Vancouver-Hawaii

[Cardinala]

Which cruise lines do a Vancouver-Hawaii cruise? So far, I have found 1 listing on Carnival for Sept., and 1 listing on NCL, also for Sept.

 

Anyone have any info for me?

[CruisinMK]

The carnival one is every year but I don't know if NCL will do it again next year.

This cruise was to move the Sun permanently to Hawaii to replace the Wind, but they decided against the move so the ship is just doing one cruise to and from hawaii.

[Bucky3]

Try looking at Princess Cruises. I believe Sea Princess has a cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii on September 12. Other times of the year for sailing this route would be the Spring cruises from Hawaii TO Vancouver.

 

We took the Carnival Spirit all the way from Vancouver to Ensenada (Back to Backs) in September of 2005. Loved that trip. We liked the Carnival Spirit and its itinerary. Watch the itineraries of the cruises you are considering; some eliminate Kauai, and I think the Sea Princess eliminates one port on the Big Island.

 

Hope you find something to your liking. It's a great cruise.

[beachchick]

The reason you see those cruises only for September (or early fall) is that these are repositioning cruises where the cruise lines are moving ships down from Alaska. (They do the same in reverse in the spring.) Some of the cruise lines don't do (or no longer do or do fewer) of the Hawaii loops during the Alaska repositionings. Some do Pacific coastal cruises instead.

 

beachchick

[CruisinMK]

besides the ncl princess and carnival, i see holland america zaandam april 22 (this is a 19 night round trip)

another one sept 21 2008 vancouver-hawaii-san diego 17 night

[Texas_firefighter]

The reason you see those cruises only for September (or early fall) is that these are repositioning cruises where the cruise lines are moving ships down from Alaska. (They do the same in reverse in the spring.) Some of the cruise lines don't do (or no longer do or do fewer) of the Hawaii loops during the Alaska repositionings. Some do Pacific coastal cruises instead.

 

beachchick

 

Any idea why they are moving to the Pacific Coast cruise ?I noticed Royal Caribbean went to Hawaii from Vancouver in '06 and is doing the coast in '07.We are watching to see what they do in '08. Just wondering.You would think Hawaii would be a popular cruise destination. I'm pretty sure the one in '06 sold out.

[beachchick]

Texas_firefighter: No clue. RCI in particular has been decreasing the number of ships doing the Hawaii-loop repositionings. In 2002, it seemed like all their Alaska ships did Hawaii on the way in both spring and fall. Then it was only two ships. Then it was only either spring or fall. From your info, it sounds like it's all coastal both ways now.

 

I'm going to make a WAG and say that two factor are probably involved.

 

First, NCLA has three ships doing Hawaii-only itineraries all year, plus a fourth NCL ship does Hawaii with a stop at Fanning Island. On top of that, several cruise lines are filtering in some mainland r/t cruises. What I'm trying get at is that port space is at a premium, unlike several years ago (pre-NCLA). Hawaii is not like the Caribbean in that the ports will not support 4 or 5 or more ships on one day. Besides, the islands are full of land visitors all year as well, so there is the consideration of exactly how many more visitors the islands could handle comfortably. Heavens, it can be crowded in Kona, Honolulu, and Maui even when NO ships are in port. Imagine what would happen with the 8,000+ pax that four ships at a time would add.

 

Second, fuel costs have skyrocketed. It's possible that some of the cruise lines decided to save money there. I'd bet that the port fees for some of the coastal stops are lower too (I don't know that's true, but it's a hunch).

 

I just thought of a third--many east coast pax may never have been to Washington, Oregon, and California. A few stops such as San Francisco could be seen as good tourist marketing. (Now for us, it's a "born there, raised there, done that a thousand times thing. OTOH, our DD lives in Seattle. I don't suppose we'd hate it if some time we decided to go up to visit by way of cruise ship repo--even though we'd have to drive down to LA or SD.)

 

Anyway, those are some possibilities. All of them may be utterly and completely wrong.

 

beachchick

[CruisinMK]

The NCL wind's last hawaii cruise is next month, so then NCL will be down to 3 ships in Hawaii.

 

The Pride of Aloha is moving to 10/11 day itineraries in september, further reducing the number of NCL hawaii cruisers.

 

I loved my San Francisco to Hawaii cruise on Pride of Hawaii, that itinerary was the best. I'm keeping my eyes open for any new repositioning cruises.

One way cruises to/from hawaii are great, there just aren't very many of them.

[Texas_firefighter]

Interesting points made beachchick.Thanks. It's certainly a trend I don't like. We have been waiting for this for a while now to celibrate our 30th anniv.I am waiting to see what is offered Fall '08. I would consider going May '08 ,but for some reason Carnival took off Kauai from the Honolulu to Vancouver cruise on that date, and added a sea day.5 sea days are fine ,but not 6 and take away a port. I would go NCL America ,but we enjoy the sea days too. Hopefully Carnival adds Kauai back in for the fall '08 repo.

[Bucky3]

Really surprised to hear Carnival took Kauai off their Spring '08 itinerary?? Maybe if they get enough feedback they will reinstate it. I would not want an itinerary that didn't include Kauai. We had two wonderful cruises on Carnival that made all the ports. They were great cruises.

[beachchick]

It's probably not anything to do with whether Kauai is popular. It's more likely that there is no room that day. This is not a big port and will not support a bunch of ships. NCLA ships have priority.

 

beachchick

[Texas_firefighter]

I wonder then, if the fall cruise to Hawaii makes the port at Kauai due to less crowding. Are the NCL ships less active in that area in the fall ?Or are they year round?just curious.

[bobnsandi]

Are the NCL ships less active in that area in the fall ?Or are they year round?just curious.

 

As far as I know, the NCL ships operate to all the islands year round. Now, they do make temporary changes to the itineraries from time to time, and of course, bad weather can prevent their entering a port. Nawiliwili is very tight and they don't go in if there are high winds.

[beachchick]

I wonder then, if the fall cruise to Hawaii makes the port at Kauai due to less crowding. Are the NCL ships less active in that area in the fall ?Or are they year round?just curious.

 

Their itineraries are pretty much year round, but a few things affect it (including temporary itinerary changes mentioned by bobnsandi; I hadn't even thought about those). First, would be the days of the week that NCLA ships are in port versus when other cruise lines want to be at that same port. For example, in the spring, Carnival might need a Sunday, but in the fall it might be a Tuesday. (I have no idea about which specific days make a difference, those are just examples of why it might be different.) Second, the PoAloha is going to be doing 10 and 11 day Hawaii-only itineraries which will possibly change its port days and requirements, including Kauai. Third, other cruise lines might have "booked" it first for the spring, but not the fall.

 

Those are just guesses, but it's sure true that Nawiliwili is tight. You're never going to see 4 or 5 ships docked/tendered there.

 

beachchick

[Texas_firefighter]

Their itineraries are pretty much year round, but a few things affect it (including temporary itinerary changes mentioned by bobnsandi; I hadn't even thought about those). First, would be the days of the week that NCLA ships are in port versus when other cruise lines want to be at that same port. For example, in the spring, Carnival might need a Sunday, but in the fall it might be a Tuesday. (I have no idea about which specific days make a difference, those are just examples of why it might be different.) Second, the PoAloha is going to be doing 10 and 11 day Hawaii-only itineraries which will possibly change its port days and requirements, including Kauai. Third, other cruise lines might have "booked" it first for the spring, but not the fall.

 

Those are just guesses, but it's sure true that Nawiliwili is tight. You're never going to see 4 or 5 ships docked/tendered there.

 

 

Sounds reasonable. Thanks for your response. I like your thought process. you give very interesting ideas in all your posts.I am really anxious to see the fall 2008 cruise listings. I can't stand the suspense :eek:

[beachchick]

Texas_firefighter: Mahalo for your nice compliment. I know what you mean about waiting with baited breath for the next round of itineraries. DH and I are considering one of the longer PoAl cruises in the future if they continue those. Although we are not among those who enjoy several sea days in a row, it would be nice to have a couple of days to just hang out on the ship and cruise around the islands getting difference views. (I'm thinking they added those itineraries for one reason: Onboard revenue! With almost all pax off the ship most of the day, every day, I betcha' they discovered that revenue was lower than expected. Add that to the "no casinos/no gambling in Hawaii" laws, and that could be a big "ouch" to the bottom line.)

 

Anyway, I hope you're able to find a cruise that will be perfect for you.

 

beachchick

[CruisinMK]

Yeah the port in Kauai is tiny, and tricky to get into.

They never allow tendering, they don't dock when it is rough, and it really can only handle two cruise ships.

On rare occasion even NCL gets the boot so they have to cut short the second day and leave at 7am. That's probably what happened to carnival, they couldn't get availability because NCL is hogging it.

 

If anyone hears about a new one-way reposition cruise to/from hawaii please post here so I can book it fast. :)

[Texas_firefighter]

From Beachchick- Anyway, I hope you're able to find a cruise that will be perfect for you.

 

Thanks,Maybe we'll see you onboard sometime.