KeepCalmBearOn

I love Ala Moana Beach, but it is just a beach park, There are no restaurants there. Waikiki Beach is just one of several beaches in Waikiki, the others being Kuhio Beach (Hyatt Regency to Park Shore), Gray's Beach (Halekulani), Fort DeRussy Beach (Outrigger Reef & Hale Koa) and Kahanamoku Beach (HHV). Any of those are better because of eating and drinking spots nearby.

I haven't stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Blue Lagoon, but I do stay in the Blue Lagoon area. I would so go to Publix for their chicken and some sides to take back to the hotel. Maybe grab a chardonnay as well.

I've never boarded Celebrity in Hawaii, but all the cruise lines share two very old terminals. They are nothing to write home about. in Fort Lauderdale, where the major cruise lines have their own, usually purpose built terminals, they included spaces for Elite/Suite passenger lounges. If there is something similar in HNL for Celebrity, my guess is, it will just be a separate line and maybe a roped off area.

Are you on a cruise originating in Honolulu? And a Celebrity cruise?

Sorry, but I have not read any of the other responses. I would not go anywhere near Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7 as it is incredibly busy because of official ceremonies. To me, there is really nothing worth seeing beside the USS Arizona Memorial. I would not go, just to go. The only part of Downtown worth much is Chinatown, other than Iolani Palace and the Aliʻiolani Hale. You can do that is less than two hours. Then you can head towards Waikiki and Ala Moana using an Uber or taxi.

My perfect night in Honolulu is cocktails at The House Without A Key at Halekulani, followed by dinner at Orchids at Halekulani. The below are two pics from Orchids. One is looking out to the ocean directly, the other looks back to the HWAK with Diamond Head in the background.

No personal experience because we park at the terminal parking lot, but from experience in answering questions like this I've never hear of a hotel covering that many days. Maybe if you are a Hilton Platinum Elite you can talk to the hotel directly and try, but failing that, I'd just drive to the terminal parking.

The area is fine and the Hyatt Centric is a nice place.

I've been on two post Covid Princess LA round trip cruises (2022 & '23) and both times the taxi stand was slammed with a 30-45 minute wait. I am flying to Kauai tomorrow from Oahu, we'll be renting a car, but I'll try to glance at the taxi line-up at LIH.

When I am going someplace I don't know (which is NOT Hawaii) I start with 3* reviews and look for common complaints, i.e. 'thin walls', 'bad service', etc. I don't discount negative reviews, but I do discount 1* reviews on hotels I know very well like the Royal Hawaiian especially when I read the absurd reasons why AND the reviewer has a history of 1* reviews other places too. If I kept going to places so bad that I had to give it a 1* review, I'd question my ability to select places to eat and stay and resolve to do better research up front. 😁

There are less than 100 licensed taxis on Kauai for the airport, cruise port and the three population areas. Lihue only has 8,000 people. With 2,000 people on board, it depends how many need a cab. Our last four trips on Princess there was a huge line for cabs. Luckily we usually get cars from Avis, who sends a van to the port.

Yes, LGB is a very small airport, not many flights so not too bad or confusing.

What hotel? "a mile from Fisherman's Wharf" could be a not so good area, depending on which direction the mile is.

For convenience, the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel would be my first pick.

I think 10:50AM is a little aggressive. When the ship arrives has little to do with when they start the walk-off disembarkation process. If you actually walk off by 8M, I think you'd be okay, but any hiccups and LGB doesn't have a lot of flights as back-up choices.

Not good. 30-45 minute wait if you are not the first 5 parties off the ship.

My one day in Maui would be in Upcountry :)

Now that sounds like a fabulous cruise. It will be interesting to see if you actually stop at Santa Barbara. They've been having "local hostility" to cruise ships lately. If I didn't already have a cruise scheduled in Oct I'd hop on in LA. I love Panama Canal cruises. If you've never read The Path between the Seas by David McCullough, do read it. I finished the book on board a Princess cruise two days before we entered the canal.

As someone who flies two or three times a week, I urge anyone departing on a cruise to arrive at least one day before sailing. Air travel is incredibly unreliable these days. I feel like Fed Ex-ing myself some days "when I absolutely, positively have to be there overnight". Doable, but not ideal. The cruise line will work hard to make it happen the right way, but I always book my own flights.

Depending on which terminal, the Residence Inn Bayfront, SpringHill Suites Bayfront or InterContinental San Diego might be closer. All three are directly across from the cruise port and 2 miles from the airport. See the map below. https://maps.app.goo.gl/j4WRu3FN9sP3d3qS6 Hopefully it is the Residence Inn Bayfront, DTSD has three Residence Inns. Which is why I'd choose the newish Residence Inn Bayfront, SpringHill Suites Bayfront or InterContinental San Diego. Anthony's had gotten very sad and dated in everything I was sad initially too, but Miguel's did an amazing job with the Portside Pier.

There are a lot of threads about the San Diego Port. All things being equal, I'd stay at the Residence Inn Bayfront, SpringHill Suites Bayfront or InterContinental San Diego. All three are directly across from the cruise port and 2 miles from the airport. See the map below. https://maps.app.goo.gl/j4WRu3FN9sP3d3qS6

Can you use it at the Residence Inn Long Beach? It is a great location, easy walking distance to the shops and restaurants in the Shoreline area, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Queen Mary. I would not in your case, stay by the airport. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Lmq6NUZyFVR87Dz7A

Don't try and use a train, REALLY don't try and use Greyhound. To Laguna Beach from San Pedro, I'd Uber. If you are getting a car in Laguna Beach to drive to San Diego, I'd keep the car to go to Santa Monica. From San Diego to Santa Monica you are essentially on one, multilane freeway the whole time. It could not be easier. Arriving in San Pedro, you would not want to go to Union Station, because that is 30+ miles in the wrong direction. If you DID want to use the train (which I would not), I'd Uber to the Fullerton (FUL), Anaheim (ANA) or Santa Ana (SNA) Amtrak station.

ANY airport in LA except LAX is great, SNA, ONT, LGB, BUR. You'll be able to use car pool (HOV) lanes the whole way almost, so maybe 40 minutes from SNA to the Crowne Plaza

I am afraid your point is lost on me.