Diana’s Ten Reason’s Why Vacation on a Cruise Ship is Better then a Land Tour Vacation....

1. You unpack and pack only once!    
   
2. One Bed & Pillow, the whole trip.
3. You have a room steward to help make your bed & more. 
4. No need to wait in line for your entertainment show tickets.
5. Your destination comes to you, not the other way around.
6. Wanna have a few drinks? You don’t have to drive, No DUI & a short walk home!
7. You don’t have to cook and you can select your meals or snacks.
8. Your time - Your call ... relax, be active, socialize or escape!  
9. Captain & Crew on Board...You don’t have to drive or get lost! 
10. BIG SHIP....Plenty of room to be with family and friends, that you can be with or not?! 

Happy Cruising...see you on deck!

EDITOR'S SHORE EXCURSION PICKS!

Diana at KCC Farmer's Market

Diana loves the Hawaiian Islands and so do many others which is why the Hawaiian Islands are bombarded with over 8 million visitors a year. With only a day in port, one cannot have it all so what is it that one, should do? 

Well first I would pick what you “enjoy” and then “balance your excursion choices” between the ports you will be visiting. Perhaps a little sightseeing, participatory interactive activity, a bit of memorable cultural enlightenment and perhaps a bit of sun and fun? Whatever it is, planning ahead will make it a far more pleasurable time. 

So to assist those who might still be wondering “What shore excursions should I pick?”  Here’s my paradise island picks, if I were signing up for shore excursions on Ruby Princess.... 

Hawaii, Hawaii - Port of call: Hilo

BIG ISLAND or ORCHID ISLE 

VOLCANOES-VOLCANOES-VOLCANOES....The Big Island is about active volcanoes and I would take this opportunity to add this to my travel adventures visiting this World Heritage Site, Volcanoes National Park. I would take a bus tour verses a helicopter tour as I am saving my helicopter excursion adventure for another island port. There are a number of Volcanoes tours that will meet your specific interests.You can go on-line now and check out some potential options before the actual excursions are posted for our cruise.

Oahu, Hawaii - Port of Call: Honolulu, Hawaii

GATHERING PLACE 

Lucky for us Honolulu will be the longest port stay for our ship. And my Oahu shore

excursion pick would be Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Memorial for sure. This is a must do if you haven’t done so. It will give you a profound sense of honor and respect for those who fought this attack for us. 

Then for your late afternoon evening experience, head to Waikiki for a waterfront sunset cocktail and some last minute shopping or make it easy and sign up for a luau or a sunset cruise. Honolulu with its aloha energy and gorgeous skyline lights are some incredible photo opportunity and heck an umbrella drink with some Hawaiian music to enjoy will embed your memories for a lifetime. Oahu certainly touched my heart in more ways then one can imagine! 

Kauai, Hawaii - Port of Call: Nawiliwilil 

GARDEN ISLE

On the island of Kauai there are fabulous natural wonders, some of my favorites are the the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Wailua River with the Fern Grotto, and Na Pali Coast. For those who love the high adventures this is the port where you want to shoot for those activities so check out the zipline, tubing the Hanamaulu Ditch, Off- Roads, Trekking, Kayaking and the Zodiac Ride & Snorkel.

My favorite? Do the longest helicopter ride possible! I will always treasure 

my memory of having Kenny G playing through my headphones as I was flying through the arch of the Waimea Canyon and then tipping from the red, rust and orange sedimentary layers of the canyon walls to the steep drop emerald green mountains of Na Pali to the Blue Ocean floors of the Pacific...simply breath-taking!

Not thrilled about the heights of the helicopter or the adventures of the great outdoor. Well then, I would check and see if Princess Cruise is offering the Hollywood Movie Tour of Kauai might be a fun excursion as I recall there have been over 50 movie productions

that have been filmed on this island. Now which have you seen? 

Maui, Hawaii - Port of Call: Lahaina

VALLEY ISLE

As with many and I am not an exception,  Maui is often noted for being everyone’s favorite

Hawaiian Island. Maui No Ka Oi -- "Yes, Really?” Check out the Cruise Connection blog articles by our cruisers who share this same thought.  We all have our reasons of course and for Roger and I it is a sentimental reason as we got married just off of Molokini Isle on a catamaran, some 25 years ago, Yikes! So naturally my recommendation for a shore excursion would be for you to enjoy Molokini Crater snorkeling or diving.

My alternate shore excursion is to simply take the tender off the ship and savor and explore this historic whaling village of Lahaina. This West Maui hot spot has an quaint waterfront town with numerous art galleries, restaurants, bars and shops. I guess I feel very much at home here because it reminds me of my Southern California hometown of Laguna Beach. Last call for souvenirs to take home...wonder where I can find a coconut

postcard...you know where you write your message on a coconut and mail the whole coconut, yes really, not kidding!!!

Ensenada , Mexico

BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR 

If I were to pick a shore excursion it would be to visit Ensenada’s Guadalupe Valley Wine Country which is located just northeast of Ensenada. This wine country is in the forefront of the Baja wine movement and is home to over 50 wineries. Check out an excursion that will allow you to “sip & savor” of course! 

However for Roger and I, our favorite Ensenada excursion is to take the ship’s shuttle into downtown Ensenada and head to “See, Shop & Savor” on Avenida de Matteo Lopez..okay so it's SAVOR-SEE-SHOP! This is the main street for Ensenada and the cobblestone street is a place to see & explore, shop AND barter. Of course drink and eat to savor mexican culinary delights abound if you are willing. I also recommend you head to the fish market by the water and see all of the daily catch.Great photo opportunity! Roger and I personally, enjoy getting off the ship as soon as we can to have a fish taco for breakfast and a mexican seafood cocktail to follow. We then walk around and explore the various shops and then plan to have fresh handmade tortillas with fire roasted chicken for lunch., did you get that Peggy & Rocky?! And for others...there is Hussong’s Cantina, Papas & Beers and Senor Frogs, oh my youthful days, best to “keep my mouth shut” of some crazy memories! Let's say... "What happens in Ensenada, Stays in Ensenada" ... don't ask & don't tell!!

Photos by Princess Cruise Shore Excursions

   

Diana’s Top Ten Tips to Think About for the Cruise!

Well our story begins in just over 200 days, when we will embark on the Ruby Princess. So to take our journey without a hiccup, planning and preparation will be key to a smooth

sailing cruise. This is especially so for those still having to juggle life with working. Okay, also for those busy retirees who have packed schedules and not sure what happen to all the hours in a day, let alone a week! So here are Diana’s 10 tips, if you are so incline to read on...

No. 1 - Identification 

I have asked Alex to share some insight in an upcoming article about what type of identifications we will need for this trip since we will be stopping in Ensenada Mexico on the way back from the Hawaiian Islands. I recommend this might be a good time to double check on the expiration date on your US Passport, Driver’s License or any other ID you might have. Including an original birth certificate which is always a good ID, so check your files for that option if needed. By the way, Roger did check on our passport and we were expired, where did ten years go?

No. 2 - Insurance/Vacation Protection

Emergency and other unexpected circumstances do happen. Roger and I always like to have a back up and we ask Alex to assist us in covering our cruise investment. Dollars well worth the cost for insurance. I recommend you contact Alex and talk to her about your needs. She can assist with this, whether to cover for you and your trip expense or perhaps to cover an unexpected family member’s emergency that might interrupt your plans. You’ll be glad you called Alex!

No. 3 - Getting There

Not everyone going on this trip will be from Los Angeles so now is a good time to begin to think about your transportation to the Port of Los Angeles. If traveling from afar, flights will be to either Los Angeles (LAX) or Long Beach (LGB) airports which are your closest options. You will also need to get a Shuttle Transportation arrangements from the airport to the port and back. How about coordinating with other cruisers who may be going out of the same airport? It makes it fun, folks!

No. 4 - Pre-Cruise Stay & Park    

The ship will depart on Saturday, October 3rd. But for the Davis’, our trip begins on Friday, October 2nd when we will be checking into the San Pedro Double Tree Hotel for a overnight stay and park your car program. Great option for those who want to drive and our car will be residing under the care of Double Tree Hotel for the next 15 days. There will also be an overnight stay option with no parking as well for those flying in. If you are interested in joining Roger and Diana and starting the cruise early....contact Alex as I have asked her to work with Double Tree to come up with a group rate for us.  

No. 5 - My Booking & Cruise Personalizer

If you haven’t already checked this out, you should! Alex has emailed your cruise booking confirmation if you made your deposit. On that document is your booking number which will allow you to access your Princess Cruise “ Cruise Personalizer ”. This is a great time to explore this valuable tool and an invite to your first peek into your upcoming cruise. It will get you excited about your cruise.. Have questions or need help, give Alex a call. Yes, she has your booking number if you can’t find your invoice.

No. 6  - Roger and Diana 25th Anniversary Renewal Cruise Blog

I know many of you have visited this cruise blog. But I also know first hand that many have not (As I have had to resend the blog address and yes will do it again). Don’t fret...you don’t have to sign up or pay for this service. It’s free, but it will not visit you unless you visit us at our group cruise blog. This will be where I will be in touch with our group, unless you email or call me directly. I highly recommend that you check here as our blog will be our central communication tool where both Alex and I will be relaying our information first hand. So bookmark this in your computer favorites!

No. 7 - Special Needs Request

If you have a special request, whether its to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Or you need to have some medical needs such as distilled water for a CPAP machine or a sodium free diet. The cruise line can assist and so can Alex. Think about what you might need to make your cruise as comfortable and efficient as being at home. The cruise line will do all they can within their limits. As you go on-line and begin to explore and complete your My Princess/Cruise Personalizer note that you can request certain medical/health accommodation as well as to note that you are going on this cruise for a celebration such as your birthday, retirement or anniversary?

No. 8 - Cruise Dress & Attire

Well you certainly would not want to forget your swimsuit and cover-up as you walk on the Lido deck. But also remember we have 3 Formal Nights and 12 Smart casual Nights. I wrote an article back in December on this blog titled “Helpful Tip - Preparing Now For Formal Night” . Now, would be a good time to revisit this as you can begin to get your cruise wardrobe together as Spring and Summer season approach. Heading to Hawaii will be be warm and humid. But don’t forget, the ship and your cabin is air-conditioned as well as on deck it can be quite chilly from the winds. So you will need a wrap or light jacket to protect you from these conditions. I know many of the gals in our group would often wear long sleeve tops or bring a sweatshirt/windbreaker as we sit and play cards or have a drink.  

No. 9 - Shore Excursions

Cruising can best be described as visiting a buffet table. Lots of options to pick, but you can’t have it all. With limited hours in our port of call, varying between 9-16 hours. And of course don’t forget you generally won’t be able to get off till an hour after the ship docks plus be back on the ship an hour before departure (Don’t miss the boat otherwise it will be your responsibility to catch the boat at the next port). This will be a good time to explore your options of what is it you truly would like to do on each of the island. Start making your list and talking to your travel partner or friends, so that you can be ready once the shore excursions are posted for sign-ups. 

No. 10 - Pre-Cruise Meet & Greet Social

Hopefully with advance notice many can join us for the upcoming No-Host Pre-Cruise Meet & Greet Social that will be held in Orange County this Summer. Currently, Karen Vaughn and Diana are exploring options for a location site. This is a great chance to meet some of our other fellow cruisers. As well as have an opportunity to talk to Alex & Diana for some “Frequently Asked Questions”. Okay and of course there will be “Eats & Drinks”...how else did you think Roger would be there? Please keep checking with our cruise blog for important dates and information. A handy Master Calendar Timeline is forthcoming with important details in a future “what else”... BLOG ARTICLE...stay tuned!

A Quick Update from Diana

Well this is the week that many of you may have been waiting for...The Special Promotional Deposit Sign-Up for our upcoming 2015 Hawaiian Island Cruise. Yes, it’s here and the deadline is this Friday 

(November 14) at 5pm. 

Thank you so much for your patience and your messages for Alex. I have spoken to Alex this past Monday and she has been very busy coordinating with Princess Cruises.  In fact I can vouch that at one time she had me on one-line and Princess Cruises Rep on the other. What a gal! 

For those who have signed up, thank you so much! Alex will be forwarding to me an updated participant list after this week with their assigned stateroom. Will be looking forward to that and adding more cruiser names to our cruise blog.

Please know that those who have taken advantage of this special group promo have made a wise choice. You now can begin to relax and enjoy the anticipation of embarkation day and dream of the beautiful islands that you will be visiting! 

In the months to come check our cruise blog as I hope to share with you some helpful tips and ideas to make your journey not only fun but comfortable...know that Alex and I are here to answer questions and concerns if you have any. All you need to do is either email-text or call  ... we are here for you!

On Deck.... Diana & ... Alex too!

Just wanted to give an “Ahoy Matey” ... to let you know that Alex and I are on a Mexico Getaway Cruise for 10 days on the Grand Princess and may have limited access to assist you.

So from October 30th to November 9th, please leave us an email message with your questions and concerns and we will get back to you on Monday, November 10th...which by the way, hoping you have been checking our Group Cruise Blog...well have you? ....a friendly reminder, Monday November 10th will kick off our Group Cruise Promo Sign-Up., it's only for the week..so check out the details on our Roger & Diana 25th Anniversary Renewal Cruise blog. Gotta go ...I hear my lounge on the Lido deck calling me! Bon Voyage for now...Thanks, Diana