Lei greeting

[ERtraumanurse]

I just wondered if the cruise ship welcomes you with a Lei - or do you need to arrange for it at one of the ports of call during the cruise?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[Suebee]

Neither the airlines nor cruise ships support Lei greetings anymore. You will have to arrange them.

Many of the ports have a little market set up for local crafts, plants, leis etc. Some of the ports have a hula group to meet you, but anything else you would have to pay for. The airport has a lei cart at the baggage claim.

 

There was recently a topic about Lei Greetings and the different companies that offer this service. There are some that offer the greeting along with their can service.

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[spleen93]

Their "can" service? LOL!

 

Spleen

 

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 until RSSC Navigator - Canada - 6/04

 

Carnival Conquest - W. Caribbean - 10/03, Celebrity Infinity - Alaska - 6/03, Ocean Princess - Alaska - 7/02

[Suebee]

Well, after a long flight and waiting for your bags, you might need the 'can' service.

 

 

CAR CAR CAR CAR CAR Service!

 

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[ERtraumanurse]

thanks for your replies - I would imagine I will track a lei down somewhere - I wonder ifour ship offers lei making or other hawaiian activities - thanks again to you both

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[Suebee]

The Norwegian star offered Flower Lei, Kukui nut lei among other crafts. I am sure the wind will do the same. Especially for a longer cruise. Take every opportunity to do the crafts that you can. They were nearly every day on board and they made great momentos.

Enjoy!

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[ERtraumanurse]

Hi everyone,

 

I spoke to my travel agent and he was underthe assumption that we would likely recieve a Lei greetin when arriving at our first port - but that doesn't sound right to me??? Anyway jsut wanted to share that little tidbit.

 

Take care

Jen

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[SweetEmi]

Jen: I wonder where he got impression? I don't think so, but I could be wrong. I've never seen mention of it on here anywhere. Apparently, on the Star they used to give out leis at the Sailaway Party but have stopped that tradition, I don't know how long ago.

 

What is your first port anyway?

 

Aloha,

Emi

 

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!

NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!

Alaska summer 2005!

[Suebee]

We were certainly not greeting with Lei's in any port of the free variety.

There were Lei stands and Lei services in every port but they were not for free...

I think the Star did that in their first months, Emi but then switched to the Lei craft instead. If I remember right, the crafts were Mon-Thu and they did the Lei ones twice so people could have them for portrait nights.

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[SweetEmi]

Ohhhh...they make you work for your leis now...that's smart! Plus you appreciate them more that way. I was walking down the hall here at the hospital one day and a fellow employee had one of the yellow weave ones on...I had to stop her and talk to her about the cruise...

 

Emi

 

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!

NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!

Alaska summer 2005!

[ERtraumanurse]

LOL Emi - that is cute - well I sure don't mind making my own that works for me!!!

 

Emi - perhaps you have some insight on this one - We are interested in doing a dolphin encounter trip - not swimming with them necessarily - but seeing them swim beside us in a catamarin or what have you

 

Do you have thoughts on that - I have looked at a few different ones but being from Toronto - I really do not have the insight *lol*

 

Thanks for all of your help!!!

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[ERtraumanurse]

Hi again Emi - our first port is Hilo and our last one is Oahu - we are astaying an extra night in Oahu - since I miss it and need to go do my duty at the International Market Place before they close it

 

Sorry Suebee I didn't read your message - I have no idea - he also thoguht that our casino would be up and running - however I think that is false too from what i have read on teh NCL paperwork *shrug* So I am not so sure

 

bye for now

Jen

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[SweetEmi]

Jen: Maybe you should try checking this out while in Kona, see if you can do the Fair Winds snorkle cruise. I know they seem to have figured it out a bit there at Fair Winds and are now going to pick people up at the pier and take them to Keauhou and apparently will even hold up leaving if you call them on your cell before coming to the harbor. (But that info was for someone on the Star)

 

Anyhow...I mention it because the cruise goes to Kealakekua Bay, which is where a lot of people have dolphin encounters (but I'm not so sure if they will come near when there is a bunch of people like from the FairWinds) but also on the way there and back chances are pretty good, I think of having them come and play in the boat's waves. Plus it is a really awesome snorkle adventure.

 

The Hilton has dolphins and a show - but they are all in jail...On Oahu at Sea Life Park there are dolphins and you can actually get in the water with them (for a large fee) but they are in jail too. But I guess that way you are "sure" to see them whereas in nature you never know.

 

Emi

 

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!

NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!

Alaska summer 2005!

[ERtraumanurse]

Thanks Emi - I refuse to visit dolphins in jail Nothing worse than critters who should be free and are not - I did read about the tour you are telling me about and my hubby just agreed since you are a native of the islands your word works for him - so it looks like that is the trip we will take

 

 

I will have to message you when we return and let you know how it goes I am sooo excited LOL

 

Thanks again Emi *hug*

 

Jen

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[Suebee]

Jen, the Sea Life Park actually is a place for research and recovery of sea life. Many animals come in hurt and are rehabilitated. Just FYI.

 

www.dolphinexcursions.com for excursions on Oahu.

www.dream/cruises.com on the Big Island

 

are two that I have websites for. I am sure there are more. That is what you were looking for with a catamaran etc, correct?

 

As for the Casinos....I think your TA is loco. There is no gambling in Hawaii so if anything the Wind Casinos will be taken out or locked up while in Hawaii!

 

I think you'll have tons of fun anyway!

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[SweetEmi]

Yes...at Sea Life Park they have a great area for injured birds too...it was very interesting. The dolphins there did not seem like they were injured or rehabilitated though, but might have been. My friend Annette did "swim" with them when we went.

 

The ones at the Hilton are definately in jail, but they can't be let go here in Hawaii because the dolphins there are transplants and they don't speak the same language as our dolphins... That's a joke about the language but I wonder how true it might be! I like watching them but it makes me sad to see their scarred up noses from bumping into the enclosure walls.

 

Can't wait to hear how it all goes! You'll have a terrific time.

 

Emi

 

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!

NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!

Alaska summer 2005!

[ERtraumanurse]

Hi Suebee - thank-you so much for the info and links - I am such a dolphin lover I hate to think of them locked up for people's interest's - I am glad there are several places that look after the dolphins - as we have here for our wildlife

 

Thank-you so much for the links that is awesome - I will have a look at them and again thank-you very much

 

Jen

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[ERtraumanurse]

Hi again Suebee - as far as my TA is concerned he may be mistaken but we are sailing from Vancouver outside of Hawaii waters for almsot a week - so I am not sure if the casino is running or not - honestly I hope not b/c the things are nothing but trouble

 

okay i ahve to go study now

 

ttyl ladies

Jen

 

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise

[Suebee]

Youre right about that!

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[SweetEmi]

Suebee: I couldn't get the link to Dream cruises to work...

 

I did try to look up the rehabilitation aspect of Sea Life Park and didn't find much that had to do with the dolphins. I did see that they sent a baby melon head whale there (who was stranded on the BI) and I saw where they might have some injured sea mammals - but apparently they are "back stage" Did you have any info on it?

 

And Jen: The Hilton (and I've been talking about the one here on the Big Island) takes very good care of their animals - all of them - from what I hear. They have several endangered species of birds and other wildlife there. I didn't want to give the impression that they did not take good care of the dolphins. But they are in jail.

 

Emi

 

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!

NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!

Alaska summer 2005!

[spleen93]

An important thing to remember guys is that Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (which are the most commonly found dolphins in captivity including in Hawaii) have usually been kept in captivity long enough that they would not adapt to being in the wild again. They've "lost" their instincts, for lack of a better word.

 

Having said that, I have to admit that I don't particularly agree with the keeping of dolphins in captivity ... but have to also admit that I love seeing them, even if it's a place like the Hilton or Sea Life Park.

 

Spleen

 

<a href="http://www.escati.com/counter98/free_time_codes.htm">

</a>

 until RSSC Navigator - Canada - 6/04

 

Carnival Conquest - W. Caribbean - 10/03, Celebrity Infinity - Alaska - 6/03, Ocean Princess - Alaska - 7/02

[SweetEmi]

Thanks Spleen, I thought they were Atlantic dolphins! We joke about them not being able to speak Hawaiian to our dolphins if they did get let loose. I get so confused when I go to the Hilton to see them. I try to talk to them in my head (I must have heard somewhere that they can read minds or something) and love to watch them, but then I get sad and have to leave after I notice their beat up snouts. So...I just don't stay as long any more when I go there, but I do tell them all Aloha.

 

Emi

 

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!

NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!

Alaska summer 2005!

[Suebee]

Apparently the way that the dream cruises site was in the entertainment book was wrong.

I did a search and the / should be a -

 

www.dream-cruises.com

 

try that.

Oh, and as for more info on Sea Life Park, that was all that was said to us during our visit there. So I do not have any current information regarding the specific animals, sorry.

 

NCL Star 1/04

What's Next? Alaska 2005 - Ask me about an official CC group!

[spleen93]

Emi - I haven't noticed beat-up snouts on the dolphins here on Oahu. Weird. The ones in Kahala, at least as far as I remember ...

 

Spleen

 

<a href="http://www.escati.com/counter98/free_time_codes.htm">

</a>

 until RSSC Navigator - Canada - 6/04

 

Carnival Conquest - W. Caribbean - 10/03, Celebrity Infinity - Alaska - 6/03, Ocean Princess - Alaska - 7/02

[tinkerme1]

On our Hawaii cruise last October, we were greeted with "leis" as we boarded the Radiance. They are the more common variety, but were still very nice!

 

In Oahu, if that is where you board, there is an area called Chinatown which is extremely close to the Port. You can actually walk from the pier. They have many places to purchase leis there, and they have all different varieties available. Very reasonable! Do make sure to ask before you purchase, which ones last the longest. We purchased several and they lasted the entire cruise! I believe the shop we purchased ours was at "Cindy's". There is actually a website devoted to Chinatown and the shops where you can purchase the leis. I'll see if I can locate it and post it here for you!

 

Celia

 

"Jewel OTS " 06/04 # 11 & 12

"Brilliance OTS" 04/05 # 13 & 14