To Sea to See, a GRAND trip to Hawaii-TR complete 4/1/2014 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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To Sea to See, a GRAND trip to Hawaii-TR complete 4/1/2014
To Sea to See, a GRAND trip to Hawaii-pre trip report
One nice thing about my last cruise, a fifteen day Panama canal cruise, was lot of sea days. I learned I that I loved sea days and in the process watched the on TV mini cruise ads. About ½ way between Nicaragua and Cabo, I meandered down to the future cruise office and charged $100 to my credit card on file for a ‘future cruise credit’(FCC) on Princess. With the $100 (totally refundable ) you get the $100 as your down payment on your next cruise and an onboard credit (OBC) on the next cruise which will be based on your length of cruise and room category.
The cruise ended on February 21st, and on the 23rd I emailed my beloved travel agent who verified she was notified of the FCC.
First thing after coming home was to do my taxes, then when I knew I was financially free for another year, I contacted my TA and got to work. She shared several options (I had already made my mind up to take a Hawaii cruise). She gave me several quotes, with prices changing based on dates… and told my about one cruise their company had a ‘group’ special on. You had to do that date, but it would garner extra OBC and a couple onboard perks.
Credit card in hand, I called her again on March 27th and in my best Hawaii 50 imitation I told her to ‘book it Dano’. I booked a 15 day..San Francisco to Hawaii to Ensenada(to meet the PVSA) and back to San Francisco. I was already ahead of the game as I live 200 miles from SF so I don’t have to fly).
Initially I booked a ‘interior-guarantee”—inside with them picking the room. Price with cruise insurance (with some health issues of my own and an elderly mom I always buy it) $2,848. Before you gasp at the price remember that since I am single I pay double occupancy price- i.e. pay for two…only savings is only one port fees/taxes). One nice thing is that now that I was up a class in their frequent cruiser program (I do get credit for double the # of cruises since I pay for two, but # of days remains the same—Princess’ Captain Circle does it both ways) . This means as a ‘platinum’ I get (based on cruise length) $250 free internet time , priority boarding,
On the 28th I got confirmation from her and a thank you letter from the president of the cruise line. On my booking my Onboard credits were: From future cruise credit $100 , From travel agent $75, and from Princess $250 for having served in the military (ranges from 50 to 250 based on cruise length) for a total onboard credit of $425.
On the 5th of April the listing of excursions became available. (They had to finish setting their 2014 excursion prices first) With Princess your excursions are not charged to you room until you board, but you have your reservation. In addition, you can usually cancel and excursion up to 36 hours before the excursion. In addition to getting a space reserved, you (based on 3 prior cruises) save about 20% on the price of the excursions if booked in advance). Went and reserved one excursion per island.
Since I am a Captains Club member, I get periodic sale notices, and on 5/26 I got notice of a sale, and decided to upgrade to a balcony. Price was $4815 after insurance which was compared to a normal $5,400. I was assigned room L243 (Lido deck right under the beauty salon..not a great location but a balcony. On July 18th I got a notice that Princess upgraded me to C305 which is a nice mid ship, both midway between bow and stern and on deck 10 instead of 14.
So in summary of pre report to date: booked 15 day cruise to Hawaii. Board Sunday, sail Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday-Honolulu, Oahu, :Saturday-Lahaina, Maui (tender port) : Sunday-Nawiliwili , Kauai : Monday-Hawaii: Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri at sea, Saturday-3 hour stop in Ensenada, Sunday at Sea, Monday-Disembark in San Francisco. Cruise 1/19-2/3, 2014 on the Grand Princess
Price for double occupancy balcony $4,800 including tax and travel insurance.
I will cover excursions, and rest of planning in part two. I will try to do a daily update , without photos , during the cruise, then a full trip report with pictures (lots of food pictures-yum ) after I get home.
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It sounds like you're in for another amazing experience! And I am gasping at the price, but at how LOW it is! On such a long cruise, that's an amazing price, especially with the big on-board credit. That's a luxury vacation for well under $200 per night all-inclusive. I usually cruise alone and that double-occupancy think can be a killer. I think this is an amazing value!
I hate that singles are charged double occupancy prices, but it still looks like you are getting quite the deal for that long of a cruise and the bonus is you're going to Hawaii.
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To Sea to See, a GRAND trip to Hawaii-pre trip report part two
To Sea to See, a GRAND trip to Hawaii-pre trip report part two
The excursion list was available right after booking, which was nice.
I perused the list which was 11 pages long. Hilo (Hawaii-3), Honolulu (Oahu-3), Lahaina (Maui-2) and Hilo (Hawaii-aka The big Island-3).
I reviewed them carefully and on April 5th I made my selections:
#1-Oahu—the easiest. Being a Navy Veteran visitation of the Arizona Memorial is the ONE thing I had to do. So I booked a combination USS Arizona Memorial and City drive, 0800-1315. By booking this way the cruise line gets our memorial tickets for us. $69.00 We were warned the wait at the visitor center could be about 1 ¾ hours. The rest of the tour includes Punchbowl National Cemetery, Pali Lookout, and view Waikiki, Aloha Stadium, Chinatown, Iolani Palace, the State Capital, the Kamehameha Statute, and the Kawaiahao stone churdh
#2 Maui-Waterfall hike to Ho’olawa Valley. 0900 to 1500 lunch included. $159.00 This was later cancelled by me as I read some articles in travel books about the presence of leptospirosis in fresh water and a recommendation by the state department of health not to go in fresh water in Hawaii.
I replaced this with a Whale Watching excursion 09:45-11:45 $59. Then I will explore Lahaina on foot (there was a tour available..but the visitor center has a free walking tour brochure right where you get off the tenders
#3 Kauai-Waimea Canyon, Waiula River and Fern Grotto (Lunch included) 08:30-4:30 $149
This active full day excursion combines geological wonders, lush vegetation, small towns and villages and even Hawaiian music and dance. Your scenic drive takes you to the rim of Waimea Canyon “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific” according to Mark Twain, then a sentimental riverboat cruise up the Wailua River to Fern Grotto. With dance and music on the way. You will also visit Opaekaa Falls and Spouting horn.
#4 Hilo-Volcanoes National Park, Macadamia Nut Farm and Hawaiian Tropical Gardens (Lunch Included) 08:30-16:30 $149 At Hawaii Botanical Gardens discover more than 2,000 species of flowers, fruits and plants on a self-guided tour. Dine at a hotel, then on to Big Island Candies for souvenir shopping. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park you will enjoy spectacular views along Crater Rim drive, and walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, Then travel to the Thomas A Jagger museum for panoramic views of the Kilauea caldera and Halema’ma’u crater. Visit the Mona Loa Macadamia Nut factory. On 10/16 I got a notice that instead of Hawaian Tropical Gardens we would be visiting Nani Mau Gardens. It is said to contain every plant grown on the Hawaiian islands, lunch would be there instead of an unnamed hotel. I researched the gardens on the internet and they were apparently bought out about three years ago and are now in prime condition and the food got good ratings.
October 31: Booked a pre cruise hotel, Comfort Inn at Van Ness and Lombard streets. $134 (including tax-senior citizen rate) and $26 to park. PARKING IS EXPENSIVE in San Francisco.
As we get closer, the emails from Princess increase (they do like to keep you informed) Nov 1 Got an Email from our Captain Justin Lawes. A native of Pontypridd, South Wales. After qualifying as a master mariner, he then got a Master of Law degrees at University of Wales, Cardiff.
Nov 21 Got a letter from the Excursion coordinator. Since I had already booked mine, I ignored it.
12/6 I reserved my parking. $290 for 15 days. $18/per day plus a $2 administrative fee. Cheap for San Francisco (just look at the $26 for one day at my hotel.
12/16 Email from the hotel director and maitre’d. Riccardo Capraro and Angelo Balbiani (the Italians are in charge of our comforts)
1/15..the LAST email I expect. Our cruise director is Neil Roberts. An Australian (Princess seems to have lost of Aussie cruise directors).His letter included some of the onboard entertainment:
A Superbowl tailgate party, several production shows (British Invasion and Stardust among others), Movies under the Stars (think top two decks on a padded lounge, blanket and pillow, waiters bring around hot chocolate, milk and warm cookies). Among movies that will be onboard: The Wolverine and World War Z.
Scholarship at sea will feature Gary Shahan with lectures on Hawaiian Natural History and wildlife; and Rozz and Jim Lowry with Hawaiian culture including Hula Lessons, Ukulele and Language classes. There will also be lei making (materials fee) and similar special activities on board. I have packed my ukulele, so now I can learn how to use it.
As I write this, I have finished packing, except for drugs. (I know the cruise is 9/10 days away (9 to SF and 10 to board), but I am ready.
Next posts will be either from SF or onboard.
Love the excursions you picked out. The one in O'ahu sounds perfect, as you'll see all the major attractions in a short space of time, and I'd say the same about the Big Island one too. As for Maui, definitely the right decision to just wander around Lahaina - that's what we did when we visited and it's very easy to navigate and a beautiful town as well.
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Nice day yesterday in San Francisco. Easy 4 hour drive down. Traffic was low. $5 to cross the new bay bridge.
Room nice, but not many places to eat nearby. $134 AARP (Senior rate ) including tax. parking is an additional $26.
Walked around the usual tourist areas. Day was clear and mid 60's. Estimated I walked 4.1 miles Admittedly I am going to get as much exercise as possible on the cruise.
Lunch was a 7oz Cheeseburger (really good Angus beef ) fries and a coke $12.50 plus tip. Got a sandwich $7 to go from a little mom and pop operation across the street, and had to go 1/2 way around the block to get a coke $2. (Mom and pop did not have diet). The soda machines in the hotel are out of order as they are 'going to replace' them.
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and a couple onboard perks.
I booked a 15 day..San Francisco to Hawaii to Ensenada(to meet the PVSA) and back to San Francisco. I was already ahead of the game as I live 200 miles from SF so I don’t have to fly).
Price with cruise insurance (with some health issues of my own and an elderly mom I always buy it) $2,848. Before you gasp 
at the price remember that since I am single I pay double occupancy price- i.e. pay for two…only savings is only one port fees/taxes). One nice thing is that now that I was up a class in their frequent cruiser program (I do get credit for double the # of cruises since I pay for two, but # of days remains the same—Princess’ Captain Circle does it both ways) . This means as a ‘platinum’ I get (based on cruise length) $250 free internet time 
, priority boarding, 
On my booking my Onboard credits were: From future cruise credit $100 , From travel agent $75, and from Princess $250 for having served in the military (ranges from 50 to 250 based on cruise length) for a total onboard credit of $425.
. Price was $4815 after insurance which was compared to a normal $5,400
. I was assigned room L243 (Lido deck right under the beauty salon..not a great location but a balcony. On July 18th I got a notice that Princess upgraded me to C305 which is a nice mid ship, both midway between bow and stern and on deck 10 instead of 14.
, without photos 
, during the cruise, then a full trip report with pictures 
(lots of food pictures-yum 
) after I get home.
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Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
I hope you have a great time! Can't wait to hear all about it! 
and on April 5th I made my selections:
So I booked a combination USS Arizona Memorial and City drive, 0800-1315. By booking this way the cruise line gets our memorial tickets for us. $69.00 We were warned the wait at the visitor center could be about 1 ¾ hours. The rest of the tour includes Punchbowl National Cemetery, Pali Lookout, and view Waikiki, Aloha Stadium, Chinatown, Iolani Palace, the State Capital, the Kamehameha Statute, and the Kawaiahao stone churdh 
, lunch would be there instead of an unnamed hotel. I researched the gardens on the internet and they were apparently bought out about three years ago and are now in prime condition and the food 
got good ratings.
in San Francisco.
for 15 days. $18/per day plus a $2 administrative fee. Cheap for San Francisco 
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