The cheap NCL cruise in Hawaii

Author Message   Matthew Alan Knapp Senior Member Username: Matt_k Post Number: 845 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 05:24 am:    Several couples just returned from a cruise in the Hawaiian waters on the Star of Norway (one couple called the ship they sailed as the Star of Norway, maybe it was the Norwegian Wind). They said that the ship would be travelling to Asia for some itineraries. From what they stated, they were very pleased with their travels aboard the ship. Apparently, they found some tickets just a day or two before sailing on the ten day cruise for only $600 total for the couple at the website Vacations to Go (www.vacationstogo.com).   Matthew Alan Knapp Senior Member Username: Matt_k Post Number: 797 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 07:44 pm:    Recent article about two NCL cruise ships which will no longer service Hawaiian ports. The Norwegian Wind will call it quits around Hawaii at the end of April, 2007. The Pride of Hawaii, will call it quits in February, 2008. The Norwegian Wind will be plying the waters of Asia, possibly visiting the islands of Saipan, Guam, Yap, and Palau. Two NCL cruise ships, the Pride of Aloha and the Pride of America, will continue to ply Hawaiian waters, however. http://www.khon2.com/news/local/6984832.html   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1364 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, March 03, 2007 - 03:48 pm:    We have always enjoyed NCL with the international crew, so I hope the do go back to that in Hawaii. If they go to international, they will have to go back to stopping at Fanning Island, which will take care of the extra days they now tie up so you can spend two nights in two of the ports.   Jay Yurchuck Member Username: Jayy Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Saturday, March 03, 2007 - 01:05 pm:    Just returned from 5 day cruise on the NCL Pearl sailing out of Miami. I can't say enough good about the service. Enjoyed the Specialty restaurants but the Main dining room quality menus and service were just as good. The ship was beautiful. It appears that NCL Hawaii maybe going to international crews. Three of the crew members we talked with had applied and had been accepted for transfer. We are planning to sail on the Pride of Hawaii in January so we were very interested in this development.   Larry Campbell Senior Member Username: Czeezo Post Number: 165 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 05:16 pm:    For us old timers - we remember when we had above average service when the server know that if they didn't give great service - they didn't get very big tips. I remember when we had open seating and you didn't have your regular server - the service dropped - like big time.   Don New member Username: Elele Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 07:00 am:    Almost all cruise lines now automatically take the tips -- normally $10 per day per person. We are going on a cruise in 2 weeks not NCL tips are automatically deducted. On Princess as is the same with NCL the tips can be removed. People tend to forget it is their credit card and no charges can be assigned or assessed unless they allow it. Crystal is not in the same league as other lines, comparing them is like comparing first class to coach on the airlines. We have been on non NCL ships since the tipping policy has changed and find them no better or no worse than NCL. I understand the need for better service but it's not there on NCL, Princess, RCCL, Carnival, etc yes you can find it on Crystal, Silversea, Oceania cruise lines and you pay dearly for that service. All I say is that NCL has its place and is equal to the other cruise lines in its category. I would recommend NCL to those that wanted it but it is fair to provide both the good and the bad. On Cruise Critic there are hundreds of comments good and bad about NCL as well as other cruise lines. The whole cruise industry has changed over the last few years and cruising is just not the cruising our grandparents era had. Then it was only for the relative rich and they got great service -- steerage passengers were not treated so well. To see the Hawaiian Islands to the extent NCL does what cruise line would one recommend? None of them provide the itinerary NCL does -- Overnight in Maui, overnight in Kauai--- None of the cruise lines provides that. The other cruise lines offer several days transit from the West Coast short days in port and several days transit back. That appeals to many but more time in Hawaii appeals to many more -- thus NCL. All the ships we have been on have been great! Maybe it is because after 20 years in the service followed by 13 years on oceanic research ships any ship that I don't have to work on is a pleasure by comparison.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1353 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 02:18 am:    Don, like you we too had been on NCL, even been the same ship, just a different location. That was the reason we pick it. We got on in San Juan got off in San Francisco, before they sent it to Hawaii. This was not a cheap trip, but it was a bad one. We had folks paying to fly home from the first port in Mexico that we stopped. We have been back on NCL, with the credit they gave us for such a bad trip. We are leaving in April on another cruise. We like the convenience of cruising, unpack once see lots of things. We had sailed the Hawaian Islands with NCL and loved it, but it was with an international crew. Price should not have anything to do with it. You pay for your trip, than you are billed for tips. A tip should be for a job well done, not one half done.   Don New member Username: Elele Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Saturday, February 17, 2007 - 11:17 pm:    We have been on many NCL ships including; Pride of America, Pride of Aloha, Pride of Hawaii, Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Crown, and Norwegian Wind, we have also been on Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, Oceania Lines, RCCL, Disney but never on Crystal -- prefer to cruise 2 or 3 times per year not once. NCL is not any better or worse than the Princess or Carnival Lines, it is a step below Celebrity and a couple of steps below the Oceania. If people know that NCL Hawaii that the ship is not the destination then the ships are great. They are floating hotels and as hotels provide far better service than any hotel that I have stayed at, and often less money. If it were not for ships like the NCL brand then many people would never be able to cruise as most of us cannot afford the real luxary ships that the cruise industry touts but does not deliver except for the rare cruise line such as Crystal. Pampering wanted go Crystal. Inexpensive vacation with some albeit it minor compared to Crystal go NCL, Carnival, Princess, RCCL, and enjoy what it is -- a mass market cruise experience. One of our worst cruises was Princess however that was still a fun cruise because we don't get caught up in the attitudes of those around us. For what it is worth I will sail on NCL again and likely again and again. I can afford their cruises and understand the drawbacks. Some people are not happy with the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki either but others love it. It is one of the top rated hotels in the world. Just goes to show that nothing can satisfy everyone. Go NCL!!!!!!!! Provide the service for those who cannot afford the Crystal lines of the world.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1350 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 07:38 pm:    we have 4 friends leaving in a couple weeks for the NCL Hawaii cruise. I have tried, as nice as I could, to tell them not to expect to much. It is only their second cruise, so maybe they aren't to spoiled. Me I want to be waited on and not do anything that isn't fun.   Edwin B McConville Senior Member Username: Perkyva1 Post Number: 735 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 05:58 pm:    Phyllis, Sarge, & Jeff: In talking to some friends I too learned that NCL is not the way to go. they had the misfortune of taking an NCL cruise. BTW the friends are taking a Crystal Med cruise in June; now that's the way to go.   Jeffrey G. Carlen Senior Member Username: Jcarlen Post Number: 238 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 12:50 am:    Ever since NCL was sold to the Chinese it has gone downhill. We had a similar experience a couple of years ago. Things like food or drink spilled on the floor in the restaurant were still there the next day, total stonewalling on the part of the staff if you asked them a question..... Stay away from NCL.   The Sarge Intermediate Member Username: Olderbutwiser Post Number: 15 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 03:07 am:    I just read this message about NCL trip in Hawaii. Just to keep everyone up to date,(2007) I had friends just completed this cruise around the Islands and they said it was the WORST cruise they've ever been on. Lousy service, Lousy food, unmade beds, not the cleanest ship either. Staff just seem to not care if you are alive or dead. They DO NOT recommend this cruise.   Phyllis DeLancey Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 770 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, November 20, 2005 - 06:45 pm:    On the "off the topic site" it listed that you can get a cruise for under $200 in Hawaii on NCL cruise line. We have been on this ship, now things could have changed, but I don't think so. It has an all american crew and the service is not what you would think of a cruise. The crew at times has a problem remembering they are working and you are a paying customer. It was so bad when they first started this trip, they refunded all the tip money to the guest and offered money toward another trip with them. If you just want a place to sleep, bath and" maybe" eat go for it. However if you want the normal life of a cruise with folks who do care about your comfort, I would suggest you look at a different one.