The-Inside-Cabin

I was looking for something built into a case. I also go the full size apple magic keyboard, but if I am using that I probably will be on my laptop. I'm still playing around with what's best for me.

ISHIGAKI, JAPAN – GLASS BOTTOM BOATS AND FU CHANPURŪ (POST # 37) FEBRUARY 23, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We snorkel without getting wet and try the local dish: Fu Chanpurū ARRIVAL ISHIGAKI We arrived about 7 am to give time for the Japanese Immigration Officials to get set up before our official arrival at 8 am. Cruise Director Kimberly announced a little before 8 am that all people on HAL tours leaving before 10:30 should now go to Immigration. Here was the setup on the Pier in Ishigaki – the tent in the center was for customs inspectors As usual, the inspection was taking place in the MDR on Deck 3. I wandered down to check out the queue, and it was packed – stretching back almost to the World Stage. People were coming down the mid-ship stairs and trying to figure out where the end of the line was. We had no specific plans so we were in no hurry to get off. Our Deck, Deck 8, was called at 9:56 am. Then at 10:04, they announced the “final call,” and everyone should proceed to Immigration. The line started around the Ocean Bar when we arrived but moved quickly and we were completed, back in our room in about 15 minutes. We got arrival stickers in our passports. This was the first stamp or sticker put in our passports for all cruises. BUS TO FERRY TERMINAL A little before Noon, we headed to the dock, passed through customs after giving them our customs form and boarded a waiting shuttle bus. A few taxis were available. The shuttle bus ride to the Ferry Terminal took 10 minutes. No food or fruit allowed ashore The Ferry terminal sends ferries to outlying islands and was filled with local tourists. A table set up in the center of the terminal had a sign offering help to cruise ship passengers. An ATM was near the entrance and I withdrew 50,000 Yen for $347. Changing the same amount on the ship would have been $361. The cost at the official bank rate was $332. I suspect that if I found an ATM outside the Ferry terminal, I may have gotten a better rate. The machine gave me five 10,000 Yen notes, which is basically a $60 bill, but they weren’t hard to use, and everyone accepted the large bill without hesitation. The ATM machine allowed you to select English. Make sure you know how much Yen you want to withdraw – not how many dollars. Having a phone with Google Translate will significantly enhance your tourist experience and is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Google translate will help you identify snacks in the grocery store, menus, museum placards, store signs – you name it. This, along with a map program, will allow you to explore with confidence and not be restricted to shops and stores with English menus and signs. You have to download the languages while you have good WIFI before you can use them offline. We also use Pocket Earth, MAPS.ME and Google Maps, which will make your touring much more enjoyable. They are all available for use offline if you plan ahead. Without Google Translate – you would never know what this statue was all about Here is the placard on the statue’s base – translated TAXI TO GLASS BOTTOM BOAT We asked one of the hosts at the Cruise Ship Help Desk about getting a taxi to Kariba Bay for the glass bottom boat tour. He walked us out to the taxi stand and negotiated a round-trip fare to Kariba Bay (about 12 miles each way) and back for 8,800 Yen. The driver would take credit cards but preferred cash. I downloaded the Japan Taxi Apps DIDI and GOTAXI, which I would have used if the Cruise ship hosts weren’t available. You could have also typed in “Glass Bottom Boat Kariba Bay” and got the job done. The drive to Kariba Bay took about 25 minutes and the driver pointed to the ticket booth where we bought out tickets for 1,300 Yen each. The driver followed us inside to help with the purchase. He drove us to the spot where we would walk down to the beach to catch the boats and showed us where he would be waiting for us after the ride. Our driver didn’t speak much English, but he was friendly and helpful GLASS BOTTOM BOAT The boats ran aground on the beach and lowered a boarding stair – one of the boat crew waved us over, and we got onboard. The boat was soon filled with Japanese tourists, and we were on our way for the 30-minute tour. It’s easy to see the fish and coral as we glide over the shallow bay. The boat crew made announcements from time to time, but they were all in Japanese. We spotted dozens of fish and a few turtles. This was my first time in a glass bottom boat, and it was sorta like snorkeling, only you didn’t have to get wet, and you could move around more quickly. It was hard to take pictures through the reflection on the glass. Waiting for our boat Here are the stairs you have to climb HAL tour loaded after our return Good views of the bottom, but hard to photogragh FU CHANPURU We got back to the Ferry Terminal around 2 pm. The last shuttle bus was at 3:40. After checking out the rest of the Ferry Terminal, we headed out looking for an interesting restaurant. Many of them were closed at this time of day, but we found one close by, Yaeyama Noodie and Country Dishes. Once inside we were seated and given an IPAD sized tablet, with the menu in English, to make our selections and order. We picked the local specialty Fu Chanpurū, which is a stir-fried dish containing vegetables, tofu, spam, wheat gluten, bean sprouts, and more. There are several different versions, and you will find various choices. Chopsticks were the only utensils available. Yaeyama Noodie and Country Dishes Order on a tablet Fu Chanpurū Our check was available on the Tablet – pay at the register By the time we left the restaurant, it was close to 3 pm so we decided to make a loop around a large city block and walk through Euglena Mall, which was several pedestrian only covered shopping streets – not the traditional mall you would find in the US. We browsed thru several shops and picked up some Sata Andagi, which is a local treat similar to a fried doughnut hole. Google translate was helpful to learned about the details of everything for sale. Inside the Mall We bought a keychain and Sata Andagi here, Spam is very popular in Okinawa BACK TO SHIP We got the last shuttle bus back to the ship. The SailAway was moved to Deck 3 in anticipation of a departure ceremony, but with the cool weather and high winds – that never materialized. WORLD STAGE Trumpeter Chaw was on the World Stage and put on a wonderful show – this time accompanied by the Grand World Voyage Orchestra. This performance included Pick Up the Pieces, The Look of Love, Spain, When I Fall in Love and ended with Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk.

I bought three different keyboards to try them out. Here are the Amazon descriptions – you can find a bunch a reviews on YouTube Typecase Keyboard Case for iPad Mini 6 - Trackpad - Wireless Case with Keyboard for iPad Mini 6th Generation 8.3" 2021-10 Colors Backlit Keyboard Cover - Midnight Black - $65 This one has a trackpad and the apostrophe key can be used without pressing the Fn key first. This is my favorite. --$65 The other two I tried are identical but labeled differently – they are exactly the same. They are all OK GreenLaw iPad Mini 6 8.3 inch 2021 Case with Keyboard, Magnetic Detachable, Bluetooth Wireless, Silicone+ABS Case, Type-C Rechargeable, Grey - $50 Arteck iPad Mini 6 (8.3-inch) Keyboard Case, Bluetooth Keyboard with Folio Full Protection Shockproof Case for Apple 8.3-inch iPad Mini 6 (2021) with 130 Degree Swivel Rotating Arteck – . --$36

Took s taxi to the other side of the island for a glass bottom boat ride. RT taxi $58. Boat ride $9 the ship is at the bottom. boat ride at the top

Arrived Ishigaki - Clearing Immigration took two hours. Very windy - low 70's Getting ready to explore the city Customs tent No Fruit!

HONOLULU – ANTIQUE HAWAIIAN SHIRTS (POST #36) FEBRUARY 8, 2024 We shop for Hawaiian shirts and visit a house without a key ARRIVAL HONOLULU We arrived at the Pier 2 cruise terminal early and the ship was cleared before 8 am. Today, we planned to visit the Navy Base Pearl Harbor to shop at the Navy Exchange and Commissary, then visit Waikiki. HUI RENTAL CAR We usually rent a car when we visit Honolulu. We used to take a taxi to the airport or a Waikiki Hotel to get a car. In 2022, we discovered a car rental agency called HUI, where you can rent a car for $12 per hour, up to a day max of about $125. This includes full insurance and gas. The selling point is that the cars are parked within an easy walk, about 1/3 mile from our cruise terminal. While the cost of the car is higher, when you factor in the cost of a taxi and the convivence, it’s worth the higher cost to me. More HERE. A smartphone and experience with connecting to devices via Bluetooth are required. You need to upload a copy of your Driver’s license and get approved in advance – so plan ahead – this is not something you can do at the last minute. We left the ship around 1 pm and took about 15 minutes to walk to our HUI rental car. You don’t get a key because your phone works as a key to unlock and start the car. We were in a parking garage that used license plate readers to open the gate as we left. The previous driver returned the car empty. You are supposed to fill it up to at least 1/4 tank, so we reported the issue, and the previous driver will be charged $25. We had to get gas immediately using the Hui credit card in the glove box. This sign points the way to your car I take a video of the car before leaving to record its condition NAVY BASE PEARL HARBOR If you have Military Exchange Privileges, I recommend you stop by Pearl Harbor (about 8 miles away) and check out the Navy Exchange. They have a wide variety of Hawaii souvenirs and everything else. After shopping at the Navy Exchange – we headed to Waikiki. Rush hour traffic in Honolulu is horrible, and it took us about 40 minutes to travel the 12 miles to our next destination, Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts. BAILEY’S ANTIQUES AND ALOHA SHIRTS We enjoy wearing Hawaiian shirts and wear them almost always in San Diego. When we heard about a place that sold antique, specialty, and collectible Hawaiian shirts, we couldn’t pass it up. Metered parking is available on the street in front of the store – you can use quarters or credit cards. Bailey’s Antiques and Aloha Shirts Inc. was founded in 1980. You can also shop online HERE. The store is open from 11 am to 5 pm, and we only had about 20 minutes to shop. We could have easily spent an hour or more as they have over 15,000 shirts, arranged by size, in two large rooms. The place is chock full of shirts without much room in the aisles. The shirts are also arranged by brand. The friendly clerk will get you oriented and then leave you alone to shop. I picked up four shirts, and Judy found one. They also have Hawaiiana antiques and collectibles, including lighters (Zippos and Hawaiian), Levi and Nike items, Hawaiian LPs, figurines, jewelry, sheet music, military items, toys and postcards. The Rainbow Drive Inn, one of our favorite local spots to get Loco Moco, is across the street. WAIKIKI AND A HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY Our go-to parking spot in Waikiki are the several lots around Fort Debussy. We usually head to the multi-level garage at 2004-2036 Kalia Rd. There are also surface lots available – more HERE. The lot is open to the public. There is a military discount available, but you have to go over to the Hale Koa hotel to get validated. The House Without a Key, is an oceanfront restaurant in the Hakekulani Hotel. There is open seating for cocktails and an Aloha Show. You can make reservations for dinner, but the open seating has better views of the show and the sunset. Bring your wallet – it’s not an inexpensive place to eat and drink. It was crowded when we arrived, and we almost left, but a couple at a high top near the bar spotted us and said they were leaving, so we grabbed their table. You can order the complete dinner menu anywhere, including the bar where we were seated. The food was OK – we got a pizza, crab cake, a starter of ribs, and a couple of drinks – $150. Ribs Pizza Drinks Crab Cake Don’t worry about sitting near the view of the ocean as everyone rushes to the edge of the beach when the sun goes down blocking the view of anyone sitting at the tables. WHOLE FOODS AMAZON I ordered a keyboard for my Ipad Mini on Amazon and had it shipped to the Amazon Counter at Whole Foods located at 388 Kamakee Street in Honolulu. There is free parking in a multi-level garage across the street. Be aware that 2 day shipping is not available. What I could have gotten in 2 days in San Diego ended up taking 2 weeks to get to Hawaii. They will hold the item for two weeks. HAWAII CULTURAL SHOW Back on the ship, a local group put on a very nice show featuring a variety of Polynesian dances and songs. MAPS

HILO’S RAINBOW FALLS AND LAVA FLOWS (POST 35) FEBRUARY 6, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We explore Kalapana, near the southernmost spot in the USA, and see where the Lava meets the sea, then Rainbow Falls and Loco Moco. HILO ARRIVAL The Zuiderdam moored alongside Pier 1 with a walkway leading to a large warehouse-type building that functions as the cruise terminal. Ship’s staff greeted us with flower leis as we walked down the pier. Every passenger received a fresh flower lei I reserved a car from AVIS at the airport a few miles away. AVIS will send a shuttle to pick you up from the cruise port, but there is a good chance they won’t answer their phone, and you will probably be in for a long wait. I recommend taking one of the waiting taxis to the airport for $20. You can count on getting a shuttle back to the port after you return the car. The HILO AVIS doesn’t have a preferred lot, but if you are preferred, then your paperwork will be ready to go. You will only need to present your driver’s license and be on your way. All the major rental car companies are at the airport. BLACK SANDS BEACH The road to Kalapana is well-maintained and easy, taking about 45 minutes. When you reach the end of the road at Kalapana, turn right and drive about 1/4 mile to the end. We parked in a cul-de-sac where you will find Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers Market. The Farmers Market is on Saturday, and they have music on Wednesday evenings if you are in Hilo late or overnight. A smoothie shack and ‘Uncle’s Kitchen’ serve BBQ plates, local-style food plates, burgers, appetizers, and fresh fish burgers or plates from 11 am to 7 pm. More HERE. Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar Uncle’s Kitchen Walk around a gate, closed to keep cars out, walk through the space for a Flea Market, and continue about 1/3 of a mile to Kaimu Black Sand Beach. There’s not much of a beach but a black, rocky coastline created from old lava flows over the years. Follow this sign to the beach This is the path to the Black Sand Beach The Black Sand Beach doesn’t have much sand There aren’t any signs or tourist infrastructure. KALAPANA GARDENS Kalapana Gardens is a housing development west of Kalapana. It was first developed in the 1960’s and was a relative bargain by Hawaii real estate prices. In 1990, most of the houses were destroyed by lava flows, and residents have been rebuilding over the last 30 years. We drove a couple of miles to see the houses from a distance. Excellent views of the Pacific, but pretty desolate. There is no grass to cut here. Real estate is pretty cheap here The Volcano is off in the distance, hidden by the clouds More HERE KEHENA BLACK SANDS BEACH Kehena Black Sands Beach, Four miles east of Kalapana, was easily accessible until 1975, when an earthquake destroyed the access stairs and lowered the beach by 3 feet. It’s now hard to get to, plus it was raining when we pulled into the parking lot overlook. More HERE STAR OF THE SEA PAINTED CHURCH The Star of the Sea Painted Church was built in 1930 by Father Gielen. It was moved about 1/2 mile east to its present location in 1990 when the lava flows that destroyed many houses in Kalapana threatened the church. Father Evarist Gielen, “mixing house paint and linseed oil, painted an array of biblical scenes on Star of the Sea’s ceiling and walls — a massive and moody nativity mural; a guardian angel suspended over children in a garden; Saint Cecilia, patron of musicians, surrounded by rosy cherubs” more HERE. We stopped here for about 15 minutes to check it out. It’s well worth your time. Star of the Sea Painted Church Inside the church CAFÉ 100 Loco Moco is our favorite local Hawaiian food dish, and Café 100 bills itself as the home of the Loco Moco. Loco Moco was created in Hilo in 1949 by Richard Inouye and his wife, Nancy. Loco Moco is simple to make, consisting of a hamburger patty over rice, covered with brown gravy, and topped with a sunny-side-up fried egg. Café 100 serves over 30 different versions of Loco Moco. The name came from teenagers from a Hilo sports club – The Lincoln Wreckers – who named the dish after one of their members whose nickname was “Crazy”. Loco is Spanish for Crazy, and Moco rhymes with Loco. You order standing up at a window – picnic tables are available. The only toilet is a porta-pottie I got the Chili Moco (on the left) Judy got the original on the right. Café 100 takes its name from its founder, Richard Miyashiro, who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion in WW II. More HERE KING KAMEHAMEHA STATUE The King Kamehameha statue in Hilo is at 774 Kamehameha Ave in Wailoa River State Park. We stopped by for a quick picture before continuing to Rainbow Falls. RAINBOW FALLS AND BOILING POTS Rainbow Falls is about 4 miles from the ship and worth a stop. There is free parking within 100 yards of the viewing platform. You can climb some stairs to the top of the falls for a different perspective. People don’t spend much time here, so if the parking lot is full, spots will open in a few minutes. The best time to see a rainbow is in the morning on a sunny day. Another 1.5 miles up the road is the Boiling Pots, which are small rapids that look like boiling water. The view spot is about 100 yards from the parking lot on a level pathway. There isn’t much to the Boiling Pots; you could pass on these if pressed for time. The rapids look like “boiling pots” BIG ISLAND CANDIES If you are on a HAL tour, there is a 90 percent chance you will stop at Big Island Candies located at their Factory and Flagship store in Hilo at 585 Hinano St. You will be given a sample as you enter and you can view the workers thru a window in the back of the store. There is plenty to choose from, and it’s all great. You can buy most of the same products at the nearby Walmart if you are pressed for time. Stopping here is worth your time, even if you don’t plan on buying anything. Clean restrooms are available. The Big Island Candy factory is open for viewing behind glass Our driving route Our Hilo stops Our stops near Black Sands Beach

HILO’S RAINBOW FALLS AND LAVA FLOWS (POST 35) FEBRUARY 6, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We explore Kalapana, near the southernmost spot in the USA, and see where the Lava meets the sea, then Rainbow Falls and Loco Moco. HILO ARRIVAL The Zuiderdam moored alongside Pier 1 with a walkway leading to a large warehouse-type building that functions as the cruise terminal. Ship’s staff greeted us with flower leis as we walked down the pier. Every passenger received a fresh flower lei I reserved a car from AVIS at the airport a few miles away. AVIS will send a shuttle to pick you up from the cruise port, but there is a good chance they won’t answer their phone, and you will probably be in for a long wait. I recommend taking one of the waiting taxis to the airport for $20. You can count on getting a shuttle back to the port after you return the car. The HILO AVIS doesn’t have a preferred lot, but if you are preferred, then your paperwork will be ready to go. You will only need to present your driver’s license and be on your way. All the major rental car companies are at the airport. BLACK SANDS BEACH The road to Kalapana is well-maintained and easy, taking about 45 minutes. When you reach the end of the road at Kalapana, turn right and drive about 1/4 mile to the end. We parked in a cul-de-sac where you will find Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers Market. The Farmers Market is on Saturday, and they have music on Wednesday evenings if you are in Hilo late or overnight. A smoothie shack and ‘Uncle’s Kitchen’ serve BBQ plates, local-style food plates, burgers, appetizers, and fresh fish burgers or plates from 11 am to 7 pm. More HERE. Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar Uncle’s Kitchen Walk around a gate, closed to keep cars out, walk through the space for a Flea Market, and continue about 1/3 of a mile to Kaimu Black Sand Beach. There’s not much of a beach but a black, rocky coastline created from old lava flows over the years. Follow this sign to the beach This is the path to the Black Sand Beach The Black Sand Beach doesn’t have much sand There aren’t any signs or tourist infrastructure. KALAPANA GARDENS Kalapana Gardens is a housing development west of Kalapana. It was first developed in the 1960’s and was a relative bargain by Hawaii real estate prices. In 1990, most of the houses were destroyed by lava flows, and residents have been rebuilding over the last 30 years. We drove a couple of miles to see the houses from a distance. Excellent views of the Pacific, but pretty desolate. There is no grass to cut here. Real estate is pretty cheap here The Volcano is off in the distance, hidden by the clouds More HERE KEHENA BLACK SANDS BEACH Kehena Black Sands Beach, Four miles east of Kalapana, was easily accessible until 1975, when an earthquake destroyed the access stairs and lowered the beach by 3 feet. It’s now hard to get to, plus it was raining when we pulled into the parking lot overlook. More HERE STAR OF THE SEA PAINTED CHURCH The Star of the Sea Painted Church was built in 1930 by Father Gielen. It was moved about 1/2 mile east to its present location in 1990 when the lava flows that destroyed many houses in Kalapana threatened the church. Father Evarist Gielen, “mixing house paint and linseed oil, painted an array of biblical scenes on Star of the Sea’s ceiling and walls — a massive and moody nativity mural; a guardian angel suspended over children in a garden; Saint Cecilia, patron of musicians, surrounded by rosy cherubs” more HERE. We stopped here for about 15 minutes to check it out. It’s well worth your time. Star of the Sea Painted Church Inside the church CAFÉ 100 Loco Moco is our favorite local Hawaiian food dish, and Café 100 bills itself as the home of the Loco Moco. Loco Moco was created in Hilo in 1949 by Richard Inouye and his wife, Nancy. Loco Moco is simple to make, consisting of a hamburger patty over rice, covered with brown gravy, and topped with a sunny-side-up fried egg. Café 100 serves over 30 different versions of Loco Moco. The name came from teenagers from a Hilo sports club – The Lincoln Wreckers – who named the dish after one of their members whose nickname was “Crazy”. Loco is Spanish for Crazy, and Moco rhymes with Loco. You order standing up at a window – picnic tables are available. The only toilet is a porta-pottie I got the Chili Moco (on the left) Judy got the original on the right. Café 100 takes its name from its founder, Richard Miyashiro, who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion in WW II. More HERE KING KAMEHAMEHA STATUE The King Kamehameha statue in Hilo is at 774 Kamehameha Ave in Wailoa River State Park. We stopped by for a quick picture before continuing to Rainbow Falls. RAINBOW FALLS AND BOILING POTS Rainbow Falls is about 4 miles from the ship and worth a stop. There is free parking within 100 yards of the viewing platform. You can climb some stairs to the top of the falls for a different perspective. People don’t spend much time here, so if the parking lot is full, spots will open in a few minutes. The best time to see a rainbow is in the morning on a sunny day. Another 1.5 miles up the road is the Boiling Pots, which are small rapids that look like boiling water. The view spot is about 100 yards from the parking lot on a level pathway. There isn’t much to the Boiling Pots; you could pass on these if pressed for time. The rapids look like “boiling pots” BIG ISLAND CANDIES If you are on a HAL tour, there is a 90 percent chance you will stop at Big Island Candies located at their Factory and Flagship store in Hilo at 585 Hinano St. You will be given a sample as you enter and you can view the workers thru a window in the back of the store. There is plenty to choose from, and it’s all great. You can buy most of the same products at the nearby Walmart if you are pressed for time. Stopping here is worth your time, even if you don’t plan on buying anything. Clean restrooms are available. The Big Island Candy factory is open for viewing behind glass Our driving route Our Hilo stops Our stops near Black Sands Beach

Last night the main event was the "Night of Music". This is where the various musicians join in the different venues to collaborate on outstanding performances. There weren't the normal two shows this evening, but one continuous "Night of Music" show that moved around the ship starting at 4 PM in the Ocean Bar and continued until well past 11 PM in the Rolling Stone Lounge. The highlight was at 9 PM on the World Stage, where all the musicians gathered for a big finale. The World stage was packed with everyone on their feet for the rousing final song! Great time! But it wasn't the "final" finale as they continued in Billboard On Board and finally in the Rolling Stone Lounge. They announced yesterday that they knew this would be a late night, so they decided to change the clocks last night rather than the night before so the late-night partiers would have extra time to get to breakfast this morning. Here is a YouTube Short with a few highlights World Stage 9 PM show finale Billboard on Board pianos collaborate with the String Trio to sing "Blackbird"

On longer cruises, you must repeat the Safety Drill every thirty days. In the past, they would do it as you return from a shore excursion, which would often require an earlier all-aboard time than would otherwise be the case. Now, since they do the drill by visiting your muster station and watching the video, we can do it at sea - Nice! We are doing our third drill of the cruise today

I was interesting to hear how much confidence the simulator gave the Captain to make the port despite the high winds in a narrow channel.

We made the local papers in Saipan - More HERE and HERE. During his noon talk today, Capt Frank discussed how they used the CSMART technology aboard the Zuiderdam to simulate transiting the narrow channel with the forecast weather. This gave the Capt confidence that they could handle the 35 knots of wind expected. Without this technology, they would have likely canceled the port.

Last night's guest entertainer was a Thai Trumpeter, Chawasit Romyanonda, who goes by CHAW. Here is a YouTube short of him performing his signature song "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong https://youtube.com/shorts/-g1BLJaCncw?feature=share

Never mind

We drove 48 miles today. From one end of the island to the other. Car cost $100 including zero deductible insurance and gas. I always pay extra for insurance when renting off the ship. My credit card and my own auto insurance will probably cover but getting the extra insurance will speed things up if something happens. Less hassles. Here is our track

They usually unplug stuff so they can plug in their vacuum cleaner.....

We had a great day in Saipan. People were very friendly across the board. Great day! Here is a one-minute video of the Old Japanese Jail in Garapan - This is on the HAL Tour - South Saipan. As we getting ready to sail away - we enjoyed an outstanding performance from the Saipan Awaodori Team Here is a one minute wrap up of our visit to Saipan

Arrived Saipan. Rented a car. Enterprise met us at the port. Nice. We are doing both the HAL tours of north and south Saipan on our own A few short videos as we tour the island.

Arrived Guam around 8 am. We cleared immigration quickly. Never much of a line. Guam sent over at least a dozen officials and on a Sunday. We were off the ship by 9 Took the free shuttle to the Dusit Thani - and arrived about 9:30 We chartered a mini bus for $80 and hour from Guam bus company. There are 9 of us. Andersen AFB was our first stop - drove the history tour route for 2 hours. Then on to Two lovers. We are now enroute to Asan Bay Overlook.

Here are a few highlights from yesterday. Our second "For Cakes Sake" was presented in the Lido at 3PM. This is where the entire LIDO is transformed into a massive bakery with a wide variety of tasty treats. Judy Carmichael wowed the crowd with her second performance. Spectacular

Yes - less than 1/4 mile

KONA “PIRATE” FOOD TOUR – (POST #34) FEBRUARY 17, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We visit six restaurants on our self-guided “Pirate” Food Tour – that go the same places as the HAL foodie tour. KONA ARRIVAL We returned to the USA this morning and had to clear Customs & Immigration. The ship called us down by deck, but we waited until the end since we didn’t have early plans. There wasn’t any line by the time we entered the MDR on Deck 3. The Customs officers didn’t even require us to open our passports – so the real checking was done in advance, and this inspection was cursory and a formality. KONA “PIRATE” FOOD TOUR We went ashore around noon and planned to repeat our 2022 Kona Food tour (read about it HERE) – with Kim and George from Table 89. The HAL tour was sold out and the price had raised to $239 a person. If you are here on a non-cruise ship day, the same tour is $129, and you can book it HERE . We were looking forward to finding out how much it would cost for us to buy the same dishes. Use this map to help find the restaurants if you want to do your own “Pirate” food tour FIRST STOP – FISH HOPPER The Fish Hopper from the street The Fish Hopper is close to the tender pier and sits on a platform above street level. Their specialty is Clam Chowder. We ordered cups for $9.95 each and a half bottle of La Marca Prosecco for $13 (serves 3 people). We didn’t need reservations when we arrived around 11:30 am. Our waitress was Nicole, who was very friendly and provided excellent service. The chowder was great. We were here for about 30 minutes. Ready to go in the Fish Hopper Pete with Nicole Award winning clam chowder Tasty Kona, a retail shop selling cookies, candies, and other snacks, is the second stop on the official tour, but since we were on our own “Pirate Food Tour,” we decided to stop here last so we wouldn’t have to carry our purchases for the rest of the day. SECOND STOP – KONA INN The Kona Inn entrance is hidden from the street The Kona Inn is a little hard to find – It’s off the main street inside a shopping area. You may have to ask someone if you can’t find it immediately. When you arrive, tell the hostess that you only want drinks at the bar, and she will wave you in. There isn’t waiter service, so you have to order their Kona Inn “World Famous” Mai Tais ($13.50) from the bar. You can either sit at the bar or in a small area with tables above the bar where the tables are marked for self-service. We noticed that the Mai Tais we bought on our Pirate tour are served in larger glassed with a pineapple garnish where the HAL Tour Mai Tais are a little smaller without the pineapple. Pete, George, and Kim enjoy the World Famous Mai-tais These Mai-Tais are made with light and dark rum and are delicious! We were here for about 30 minutes. THIRD STOP – FOSTERS KITCHEN We went out of order since we learned that the normal third stop, Pa’Akai Poké, is closed on Tuesday, but we didn’t find that out until we walked a couple hundred yards to it’s location off the main street. We learned later that the tour will be substituting Kai Eats and Drinks on Tuesdays. If you go to Pa’Akai Poké, you’ll want to order the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl with a Mac Salad. Get some fresh fruit as well, if available. Exterior of Foster’s Kitchen – The restaurant is on the second floor. Use the stairs on the right. Fosters Kitchen is on the second floor – you will find stairs at the end of the building. Fosters Kitchen is attached to another building via an elevated walkway. The other building has an elevator if necessary. Ready to head up to Foster’s Kitchen The Fish and Chips, fried in country-style cornmeal, is your food choice here, along with a craft beer. The standard entrée comes with three pieces of fish for $24. We split one order per couple. The food tour will allocate one fish piece per person and a small beer. The fish was spectacular – highly recommended. These fish and chips were among the best we have ever had. We lingered here for almost an hour before moving on. FOURTH STOP – GYPSEA GELATO Around the corner from Fosters Kitchen is Gypsea Gelato, a small ice cream shop with an excellent selection. Menu HERE Gypsea Gelato Entrance You can order multiple scoops in any size, from mini to extra large. We got the small size, and as expected, the ice cream was delicious. The HAL tour will get you the mini size. The staff is friendly and eager to help The seating is outside on a covered patio FIFTH STOP – PAPA KONA’s We backtracked to Papa Kona’s, located on the top lanai of the Waterfront Row, heading back toward the tender landing. More HERE The entrance to Papa Kona’s is not visible from the street. The restaurant is set back from the street so you may have to ask to find the entrance if you get disoriented. The restaurant has excellent views. Here, you will order Avocado Fries (panko breaded avocado topped with teriyaki sauce & sambal aioli) for $24. One order was plenty for our group of four. The special drink to get here is the UBE-BE, made with Rumhaven’s naturally infused coconut rum & coconut water mixed with a local ube syrup and fresh lemon, topped with prosecco – $15. The Ube-be drinks are on the left and right. They offer a non-alcoholic version – that’s the one in the tumbler Avocado Fries SIXTH STOP – KAI EATS AND DRINKS As you leave Papa Kona’s, you will walk right by the Kai Eats and Drinks entrance. This place looks small from the street, but it is pretty big. More HERE Entrance to Kai Eats and Drinks Here, you will order the Luau Pizza – with Roasted Pineapple, Kalua Pork, Mozzarella, Scallion, and Hoisin-Honey Mustard Sauce ($22). The drink to order is the Pina Colada or one of their specialty Mai Tais. The Pizza is a nice size for sharing – about 12 inches. The Luau Pizza is delicious SEVENTH STOP – TASTY KONA Tasty Kona entrance You will pass by two Tasty Kona locations in Kona – you can stop in either one. They feature “Treats & Treasures from local farmers & entrepreneurs.” A wide variety of local products are available, along with samples if you ask. A few of the many items for sale inside Tasty Kona BOTTOM LINE We had a great time and this Pirate Food Tour is easy. Remember that your items will be larger than you find on the tour. You can order less than we did, share more, and still end up full – there is a lot of food. Here is what we spent for the two of us. These prices include 20-25% tips. Our cost per person was $104 – The normal tour is $129, and HAL charges $239. You will also get interesting commentary and tips if you choose the HAL tour. You can’t go wrong with any food tour in Kona! Here is the cost breakdown by restaurant for two people. Kona Inn 25.36 Fish Hopper 36.65 Foster’s Kitchen 47.34 Kai 46.22 Gypsea 14.68 Papa Kona 38.02 208.27

KONA “PIRATE” FOOD TOUR – (POST #34) FEBRUARY 17, 2024 Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2024 World Cruise Show More Posts We visit six restaurants on our self-guided “Pirate” Food Tour – that go the same places as the HAL foodie tour. KONA ARRIVAL We returned to the USA this morning and had to clear Customs & Immigration. The ship called us down by deck, but we waited until the end since we didn’t have early plans. There wasn’t any line by the time we entered the MDR on Deck 3. The Customs officers didn’t even require us to open our passports – so the real checking was done in advance, and this inspection was cursory and a formality. KONA “PIRATE” FOOD TOUR We went ashore around noon and planned to repeat our 2022 Kona Food tour (read about it HERE) – with Kim and George from Table 89. The HAL tour was sold out and the price had raised to $239 a person. If you are here on a non-cruise ship day, the same tour is $129, and you can book it HERE . We were looking forward to finding out how much it would cost for us to buy the same dishes. Use this map to help find the restaurants if you want to do your own “Pirate” food tour FIRST STOP – FISH HOPPER The Fish Hopper from the street The Fish Hopper is close to the tender pier and sits on a platform above street level. Their specialty is Clam Chowder. We ordered cups for $9.95 each and a half bottle of La Marca Prosecco for $13 (serves 3 people). We didn’t need reservations when we arrived around 11:30 am. Our waitress was Nicole, who was very friendly and provided excellent service. The chowder was great. We were here for about 30 minutes. Ready to go in the Fish Hopper Pete with Nicole Award winning clam chowder Tasty Kona, a retail shop selling cookies, candies, and other snacks, is the second stop on the official tour, but since we were on our own “Pirate Food Tour,” we decided to stop here last so we wouldn’t have to carry our purchases for the rest of the day. SECOND STOP – KONA INN The Kona Inn entrance is hidden from the street The Kona Inn is a little hard to find – It’s off the main street inside a shopping area. You may have to ask someone if you can’t find it immediately. When you arrive, tell the hostess that you only want drinks at the bar, and she will wave you in. There isn’t waiter service, so you have to order their Kona Inn “World Famous” Mai Tais ($13.50) from the bar. You can either sit at the bar or in a small area with tables above the bar where the tables are marked for self-service. We noticed that the Mai Tais we bought on our Pirate tour are served in larger glassed with a pineapple garnish where the HAL Tour Mai Tais are a little smaller without the pineapple. Pete, George, and Kim enjoy the World Famous Mai-tais These Mai-Tais are made with light and dark rum and are delicious! We were here for about 30 minutes. THIRD STOP – FOSTERS KITCHEN We went out of order since we learned that the normal third stop, Pa’Akai Poké, is closed on Tuesday, but we didn’t find that out until we walked a couple hundred yards to it’s location off the main street. We learned later that the tour will be substituting Kai Eats and Drinks on Tuesdays. If you go to Pa’Akai Poké, you’ll want to order the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl with a Mac Salad. Get some fresh fruit as well, if available. Exterior of Foster’s Kitchen – The restaurant is on the second floor. Use the stairs on the right. Fosters Kitchen is on the second floor – you will find stairs at the end of the building. Fosters Kitchen is attached to another building via an elevated walkway. The other building has an elevator if necessary. Ready to head up to Foster’s Kitchen The Fish and Chips, fried in country-style cornmeal, is your food choice here, along with a craft beer. The standard entrée comes with three pieces of fish for $24. We split one order per couple. The food tour will allocate one fish piece per person and a small beer. The fish was spectacular – highly recommended. These fish and chips were among the best we have ever had. We lingered here for almost an hour before moving on. FOURTH STOP – GYPSEA GELATO Around the corner from Fosters Kitchen is Gypsea Gelato, a small ice cream shop with an excellent selection. Menu HERE Gypsea Gelato Entrance You can order multiple scoops in any size, from mini to extra large. We got the small size, and as expected, the ice cream was delicious. The HAL tour will get you the mini size. The staff is friendly and eager to help The seating is outside on a covered patio FIFTH STOP – PAPA KONA’s We backtracked to Papa Kona’s, located on the top lanai of the Waterfront Row, heading back toward the tender landing. More HERE The entrance to Papa Kona’s is not visible from the street. The restaurant is set back from the street so you may have to ask to find the entrance if you get disoriented. The restaurant has excellent views. Here, you will order Avocado Fries (panko breaded avocado topped with teriyaki sauce & sambal aioli) for $24. One order was plenty for our group of four. The special drink to get here is the UBE-BE, made with Rumhaven’s naturally infused coconut rum & coconut water mixed with a local ube syrup and fresh lemon, topped with prosecco – $15. The Ube-be drinks are on the left and right. They offer a non-alcoholic version – that’s the one in the tumbler Avocado Fries SIXTH STOP – KAI EATS AND DRINKS As you leave Papa Kona’s, you will walk right by the Kai Eats and Drinks entrance. This place looks small from the street, but it is pretty big. More HERE Entrance to Kai Eats and Drinks Here, you will order the Luau Pizza – with Roasted Pineapple, Kalua Pork, Mozzarella, Scallion, and Hoisin-Honey Mustard Sauce ($22). The drink to order is the Pina Colada or one of their specialty Mai Tais. The Pizza is a nice size for sharing – about 12 inches. The Luau Pizza is delicious SEVENTH STOP – TASTY KONA Tasty Kona entrance You will pass by two Tasty Kona locations in Kona – you can stop in either one. They feature “Treats & Treasures from local farmers & entrepreneurs.” A wide variety of local products are available, along with samples if you ask. A few of the many items for sale inside Tasty Kona BOTTOM LINE We had a great time and this Pirate Food Tour is easy. Remember that your items will be larger than you find on the tour. You can order less than we did, share more, and still end up full – there is a lot of food. Here is what we spent for the two of us. These prices include 20-25% tips. Our cost per person was $104 – The normal tour is $129, and HAL charges $239. You will also get interesting commentary and tips if you choose the HAL tour. You can’t go wrong with any food tour in Kona! Here is the cost breakdown by restaurant for two people. Kona Inn 25.36 Fish Hopper 36.65 Foster’s Kitchen 47.34 Kai 46.22 Gypsea 14.68 Papa Kona 38.02 208.27 GLAMP OUT Back on the Ship – we had the Glamp Out. Last year, they had a band – this year, they showed the movie “Walk in the Woods.” Loungers were arranged around the Lido Pool, facing aft toward a makeshift movie screen set up a platform on the aft end of the pool. The Zuiderdam is not set up to show Movies Under the Stars, so the picture and sound quality were OK, but not up to what you have come to expect on ships set up to show movies. A nice drink station was on one side, along with a popcorn station. Waiters circulated the pool, serving mini hot dogs, mini hamburgers, smores, doughnuts, and other snacks. Attendance was light and most people weren’t paying attention to the movie. We left Kona at 7:30 pm and the Glamp Out started at 8:30 pm. Many folks were probably tired after a long day ashore and chose to relax in their cabins. This event would do better on a sea day. Here is a YouTube Short to give you a feel for the event.

Here are a few highlights from yesterday: Sea Day Sampler - This special sampler menu is served in the MDR on select sea days. Menu Starts with the cold course Then the hot course And finally the dessert course Table 89 hosted Entertainer Judy Carmichael for dinner. Great time!

Here is the latest Entertainment Guide for the next two weeks. Gus will present and have a Q and A on 26 Feb. They usually announce the 2026 World Cruise Itinerary during his presentation.