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An OK Cruise by
WAYNE V from Salt Lake City, UT Sailing date: Jan 2013Pros: Food, acomodations, service were all good Cons: Ship needs some TLC. Better TVs, wireless internet. Better sound system in the theater. Clean, stable, easy to navigate from place to place. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodFood generally good. Buffet had good variety. Became a little more difficult when the wrapped everything in plastic for our protection. But, that's OK. Stateroom QualityVery good except in todays world a flat screen TV with better reception is needed. Everything else was excellent. Ship Staff QualityMost of the time very friendly. One in particular in the ship store helped my wife with motion sickness by recommending some acupressure bracelets. They were inexpensive and worked very well. Entertainment & ActivitiesWillie K was fantastic as were the Polynesian dancers. All other entertainment was OK. A couple of shows suffered from poor sound. The comedian (Tim Kamanski) was not my cup of tea.  4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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  Somewhat Disappointing by
A Traveler from Virginia Beach, VA Sailing date: Mar 2011Pros: Workout area was fantastic Cons: Food was not that good The ship decor was beautiful. Staff was friendly, but some not well-trained. Received coffee when requested, but no cream or sugar offered. No salt or pepper on table and none offered. We had to wait 20 plus minutes to eat in the "free" restaurants while there was no wait for the specialty (cover charge) ones. The food was just OK. Overly salty. Very few of the desserts were good. The menu was limited-pretty much the same every evening. Our cabin was noisy at night-we could hear banging sounds all night long. Onboard entertainment was good, but not as varied as expected. Ship Quality
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Hilo, HawaiiVery scenic
Don't Miss: Lava tube Nawiliwili, KauaiThe luau was so much fun. Great food and entertainment.
Don't Miss: luau Kahului, MauiWear a hat or sunscreen for whale watching!
Don't Miss: Whale watching 18 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
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Great Way to See Hawaii by
A Traveler from Long Beach, CA Sailing date: Dec 2009Pros: Every port we visited was beautiful. We got to see much of Hawaii in 7 days. Cons: The cost of excursions and extras on the ship quickly added up to a very substantial amount of money. This ship was not as grand as the last NCL ship on which I cruised. The lobby is only one story, the shops are minimal, and the spa is tiny. However, the main dining rooms are very attractive and tastefully decorated & overall the ship seemed relatively new (built 2004). Our cruise through Hawaii was "port intensive" (we spent most of the time docked at various islands) so most people spent a lot of time off the ship. This made the lack of grandeur less important. Ship Quality
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Stateroom QualityThe room was a bit dated with a stained floor and faded couch. Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & ActivitiesThere was no main act for entertainment. They had a comedian and a magician, and a comedy troupe that performed a number of times. 37 out of 38 people found this review helpful.
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Hawaiian Cruise by
Patricia D. from Detroit, MI Sailing date: Sep 2009Pros: What each port offered Cons: The speciality restaurants were hard to getand the showers were too small. The ship was very impressive. I felt like I was a star. Ship QualityThe room was too small Dining/FoodI expected more of a selection and seafood especially, Stateroom Quality
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Entertainment & ActivitiesI enjoyed the show 14 out of 18 people found this review helpful.
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Beautiful destination by
A Traveler from Dallas, Georgia Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: my cabin, my balcony room, ease of dining, entertainment, ease of disembarkation Cons: Food, 7 of the 11 restaurants on board you had to pay up to $25 pp extra, the food in the other areas wasn't very good The ship is the only one that sails under the American Flag. If this were my first cruise, I wouldn't know better but I've cruised alot. The destination is great, how can you mess up Hawaii? But one of the things I look forward to the most is the great food. I can honestly say the best thing I ate all week was a chilled strawberry soup. I had a steak in the main dining room that was awful and so was the beef loin. The night we had lobster, it was a very small tail paired with a very bland grouper filet and I had to ask for the drawn butter. Who eats lobter without butter? The service is usually perfect on a cruise, not this one. Tables were dirty in the buffet area, dishes were empty and not refilled, I was appalled. Many of the workers were busy talking to each other rather than paying attention to their jobs. This was a perfect cruise other than the food and the service. Also remember, you pay extra for sodas, pictures, food, and just about everything else you need. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodFood not good at all. Dining convenience was great. Stateroom Quality
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Hilo, HawaiiVolcanoes National Park
Don't Miss: Volcanoes National Park Kailua-Kona, HawaiiDon't Miss: Captain Zodiac rafting and snorkeling Nawiliwili, KauaiDon't Miss: Canyon Kahului, Maui
30 out of 33 people found this review helpful.
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NCL Hawaii cruise by
Leslie T. from Kilauea, Hawaii Sailing date: Jul 2009Pros: Cruising around the Napali Coast Cons: Food, entertainment and cruising at night so you couldn't see the islands. I would only recommend this cruise to someone who has either never been to Hawaii, or who has never cruised before. The food was nothing special and the restaurants that charge $25/ea extra weren't even special - cept for the sushi restaurant. They were the best restaurant on the ship. The tipping is automatic, so we felt that while they were ok, they didn't work as hard as they do when they have to earn their tips. We live in Hawaii, and we took the cruise hoping to see the islands from the sea. The Napali sail by was exceptional - very beautiful and I took about 300 plus photos. Met some wonderful new friends and have good memories of being with our son - he has fun, but was disappointed their wasn't more to do. Had hoped for skeet shooting. Again, good if you don't compare them to Royal Caribbean, showed them up big time in the food and entertainment.. Ship QualityThe Ahoha Cafe, which is the big buffet you can eat at, and the food was good, had been decorated as if the person who did it was on LSD. Nothing, and I mean nothing went together... almost made ya seasick.... Dining/FoodOpen pretty much, so good to eat when you want within reason. Food quality was not great. Friend had a steak, one of the "good" steaks, that was like an old shoe. Disappointing. Stateroom QualityLots of storage and that was great. Had a balcony so the the Napali coast cruise by was beautiful. Ship Staff QualityPeople were very nice. Entertainment & ActivitiesEntertainment compared to other ships was pretty sad.... The improv people were funny, but you really have to like improv and some just don't get it - like my husband.
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Kailua-Kona, HawaiiWe just went in for a beer at the brewery. Didn't do any activities....
Don't Miss: Guess the snorkeling tour was great. Nawiliwili, KauaiWe live on Kauai, so didn't do the tourist stuff... went and checked on our animals. Make sure you tell people to take a helicopter ride and be sure to drive to the North Shore. Met many who didn't even know that the N. Shore is where the waterfalls are....
Kahului, MauiMaui was ok. Sorry we couldn't see more of it from the sea... I used to live there, so know it but have never seen it cruising by.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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An All-American Cruise by
Bruce F from Denver Sailing date: Jun 2009Pros: Saw all the islands Cons: Cruise-sponsored tour Great ship - a little smaller than the mega-ships. One pool. A nice private resturant if you are staying in one of the suites - well worth it! Ship is pretty modern and the layout is very efficient and pleasing. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodFood about as good as the usual cruise stuff. The best place was the private resturant accessible to guests in suites. Stateroom QualityLargest cabin we have had. Very quiet, great for getting people together. Ship Staff QualityExcellent. Entertainment & ActivitiesHaving cruised 7 or 8 times now, I have become increasingly weary of cruise-sponsored excursions. Thier advertizing bullies you into believing that freelance shore companies are all criminals and the only safe way to go is with the cruise company. But, the cruise company packs you into enourmous groups, subjects you to the "pre-excursion shopping stop" then the "post-excursion shopping stop", then the "buy cruise merchandise pitch". You're better off in most cases doing your own research and setting up your own excusions. The one excepetion is Luau Kalamaku. Do not miss this one. Children's ProgramsGet your kids involved! It is safe and they will love it. Biggest mistake we made on previous cruises was not letting the kids go do their own thing. 11 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Spectacular Cruise by
Maria T from Miami, FL Sailing date: Jun 2009Pros: Cleanliness and Shore Excursions Cons: Not having the same waiter every night Cleanliness, choice of shore excursion, organization
Loved free style cruising but would prefer to have the same waiter every night.
Entertainment could be better.
Overall we had an excellent experience. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodNot impressed with the quality of the French specialty restaurant. Stateroom Quality
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Hilo, HawaiiVolcnos National Park
Don't Miss: Volcanos National Park Kailua-Kona, HawaiiDon't Miss: Painted Church Nawiliwili, KauaiJourney to Waimea Canyon
Kahului, MauiRoad to Hana
Sunrise at Haleakala crater
Don't Miss: Road to Hana 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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great cruise! by
A Traveler from central nj Sailing date: Apr 2009Pros: itinerary much better than reviews we had read Ship Qualityvery clean ship ,seating always available at buffet and poolside Dining/Foodalways immediate seating at all restaurants..all staff in restaurants were friendly and professional..well organized Stateroom Qualitystaterooms was in good condition,comfy mattresses and pillows ,room was a bit small , as was balcony Ship Staff Qualityvery friendly and polite staff Entertainment & Activitiesgood magician and comic. could have had one production show/musical to add variety
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Hilo, Hawaiivolcanos park was terrific..very different
Don't Miss: volcanos Kailua-Kona, Hawaiinot much to see..took half day tour
Lahaina, Mauia no tour day took cab to whaler's cove area to see beautiful hotels and beach
Nawiliwili, Kauaibeautiful island , canyon, fern grotto..all nice took full day tour
Kahului, Mauifull day tour to volcanic depression( 10,000 feet high) beautiful! lunch at lavendar fields, though they were not in bloom
Don't Miss: volcano 13 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
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Not so great by
Jen S from Rochester, MN Sailing date: Feb 2009Pros: being a shore, the excursions were great Cons: the overall ship experience was sub par, food was bad, had to pay for all soda and had to tip them for it Hawaii is great but the over all ship experience was not. Room on the 4th floor was extremely loud with engine room noise, food was room temperature and flavorless, had to pay for all soda, but all the coffee you could drink for free. Very uncomfortable bed. Ship Quality
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Hilo, HawaiiVolcano was great
Don't Miss: volcano Kailua-Kona, HawaiiDon't Miss: snorkeling/kayaking Nawiliwili, KauaiBeautiful island, must see by yourself at your own pace.
Kahului, MauiDon't Miss: snorkeling/whale watching 10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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