KeepCalmBearOn

I like Robert's since they are a local Hawaiian company, been in business since 1941 and have a local presence on every Hawaiian island. https://www.rhshorex.com/big-island-excursions/ I like doing business with people in the same time zone as I am in. I don't use Airbnb or Vrbo, I use local realtors and I engage local tour operators directly. My favorite thing to do in Hilo is visit the Kuhio Grille, Home of the 1 Pound Lau Lau. https://www.kuhiogrille.com/

As I said before, it has been at least 10 years since my last Regent cruise and I laid out why I abandoned them, but it sounds like the line has really deteriorated since my last time and that is sad. Dang near criminal at the prices they charge. I used to hate the idea of the exclusive areas on bigger ships (Haven, Retreat, YC, etc) because it seemed so class-est and elitist and the egalitarian in me rebelled at the thought. That was of course until I actually booked The Retreat... I was like, okay, I put aside some principles for a bit. Never looked back.

Robert's Hawaii is on every island and it is a local company, started on Kauai in 1941. They are the longest lasting, most trusted tour company in the islands. My issue with "tours by locals" is that it is not local at all, but based in Vancouver BC.

YES. EVERYONE. There are only 70 Ubers on the entire island and that is to serve the North, South and East Kauai. If you want to get someplace without a rental car, pre-arrange a driver/shuttle to get to Eleele. And I would REALLY not plan on easily finding an Uber easily at 6PM at Port Allen/Eleele. That is way South/West on Kauai. And I'd also say the drive is closer to 45 minutes, maybe a bit longer. If the ship is overnighting at Nawiliwili, rent a car from Avis. They send a van to the port.

Look at Robert's Circle Tour. https://www.robertshawaii.com/oahu-tours/grand-circle-island-tour/

We tip $10-$20 total, depending on how many bags we check.

I've only sailed in the Yacht Club on MSC, so it isn't a fair comparison to the standard NCL experiences I've had. MSC feels very much like Carnival, except with much better food. I got the drink package once because it was included, but I drink so little, it wasn't an issue. My take on MSC is, it is a MUCH better value than NCL and with much better food. The beer, wine and drinks were all reasonable. Entertainment and activities are a draw. Ships leaving a U.S. port (Miami, Brooklyn, Port C, etc) will be mostly Americans and the food will cater more to American tastes than a cruise originating in Europe would.

I assume the poor weather kept you from enjoying the JW's water park? That would be a shame. The water park is a bonus add-in on a vacation.

Nice place, bad location up on Cortez Hill. Not much close by and lots of walking up and down a big hill to get anyplace.

Bon Voyage.

Start with the InterContinental San Diego on booking sites, then the SpringHill Suites Bayfront, Best Western Bayside, Wyndham San Diego Bayside, Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside and maybe La Pensione. Depending on exact dates, they could all be inside your budget.

KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) is one of the hottest foods in So Cal right now. Outlets are popping up all over the place.

I so would have eaten the cookie......

In Hawaii I've only rented from the airport, but in other areas I've used a Hertz or Avis desk in the hotel and if the counter is closed, you park in their area and drop the keys in a slot in the desk.

My last trip on RSS was at least 10 years ago and they asked for no shorts after 6PM so I complied. If that has been relaxed, I might look at Regent again, for the right itinerary, but I am mostly cruising for the ship now, not destinations.

Regent is all "dressy" after 6PM in all public areas..... which put me off Regent (and two other lines). I don't mind dressing for dinner, but I want back in my shorts ASAP. I dress every day for work in a suit. I want relaxed on vacation. I would not wear shorts to the YC dining room for dinner, but I will go change back into shorts to go to a lounge or show after.

We went through our small luxury ship phase mostly in the mid 90's to mid 2000's and then after going on mid sized ships (Princess, HAL & Celebrity) and going back to small, we found we missed the amenities of the bigger ships. That combined with the growing informality of the dress codes on the mid sized ships helped put us off the smaller ships. I rebelled at the idea of the mega ships. I mean who wants to ice skate in the Caribbean and ride a go kart in the fjords of Alaska.... me it turns out. The Retreat, Yacht Club and Haven are nice ways to make the megas more palatable.

90% of those close by are mediocre national chains or mediocre tourist traps. One notable exception is L'Opera Italian Restaurant; a truly outstanding place. And while I find Parker's Lighthouse a bit of a tourist trap, the Queensview Steakhouse on the 3rd floor of Parker's is very good.

I would not get a dining package because they do not match how I eat or what I like. I am also not sure they save lots of money. In the dining package you get 1 soup/salad/starter; 1 entree and 1 dessert. I generally don't eat dessert unless there is a something very special and unique or an outstanding cheese offering. I often get a started and soup or salad, or sometimes even two starters and a salad. In Butcher's Cut, I don't think the Rib Eye is an option.

I think the area is very safe and you are on a major road, but I'd still Uber or cab and tip well.

Nope, super easy. Ask the staff at the Maya how far in advance to call for the Uber.

Double check under the mattress, just in case there is a pea there..... 😁🤣

I went through a period where I liked smaller ships, Regent, Oceania, etc, but after I'd been on a couple of the mega-ships, when I tried to go back to small, I found myself missing the entertainment, the large variety of restaurants and I found myself really liking causal (shorts) almost any time.

El Agave in San Diego's Old Town has over 2,000 different kinds of tequila. It wasn't until my DW got her job in San Diego some 16 years ago and we bought our home in Coronado that I learned how to drink and appreciate tequila. https://elagave.com/tequila-museum/

Kind of how I feel about gin I couldn't tell the sparkling wine brand in the YC, I suspect it is a proseco, but I love the Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label on Regent and the Patron Reposado. Wild Turkey, I could skip though. I like the Jack in the YC, but as I recall on both Regent and in the YC, you to choose your poison.