Cruise Day 4

Date: June 25th, 2024

Location: Hilo, Hawaii

Pulling into Hilo!

On 11/3/2024 at 8:12 AM, www3traveler said:

Hate to hijack your thread, but no other way to reach you.

I pray that Tuesday evening will go smoothly as you count ballots.  I would hope that your community does NOT have any problems.  

THANK YOU for your service to your County and to Susan for being willing to teach young minds.

You aren't hijacking! My contact on other socials is the same as on here.

I am hoping it goes smoothly as well. I have been in the midst of it for weeks now, so Tuesday just means we stop issuing ballots. We are still receiving ballots, curing challenged ballots, etc. We both appreciate your thanks. I enjoy the job and feel its very rewarding. My favorite part is seeing that voter register for the first time or see the excitement as they cast their first ballot. 

This review has helped in relaxing me, as it gives me something to focus on other than the election. I can also do something other than watch TV and see all the stupid political ads.

Time for dinner at Moderno!

Caipirinha

Susan hit the salad bar

Bring the meats!

It was easier to get the picture of the table next door than while I was trying to grab the meat.

Tres Leches for both of us

We then went to the Comedy show. The Cruise Director getting things started!

Simon Cotter was excellent! Plus he is a Seahawks fan. I found that out earlier that day at the pool. 

We had a great evening but it was time for bed. Hilo tomorrow!

Soon it was time for the latitudes party

Senior Officers

Afterwards it was time to depart Maui

A little windy out there!

We are off the dock!

Too much sun!

That's better!

Tug assist! POA has Tug assist at all the ports due to currents, winds, and tight channels.

We switched sides

The tug as we pass the breakwater

Awe! We clean up well!

Fun one!

We ended up at the pool deck for a swim.

Cornhole anyone!

We cooled off for a bit in the pool!

Susan found another Duck!

Then we decided to get some lunch up on deck 12 at the Key West Bar and Grill

Susan's lunch

Mine!

Susan got something more!

Since I was onboard, I attended the Art auction.

I didn't really care for this auctioneers style. No purchases.

Old Sugar Mill

A lot of people coming off the ship to start their day as we were returning

Solarium up on the pool deck

So we brought beef jerky, protein bars, and other items that we ate on the way up the mountain, so we weren't starving. We got back to the ship about 8 am and were like okay lets go get some breakfast at the buffet.

Then we went back to the stateroom and took a nap for a couple hours.

The pine trees are the Hosmer Grove. They predate the park and were planted for erosion control.

Haleakalā Silverswords

West Maui resort area

Kahului

Back down on the flat ground of the valley

There is POA

11 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

As a word of caution and not a bah humbug, know it is quite cold up there and dress accordingly.  Also be aware of altitude sickness.

Correct! It was 40° F the morning we were up there, which was cold as it was 85° F during the day at Sea Level. We didn't have any trouble with altitude sickness, due to the gradual climb in the bus.

26 minutes ago, thedoc29ca said:

Thanks so much.    Following and loving it.  We are booked for this upcoming March and your posts are getting us even more excited!

 

Did you book the Haleakala sunrise excursion or through a third party?   You mentioned a vendor but your pics looks like you were picked up at the ship.  We’ve got a car booked for Mauai and had planned on driving it but are reconsidering.   The convenience of someone else driving and not having to worry about parking are big pluses.  Thinking that booking with NCL might be advantageous - if the weather looks bad we can cancel 48hrs out.  
 

Thanks Again. 

We booked that one through the ship.
 

The Road to Hana excursion picked us up at the same spot, inside the port area.

Here is why I recommend booking through a vendor, either the ship or private. 1: They drive this every day, so they know where they are going. If you drive yourself, you will have to navigate and still get there in time. Not necessarily a road I want to drive for the first time in the dark. 2: Private vehicles have to have a special permit to be at the summit between certain hours, which encapsulates Sunrise. The vendors have reserved spaces at the top for parking and hold access permits. 3: Park entrance fee to National Park is covered in cost of excursion. 4: You can nap on the drive to the top as it’s dark outside.

I looked into driving it and decided to just go through a vendor and the ship excursion was the same price as private with our latitude discount, so that is why I went that way. HTH

1 hour ago, QuattroRomeo said:

Love the pile of "rock" turtles on the beach, and the beautiful sunrise!

When I posted the picture, I said Susan “do you want to see this picture of some rocks? I got no response, because she knew what it was!

I have this picture spanning my two monitors at work. I look at it each day, remembering how cold, windy, but amazing seeing the sunrise on Haleakalā is.

Visitor center time

We get back into the bus to start heading back down.

Looking North at the West side of the Island

View from Kalahaku Overlook

Our driver took this of us at the parking lot of Kalahaku Overlook

You can barely make out POA on the far right hand side of the picture, about even with my shoulder.

We boarded the bus and started down the mountain.

Haleakalā Visitor Center

Crater nest to the Visitor Center

There is the Sun!

The sun just starting to show its colors as we make our way up Haleakalā, towards the Haleakalā Visitor Center

We got to the top, and staked a spot on the rail. I had to because the wind was so strong, I had to use the rail and one hand to keep the tripod from blowing over.

Colors are becoming more vibrant

Selfie

My pose for much of the morning. See the tripod is through the fence and I am looking away from the wind its is so strong.

Susan took something back to the bus.

Getting closer

So you know how I said early excursion...

We exited the boat at 3:15 am for our excursion!

No crowds to speak of at this time of the day.

We were on the Valley Isle bus!

Ready to start our excursion!

Cruise Day 3 - Kahului Day 2

Date: June 24th, 2024

Location: Kahului, Maui

We were pooped after that 8.5 hour tour!

That is a good thing!

Dailies for the second day in Maui on our bed as we got back to the room.

Our laundry also came back!

Time for photos!

Off to the MDR for dinner!

Susan found a duck!

New England Clam Chowder 

See how they topped it with just a hint of butter. That is what Ocean Blue needs to do with thier chowder.

Caesar Salad

Cobb Salad

Susan got the Pad Thai (normally a vegetarian dish) with shrimp to make Shrimp Pad Thai

I got the New York Steak. Somehow the french fries got missed. Oh well

After dinner, we went back to the stateroom and got ready for bed. Yes, we were in bed and a sleep by 9pm. Early excursion tomorrow!

Almost back! There is the airport!

Finally back at POA!

We enjoyed our excursion through Roberts Hawaii. The Heavenly Hana Tour was awesome!

Here is the link to their page if anyone is interested in what they offer: https://www.robertshawaii.com/maui-tours/heavenly-hana-tour/

Bjorn our Tour Guide was excellent.

Here is the video from the excursion

Finally, we exited the curvy part of the Road to Hana

the road widened out...

Wildlife at Ho'okipa Beach Park

These were the coolest wildlife. I had the zoom lens and could see they were Turtles. Susan was looking with her eyes and sunglasses and swore they were rocks.

I still tease her about the rocks on the beach in Hawaii! 

We stopped at Halfway to Hana on the way back.

We got a sample of the banana bread

Looking at the Keanae Peninsula from the Kaumahina State Wayside Park

It was nice to stretch my legs, my knee was starting to hurt from all of the bracing on the curves.

Some of the waterfalls I couldn't get due to being on the wrong side of the bus, now i could get them on the way back.

Our bellies were full and it was time to start heading back toward the ship.

Downtown Hana or as Downtown as you can get in Hana!

I will work on the review some more tonight, work kicked my butt the last couple of days. I came home exhausted and ready for bed!

15 hours ago, Lupush said:

Thanks for posting, Matthew.  I always enjoy reading your cruise reports.  Wish NCL offered Hawaii cruises on the Plus Class ships.  I've always wanted to go, but don't think there would be enough to keep my Son occupied on POA.

I think you would be surprised, because if you pack your days on the Islands and do a lot onshore, then the ship is a place of relaxation and recharge. I enjoyed seeing the beauty as we sailed out of the Islands. I agree with Silver Sweethearts who I quoted below, if you make the Islands fun then the ship acts just like transportation and a hotel room.

14 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

The POA is meant as a means of travel and not a destination.  The islands you visit are what keep you occupied.

Totally agree!

On 10/29/2024 at 2:12 PM, tomcherv said:

Following this thread - great review so far; can't wait to see what the rest of the trip is like.

 

Our POA trip in Nov 2025 will my first time in Hawai'i and also my 50th state as well  Kind of a fun mile stone - glad you and your wife reached it.

Awesome! Make sure to take full advantage of the time before and after to explore. You will enjoy it so much!

15 minutes ago, tsahall01 said:

I was just going to say that!!  I have papaya (7-8), mango (4) and avocado (1) growing in my yard.  Lots of fruit trees!  I have papaya almost year round.  Mangoes in June and avocados in late August/eary September--depending on if there is a hurricane/tropical storm coming our way--unripe avocadoes are like little air bombs!!

Ouch! That doesn’t sound like fun