The ship is older but has-been well-maintained and upgraded. Tjis is the best way to visit the islands in a short amount of time.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
This was the fastest embarkation for a cruise ship that we have ever had. No lines at all! We received leis when we entered the terminal and got immediately checked in. We arrived around 2:00 pm. We got our boarding photo with the Hulu girls and walked on the ship. As we entered the elevator to head up to the buffet, an announcement was made indicating that deck 8 rooms were ready. We went to our room and within 5 minutes our luggage was delivered!! The ship is at reduced capacity, so this explains how we had an easy embarkation.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Only Cagney'd Steakhouse and Jefferson's Bistro are open. The buffet was good, Skyline dining g was good and we loved Cadillac Diner for early breakfast.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We were not on board much for an activity
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We went to Icons and what we saw was great, but we coul not stay awake due to the time differences. That is the only show that we attended.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Staff are new and they are training. Everyone was great and people need to learn patience. They are trying to earn a living and do not need rudeness from guests.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our room had very little walking room around the beds as we had them split apart into twins. Also the air conditioning seemed to shut off the fan on its own sometime after midnight every night no matter how cool we set the thermostat.
Ship tip
If you have traveled from the mainland, the time changes are brutal. We traveled from Illinois 2 days before the cruise. We were in bed around 7:00 pm every night. The ship is like having a hotel that travels as you do to each island. Use the Cadillac Diner for made to order breakfast when you are up at 5:00 am like we were. The buffet doesn't open until 6:00 am.
Again you dock at an industrial port where there is nothing really in walking distance. We did the Secrets of Hilo excursion which changed from when we booked it. A waterfall swim was not included or BBQ lunch do to the private property owner changing things or bacteria in the water. We didn't really get a good answer. This was a 14 passenger van with bad air conditioning. The stop at Tex's for malsadas and coffee was a big highlight. Lots of driving and a few quick stops before lunch at Lupahoehoe Park. Luch was a deli turkey sandwich, chips and cookie. I wish we could have just stopped to eat somewhere! We did see a few waterfalls, and the last stop at Hilo Bay is at the Hilton where you can swim off the dock for 20.minutes or hit the bar like we all did! This tour was not worth the price and I did let the shore excursion desk know it!
I was shocked to see how dirty the city of Honolulu was. There is junk and tent cities of homeless people all around the city. I really wasn't expecting to see that in the area of Waikiki Beach. We stayed at Hilton Hawaiian Village in the Rainbow Tower. Our room had a great ocean view of the beach and Diamondhead. The room was outdated, the beds were uncomfortable and the elevators were awful when it was crowded. I don't think it was worth what we paid at all. I checked into the room online through Hilton app and still waited in the priority checkin line for over an hour to get room keys! Also outdoors in the heat while waiting.. We took tours through Robert's Hawaii for Circle the Island and Pearl Harbor.
The ship docks at an industrial port and it is quite a walk to get away from the shipto a.shopping area across the road. There is a Long's Drugs where you can get souvenirs and snacks. They had the cheapest prices on tshirts and macnuts. We ate at Da Shrimp Hale and had Opakaka fish and shrimp, also raw oysters. It was all good. There are other food options and stores as well. Also a huge gaming arcade for kids.
We took the Mokini Crater snorkel trip. The Pacwhale boat and crew were fantastic! We did see turtles, but not a variety of fish.
We also did the Lahaina on your own bus trip. There are lots of shopping options in Lahaina with varying prices. We had lunch at Down the Hatch which was featured on Diners, Drivein and Dives. Th grilled cheese lobster and crab sandwich is outstanding! Also lots of homeless people on the streets and in the park with the Banyan tree.
We took the Big Island Snorkel excursion. Great boat and fantastic lunch! I did not care for how deep they anchored 50-60 foot water. You had to swim quite a ways from the boot to get to the reef where you could see clearly. We did see a large variety of fish, Moorish Idols, Tang Wrasse, Butterfly fish, angel fish, parrotfishtriggers, etc. I also didn't feel safe like the crew didn't have our backs in that deep water. I would not recommend this trip for amateur snorkelers!
Lots of good shopping in Kona. Prices are high on some things.
We did the 11 hour tour and luau . Excellent tour and the luau was good. Makes for a long day, but the trip to Waimea Canyon is worth it. We also did the Director's Cut tour the next day. Outstanding tour and guide with MS. K. I definitely recommend this one for sure! Kuaui is the best island!
Make sure you are up top when they announce it so you can take in the view and get pictures. When the ship turns, the captain put the hammer down and goes a lot faster as it is starting to get dark and the colors aren't as good for pics when there is no sun.
Thanks for a really detailed review, very helpful about the ports. This is a ship I would only choose for the itinerary, not expecting it to be the same as the other NCL ships, but glad to hear it was still enjoyable.
You are correct. Since it is US flagged it doesn't have to sail to/from a foreign port like Mexico or Canada. You also get longer times at each island and you aren't just cruising for 5 days to Mexico or Canada.
Glad you enjoyed it. I have seen many negative reviews about the ship. Many do not realize it is an older ship and the primary purpose is to allow round-trip cruises from Hawaii without sailing to or from a foreign port or the mainland US.
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