I had been on 3 previous ocean cruises but this was the best. I hope you like my tale. 1 yr of casual prep between my girl friend Karen and her travel agent and my casual approach [between a flight to one of the islands and then, 2-3 intra-island flights and my previous 2 cruises and our joint previous single cruise] convinced her to go along with my idea of-- instead of flying over, to take a 2 week cruise to
Hawaii and back. I have had outside mini port cabins [my son Shane’s trip with me to Acapulco with the now defunct Starlite lines] and my trip on Italia from Haifa to Venezia, [with class distinctions (including a visible ROPE)] in 1966, made the decision to go to
Hawaii on a cruise- a no brainer. AS our day approached,
running around our local shopping malls seeking the perfect dress shoes for the 3 evenings of formal dress attire. OH well. Karen had also borrowed luggage and that almost caused WW 11–with my having been around much of the world with a lot less luggage--all of a sudden, I was relegated to a fold over case while she found 3 larger suit cases......one assigned to me..........[with some of her goodies within it too]. I forgot to take my laid-out tie and shoe horn and that did become inconvenient later on the trip. April 18 arrived, the day before our “take-off”, with as much planning battles were sought. About 7 in the morning, we were up and dressed and happily nervous with ½ of the things put in bags the night before and the rest to do after we were dressed in our “tourist” clothes. NO breakfast. Stomachs turning. WE drove the 1 mile to her sister’s house and within 20 minutes, were in the sister’s car, on the way to the airport. IT was a simple ride with no problems. At the airport, we unbundled ourselves with 4 large pieces of luggage America West and turned away from Southwest at the last moment. We waited 15 minute before we spotted an available clerk to whom we showed ID and our tickets. We were promptly given our boarding passes [having already received our tickets weeks before from the travel agent]. The walk to security was just a few hundred feet. At security, when one wants items hand checked instead of x-rayed, they step to the left and wait for that process--Karen needed to hand over film canisters which she extracted from her bag, to the security people who diligently opened and examined each of the 12 containers. While she waited for her film check, I entered the standard line for x-rays--I almost chose to risk the random full body check.....but did remove my shoes. I was told the machine would beep for my belt buckle but it did not. We re-assembled our items and put back into carry-on luggage the applicable items and trundled off to our gate. We had arrived 2 hours early so I was assigned to entertain myself for our waiting period.. When the plane had arrived and de-boarded, the instructions for boarding were confusing so we got to the line all of 30 feet away--actually very late-- but since we had our passes and ticket assignments-- it meant nothing. Upon entering the plane, two things were immediately obvious; it was much cleaner and VERY MUCH SMALLER than the fleet of planes I was accustomed to. I needed the facilities later during the flight and it was actually embarrassing getting to it and out–being 1/3rd smaller than previous units I had used--oh well. I knew it would be a bit bumpy on the way over, as the route takes the plane over snow covered mountains and the atmosphere was exceedingly cloudy; as cloudy as in Seattle. Actually, it was the cloudiest sky I ever flew within when over Los Angeles and Long Beach. Having been to Long Beach Airport previously, I knew where things were and what to do, making finding the luggage easy–except a boy wanting to examine things close up got in the way. The line-up of shuttles and taxis was easy to find but their prices were extreme. I did negotiate a $20 rate for the two of us to the San Pedro port. Just like on the Tonight Show on TV, decades ago, with J Carson, the shuttle went West and North and South and North and West and I was sure he was taking us on a joy ride. It was safe but absolutely amazing--more twists and freeway changes than I would take in 2 yrs!! [Karen hated the ride, she told me days later] We were both very excited to see the ship from 1 mile away! For a while, we saw two ships perpendicular to each other and could not tell which was ours–but one definitely looked newer and fancier and a bit larger. The bigger one was ours!!! After I paid the shuttle driver [not one driver of shuttles or taxis was Anglo!], a luggage man came by with a cart but I politely declined. I felt I could carry our luggage wherever it needed to go. We were stopped at the “Main cruise line door” and given a form to fill out regarding any other flights and cruises we had been on RECENTLY to see if we might have caught the Caribbean stomach flu that was going around. [Seems odd since that was far from where we were.] After we had each filled out our “we are OK” forms, we gave same to the first security guard at the same Main ship terminal door and were directed to another person. That person gave us each a lei and we were asked for our ID. We showed same. We then were shown the stairs and elevators to get upstairs to get our room key and to again present ID for other stuff and to show our credit card for ship purchases. Another cruise line employee asked why I was toting all our luggage. I told them that I had always done so. We were then told by another “official” that all non-carry on luggage MUST be carried on by an OFFICIAL luggage carrier employee, thus, I was asked to please give it to a luggage cart employee instead of carrying it onto the ship. That meant care of personal needs and, realizing we had no luggage, took a chance and left, key in hand, seeking out the 24 hour restaurant we had read about in our brochure. Called the Horizon Court, it was found easily, 5 decks above us. I will return to our late breakfast visit shortly. For now, a mini tour of the ship: This ship the Island Princess is considered near the best in its class [?] and size; 900 ft long [?] and carrying just under 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew. The ship is about 120 ft [tall], and has about 15 decks–all available to any passenger to visit but not all areas on all decks are open to passengers. I tried to visit the bridge–captain’s steering area-- but according to different new security rules after 9/11, that has been stopped The top deck has a wading pool for the crew and chairs for relaxing.. The next deck is the 14th and holds a walk around area like a mini track near the bow/front of the ship. An oddity were the spaces on both sides of a burger restaurant--[like going through a large mouse maze–a doorway sized space without the door–turn, walk 15 ft to the end of the next transparent wall’s end--which did not meet the next barrier--giving the walker 5 feet of space to walk through-- in and out for 3 of these sections. When past the 3 sections, one was at the main passenger standing/viewing area for the bow--located just 100 feet from the transparent doorway. The next deck down holds two pools and the Horizon Court. One pool is outside and is the far more popular one. The other pool is 100 ft aft of it and is inside. The INSIDE pool’s water is 15 degrees warmer. I swam in this one daily. Next to this [14th deck forward], was a bar and restaurant for burgers/chicken sandwiches-- adjacent to each other- with limited hours. food is included in the fees for the trip but alcohol is not.] Back to the Horizon Court. Crowded. Perhaps at 1:30–only ½ of the guests/passengers, had boarded [the ship]. The Horizon Court [same name used on most of the Princess ships for this restaurant] encompasses the full front of the ship on this deck. It is a buffet restaurant. Half is used during one meal time and the other half-- later in the day. I was so very surprised and pleased with the variety–several kinds of meat, salad items, deserts, fruits, etc. Just outside the Horizon Court, for the first 2-3 days of the trip, sits a crew person with a display of cola containers and stickers, etc. For $35, one can buy a container and a sticker and get unlimited soda for the duration of the trip. Seems both a rip off and a good idea. The soda should be included with the food costs. We did some math. After comparing our likely demand for soda we bought a sticker and container and used it and used it and used it. I am sure we obtained $100 worth of soda during the trip. After we had gorged at the buffet restaurant, we began visiting the ship and watched as more luggage was delivered and more passengers board the ship. It was about 2: 30 by now. I touched the water in the outside pool and felt it was about 60 degrees F.. It would stay at that temp for 4 days! [the pool area also had adjoining it, up 4 steps, hot tubs. 2 per pool. We walked to the front entertainment theater and then the back one, Princess Theater and Universal Lounge, respectively. The Atrium was grand and more. This “central” part of the boat was actually forward and was 4 decks tall. Adjoining it were 2 bars, a future trip planning office, the purser’s office, an exit from the ship for those taking tours, stores, and to the front of it, on separate floors, two “main” restaurants. One restaurant was for those who chose to eat at specific times and had reserved their eating times restaurant but ate at it later as guests of a couple of other passengers. The Other restaurant was for whenever you get there [within each meal’s limited serving hours]. . Our restaurant for “get there within each meal’s serving time formal breakfasts , lunches and dinners” was one deck above the fixed seating restaurant. We needed only to wait in line.......and choose to have our own mini table or share a larger one. Karen and I usually chose to eat alone. Having had our full at the Horizon Court Buffet, we also visited the spa, exercise and doctor’s area and the Wheelhouse Bar carpet side of the ship-- but she got the hang of it 8 days out. [We also visited and used, the laundries.] It was now about 4 pm. Still, no luggage. We were to exit port in 1 hour. At least I did see luggage being left by our neighbors’ doors over this 3 hour time frame. WOW. Soon, there was an announcement over a public address system about a fire/life boat drill. We found our room’s life preservers and map to our “station” and left to attend. We misunderstood some instructions but finally found our STATION [back at the Wheelhouse Bar] full of passengers both inside and outside the bar–with crew members waiting to help us all. After a bit, and finding I could not put on the life preserver as I thought it should go on, another announcement came on and instruction began. A group of crew members were specially dressed for this “training-drill” and were very polite. They also listened to the announcements–and when directed by the announcement, demonstrated the PUTTING on and use of the vest and its whistle and light. Instead of the crew members yelling directions, it was all explained over the loud speakers which made things sort of funny–lots of miming. Our “senior training lady” had 2 assistants with her as she stood only 6 ft from me in our station area. I mentioned that these were definitely upgrades, yet, less secure looking [?] than the old “Mae Wests” I had previously worn on earlier cruises during their life boat drills. Our trainer lady asked what a Mae West was and I politely told her and she then said that this was the first drill she had ever had where she learned anything from the passengers. I felt good. It turned out to be easy to put on the vest if one did not wear glasses. Since I did, I just removed them, put them in my shirt pocket and then wrapped the vest strap around me. The whistle and light were cute, looked funny and yet practical. After a few more minutes of loud speaker and our trainer’s instructions, we were dismissed. We headed back to the cabin and were agog at finally seeing all these 2,000 passengers.!! Back in the cabin, we put our vests away as we chatted and turned on the TV, and were excited by all. Glancing out the open window/balcony door--we noticed we were no longer at the dock but had left minutes ago! The ship was almost totally quiet when not fog horning! When it moved sideways, you could not feel or hear it. WOWOWOW I thought of running up to the top deck for a better view, but thought it unnecessary as we did have a very fine view of everything from the port side! [in our case, the side facing the pier]. The other cute part was, we peeked to our left, to our right, above us and below us and likely everyone cabined on the port side was on their respective balconies doing what we were doing! WOWOOWWO 100+ feet above water.... Poking along at about 3 knots speed. Ponderously slow but GRANDLY. This is the same route that the water shuttle to Catalina takes so I recognized the Coast Guard school, the cargo vessels, etc. Put-putting alongside of us was a patrol vessel legal barrier. The ship passed another 3 sets of additional buoys I had not recognized on earlier shuttles; green and red, etc. WE also noticed islands to our left–port and do not understand why. We know Hawaii is South West of San Pedro bay and we are heading UP the coast. Go figure. Within 30-45 minutes, all islands disappeared and we are really on our way–at about 12-15 knots and sometimes as fast as 20. Soon, we could see no land, and no gulls–just mini waves as far as the eye could see. It was both exhilarating and spooky and a teeny bit scary. It was soon about 6:30 pm, and we were an hour out from San Pedro, and we are supposedly headed directly SW. I thought Hawaii was 3200 nautical miles off the California Coast. I was in error. It is only 2200 +-. Five straight days ahead with no land and we are only to see one boat 15 miles to our starboard. Our TV set had both regular TV shows an essential data from our Cruise Director, Dave Cole–the most energetic 42 yr old man on the entire ship. He was about 5'9", skinny and had 20 yrs exp on Broadway. He was, daily, on the Princess channel telling us about features of the ship, plus upcoming entertainment in both theaters–both movies and live entertainment. NOW for the fun or funny parts [odd?]of THIS ship. The HEAD, toilet, et al, has a method of operation that one likely never forgets. Excuse my specificity but it is cute. When one has finished with their intended purpose, the lid MUST be shut. The flushing BUTTON is depressed not unlike any other similar facility but the similarity stops there. After about one second is a flushing sound and then, a WHOOSH like a jet plane taking off followed by a WHACK sound? A definite concussion that always amazes the user. Anyway, one never has one second of doubt as to the efficiency of the toilet. We have by now, albeit briefly, visited all parts of the ship. This visitation is facilitated by 3 groups of elevators, two going up and down the full height of the ship, and one by the atrium abbreviated in its distance of travel. Across from the elevators, are, logically, carpeted stairs–which we find ourselves often picking for more speedy movement to the theaters, restaurants, pools, and the rest of the ship. This is one time we feel 100% comfortable leaving our balcony door/window open often 24 hours a day. While It IS possible that someone could get over a wall or balcony and to our balcony and our room-- realizing that our neighbors are our age or older, no one seemed physically capable of performing such stunts and climbs. I doubt the things that would be found in our room would make it worth while and I have never heard of any physical attacks in or around rooms [the only attacks according to the security people I talked to were fights over lounge chairs by the open air pool]. Likely about 8:30 pm, it was time to get cleaned up and better dressed and head to our OPEN seating restaurant. There appeared to be at all times, a matre’d and 2-4 assistants at its door. We were asked–as all people were–“Do you wish to sit alone or with a table currently occupied”? Since we chose to eat by ourselves, almost always-- we were taken to a nice table starboard near a big picture window. The menu seemed a bit scarce for variety but posh in presentation. We chose such meals as steak, noodles, chicken and everything in-between. Three nights [identified in advance] of the 14, are formal and suits are required to eat in this restaurant. [We feel that all of Romania are waiters and such since 95% of the staffs at all the ship’s restaurants are from Romania; their home nations listed on their shirt ID.] The ship’s officers claim 45 nations are represented by the crew–and the top officers are themselves from different nations! We were well fed by 9:30 pm. WE simply re-walked the ship to get a better idea where things were, so that we could get from a showroom to a pool to our room without having to stop and look at a pocket schematic. I had complained, very politely, about 6 times, re our luggage. FINALLY by about 9 pm, one piece of our luggage was delivered one suit case at a time over an hour’s period. I was never more relieved! My favorite way to relax was by casual swimming. The water in the enclosed pool had splashed like a storm’s waves and I loved it. A physician there [he ID’d his occupation] volunteered that this first night, most of the passengers would likely be sick as the rolling was greater than [he thought] the passengers had felt the waves would be. I swam for 30 minutes and returned to the room cool and relaxed. About 10:30 pm, our things were totally put away–in our neat, open closet, for hanging items and our 7 shelf bureau weather was still a bit chilly so we put a shoe in the balcony window’s rail to keep it partly opened and retired. NOW, test #2 was to take place. [Test #1 was the toilet.] Just how much did the ship’s rocking affect my lady? MUCH it seems. The rocking was obvious but, in my opinion, not severe. There were two stabilizers–one on each side of the ship. I think the rocking was at 5 degrees tilt at most-- but until the guests had gotten used to this-- it was difficult to deal with. Karen did not get sick but she was weazy for this first night till she finally fell asleep at about 4 a.m. We decided to greet the new At Sea day about 8 that morning. We re-experienced the shower; perhaps the smallest on the planet; at about 1.25 ft by 1.5 ft. This extreme [small] size and the toilet’s characteristics were the bane of humor from our ship’s first entertainment, a comic appearing a few evenings later in the Princess Theater. Our breakfast was eaten in the Horizon Court [our 2nd home it seemed] and afterwards, we visited our floating hotel’s “areas” again, while holding a copy of the ship’s newspaper. The paper was packed with scheduled items, ESPECIALLY quizzes, entertainment, and happenings throughout Princess, all day and evening long. The newsletter also offered nautical data re our distance from LA, our distance remaining, characteristics and introduction to the ship, and more. Karen was rather upset from the rocking and we went to the toiletries store for medicine and such and bought a 2nd [first one she brought from home] wrist thing that puts pressure on one’s artery at the wrist. Nothing worked for her so she just stuck it out. That was a very uncomfortable 36 hours for her. In the mean time, throughout day two, I swam like a porpoise at the covered pool, and we snacked like starving people at the pizza and burger restaurants and the Horizon Court. [Thankfully, she never had to “feed the fishes”.] BY the 2nd evening, we visited the Princess Theater for evening entertainment and we “met” Dave Cole, the Cruise Director and [prior to his introduction of the evening’s main entertainment at this theater-auditorium] the other cruise director helpers. MOST were vivacious but hard to understand with their various accents; the Philippines, the UK and Australia, etc. This theater, according to both Dave and others, equals anything at any casino’s entertainment stage. It certainly had its share of lights, speakers, sound board [HUGE] and other thingies that made entertainment there VERY pleasing. When the evening’s entertainer came out, we all met a different Kevin [your author is Kevin too], a bald headed guy of 52, my size in all respects [hahah!] and happily married. He wore a sort of black and fiery orange flowery shirt. The first thing he did was make poignant jokes about how we all had to wear something and “If you guys want to toss out stuff “, he would take it and wear it. He was both comic and family psychologist. WE all enjoyed him very much. An example: “ladies and gents, I think you will agree with me....we are guests/customers of a $500,000,000 cruise ship, perhaps the nicest in the world........what were the engineers thinking? That toilet!!!! GOD people, don’t get your tie stuck in it and press that button. Who knows where you will wind up! WHOOSH and whomp. Sort of like an artillery shell going off. PAUSE while we all howl! ALL of us agreeing and knowing. And as you can see, I am not entirely petite in girth..........now, regarding that shower. And another 2 minute howl............HOW in the world do they expect people to not stick out of the shower 2 feet as they take care of their business? I can’t even IMAGINE how some of you got clean–maybe glue the soap to the wall of the shower stall and twirl? With the shower curtain grabbing you, I am not sure if it is a shower you get or a wrestling match! Another howl! WE anxiously awaited his return on the trip home. By the 3rd day at sea, I was able to zip around the ship, almost effortlessly, exclusively on the padded stairs. Since Karen and I enjoy some puzzles–in the library, the cruise assistants would place word puzzles there each morning and we would compare our answer with theirs. Our newsletter also announced contests–that were usually held at the Wheelhouse Bar [same place we stood outside of learning about the new Mae West]. I think we attended most of them--and I did rather well. I or my team mates--started getting together as groups during these contests and each participant in a winning group would win, sometimes a clock, or luggage strap, luggage ID tag, or other item. I wound up with 2 clocks, one strap and one tag. Karen won a few items too. Initially, she was very reluctant to participate but finally she did and her team won immediately; it was neat watching her come out of her “keep a quiet distant manner” and join in. [Said with compassion, she sounded like a squealing pig when she got excited.] HOW wonderful a sound with her face more lit up than a Christmas tree! About day 4, our Cruise Director announced he and his staff would hold Princess’s Survivor program. Naturally, this intrigued me. It was held at the outside pool. I dressed accordingly. Pencils and paper were handed out and 20 questions were tossed at us; and when one got 9 correct, you were to show your WINS to your “hovering” local Cruise assistant. Some of the questions were so far out of there for me; scientific stuff, musicals, etc., but I started getting some hits. One query that made me laugh was “What is the only animal that can’t jump?” I wrote Elephant as I was dumbfounded at the absurdity of such a question. It was correct! Three questions later, “Name the only bird that can fly backwards; Hummingbird” that one was easy! Two more questions, “name two of the smallest countries; It was Gibraltar and [I disagree with that] and of course, Vatican City. With VC, I had my 9th correct answer and upon showing this to my Cruise Assistant, I was directed to show same to the Director and stand up on the dias with 4 other winners. Soon, we were out of questions and had about 9 winners. Needing more contestants for the rest of the game, Dave said, “Now, for those of you who still have paper and pencils, but did not win, line up here [right in front of the dias] please”. And quickly they did and he asked another question. The first person to get the correct answer was added to the dias. He did that one more time and added another to our line. That made all the team players he sought and the first round–[2nd?] qualification round, was over. I had made it. [No, I did not do the victory dance.] I was selected to the “Maui” group, with 5 others. Dave also mentioned that one of these teams would be eliminated in this upcoming contest. Shortly we had a swimming event: to grab hold of an 8 ft plastic shark’s two handles [that were connected around its head], swim as fast as we could without letting go of those handles, to the other end of the pool and pause at the other end, take a bite out of a bagel that was held by a Cruise Assistant on the end of a cord and swim back. My swimming skills are very decent, but when needing to hold onto an inflated shark, I was barely able to budge. When I had gotten [I was 3rd in my group to race, against 2 other groups swimming concurrently against me] about ½ way up the length of the pool, all of a sudden my swimming was instantly assisted by one of the guys in my group as he had, while running along side me on the deck, grabbed the shark by its big fin and PULLED the shark the rest of the way on lap one, held it while I took my bite and pulled me back across the length of the pool. We were not disqualified as it was not against the rules. HAHAHAAHA While I was getting my breath back, my team was called to stand by the edge of the pool and ASKED TO VOTE OFF A MEMBER. I had just met these people, I hardly knew their names. While I was asking again, what their names were, I was politely VOTED off. HAHAHAHHA I was not upset one iota but I WAS amazed! Within a minute or two, Dave announced the first team eliminated from the previous shark contest: THE MAUI TEAM. THEY HAD BEEN BEATEN AND WERE ELIMINATED. Since I had already been voted out, I was not eliminated PER Se. I sat back down trying to GRAB a hold of the events. After Dave chatted about this and that, he asked me to return to the edge of the pool. There, he invited the 3 ladies who had just been voted off their respective teams; who had been team members of the other teams who had just competed against Maui minutes earlier! WOWOWOWO. All of a sudden, “we VOTED-out but-not-eliminated-people” were instantly made into a NEW TEAM; instead of a green lei, we were given a white lei and a new name [name forgotten now]. HAHAHAHAH WOWOWOW. We were advised that the Survivor game would continue a few days after the ship started on its return trip to the mainland and to please return for the next event then. I said I would return. Wowo, ....beat out many others to get on a team, swam like a guppy, voted out, made part of a new team all in 30 minutes! [I still laugh about it. Karen was disappointed about my being voted off--but I never was bothered by it.] That night, we went to see a movie, Lemony Snicket but the screen was all washed out. I went upstairs to the projectionist to inquire why the picture was so bleached.Hawaii had created a water breaker and our ship bent around this one and poked ahead. A shore patrol came whizzing by and made sure that all fishing boats kept their distance! [That was a very comforting feeling]. After the bow had found its docking point, our stern began swinging towards point. That is a very interesting activity to me, watching a 900 ft long boat swing from its bow or stern. [During further dockings, our ship would actually move in prefect synchronization sideways to the port. WILD!!!] AS the boat docked, we noticed ship officers and crew members exit- walking from the ship to the dock- 10 levels below, . WE had no immediate idea what they were doing but it soon become apparent; they were setting up the security for the boat–getting off was a piece of cake, getting back on was not!! We had pre-planned to take ship “sponsored?” tours at 3 stops and be on our own on two. From Hilo, we were set to visit a crater and an almond factory’s store. Our bus arrived on time and we loaded up, perhaps 45 of us. In 10-15 minutes, we stopped at a highway interchange and crossed over as if returning to the port, but instead, drove a few miles between Almond trees and wound up at the store. We bought 2 boxes of nice almond candy, at $2.95 a box! After 20 minutes at this store, we re-boarded and returned to the intersection and instead of returning to the ship, went back across the street and continued on the freeway to our left, up many miles to the beginning of the crater area with steam rising from the ground in fields–very TWILIGHT Zonish! This crater is one of the biggest in the world, and is inactive–but it could go active without much effort. Its [yellow chemical] sulfur was very obvious. AFTER visiting the crater, our driver took us to a tunnel area that related to the old route the lava took–a bit mysterious. Frankly, I did not understand this part of the tour but the green was very pretty–especially how the plant life evolved from this part of nature’s power. After the tours of the almond factory, crater and subterranean fern grotto [tunnel area and its surrounding area caused by the volcano in some way], we returned to our ship 1 hour earlier than expected but it was fine as we tired and hungry. Perspectives of Hilo; From the ship--because of “it” being sort of hidden from everything else, every so often, a thunderous sound is heard and one deduces it is from not a monster but instead, from the international airport at Hilo, less than 1 mile from the port. A otherwise more subtle and almost hidden airport could not exist! As this writer is a real estate broker, I naturally have interest in unoccupied land, new and dilapidated buildings and anything related to design that is unique. The one thing that stands out in dramatic contrast here to anywhere else I have ever been, including Seattle, WA., is the GREEN-- in- your- face- green. I love green, thank goodness or it would become overwhelming. The houses are very expensive for the locations and amount of material used but since it is a vacation spot, sellers try to exploit their Hawaiian location. At least these properties come with a minimum [so it seems] of 1 acre lots. It also appears that different builders and the county government have not had many run-ins with each other for it seems many houses are not made according to code and are even advertised as such. When Our Cruise Ship Director buy a large box of soap [for our ship’s washing machines] and to swim off to the side of the shuttle port docking area. After “landing” we walked for 1 hour just visiting local merchants [dozens of them] and I found a fine discount equipment rental place that had fins, masks and snorkels. Before I rented anything, I wanted to check out the water temperature. When I walked to the applicable beach area and sat in the water to test things out first, the water was 15 degrees colder than I had expected. And while in the water, I painfully stepped on or stubbed my toes on many rocks. I decided not to go further or stay longer in this water for free diving or even for just swimming. There were SCUBA divers 30 yards off to my side and their activities made me envious. Regardless, we hunted for soap and found the closest supplier 4 blocks up the hill. With the humidity, Karen was very uncomfortable. We also experienced first hand, racism practiced against us--when she tried to buy a soda. With an unofficial line in a snack shop, with Karen being 3rd, and 5 Hawaiian teen boys behind her, the cashier helped them all first and we left. That was a first. [I could have gone to the manager but felt it was a waste of time]. After she got a drink elsewhere, we discovered where our soap was sold and hiked to the applicable store, 4 blocks above the port area. After she had also purchased a cool drink, we re-directed our walking back down to the port area and along the beach to our left, facing the ocean and visited most every shop that existed [having 5 hours yet to kill]. When I got to shop #1,001, I found a nice black colored baseball hat with KONA emblemed on it and bought it. The merchant was polite but mentioned that cash was needed unless the purchase was over $10.00. Again, I did not fight this odd rule. I paid cash for the nice hat [$6.00] and left. We then reversed direction and returned to the shuttle area. Now for our first experience with our shuttle’s security system. First, the line. Only 12 people. Next, ID. Next, purses and bags checked [I had my box of soap] and showing our ID again and being WANDED. A few feet later, another ID check, and finally, onto the shuttle. It held perhaps 80 people downstairs and another 20 up above like a fishing vessel with a raised captain’s seat. The shuttle held perhaps 3 seamen. A sign on the inside said “in emergency-- follow orders from the crew and if the ship capsizes or you wind up in the water, DO NOT swim for shore or the ship–stay where you are and another shuttle will pick you up shortly.” Hmmm. Ok. Upon docking at our ship, we went about 10 feet and needed our ID again for the ship’s computer which had our pictures within it. AFTER that “security station”, we were officially back home and free to go about our cruise ship business. We beelined for our shower, a quick change of clothes and a combo lunch and dinner. Our next stop was Honolulu and what was normally a very casual day for most people became anything but for us! The docking was eventful only in that it was a large port area not unlike that of San Pedro except that we were “ported” in the first doc area almost straight in instead of off to the left which went many miles to the port side of the ship activities and no escorted tour, we casually walked as directed by dock-side security personnel, to the city’s main bus terminal area. Though we never did find it–we were kept busy searching for it. About 3 blocks from the dock, walking in the direction we thought correct, we noticed a couple of elderly people 20 feet ahead of us and to the side. A moment later, as we casually glanced back at them while we waited for our green walk light, we noticed that the man was on the ground. We rushed over to assist him. He had evidently missed the curb and was lying on his back, with a monster bump on his head and blood elsewhere on his head. Yuck. Within a few seconds, while I prepared to lift him, a kid from nowhere–maybe 17 yrs of age, stopped [to help?] and “seemed” like a con artist– “how many fingers can you see Mr”? With all my might, I lifted the man up and over 3 feet to the curb and sat him down. I was soooo amazed. I thought he would be a simple lift and move but it was like moving a desk. HE was about 6 ft and 180 lbs and not a microbe of fat was on his body–he was attired in white gym shorts. For what he obviously had in inaccuracies of body movement in reaching curbs, he made up for in a meaty body. DAMN. My lady and I felt it was not necessary to wait to see what he next did as his female companion and 2 others around him seemed to have him in good stead. We moved on. It took 20+ minutes to find the bus “terminal” which was not a bus terminal at all. It was a standard bus stop. Oh well. After another 25 minutes waiting, a bus came along that matched data that we had [that said it want to the Pearl City area and stopped at the memorial]. So, instead of paying $30+ for a taxi to go to the memorial, we took this bus. It zipped here and there, and after another 20 minutes, passing this freeway and that airport area, it arrived at the memorial. We and a few others dismounted and could see obviously where to walk. This bus had stopped less than 150 feet from the entry to the memorial. While many of my relatives have visited the Memorial, many of the readers of this travelogue have not, so a few explanations are appropriate. The COMPLEX refers to a retail store, museum, toilet facilities, central floral area with fountain, and on the other side of the central floral area, two theaters. Beyond the complex building, [other end of the entrance] a mini park area. Naturally and respectfully, EVERYTHING relates to the sunk Arizona and its sister ships both sunk and survivors of the December 7, 1941 attack on the US Naval forces at Perl Harbor by the Japanese Navy. Artifacts, pictures and maps are well laid out on display, protected appropriately. Guards are their for both the store and the museum. Immediately beyond the museum’s lawn park area with trees is a continuation of the port and of course, visible a few hundred yards away; the memorial itself. The “memorial” primarily means Arizona battleship via an “overhanging” people supported, stationery holding place, reachable by Navy launch. This memorial is located perhaps 700 meters across from the memorial complex. This holding place easily holds 200 people. A launch visits it every 15 minutes throughout its operational day. So, you can return on the one you came on or return on another one coming shortly thereafter. This holding place sits utop the battleship–thus, parts of the ship are visible on the far end of the holding place, and to either side, just feet away. So, pictures of the visible parts of the ship are very each to take and the parts underwater are as visible as your eyes can see and your camera equipment “capture”. As it is a very solemn place, it is not advisable to take children or rambunctious people. I saw no bathroom nor any place to get a drink of water. It is assumed one can wait till they return to the complex, 3 minutes away-- by the return launch. As we approached the guarded entrance, Karen was told “no purses” and we were told to follow arrows which led across a street near another memorial and to the “purse” storage station. We signed their ID book, got a receipt and returned to the guard and were easily passed through. About 100 feet beyond the guard’s station, is the doorway to the memorial COMPLEX. We needed a FREE ticket/pass and I procured two of them. I did not understand how the ticket system worked initially but after being told a few times, I finally figured it out. By noon, the memorial would have given out enough “passes/tickets” so no one else could get in that day. We noticed about 600 people mulling around or sitting on the large, central fountain new to me but my reaction WAS. I started silently tearing within 5 minutes. At the end of the movie, I was wiping my eyes, casually. I did not notice anyone else as emotional and tried my best to be unobtrusive. Within 2 minutes, we were inside the water taxi [Navy Launch] and off to the memorial, minutes away. Within 50 yards, my emotions were greater than they had been in the theater though again, I was able to be silent while tears RAN down my face. I was stunned, sad and amazed by my actions and reactions. I focused on thinking positive, “glad to be alive” thoughts–however, I kept crying silently for 2 more minutes. WOW. I do not remember even thinking of the movie or where I was but the tears did what they had to do. By the time I got off the boat at the memorial--where I expected a flood of moisture, I was actually dry. What a relief. NOT One sound from anyone; HOW RESPECTFUL to the memorial! Took 12+ pictures quietly and I was thinking in a grinning manner, “I wonder what others would pay to have me be this quiet this time of day, elsewhere”. At the appropriate time, with Karen having taken her film pictures, we joined the line to leave the actual memorial. I saw 2-3 kids and was pleasantly surprised to hear not one word from them! beach was only 200 feet away-- so, with towel in hand, we were one minute from swimming. In 20 more feet, WAM, Karen had missed a curb! Before she was on her back, I caught her but not before she first landed on her right knee–now well scraped from stopping her fall! Thankfully, she was able to begin limping immediately. She did want to go directly to the beach so I helped her as she limped-- her leg acclimating itself to the bruise and light bleeding. We hobbled to the sandy beach about 200 feet ahead of us. Some teenaged girls were just leaving a nice spot near the asphalt entryway and we acted like gulls taking over their previously coveted spot. We put down my towel, camera, and misc that we carried and I aimed like a 5 yr old boy directly to the water-- 25 feet away. Having previously stepped on several small rocks and hurt both feet at Kona the previous day, I decided to leave my shoes on. I was already wearing my tan Bermuda shorts, so I simply entered the water as I was–having left my glasses on the beach. It was a mistake leaving my shoes on as it made swimming nearly impossible and I should have gone back to remove them and re-enter the water, but I figured, maybe it will be the right move after a while. It never become the better decision and swimming was made impossible but treading was done and that was better than nothing. The water was 20 degrees warmer here than at Kona and for that I was happy. Next time, I will remove my damn shoes and swim as I had wanted to do! Waikeekee, beach has a barrier and is reasonably clean and shallow and guarded, thus, safe and consequentially, enjoyable. I was intrigued watching the breaker stop the incoming breaking waves. One swimmer, obviously smarter than I, was enjoying the waves closer to the barrier and was swimming very fast. I was briefly jealous. After my “Impression” of Johnny Weismuller’s stroking through the waves, I had enough and returned to our towel. Figuring it was time to enjoy the tourist shops along the street adjacent to the beach, we begin plodding along, anxious to go nowhere in particular, not in any hurry, in one shop and out another. Even grinning at the sheriff’s sub station right at the edge of the beach! I sure felt secure! Soon, we were the recipients of the first of a dozen mini rain clouds/storms that lasted about 5 minutes. To keep us dryer, I gave Karen my Kona hat to wear and I wore, like Laurence of Arabia, our beach towel. I nicknamed my self “Dork of Arabia, or Waikeekee”, I forget which. I think Karen looked at every post card in these beach stores and I enjoyed looking at Honolulu’s colorfully gorgeous and flowery beach towels for sale and-- when I was not obvious-- maybe glanced at some passing by bikini-clad gals. One store, two stores, 3 stores and more. After 1-2 hours of poking into every cornucopia of shopping, Karen asked me about our getting a bus back to the ship for rest and lunch, etc. I said, “NO way, we can make it easily from here”. Just a mile to the ship from the map I saw. American cruise lines docked. Finally, I decided, since I could not find any bus stops, to aim directly for the water. AFTER 6 more blocks, we met a few runners and they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the clock tower sand being in my shoes and my legs had begun to stiffen. Karen’s leg was sorer from her fall. We were DEFINITELY like players on TV’s SURVIVOR as we ½ seriously yelled out “can anyone guide us”?? No one could hear us as we had no strength to more than whisper our question. My one trip to a toilet was near a bank and a map they offered was no more clear than the one I already had. Damn! When we were about to collapse, Karen spotted a car dealership and said “I recognize this, we passed it on the bus coming over”! That roused her spirit and energy. Closer. We were getting closer. We could sense it. Foot after foot, step after step. Sore legs and sore everything and thirsty and soooo tired. No benches, no water........felt like the middle of the desert! FINALLY, across the street, to the left, a tourist ship!! “I know that area, we are docked near it”! Karen said. PLOD, PLOD, drag, plod. 10 feet, 20 feet.30 feet. LIKE two cripples, two delirious people dragging themselves across the desert. FINALLY–F I N A L L Y–we could see one of the smoke stacks of OUR SHIP–less than 200 feet in the distance. ALL we had to do was find the correct entrance to the parking and pedestrian area. We found one parking lot entrance. NOPE–wrong parking area. Different restaurants I had never before seen lined the next walkway. Maybe? Could this be the right path? HUGE doorways ahead. Security officer DEAD AHEAD! NO lines. Our cruise line ALWAYS had lines. We were skeptical and yet, hopeful. The security officer said, “No cruise line entrance here; talk to that man 100 feet further down”. DRAG, DRAG, plod and drag. Tongues hanging out. Whispers from me! “Sir, Is this the entrance to the Princess Cruise ship”? [God, let him say YES!!] “Yes, sir!!! Come right in”!!! MY GOD, we had come ½ way across the island and our hearts and minds are still intact and we can still budge!!! WE showed ID. WE showed our bag and cameras. WE let our covered bodies be scanned. I am sure we were asked things I did not hear. WE were pointed in the right direction for more security stops. MORE ID checks. NO LINES. I recognize a gang-way. I drag my stiff- as -a -rock legs and Karen hobbles. WE give the on-board security man our ID cards and he compares them to our bedraggled looks and feels we more or less match that description! [God, what imagination he must have to think we could like those two bright and cheerful tourists.] WE were on and in the atrium area. I RECOGNIZED this place. WE aimed ourselves to the right and to the first of the full height running elevators and caught one. I pushed a button with my last remaining strength. At level 10, Carib, we dragged ourselves out of the elevator. Port side, fewer feet to walk. In 5 steps, we were in the hallway of our corridor. 75 feet to go. Our feet found a little bounce to their steps. We could taste success, rest, and water. 50 feet. 25 feet. 15 feet. 10 feet. 5 feet. Room Security door key. It fits, it OPENS. GOD BLESS America, we are home!!! 24 hour restaurant. Her leg is still very sore and the strap on her sandals has cut into her right foot now. And my legs barely carry me. I feel so funny and yet, very good. Hobbling. The two of us, on a ship with many elderly who actually have walkers and motorized wheel chairs. We wonder; Do we need one or the other. Naw. But it was soo funny hobbling to dinner. We were able to stifle our ouches. Dinner tasted good. It took me 18 hours to get back full use of my legs and 2 days for her right foot to heal. [Found the doctor’s office again. We needed bandages and I think I found the only item the office does not charge for!] Exiting Honolulu was no different than leaving any other harbor but visually, the port of Honolulu is an evening light lover’s paradise. Both bleary, and pin point, and every color of the spectrum. I took several pics of it. Onwards to Kauai food delicious. We celebrated our delayed 20 yrs together and Karen’s big 50 birthday. Some of our food servers had very good English skills and others--well, it was almost funny trying to crack some cute jokes or order in American slang. The formal evenings required my tie that I had left at home but I got away with it. I did need to wear my new shoes–put on with a make shift shoe horn. UMFFF My newest meal favorite was a new “soup”–made with cantaloup. Delicious. Other meals included pastas, prime rib and all the entres top restaurants serve on the main land. “All we could eat” was included in our bill–but booze was not so we drank alcohol sparingly. Cruise line ships visiting Kauai dock at the port of Nawiliwili. What a cute and long name. Again, we got close to the dock and used both front and stern side motors to SLIDE into port. I swear it is the oddest sensation and sight I have ever experienced on the sea! The winds were blowing very hard and the rains were not helping but we met our group in the monster warehouse at the dock and when the appointed cruise director helpers arrived, we all showed our tickets and were taken to a bus, just outside. On this excursion, the driver went up this way and that and around and forward and side to side and we twisted up the side of a mountain and stopped. Break time after 20 minutes of bus ride. OK. We were going on a river ride and visit a huge cavern and experience a hula dancer on a modified barge. But for now, we were hundreds of yards above the river. Ok. We looked around and were pointed at the main water fall feeding the river below. This was supposed to be one of or the wettest spot on earth or at least the US. Over 400 inches a year. We lucked out, no rain right now. The water fall was a few hundred yards ahead but our phalanx of cameras clicked away and I got a very nice shot of it with its describing sign [though the sign was near us]! Ta da! After 10 minutes of taking pics of the waterfall, and walking across the street and aiming our cameras down at the river and its little boats hundreds of feet below us, the driver aimed the bus down towards the little boats–another 5 minute bus ride. When we got to the river boat dock, we saw 7 boats appearing like flat bottomed barges, modified for passengers with their respective engine’s hidden. These barges were about 50 feet long, with discretely visible life preservers and a COKE machine at the back of the barge [working?] The skipper of the boat worked alongside entertainers–our troop compromised a shapely gal in her 20's, her aunt, male singers, in their 40's and 50's. The Master of Ceremonies steered the boat–it was done so casually and subtlety. We soon got underway. Our boat had 4 rows of seats for the 50 of us, one row on either side of the boat and back to back rows in the center. The shapely dancing girl performed on the left “dance way” inside of the boat. The lead male offered funny jokes and intro’s of the other members of the “band”. The girl danced perhaps 6 dances. I had never seen this type of dance– perhaps HULA–without the grass skirt. After 20+ minutes fun and the vi
K. Kemper
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Posted on 07/18/2006 at 2:07:00 PM
Leonardo
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Posted on 07/18/2006 at 2:07:00 PM