Our flight on Delta left DFW at 3:30 changing planes at LAX for Honolulu. Both flights were on time and we had the best inflight meal ever, tenderloin with mashed potatoes and spinach. We were in 1st class, seats were packed closely and did not recline. Sitting in front of us was Chi McBride, an actor from Hawaii 5-O show. Johnny Cab was waiting for us as soon as we picked up our luggage. The cost was $25 to the hotel, which was half the cost of a taxi. I was disappointed that we did not receive leis as we exited the airplane. Oh well. We arrived at the hotel, Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort after a 25 minute drive. We went straight to bed since it was 3 am Texas time.
Thursday
Views from our room.
Breakfast was included in our room (paid $10 per person extra) which was a good deal since the buffet was $36 per person. The line for breakfast was long to be seated and the line was even longer for omelets, otherwise food was plentiful and tasty. We met Bayta and Steve for a drink at the pool bar and then went across the street to the beach. Paid $30 for an umbrella and 2 chairs for 2 hours. Water was chilly!!
We met everyone downstairs at 4:30 and walked to the boarding for the sunset cruise on the Holokai Catamaran. Finding the boarding location wasn't easy and boarding the boat was really hard. No dock, the boat just beached on the sand and the stairs were rising and lowering with the waves. Once on the boat, the service was great. Frist mate, Michelle was from Houston and we all enjoyed talking to her. Again, getting off the boat was a challenge, maybe more than getting one, and many got wet. All in all, a good excursion. We put the sails up and it was a nice sail and not rough at all.
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| Michelle had all the guys attention |
After getting off the catamaran we headed to Duke's where we had reservations at 8:30, enjoying the walk to the restaurant.
We were really early but they got us in quickly. Both food and service were very good. We all remarked on how friendly everyone is and the excellent service we are receiving.
Friday
We were up early for our island tour with North Shores Beach bus. Greg and I were the only couple doing this tour. They picked us up right on time at 7:50 outside of our hotel. We were the last on and the first dropped off. No complaints there. First stop was a coffee stop at Green World Coffee. After a quick coffee/restroom break we headed to Pipeline Beach. Waves in the winter can be as high as 70 ft but it is very calm in the summer. One of the 3 main surfing competitions is held here.
Next was Waimea beach where we stopped for about an hour. There was a large rock that many jumped from.
After this we headed to Tsue's Farm for lunch where we both had the coconut shrimp, which was excellent.
The farm was located on a river so the setting was very nice.
After lunch we stopped at the Dole Plantation. There wasn't time for the maze or train tour but we did split a pineapple whip. It was good but the stop was basically a tourist trap.
A couple of scenic stops along the way.
Our last stop was Hanauma Bay where Greg snorkeled. Water was murky and hardly any coral but there were fish.
We were dropped off at the hotel around 5:30. Overall, a good tour with lots of good scenery. We cleaned up and met Steve and Bayta at the pool bar for drinks and watched the fireworks from the bar. Dinner was at an Italian restaurant- Arancino's. Food was very good.
Saturday
Breakfast at the hotel again this morning. The line to be seated was shorter but line for freshly cooked eggs was much longer. Checkout was at 11, we stored the luggage and had a drink at the pool bar. We headed to the port around 1 and was on the ship by 2. Lines were still long at 2, but we are a returning passenger so we had priority, which made the wait a bit shorter.
Did finally, get a lei as we entered the ship.
We headed to Skyline, the main dining room, for lunch. This would be the first of many dining experiences with friendly servers but OMG, everyone moved in slow motion. We wandered around the ship until our room was ready. We met our travel mates up on the top deck.
Our room was an aft balcony room on deck 10, under the outdoor eating area. Room is super small, bathroom and shower smaller but balcony extra long and wide. We had stayed in a similar room on the NCL Sky, so we knew what to expect.
Most nights when we returned to our room, we had a towel animal from our attendant, Carmen (more on her later). Don't see that many towel animals anymore on cruises, so a nice touch.
After muster in the restaurant on deck 6, our luggage had arrived and we unpacked. Views from our room during saliway.
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| Love the sound of the wake on the aft of the ship |
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| Beautiful sunset for sail away |
We met for drinks at Pinks and I bought 4 bottles of wine, saving $40. Dinner tonight was at Jefferson's Bistro at 7:30, celebrating Greg's birthday. Great meal but it took 2 hours. Again, great service but very slow.
Sunday
Day 1 in Maui. The Hana Highway, also known as the Divorce Highway, boasts 52 miles of beautiful scenary with 617 hair pin turns and 56 narrow, one-lane bridges. We opted for a tour, instead of doing it ourselves. We booked the Hana Highway with Valley Isle Excursions. Our driver for the 10 hour tour was Barry. He was full of information.
Words are hard to describe so hopefully the pictures will do it justice.
As we left the port, we stopped in Paia, a small town known as the surfer hippie town of Maui. In Paia, there is a bar, Charley's, supposedly owned by Willie Nelson. We had to make a stop!
Church and burial place of Charles Lindbergh
When we returned we quickly showered and met for dinner at Cucina to celebrate Bayta and Steve's 40th anniversary. We told the waiters that we wanted to make the 9 o'clock show but it didn't happen. We finished at 10!! It was a great meal celebrating their big night. Our dinner celebration was better than any show!
After dinner, we went to Pink's and listened to the piano player for about an hour and then off to bed.
Monday
Day 2
We rented a car from Hertz. After getting off the ship, you walk forever through the industrial port to the street. We met the Hertz shuttle in front of Whole Foods and they took us to the Maui Beach Resort where the rental car kiosk was located. Easy peasy getting the car and we were off to Lahaina. We parked the car at the outlet mail, looked around the stores and wandered the downtown area of town.
Lunch was at Bubba Gump's where they had a great view of the ocean and lunch was really good.
After lunch we drove to Paia where we had stopped yesterday to get a quick picture. We walked down to the bar Charley's. Our guide told us Charley's was owned by Willie Nelson, but the following information from Charley's website lists another owner. Hmmm.
"Charley was a Great Dane with and even greater spirit. He belonged to Jim Fuller, who opened the original Charley’s in Lahaina in 1969, as a fresh-fruit juice stand, supplying carrot juice and avocado sandwiches to surfers, hippies and locals.
Jim Fuller had arrived on Maui in 1967. The 29 year-old former Los Angeles High-School track star, had already dealt blackjack in Vegas and sold cars in Honolulu. Shortly after he arrived on Maui, he acquired a dog – a Very large dog – that grew to 160 pounds and four feet high. A Harlequin Great Date with pale blue eyes and an even disposition, he was named after the star of the movie “Goodbye Charley”.
After development encroached on his Front Street Lahaina location, Jim relocated his business to the town of Paia. Charley’s grew in popularity and Jim took over the rear of the building, opening a restaurant & saloon with a play on his dog’s name; "Charley P. Woofer Saloon”.
Any given day, Charley the dog could be found lounging around the restaurant or freely visiting his friends around Paia.
In 1978, Charley went to doggy heaven. His spirit remains strong and he was followed by AC (After Charley) and Woofer, both Harlequins. A long line of dogs and dog lovers have been associated with Charley’s ever since.
Willie Nelson dropped by Charley’s one day for breakfast. He and Jim Fuller became great friends and the first concert he played drew 800 fans. Willie remains a mainstay in the true spirit of the saloon and his family has been enjoying time at Charley’s for many years.
In August of 2011, ownership of Charley’s Restaurant & Saloon passed to Jonathan Herman, a long-time family friend of Jim’s and a dog-owner and lover. Jonathan grew up in Maui. While honoring the legacy and celebrating its history, Jonathan and his team are excited and passionate about guiding Charley’s through the next 40 years!"
Whoever owns it, it is a unique bar and we enjoyed the Texas connection. After a drink in Charley's we headed back to the hotel to turn in the car. The shuttle dropped us at the pier so we didn't have to make the long trek! We went for drinks at the Aloha Bar on deck 13 aft then went to the show at 7 (production show- Lights, Camera, Music). We ate tonight in the MDR Skyline at 8:30. Again, food was good, service so slow. Once we got waited on, service picked up.
Tuesday
Hilo on the Big Island.
Day started with a steady rain. We met our tour guide at 8:15. We were with Aina Tours. Our guide, Gil, was low key and we had a nice day, despite the rain!
Tour started at a large lava tube,
The next stop was the Volcano's National Park,
Macadamia Nut Factory
Last stop was the black sand beach where we saw a sea turtle.
After returning to the ship, we headed to our room and chilled. The show tonight was at 6:30, a magic show-Wonders a Magical Experience with Charles Bach. He was really good. After the show we had reservations at Cagneys. We hurried through dinner so we could see the lava flow from Kilauea Volcano, which we watched from our balcony. Pretty cool.
Wednesday
Kona
View from the ship.
We slept in and had breakfast at Cadillac's at 9. Probably the fastest service so far. We went straight to get our tender tickets and it was packed. Someone fell in boarding the tenders and all loading stopped until they had evacuated the person. After arriving, we went straight to the small beach and rented 2 chairs and an umbrella for $29 for all day.
Around 12:30 we were going to go wandering the shops and Steve and Bayta came but no chairs or umbrellas left to rent. We swapped out, they stayed on the beach and we wandered the town, buying our magnet and Greg buying Kona coffee.
Greg wanted to go to Kona Brewing so I went back to the beach and Steve joined Greg in search of the brewery. They were successful!
The tender lines had been very long but when we walked up, we got right on. After cleaning up, we went to Pink's for a pre show drink and then to see the comedian, Michael Sommerville. He was really very funny. After the show we ate in Cadillac's for dinner and then a nightcap in the Wine Bar.
Thursday
Kauai
We arrrived at 8 am instead of the scheduled 10 am. If we had known this we would have scheduled an excursion prior to the evening's event.
View from the balcony.
After breakfast in Skyline we took the trolley up the hill and walked around a bit, buying a few more items for the kids.
We tried going to Nawilliwilli Tavern for a drink but they weren't open
so we went back and stopped at JJ's Boiler for Bloody Mary's where we had a nice table overlooking the beach with a nice breeze.
We walked back to the ship and had lunch at the Key West Grill. Pretty good hamburger and then back to the room to get ready for tonight's excursion. We finally met our room attendant, Carmen. She cleans 17 rooms up front and only our room at the back of the boat. Sounds pretty stupid to me, but not her fault. The room has been clean everyday and no complaints but it is veryunusual to not see your attendant until the end of the cruise.
We met in the theater at 3:50 for our Plantation Tour and Luau at Luau Kalamaku. The train ride was enjoyable and we had time to walk around before dinner was served.
Two drinks were included and we had maitais and blue Hawaiians. Dinner was a buffet and we finally tasted poi. Really had no taste.
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| Uneathering of the roasted pig |
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| blowing the conch shell signals the start of the ceremony |
The show was the history of the islands, more of a pageant than a typical luau, paying homage to a time of separation, a time of enduring courage, and a time of celebration and reuniting.
Friday
Today was Waimea Canyon on an excursion with the ship.We met outside the port at 7:45. Tour was to the canyon but first a bathroom stop at the tourist trap. The canyon was spectacular. It was hazy but we still got some good pictures.
After leaving the canyon we stopped at a coffee plantation
and then the last stop was a blow hole, which was really a hole in a lava tube.
We arrived back at the ship at 1 and went straight to Skyline for lunch. Same experience, good food with very slow service. We would be passing by the Napoli coast at 5:15 so we got out the suitcases and starting packing. As we got closer to the Napoli coast it went from sunny to cloudy and sprinkled rain on us but the coast was spectacular and the sun poked out a few times for some good pictures.
We had booked a speciality restaurant for tonight but they changed the entertainment scheduled and moved "Oh, What A Night" to tonight. We canceled our speciality reservation and made a dinner reservation for after the show. Stopped for drinks in Pinks before the show. The show did not disappoint, definitely the best of the cruise, maybe any cruise. It definitely lived up to its reviews.
Dinner was good and probably had our best service tonight.
Saturday
Honolulu
We ate breakfast in Skyline and met out tour for Pearl Harbor and airport transfer at 8:15 in the theater. As we left the ship, we claimed our luggage and they loaded it on the bus for airline drop off. The tour started in downtown Honolulu
Off to Pearl Harbor. We had a 1:30 tour time for the Arizona so we toured the Missouri first. We did the 30 min information tour and it was interesting.
After the Missouri we looked around the submarine area but didn't do the tour.
The tour for the Arizona worked like clockwork, watching the film first then riding the ferry to the memorial and back. Words can't describe your feelings.
After getting back we grabbed a bite to eat and then went to the gift store and back to the bus. We were dropped off, checked in, and had 4 hours to wait. We found a bar and ordered a couple of rounds of drinks to pass the time.
