Cruise Customer Reviews

Overall Rating: This vessel has a 3 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

65+

Cruise Experience:

First cruise

Traveler Type:

Couple

Stateroom Type:

Balcony

An OK Cruise by WAYNE V from Salt Lake City, UT

Sailing date: Jan 2013

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Food 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 Quality

Very good except in todays world a flat screen TV with better reception is needed. Everything else was excellent.

Ship Staff Quality

Most 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 & Activities

Willie 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.

5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 3 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

50 - 65

Traveler Type:

Couple

Stateroom Type:

Inside

Somewhat Disappointing by A Traveler from Virginia Beach, VA

Sailing date: Mar 2011

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Stateroom Quality

Ship Staff Quality

Entertainment & Activities

Read this user's port of call reviews:

Hilo, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui

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Ports of Call:

Hilo, Hawaii

Very scenic

Don't Miss: Lava tube

Nawiliwili, Kauai

The luau was so much fun. Great food and entertainment.

Don't Miss: luau

Kahului, Maui

Wear 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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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 3 star rating

Great Way to See Hawaii by A Traveler from Long Beach, CA

Sailing date: Dec 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Stateroom Quality

The room was a bit dated with a stained floor and faded couch.

Ship Staff Quality

Entertainment & Activities

There 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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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 4 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

50 - 65

Cruise Experience:

2 - 3 cruises

Traveler Type:

Couple

Stateroom Type:

Inside

Hawaiian Cruise by Patricia D. from Detroit, MI

Sailing date: Sep 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

The room was too small

Dining/Food

I expected more of a selection and seafood especially,

Stateroom Quality

Ship Staff Quality

Entertainment & Activities

I enjoyed the show

14 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 3 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

50 - 65

Cruise Experience:

7+ cruises

Traveler Type:

Couple

Stateroom Type:

Balcony

Beautiful destination by A Traveler from Dallas, Georgia

Sailing date: Aug 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Food not good at all. Dining convenience was great.

Stateroom Quality

Ship Staff Quality

Entertainment & Activities

Read this user's port of call reviews:

Hilo, Hawaii; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui

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Ports of Call:

Hilo, Hawaii

Volcanoes National Park

Don't Miss: Volcanoes National Park

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Don't Miss: Captain Zodiac rafting and snorkeling

Nawiliwili, Kauai

Don't Miss: Canyon

Kahului, Maui

31 out of 34 people found this review helpful.

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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 2 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

50 - 65

Cruise Experience:

7+ cruises

Traveler Type:

Family w/older children

Stateroom Type:

Balcony

NCL Hawaii cruise by Leslie T. from Kilauea, Hawaii

Sailing date: Jul 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

The 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/Food

Open 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 Quality

Lots of storage and that was great. Had a balcony so the the Napali coast cruise by was beautiful.

Ship Staff Quality

People were very nice.

Entertainment & Activities

Entertainment 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.

Read this user's port of call reviews:

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui

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Ports of Call:

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We just went in for a beer at the brewery. Didn't do any activities....

Don't Miss: Guess the snorkeling tour was great.

Nawiliwili, Kauai

We 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, Maui

Maui 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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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 5 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

30 - 49

Cruise Experience:

7+ cruises

Traveler Type:

Family w/older children

Stateroom Type:

Suite

An All-American Cruise by Bruce F from Denver

Sailing date: Jun 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Food about as good as the usual cruise stuff. The best place was the private resturant accessible to guests in suites.

Stateroom Quality

Largest cabin we have had. Very quiet, great for getting people together.

Ship Staff Quality

Excellent.

Entertainment & Activities

Having 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 Programs

Get 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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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 3 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

50 - 65

Cruise Experience:

2 - 3 cruises

Traveler Type:

Singles/friends

Stateroom Type:

Oceanview

Spectacular Cruise by Maria T from Miami, FL

Sailing date: Jun 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Not impressed with the quality of the French specialty restaurant.

Stateroom Quality

Ship Staff Quality

Entertainment & Activities

Read this user's port of call reviews:

Hilo, Hawaii; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui

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Ports of Call:

Hilo, Hawaii

Volcnos National Park

Don't Miss: Volcanos National Park

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Don't Miss: Painted Church

Nawiliwili, Kauai

Journey to Waimea Canyon

Kahului, Maui

Road 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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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 3 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

50 - 65

Cruise Experience:

7+ cruises

Traveler Type:

Couple

Stateroom Type:

Balcony

great cruise! by A Traveler from central nj

Sailing date: Apr 2009

Pros:

itinerary

much better than reviews we had read

Ship Details:

Ship Quality

very clean ship ,seating always available at buffet and poolside

Dining/Food

always immediate seating at all restaurants..all staff in restaurants were friendly and professional..well organized

Stateroom Quality

staterooms was in good condition,comfy mattresses and pillows ,room was a bit small , as was balcony

Ship Staff Quality

very friendly and polite staff

Entertainment & Activities

good magician and comic. could have had one production show/musical to add variety

Read this user's port of call reviews:

Hilo, Hawaii; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Lahaina, Maui; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui

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Ports of Call:

Hilo, Hawaii

volcanos park was terrific..very different

Don't Miss: volcanos

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

not much to see..took half day tour

Lahaina, Maui

a no tour day took cab to whaler's cove area to see beautiful hotels and beach

Nawiliwili, Kauai

beautiful island , canyon, fern grotto..all nice took full day tour

Kahului, Maui

full 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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Overall Rating: This vessel has a 2 star rating

About the Reviewer:

Age:

30 - 49

Cruise Experience:

2 - 3 cruises

Traveler Type:

Couple

Stateroom Type:

Oceanview

Not so great by Jen S from Rochester, MN

Sailing date: Feb 2009

Pros:

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 Details:

Ship Quality

Dining/Food

Stateroom Quality

Ship Staff Quality

Entertainment & Activities

Read this user's port of call reviews:

Hilo, Hawaii; Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Kahului, Maui

Collapse List of Ports

Ports of Call:

Hilo, Hawaii

Volcano was great

Don't Miss: volcano

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Don't Miss: snorkeling/kayaking

Nawiliwili, Kauai

Beautiful island, must see by yourself at your own pace.

Kahului, Maui

Don't Miss: snorkeling/whale watching

10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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