WEHT...Fanning Island on the NCL cruises?

[Don_In_AZ]

This seemed like a perfect little addition to a Hawaii cruise since:

 

1. It provide for a couple of sea days

2. Let you see what a real South Pacific atoll looked like

3. Was someplace no one else went

4. Extended the typical 7 day cruise to a longer, more enjoyable 10 days

5. Was a foreign port, which allowed the Casino's to open. Also allowed their non-US flagged ships to sail the route.

 

The omission of the Fanning Island stop really kind of took NCL out of the running for us in choosing a Hawaii cruise, since we want some sea days and a longer voyage.

 

In fact, it really seems like the Hawaii offerings were alot better a couple of years ago. Now you've got fewer choices and less variety among those choices.

[Philip217]

I visited Fanning Island over 100 times on cruises during the past decade. And I thoroughly enjoyed every visit.

It was a time machine that took me back to what Hawaii was about 300 years ago.

It was amazing to speak English with humans who had never seen a light bulb, and had never owned a pair of shoes.

We brought ice cream and ice cubes ashore and gave then to the children. These people had never seen either one - or anything else cold in their entire lives.

 

But many passengers did not agree with me. The great majority went ashore, and immediately started looking for the Starbucks, McDonalds and the Shopping Mall. When they learned that those things don't exist on a pre-historic pacific atoll, they turned around and headed right back to the ship - to spend the day eating pizza and drinking Diet Coke.

They missed out on one of the most amazing experiences of their lives.

 

In the end, passenger ratings for the itinerary were not very good. The corporate geniuses at the cruise lines decided to opt for other more popular itineraries that were less costly and more profitable.

[Don_In_AZ]

Thanks for the reply,

Let's hope someone decides to put in back in one of their itineraries, even if it was just once or twice a year. I'd love to see the place as I'm sure it was very similar to the atolls near Tahiti. It's sad that more people can't appreciate the novelty of something like that. As you described it, it would have been the highlight of my cruise!

 

Actually if Azamara decides to do a Hawaii itinerary, maybe they would include Fanning... With their smaller ships, it might be a perfect fit. Let's hope!

[CatgirlNC]

But many passengers did not agree with me. The great majority went ashore, and immediately started looking for the Starbucks, McDonalds and the Shopping Mall. When they learned that those things don't exist on a pre-historic pacific atoll, they turned around and headed right back to the ship - to spend the day eating pizza and drinking Diet Coke.

They missed out on one of the most amazing experiences of their lives.

 

 

That is so sad. :(

[Happy ks]

We were amongst the lucky people who were able to visit Fanning Island when NCL Star was sailing there. It was in 2002, the first year NCL was in Hawaii. As a matter fo fact, right now I'm looking at a necklace made from sea shells we picked up there, I keep it on my corkboard in my office.

 

It was a lovely island with lovely people. I'll forever be glad we took the opportunity to go there when we did.

[b7440]

Sorry to hear that NCL is no longer going to Fanning, my wife & I went on the Wind. We loved the 2 days back and forth,most relaxting part of the cruise. We love the people on the Island they were so nice, and did not push you to buy things.

 

Even back then were heard people saying it was a waste of time. My wife asked me if people did not read the cruise brochure before they paid.

 

You are right when saying that this is what Hawaii must have looked like 300 years ago, we walked in the water past the beach,looked like it had never been touched.

 

I hope the people did not change because of the ships comming in.

 

We will always remember the greta "day" we spent on Fanning!!!!

[lovesublime]

I visited Fanning Island over 100 times on cruises during the past decade. And I thoroughly enjoyed every visit.

It was a time machine that took me back to what Hawaii was about 300 years ago.

It was amazing to speak English with humans who had never seen a light bulb, and had never owned a pair of shoes.

We brought ice cream and ice cubes ashore and gave then to the children. These people had never seen either one - or anything else cold in their entire lives.

 

But many passengers did not agree with me. The great majority went ashore, and immediately started looking for the Starbucks, McDonalds and the Shopping Mall. When they learned that those things don't exist on a pre-historic pacific atoll, they turned around and headed right back to the ship - to spend the day eating pizza and drinking Diet Coke.

They missed out on one of the most amazing experiences of their lives.

 

In the end, passenger ratings for the itinerary were not very good. The corporate geniuses at the cruise lines decided to opt for other more popular itineraries that were less costly and more profitable.

 

 

So, you find it entertaining that children living barefoot on a remote Pacific atoll have never had ice cream. Essentially, I see it this way-you are viewing these children as 'entertainment' so to speak. You think you're doing something important or "grand" by taking ashore ice cream and ice. What a laugh. What a crock. We're talking about human beings here. We're talking about children who no doubt would appreciate a pair of shoes or a hot shower and a hamburger or pizza. What I get from your post is that you basically view the people of Fanning as spectacles. They're people who have never seen "a light bulb" and you find it "amazing". You know, I go to my local zoo and view tigers, zebras, giraffes, and I find it "amazing". I buy the 'feed' sold by the zoo and toss it to the animals and I find it "amazing" as well. What you do is no different.

[Happy ks]

I'm a little baffled by the above response.

 

I got the feeling the people of Fanning Island wanted for nothing, they had everything they could possibly need. They were truly happy and delightful people and one would be more correct feeling that we of the more developed world were the losers in life.

 

The cruise ships did bring income to these people for a few brief years, but you have to remember that even though the island people there earned some cash selling trinkets, they had nowhere to spend the money.

 

The island people were gracious to all, I will always think of them with a soft spot in my heart.

[cruisemom123]

We also visited teh first year NCL went there before bathroom and right after they took the picnic table out there

 

We really enjoyed seing th atola dnhow diffferent parts of the world are really still primitive.

 

The children did not beg for money it was a real pleasure.

we have seen picture form other friends who went later and liked that there wre not lot of changes

 

Linda

[lcmslady]

In February 2003, we were on an NCL ship that was supposed to go to Fanning Island but didn't because they were having engine problems and we wouldn't be able to get there and back.

 

It's a shame because NCL was providing a service to the island - they were delivering mail, books, and other supplies from the outside world.

 

I guess you could look at it this way - by bring our world to theirs, are we destroying their way of life? Don't we all wish for a simpler world? These people have it.

 

I guess that could be debated for ages, couldn't it?

 

I suspect NCL quit doing it partly because of fuel prices and partly because of complaints.

[Happy ks]

I think they stopped going to Fanning Island because they reflagged a couple new build ships to be American and no longer had to go to a foreign port before returning to a US port.

 

I know NCL Wind was doing a longer cruise and still going to Fanning Island, but since I rarely look at NCL cruises, I have no idea whether or not they are still doing this run.

[eh2zed]

Fanning Island was a great stop on our cruise. Chill out lovesublime. Way over the top.

[cello8619]

This seemed like a perfect little addition to a Hawaii cruise since:

 

1. It provide for a couple of sea days

2. Let you see what a real South Pacific atoll looked like

3. Was someplace no one else went

4. Extended the typical 7 day cruise to a longer, more enjoyable 10 days

5. Was a foreign port, which allowed the Casino's to open. Also allowed their non-US flagged ships to sail the route.

 

The omission of the Fanning Island stop really kind of took NCL out of the running for us in choosing a Hawaii cruise, since we want some sea days and a longer voyage.

 

In fact, it really seems like the Hawaii offerings were alot better a couple of years ago. Now you've got fewer choices and less variety among those choices.

 

Even when the Wind did Hawaii with the Fanning Island stop, there was no Casino onboard. The casino was closed and made into an impromptu art gallery. The only time the casino could be open was on the way to and from Fanning Island, and it was not profitable to have a whole casino staff on payroll when they wouldn't work while in Hawaiian waters.

[travel_lover]

Fanning Island was truly AMAZING....one of the most beautiful places we had ever been to! My pictures look like postcards!

[golf43]

I enjoyed going to fanning island. I was like going back in time. Seeing the locals and bringing things for them. One man on our cruise brought a whole suitcase full of books for their school. How nice of him to do that. I brought some crazy looking straws for the children. They thought they were really neat. We saw the jail as one man was in it.

 

We did not really have much time there since it started to rain and the wind really picked up. We ended up leaving early.

 

Its hard to believe that people live like that in this day and age. I'm sure they loved the cruise ships coming in too.

 

It was also cool to actually be a day ahead since we passed the timeline. Then to go back to the day before on our way back to Hawaii.

[Wants2cruise]

Fanning Island was the highlight of my Hawaiian cruise. I can go to the other island by plane and now ferry boat, but almost no one goes to Fanning. It is truly the adventure of a lifetime, with 4 sea days thrown in as a bonus.

 

We went to Fanning in November of 2006. since that was a mother daughter cruise, I was hoping for the opportunity to take my husband on the 11 day Hawaiian/Fanning cruise. If I ever see a repo cruise going to Fanning I will jump on that opportunity.

[travel_lover]

Fanning Island was the highlight of my Hawaiian cruise. I can go to the other island by plane and now ferry boat, but almost no one goes to Fanning. It is truly the adventure of a lifetime, with 4 sea days thrown in as a bonus.

 

We went to Fanning in November of 2006. since that was a mother daughter cruise, I was hoping for the opportunity to take my husband on the 11 day Hawaiian/Fanning cruise. If I ever see a repo cruise going to Fanning I will jump on that opportunity.

 

I know what you mean, I really wish I could go back and take my boyfriend with me this time...it's too bad. :(