Hilo Hawaii Question

23rd October 2003, 05:58 PM

We on the 11/16/2003 Norwegian Star cruise. We're thinking of booking
the 'Circle of Fire' helicopter tour directly with Blue Hawaiian ($49
savings booking direct vs ship price). Is there enough time to see
Volcano National Park after doing the helicopter tour if we were to
rent a car, drive to the heliport, do the 'copter tour then go to the
park? Is this too much to try to do? We're in port from 6:00am to
1:00pm. If there isn't enough time, what else can we do with the
limited time we'd have after the helicopter tour? Any other
suggestions?

Thanks,
Doug

23rd October 2003, 07:06 PM

Rent a car and go to Volcanos Nat Park on your own. It is a wonderful trip.

Howard

Doug wrote:

> We on the 11/16/2003 Norwegian Star cruise. We're thinking of booking
> the 'Circle of Fire' helicopter tour directly with Blue Hawaiian ($49
> savings booking direct vs ship price). Is there enough time to see
> Volcano National Park after doing the helicopter tour if we were to
> rent a car, drive to the heliport, do the 'copter tour then go to the
> park? Is this too much to try to do? We're in port from 6:00am to
> 1:00pm. If there isn't enough time, what else can we do with the
> limited time we'd have after the helicopter tour? Any other
> suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Doug

23rd October 2003, 08:16 PM

On 10/23/03 5:58 PM, in article sgjgpv0usjtnta03e99olfikliree617f1@,
"Doug" <dblaze1.deletethis@tampabay.deletethis.> wrote:

> We on the 11/16/2003 Norwegian Star cruise. We're thinking of booking
> the 'Circle of Fire' helicopter tour directly with Blue Hawaiian ($49
> savings booking direct vs ship price). Is there enough time to see
> Volcano National Park after doing the helicopter tour if we were to
> rent a car, drive to the heliport, do the 'copter tour then go to the
> park? Is this too much to try to do? We're in port from 6:00am to
> 1:00pm. If there isn't enough time, what else can we do with the
> limited time we'd have after the helicopter tour? Any other
> suggestions?

Getting back to Hilo from Volcano for a 1pm departure is going to be tough.
No Interstates on the Big Island! Do you also do Kona on that itinerary?
Maybe you could do what we did on Bermuda and catch up with the ship at the
next port?

joe

23rd October 2003, 10:56 PM

>Rent a car and go to Volcanos Nat Park on your own. It is a wonderful trip.
>
>Howard

Especially if you have a good "navigator".

Ermalee <-- a good back seat driver :-)

24th October 2003, 01:16 PM

Joe Keenan <joe@flyingdiver.com> wrote in message news:<BBBDE79A.2044F%joe@flyingdiver.com>...
> On 10/23/03 5:58 PM, in article sgjgpv0usjtnta03e99olfikliree617f1@,
> "Doug" <dblaze1.deletethis@tampabay.deletethis.> wrote:
>
> > We on the 11/16/2003 Norwegian Star cruise. We're thinking of booking
> > the 'Circle of Fire' helicopter tour directly with Blue Hawaiian ($49
> > savings booking direct vs ship price). Is there enough time to see
> > Volcano National Park after doing the helicopter tour if we were to
> > rent a car, drive to the heliport, do the 'copter tour then go to the
> > park? Is this too much to try to do? We're in port from 6:00am to
> > 1:00pm. If there isn't enough time, what else can we do with the
> > limited time we'd have after the helicopter tour? Any other
> > suggestions?
>
> Getting back to Hilo from Volcano for a 1pm departure is going to be tough.
> No Interstates on the Big Island! Do you also do Kona on that itinerary?
> Maybe you could do what we did on Bermuda and catch up with the ship at the
> next port?
>
> joe

I agree - going there by car is a wonderful trip, but very sloooow
drive & way too stressful to get there & back to the ship, let alone
with doing the helicopter tour. I'd go ahead, do the helicopter -
hopefully, they will give you some time at the top of the park, but to
do more than that could very possibly cause you to miss the ship. You
will have spectacular views & see a lot. Come back & stay on this
wonderful island some time in the future & do all you wanted to do
this time!