To Sea to See, a GRAND trip to Hawaii-TR complete 4/1/2014 - Page 12 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Put on your track shoes. Since I took very few photographs after leaving Hawaii, the remainder of the TR will be photo free and in one installment
Tuesday 1-28
Seas moderate (actually very NICE !) and 75 degrees. Good enough weather to start daily sunbathing on my balony
Morning mocha , to internet café to check facebook, Passporter, and email. Up to buffet for “British” sausage and eggs.
Then to Laundromat to clean up all the sweaty clothes from Hawaii visit. $8 to do laundry
“Understanding your geek”-through Pop art lecture.
Crossing the Pacific by Ships and planes-From liners, to containers, China clippers to 747’s
Lunch was roast turkey and salad bar
With the better weather, lots of pool games on the top decks.
Dinner was Parma Ham and ricotta, Salad with orange dressing, Roast Duck ( Donald), rice and bok choy, and a sugar free chocolate crepe.
Evenings show was Heather Sullivan-Pop Singer and Pianist in the theater.
Followed by comedian “Big Daddy”-Jeff Wayne in the Vista Lounge.
MUTS today was City Slickers (am), Ferris Bueller’s Day off-afternoon, u2-Vertigo and Oblivion in the evening.
TV Movies were Life of Pi, The Big Wedding, Epic, Wreck it Ralph, Morning Glory and One Fine day.
Wednesday 1-29
Nice seas 70 degrees Still great afternoons getting sun on the balcony
Up for coffee, internet and breakfast.
Lecture “World War II, and the War in the Pacific
Lunch was Hoisun ribs, beef roll and a salad
After lunch Lecture on “Weird Science”-A look at science that is stranger than fiction, and some fiction that is passed off as science
Dinner was Snapper ceviche, salad, Beef Strogonoff, and sugar free chocolate Mousse.
Evening’s entertainment was a magician in the theater (skipped) and the production show Motor City in the Vista Lounge.(Had seen before but is one of my favorites-so I saw it again. )
MUTS today was Big (am), Movie in theater in afternoon was Blue Jasmine, Dirty Dancing-afternoon, Stevie Wonder-Live at last and Concert “Take that-Live at Wembley Stadium”. The Way Back was the evening selection.
TV Movies were: East, Mud, Frankenweenie, Kung Fu Panda-The Kaboom of Doom, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and This means War.
Thursday Jan 30
Nice seas and 66 degrees More balcony time
This is a day I will remember forever.
Up for coffee and to the internet café. While on Facebook I received a message from my brother that my Mom had passed away on the day before. (Remember from previous post…not unexpected…but this was the day I got the news)
Science lecture was Earthquakes, Archeology and Civilization-How earthquakes left marks on early ciivization.
Lecture: WWII From Guam to Nagasaki.. How the Allies bring the war to a conclusion.
Off to a nice lunch of Roast beef and salad.
Then a stop at the casino.
Played my favorite slot and it again was nice to me A crisp $100 bill placed in my room safe (yes, this was on a penny machine..though it took 20 cent to activate all lines)
Before dinner, I watch hour Hawaiian entertainers and I had come to know them fairly well. Lokelina sang and danced to Sweet Memories in memory of my mom (after I had told her of my loss). :thanks Lokelina
Dinner was Minestrone, a salad with bacon and pine nuts on it, Veal Scallipone, beans, mushrooms and tiramisu for dessert.
The comedian from the lounge last night was in the theater tonight. Good stuff. The lounge showed a movie tonight “42”
MUTS was Romancing the Stone (am), Mr and Mrs Smith (afternoon), George Michael Live in London and Paul Mc Cartney: Good Evening New York City during dinner hours, and Pacific Rim
TV Movies were Jack Reacher, The Kings of Summer, Madagascar3-Europes Most Wanted, ParaNorman,l It Could Happen to You, The Proposal.
Friday Jan 31
65 degrees and Small Sea Perfect Balcony weather
Up for Mocha, internet and then up to the buffet for apple pancakes and sausage.
First lecture of the day: How Science Really Works
Followed by “California Here We Come” How people got to California for the Gold Rush
Lunch was a freshly cooked burger on the lido deck and skipped the French fries.
Ice carving demonstration by the pool
Afternoon movie in the theater: Diana-A look at the Princess of Wales
Dinner was Escargot, Tomato bisque, Beef Wellington, and a Milk Chocolate sugar free soufflé.
Evening’s entertainment was the production show British Invasion
(alternate was an instrumentalist)
MUTS today was The Princess Bride (am), The Devil Wears Prada (afternoon), dinnertime music Billy Joel : Live at Shea Stadium, Man of Steel was the evening movie.
TV movies were: The Company You Keep, Unfinished Song, Born to be Wild, The Pirates: Band of Misfits; Plots with a view, The Vow
Saturday February 1
Small waves and 57 degrees. Getting a little cool for balcony.
Breakfast was eggs and a Danish after coffee.
Morning lectures: Earthquake Mythology
Followed by Get Your Kicks on Route 66-part one. Covering the first half of the famous route from Chicago to New Mexico. Lots of memories of diners, funky attractions etc.
Lunch was a hot dog and again skipped the fries.
The afternoon then started with a minor problem. Using the toilet…the button stuck…and the water kept coming in. Called the front desk and help was there in less than a minute shutting off the water supply and within another 2 minutes the plumber was there and fixed it. Thank goodness the bathroom units are raised and have about a 4” lip. All was contained, and the plumber was followed by housekeeping who sanitized the entire bathroom.
Then went and watched those who had taken ukulele and hula lessons do a recital.
We sailed into Ensenada for our 3 hour visit. I made one booboo. I turned on my cell phone for less than a minute. When I got my next bill there was a $15 charge for using cellular at sea and another $15 roaming charge since my data was on (Stupid me.. I had used the phone in Hawaii- since a US state , just like at home. I forgot to turn off roaming . Oops.)
Made a quick trip into Ensenada. It was like bar, store, pharmacy…every block with about 4 of each.
After buying a t shirt, I returned to the ship. Shuttle bus was $2. There was also a Carnival ship in port.
Dinner was cream of Mushroom soup, bib salad, Fried chicken with mashed potatoes green beans, and dessert was Pineapple Crème Brule.
Spent the evenings singing songs in the Crooners lounge.
MUTS was Forest Gump (am) , Back to the Future (afternoon), Mama Mia.
TV Movies were Skyfall, This is 40, Monsters University, The Croods, Safe Haven and Say anything.
Sunday February 2
Small waves and 54 degrees as we sailed toward San Francisco.
Coffee, then sausage and Danish for breakfast
Culinary show and galley tour. This was the funniest one I have ever seen. Turns out the new head chef is half comic.
Lunch was ribs, macaroni and cheese , salad and a fruit tart.
Route 66 lecture.. New Mexico to LA. Again great memories.
Superbowl parties all over the ship. On deck, all bars, and the Vista lounge. Great time, drink specials, hors des ouvre all over the place. It was a run away by half time. So most made it to dinner on time.
Dinner was soup, salad, NY steak with potatoes, asparagus and carrots and deep dish apple pie .
After dinner I went back to my room and packed. Placed my luggage outside the door, and then joined new found friends for a couple farewell adult beverages.
February 3
Arrived in San Francisco as day was breaking. Off the ship about 9 am, a block walk to my car and I was home by 1 in the afternoon.
Summary
Princess cruises… They are a good fit for me.
The cruises that are longer (lots of sea days) have great onboard “scholarship at sea” i.e. lecturer and some craft programs.
The food is good. There were a lot more sugar free items (okay no sugar added ) than on any cruise I have ever been on. I also loved the Polynesian twist to some food items on every dinner meal.
Plenty of late night activities if you want.
The ship is older, but it had just come out of the yards-so some unfinished work was completed between SF and Hawaii. They were very responsive if a problem happened.
Like Disney, the presence of Laundromats is nice. They have one on every room deck.
The service is excellent!
Also a great value for the money! As much as I Love Disney…I can do a ton more days on Princess for the same bucks. And they go to a lot more ports.
Thanks for following along.
Sounds like it was a great trip! Lots to do and lots to eat! Especially given the single-traveller surcharges, I know Princess offers longer cruises for the money than DCL.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Great wrap up! I've only cruised Carnival (and only twice, LOL!), but I may be branching out due to their changing the menus on the ship. This report pushes Princess towards the top of the list!
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us as I enjoyed it very much! A nice wrap up to your trip!
Sorry again to hear about the loss of your mom! I lost mine almost two years ago to the day and I know how tough it can be at times!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
, to internet café 
to check facebook, Passporter, and email. Up to buffet for “British” sausage and eggs.
Donald), rice and bok choy, and a sugar free chocolate crepe.
)
A crisp $100 bill placed in my room safe (yes, this was on a penny machine..though it took 20 cent to activate all lines) 
Called the front desk and help was there in less than a minute shutting off the water supply and within another 2 minutes the plumber was there and fixed it. Thank goodness the bathroom units are raised and have about a 4” lip. All was contained, and the plumber was followed by housekeeping who sanitized the entire bathroom.
(Stupid me.
. I had used the phone in Hawaii- since a US state , just like at home. I forgot to turn off roaming . Oops.)
) than on any cruise I have ever been on. I also loved the Polynesian twist to some food items on every dinner meal.
PassPorter Guide Author
Linear Mode
