Comparing two Hawaii Cruises is like comparing Apples to Oranges

 

NCL Pride of America

Holland America Konigsdam

A common theme comes up in Facebook's NCL Pride of America 7 days in Hawaii group - why does this cruise cost so much and is the cruise worth what is charged for it?  As I see it, you get what you pay for with a Pride of America (POA) cruise.

To compare "apples to apples" as much as possible, I will compare two separate Hawaii cruises which will be cruising the islands at the same time in October 2024. One is a typical POA cruise out of Honolulu, and the other is a typical non-POA cruise from the mainland. However, I have chosen the only cruise from the mainland which includes 6 port days in Hawaii to give as a good comparison as possible.

Example:

10/05/24 - HAL Konigsdam cruise, Vancouver, BC roundtrip. (17 nights) Inside Cabin Fare: $1700/pp (Base) / $2799 /pp ("Have it All")                  Two days each on three islands: 
2- Oahu, 2- Hawaii (1 - Kona & 1 -Hilo), 2-Kauai.
vs.
10/12/24 - NCL Pride of America cruise, Honolulu, HI roundtrip. (7 nights)                  Inside Cabin Fare: $1849/pp (Both Base & "Free at Sea")
                 Two days each on three islands:  2- Oahu, 2- Hawaii (1 - Kona & 1 -Hilo), 2-Kauai.

The HAL cruise has to take an extra 10 days to cruise from the North American mainland over choppy seas to reach Hawaii then return to its home port. This is due to requirements imposed by the US Jones Act and the US Passenger Vessel Services Act. These acts require ships sailing solely between US ports be American built, flagged and staffed. The NCL cruise allows a person to bypass these extra sea days because it meets these requirements and it allows the cruiser to book extra land time in Hawaii - which is what I'd do on Oahu, so I could see sights on Hawaii's most populous island.. Additionally, on POA, one gets to spend 2 days in Maui, an island that the HAL cruise bypasses.

Unlike a foreign flagged ship, all American safety and labor laws apply on this ship. This explains (in part) why a 7-day cruise on POA costs more than a similar 7-day cruise on a foreign flagged ship sailing another route, such as in the Caribbean. Since POA also has to provision itself in Hawaii, all of its food, fuel, and other supplies cost more, as these goods must be shipped from the mainland (on American flagged ships) making them cost more than if they could be provisioned at mainland ports.

POA is an older ship, and is very well maintained for ships built in the mid '00s. It doesn't have a casino to subsidize cruise fares. It's a blessing not to walk through a smoke-filled casino to get to other parts of the ship. POA oozes America through its pores. (I won't go into many of the little details that justify this statement. People who have cruised on POA will understand this.) Unlike the ships coming from the mainland, POA should be treated as a floating hotel (with free meals). It is not a resort that floats from port to port. As such, POA provides good value for money spent. But it is not cheap. One is able to get a more Hawaii-intensive cruise on POA, especially when coupled with 2 or more land days before or after the cruise.

It may be cheaper for people to fly to Vancouver than to fly to Honolulu, but one will need a passport to do so. Even with more expensive airfare, I think two people could still have more Hawaii time for the extra $950/pp difference in the premium rates, if they were to take some of the savings to spend an extra 3 days in Honolulu and see the sights there. (10-Day POA Cruisetour anyone?) Please note that most cruises from mainland ports (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego) are usually shorter and spend less time in Hawaii. Does it make sense to spend more time at sea than one would spend in Hawaii?

I have been called a very frugal person. Would I choose the POA cruise over one from the mainland? YES! YES! YES! Anyone taking the POA is making a trade-off, exchanging money for more Hawaii. Hopefully, I'll be able to go there again soon, this time with my girlfriend.

Cruising - Bucket List Trips

 

The following are some cruises I think should be on everyone's "Bucket List":

1. Repositioning Cruises:
   
   Some of the best bargains in cruising can be found when a cruise starts in one port and ends in another port. For example, there is a cruise that allows a person to check off two bucket list regions on the same cruise – Alaska and Hawaii. The ship does a variant on this cruise twice each year. In Springtime, the ship leaves its Hawaii-South Pacific route to run Summertime cruises for the Alaska market. In Autumn, the same ship returns to the Hawaii-South Pacific route for Wintertime cruising. Another popular repositioning cruise is the Full Transit Panama Canal cruise. Many ships that sail the Caribbean routes in Wintertime are relocated to Alaskan cruising in Summertime, and return to the Caribbean in Autumn.
   
   The drawback to repositioning cruises is that one will likely need to travel to an embarkation port or travel from a debarkation port to enjoy the cruise. In many cases, the cost of reaching the port (or returning from the port) may exceed that of the cruise itself. But, if one can snag cheap flights, repositioning cruises can be a great way to travel.
   
   
2. Transatlantic Crossings:
   
   The transatlantic crossing is a special type of repositioning cruise. It is the type of trip that many people think of when watching old movies. These crossings are sea day intensive, as a typical crossing takes 7 days. Most crossings take place on cruise ships that are not optimized for the North Atlantic. As a result, a typical passenger is more likely to get seasick than on a typical cruise.
   
   Sadly, there is only one ocean liner left that does regularly scheduled Transatlantic crossings – Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. Cunard is very a traditional cruise line, and imposes a strict dress code in public areas on formal nights. One will not find things such as waterslides and roller coasters on their ships. If one wants to enjoy a classic Transatlantic crossing, sailing on this Queen is a great way to make this trip.
   
   
3. Hawaii Cruises:
   
   There are two common ways to take a Hawaiian cruise. The first is to sail from the West Coast and spend 4-6 days in Hawaii before returning to the West Coast via a foreign (Canada or Mexico) port. The other is a one-of-a-kind 7-day cruise on the Pride of America. This ship is the only major cruise ship that was built (mostly) in America, flies the American flag, is staffed by Americans, and follows all American laws.
   
   The first type of cruise is sea-day intensive, and offers only a limited amount of time to explore Hawaii. However, this type of cruise is often less expensive than a cruise on the Pride of America, as the ship does not carry the extra costs of a United States Flagged Ship. If one dislikes flying to Honolulu to take a cruise, this might be a good option for many cruisers.
   
   The second type of cruise is port intensive, and only has sea days when a port is inaccessible due to weather. (This will usually be Kona, as it is a tender only port.) Given that this cruise only sails between American ports, one can take this cruise using only a driver’s license for identification.
   
   
4. Alaska Cruises:
   
   Almost all major cruise lines offer cruises to Alaska.  Most of these cruises start from (and/or end at) a North American West Coast port and sail through the Inside Passage to their destinations. Most Alaskan cruises fell into one of two types:
   
   A, Inside Passage round trip
   B. One way to/from a port on the Gulf of Alaska (often Seward or Whittier) often coupled with a trip to Denali park.
   
   The inside passage round trip is the easiest cruise for most people to take, as they can begin and end their trip at the same port.  It reaches most of the ports that people want to visit, usually including 3 of the following ports:
   
   A. Ketchikan
   B. Juneau
   C. Skagway
   D. Sitka
   E. Icy Strait Point
   
   Additionally, the inside passage cruise will spend a day cruising through areas where passengers can view glaciers close up.  These areas include:
   
   A. Glacier Bay
   B. Hubbard Glacier
   C. Tracy Arm
   
   The cruises to/from ports on the Gulf of Alaska will usually travel itineraries similar to that on an inside passage.  But they will usually (but not always) be coupled with land trips to Denali National Park.  Given that these trips are longer than the usual inside passage cruise and that the starting port is different from the destination port, they are not as easy to take as a typical inside passage cruise.
   
   With above being said, the time spent in port is very important.  Lately, many ships have been making abbreviated port stops in Alaska, reducing the time passengers have to enjoy the experiences these ports have to offer. For example, Victoria, BC is often a mandated foreign stop to comply with the US Passenger Vessel Services Act.  So a stop here can be as short as 3 hours, and in the evening, making it impossible to visit places such as the Butchart Gardens.  So it is important for cruisers to research the places they want to see in each port, and choose a ship and an itinerary that fits their needs.
   
   
5. Norwegian Fjord Cruises.
   
   These cruises are similar to Alaska cruises in their natural beauty. Yet, they are very different, as the Norwegian culture and scenery in the Fjords are very different and worth visiting in their own right.  A Fjord cruise will take the cruiser many miles inland, via narrow gorges, there the landscape becomes the center of attention, something the Alaska cruise does not do.
   
   Most Norwegian Fjord cruises sail out of Mainland Europe (or Great Britain) and either do short 7-day round trips, or cruise to/from Tromso from these ports.  Like Alaskan cruise season, the Norwegian cruise season tends to be short and cruise cabins fill up quickly.
   
   A word of warning: The Norwegian Fjords are UN World Heritage sites, and cruising in conventionally fueled ships will be banned by 2032. Norway's plan is to gradually reduce the number of cruise ships visiting the fjords, and develop a more sustainable tourist industry that does not depend on fossil fuels. Given that Norway's ferries are operating on batteries/hydroelectric power, I feel they might achieve their goal before that. 
   
   
6. World Cruises.
   
   Many of the major cruise lines offer “World Cruises.” These cruises offer the affluent traveler who has time and money the chance to circumnavigate the world, or in discrete segments.
   
   There is no rule of thumb for these cruises, save that they have durations longer than the average cruise and that they are usually very expensive. However, most cruise lines offer cruisers to sail a segment of the world cruise one year, and then book another segment for a later time
   
   Assuming one sails on one of these cruises, one must make sure to have all paperwork (passports value for 6 months after the cruise’s end, visas, entry permits/travel authorizations, vaccinations, etc.) in order.
   
   
7. Polar Cruises.
   
   These cruises can be divided into twp types: Traditional cruises with more exotic locations, and Expedition cruises where individuals set foot on distant, hard to visit regions of the world.  In the case of Antarctica, traditional cruises will skirt by the outer limits of the continent, allowing cruisers to view the continent from the safety of the cruise ship.  However, expedition cruises will take cruisers to the Antarctic continent itself, and allow cruisers to see things up close.  Because there is a greater distance between the Antarctic mainland and civilization, expedition cruise companies require their cruisers to be in good physical health before starting their cruises.  The reason for this is to minimize the chance that the expedition cruise has to abort the cruise because one person has to be taken to the hospital.
   
   Arctic/Antarctic cruises provide once in a lifetime experiences for many, and should be considered when one wants to see experience something completely different from a typical cruise.  Where else but on an Antarctic cruise can one see thousands of penguins up close, creatures who have evolved without fear of humans?  If I were in the best of shape, I'd consider an expedition cruise to Antarctica, now that I have the time to take this cruise.
   
   
8. River Cruises:
   
   Due to the nature of river cruise ships, their cruises tend to be moderately expensive. River cruise ships carry fewer passengers than the average ocean-going cruise ship, and will likely give a different level of service for the price of the cruise. If there is any comparison to be made, it is with the high end, small ship cruise lines, where there is a certain intimacy among the passengers. It is very easy to be anonymous on a large, ocean-going cruise ship. It is impossible to be anonymous on a small river cruise ship.
   
   Unlike ocean-going cruise ships, river cruise ships must be aware of seasonal conditions on the rivers. If there is too much of a snow melt in the Spring, the water may be running too high for a ship to make it under some bridges. If there is too little, there may not be enough water in the river for the ship to make it between ports.
   
   Luckily, river cruises usually do not traverse as great a distance between ports. One can get a more in-depth feel for the region a cruise travels in. For example, there is a Hudson River cruise given by an American based operator. Its overnight stays are in places a short ride from each other by commuter rail. In Europe, similar conditions apply to cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers, the two most popular routes for river cruising.