POA Tips and Tricks

[Tiffofirechick]

Hello!

Had and amazing cruise on the POA with a sail date of 5/11/13. My husband and I were in a balcony room, and are very active. We traveled with a 55 and 87 year old, and had the time of our lives!! Here are some thoughts about the ship, and shore excursions. Hope they help!

 

1) Get there early on embarkation day... the lines really, really suck. We got there by 12:30 and waited more than 2 hours to get on-board. Get there early!

2) Oh, the food is amazing on the entire ship. We ate at the Aloha buffet in the morning and either the Liberty or Skyline dinning room at night. We ate in the Cadillac Diner and had the most wonderful brownie sundae. The food was incredible throughout the entire cruise. And yes, they had pineapple every day. Sometimes you had to hunt it down... but they had it!

3) While speaking of the food, get a reservation at the La Cucina resturant. Yes, it is $15 per person, but so worth it. Everyone in my party said it was one of the best meals of their lives, and we've been to Italy. Just make your reservations before Friday night.

4) Wait until the last day or so to get your pictures, if you choose to. Seriously, they have them all 20% off on the last day.

5) Speaking of sales, the gift shop has a moderate sale the last day. Not too shabby, but don't plan on anything big. The gift shop prices aren't horrible compared to the island's , so it is a good place to get last minute items.

6) Maui: Rent a car! We did the ship's rainforest tour, then rented a car and drove to Lahina for the Old Lahina Luau... which was AMAZING! The food is "so-so", but the drinks-show-hospitality-extras make up for it. Loved it!! Lahina is a great place to shop. All the rental car agencies have shuttles, so just get one.

7) Maui: Don't count on seeing the sunrise or set at Haleakala. Count on freezing your butt off, but just chalk it up to an adventure. If you get a rental car, just drive up there.

8) Maui: Do what many of the crew do, walk to the Whole Foods or Long's Drugs just 5 minutes from the ship and stock up on water/snacks for the trip. Plus, this is the first and cheapest place to get your Hershey's Kisses with Mac Nuts (Long's Drugs). Plus, you can get some cool lei things too...

9) TAKE THE LEI CLASSES ON THE SHIP! Yes you can buy them, but Kalawana (I slaughtered that amazing man's name), Ashley, and China are fantastic, and anyone can make them. They do a flower, kuki nut, and ribbon class during the cruise. Men and women are taking the class and having a ball!!

10) Hilo: If you can take the Crater/Akaka Falls tour, do it. If you don't have the cash and want to rent a car, the Crater part is otherwise known as the Kiluea Iki trail. It is incredible, but a not for the out of shape or cardiac patient. Seriously. http://www.arnottslodge.com/ is the tour operator for this, and ask for Dean-o. We booked it through the ship, but I suspect you can do it on your own.

11) While we're talking about tours: USE ROBERTS HAWAII FOR THE GENERAL TOURS. For the overall island tours in Maui and Kauai especially, use Roberts. You save more than $40 per person, and literally go on the same tour bus as your fellow cruisers.

12) Save your coffee money for Kauai. Kona coffee is great, and there is a great store right off the tender spot that you won't miss next to an art gallery that sells the real thing. Otherwise, we found the coffee on Kauai to be a great deal for the quality.

13) Use your last day on Kauai to shop, especially at the Wal Mart. You can either take the Walmart shuttle, or the early shuttle to Hilo Hatties and walk over. If you are looking for general stuff/souviners, go to the Walmart and save a ton of cash. No joke. If you need to get another suitcase like we did. Get it there. The Kmart in town in nice, but the prices are horrible.

14) You will see Hilo Hattie's stuff everywhere, and that is OK. Go to one. The prices aren't cheap, but they're not horrible if you are smart. If you are looking for authentic Hawaiian stuff, then go there.

15) Lots of Hawaiian gifts are made in China and anywhere but Hawaii. If you want authentic, then look carefully or learn to make your own lei on the ship.

16) Once you are back in Oahu: Get up to the North Shore and get a Shave Ice at Aiokis. Stop at the Dole Plantation to get a picture and then get out before you pay horrible prices for stuff made in Thailand. OH WAIT... do get a Dole Whip, they are great.

17) Call before you go and get reservations for Duke's on the Beach in Waikiki. WOW! Amazing food, lots of it, and not at a horrible price. Did I mention it was on the beach? WOW!

18) And for my adventure lovers... swim with the sharks. Seriously, you only need to be able to barely snorkel. http://hawaiisharkencounters.com/ were amazing. Get the 6:30am trip and you will get extra time in the cage. You think you will be scared and pee yourself. But you will not. You will be enthralled. They swim all around you, and the pictures you will get will be out of National Geographic. I wish I could post them.

19) Don't be afraid to rent a car... seriously. All ports make it easy and the cost isn't horrible. We were able to get around easily when we did.

20) FOR CHEAP INTERNET ACCESS: Get your phone made into a hotspot ($30 on Verizon), then use it on the ship. I did, even in the middle of the ocean. No problem with my Android phone. Then for my entire trip, I was golden. Otherwise, it is $50 for 100 minutes.... EEEKKK!!!

 

We had an amazing time, and can't wait to go back. If I can answer any questions, don't hesitate to let me know.

[Linsuesue]

#20-how do you turn your phone into a hotspot without using the ship's cell

Tower? I have a new Iphone(Verizon) and don't understand how to make this happen. I loved your list-thanks for taking the time to compile it!

[Stevekiel]

Were there data roaming charges for usung your "hot spot" out of the US? If not, I assume I can use the Internet on my phone at sea?

Edited May 29, 2013 by Stevekiel

[sanedeb]

Thanks for the tips! Wanted to know what store options there were for day 2 Maui without renting a car. Also, what days and times did they offer Lei making? Want to try to plan to be there.

[mommamd]

Thank you for the awesome tips. I wonder if it is okay to get to the ship later on the first day to avoid the line?

 

Thanks for the link to some adventurous tours. We have adventurers with us!!

[Aussiegirl58]

We are just back from the May 11 sailing. We found we did not have to wait in any long lines when we arrived at the terminal. We were picked up after 11am at the Sheriton and met at the by a rep from the shuttle company who explained to us if we used a porter to collect our bags we could follow him and skip the long queues. One couple who were on the shuttle with us did not use a porter and we saw them in the line as we walked past them.We used a queue further down the pier and we were on the boat quicker than them. So glad we listened to this lady who helped get a porter for us and the other couples.

[Tiffofirechick]

Thanks for the tips! Wanted to know what store options there were for day 2 Maui without renting a car. Also, what days and times did they offer Lei making? Want to try to plan to be there.

 

For the lei making, they usually offer them at 4:15 in the Hollywood Theatre for two of the sessions, and then flower one we missed was elsewhere. I want to say that they started on Monday. On Friday, from 1-3 in the Hollywood Theatre, they had a big 2 hour session with kits, instructions, and question/answer time... or more advanced lessons for those who caught the class earlier in the week.

[Tiffofirechick]

#20-how do you turn your phone into a hotspot without using the ship's cell

Tower? I have a new Iphone(Verizon) and don't understand how to make this happen. I loved your list-thanks for taking the time to compile it!

 

It just worked, and well. I suspect I was "binging" off of cell towers on the coasts. To turn your phone into a hotspot, go to the My Verizon app on your phone and "add feature". If all else fails, call them and they'll flip it on in a heartbeat.

[Tiffofirechick]

Were there data roaming charges for usung your "hot spot" out of the US? If not, I assume I can use the Internet on my phone at sea?

 

We called Verizon on this one before we left. No roaming charges. And looking at my bill... no roaming charges. Loved it!!

[Tiffofirechick]

The porter trick...How wonderful! I'm using this trick on my other cruises, and telling my friends going on the POA later this summer. Thank you for saving my sanity!!

Edited May 31, 2013 by Tiffofirechick

[DevCruise]

When we were on the POA in January 2012, the ship had no cell tower. Not sure about onboard wi-fi. As far as Verizon is concerned, Hawaii is a US state and your calling plans will work there without calling them. As long as the ship is within range of the towers, your phone will connect to them, but eventually your phone will no longer see the towers. At that point, it is probably a good idea to put your phone into airplane mode or whatever your phone calls it.

[brettsmom2004]

If you have a data package with Verizon, then your iphone can automatically become a hotspot....thats what I have and use.

You can go to settings and click it on, but be sure to click it off after you are done or u will use up all your data time.

~L~

[TifffanyD]

Thanks for the tips! I will print this out for my trip next week!

[dalgirl]

Hi - we called Verizon before we left and were told using our phone in port was like using it from home - no extra charges. We called whoever we wanted and checked email, our bank, etc. with no problem. Since we were in port from around 7am in the morning until 6 at night, we did not use our phone during those times - so no need to make yourself a hotspot. Hey, you are on vacation, you need some time away from those things:D

[AmativeDame]

Were there data roaming charges for usung your "hot spot" out of the US? If not, I assume I can use the Internet on my phone at sea?

 

 

Hawaii is a US state, so there is no roaming in port (especially if you have "no roaming" turned off.)

[Cheekysnana]

Thanks for the review. I will check out all your suggestions.

I have to keep reminding my self that we are in the USA. And travel will be like going to Florida!! But greener.

[Jodez]

We are just back from the May 11 sailing. We found we did not have to wait in any long lines when we arrived at the terminal. We were picked up after 11am at the Sheriton and met at the by a rep from the shuttle company who explained to us if we used a porter to collect our bags we could follow him and skip the long queues. One couple who were on the shuttle with us did not use a porter and we saw them in the line as we walked past them.We used a queue further down the pier and we were on the boat quicker than them. So glad we listened to this lady who helped get a porter for us and the other couples.

 

What did you have to pay the porter for their service?

[Aussiegirl58]

WE tipped him $5 or it was $1 a bag. Definately quicker but it was hard finding a porter as they were short handed. The rep from the shuttle company went and grabbed one for us. I had read where some previous reviews that said how busy it was at certain times so was prepared for a long wait but it was very quick from the time we got to the docks till we were on board.

[Socref124]

Hello!

7) Maui: Don't count on seeing the sunrise or set at Haleakala. Count on freezing your butt off, but just chalk it up to an adventure. If you get a rental car, just drive up there.

 

Why? This is the one thing that I really want to do on Maui. Last time we weren't there overnight so this wasn't an option. Now it is possible if I get up early in the morning and have a rental car to get me there. So why not to count on seeing the sunrise?

[chengkp75]

Why? This is the one thing that I really want to do on Maui. Last time we weren't there overnight so this wasn't an option. Now it is possible if I get up early in the morning and have a rental car to get me there. So why not to count on seeing the sunrise?

 

Mainly because of the mini ecosystem on top of Haleakala. If it is a bright sunny day on Maui, it may be 10/10 overcast, fog, and freezing on top of the volcano. And vice versa. Its kind of a crap shoot whether you can see ANYTHING in the crater some times.

[DaisyGoldberg]

The lei making classes were fun, and so were the hula classes. Doesn't matter that you have two left feet - it's fun!

[TifffanyD]

I'm getting on this ship tomorrow! Yay!!

[stampmouse]

Thanks for the tips.

 

Question. Can you get off the boat after checking in on Saturday. Would like to roam around a bit but not haul my luggage

[MSINCAMOM]

Great tips. Thanks.

[MSINCAMOM]

A was told yes. Im trying on Sat.