Questions about Hawaii cruise

Suzila · April 8, 2007

Hi all,

I'm starting to look at what we'd like to do while in Hawaii in August. We'll be on NCL Pride of America.

Hubby and I, and our two sons have been to Hawaii many, many times, but never on a cruise. So we pretty much know what we'd like to see. But the other four people with us, the boys' wives, and one set of in-laws, haven't been to Hawaii and know nothing about it.

My son works for Hertz and will be able to get us a large car (Suburban-like, etc) so all 8 of us can drive around together. There are places and things some of them want to do that others of us have no interest in...i.e.: hubby and I will not roast on a beach all day.

My thought is I'd like to go together in Hilo to see the volcanoes and Rainbow Falls. I'd also like to do a Luau together. I figured I would buy some Hawaii maps and use Mapblast to map everything out, and we could drive to these places on our own, at our own pace, rather than do the ship excursions.

My question is: is there any excursion that anyone has done that we shouldn't miss doing? Forget the helicopter tours...hubby is a helicopter pilot and does that 7 days a week. He refuses to get into a helicopter with someone else flying. The only place we may think about that is in Maui...his friend is running the helicopter tours there.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

cruisingfun · April 9, 2007

Good Morning:

If your ship overnights at Maui (and I believe it does), then I would take the Sunrise excursion to Mt. Halekala. It is amazing to see the sun rising above this inactive volcano. If you decide on this tour, then please bring gloves and a jacket as it downright cold. My husband & I were there in June and at daybreak the temperature was right around freezing. Here is link to the National Park website: http://www.nps.gov/hale

There is also a vineyard on Maui, Tedeschi Winery. They have a tasting room and offer a short tour of the winery. The Maui Splash wine is made from pineapple juice and is actually very good. Not too sweet.

Terry

Suzila · April 9, 2007

I'll look into that Terry, thanks for the idea.

I don't remember seeing that offered as an excursion...did you do it on your own? It's cold up there during the day, I can imagine what it's like at sunrise.

I'll look into it...thanks for the website. Sue

JohnG · April 10, 2007

There really isn't a need to do the formal excursions. Are you going to arrive in Honolulu the day you sail or do a pre-cruise hotel stay? For the benefit of those who haven't been there, the Polynesian Cultural Center is worth the visit. Honolulu is also the place for one of the better known luau's. If you are arriving the day of the cruise, you would have to rely on the day you return, when the planes don't leave until the evening, to visit Pearl Harbor or Waikiki/Diamond Head.

In Hawaii it is easy to drive to the falls and to the Volcanos National Park from Hilo. The ship will sail past the live lava flow at night after leaving Hilo.

In Maui you can drive the road to Hana, and we continued around the volcanic end of Maui and even visited Tedeschi winery on the way back. It is not all pineapple wine. They make some good reds, too. Since the ship overnights in Maui, you can then drive to Lahaina and on up the coast the next day.

In Kona we rented and drove south the lava beach at City of Refuge, about 30 miles south. I saw and snorkeled with more spinner dolphins than I had ever seen.

In Kaui you can either go south or north the day you arrive. North is Princeville, and the North coast. South is the drive to Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Hawaii, and the south shores. Since we overnighted there, you might consider going North the first day and south the second day. With an early start you can make the drive south and be back in time for a 2pm sailing.

My review of Pride of America is here in the reviews. Just remember to make any specialty restaurant reservations the very first day or they will be filled up for the week.

My wife had never been there and loved it. I hadn't been there in 30 years, but I lived there in the late 60's when I was stationed there on a ship during the Vietnam era.

Shari2 · April 16, 2007

Hi Sue...

It looks like you got some pretty good ideas from the others, but these are some of the places we visited and really enjoyed.

On Oahu...the Arizona Memorial...the Polynesian Cultural Center...if you are overnight there, the evening show at the Cultural Center is a must....Punchbowl Cemetary...and Diamond Head. We had a great Mai Tai at the Pink Hotel at their Mai Tai bar on the beach overlooking Diamond Head.

Hilo...Volcanoes National Park, Macadamia Nut farm.

Maui...love Maui...the Iao Valley Rainforest or State Park area is beautiful. Also, the Maui Tropical Plantation area is very beautiful.

Kaui...we loved Waimea Canyon...very beautiful!

Kona...we mostly just walked along the waterfront there and sat and had a drink and some great appetizers!

Luaus...I have heard that the "Old Lahaina" on Maui is a good one, and on Oahu...Germain's is supposed to be good...I can't personally recommend them since I haven't been. The luau we went to was in 1992, and it was wonderful. It was booked from the ship, the "Constitution." I'm not sure if it's still done. It was on Maui, right on the ocean, at a most beautiful area by a hotel, that has since changed hands.

Suzila · April 16, 2007

Great info! Thanks so much to you all. I've printed it all out and with my maps, I'm trying to organize our itinerary.

I don't think we'll have much time (if any) to get around Honolulu, which is fine...we've been there many times. Our plane arrives at 11:50am on Saturday. I wouldn't mind going to the Arizona before the ship departs but certainly don't want to have my carry-ons with me. Can we check in on the ship, leave our bags off and then go to the Arizona? The ship doesn't launch until 8pm.

On the day we go home, our flight is at 1:10pm. No time to go anywhere that day.

Here's another question...do they have actual formal nights on Pride of America...I'm not bringing a gown, just some nice dresses. Does my hubby need to bring a suit? Should he bring his sports jacket, or can he dine wearing Dockers and a nice shirt? Does he need a tie? What exactly should we bring in the way of clothes for the evening?