Live from the Koningsdam 1-30-24 RT Hawaii

[misguy]

We are just getting set up in the harbor on Kona.  The water seems very calm and so tendering should not be a big issue.  

[GTVCRUISER]

1 hour ago, misguy said:

I am sure we will try using the city bus next time.  I am going to work on a guide using the HOHO system and identifying the accessible options to think about at each stop.

I took the Bus to Waikiki about a month ago on my Koningsdam cruise , it was a dollar 25 for senior rate 

[canadianbear]

11 minutes ago, GTVCRUISER said:

I took the Bus to Waikiki about a month ago on my Koningsdam cruise , it was a dollar 25 for senior rate 

 Can you  buy a day pass somewhere close to the ship for seniors?  We won’t have change (unless ship will) 

[mcrcruiser]

10 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

 Can you  buy a day pass somewhere close to the ship for seniors?  We won’t have change (unless ship will) 

Canadianbear  we  don't believe Hawaii hotels near the cruise pier sell day passes    Generally ,the hotels are only catering to guests who book stays  .We do know that cruises to Mexican rriviera it is common to book a hotel day pass  . I would recommend that you reserch public transportation  & or the HOHO bus . Don't you take some US currency when you are going to US ports for minor expenses or tips ?  We been to Canada & when  we have gone there I have at least 5100 in Canadian currency for tips if  not paying by CC  

 

Aloha

Cliff

 

 

[canadianbear]

47 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

Canadianbear  we  don't believe Hawaii hotels near the cruise pier sell day passes    Generally ,the hotels are only catering to guests who book stays  .We do know that cruises to Mexican rriviera it is common to book a hotel day pass  . I would recommend that you reserch public transportation  & or the HOHO bus . Don't you take some US currency when you are going to US ports for minor expenses or tips ?  We been to Canada & when  we have gone there I have at least 5100 in Canadian currency for tips if  not paying by CC  

 

Aloha

Cliff

 

 

Sorry Cliff-I meant a day pass for the public bus.  Years ago we could buy a pass but we have never cruised to Hawaii so just not quite sure if there is a close by location to buy a day pass for the public bus.  
 

Yes we have $1,$5 $10 bills etc but just not coins which if we need $1.25 exact change I assume guest  services might have coins 🤷‍♀️

[Hogladyrider]

On 2/7/2024 at 6:16 PM, canadianbear said:

Thanks Cliff.  We used to go often to Honolulu but haven’t been in probably 20 years.  I’m just not sure how far places are to walk from where our ships docks  but maybe will find out when on the ship soon and decide to book something or wing it like we planned.   We’ve been to all the major sites in the past including Pearl Harbour etc.  We are seniors from Canada and don’t do Uber etc.  It’s either walk if not too far or bus. 

We are on our first cruise to Hawaii.  In Honolulu we took the city bus no problem at all.

It is not too far of a walk from the pier.  The port in Honolulu is huge but the bldg is empty.

I downloaded the Bus app.  Cash only no change provided.

[CruiserBruce]

Did you feel the earthquake?

[Hogladyrider]

Kona today we did a private tour Kona Brewery... fantastic tour.  Hank our guide was amazing.  They are a very sustainable company.  We got free beer samples and plenty of time for photos.

Never felt the earthquake but. We slept in this morning recovering from our tour yesterday.

[Haljo1935]

Thanks for the great pictures @Hogladyrider looks like you had a great tour.

[Hogladyrider]

Just now, Haljo1935 said:

Thanks for the great pictures @Hogladyrider looks like you had a great tour.

We tour a lot of breweries in our travels and this is up there in the top 2

[Windsailer]

Hopefully the earthquake this morning at 10:06 am didn't affect anyone's day. It was 5.7 and lasted about 30 seconds - I live a bit south of downtown Kona. 

[mcrcruiser]

Neat pictures of the Kona Brewery  . How many types of beer do they produce Susan ? From the pictures looks like every one enjoyed themselves

There was a earth quake near Thousand Oaks Calif as well  Near to the San Ferando Valley .Very heavily populated 

Cliff

 

 

 

 

 

[mcrcruiser]

13 hours ago, Windsailer said:

Hopefully the earthquake this morning at 10:06 am didn't affect anyone's day. It was 5.7 and lasted about 30 seconds - I live a bit south of downtown Kona. 

Then people from the cruise ship were already tendered into Kona when the earth quake happened .a 5.7 will get your attention .  There was a earth quake in Thousand Oaks Calif as well 

We never get use to earth quakes here in Calif .There have been some devastating ones here in Ca

 

 Aloha

Cliff

[mcrcruiser]

We hope thqt you all have better seas on your return yo San Diego 

 

Marianne & Cliff

[misguy]

We are on our way back, and the seas are definitely better.  My internet bandwidth this morning is 4.35 down and 5.12 up which is very acceptable.

 

In Hilo, we went to the Volcano Park and to Rainbow Falls, it was a very interesting day, we probably paid more than we needed to, but it was just 4 of in a van.  

 

I had to utilize the Medical Center, I knew what the problem was, but I needed some prescription medicine to treat bronchitis.  It was $99.00 to see the doctor, and then the price of the medicine.  They did do a covid test and it was negative.  

 

By the time we were done with that it was about 10:30 or so and then we went off and found a few tours operators but none would go with a really small group.  One of the operators arranged for someone with a taxi to take us, though they didn't really have the permit they need to operate in the park.  

There is a free shuttle to the Farmers Market that runs frequently and a HOHO bus that you can catch to tour downtown and to do some beach tours.

[Haljo1935]

48 minutes ago, misguy said:

We are on our way back, and the seas are definitely better...

There is a free shuttle to the Farmers Market that runs frequently and a HOHO bus that you can catch to tour downtown and to do some beach tours.

Good to hear the seas are better - I'm sure you're glad, too. 😊

Hope the meds do their job on the bronchitis - the coughing can be annoying and frustrating. 

I took the free shuttle last month to the Farmers Market - it was a nice an option. We walked to the post office from the market and saw some interesting things along the way. 

[bennybear]

On 2/9/2024 at 2:46 PM, CruiserBruce said:

Did you feel the earthquake?

On land definitely,  it lasted longer than the usual.   And quite noisy in kona,  

[GTVCRUISER]

Koningsdam in Hilo 

[misguy]

Just had the daily Nav report from the Captain.  Seas are still running 3 meters, but will subside in the upcoming days.  On the ship there is a little movement but nothing compared with what we encountered on the way over.

[CruiserBruce]

52 minutes ago, misguy said:

Just had the daily Nav report from the Captain.  Seas are still running 3 meters, but will subside in the upcoming days.  On the ship there is a little movement but nothing compared with what we encountered on the way over.

Interesting,  as you will be sailing back into more storms, particularly by Friday/Saturday. 

[misguy]

Here is a video we did about an affordable and accessible tour in Honolulu. 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

On 2/9/2024 at 11:05 AM, canadianbear said:

 Can you  buy a day pass somewhere close to the ship for seniors?  We won’t have change (unless ship will) 

 

Before we left for this Hawaii cruise, I checked on getting a day pass for The Bus in Honolulu as we've done in years past.  Since the first of the year, they no longer offer a half price senior day pass if you show your Medicare card.  There is a senior pass, but you have to go to a transportation hub to get it, and you need to make an appointment too.  The fare for The Bus, according to their website is $3 pp per trip, with a $7 maximum per day.  That is still a bargain. 

 

We also found Uber to be better priced than taxis, especially to and from the airport to rent a car.

[rollie]

16 hours ago, misguy said:

Here is a video we did about an affordable and accessible tour in Honolulu. 

 

Loved your video, well done.

 

Rollie

[misguy]

27 minutes ago, rollie said:

Loved your video, well done.

 

Rollie

Thanks I appreciate the feedback.  I do what I can especially focusing on accessible things to do.

[misguy]

It is Monday, and I was up early  before the sun was anyway and walked 4 miles, I think the bronchitis is getting better and getting closer to my normal time zone is helping.  The seas still have some decent swells but they aren't breaking like they were on the way our.  Sunrise was beautifull.

 

Last night we went to the comedy show,  His first name was Sid, and he was really funny, My wife laughed till she hurt.  My internet held up pretty well all day, so I was able to get some work done.