"Live" (I hope) from Radiance - Sailing to Hawaii

[denamo]

Bill and Marie, Thanks so much for the live cruise and letting us tag along! Super! Love your picture posts and the commentary is as entertaining as it is enlightening.

 

Thank you for taking time to do this.

[silverfoxcruiser]

Count me as another one who is very much enjoying your labor of love. As an amateur photographer who has not had the privilege of cruising the last several years, I am getting lost in just enjoying reliving my experiences through your pictures.

It has also been more than a dozen years since my one trip to Hawaii And that makes this trip even more fun for me even though I have not cruised there.

 

Just wanted to say thanks make sure you know how much your effort is appreciated and sharing is the best part.

 

Keep up the good work. And most importantly keep enjoying and keep posting as I will be enjoying with you your lovely wife. I feel almost as if we have actually cruised together.

 

:-)

Could not have said it better!! Thanks, PCWalton1!! Silver

[PCWalton1]

Day nine dawns with our arrival at our favorite island, Maui. Unfortunately each year it is getting developed more and more, but it still holds its charm. And so many things to see, there is the road to Hana, Io Valley, Mt Haleakala. Unfortunately we will not be going to any of them. But we will be going to the places we like and that is what counts.

 

 

 

We headed down to deck 5 shortly after seven to get tender tickets. It was a repeat of yesterday, the girl hands us tickets to boat #2 and right afterwards Cruise Director Bobby announces they are no loading boat #2. So off we go to head off the ship. I guess not many wanted to leave that early as the boat was only a quarter full.

We had traffic in the way in (didn’t know it was the morning Lahaina rush hour) as we waited at a bouy for the ferry to Moloki to leave so we could pull in.

 

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

Once ashore I called the rental car company and was told the shuttle to their lot would meet us in front of the courthouse at 8am (still just 7:30). So we waited with a group of other people heading the same place. The van arrived and it turned out all but one guy didn’t have any reservations and the company we were with did not have any more cars available so word to the wise, book online.

 

 

 

 

We got the car and headed up to Napili as I needed some coffee. The Maui Coffee Company has a store in the Napili Plaza that I frequent every time on the island. A cup of Kaanapali Estate and I was ready to hit the road.

[PCWalton1]

Next stop was Kaanapali and the Whaler Village to shop and stroll. This is a shopping area central on Kaanapali which shops like Crazy Shirts, Tommy Bahamas, Na Hoku Jewelry (Marie’s Favorite).

 

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

Got to love the birds

 

 

 

There is a walk that runs along the beach passing each hotel that is fun to stroll. We stopped at Kaanapali Beach Hotel a place we use to frequent, not much has changed. Even the coconut checkerboard is still there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

After the stroll we hopped back in the car and made on quick stop at the Lahaina Cannery Mall to visit the Starbucks. Since I work for them I get a free pound of coffee each week as my “markout”. So I was stopping to get a ½ pound of Kona (that is the only coffee we have they give us just a half pound). Well I was surprised to find I cannot get Kona as there is a shortage. The Big Island is having a big problem with beetles hurting the trees and reducing the harvest so the limited amount we have in our stores is for sale only. Oh well.

Next stop is the other side of the island and the town of Paia. We found this place in 2005 when we took our first drive on the road to Hana. It is a quaint little wind surfing town loaded with lots of great little shops to wander and explore. In some of those shops they sell everything from used license plates to vintage spice tins.

Another reason we love Paia is the Paia Fish Market. Just a great place to get fresh delicious seafood that was probably still swimming last night. The menu is a big reader board showing what is available and how they will cook it. You can have your fish Cajun, straight up fried, even sautéed with butter and wine. Marie had shrimp and fries (can’t get her away from the shrimp) and I had an Ono burger. This was a fillet cooked with Cajun spice served with shredded cheese and a wasabi aioli.

 

Paia Fish Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fish Market got so busy after we left the line went out the door

[PCWalton1]

Inside one of the shops

 

We walked around the shops in town then it was a stop at Ono Gelato Company for some of the best gelato I have ever tasted. The location may weigh into it some, but they are made with fresh fruit (even had a few passion fruit seeds in ours) which adds the taste.

 

 

 

We then left town and made a quick maintenance stop at the Walmart in Kahului. We go here for just one thing and that is they sell a variety of large Hawaiian calendars for just 87 cents. Those things run $2 - $4 anywhere else. We buy a dozen as they make great gifts (don’t tell our friends we are spending less than a buck on them).

Took a few scenic shots on the way back to Lahaina.

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was getting late in the afternoon and we were running out of steam so we returned the car and caught the shuttle back to Front Street in Lahaina. We spent some time under the big banyan tree as there was a crafts fair, then walked up the street looking for presents for the kids and grandkids. Then it was hopping on the tender bus back to the ship.

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gambee]

I can't believe I just found this review. Very cool picutres.

[DT1304]

I have to thank you again for this fantastic review.

 

My first cruise is on Radiance in December and I am loving exploring the ship through your pics.

 

Is there any way you can post a pic of the menu in the MDR, any night, so I can get an idea of the types of things that are served. Just curious after reading so much about the amazing food.

 

Thanks again.

[PCWalton1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PCWalton1]

 

 

 

 

 

We had set an 8:30 reservation due to the lateness of the port but got that changed to our usual 7:00. MDR was a ghost town which of course meant even better service and a lot more attention. After dinner we could not go to the casino as we are still in port so we went to the pool deck to watch a movie (Marie watched, I snoozed) and that ended this evening. Got back to the room and had a depressing experience as our off going luggage tags we on the bed, sigh. :(

[PCWalton1]

Yum!!!! That tasted nice. Now how about some fresh pineapple?

I have eaten a field of pineapple this past week, :)

[starlake]

Thaks so much for the Maui pictures. We spent a wonderful vacation at the Kaanapali, the sights make me long to go back there. Is the whale pool still there????.

[Wildcatfish]

Got back to the room and had a depressing experience as our off going luggage tags were on the bed, sigh.]

 

Luggage tags?!!!!!

 

I'm not ready for you to leave the ship.

Edited September 23, 2012 by Wildcatfish

[RazorbackIslandGirl]

I thank you so much fo taking us along on your fantastic voyage! I cruise in 6 days & your daily postings have gotten me in the vacation state of mind!!:cool: Thanks again & Aloha!!:D

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Those luggage tags are depressing to me, too.:( I want this review to just keep on going on!

 

One question - I noticed in one of your shots of Kaanapali Beach loungers stacked. Did you happen to notice if loungers & umbrellas are available to non-hotel guests for rent? I would especially be interested in loungers and umbrellas near Black Rock as that is where I hope we can snorkel.

[PCWalton1]

Thaks so much for the Maui pictures. We spent a wonderful vacation at the Kaanapali, the sights make me long to go back there. Is the whale pool still there????.

 

Yup, still there. Marie loved that pool as there was usually so few people in it. Maybe they didn't like the small size, :rolleyes:

[pennys mum]

This review is excellent, thank you so much for making my mind up to go next year.

Is it possible to cruise to hawaii from the west coast?

We will fly from UK so can get to just about anywhere to embark ship.

As it is a long way we would like to stay in honolulu post cruise but cant get any details from RCL uk website re cruise from west coast.

Any ideas please.

Looking at 2 weeks total in may or august 2013

[PCWalton1]

I have to thank you again for this fantastic review.

 

My first cruise is on Radiance in December and I am loving exploring the ship through your pics.

 

Is there any way you can post a pic of the menu in the MDR, any night, so I can get an idea of the types of things that are served. Just curious after reading so much about the amazing food.

 

Thanks again.

 

I thank you so much fo taking us along on your fantastic voyage! I cruise in 6 days & your daily postings have gotten me in the vacation state of mind!!:cool: Thanks again & Aloha!!:D

 

Thanks for the kind words, glad all of you are enjoying this. I can try and snap a picture tonight, last chance. Of course trying and remembering are not the same thing for me. :o

[PCWalton1]

This review is excellent, thank you so much for making my mind up to go next year.

Is it possible to cruise to hawaii from the west coast?

We will fly from UK so can get to just about anywhere to embark ship.

As it is a long way we would like to stay in honolulu post cruise but cant get any details from RCL uk website re cruise from west coast.

Any ideas please.

Looking at 2 weeks total in may or august 2013

 

I am not sure about other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean just has the repositioning cruises in the spring and fall.

[PCWalton1]

Luggage tags?!!!!!

 

I'm not ready for you to leave the ship.

 

Those luggage tags are depressing to me, too.:( I want this review to just keep on going on!

 

One question - I noticed in one of your shots of Kaanapali Beach loungers stacked. Did you happen to notice if loungers & umbrellas are available to non-hotel guests for rent? I would especially be interested in loungers and umbrellas near Black Rock as that is where I hope we can snorkel.

 

I know, the tags are here and the tip envelopes and Hawaii survey. All the little depressing signs that paradise is ending. :(