Hawaii Cruise Day 7: Na Pali coast and back to Oahu
Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 1:32PM Well it is day 7 and almost time to end this wonderful cruise. This morning we had a helicopter tour of the island cued up but mother nature had other plans. We walked over to the helicopter tour office and watched the safety briefing video only to then be told that the flight was scrubbed due to weather 10 minutes prior to our departure. Unfortunately they were booked for the rest of the day and the ship left at 2, Such is life - on to plan B - so we shopped instead. As we were leaving the tour office, the groups for the 10:00 flights arrived. I'm sure they got the same news an hour later as it rained off and on all morning.
About 2 the Pride headed out for the Na Pali coast and the sun came out. This is a beautiful side of the island and we did see some whales in the distance at one point. The plan was to watch from our balcony and the views were fantastic. The ship provided a narration about the Na Pali coastline but we were unable to hear it from our room. Suggestion for NCL - pipe the narration into the rooms on the TV channel that shows the front of the ship. We headed up to the top and saw some amazing untouched beaches and areas accessible only by boat or the most hardy backpackers.
That evening we chose to go to the teppanyaki place and had yet another incredible meal. The chef was fun and at one point pulled me behind the grill to see if I could do the 'egg roll toss and crack on a spatula' thing. Needless to say, the yoke was on me (and the table and the side and the chairs....). He said he was half Japanese and half Philippine. His nick name was jalapeño.
That night we did go see the show, (actually our second) and it was a variety mash up of all of the people who had appeared during the week. Murray the magician was funny, Tim the comedian was even funnier and pulled a dozen people on stage for a rendition of Old MacDonald and the four guys singing do-wap were good, but not really my thing.
The next morning we were in Oahu bright and early at 7. We had breakfast again at Lazy J's and seriously yummy crab cake benedict's. Nutri-systems here we come. The disembarkation was completely painless especially since there are no customs to go through. Although they were calling decks to get off in specific order, James the Concierge was in the main lobby and walked us to the front security card swipe but it was not really necessary as the line moved fast and we saved maybe 5 minutes. I feel guilty cutting even if we paid for it, I'm not used to it and hate to get the stink eye from everyone else. Our luggage was in its designated section and waiting for us. By 9 we were in the shuttle back to Thrifty again.
Our trip to Hawaii was actually two weeks, split 4-7-3 and we spend the first 4 days in Waikiki at the Outrigger on the beach. Waikiki is very commercial, densely populated and fun to see, but I don't need to come back. It is much like walking on the Vegas strip. The Outrigger is nice, and Duke's the in house restaurant is good and had great views. We did rent a Mustang one of the 4 days and took a lap around the island. We went up the West side as far as we could go to Kaena Point. There is a road that goes from the point around to the North Shore but its dirt and you need a jeep. Do you know what the difference between a jeep and a rental car is? A rental car can go anywhere. We might have tried but it was muddy and the pony was not the vehicle to try in. This whole area can be missed if you don't have time. Tent city and shanty towns of the homeless are along this whole route. So we backtracked and hit the H2 to the North Shore across the top of the island and through the pinapple plantations. A very pretty drive.
Back to day 7 of the cruise and 11 of our trip. We had the last few days booked at the Turtle Bay resort on the North Shore. Our car today is yet another land yacht - this time of the Crown Victoria variety. We took the H3 across this time and counter clockwise around the island. We stopped at the Kualoa ranch. This is where they filmed part of Jurassic Park several other films and more recently the TV series Lost. Their movie tour takes about an hour and includes a WWII bunker that they have turned into a movie museum.
On arrival at Turtle Bay we find a absolutely stunning resort with amazing sunsets and a great little poolside bar that you can sit at and watch the surfers go by into the bay. A bit pricey but if you are planning on being in town before or after the cruise - I would highly recommend this place over Waikiki. It's about $50 more a night than an ocean view room in Waikiki, but worth every penny. The little town of Haleiwa near by has great shopping and a little place called Jameson's by the sea that has a good lunch and views of the beach. Don't forget to try the shave ice, and eat at a little shrimp shack. Places litter the North Shore and are all good.
One night we also did a Luau at Germain's. The pork was very good. We tried the poi, it really does not taste like much of anything - mostly just a starch staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet. We skipped the Polynesian Cultural Center because we ran out of time and felt we got enough hula dancing from the Luau.
Well - thats it. That's my 14 amazing days in Hawaii. The Cruise is with out a doubt the best way to see the islands. The culture is clearly different between each of them and without having to pack and unpack and trudge through every airport it can't be done another way. If I come back, it will likely be to Kona or here to the North Shore again. Thanks for reading!. I would love to hear your comments if you know of someplace we missed for a return trip. I hope my review has helped a few of you make decisions. More exhaustive pictures below.
View from our room at the Outrigger, Wakiki
Downtown Wakiki
The obligatory shot of Diamond Head
Driving up the West side on Day 3 with my girls.
A random cave on the side of the road.
Hanauma bay
We left our lei's behind with Duke for good luck
The Luau
Everybody Hula!
Colleen with a dancer
Removing the pig
At Turtle Bay
View from our room
The property at Turtle Bay
I'm not going home... you can't make me!
The wedding pavilion on property
More Kitty's... so sad
This guy was very nice and was by the pool every day. I'm sure he lives on french fries.
This is Bone Head. The pool waitress said she thinks he is about 15 or 16 and he has no teeth left. They thought he had finally died and then a maintenance worker found him trapped in a hole by the hotel. He was pretty mean and he told you in no uncertain terms to leave him alone if you got close.
Surfers at sunset by the pool
Sunset at Turtle bay and our vacation. Back to the grind. Aloha and Mahalo Hawaii - we had a wonderful time.
Reader Comments (3)
Thank you so much for your trip report and pictures. We are planning a trip for 4/2012 and we needed a real "hands-on" look/experience.
Very enjoyable reading!! Lots of hints to take aboard the POA departing 7th September. My husband, Dennis and I are travelling from Melbourne, Australia to join the cruise. Perhaps are paths may cross!
Cheers......Sandra
What a thorough and wonderful review of your trip! And your pictures are stunning! I very much enjoyed your writing and your tips. We are planning a trip for July of this year and your report has given us some very good ideas. Congratulations to you and your wife. Cheers