KeepCalmBearOn

6 hours ago, Knickearth said:

One huge unintended perk.  Friends are under the weather but with full suite, breakfast at sabbatinis had 6 people total....

I like that no one is punching a meal card so I can go get my Bagel & Lox at Sabatini's and then go to the buffet for breakfast #2 and load up on my bacon.

2 hours ago, HeidisCruises said:

Has anyone used HR Car Service? They seem to have decent reviews 

Are you referring to HR LAX Black Car Service? I had not heard of them, yes they have good reviews, but not many total reviews.

I have used Elite Limousine Los Angeles to pick up clients at LAX and been happy with them.

http://www.elitelimola.com/

But personally, if I was healthy, I'd use Uber or Lyft at LAX. I'd only go the curbside service if I was not great at walking or had too much luggage.

I also recommend shuttles like Mickey's Space Ship Shuttle, Zippy Shuttle, Karmel Shuttle and Skyline Shuttle Express.

3 hours ago, strobellayjam said:

we are a party of 6 so I’d hate to take up nearly the entire shuttle with my family. 

It is literally 5 minutes to the rental car counters from the port.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uea4RGuyycbrtqgo9

If everyone is okay to walk, have them leave the port area, so there is no hassle/delay in picking them up. They can meet you in front of the Keaukaha General Store on Kalanianaole St & Silva St.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UAsLpHAFMcEU1xGM6

On 10/5/2024 at 12:51 PM, farjar said:

According to other posts Budget runs a free shuttle.  It starts continuous pickups from when the ship docks until about 11:30am then return shuttles from about 2:30pm.  I think Avis does also.

On 10/5/2024 at 7:36 PM, strobellayjam said:

Thanks, after reading more that the shuttles take only 2 people / booking party it looks to make more sense that we take an Uber / taxi to the airport to pick up our vehicle.  

Avis and Budget are one company, separate divisions, but use the same shuttle.

I've never heard of the '2 person' rule, but it may vary based on how many cars they have booked. Personally, since the airport (Hilo) is only like 3 miles from the port, I wouldn't bother with an Uber or taxi and the wait for one might not be worth it, nor the cost.

10 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Are you referring to Princess ships?  I've never received an email with a concierge pass (although, I don't cruise Royal Class and above ships).  What is a "vista ship"?

Vista ships are Carnival - Carnival Panorama (2019), Carnival Horizon (2018), Carnival Vista (2016), Carnival Venezia (2023) and Carnival Firenze (2024). Ships that almost make Carnival worthwhile and tempting for someone 35 minutes south of the Long Beach cruise terminal.

We have done some Carnival trips with the grandkids because they like the bells and whistles. This sounds like the Suite Perks of Carnival, who is of course the parent of Princess. Maybe there is some confusion.

Love the Coral Princess, love Singapore...... heck, I even like Woodland Hills! Looking forward to hearing your report.

Safe travels!

On 9/30/2024 at 12:17 PM, Kineticoh20 said:

Only one really worthy is breakfast if specialty restaurants every morning. 

I think there are a lot more than that, including Specialty Dining on Embarkation Day, complimentary laundry, priority tender boarding, priority embarkation, priority debarkation, the mini-bar set-up, in suite afternoon tea, Reserve Dining with more choices, and if you are a Captain's Circle Member, double cruise credit, so on a 16 day cruise, you get 32 days of credit.

3 hours ago, mexico8 said:

Has anyone booked a ride with Prime Time shuttle?

Prime Time Shuttle is awful, awful, awful. Avoid like the plague.

They have 911 reviews on Google for their LA operation and the rating average is 1.6 out of 5.

On 9/15/2024 at 12:19 PM, strobellayjam said:

Sounds like a great day!  Did you notice if any of the rental car companies had shuttles to take you back and forth from the pier?  Or are taxi's our only option now?

Avis/Budget and Payless have shuttles to the cruise port.

FYI, to avoid any confusion, it is Kilauea Iki.

2 hours ago, lx200gps said:

Hopefully the new People Mover will open as scheduled in early 2026 and make this a bit easier.

And hopefully it will snow in LA in August to cool things off a little, but I wouldn't count on either 🤣

Uber Black picks up curbside and there are at least two taxi stands at LAX besides the LAX-it Lot. One is across from Terminal B and one is at Terminal 7. There may be a third.

LAX to Long Beach, cab or Uber Black, I'd guess $100 to $110+ tip.

Uber from the LAX-it Lot, $60-70+ tip.

Half the hotels you have listed are chains you know.

I love the Inn at Union Square, it is quite charming.

The Chancellor and Orchard are both very well respected. Palihotel and Vintage Court are great as well.

Those are VERY low prices for those hotels, but I guess timing is everything. They all can easily be two and three times the rates you show. You must be hitting at a very none busy time. Pick one of these five and you should be happy.

What does "not expensive" mean? Can you put a nightly dollar amount on it?

The less expensive hotels nearby are the Best Western Bayside, Hampton Inn Pacific Highway, Residence Inn Pacific Highway and Holiday Inn San Diego - Bayside, which has a shuttle.

It is super simple. The off ramp drops you right at the parking lot. You get to a stop light at Harbor Blvd. You will see the ship in front of you, cross Harbor and you loop around in front of the USS Iowa. I (we) always drop luggage and person at the curb where the porters are, then I loop around again to park.

You CAN turn right on Harbor and then turn left on the looping road, but I always cross Harbor rather than having to make the left turn.

PS it is 100 Swinford Street, San Pedro, just in case you use GPS or Google Maps.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hUrQXtRM6uEbLudh8

Hmmm, Kamehameha didn't "unite" the islands, he was a brutal dictator who used European technology to conquer his opponents, often in massacres and then executing surviving chieftains.

9 hours ago, Need-a-vacation said:

I don't know if this is normal for princess, or if I had a freakishly good experience

You had a freakishly good experience. 

Hilo isn't a tourist destination. I am not aware of any regularly scheduled luaus in Hilo, They are up in the Kohala Coast/Waikoloa area. I think the only luau in Kona is the one at the Outrigger.

Oahu, Maui and Kauai are better locations for a luau during a cruise.

On 9/27/2024 at 10:48 PM, EtaC said:

I would generally tell people that a nice meal in Waiklki or in downtwon Honolulu would be preferable to an hour plus bus ride

There ae many luaus in Honolulu that are not "an hour bus ride". There is one right at the Aloha Tower Cruise Terminal, plus two or three in Waikiki itself.

But Experience Nutridge, probably 25-30 minutes from the cruise terminal is my current favorite. I also love the Hale Koa Luau in Waikiki, but you need DOD credentials to attend.

9 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

I'm in Hilo today and the shuttle no longer runs. Don't know why.

I don't know why either since the Walmart shuttles were always full and I saw fellow cruise passengers buying lots there. We had to go to get some medical supplies for my aged parents and we shared a shuttle with a neighbor, who happened to be on the same cruise.

But I think its been a bit more than a year because we were there in Oct 2023 and it had already stopped.

On 9/27/2024 at 10:53 PM, EtaC said:

It's not just suitcases. Pearl doesn't allow much more than a see-through neck bag barely big enough to hold a cell phone and wallet.

Pearl Harbor has luggage storage for all sizes luggage, for a fee.

https://www.nps.gov/perl/planyourvisit/safety.htm

Here is the relevant information from the link above: "The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum operates a baggage storage facility near the visitor center entrance, with a fee for all sizes, including luggage. This storage can be used for visits to all Pearl Harbor Historic Sites."

13 hours ago, travellingnana said:

Do you happen to know if this free trolley was taking people up the hill to Lihue proper?

There are two free shuttles, both run by businesses. The first is the shuttle that takes you to the Hilo Hattie Factory Store and the second takes you to the Anchor Cove Shopping Center. The hope of the shopping centers is that you actually patronize the people (stores) paying for the shuttle and not use it to go to the beach or Walmart.

https://anchorcovelihue.com/

https://hilohattie.com/

It depends on the Pier. It is easy at the Aloha Tower, not as easy at the other pier.

Taxi isn't much more.

2 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

Solo male, 1 carry-on + 1 backpack. Ship's excursion to pearl harbor then airport drop off is sold out. I read that bags arent allowed in pearl harbor so i can't go myself. Suggestions on what to do till 3pm?

If you have status with Hyatt, Hilton or Marriott, I'd head into Waikiki, ask the bell desk to hold your luggage, then have lunch there, walk around Waikiki, maybe some beach time then reclaim the bags, tip the bellman well and head to the airport.

I like the Ritz Carlton a lot, but usually a third of the price is the Jamaica Bay Inn Marina Del Rey, which is very nice, especially for the price.

11 minutes ago, latebloomer56 said:

Hello again, just read a review that stated they returned from an excursion with time to visit Duke's. Couldn't ask the question of how they got there from the port in Kahului. Would you know how they did this? Would they have needed Uber? Was thinking of going to grab some to go food.

Thanks

It was most likely not Kahului (Maui) but Nawiliwili (Kauai). Duke's Kauai is walkable from the ship. It is in the Royal Sonesta/Marriott Kauai on Kalapaki Beach. See Below.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yFdAoESfhZgGA6XQ6

Duke's Maui is in the Honua Kai condo complex in Ka'anapali and no way would someone return from an excursion and have time for Duke's. Despite what Google Maps says, it is at least 60 minutes away in current conditions.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/CtHVvzFe4RJANCKg6