kluv2cruz

Our local newspaper still has a Saturday travel section. There are usually 5-10 cruises advertised with different local TA’s. That might be a place to start looking for a local agent? If nothing else, it will be a springboard to get you some inspiration and ideas?

I was in the gym early-ish morning on eclipse…. Someone on the treadmill had a full on video conference with the fam back home about grandad. Well, first WITH grandad… “CAN YOU HEAR ME?????…..”, then with the fam. UGH. Super tempted to do the “join the conversation method” but then felt sorry for the person for what she was dealing with, back home, from way out on the Pacific Ocean. AND, still making time to keep to her fitness regime.
 

So I tried to ignore. 
 

I wasn’t successful.

26 minutes ago, lola2013 said:

Unless your Captain Tuvo has a twin, it looks like he jumped ship from Princess.  I watched a Smithsonian Channel program last night showcasing Sky Princess which featured Captain Mikele Tuvo!  

I was thinking the exact same thing!

I have a great IC memory… from a few years ago. We did the there and back from/to west coast North America / Hawaii sailing. We were to leave Honolulu and Hawaii at midnight, then 5 sea days. Roommate had a migraine (ugh… poor thing) so she went back to the ship and I stayed walking around Waikiki as long as logical then took a bus back to the ship around 10:30/11pm. Easy onboard, now 11:20ish. I went straight to IC. In those days… and truthfully, I don’t usually stay up this late anymore so not positive it’s not still available, they had cheese and nuts and dried fruit and crackers. I asked for this and that and filled a side plate. Got a glass of wine and headed to the room. Quietly (as much as possible), snuck into the room and dropped my things and headed to the balcony. Sat outside crunching walnuts, savouring cheese, dried fruit etc and sipped my wine as we set sail and I emotionally said good bye to the sparkly lights of Honolulu & Waikiki. Have since sailed this many times (usually a one way sailing on X) and always sad to say goodbye to that last port. But, I always think of this IC deliciousness!

Did you learn anything about this?

It’s possible to eat mostly healthy at international cafe for breakfast. Fresh pineapple pieces, yummy grapefruit sections, yogurt with fruit, egg bites (3 varieties), and a couple of muesli bars, with or without chocolate. Yummy. And cappuccino, extra strong, for here (in a china cup, not paper- please!)

3 hours ago, catgirl411 said:

On the Hawaii front my stepdaughter is booked on Edge in May 2024 Honolulu to Vancouver so that’s an option you might consider.

I've done the Celebrity one way Honolulu to Vancouver (or vice versa) many times and it’s lovely. Allows you to go a few days early and enjoy some Hawaii time then port port port port port, then sea, sea, sea, sea, sea; 5 sea days to Vancouver.
 

Be careful to chose an itinerary that has plenty of Hawaii time (many ports plus longish time in port). Some years we overnight in Waikiki and leave the next day at midnight (that’s the best!) and sometimes we are overnight tendered for Maui at Lahaina (also the best!); Kauai is less frequently included but is a nice stop. And then usually there are 2 “Big Island” stops - Kona & Hilo. A few cruise lines do this one way sail Spring & Fall as they reposition to/from Alaska season, but Celebrity is who we’ve mostly sailed this itinerary on.

Thanks for blogging… love following along!

2 hours ago, Meander Ingwa said:

the Mediterranean Inn by seattle center is popular .  Four Points Sheiton at the Seattle Center is also better priced on todays prices compared.  The Paramount and Hotel Max are also good choices and lower than the first two (todays rates)

 

If you are part of a loyalty program you may get better rates

 

 

Thanks! Great suggestions!

LMK if you find a “less expensive” hotel. I’ve been looking and not seeing anything very reasonable! Yikes!

5 hours ago, garkar87 said:

We booked an inside cabin, what cabins are available for upgrade bidding?  Will it offer suite?

 

Thank you

Nancy

Someone on another bidding thread said she observed 4 categories above current cabin category were offered. 

8 hours ago, countess5 said:

Then of course we had to say good-bye to the Martini Bar before dinner.

Loved following along. It was spellbinding to us at home on our sofas. Thank you. After all your research, what are your favourite top 5 martinis, and what embellishments do you recommend? 

On 2/24/2023 at 7:46 PM, mimi7ccr said:

DH would enjoy the auto museum

Be sure to watch some Jay Leno “Audrain mansions and motorcars” episodes on YouTube before you go. They showcase the mansions and the motorcars and the roads etc around Newport beautifully! Check the Audrain museum website as what they have on display changes and when we were there last year it wasn’t a collection of much interest to us (and we wouldn’t have had time anyway). Enjoy!

On 3/9/2023 at 9:14 AM, travelin.sisters said:

One (of many) advantage of the Hawai’i itinerary is that even if you board exhausted &/or frazzled, you have 4 days at sea to relax & recover before the islands where you might run for 4 days.

Bam. You nailed it. Love Hawaii cruises. And this is why.

18 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Walk up to Foster Botanical Gardens (downtown HNL)

Note this is closed until May for an accessibility project/grant work.

Does anyone have a recent picture of the prices of bingo on a North American cruise? Thanks!

16 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. Thank you again for your pictures and posts.  There are a few local establishments in Honolulu which make a proper Mai Tai and most on the Islands make them correctly because they are closely monitored.  On the mainland and on most ships, they add grenadine which really detracts from the accurate flavor. I never order them in NY as in my opinion the east coast mai tai is horrendous.  Since I fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly, I learned years ago that they serve On The Rocks Mai Tais which are made in Texas but come pretty close. My local liquor store in NY sells them and 

definitely is a must for me. Of course I need the umbrella lol but I do have some tiki glasses!  The Halekulani hotel in waikiki makes great ones as well as some local restaurants I frequent but oh no…never in NY !
Enjoy.

Need a list of your favourite Hawaii maitai locations. Please? I’ve enjoyed many from Halekulani, Moana Surfrider, Kahala, Maitais @ Royal Hawaiian…. Always in search of the ultimate maitai. Never good on a ship - way too sweet. Thanks!

THANK YOU ALL for your live from posts!

On 1/4/2023 at 9:29 PM, c-boy said:

  🎶   jazz and blues that's my gig 

And wine. I’ve figured that much out from your posts! Which I’m enjoying.

9 hours ago, boeckli said:

Screenshot from my recent future cruise deposit

 

 

Well, that’s Australian $, but does support the $50 SBC. Thanks for this.

I put a $100 future cruise deposit down while onboard a spring 2022 sailing. I can’t find paperwork that tells me what perks this gives me. I’ve applied this deposit to a booking now and have received a $50 onboard credit. That seems lower than I remember? Anyone have the paperwork or a link to benefits? Thanks!

That chocolate tart is incredible!

On 11/20/2022 at 5:24 PM, 2 cruises a year said:

If it is in a Skywalkers, or even Club 15 on the Grand, we go, those are nice venues.  If it is in a Vista Lounge, Meh.

I agree - lovely to attend if the view of sail away or port or open ocean is beautitul. But curtains drawn, interior like location, is not very enticing!

On 11/17/2022 at 4:25 PM, NownZen said:

We have never been asked for an ID when getting back on the ship. The cruise card (and now the medallion) scan brings up a picture. We do however, carry a copy of the passport with us .

We were asked for i.d a couple weeks ago in Newport Rhode Island, before they would let us back on the tender. Not sure what they would have done if we didn’t have it. And, how did they know it wasn’t someone else’s i.d.? Seemed arbitrary to me, but we complied so everything would flow smoothly.

Re internet, I concur with what others have said. We found we could look at Facebook for e.g., but could not look at comments on a post. I was doing DuoLingo and I couldn’t reliably do some lessons. It’s kind of like “internet light”. You might get some better responses if you post a new question in princess forum with title such as name of ship, itinerary, and “zoom - could I teach while on the ship”? You’ll get others responding who have tried to be on zoom. It is ship and location specific too, so someone may say no problem on an east coast US itinerary, but your itinerary, as someone has already commented, might not have great internet. I know Alaska is weak, for e.g.

It will be served in a plastic glass anyway so not going to be a great experience.