> Cruiselines F-P > Princess Cruises > hawaii cruise

can anyone tell me if there are 2 weeks cruising around the hawain islands at what time of the year. its my ruby wedding in july 2012is this a good time to go? we would like a special cruise on a large ship . are all the ships in this area small? also has anyone flown from vegas and stayed at the venetian hotel . or has somenone been on a fantastic cruise that could tell about it . we have sailed before with p& o also royal carribean to east west and southern carribean and the bahamas so we are not new to cruising please help

Hi suco - I think Princess only do sept - April - We went in December 09 on Golden Princess and although we enjoyed the cruise, with an LA departure and return it meant that a 2 week Hawaiian cruise translated to 4 days in Hawaii - 9 days at Sea and a stop in Ensenada Mexico (which is not really worth a visit - an extra day in Hawaii would have been better) - However as said we really enjoyed the time we did spend in Hawaii

Hi Suco and welcome. We had a week at the Venetian in Vegas this February and really loved the hotel although the weather in Feb was not really hot - not shorts weather - I'm sure July will be better as you can use the pool. Went to two shows in the Venetian - don't pay the advertised price as you can get big discounts from a ticket booth across the road. We also had a gondola ride and best of all, a helicopter trip that flew over the Hoover Dam, landed in the Grand Canyon and flew over the strip on the return. The rooms are suites and are super.

A few years ago we went to Hawiaai on Celebrity Summit from Los Angeles. Four days cruising each way and stops at different islands. We loved it but this was in October, I don't know if they do it in July. I think there is a cruiseline (maybe Carnival) that just cruises the islands so perhaps you could combine that with Vegas.

Have a great 40th.

NCL America is the only cruise line licensed to stay in Hawaii and cruise round the islands, without touching another country. The crew have to be mainly Americans to hold this licence. You fly out to the islands, and pick up the ship from there, then fly home again. NCL couldn't afford to keep the 3 ships out there under these rules, which is why Jade is now cruising Europe all year- she's not allowed back to the USA as she's being kept separate by NCL in case they can take her back to Hawaii again when things improve.
Jo.

thank you for your reply we will have to do the helicopter trip now i have heard thatit was so good did you think the hawain islands were worth visiting. we have heard mixed reports about them suco

I enjoyed Muaui, where we just went ashore in the day then went to a luau in the evening with a hawaiian feast, hula hula dancing and show. Oahu was also good - lots of people visited Pearl Harbour - we had a lovely trip around the coast and into a valley. The two stops we had at Big Island were not so good for us but the trips we chose were a bit bland. My wife was disappointed that the islanders did not come out to greet us in outrigger canoes like in Hawaii 5 O.

Jo said that NCL do cruises around the islands so I think I would have enjoyed a cruise and stay, doing Vegas and flying on to Hawaii.

I seem to remember that it was a 5 hour flight from San Fran to Honolulu. We've stayed on Big Island, but our main aim was the swimming (him) and the volcano(me). I'd love to do the NCL cruise, and would have a few days back in California before flying home. I know that other cruise lines have to call in at a non-USA country, which is usually Mexico- I don't understand the rules, but the NCL ship out there is the only cruise liner in the world flagged to the USA. That's why they are only allowed to have Americans working on board, with the odd exception (I suppose certain skilled jobs).
Jo.

thank you everyone for your replys a lot to think about suco

We have been to Oahu in September and boy its hot..If you have time book a couple of days at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, Luxury Hotel, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii it's heaven on earth.

Agree about the heat....OH could only snorkel at daybreak and sunset, even wearing all day protection and a T shirt in the water. I burnt under an umbrella, wearing a cotton sarong over shorts. But absolutely loved the islands, and the people.....we went to the local church in Captain Cook town, and the congregation did a hula for us, led by Miss Kona coffee herself!
Jo.