JMC715

I think the scariest thing on a cruise would be no desserts. 😥

 

 

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A cruise in the desert would be scary!

Been to Hawaii three times from the East Coast but never on a cruise. Most definitely go to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial - I have gone every time I have been there and wouldn't miss it.

If you have a car, I would also suggest a drive up to the Pali Pass and a stop at the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones. This is a neat site, (a free State park) easy enough to do quickly on the way out to the Dole Plantation if you go out there, or on one route to the North Shore. You won't need much time here, but it is such a beautiful, peaceful place, surrounded by the mountains and pineapple fields. The walk through the red earth fields of Hawaii to the spot where ancient Hawaiian royalty were born is amazing!

Even if you don't want to do the beach at Waikiki, be sure to take a stroll along the waterfront walkway there, its especially beautiful at dusk. You'll want to see the beach with Diamondhead in the background and take some photos. Near the statue there of Duke (the legendary surfer guy) they have free music and hula shows a couple times a week in the evenings; check online for those.

And while not especially budget-friendly, breakfast at a nice restaurant in one of the oceanfront hotels in Waikiki, on the deck or open front terrace, is a wonderful way to start the day. We liked Dukes in the Outrigger Waikiki, but there are plenty others. If you do that,you might want to walk by the pink palace, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, for a look at another Honolulu icon.

Have fun - you will want to return, I guarantee it !!!

Janet

Yes, it was Coco Reef. My family went there from the Summit in June 2013. It was wonderful. Heres a photo.

I'm sailing on Summit on Sunday. Since there has been so much discussion of the deck chairs I promise to investigate and report back upon my return. I'll even post some photos of the new - or old - deck chairs.

Janet

Hi Bill - have a wonderful trip.

We have Mr. Fox booked for our Summit cruise in mid-June, so if you feel like reporting back here as to what you saw and did on your tour, I would be very interested.

Bon voyage to both of you!

Janet

Try Winsome Transport. He's got a 15 passenger mini-bus. For a tour of that size group you can figure about $10 per person per hour.

Janet

Can't say I've ever heard of that, Kelli, but then I don't claim to be an all-Bermuda expert either.

BUT, I can tell you that within the last month I did book a tour for this summer with Mr. Fox and there was no surcharge mentioned, and also arranged for other transportation needs with a different company for our other 2 days and there was no mention of a surcharge either.

I have Mr. Fox booked for mid-June and he told me he can take up to six so I surmise his vehicle must be what we'd call here at home a "mini-van". I can't imagine that it could be a sedan with that much seating.

Janet

Thank you both, Meg and 138 East.

I have contacted the Country Inn & Suites in Elizabeth for a rate of $119 (no tax yet) in June. Thats also no parking included, I think we will probably all just take our cars to the port. It seems to me to make the most sense there since we're driving north from Baltimore, but your info about Secaucus sounds promising too though.

How much farther north than stopping in Elizabeth would we be driving to get to Secaucus ? What are the advantages for me to tell everyone as to why we'd drive past Newark/Bayonne region to stay further North? I'm thinking that it is primarily ease of transport into Manhattan ?

We're having a party/meeting in a few weeks to firm up our plans so I can make arrangements so your help is invaluable.

Thanks.

Janet

if I give you our details I wonder if you'd be kind enough to provide your ideas?

We are a family of 19, leaving on the Summit from Cape Liberty on Sunday June 16. Driving up from the Baltimore area on Saturday 6/15 and looking for best place to overnight. Probably need 6-8 rooms (not entirely sure about that yet) and will have 5 cars.

We range in age from 6 to 85, and some will likely want to go into Manhattan for the day, others maybe Ellis Island (if reopened) and Statue of Liberty, with a few just hanging out at hotel.

Not sure if parking at hotel or the pier makes best sense or not. My sister thinks she found a good quote from Best Western Newark West, but I'm pretty sure that you guys have said that is not a very good choice on these posts before- do I remember that correctly ?

Thank you in advance for your help !

Janet

Thank you for your very prompt reply !

Janet

I keep reading about having to take a shuttle to the ship from the terminal at Cape Liberty for safety reasons, but what about upon return ? Does everyone getting off the ship have to wait for shuttles to take them back to the terminal to get their luggage, or do you walk back? If a shuttle is necessary to debark, doesn't that cause a major back-up of people ?

Also, what kind of a shuttle is it ? Like a city bus or an amusement park tram ? I'll have a couple of elderly and less mobile folks with us in June and can't help but wonder if this is going to be tricky......

Janet

On the Summit, no, they do not allow a third person in these rooms. I am planning a family trip on the Summit to Bermuda in June 2013 and my TA tried to get these cabins for several family members. But since a niece needed a third bed for her child, they said no.

Some deck plans show a third person icon so we just thought they were not allowing it for inventory control purposes and TA thought he could talk Celebrity into one 3 person cabin since it was a child. But no deal, they said the sofas had all been removed and no 3rd person bed in there. So I had to put them across the lobby area in other cat 6 OVs more forward.

But thanks to your rave comments Wine-O, I did secure 3112 for my brother and sister in law. I will be in balcony on deck 7 with a smaller contingent of family. But I am anxious to see 3112 - it sounds great!