NCL Newbie--POA ?'s & B2B ?'s

[silvercrikhix]

Our 1st NCL cruise is on the POA.

We realize that this is not the best taste of NCL's offerings, but the best Hawaii option out there for us.

Trying to make sure we have some things correct.

 

No purchased bottle service to cabin allowed.

No duty free booze store on board.

No casino on board.

No UBP or UDP on POA.

 

Trying to decide if B2B would be better or staying 3-4 days on front & back of cruise. Any B2B experiences to share?

Thanks in advance for your response!

Edited January 9, 2014 by silvercrikhix

[smrtypnts]

Our 1st NCL cruise is on the POA.

We realize that this is not the best taste of NCL's offerings, but the best Hawaii option out there for us.

Trying to make sure we have some things correct.

 

No purchased bottle service to cabin allowed.

No duty free booze store on board.

No casino on board.

No UBP or UDP on POA.

 

Trying to decide if B2B would be better or staying 3-4 days on front & back of cruise. Any B2B experiences to share?

Thanks in advance for your response!

I don't know what UBP or UDP is, but you do have all the other information accurate. I can't speak for the B2B.....we did 3 days before hand and 2 days afterwards. We had a great time and thought it was a great value....we also packed far too much into 2 days on each island, so a B2B could be the way to go, but then you'd have no time on Oahu and we enjoyed our time there as well. Maybe the way to go would be to spend 3 days on Oahu and then disembark in Kaui (your last visited island and spend 3 extra days there too? Then only Maui and Big island would be rushed. It really is a personal decision.

[Alliezona09]

The UBP (Ultimate Beverage Package) is NOT available on the POA~

The UDP (Ultimate Dining Package) looks like its available on the POA as I don't see anywhere that it says it's excluded~ http://www.ncl.com/udp/faq

[silvercrikhix]

I don't know what UBP or UDP is, but you do have all the other information accurate. I can't speak for the B2B.....we did 3 days before hand and 2 days afterwards. We had a great time and thought it was a great value....we also packed far too much into 2 days on each island, so a B2B could be the way to go, but then you'd have no time on Oahu and we enjoyed our time there as well. Maybe the way to go would be to spend 3 days on Oahu and then disembark in Kaui (your last visited island and spend 3 extra days there too? Then only Maui and Big island would be rushed. It really is a personal decision.

 

TY, smrtypnts.

I like the idea of disembarking in Kauai....hmmmmm.....more research needed.....it wouldn't break the Jones Act...I am going to look into this option.

UBP=Ultimate Beverage Package

UDP=Ultimate Dining Package or Plan.

Thanks again for the split option idea!

I see BON VOYAGE is in order.......Enjoy :D

[silvercrikhix]

The UBP (Ultimate Beverage Package) is NOT available on the POA~

The UDP (Ultimate Dining Package) looks like its available on the POA as I don't see anywhere that it says it's excluded~ http://www.ncl.com/udp/faq

 

Hmmm.....and I thought I read this morning that UDP was NOT on POA.

I am losing my mind after all.....teehee......

TY for your reply :D

Edited January 9, 2014 by silvercrikhix

[Ilovesailing]

We have done this cruise three times and all b2b. Reasons too far too fly for one week, too expensive to fly for one week, wE live in Canada so to avoid some winter The islands are beautiful and for us there is no better bang for your dollar. The islands are expensive as is the hotels excluding Honolulu were you can get some good hotel rates, food as it all has to be imported in.

 

We had been booked to do it again this Jan. but decided to do Panama again instead.

If you've cruised before lower your standard for service by 10% and you'll be fine. But we have never experienced poor service or attitude like has been mentioned in the past when they 100% American crew.

No casino because there is no gambling of any kind in the State of Hawaii. No duty free because your not leaving the state. Therefore NCL has too offset their costs as the casino brings in so much revenue.

Us this cruise as your hotel and meals and you'll have a great cruise.

[Ilovesailing]

I don't know what UBP or UDP is, but you do have all the other information accurate. I can't speak for the B2B.....we did 3 days before hand and 2 days afterwards. We had a great time and thought it was a great value....we also packed far too much into 2 days on each island, so a B2B could be the way to go, but then you'd have no time on Oahu and we enjoyed our time there as well. Maybe the way to go would be to spend 3 days on Oahu and then disembark in Kaui (your last visited island and spend 3 extra days there too? Then only Maui and Big island would be rushed. It really is a personal decision.

 

To me it doesn't make any sense to disembark in Kauai when you've already paid for hotel and meals. Plus your looking at additional money for flights and if you do a one way your looking a lot more money.If you do decide to stay in Kauai then book separate flight from Kauai to Honolulu in order to book a return flight.

You can cover a lot of ground with the overnight in Kauai. Take that extra money and do a helicopter tour over the island for some unbelievable and amazing views of area's and waterfall's that you can't get to by car.

Then fly into Honoulu a day or two earlier to see Waikiki and Oahu and to help with jet lag if it's an issue. Waikiki can be done fairly reasonable. JMO

[silvercrikhix]

To me it doesn't make any sense to disembark in Kauai when you've already paid for hotel and meals. Plus your looking at additional money for flights and if you do a one way your looking a lot more money.If you do decide to stay in Kauai then book separate flight from Kauai to Honolulu in order to book a return flight.

You can cover a lot of ground with the overnight in Kauai. Take that extra money and do a helicopter tour over the island for some unbelievable and amazing views of area's and waterfall's that you can't get to by car.

Then fly into Honoulu a day or two earlier to see Waikiki and Oahu and to help with jet lag if it's an issue. Waikiki can be done fairly reasonable. JMO

 

TY, Ilovesailing!

Yeah....that's about where I ended up after thinking about that option.

Definitely plan on Flightseeing over Kauai, too.

Now to firm up a plan on B2B or not.

Nice decision to make anyhow.......LOL.

[Ilovesailing]

The earlier you can get it booked sit back and watch prices increase.

 

I see that your booked for 11/2014 another reason to make your decision is to lock in the same cabin so that you don't have the inconvenience of moving from one cabin to another.

Even if you just lock it in now and cancel before the cancellation date if you decide to change your mind

[DorothyB]

I'm tentatively planning a POA cruise in 2015 - was planning to stay a bit before or after - to get over jet lag and do a bit more sight seeing. Never thought about doing my first B2B there . . .

[IluvZ]

To me it doesn't make any sense to disembark in Kauai when you've already paid for hotel and meals. Plus your looking at additional money for flights and if you do a one way your looking a lot more money.

 

Hawaiian airline flights doesn't over charge for one-ways like the other airlines. It is usually $69-100 one way, depending on when you book. I would recommend you do one week in the cruise and then book a condo or house for the second week on one of the other islands. We have rented for $800-1200 per week for a 2-3 bedroom location on Maui, and Hawaii. Then you have a fridge and can keeps food costs down.

Edited January 10, 2014 by IluvZ
Misspelling Ipad

[craig-n-carol]

The UDP is available for purchase in MyNCL for our May 2014 cruise.

[silvercrikhix]

The earlier you can get it booked sit back and watch prices increase.

 

I see that your booked for 11/2014 another reason to make your decision is to lock in the same cabin so that you don't have the inconvenience of moving from one cabin to another.

Even if you just lock it in now and cancel before the cancellation date if you decide to change your mind

 

I was thinking about doing just that....the week before my cabin is not available, which is the week we'd prefer...but, it is available for the week after :D

 

I'm tentatively planning a POA cruise in 2015 - was planning to stay a bit before or after - to get over jet lag and do a bit more sight seeing. Never thought about doing my first B2B there . . .

 

It will be our first B2B if we go that route......funny thing is that on our last cruise we talked about a B2B some time.......fickle finger of fate maybe..LOL

[silvercrikhix]

Hawaiian airline flights doesn't over charge for one-ways like the other airlines. It is usually $69-100 one way, depending on when you book. I would recommend you do one week in the cruise and then book a condo or house for the second week on one of the other islands. We have rented for $800-1200 per week for a 2-3 bedroom location on Maui, and Hawaii. Then you have a fridge and can keeps food costs down.

 

I did look at the rates for "island jumping" and thought they were indeed pretty decent! Which island then? LOL. Maui or Kauai, I think....hmmmmmm

 

The UDP is available for purchase in MyNCL for our May 2014 cruise.

 

That's good......wondering if it would really save anything.....there are 5 specialties we would try....thinking we'd probably miss like 2 nights...tiredness, out, etc.....And then, is the MDR, Diner & Buffet that bad they we'd need to try those specialty restaurants anyhow? Hmmmmmmmm

 

Thank you so much for your responses! Cute puppy, Robin!

[IluvZ]

I did look at the rates for "island jumping" and thought they were indeed pretty decent! Which island then? LOL. Maui or Kauai, I think...

 

Thank you so much for your responses! Cute puppy, Robin!

 

Thanks. Boy, I love all the island but the Big Island is my absolute favorite. Great beaches, good snorkeling, active volcano, coffee plantations and good condo rates! Maui is second favorite and then Kauai.