gusandgidgetsmom

Did you take the shuttle to port or taxi? Seems like taxi is cheaper and can go earlier from HIX rocky point. My understanding shuttle is 10.00 a piece?

Sounds like you may be hooked. I was after my first cruise in 1980 on the Mardi Gras. Thank you for your review. We are sailing the Paradise in March and had heard so many negatives. We normally sail longer cruises or do b2 b to get them longer but our kids, teachers, are going so we had to go during a Spring a break. We have 2 others booked Hawaii 15 days (do this every 2 years) and the Vista in May 2017 so we'll get our longer ones in soon.

I was glad to hear they had the rotisserie. I enjoy the food from there. I do not like the playlists either. Carnival used to have great entertainment but RCI greatly surpasses it now. Wish they'd go back to the old way of productions but probably saves money and Carnival is still such a bargain that I know some things must change.

I had cruised with my parents before they passed and it was such a great experience. Glad you get to do that. Cherish each cruise.

82 until spring break cruise

292 until Hawaii 15 day

495 until Havana suite on Vista

The drive from port to the Canyon about 45 minutes to hour. Be sure to drive to the end of Canyon Drive. Last time we cruised tonHawaii a bunch in our group stopped at the first viewing point missing the most beautiful view of ocean and canyon together. My husband is mobility challenged but it was not bad for him. At the first viewing area there is a ramp but has rails to help. The other viewing area was flatter.

On the way back once down the canyon road and back on 50 I think(main road) head to poipu village for a puka dog and shaved ice at Puka Dog as well as souvenirs at ABC. Then travel to Spouting Horn(I thought it was a waste but everyone should go once) and then to poipu beach for a look at the water even if you don't get out due to the Elderly.

We had our car for about 5 hours.

In Kona there are only 2 choices for rental companies without having to take a taxi to airport. King Kam which in my opinion is way too high a price to pay and Enterprise. The only drawback with enterprise is that it is closed on Sunday which is when Miracle is scheduled to port on their 15 day. In 2013 our itinerary was changed so we came in on another day which was great. Our 2015 is still scheduled Sunday so we'll take a taxi to airport. Still cheaper by far with cost factored in than King Kam. We use discounthawaiirentalcars for each port and even in 2013 we were shown where we were renting before purchase.

We are seniors and rented a car at each port except Hilo. We brought our own gps as we are used to it and it worked out great. My husband is not one used to being in "city" traffic ( we live in a rural community in the middle of a national forest) but found we had no problems. In Hilo we took Ricky's tour which was great. My husband has a few mobility problems as he has had back surgery and has a plate in his ankle but Ricky's tour was great for him. Please rethink the rental thing. I think you would be very pleased with your own itinerary.

OLL hands down the best. Traditional so no fire as the others stated.

We rented in Maui in 2013 and will do so in October. We rented thru discounthawaiirentalcars and had no problem returning the car around 9:30 after being at OLd Lahaina Luau. Neither did several couples renting from other agencies. We watched surfers at a little wayside park on the way to Lahaina from Maui.

The rental in Kona at king Kam is significantly higher than the others. When we did this cruise in 2013 and when preparing for it again this year we rented thru discounthawaiirentalcars. About a week or so before we departed in 2013 our itinerary was changed for the 2nd time and this changed Kona from a Sunday allowing us to use enterprise which has a shuttle to port. This time we are still scheduled to come in on Sunday so we will use budget at the airport requiring a taxi. We rented in every port and brought our own gps. We will do that again in October. It was the way to go in our opinion.

I forgot to tell you all about one step: if there is no place to enter your loyalty card number on the Discount Hawaii website, you will need to pull up the reservation for each car rental agency (Thrifty, Avis, etc) and add the card number at that point. Or you can call the 800 number for the car rental agency and have the customer service person do this.

 

Also, don't forget that you will want to rent from Thrifty/Dollar at the King Kam hotel in Kona. This is right across the street from where the tender drops you off. Most of the other agencies are much farther away. It is a little more expensive, but way quicker.

Normally we rent from enterprise as it is the only one with a shuttle in Kona but we will be there on Sunday and it's closed. I looked at the rates at king Kam and they were 99.00 for a compact. Crazy high!

We went to Hawaii oct 2013 and will go back October 2015. Our favorite cruise in more than 35 years. About a week or week and a half before several of our ports were switched in order. Not Carnivals fault but word came down from port authorities. We switched days with the rental car companies and it worked out well. 2 days before we were to arrive back in Long Beach to fly out of LAX several TSAs were shot and a terminal shut down. We were very surprised when we got to LAX(after much worrying as we had an early flight) that chaos was held to a minimum and we got thru TSA without much ado. The worst part of our cruise came at the beginning when we didn't get to board until after 3 (we are platinum and were amongst the first to board) because of a late ship arrival. Craziest boarding I've ever seen. People were still boarding during muster and as we were seated for early dining.

On our last b2b on the Fascination we did not even have to go to meet customs. We turned our forms into guest services and they gave us our new card. Took about 5 minutes tops.

For 35 years we've always had a room with some kind of a view mostly suites and balconies once available. We decided to try an inside because of certain issues which are going to be resolved soon. Anyway we found we loved the dark. We sleep so much better that we are going with an inside to Hawaii next year. BTW I think there is misinformation on a post or two. Most inside rooms are as large as balcony rooms. 185 sq feet.

Osuknight . Were your cruises 5+ days or more? Goodies only come on those cruises not the shorter ones.

When our Grandsons travel with us they have their own room close to us. Since they have a different last name than we do (daughters married) we have to put the room in one of our names as they are underage. We have a mock card (no charging privileges) made for each cabin so we can all go in and out of all cabins.We leave our door lock out so they can just push the door open when they come in and say We're back then lock our door. It has always worked well for us.

Midwestgal--Your comment about the Liberty made me laugh. That is what I say to people. It is my favorite ship but can't say why. Just my favorite. Not he ports we went to but my favorite ship.

My favorite cruise in 35+ years was our Hawaiian cruise. 15 days of wonderful sailing and great ports. We loved it so much we are returning again 2 years later.

My most un-favorite cruise was on the Triumph. Not the "Triumph incident" but a cruise in 2007. It was my 3rd Carnival cruise of the year. I can look back now and see there were some good times on her--going to HMC--but so many crazy poor things. Started the trip out with all the drawers in the cabin had the previous persons clothes (yes after the cabin was supposed to be cleaned) sticky surfaces every where. This was inconvenient but not a game changer. Not Carnival's fault(well the PVPand mine) We were supposed to have connecting balconies with our kids as this was a Christmas cruise and we don't see them very often. My daughter-in-law and I had same PVP we made sure that it was linked for dinner and thought we made it clear that we were supposed to be side by side. The reason our balconies did not connect was because we were not beside each other...haha. Each day our toilet had to be worked on so times that we had to run to their room sometimes. For some reason there was a leak in the ceiling from deck 8 and there were buckets catching as much water as they could before they over filled outside our door and others. You had to run between the drops not to get wet. Our waiter was just plain grouchy. First time in many years I had not given our waiter an extra tip. Other things happened but not as significant as water problems. My husband refused to cruise for several years but after a few years we talked him into a cruise to Alaska and he has been cruising 3-4 times a year since.

We rented a car on each island. Found it very easy. When you dock the shuttles for the different car rentals are waiting for you. I research like crazy, take my gps and all my info and we go it on our own. I am not one that likes having to go on a tour bus with many that I do not know. I will if have to but prefer it on my own.

If you are from the U.S. it is so easy as most auto insurances will cover you in a rental and since Hawaii is part of the U.S. the driving rules are the same.

It depends on the ship you are on. A small ship like Fascination does not give out tender tickets. If you are platinum or fttf or have an early excursion you will meet in a certain place and get the first tender but on the small ships such as this one no tender tickets. They did hand them out on the Valor and the Splendor tho.

We are doing the October 2015 as well with a bunch of people from our October 2013 Hawaii cruise. Our best cruise in 35 years of cruising.

I am 9 for 9. Scheduled for next month as well. We have gone in Jan, June, September,October and December. We love HMC. We do a b2b each year to get there.

We were at HMC for the 9th time last year and will be there in less than 2 months. I was concerned when I saw the villas being built right next door to our favorite cabana # 9. I was concerned that it could hamper my view and that it could become a little noisy if people allowed more than they were supposed to. I was pleasantly surprised when I came back the next year and my view was not hampered much. I was however right about the problem of overcrowding. They crammed around 30 people in and around the villa next to us. They simply came to the front of our cabana and took all the loungers that were there and took the loungers by #10 and took them back in front of their villa. I know that the chairs in the front of the cabanas are not just for that cabana but geesh when they took them all we had none to sit in closer to the beach. The guys that stocked the villas and cabanas came by and frowned but did nothing (really what could they do-they were outnumbered). Did it ruin our day no way we love HMC, but wish that they would have made a villa section for the villas by themselves.

We will probably still select 9 but possibly 10 as they are close to the bathroom and the trolley stop.

We have been 9 times to HMC and going again in September. Thanks for your review. I certainly agree with you about the lack of service with water and lemonade. You must go to the lunch area or to the bar to ask for water unless you have a cabana. We have had a cabana each time we have gone and would not go without one. You asked why would anyone get a cabana. We like a cabana to have a place to keep our things, get in out of the sun when there is very little shade to be found. My husband enjoys the air conditioning after being in the hot sun for the day. We like the amenities that come with the cabana--floats, snorkel fins and goggles, fruit and drinks. We do not always go up to the bar-b-que to eat as we have fruit and veggies with us.

I think a cabana is merely a preference of likes for one. We do not drink much, if any, so we do not spend our money on cheers packages or soda packages as we prefer water. I guess we think of the cabana as our excursion for that port.

I always carry a very small collapsible umbrella to put up when I am stuck in the line coming back to the ship. It is amazing at how much comfort it gives you along with the iced wash cloths they give.

We have been to HMC 8 or 9 times and going again in September. We have always had a cabana so drinks are always available there. I do know that they have lemonade and water-probably tea as well--set up in the lunch area all day.

One thing I have found that it is very hot when waiting in line to tender back if you are like us and tender in one of hte last bots. I always bring a little collapsible umbrella with me and put it up when standing in line. What a difference that makes with the sun not hitting me directly.

I have to say in all the times we have been going to HMC I have never heard of a tendering situation that took 3 hours. I wonder if something was wrong with a tender. We have been there times that we had to hit the ship 3 times with the tender to get it docked against the ship due to weather conditions that came up during our stay there,tho.

If you rent a cabana the tickets you get should say that you are to go to a certain place to meet for priority tender. You wait along with the diamond/platinum people. Last time they took the cabana people first (we are diamond/platinum as well) and it ticked several people off. All made the tender but some of my fellow diamond/plats were unhappy that they had to go in the back of that line. We have been 8 or 9 times with a cabana each time and will be there in September. Villas have the same perks as the cabanas.

We love HMC thus we go on a b2b each Fall to get there.