We chose POA bc it is the only 7 day cruise that goes to all four of the major islands. For someone who has never been to Hawaii before, this was the perfect solution. We were able to book adjacent cabins to be close to our travel buddies. Our cabins were aft, starboard side and close to stairs... perfect location for folks who don't like waiting for elevators :) And Michael our room steward was great. He was always helpful and had such a great sense of humor.
I'm so glad we booked everything in advance so we didn't waist precious time and knew exactly what was planned each day. We booked excursions to the WWII Memorial, Road to Hana on Maui, Volcanoes Nat'L Park and a doors-off helicopter ride over Kauai! We decided to keep a couple of days open to enjoy Kona on the Big Island and the beach in Kauai before the 1:30 all-aboard.
The early check-in process really, really streamlined the embarkation process. The disembarkation was a bit congested but not too bad at all, really, but then again we weren't in hurry to leave either.
At first the cabin seemed small but we finally figured out how to stow away our belongings and keep a tidy cabin. The bed was comfy with room underneath to stow our luggage. There were enough his/hers drawers too. I enjoyed being able to make a cup of coffee in the morning in our cabin. I actually think the coffee was better (stronger) than what was provided in the Aloha Cafe. The bathroom mirror and lighting was perfect for makeup and I actually loved that tiny shower. The bath products were very nice too. Michael took great care of us.
We chose to do the pedestrian thing. Shopped, visualized all the participants at the IronMan start/finish, Enjoyed brews at Kona Brewing. The poke bowl was amazing!