Just back from Hawaii on the Island

[ozbuc]

The DW and I are just back froma 15 day cruise to the Islands on the Island. I am posting this to answer some questions any one might have and to pay back for all the answers I have recieved from you good folks on this site.

Embarkation at San Pedro was fast,out of car and into room in under 30 mins.

Room was a stateroom w/balcony,room was big enough for our needs as was the balcony.

Balcony ultimate dining was 100 per couple and well worth the $ to us, it was fun, romantic and the service was great!

Weather was very rough the 1st night out, so rough the ship had to change course,we were able to use the balcony most of the way to HI, all around HI and some of the way home.

Lahaina was nice but one too many tourists like me, the DW and I found a nice bar upstairs where we watched an endless stream of red mustang convertibles. This was the only port we didt rent a car.

Ohahu was as we expected,rented a car through Hertz, all our car were rented from hertz service was good.

Pearl Harbor was a 3 hour experience,parked our car a 9 am and walked off the boat at noon.

Kauai was our favorite Island, beautiful as the day is long.

Kona and Hilo,we visited all requisite coffee and volcanoe sites but wonder about the need for the ship to go to Kona, why not go just to Hilo and give us two days to play?

The ship overall was great as was the service. Here I must thank our room steward Darwin and Waiter Fernando for there awsome service, they were always helpful and friendly, we looked forward to seeing them each day. Coffee on the Island was far better than on the Dawn wich brought it up to tolerable. After reading all the post on bringing alcohol on board I decided to bring a bottle of my favorite brand of scotch onboard it arrived in my luggage unharmed.The children on this trip were plentiful, some were well behaved and some were not. I only wish to ask the parents whose vacation plans do not involve watching their little crumb crunchers mabbye should plan on kenneling the instead.

I end here with a list of a few dissapointments small that they are.

No m.u.t.s.,popcorn,no playoff football on Sunday,Sattelite television was weird,wrong style glasses for beer ( yes its that important ).

And finally will the missing person PLEASE! report to stateroom Aloha 504.

[bdjam]

Thanks for the review - it seems the last two years, there's been a disruptive group of people (a family) on board and the reports back haven't been pretty. Sounds like maybe they skipped the trip this year...!

[Mr.Thy]

Thanks for the information! We are hoping to go to Hawaii in 2008. If you don't mind, how much did you pay and what agency/website did you use? Thanks much!

[Pam in CA]

I've done this cruise twice and could do it again. I loved the sea days -- there was always something to do -- and HI is always interesting to visit.

[LARGIN]

Thanks for the review.. We will be on the Island in April. Hoping for calm seas.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review on the Island. :)

[Hornet]

We've also done this cruise on the Island and plan to do it again. In fact, we'll be on the Island for the third time in May.

 

ozbuc - I know what you mean about the beer glasses. Most of the bars do not have pint beer glasses for Guinness beer which needs to be poured all at once. My DH has talked to all the bar tenders about this and they agree, but they don't buy the glassware.

[ozbuc]

To answer the question about the price, we paid about 4200 for the DW and I we did not use a travel agent since we live in the LA area and drove to the terminal.

[ozbuc]

To answer the question about the price, we paid about 4200 for the DW and I we did not use a travel agent since we live in the LA area and drove to the terminal.

[armandpaul]

We also just returned and I am in the ATlanta air port waiting for my connection.

 

We differ on the cruise and princess - see our posted review.

 

We did not encounter a lot of kids. A few kids were running around but they was not much they could do because of the high seas. I found the old folks in wheel chairs and go carts as much an issue.

 

High waves – it appears there was sea weed on the 10th deck

 

As for service – also found it very good

 

Had issues with disembarking in Maui and tender lines upon return.

 

We had real issues with the food

[armandpaul]

We also just returned and I am in the ATlanta air port waiting for my connection.

 

We differ on the cruise and princess - see our posted review.

 

We did not encounter a lot of kids. A few kids were running around but they was not much they could do because of the high seas. I found the old folks in wheel chairs and go carts as much an issue.

 

High waves – it appears there was sea weed on the 10th deck

 

As for service – also found it very good

 

Had issues with disembarking in Maui and tender lines upon return.

 

We had real issues with the food

[cruisnfool]

Were the casinos open while you were in Hawaii?

 

Funny to heat someone talk about the scooters.......we just returned from a HAL cruise and many people were in electric scooters.......some were people who used to be pushed by people who had sight and hearing now people who are sight and hearing impaired are DRIVING scooters! Look out!

[ozbuc]

casinos were not open in HI

[Cruisin' Chick]

I was on the 12/22/05 cruise so I was interested in whether that awful bunch of kids (all from the same extended family) were aboard or not. You would know if they were: they travelled about in a big group, hanging sprawled about the stairwells, taking over the pool, running about the Horizon, hanging out on the Sport deck, throwing stuff overboard, such as the giant chess pieces, and running around the hallways at 3am, knocking on doors...while their parents were pouring money into the casino (except for while in Hawaii, of course).

 

Maybe finally Princess got smart and blackballed them from travelling on a Princess ship ever again.

[candymaker]

Hi,

 

We sailed to Hawaii in January of 2006 and had a great time

 

But

 

The missing person from Aloha 504 is still missing!

 

Regards

Candymaker

[RodneyG]

I've also just come off that cruise , the missing person , a 17yr old gal , did report to her cabin at 5 am , 1/2 an hour after the 1st announcement woke the whole ship. We all know what she was doing , her cabin no and name!!!

Evidently she was in someone elses cabin , i also heard reports of cops coming aboard to investigate - some roumour of statory rape - this is just hearsay.

The 1st night was very rough , winds gusted to 100 mph and we saw spray and waves on the 10th deck. We were in the Calypso shop whan a huge and very heavy display stand crashed to the floor , just missing myself and my kid , scary. Personally im used to far heavier weather having sailed small yachts so wasnt concerned , but spoke to the Dr and a lot of elderly ppl and others sufferd broken bones and other harm from falling. He also said he had a very busy time with heart attacks etc , a lot of very old ppl aboard but a fair mix of others.

As to the kids , we had our 10 yr old daughter on board , but do agree there were some unsupervised and rowdy kids aboard , running and screaming in the corridors , playing elevator tag and so forth , but nothing really untoward.

It was difficult for the kids as the pool was closed most of the time and adults complained about them in the indoor pool and apart from the fun zone (which a lot of the kids think as more of a camp or even a "prison" of sorts) there wasnt anywhere they could burn of the natural high spirits of youth.

We found the service exceptional , our cabin guy was efficient , unobtrusive and nothing was too much trouble tho we are not fussy cruisers. Waiter and junior wataer , Jesus (the singer) and allan were exceptional , Jesus especially, he was really good to our kid and to my elderly mother and delivered service way above expectations. Was really funny when he made a dining choice for my daughter and showed his badge and said "My name is Jesus , a name you can trust"

We liked the islands , have never been there so did all the touristy tours , they were nice tastes but i would really have liked more time at some of them. Would have preferred less time at honlulu and more elsewhere.

As to the food , horizon was good variety wise , but i found the food somewhat greasy. dining room varied , but generally was pretty good , the steaks were excellent. I found portions a tad small on most items barring steaks. Lobster tails were not a highlight imho , rather teeny , more like prawns. the crab I didnt like at all , mine was "slimy".

The tender line on returning from MAUI was dreadful , rediculous really and no staff in attendance with water etc to ease the wait , however found most ppl took it in their stride , this was the only time lines seemed to be an issue.

One sour note on our cruise was a dealer in the casino , an english lady called kelly who was extremely abusive , curt and downright rude to passengers - she should be fired!!!

I found the coffee infintely better than on our 19 day singapore to sydney cruise on the diamond this time last year.

I found the ship beautiful and very clean overall , I found all the staff friendly and obliging. room service menus need to be expanded somewhat , but if I wanted some variety I went to the horizon and took a plate of food to my cabin.

We paid US$ 2000 per person, Caribe deck , balcony 639 and 641 which were pretty nice "staterooms" , we also got a $150 onboard credit with that.

As to entertainment , I like trivia and poker so amused myself most of the time with that so cant comment on the shows etc. The Casino put on sonme nice tournaments and were pretty obliging to the poker players.

I am a smoker but agree with some folk about issues they had with smoking , for example the atrium and wheel house and other publuc areas which allow smoking on the port side of them , effectively making them not smoke free areas. I generally smoke outdoors or in my cabin out of regard for those who find it unpleasant.

Didnt find a big problem with scooters , shuflers , zimmer frames and wheelchairs , albeit it was sometimes a little irritating to be stuck behind someone going a a snails pace;)

I liked the cruise a lot , wouldnt do it again , but found it very enjoyable , I liked the sea days as well as port days.

[suziehmkr]

Thanks for the review - it seems the last two years, there's been a disruptive group of people (a family) on board and the reports back haven't been pretty. Sounds like maybe they skipped the trip this year...!

We were on the disrupted cruise last year. I believe Princess solved the problem with this family by sailing the Island Princess in the Mexican Riviera for Christmas instead of the normal 15-day holiday cruise. I was on the Carnival Pride for New Year's last week and they weren't on our cruise, that is for sure. We had double the kids on the Pride last week than on the Island Princess last year and had very few problems. Good riddance to that family. I feel sorry for the crew and passengers of whatever ship they did wind up on.

[from the desert]

Having only done Hawaii as a land based (or should I say Island) vacation I cannot comment on the cruise experience itself. My only comment is that ALL of my friends (few they may be) have said it is the only cruise they regretted taking, and this has no bearing on which Cruise Line they used.

 

Everyone of them said the demographics of the ship passengers were weighed very heavily toward the Very elderly. I am not disparaging that age group (we'll all be there soon enough) but any time you have a dominate age group the cruise (naturally) tends to lean toward that age group. This greatly affects somethings negatively like disembarking and embarking at ports of call.

 

Also, per my boss the sail boat owner, the Pacific between the continental US and Hawaii can be some of the most treacherous water around. Just for the sake of comfort I don't think I'd enjoy the sea days.

 

Hawaii is a wonderful place to visit, and even with the size of the islands, 3 or 4 days each doesn't allow you to enjoy all their wonders.

[Nancyquilts]

IMHO, it's a good thing everyone doesn't love the sea days in the Pacific, or the rest of us would never be able to book the cruise to and from Hawaii. It would be far too popular. Fortunately, we love the sea days, and don't mind the rocking and rolling - bonine is wonderful - better living through chemistry. Nancy

[cruisnfool]

I have just the opposite opinion of "desert".

I have flown to Hawaii and cruised to Hawaii.

 

While Hawaii is beautifull I think there are as beautifull places in the Caribbean and for us much closer and Hawaii is over priced.

 

I truly loved my cruise to Hawaii and would not go back unless it did involve a cruise.....very excited about this new option to sail both ways.

[cruisnfool]

I have just the opposite opinion of "desert".

I have flown to Hawaii and cruised to Hawaii.

 

While Hawaii is beautifull I think there are as beautifull places in the Caribbean and for us much closer and Hawaii is over priced.

 

I truly loved my cruise to Hawaii and would not go back unless it did involve a cruise.....very excited about this new option to sail both ways.

[cruisnfool]

I have just the opposite opinion of "desert".

I have flown to Hawaii and cruised to Hawaii.

 

While Hawaii is beautifull I think there are as beautifull places in the Caribbean and for us much closer and Hawaii is over priced.

 

I truly loved my cruise to Hawaii and would not go back unless it did involve a cruise.....very excited about this new option to sail both ways.

[suziehmkr]

Everyone of them said the demographics of the ship passengers were weighed very heavily toward the Very elderly. I am not disparaging that age group (we'll all be there soon enough) but any time you have a dominate age group the cruise (naturally) tends to lean toward that age group. This greatly affects somethings negatively like disembarking and embarking at ports of call.

 

Also, per my boss the sail boat owner, the Pacific between the continental US and Hawaii can be some of the most treacherous water around. Just for the sake of comfort I don't think I'd enjoy the sea days.

 

Hawaii is a wonderful place to visit, and even with the size of the islands, 3 or 4 days each doesn't allow you to enjoy all their wonders.

 

This is all very true. Even though we weren't happy with our experience on Princess for some reasons, we did enjoy our visit to Hawaii. DH doesn't like to fly and I told him I found a way to get there without flying. Now that we have visited, he has "approved" flying over for Christmas in 2008. The cruise gives you taster of each port to see which ones you might like to return to. The problem was that the three of us each enjoyed different ports! LOL Well, since we didn't make it to Kona due to high surf, THAT is where we decided to fly to and spend a week. Go figure!

 

The seas can be very rough... unpredictable... DH was sick for an entire day.

 

We also found the age group older during our cruise. I thought the holiday voyage would be the exeption, but it wasn't. We were surprised at how early the "sidewalks rolled up" on the Island Princess.

 

Although we enjoyed a 15 day cruise and we do enjoy being at sea, the 9ish sea days were a bit much. We will pick a more port intensive itinerary or one with more breaks in the sea days when we do sail over 7 days.

 

But without a doubt, Hawaii was wonderful and the cruise fueled our desire to return.

[judyjudy56]

We are going to be on the Regal 15 day to Hawaii in June. Could you tell me how many formal nights you had and when they were. Already thinking about what to pack.

 

Thanks

[skarletohara]

We were on the disrupted cruise last year. I believe Princess solved the problem with this family by sailing the Island Princess in the Mexican Riviera for Christmas instead of the normal 15-day holiday cruise. I was on the Carnival Pride for New Year's last week and they weren't on our cruise, that is for sure. We had double the kids on the Pride last week than on the Island Princess last year and had very few problems. Good riddance to that family. I feel sorry for the crew and passengers of whatever ship they did wind up on.

 

Some of you have piqued my curiosity. I do now recall a cruise from

"heck" where some kid fell over the railing during the disembarkation

process, and some horribly behaved adults, or family.

Can someone enlighten me more as to how big this family was

and are you saying they did this same exact itinerary several years

in a row on Princess?

 

Thanks -- just so I can avoid them.:eek:

Where is this family traveling from, L.A.?