HAWAII
NORWEGIAN CRUISE
Norwegian Cruise Line –
Freestyle Cruising
Pride of America 7 Day Hawaii Cruise – Seminar at
Sea
October 19 – 27, 2007
By Brenda Fawley
Friday, October 19th
My husband, John and I decided to leave a day early to get
all of our flying out of the way and unwind a bit before
setting sail. So, we started our day at 2:45 am. Our itinerary
was as follows:
CWA – ORD 1:02 hours
ORD – LAX 4:22 hours
LAX – HNL 5:45 hours
TOTAL 11:00 hours
Our flight out of CWA was to depart at 6:00 am but was
delayed and did not leave until 7:30. So, this gave us some
time to enjoy a delicious breakfast in the airport restaurant
“Wings” which opened at 6:00. The ticket agent
assured us we would not miss our flight in ORD and we made
it with 5 minutes to spare. We had a good itinerary and
good airports with short walks to our departure gates. After
11 long hours we arrived in HNL and collected all our luggage
(no lost bags!). Hawaii is 5 hours behind us, so we arrived
at 4:30 pm (9:30 pm back home). We purchased a shuttle transfer
for $9.00 per person plus tip to our hotel which took an
hour of travel time due to traffic congestion. We stayed
at ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel and our room was an Oceanview
Balcony. We got to our room just in time to see the sun
set over Waikiki Beach…..it was amazing! Once settled,
we headed to the Tiki’s Grill & Bar for some food,
beverages, and entertainment. We didn’t last long…we
were so tired…..we had been awake for over 24 hours.
Saturday, October 20th - Depart Honolulu,
Oahu 8:00 pm
Our day started off with a breakfast buffet poolside or
you could pack your cooler and walk to the beach. We ate
breakfast and enjoyed watching a hula dancer performance.
Then, we walked along the beach….got our feet wet,
checked out the sites…..we could see Diamond Head
from the walkout pier, and went shopping…..mostly
souvenir shops. We took one last look at the spectacular
view from our room and checked out. We purchased a shuttle
transfer for $9.00 per person plus tip to the pier which
again took an hour of travel time due to heavy traffic.
Check-in at the port went smooth and once we found our room
we had to report to the Muster station for life preserve
and safety instructions. Then, we checked out the ship and
grabbed a bite to eat. We had a Welcome Aboard Reception
with the Seminar at Sea group in the Pink’s Champagne
Bar where we enjoyed cocktails and appetizers. When we got
back to the room, our checked bags were waiting at the door…..so
we unpacked and got organized. Our room was on deck 7, an
ocean view stateroom with obstructed view….we had
the tender boats right outside our window.
Sunday, October 21st - Hilo, Hawaii 8:00
am – 6:00 pm
I attended my seminar from 8a-11a. There were 21 of us
all from Wisconsin or Texas. We went through the NCL fleet
and itineraries offered.
The highlight of today was our tour: Discover Kilauea 2
Ways
Our tour guide, Kawehi (Kay) also known as (coo-coo pig
slayer) called us all Uncle’s and Auntie’s.
She was a single mom with two kids (one & four) and
has nine sisters. She hunts wild boars with a knife in the
dark using a spotlight. She kills nothing less than 200
lbs. with her largest kill weighing in at 587 lbs. She was
a lot of fun.
We had exclusive crater access on the flanks of the active
Kilauea volcano which has been spewing lava non-stop since
1983. We explored the buried village of Kalapana, the black
sand beach at Kaimu, while looking for surface outbreaks
of lava. We sampled the local beer, champagne, macadamia
nuts, & rambutan (a type of fruit that tasted like a
pear).
Hilo gets 10 feet of rain per year and yes, it rained (the
only time our whole trip)! In this area, Milk = $7.00/gal,
Eggs = $4.00/doz, and Gas = $3.15/gal.
Monday, October 22nd - Kahului, Maui 8:00
am – Overnight
John got up early and headed out to see the sunrise and
took some awesome pictures.
Maui is the most visited of all the Hawaiian Island and
is home to pineapple, sugarcane, cattle ranches, and rain
forests.
Today, we walked to the Maui Mall….it wasn’t
much to see! Back at the ship, we relaxed by the pool. Next
to our ship, a barge was being filled (from sunrise to sunset)
with ground up lava rock which was used for road mat. We
enjoyed dinner at Little Italy, an Italian restaurant.
Tuesday, October 23rd – Still in
Maui Departing 6:00 pm
John & I headed out to catch the sunrise before my
class. He told me it wasn’t as nice as yesterday’s
view.
I attended my seminar from 8a – 11a. We covered how
to target & sell groups. We were divided up into groups
and our task was to create the best group marketing plan.
While I attended my seminar, John enjoyed the Molokini
Crater Snorkel Tour. The snorkeling hot spot, a crescent
shaped island is actually an extinct volcano and is protected
from strong waves and powerful currents. Snorkelers can
explore its colorful coral gardens and over 250 species
of fish that live in these waters. Oh, and I can’t
forget about the sea turtles….they were huge. Did
you know the state fish is the reef triggerfish and its
name is Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (meaning face like
a pig).
We had dinner at Lazy J Steakhouse and enjoyed the show
of Comedian - - Chris Alpine in the Theater.
Wednesday, October 24th - Kona, Hawaii
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
We caught another sunrise….what a sight.
Today, we have an ocean view room….no obstructed
view! Due to shallow waters and the lack of a pier large
enough to accommodate our vessel, the tender boats took
us to shore, they hold 150 passengers.
We shopped until we dropped! We hit the souvenir shops,
farmer’s market, the ice cream shop, and a bar. There
were “Geico’s” all over….like the
one from the GEICO car insurance ad.
Kona is the dry and hot side of Hawaii and is famous for
its coffee.
Back at the ship, the dolphins put on a show for us. We
had dinner with the Seminar at Sea group at the Skyline
Restaurant……we had Lobster.
Thursday, October 25th - Nawiliwili, Kaua’i
8:00 am – Overnight
From the ship - at the pier, we could see lighthouses in
the distance.
We walked to the beach area and checked out the shops along
the way. Then, we took the shuttle from the pier to Walmart.
We saw chickens all over town and in the parking lot. Walmart
was much like ours back home, but had a souvenir department
with better prices than the little shops we went to.
The highlights of today was our tour: Lu’au Kalamaku
This is what I was looking forward to - - a Hawaiian Luau!
(A must for every visitor!) Women received an orchid lei
and men received a shell lei upon arrival. It started with
a traditional ceremony with Polynesian drums and hula dancers
before the unearthing of the emu. Followed by, the unveiling
of the Kalua pig from the emu, an underground oven. Next,
the feast of Hawaiian delicacies including Kalua pig, grilled
fish (Mahi Mahi), and salmon. Then, we enjoyed the story
of Polynesian migration to Hawaii through traditional music
and dance.
Friday, October 26th - Still in Kaua’i
Departing 2:00 pm
I attended my seminar from 8a – 11a. We continued
to work in our groups on our assigned project and then we
took turns presenting it. We had fun.
While I attended my seminar, John went on the Journey to
Waimea Canyon Tour. Along the way they made a stop at the
shops in Hanapepe, saw coffee plantations, and the “blowhole”
where water erupts through volcanic vents with the force
of the ocean behind it which sounded like a dragon. This
canyon, a 10-mile-long gorge in the earth is etched with
a rainbow of colors and walls of volcanic rock so amazing
it’s also known as “The Grand Canyon of the
Pacific”.
In some areas, looking down was a 3,200 foot drop.
When my seminar ended I took the shuttle from the pier
to check out Kmart. They also had a souvenir department
where I did some last minute shopping.
We departed at 2:00 pm and cruised along the scenic Na
Pali coastline, the cliffs extended upward 3-4,000 feet.
Numerous movies have been filmed along this coast using
the steep cliffs as a dramatic background.
We sat back and relaxed and watched the sun set.
We purchased the Easy Fly program for $19.95 per person.
Easy Fly allows you to do your airport check-in and check
up to 2 pieces of luggage per person. This allowed us to
spend our final hours in Hawaii without having to worry
about our luggage….just our carry on bag. So, we packed
and had our bags outside the door before midnight.
Saturday, October 27th - Honolulu, Oahu
Arriving 7:00 am
Our last day ?
This morning our bill arrived at our door for all our purchases
that we made on the ship……WOW!....enough said!
We had to be off the ship between 7:30a – 10:00a,
so this gave us time to enjoy breakfast before our tour
departed.
Our tour, the Grand Circle Island Tour was 8 hours long
and was for all flights departing Honolulu after 8 pm and
would drop us off at the airport.
Today, we got to know Oahu. We circled the entire island
which covered 120 miles of the top sightseeing spots. Our
driver/tour guide called us all “cousins”…..he
was quite the character….lots of fun. We began the
tour with a drive past world-famous Diamond Head, a 150,000
year-old dormant volcano crater. Our driver told us that
Diamond Head got its name from a vendor selling heads of
lettuce at the farmers market…..they would yell out
“Dime-A-Head”…..”Dime-A-Head”
hence the name Diamond Head. (Ha, Ha - - he didn’t
fool us!) Diamond Head really got its name from British
Sailors who mistook glittering calcite crystals embedded
in the slopes for diamonds. You can hike 1.4 miles to the
peak for a breathtaking view of Oahu’s south shore.
Then we saw Hanauma Bay - - a hot spot for snorkeling, diving,
and swimming, the “Beverly Hills” of Hawaii,
Sandy Beach - - a favorite for body surfers, Waimea Bay,
Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline - - home to the most celebrated
surfing zones in the world, the “Blow Hole”
lookout where a wedding was taking place, Rabbit Island
& Flat Island - - islands for the birds because they
are only big enough for birds. A stop for lunch and shopping
at Kualoa Ranch. Then, on to a macadamia nut farm. We ended
our tour with a stop at the Dole Plantation where we visited
the store, strolled through the pineapple variety garden,
and sampled a Dole Whip (pineapple of course). Dole Plantation
is also the home to the world’s largest maze.
The tour was very relaxing and very informative and was
a nice wrap up to our vacation. We were dropped off at the
airport just in time for check-in. Our flight left at 8:45
pm and was a long, tiring flight home. We arrived Sunday
at 4:00 pm in CWA. Our bags however did not arrive, they
were still in Chicago. The airport arranged for home delivery
once they arrived. When we woke up the next morning our
bags were on our front step.
I would highly recommend this cruise and all the tours
that we did. I never thought I would like a cruise but this
opportunity has definitely changed my mind about cruising.
The staff was very friendly and organized. We especially
liked the Freestyle Daily newsletter to tell us what was
on tap for the day….the day’s forecast, sunrise
and sunset times, activities, shopping advice, ports of
call fun facts, and evening entertainment.
Of the 11 restaurants, 7 needed reservations in advance
and 6 of those 7 charged an additional fee. We heard complaints
from people about it being a freestyle cruise with their
famous saying…..”dine where you want, when you
want, wear what you want”….but that was not
true for the 7 restaurants requiring reservations and needing
to be dressed in certain attire. People showed up to eat
without reservations and wearing shorts and were not allowed
to eat at the restaurant.
Thank you Marathon Travel for this awesome opportunity.
Brenda Fawley
Airport Information
Arrival Airport: HNL (Honolulu)
Distance/travel time from airport to hotel (ResortQuest
Waikiki Beach Hotel):
Drive time: 1 hour due to heavy traffic Miles: 8.3
Hotel Information (Rating: Excellent)
Name of Hotel: ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel
Key Selling Point: Directly across the street from Waikiki
Beach (just 35 steps from the beach)
Type of Clients best suited: Adults
Location of Hotel: 2570 Kalakaua Ave / Honolulu, HI 96815
Attractions close to Hotel: Honolulu Zoo, Shopping, Beach
Type of Room: Oceanfront Balcony w/King Bed
Facilities: Beach, Pool, Fitness Center, Restaurants
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Very Good)
Name of Restaurant: Wings (in Central Wisconsin Airport)
Type of Cuisine: Traditional
Price: Moderate
Atmosphere: Casual wear
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Excellent)
Name of Restaurant: Tiki’s Grill & Bar (in hotel)
Type of Cuisine: Flavors and ingredients of the islands….signature
appetizers: Coconut shrimp, Calamari Katsu, Kalua Pig Quesadillas
Price: Moderate
Average check per person = $10 Lunch / $23 Dinner
Atmosphere: Casual wear
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Excellent)
Name of Restaurant: Aloha Café (on the ship)
Type of Cuisine: Buffet
Price: Included / no additional charges / no reservations
needed
Atmosphere: Casual wear
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Excellent)
Name of Restaurant: Little Italy (on the ship)
Type of Cuisine: Italian
Price: Included / no additional charges / reservations
needed
Atmosphere: Collared shirts & a pair of khakis or nice
jeans for men. Skirts, sundresses, khakis, or nice jeans
for ladies.
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Excellent)
Name of Restaurant: Lazy J Steakhouse (on the ship)
Type of Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: Additional cover charge of $20 per person / reservations
needed
Atmosphere: Collared shirts & a pair of khakis or nice
jeans for men. Skirts, sundresses, khakis, or nice jeans
for ladies.
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Good)
Name of Restaurant: Cadillac Diner (on the ship)
Type of Cuisine: Diner
Price: Included / no additional charges / no reservations
needed
Atmosphere: Casual wear
Restaurant Rating (Rating: Very Good)
Name of Restaurant: Skyline Restaurant (on the ship)
Type of Cuisine: Traditional
Price: Included / no additional charges / reservations
needed
Atmosphere: Collared shirts & a pair of khakis or nice
jeans for men. Skirts, sundresses, khakis, or nice jeans
for ladies.
Shopping
Shopping/Local Markets: Hilo Hattie, Walmart, Kmart, ABC
Stores, Farmers Market, & many souvenir shops
Currency: US
Items available: souvenirs, Hawaiian fashions, jewelry,
wood products, coffee, macadamia nuts, flowers, necessities
Thank you Marathon Travel for this awesome opportunity.
Brenda Fawley
|
