Live-- “Eh” to “G’day” – Vancouver to Sydney on Radiance 2014

[AussieVisi2r]

That was followed by the Bridge Tour which I just love. Thi tour is available as part of the ‘All Access Tour $150, or to Suite and D+/Pinnacle people. It is fantastic. I do it every chance I get.

 

The Bridge has a lounge setting with a million dollar view. Officers get to sit around and relax when not on!. Visitors get to go up there for sailaways, drinks etc. Imagine how wonderful that would be.

 

 

Different perspective.

 

 

(and remember - your deck is not as private as you may think!)

 

Controls on the wing. These are used when docking. They drive the ship from the wing.

 

 

And can look down through the 'window / peep hole' to see how they need to use the bow thrusters.

 

 

Of course I love to stand on the window. It's only 10 decks to the water!

 

 

The driver. Officer in command!

 

 

 

If you every get the chance to tour the bridge - or are thinking about the All Access Tour - do it!!!!

Edited September 18, 2014 by AussieVisi2r

[AussieVisi2r]

A few random photos.

Almost in Hawaii - time to lie in the sun.

 

 

 

Look how much stuff goes in a soft serve machine!

 

 

On deck 13 is the Swarovski wall. It never changes but I still take the photo.

 

 

LOBSTER NIGHT (terrible photo - Sorry)

 

 

Sunset

 

 

Private Karaoke party is held in the Concierge Lounge. It's great fun. You get to do Karaoke with a small group _ maybe 50 people, that you have been drinking with all week, so not quiet strangers. Lots of staff get invited up so you get to chat to many officers. The Captain often comes and joins in.

 

Photos were not good. So you will have to imagine!!!!

 

Told you I had a lot to report today!

 

[tazza_0712]

I can't wait for the bridge tour! Thanks for the awesome trip report.

[Retirement]

Hi, Pam, Yes, we sailed together to Hawaii! Hope that you and Larry are well. Did you send me the info? Didn't get an e-mail from you: anitapaulton@gmail.com.:)

[joand452]

Wonderful photos, Raina! Would really love to do the All Access Tour, but I don't think my old knees could take all the stairs. Maybe someday we'll be D+ and get invited to the Bridge tour.

 

I think our table ate all 7000 of those pumpkin seed rolls during our Indy cruise in April. They were delicious!

 

I'd also like the info on the air discounter: goingcruisin at yahoo dot com

 

Thank you!

[teachergal29]

Hi, Pam, Yes, we sailed together to Hawaii! Hope that you and Larry are well. Did you send me the info? Didn't get an e-mail from you: anitapaulton@gmail.com.:)

 

Yes, I sent it to you, but just resent it again along with sending it to joand452

Hope you both get it..

[teachergal29]

Sorry for being late, I just caught up.

Can you forward it to me as well please.

Coming from Scotland, we get hit with big airfare every time.

Thanks in advance

alex moir at Hotmail dot com

 

Sorry, I din't see you at fist in between Raina's posts. Just sent the link to you.. I assume there was no space in between alex and moir

[PCWalton1]

They bake 7000 bread rolls a day – plus loaves, pastries etc.

 

 

 

My Favorites!!! with the pumpkin seeds. I miss them already. :(

[AussieVisi2r]

Friday 19h September

Cruise Day 8 – Hilo, Hawaii.

 

OH MY GOODNESS. WHAT A DAY.

 

I opened my room this morning to an amazing view.

 

 

 

The dock was really easy and of course there was the usual local band playing.

 

 

I collected my rental car for Dollar rentals. Was a fantastic medium sized car for $45. They have a shuttle at the dock. I saw other buses waiting until the bus had a few people in it, but mine let me in then drove off. Check in was very quick and easy. Drop off is back at the airport then a shuttle runs you back. One of the easiest rentals I have ever done.

 

Then I drove back to the dock to collect Dad. They let me drive in and collect him at the taxi rank, right at the door to the big shed thingo. There is a disabled loading zone there.

 

We drove straight up to Volcano National Park. It’s about a 45 minute drive and was a really pretty drive. The vegetation is great and of course its very exciting to see the big clouds billowing out of the mountain.

 

 

 

Park entry was $10 for a car. The information centre had good maps etc.

[laurieal]

Awesome review! I'm really enjoying it!

 

Could I also get the discount email, please? laurieannelavoie at gmail dot com

[cassamanda]

Great report and making me jealous.

 

Nobody has mentioned this yet but i think you need to be aware that Australia has been put on High security alert just so that you dont get a surprise at the extra police around when you eventually get here.

So no more WD40:eek:

 

Hugh

[AussieVisi2r]

Our first stop was at the Steam Vents. Ground water seeps down and hit the hot rocks, causing steam to escape. But not just steam. A few extras like make the stream not so good. There are a few vents near the road that are very accessible.

 

 

 

Women would ‘share the breath of Pele’, the Goddess of the Volcano by breathing in the steam. Which of course I did.

 

 

It is pretty safe at these vents. It’s the one closer to the volcano that are dangerous.

 

Then I left Dad in the car and walked down the path. The sign said it was only .5 to the rim. Easy - “see you in 15 minutes”, but of course its not 500 metres each way. It’s .5 of a mile. Opps. I was a bit slower than that. You can wander off the track and get a really good look at the vents – and play in the steam! It's a really well made path and easy walking. Also extremely pretty.

 

 

It is incredibly bad luck to remove rocks from the volcano. Pele becomes very angry and causes you bad luck. The local post office receives many parcels each week. They contain rocks, both tiny to large, and are asked to return them to the volcano. They are from people who have taken them home and have then suffered from bad luck.

 

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

We then drove along the Crater Rim Drive. It used to be a ring road around the volcano. But after the expansion of the volcano there is a horse shoe road with a huge area of the park out of bounds.

 

 

Next was Kilauea overlook where you looked down into the caldera and across to the actual crater. The caldera is massive. 4 x 3.5 kilometres or 2 x 2 miles with edges up to 120 m or 400 ft high.

 

 

It was a bit of a hike up, glad I left Dad as part was quite steep. I don’t think he would have made it. It’s not a long way and so worth it. The view was spectacular. You look down over the crater and it was MASSIVE. It was originally a lava lake but the floor collapsed in the 50’s. Must have been amazing.

 

 

 

There was a man playing the violin – as you do – play your violin on a volcano. It was fantastic to listen as I trudged along. The proper bush walk from the other side would be brilliant.

 

 

There is vegetation regrowing at the top. What a harsh battle that would be. Isn’t nature wonderful!

 

 

[AussieVisi2r]

Kilauea Iki Overlook was next. Another stunning overlook. This is where the million dollar view of the lava lake was in the 50’s. Now you look down and see the cooled lava.

 

 

 

 

With the big lense I could see people waling down there.

 

 

I talked with people who did this excursion and they hated it. The walking was very difficult over rough ground. It looks fine in the photo but some parts must be very rough.

 

 

I did sing a lovely version of "The hills are alive, with the sound of ......volcanoes........" but I will not inflict that video on you . LOL

 

This was a very easy stop (although the surface from the gutter to the rain (about 3 metres) was quiet steep.

[AussieVisi2r]

Thurston Lave Tubes – discovered in 1913 are down a lush valley filled with huge tree ferns. It is quite steep in and out with a few flights of steps. Many people turned back at the start of the steps but they missed out on something spectacular. I didn’t take my big camera (as I’m wobbly on steps with my shiny new knees ) and did regret it.

 

 

 

The walk in / out was stunning but then, these amazing tubes. They are where lava forces its way through then eroded at a different rate to the surrounding rock. It is hard to believe that they were not made by a huge mining drill. You could drive a good sized van through them.

 

 

 

 

 

Lava tubes are how much of the lava is travelling towards the sea that is currently threatening the settlement.

[AussieVisi2r]

Now, I MUST stop NOW!!!!

 

It's 1am AGAIN!!!!!! And I'm still at the computer.

 

But the best part of today is still to come............

 

I shall do it tomorrow....promise.

 

Thank's for all the encouragement and kind words.

 

And YES. I am the luckiest person having this chance to do this with Dad while in his 90th year! It is brilliant.

 

And thanks for passing the email to each other about the flight people. I do hope you let us all know if anyone gets anything great!!!!

 

I am going to be strong and pretend I'm a grown up now and go to bed!!!!!!

 

 

Raina

[dancinman66]

Brings back so many memories and so want to be there

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[p_toasty]

Great review! Is it to late for me to ask for the cheap business class seat web?

Paula-40@live.com.au

 

Thanks and can't wait to see more pics! We are off on radiance to NZ Zin December

[MommaBear55]

Thank you so much for your charming and witty review. DH and I were supposed to be on this cruise but life intruded. Hawaii is my favorite place on earth. (Well of all the places I have been so far). I will continue to follow along and enjoy the cruise vicariously.

 

I will reach emerald on the first part of my B2B starting Saturday. I can only hope to achieve D+. My DH would tell you I am working too hard to get there too fast. :D

 

Tell us more about your new knees. How long ago did you have them done, if you don't mind me asking. I am facing replacements sometime and really need to know that life will improve at some point in the post operative phase.

[sue in florida]

Hi,

I am a lurker and loving this blog. These 2 cruises are on my bucket list.

T would like the airline info as well.

suebeckworth at hotmail dot com

Thanks so much to whoever replies.

Sue

[CRUISEBOY305]

Great photos Raina

[Bim1]

you have me glued to your review, only 5 weeks to go until my cruise, im super exciting knowing ill be experiencing all this in a few weeks.

 

Can I be a pain, can someone please email me details of the broker, im already thinking about what I can do next year. bim111b at yahoo dot com

[teachergal29]

Just sent email from Raina to:

laurieal

p-toasty

sue in florida

Bim1

 

Let know if you do not receive it.

[Gator0178]

Now, I MUST stop NOW!!!!

 

It's 1am AGAIN!!!!!! And I'm still at the computer.

 

But the best part of today is still to come............

 

I shall do it tomorrow....promise.

 

Thank's for all the encouragement and kind words.

 

And YES. I am the luckiest person having this chance to do this with Dad while in his 90th year! It is brilliant.

 

And thanks for passing the email to each other about the flight people. I do hope you let us all know if anyone gets anything great!!!!

 

I am going to be strong and pretend I'm a grown up now and go to bed!!!!!!

 

 

Raina

 

 

 

Thank you so much for this review and especially Hawaii. We looked at doing a cruise ( since we are Diamond and LOVE to cruise) but you just didn't get enough time at each island to REALLY see or do anything. We are staying 2 nights at the Volcano, 6 nights in Oahu (3 Waikki and 3 N shore) and 6 nights in Maui (3 nights in Lahaina and 3 in Hana). I would love any pics and input you have on the things you liked and didn't like.

[taylors04]

Hello all,

 

Just found this trip report and it has me thinking about taking this Pacific adventure too. If it's not too much trouble, would someone be able to forward me the discounter address as well?

 

apsco17 at eastlink dot ca

 

Many thanks and looking forward to the next installment.

 

Todd