afternoon. So I would recommend that you check your Freestyle Daily as soon as you board and go register during the first time slot they offer.

We have a Haven aft cabin (14872) booked for Bermuda next year. After looking at the options, we decided the extra space, true 1-bedroom, and larger balcony justified not being right next to the Haven. Still, I occasionally wonder if we'd be happier up on deck 16.

 

What has your experience in the aft cabins been like?

I was in a Haven aft-Penthouse on Breakaway last year, and it was FABULOUS. The balcony was a dream and completely worth the walk to the front of the ship. You don't mention who you are traveling with -- for us it was just myself, husband, and our 8-year-old daughter. If you don't have any mobility or age issues, then the walk to and from the Haven lounge is more of an adventure than a hassle.

This year we sailed on Epic (I know, different ship class) in a forward-facing Haven suite. We had to make this choice as we sailed with my elderly parents and I needed them to be near the Haven restaurant/amentities -- the ship was just too big for my dad to traverse. The suite itself was very nice, although slightly smaller than our aft cabin, but where the room lost a LOT was the balcony! If you plan to use and take advantage of balcony space (breakfast outside, pre-dinner drinks and apps, just lounging and reading a book), then know that you have made the right decision.

We also have had so-so luck with the pre-cruise concierge; I actually found that on our two Dawn cruises (where they have fewer suite passengers) we were set up quite well beforehand from drinks to reservations, but on the two big-ship cruises (Breakaway and Epic), the pre-cruise concierge didn't do much. In both of those instances, however, the concierge set up everything we wanted and took care of any issues on Day 1.

The living room of the Aft Penthouse Suite (10912):

Master bedroom, awaiting unpacking:

The balcony:

The living room with the bed folded out:

I'm going to TRY to add some of the suite photos here as a few people have asked me to do.

This is the Haven/suite/VIP lounge at Pier 88, where you check in and wait until boarding:

The lovely Haven courtyard:

The Haven private sundeck:

I was told on our cruise (I think by the concierge) that the food in the Haven restaurant is "upgraded", but honestly, I saw the same short rib dish I had in the Haven on the MDR menu one night. I'm not sure about that claim. I loved breakfast in the Haven, lunch was also very good, dinner I didn't notice a substantial difference (OK, none really) over the MDR. That said, no reservations, usually no wait, and prompt service in the Haven DR, so right there you can buy yourself a lot of time doing something ELSE that's fun rather than waiting for a meal!