Review of Hawaii Dec 10, 2011 POA

[Just4You]

The third (and most expensive) level includes entrance into the Manor House for a sit down dinner with wait staff. The women are given a flower lei while the men get one made of shell. You are given a mai tai or other drink, you have a picture made with two of the performers. Next you listen to Auntie Mahail Nani talk “story” around the imu pit where the pig is cooked. She tells you that you are “royalty” while everyone else here are your distant “cousins.”

You ride the train, then go to the games & shopping area, then you are escorted to the Manor House (you can’t get lost here, they know how to find you by your lei if you‘re busy shopping, or in DH case, talking with one of the local wood carvers). You are offered champagne or a sparkling cider, then you are seated at one of several small candlelit tables at the Manor House for dinner. After dinner you can shop or look around the Manor House (there are some beautiful hand-crafted chests and other furniture). Next you are escorted by torchbearers to a table at the luau closest to the stage.

You still travel there in a big bus (depending on how many purchased the upgraded ticket). After the show you are escorted out the back by another torchbearer and are the first on your bus back to the ship (while your 600+ “cousins” are still waiting in line to get back).

Here’s a pic of us at the luau, then a pic of Auntie at the imu pit where the pig is cooked (I was told it’s only for show by one of the locals, they cook the rest of the pork using traditional ovens and put Liquid Smoke on it for flavor. Not sure if this is correct, but don’t tell them I told you this):

 

Here’s a pic of the man blowing a conch shell to call us to dinner:

[Just4You]

You will eat a delicious meal in the Manor House at small, candlelit tables with a Hawaiian singer who plays the ukulele (one of the musicians is also cast as the father in some of the plays). There is also a woman who performs a beautiful hula. The food includes chicken wontons with pineapple sweet & sour sauce, smoked fish and lomilomi tomato salad, pork with fish laulau, molaa purple sweet potato and stir fry vegetables. The dessert includes choice of Likikoi cheesecake tile or Kabocha squash and macadamia nut tart. Beverages include Kauai coffee, iced tea, soda, or fruit juice or POG (passion, orange and guava fruit juice).

If you get level 1 or 2, the buffet meal consists of Kauai greens, tomato-tofu salad, macaroni-potato salad with baby peas, lomi-lomi salmon, Kauai papaya & pineapple, poi (ground taro root, make sure you at least try it, but mix it with something else, like the salty pig or something sweet), taro rolls, vegetables, jasmine rice, coconut-mashed purple sweet potatoes, vegetables with Thai curry, sweet and sour chicken, steamed mahi mahi, kalua port. For dessert: rice pudding with dark rum sauce, Kauai coffee chocolate cheesecake, banana cream pie, pineapple upside down cake.

Here are the current prices of the basic luau ($110, child $70), luau with plantation train ($125, child $85), and Manor House with train and luau ($159, child much less). In my opinion, I think the Manor House is worth it. The show always makes me cry. If you are on a budget, even the farthest table is still a good seat (this is the first place we sat years ago, we were also the last ones on the bus back to ship).

Here’s a pic of the cast after the show:

Once we were off the bus at the ship pier, we were serenaded by one of the ship’s musicians who played the ukulele and sang, and many of the ship officers and staff lined up to greet us back. Tony Winkler (Food & Beverage Director) was there and knew us by name. This was a very nice touch and we felt special.

[Just4You]

KAUAI, SECOND DAY:

This day we did Kauai 4x4 Backroads Adventure. We had Rick as our tour guide in one 4x4 van (7 of us), while Joe was with another group in another van. We traveled to private roads that used to be traveled by the workers who harvested sugarcane in the past. We went to Kilohana and saw a 360 degree view from the summit. We then went to old Koloa Town (the birthplace of Hawaii’s sugar industry), went through a mountain tunnel dug by hand, and had a snack at a secluded beach (apple bananas, tangerines, apples, cookies, granola, and drinks).

Here’s a pic of some of the beautiful scenery we saw from the summit:

Here is a pic of chickens in the tree (I think this is a Milo Nut tree, the next pic is me holding a milo nut):

[Just4You]

Here’s a couple of pics of our snack site at a secluded beach (you can see the vans in the background):

Here’s a pic of the mountain tunnel:

 

[Just4You]

The ship leaves Kauai at around 2pm. Watch for the tugboat that spins around in circles as if waving us goodbye. Here’s a pic of the tugboat:

At 5:15pm there is the sail by Na Pali coast with narration. See Best Viewing Tip on Ship (closer to the beginning of my review before the island shore excursions).

Here’s a pic of one of the faces seen on the side of the mountain (you can see the two eyes, nose and smiling mouth in the center of the picture):

 

[Just4You]

Other fun things to do in Kauai:

If the weather is good you can rent a scooter or motorcycle which is a fun way to drive the island. Not sure if NCL still offers this, but there was a Rumble through the Jungle tour on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

I highly recommend a helicopter tour if you can fit it into your budget. There are helicopters like Blue Hawaiian, as well as others like Jack Harter (no doors so wear a light jacket), or Island Helicopters (it lands at a waterfall & you are in the middle of Jurassic Park).

The road does not go all the way around, but the northern end of the island can be hiked if you want a good workout. There is also a Mount Wai’ale’ale Rainforest 4x4 Hike that goes to the east side of Kauai through the rainforest to the ‘gate’ used in Jurassic Park.

There is Jungle Mountain Trek (also called Zip & Splash) which is a combination of hiking, ziplining and swimming at Kipu Ranch. There are at least three other zipline tours: Canopy Zipline is on private land and has 7 zipline runs. The trail was easy enough for DH to navigate, and there is a natural swimming pool & small waterfall at the end where you eat a snack and can swim. There is also Tree Top Zipline Adventure with 6 lines in a Norfolk pine forest and a suspension bridge. There is Climb, Zip and Eco Challenge where you scale a 55-foot rock wall 40 feet above the ground and ‘leap’ off the platform.

If you want to see where some of the movies were shot you can do Kauai-The Director’s Cut or Hollywood in Hawaii & Falls.

The Na ‘Pali coast can only be seen by helicopter, by hiking to it, or from the water (during the sail by on the ship or from kayak, catamaran or snorkel tours). Surfing lessons are given on Poi’pu Beach, and scuba tours are also offered.

There is the beautiful Allerton Garden tour called National Tropical Botanical Gardens. There is horseback riding at Mahaulepu, Mudbug & Waterfall Safari (if you like to get down and dirty), and multiple kayak tours.

If you want to relax there is Journey to Waimea Canyon, a combination of tours of Waimea Canyon, Wailue & Fern Grotto, or River Safari & Kilohana Train. If you want to get wet but not work too hard, there is Tubing the Ditch Expedition where you float in an inner tube in the 4-mile-long Hanamaulu Ditch system for a 2-mile tubing journey, or Sea Fun Beach Snorkel .

There are at least four golf courses on Kauai: Kauai Lagoons-Kiele, Puakea, Poi’pu Bay, and Princeville Resort.

[Just4You]

SUMMARY:

I can sum up Hawaii in one word: MAGICAL. This is the only place on Earth where I can lose myself and find myself again. What I mean by this, is that if I ALLOW the spirit that permeates all things to flow unhindered by my own thoughts, I can lose the part of myself which is focused on the material world with all its problems, fears, sorrow and pain, and can reconnect to the source of the spirit, which in turn is connected to me. So I lose myself to find myself. It sounds more complicated than it is, but is actually a natural and beautiful truth.

Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much) for allowing me to share my experience with you.

A hui hau (until we meet again)

Just4You

[TSUmom]

An excellent review - I love the descriptions you gave and appreciate you taking the time to do this and to re-live your trip I'm sure....We have booked the Luau and now I am considering calling and upgrading. Do you leave earlier? We have a 5:00 departure. I only ask because we will be tubing the ditch in the morning and really have nothing else planned after that. Mahalo

[LadyShiva]

What an absolutely wonderful review! I will be bookmarking this to read and relish over and over again. :)

 

Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive and touching travelogue. I really, truly appreciate the time and consideration you put into this.

[Just4You]

An excellent review - I love the descriptions you gave and appreciate you taking the time to do this and to re-live your trip I'm sure....We have booked the Luau and now I am considering calling and upgrading. Do you leave earlier? We have a 5:00 departure. I only ask because we will be tubing the ditch in the morning and really have nothing else planned after that. Mahalo

 

For the Manor House option you will meet at the ship terminal around 4pm (initially our shore excursion confirmation listed 3:45pm, but our actual tickets that we got once on the ship stated 4pm). We did Heaven & Earth Quest and got back at 3pm with plenty of time to get ready for luau (make sure you tell the tour operator when you get on the bus that you have another tour & need to be back at the pier at a particular time).

 

If booking with NCL, they like at least 45 min between tours and can give you advice about how to maximize each day in port. Also, when booking on the NCL website, it will not allow you to overbook if you are doing it this way.

 

The first year we did the least expensive luau option, we were seated at the farthest table, and we still had a great time. The Manor House option gives you at least another hour to explore the grounds, but the least expensive option is still fun.

[Just4You]

What an absolutely wonderful review! I will be bookmarking this to read and relish over and over again. :)

 

Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive and touching travelogue. I really, truly appreciate the time and consideration you put into this.

 

The pictures displayed too small, but I didn't know how to do it any other way. When I emailed cruise critic on how I can copy & paste my review to include the pictures, they wrote and said they don't allow pictures (I think they were referring to the reviews that are listed by each ship). This was the only way I could figure out how to do it.

 

Whew! It took 2 days to type out the review on a MS Word document and inserting the pictures into it. Then today I had to cut and paste each segment of text and reattach each picture to this site. I'm so glad you liked it!

[mr&mrscruiselover]

Thank you for such a wonderful review. This cruise is one I really want to do but my husband is not convinced. Will have to have him read your review. That just might to it!!

 

Sherri and Clay

[Trip10]

Thank you for such wonderful insight. It felt like we got to go on your journey with you! Wonderful descriptions and information. Thanks again for taking the time to write such a detailed review.

[bigtoeswim'n]

Just4you: So loved your review. Me and my DH were on the same cruise. As I read your review, I wonder if we were on the same cruise. HA. So much to do there. I so enjoyed what we chose to do. I left my review on the Hawaii board. Figured I'd post before the afteglow left me.

 

I have a question about the zip line. I SO want to zip but my DH is of a different mind. His objection is that he doesn't want to climb a tower of steps, wait in line for his turn as that equates to work and sore knees and his idea of a vaca is relax and go slow.

 

soooo, with this in mind, did you have to climb up towers of stairs?? I know that might sound like a stupid question. He would zip if somehow the zip started at the top, via 4-wheel drive and then he could zip down. Does such a zip exist and where????

 

We met you at the M&G. You are a special couple. I did ask the security at the Kaui warehouse of I could expect venders when we came back on Fri., and he said they don't do that anymore. Shucks.

 

Well, back to real life here. I think I'm coming down with a head could. The Hawaiin Airlines was mighty stuffy IMO from HNL to PHX. I blame them. Hope I don't turn into a walking germ incubator for the Christmas holidays. ttyl, carol

[Just4You]

Just4you: So loved your review. Me and my DH were on the same cruise. As I read your review' date=' I wonder if we were on the same cruise. HA. So much to do there. I so enjoyed what we chose to do. I left my review on the Hawaii board. Figured I'd post before the afteglow left me.

 

I have a question about the zip line. I SO want to zip but my DH is of a different mind. His objection is that he doesn't want to climb a tower of steps, wait in line for his turn as that equates to work and sore knees and his idea of a vaca is relax and go slow.

 

soooo, with this in mind, did you have to climb up towers of stairs?? I know that might sound like a stupid question. He would zip if somehow the zip started at the top, via 4-wheel drive and then he could zip down. Does such a zip exist and where????

 

We met you at the M&G. You are a special couple. I did ask the security at the Kaui warehouse of I could expect venders when we came back on Fri., and he said they don't do that anymore. Shucks.

 

Well, back to real life here. I think I'm coming down with a head could. The Hawaiin Airlines was mighty stuffy IMO from HNL to PHX. I blame them. Hope I don't turn into a walking germ incubator for the Christmas holidays. ttyl, carol[/quote']

 

Hi Carol! The zipline I did in Maui was the Rainforest Zipline & Waterfall. Dan and I also did the Canopy zipline in the past in Kauai. Neither has any strenuous steps to climb and the trails are well groomed and easy to navigate. You are driven up into the hills/mountains, then you walk an easy trail, they hook up your harness to the first zipline run cable (that you put on when you first arrive), and away you go down the hill on a zip line. Then they unhook the harness, you walk as a group to the next platform, they hook you back up, and you go again. These two ziplines both have 7 zipline runs. You recall Dan has a very bad back and walks wth a cane, well he could easily walk the trail with me in Kauai. The most difficult part of the Maui zipline was walking across the suspension bridge, but you are also cabled on so you won't fall. You can always call the zipline company and speak with the personnel there to get an idea of how strenuous it might be.

 

Kauai has around 4 ziplines. Besides the Canopy Zipline (above), there is a Jungle Mountain Trek (also called Zip & Splash) which is more of a combination of hiking, ziplining and swimming at Kipu Ranch. There is a Tree Top Zipline Adventure with 6 runs in a Norfolk pine forest with a suspension bridge. The most difficult and strenuous, is the Climb, Zip and Eco Challenge where you scale a 55-foot wall 40 feet above the ground and 'leap' off the platform. For your husband, I would recommend the two ziplines I mentioned above in Maui and Kauai.

 

I hope you are feeling better soon. The air in Hawaii is so wonderful and moist, now that I'm back my sinuses are bothering me as well.

[Just4You]

Thank you for such a wonderful review. This cruise is one I really want to do but my husband is not convinced. Will have to have him read your review. That just might to it!!

 

Sherri and Clay

 

I hope this will help convince him to go. I believe everyone should experience the magic of Hawaii at least once in their lifetime. I'll be sending good thoughts your way!

[Sherrica]

Hi Just4You! What a fantastic review! I applaud your attention to detail and your speed! I am still trying to get back into "real life" here at home. We too had a great experience, though we only did a fraction of the activites you did -- you have amazing energy!

[rockabutzer]

Wonderful review. I booked this cruise for my DW and I for January 2013. Just reading your review makes me wish I could do it sooner. Can't wait until then, but will obviously have to.

 

Mahalo!

[Pokeraddict]

Great review with a lot of thought to detail. I hope you have cut and pasted this to the review section so that it stays around longer. Much thanks.

[Just4You]

Hi Just4You! What a fantastic review! I applaud your attention to detail and your speed! I am still trying to get back into "real life" here at home. We too had a great experience, though we only did a fraction of the activites you did -- you have amazing energy!

 

Hi Sherrica, it was great meeting you on the ship! I have not yet come down from the 'high' yet, hopefully it will last for a long time. Hope we can sail with you again!

[Just4You]

Great review with a lot of thought to detail. I hope you have cut and pasted this to the review section so that it stays around longer. Much thanks.

 

The review section would not let me post this large of a file (even only the WP part), but I posted the link instead. I hope it works so others can find it.

[Just4You]

Wonderful review. I booked this cruise for my DW and I for January 2013. Just reading your review makes me wish I could do it sooner. Can't wait until then, but will obviously have to.

 

Mahalo!

 

You may want to start a thread on the boards with your cruise date and also include a countdown calendar to your UserID. This way you can start to make friends before you go.

 

In case you don't know how to get to it:

Select BOARDS, then ROLL CALLS, then select your cruise line. Check to make sure there is not already a thread started with your cruise date. If not, then create one and wait for others to join.

 

The countdown clock is located above to the right of USER CP.

 

Getting to meet everyone at the meet & greet on the ship is a great treat. The planning stage leading to the cruise was also just as fun! Just think, you have a whole year to plan and make friends!

[Kruz Guys]

The reivew and pictures are all fantastic. Thanks for sharing with everyone. It represents a lot of time and thought. Your experiences will help those who are going in the future I'm sure! Great information and a terrific narrative. Thanks again.

 

Kruz Guys

Stephen and Tom ;) :)

[dalgirl]

Thank you so much for the wonderful review - I have taken notes:) Our cruise is not until May 2013, but as I learned from booking our Alaska cruise far in advance, it will be here quicker than we think. Great ideas, tips, and your photos were wonderful. Again, thank you for taking so much time with your review... and I do believe the spirits guided your feet that day in the falls:)

[Just4You]

The reivew and pictures are all fantastic. Thanks for sharing with everyone. It represents a lot of time and thought. Your experiences will help those who are going in the future I'm sure! Great information and a terrific narrative. Thanks again.

 

Kruz Guys

Stephen and Tom ;) :)

 

Hi Kruz Guys! We took the photo at the meet & greet just for you, and afterwards everyone raised their glasses in a toast to you both. This was the first comprehensive review I have done, and it was because I promised to send you a review with lots of pictures. So consider this your gift from me. So glad you liked it!

Love to you both,

K