GoHuskies!

On 8/31/2021 at 2:34 PM, Silver Sweethearts said:

If by "death highway" you mean Kahekili Highway, it runs from Wailuku to Kapalua and not around Olowalu to Kaanapali.

Nope.  Honoapiilani highway.  I did drive Kahekili in 1983, at night, before it was paved or even graded in places.  I don't consider that a highway, or at least one that people might take to get to Wailuku, Kahului or Kihei.

1 minute ago, CruiserBruce said:

My story is similar to you...have had a timeshare since 1985, been to Maui over 30 times. But virtually any part of Maui is better than Kahalui.

1 minute ago, CruiserBruce said:

My story is similar to you...have had a timeshare since 1985, been to Maui over 30 times. But virtually any part of Maui is better than Kahalui.

Yeah--I admit that Kahului itself is pretty boring--the most I can say is that it's a quick foot trip over to the Maui Mall where the Guri Guri shop has the best gelato-like "ice cream" you'll ever find.  But it's a central place for sites in almost any direction.

On 8/20/2021 at 9:44 PM, princeton123211 said:

I read this a few times and am still trying to make sense of it. I've been to Maui far more times than this poster has and am trying to figure out the "carnival" part of it or why anyone would want to end up in Kahalui when the ship was kind enough to bring them over to Lahaina. 

My first time to Maui was in 1983, at which point we bought a condo there.  Since then we've been to Maui more than 30 times, and have traveled that death highway between the center of Maui around Olowalu to Kaanapali innumerable times.   If you want T-shirt shops, restaurants, art studios, and Lahaina history (which is considerable and very interesting, but read Michener first), then Lahaina is for you.  Oops--forgot golf a way north.  But central and eastern Maui are absolutely loaded with interest.  Look it up.

Our ship--the Grand Princess--is docking in Kahului on our December 20 cruise.  This was a change from the original plan which was Lahaina, but a welcome one for us.  Lahaina is a bit too carnival-like for me, after you have been there several times.  And you are close to the airport car rentals by shuttle.  Plenty of interesting car destinations from Kahului without having to drive an hour first.

We've been on the POA twice, and the cruise by the NaPali coast was different--once we doubled back, the second time we continued clear around Kauai.  That time we at least got to see the unapproachable island of Ni'ihau.

If you rent a car, you can drive about 20 miles north from Hilo along the beautiful coast to the tiny town of Laupahoehoe.  Drive down to the small peninsula there--in 1946, April 1, the big tsunami that devastated Hilo came in here and wiped off the school on that peninsula, along with 25 young students and their teacher.  You can see the small monument there today.  The school has been rebuilt and you can drive around it.  Also, look up at the cliffs behind you at the coconut palms about 50 feet up on the cliffside.  The coconuts were planted there by the tsunami.  We've been there twice--a lovely but sobering place.

Of course Kona and Lahaina are seen as good walking ports, because they are tender ports.  Kona is a small town and it is certainly walkable and interesting the first time you go there.  Lahaina, on the other hand, is big enough and has a great deal of history there, and can be of interest for many visits.  Read Michener's "Hawaii" before you go.  Lahaina has more shops, restaurants, waterfront sights, interesting places than you can shake a stick at.  April shouldn't be too hot, but remember--the meaning of "Lahaina" is "merciless sun".  If you forget sunblock, EVERYTHING is available in Lahaina.

I don't know exactly what your dad's needs are--you say he is using a walker, but is it truly that (something you push or lift and set down in front of you, or is it a rollator, which you can lean on to roll in front of you, with brakes?   A walker doesn't get me anywhere, and I can't walk far or fast with a cane, but my rollator lets me keep up with my family for quite a long distance.  And if I need to rest, it has a seat, although I have never had to do that with the rollator.  It's made by Drive, same manufacturer as the transporter mentioned above--and collapses sideways so that you can get it into doorways easily on its wheels.  I had been contemplating getting a power chair but the rollator will fit the bill for my upcoming Hawaii cruise, now that I know I can walk the length of the ship with it--which was impossible with a cane or walker.

On 6/17/2021 at 11:29 AM, katisdale said:

I think your parents will be fine. I found it necessary to move around the ship to get the best views. I use a wheelchair and book accessible cabins. The place to be varies with what is happening. On approach to the old locks you need to be at the front of the ship to see the men in a row boat bringing the ropes which will be attached to the ship. After entering the lock it is great to go to the middle of the ship to see the canal walls. Then later it is great to go to the back of the ship to watch the gates close. For us it was a long hot day but so worth it. I recommend your parents keep their cabin and also that they read "The Path Between the Seas" by David McCullough. 

Excellent advice!

On 6/17/2021 at 10:11 AM, Lauraally said:

That is very helpful, thank you for your thoughts!

I agree with Mosttoyswin--you want to be free to wander all over the ship while locking.  Go aft and forward, port and starboard, different points of view all around.  There's plenty of time while in the locks to  move around, take pictures, gawk all you want, and you will not miss anything.  We went through on the NCL Sun from LA to New Orleans once, then on the Island Princess through and back again (seeing the length of the canal twice, missing only the actual locking process on the northern/eastern end).  If the Island Princess is still doing that, you get two near-transits for the price of one!

So don't worry about being restricted from your balcony during the locking.  You will want to be outside!

On 6/7/2021 at 5:19 PM, Mosttoyswin said:

Slightly more than you want to spend. I've had a navigator XL by forcemech for over two years. It is a fold up heavy duty Power wheelchair. It's been on dozens of airplanes, through zoos, amusement park, Etc.  It has great battery life which is often a problem for power wheelchairs.

My other suggestion would be to check craigslist in your area. There are often used Power wheelchairs for sale.  

Yes, do check craigslist.  I just did that for my Tucson area and found several, many in the 350-500 price range.  For that price, you could afford to buy one and have it serviced for reliability at a mobility shop.

On 5/19/2021 at 6:12 AM, kearney said:

We have rented scooters and been able to get them into a regular cabin on some of the newer ships. But you need to try to get a cabin with the bed by the window to give you more room to maneuver. One of the best ships for this is Harmony of the Seas. Now DH gets a heavy duty scooter..which is 22" wide and the doorway is abut 23"... I read someplace on Adventure. So it should fit. One of the challenges is that the door to the bathroom generally opens towards the entry way... so you need to position the scooter in such a way to allow the door to open sufficiently. What was nice in Harmony is that the door opens towards the bed.  We usually try to avoid getting an accessible cabin since DH does not need the roll in shower.. and he can manage a step up.. not easy..but he can still do that...  Now I am told that if it does not fit..the cabin steward can take it away at night... or sometimes... if you are lucky..you may find a place out of the way where you can plug it in over night... But for this to work...you really need to know the ship. We started using scooters a few years ago and have found that on the Celebrity S class ships... there is a place near their 1A cabins that does not block the hall and has a plug spot.. and they have allowed us to plug in there..since it does not interfere with movement. 

Those doorways--you have to realize that when any door is opened, the measured width of the opening is reduced by the thickness of the door itself, since the door cannot fold flat against the wall.  Thus the 23" opening, for example, may only be 21.5" or so in actual space to get through. 

I don’t think the issue is really the expanding technology itself.  I am retired from a lifetime of computer systems work—designing, programming and installing computer systems, or “apps” (applications) as they are known today.  One of the hallmarks of good computer design is that it becomes easier and easier to use as time goes by.  Yet I find it frustrating and disgusting that there are so many technical issues confronting people who should be able to just plug in something and it will work immediately.  Instead, we still have to jump through a complex myriad of hoops in order to make it work.  Shouldn’t even have to call a technician for help.  This is not brain surgery!  A good designer/programmer can create a hands-off installation—just plug it in and walk away—but it seems we have lowered our expectations of the people we hire, so that we get just people who can code, not code well.  Not to mention programming done by cheap sites across the world, instead of here in the USA where we can have some control.

Wonderful idea!  I hope Princess does this too.

On 10/27/2019 at 5:54 PM, c&d said:

I understand what you are saying,  but very frustrating when you see someone using a scooter,  parks it and walks over and gets on a tread mill, yes a passenger did this on a cruise to Hawaii, or they park it at a electric outlet and walks away to play a slot machine.    I have also read on another thread where folks get scooter for a convenience.    It is frustrating when you travel with a person who can not walk without a walker, can not push her own wheelchair and someone has to push them.  Then you see folks who can walk but it is easier to cruise around on a scooter, then park it and walk 15-20 ft across a room.  Also read where many book the HC cabin early then if change plans they cancel the cruise,  not sure if they will need it or not.  That is frustrating, esp when you have folks who genuinely need the HC cabins and other just want it because they had a knee or  hip replacement or are up in age.  

I hope you have become better educated about disabilities by now--if not, let me tell you that your observations may be very wrong.  I myself can walk short distances, but only with a cane or a walker (or rollator) because my balance requires me to have a third point of contact, and my diminishing strength only short walks.  At home I have a treadmill to keep up what strength I have, but to even get on and off it I must use a quad-footed cane.  Once I am on it I hold both arms of the treadmill, which is of course an impossibility walking on a cruise ship.  I need either a scooter or a wheelchair to get the distances there.  I also need grab bars way more than are offered in a standard cabin.  And I also have problems lifting my feet over the thresholds in the standard cabin bathrooms.  Are you frustrated with me?  If so, sorry.

Many cruise lines who cruise to Hawaii stop in Lahaina, Maui, because it is a very interesting little town for walkers.  Not only is the Front Street area full of interesting shops and sights, but it has Hilo Hattie's store, the Sugar Cane Train (sometimes available and a very interesting round trip), the interesting waterfront, and a lot of history, especially if you have read Michener's "Hawaii".  However it is a tender port.  

I really prefer Kahului as a stop, where the POA docks and you can either walk (or roll) from there on nice flat ground to a couple of shopping centers (like the Kahului shopping center, which is an old one and very interesting, and the Maui Mall with newer stores--including the Guri-Guri smoothie shop, don't miss!).  Then rent a car and drive to plenty of interesting places--up Haleakala mountain, the Tropical Plantation, Iao Valley, sugar cane factories, down to the Wailea beaches, the Maui Ocean enter aquarium, the day-long drive to Hana and back--and oh so many more.  MUCH more interesting than Lahaina, in my opinion, and we had a condo on Maui for over 20 years and went there every year.

On the Big Island, it's similar--in Hilo, where the POA docks, you can rent a car to get to more interesting places (like the volcano, lava flows, and history like the results of the 1946 tsunami and the small peninsula where a whole school of children and teachers were swept away, and there are coconut trees in a line nearly a hundred feet up above the waterline where coconuts were planted by the tsunami) than in the tender port of Kailua Kona, which is less scenic but has interest to walkers and shoppers.

I would forgo the sun side of both Maui and the Big Island, for the rainy side of both, which are both docking ports.

Sorry--you got me going and I gave TMI!  I love Maui, can you tell??

I know.  We were scheduled for a cruise to Hawaii from LA next week, and of course here we are on land in Arizona!  At least we are not snowed in.

5 minutes ago, katisdale said:

I have a "fold and go" wheelchair. I really like it but it is pricey. It has lithium batteries that hold a charge well and I can go several miles. I have found it very easy to use on board. I need an accessible cabin so I don't know if it would fit through a standard door. It could fit inside a standard room. It has a joy stick for maneuverability. It can go on either the right or left arm. I have never heard of forcemech so I can't compare. I had polio as a child and can only do a few steps although I can still stand and transfer. Previously I used a "travelscoot" scooter and it was also good to use until I lost my ability to step over the center bar. That is not a problem with the fold and go. Also I like the seat as it is quite comfortable. The chair is manufactured in Texas and they have a good web site. Just google "fold and go". I hope this helps.

Thank you very much--your wheelchair sounds very much like the one I am thinking of.  Do you find it easy to use boarding, getting to restaurants and buffet, other places onboard?  You have been helpful to me, and thank you.

On 2/1/2021 at 12:39 PM, katisdale said:

We did this cruise in 2019. It ended on January 4, 2020 so we were on-board for both Christmas and New Years. We traveled with our daughter and adult grandchildren. The Christmas decorations were lovely. The meals at Christmas and New Year's were also special. We especially enjoyed the holiday time with none of the preparations usually associated with the holidays. The crew were great. I use an electric wheelchair (completely collapsible) and had a good inside cabin. We had anytime dining which worked well for the 5 of us.

We especially enjoyed the team called Elua who provided Hawaiian enrichment activities. Our cruise was on the Star Princess out of San Pedro. Star has left the Princess fleet.

We had some poor weather so we missed one port stop but that allowed us to have an extra day in Honolulu. Overall we were very pleased with this cruise.

Katisdale--I intended to reply to you but messed up.  In the period since I was here last, there have been changes to the way posts are done.  Sorry I mismanaged my post--I haven't been here for a while.  I have a question about your collapsible wheelchair, if you don't mind.  I am sure I will need such a thing by the time I cruise next year.  Is your electric wheelchair similar to some of the chairs I have seen similar to the Forcemech?  That type appeals to me, with my balance problems and limited distance ability.  I'd like to know how you have found yours to be easy to use aboard ship, boarding, maneuvering, getting to the various places onboard, storing in the cabin, etc.  I'd appreciate your opinion and assessment of how you use yours.  Thank you so much--you will put my mind at ease if I can hear what you have to say.  

4 minutes ago, GoHuskies! said:

 

Sorry I mismanaged my post--I haven't been here for a while.  I have a question about your collapsible wheelchair, if you don't mind.  I am sure I will need such a thing by the time I cruise next year.  Is your electric wheelchair similar to some of the chairs I have seen similar to the Forcemech?  That type appeals to me, with my balance problems and limited distance ability.  I'd like to know how you have found yours to be easy to use aboard ship, boarding, maneuvering, getting to the various places onboard, storing in the cabin, etc.  I'd appreciate your opinion and assessment of how you use yours.  Thank you so much--you will put my mind at ease if I can hear what you have to say.  

On 2/1/2021 at 12:39 PM, katisdale said:

We did this cruise in 2019. It ended on January 4, 2020 so we were on-board for both Christmas and New Years. We traveled with our daughter and adult grandchildren. The Christmas decorations were lovely. The meals at Christmas and New Year's were also special. We especially enjoyed the holiday time with none of the preparations usually associated with the holidays. The crew were great. I use an electric wheelchair (completely collapsible) and had a good inside cabin. We had anytime dining which worked well for the 5 of us.

We especially enjoyed the team called Elua who provided Hawaiian enrichment activities. Our cruise was on the Star Princess out of San Pedro. Star has left the Princess fleet.

We had some poor weather so we missed one port stop but that allowed us to have an extra day in Honolulu. Overall we were very pleased with this cruise.

I see there is Roquefort Cheese in this; is there a non-blue cheese sub for this? My DW is allergic to any form of blue cheese.

Well, the Blue in the name of the soup means blue cheese.

The other thing to keep in mind is that Nawiliwili is a tender port and can be missed (as we did this year) if sea/weather conditions are iffy.

Nawiliwili is a tender port? I've been there three times on different ships and always tied up to the pier.

Actually in my earliest post here I did not ask for any advice or opinion on a hotel. I thought I would add an individual take on where we are staying, and why. This would have been in keeping with many other such statements in the thread, or so I thought.

Thank you for chiming in. I would also describe myself as a "frequent economical traveler"--and will run the gamut of places to stay, from Motel 6 to Four Seasons, Hyatts, etc. It all depends on the need at the time.