TRAVELZOO - 50% Off Queen Mary Tours

For those joining us on the Queen Mary Pre-Cruise Overnight. You might want to check this option out in advance. On Travelzoo a free membership website,  they are promoting a 50% off the following shows and tours on the Queen Mary ship. Just double click on the Title below to get more details of this advance purchase deal. 

50% OFF QUEEN MARY TOURS include NEW LEGO EXHIBIT

• $12 for admission for one adult (reg. $25)
• $25 for admission for two adults (reg. $50)
• $50 for admission for four adults (reg. $100)
• $39 for admission for two adults and two children (ages 4-11) (reg. $78)

• Choose from the following show or tours: Ghosts & Legends show, Haunted Encounters guided tour, Glory Days historical tour or self-guided tour of Diana: Legacy of a Princess
• Get access to the LEGO Shipyard exhibit -- the Queen Mary's newest attraction

For those worried about getting bored with nothing to do? Here’s a chance to tour the Queen Mary ship. Great chance to take advantage of our visit and stay! 

INDEPENDENT EXCURSION: USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL & PUNCHBOWL

It has been brought to my attention that Princess Cruises Shore Excursion for
Pearl Harbor is on wait list. There are cruisers who are wanting this excursion from our group and Alex has graciously found an alternative option for our group. If you are interested please contact Alex by next Wednesday, September 9th so she can arrange this excursion for our group. 

In the meantime here are the details and information regarding this independent shore
excursion:

USS ARIZONA & USS MISSOURI with PUNCHBOWL CRATER TOUR

The Arizona & Missouri with Punchbowl tour, aka Pearl Harbor Remembered, takes you to the beginning and ending of World War II. You’ll watch a powerful documentary film and board the ferry for the ride out to the Arizona Memorial, which represents the beginning of American involvement in the war. You’ll also have a chance to visit the USS Oklahoma Memorial, which stands as a monument to the 429 sailors who died when that ship capsized during the attack on Pearl Harbor. You will also participate in a guided tour of the USS Missouri, a battleship of the same class as the USS Arizona. The USS Missouri was the scene of the end of World War II as the Japanese signed formal documents of surrender aboard this ship in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. You will see a copy of the Declaration of Surrender on the exact spot where the document was signed.  You will continue downtown with a narrated Honolulu City Tour.  A drive through the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater completes this very popular and very moving tour.

Date: Friday, October 9, 2015

Time: 9am  (Approximate return:4:30pm) 

Maximum: 25 individuals

Transportation: Mini- tour bus with large viewing windows, & pick-up from cruise ship.

Cost: $92.66 (with Hawaii sales tax) per person

What to Bring & Wear: Tour participants should wear respectful attire (shoes must be worn and no swimwear allowed). Due to heightened security no bags, purses, or strollers are permitted at the Memorial. Storage of these items is available for a nominal fee. Cameras and small, hand-carried wallets are permitted.

Hilo Dive/Snorkel with Rocky - Deadline September 18th!

Below is the flyer that Rocky distributed at the Pre-Cruise Brunch. 

If you are interested in signing up for this non-Princess Cruise

Shore Excursion, please contact Rocky.

Rocky will need a final count by Friday, September 18, 2015

If you would like a smaller group to snorkel or dive with this will be 

a good alternative for other details and information 

please contact Rocky directly.

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

   

PREPARING FOR SHORE EXCURSION SIGN-UPS

Well soon you will be approached with the decision of what shore excursions you will need to pick. But like a kid in a candy store or you at a buffet table you need to know that you won’t be able to have it all. With our ship anchored in port for one day on each island with only 9-16 hours pending the island. AND be sure to remember that you more then likely won’t be able to get off the ship till after an hour after the anchor is set plus you will need to get back at least an hour before the ship’s departure time...well you are now looking at a reality of 7 to 14 hours! So being efficient and making the best choice is the success of a great shore excursion.

In my opinion the safe, guaranteed and no-worry bet is to utilize Princess Cruises Shore Excursions. If the shore excursions gets caught up in traffic (yes, the islands have traffic & grid lock too) and the excursion is late. The cruise line will be responsible and will hold the ship till the group arrives. Not so much, if you chose to pick “your independent” and “cheaper” excursion that you found on the internet yourself. Miss the boat and you are responsible to get to the next island to catch up. Something to think about for sure!

The other thing to think about, is to decided what you would like to see and experience on each island. There are Helicopter Rides on just about each of the island but so are Sightseeing Drive and Visits. Oh what to do??? Do you want an active excursion, kayaking, biking, trekking or do you want to lounge on the beach? Is shopping your thing? Or do you want to have a Hawaiiana Cultural excursion? Each island has its highlights and beauty.

I recommend you go on-line “NOW” and check out Princess.com > Ships & Experience > Ports & Excursions.  #1 Select a Destination (Hawaii), #2 Select a Port of Call (Hilo, Hawaii / Honolulu, Hawaii / Kauai ‘Nawiliwili’, Hawaii / Maui ‘Lahaina’ Hawaii and our last ports of call Ensenada Mexico).

These excursions and ports of call will be a good indication of sample excursions and highlights of each of the ports of call. If you viewed my previous blog article “Important Cruise Deadlines for your Calendar”, it is anticipated that Princess will be posting our cruise shore excursion anywhere from 140 - 75 days prior to our embarkation date of October 3. Which means that Princess will be starting to post shore excursions as early as the week of May 12th to as late as the week of July 21st. Why the lengthy window of time? Because Princess reps will be negotiating independent island excursions for their cruisers and these details often require time and detail contract preparations.

So check back frequently during this period under Princess.com Log-In>Booked Guests > Cruise Personalizer>Excursion Reservations.  There is a wish list option for you to consider,if you like.. 

Its been my experience that if its something that is a “must do” or a close to my “heart bucket list gotta have” sign-up early and use your diligence. You won’t regret it!  Now might also be a good time to talk to fellow cruisers about what excursions they will be taking and asking if you can share the excursion experience by coordinating your sign-ups together. Though it might be the same excursions the time can vary and you maybe assigned to different groupings. So if you want to share it with another fellow cruisers get in touch and coordinate the registration!

Not everyone is planning to head to a shore excursion, maybe because they have visited Hawaii before and done it or may have friends and family that they plan to visit on the islands. Whatever the choice, be sure you do not miss the boat and allow yourself ample time to get back to the ship. In the Princess Patter there is ‘Emergency Contact for Princess Cruise Passengers', in case you miss the ship” so check that out in your daily newsletter and have that information with you. Just remember the expenses to catch up to the ship will be yours! So plan accordingly.

Oh and here's a veteran cruiser tip ...if you are not planning to get off the ship...take advantage of the quietness of the ship and enjoy the public areas without the crowd and contact the spa and see what kind of specials are running for treatment at a discount. Good opportunity to enjoy this indulgence!  

Lastly since many often inquire and would like to know.......Roger and I, we will not be participating in the sign-ups of Shore Excursions at this point. Our plan is to visit friends on some of the islands that we will be visiting. Or catch Roger and I at a local restaurant or bar as we par take in our favorite “ono-licious” Hawaiian fare in between roaming for some sightseeing shopping for fun!

Happy exploring...it’s under a 200 days now till our ship leaves the Port of Los Angeles!

Photo provided by BestPlacesHawaii