Hawaii

[TheSkipper]

We too have done it both ways. If I were to go back again, it would probably be aboard a cruise ship again. But, would not turn down a land vacation, either.

[zebra]

We've only done it by cruise and loved every moment - but I'm sure it would be just as great doing a land vacation. We prefer the variety that cruising offers.

[lashl]

Definitly on a cruise. You can see more of a varity and I love sea days!

Steve

[avonmiller]

We have done both, we liked the land better. I do reccomend if you do go by sea DO NOT GO NCL at least not on the American staffed crew. They were horribly lazy and very discourteous. We cruised on The Pride of Aloha since the pride of America sank while being finished in Germany. That should have been our first sign. I would be glad to elaborate if you would like but now its just to wordy. WE loved Maui best of all lahaina was awesome. maui is the most beautiful island of all even though kaui is suposed to be the garden state for hawaii. Loved the Royal Lahania Hotel it also has the best luau on the island. Mark

[JohnG]

We have done both, we liked the land better. I do reccomend if you do go by sea DO NOT GO NCL at least not on the American staffed crew. They were horribly lazy and very discourteous. We cruised on The Pride of Aloha since the pride of America sank while being finished in Germany. That should have been our first sign. I would be glad to elaborate if you would like but now its just to wordy. WE loved Maui best of all lahaina was awesome. maui is the most beautiful island of all even though kaui is suposed to be the garden state for hawaii. Loved the Royal Lahania Hotel it also has the best luau on the island. Mark

The Pride of America, after being started in the US, was sent to Europe to be finished. It sank at the pier in a German shipyard. That was over 5 years ago. It has sailed successfully in Hawaii ever since, and is the only one of the three NCL ships that were there that is still there. The Pride of Aloha, the other ship started in the US and finished elsewhere, is going to Asia with NCL's parent Star Cruises. The Pride of Hawaii is going to Europe. The Pride of America, which we sailed on in 2006 and had a wonderful cruise, is the only NCL ship left there. The American labor force problems was primarily in 2004 with the Pride of Aloha, and when they took half of them to start Pride of America. By the time we were there in 2006 the Pride of America was fine. We had excellent service, and believe me I was looking for evidence of the reported problems. NCL did much to turn it around. I escorted 13 people from England on that ship and they loved it. So, your experience 4 years ago may not reflect what people have been experiencing since then.

Personally we felt 5 days sailing over, four days touring islands, and 5 days sailing back was not what we wanted in a cruise. We loved using the ship as our hotel, not having to pack and unpack every day like on a tour, and two overnights in ports, Kahului Maui and Nawiliwili Kauai.