Cruise-Hawaii-Ensenada... Margarita Time by Alex

ALOHA FELLOW CRUISERS!   

Well, here we are again, getting ready to pack, checking passports, getting last minute prescriptions, and not knowing where the time has gone.  It always seems as if this date will never come and then IT’S HERE!!!!   HURRAY!!!!

Diana is rubbing off on me as I’m making list after list after list!  The overnight prior to the cruise is wonderful because it allows you to forget something but still have time to either run home (for some of us!) or purchase it locally before you go. 

I’m busy packing and negotiating some extra space in Ted’s suitcase…..girls need a lot of extra stuff so be kind to your significant other….  Guys, this is where you can REALLY rack up some points.  Give her half your suitcase space!  She’ll love you for it and it won’t cost you anything!

We look forward to seeing most of you at the Queen Mary and the rest of you on board the Ruby Princess!  

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone very soon.  Give me a call with any last minute questions…..Alex & Ted

Common Hawaiian Words & Phrases - It’s another language!

Although Hawaii is as American as apple pie, when you are there in the islands, you can feel like you aren’t quite certain of this. The mixed cultures that make up Hawaii - the pidgin english, the hawaiian language and mixed hawaiian-english words & language used can easily transport you to what feels like a foreign country. But its 100% USA and the beauty of the different cultures, traditions and customs are what makes Hawaii in my mind so very special and unique.  

While you are visiting it might be helpful to know and understand a couple of simple words that Hawaiians use... following are a few that I thought you might want to know. And if you really want to check things out... look up this website:

                       Hawaiian Words - Hear the Spoken Word

I found it to be helpful as you can actually hear the words being spoken. Enjoy the Aloha

and you cruisers my thought is let’s get jiggy with it! Have fun!

Aloha - love, affection;greeting, salutation; Hello! Good-bye!

Mahalo  - Thank you

Mahalo Nui Loa - Thank you very much

Ono - Delicious

Pau  - Finished, ended ,all done

Wahine - Woman, Lady

Kane - A man or a boy

Kama’aina  - Commonly referred to a long time resident of Hawaii

Malihini - Newcomer, Visitor

Haole - A foreigner, pidgin slang-caucasian

Hapa haole - Person of mixed racial ancestry

E Komo Mai - Welcome, Enter

A hui hoa Until we meet again

A hui hoa kahou - Until we meet again - said to a group

Kai - Sea, sea water, seaside

Mauka - Inland, upland,towards the mountain

Pupu - Snack or appetizers

Kuli Kuli - Be Quiet! Shut up!

Wiki wiki - Fast or Speedy

RUBY PRINCESS: Progressive Check-In Information

PROGRESSIVE CRUISE CHECK-IN INFORMATION

Please be advised that Ruby Princess will berth at Pier 54 and embarkation will not begin until 1:00 PM. To ensure a smooth start to your voyage, we operate a progressive embarkation schedule. Guests with a Preferred Boarding Pass may check in at any time from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, though we kindly request that you arrive during your recommended time. If you have booked a Princess Cruise Plus Package or Princess Transfer, your check-in time will be provided at your hotel or airport. Boarding will commence shortly after check-in. Please do not arrive prior to 1:00 PM, as your cabin will not be ready, and there are not adequate facilities at the pier to accommodate early-arriving guests. All guests must be onboard by 3:15 PM.

1:00 PM - Dolphin and Emerald Decks: Cabins on these decks begin with D & E 

1:45 PM - Caribe and Riviera Decks: Cabins on these decks begin with C and R 

2:15 PM - Aloha and Lido Decks: Cabins on these decks begin with A and L         

2:45 PM - Baja and Plaza Decks: Cabins on these decks begin with B and P

Peek into Ruby Princess ... shared by Stella

Are you getting excited about the cruise? Though some of our cruisers have cruised Princess Cruise ships before with us, others have not. My dear soul sister Stella shared this You Tube video (Ruby Princess Cruise Ship Video Tour) of touring the Ruby Princess with me and thought some of you might enjoy this as well. Check it out if you have a few minutes. It’s about 16 minutes long. A nice perspective after you explore the Ruby Princess Deck plan... thanks Stella and enjoy! See you on deck soon...Diana

Cabin Door Decoration Contest ...Just One More Thing!

Hopefully you caught Stella’s Cabin Door Decoration Contest information on the blog.

If not double click on this title: “CABIN DOOR DECORATING CONTEST by Stella”  to access her blog article. This article has the details for what you need to do to prepare.

In addition, I would like to share with you some additional helpful hints:

1.Don’t count on Stella’s goodie bag to provide all your inspiration and creativity for your door decorations. Instead use her generosity and kindness by supplement your own personal contribution. By doing this, you might find that edge to be a winner!

2.Stella MAY have a few tools and supplies, but she is certainly not going to bring everyone their own personal scissors, tape etc. So pull your self a small tool kit of removable tape, poster putty, scissors and other enhancements such as photos and clip art to personalize your own theme.

3.You will be receiving a group removable door label that you can place on your door.

You don’t want to be bothered with creativity and arts and crafts...well then acknowledge your group cruise spirit and just stick this on your door. Add a post it note and a pen on a string and you’ve welcome your friends to leave you a note!

4. IMPORTANT REMINDER...be sure you SAVE your backing from the door label to re-stick your group cruise label. You can take it home and use it as a souvenir remembrance, that yes you were here!

5. Once on board and exploring about you might find some alternate themes and items to incorporate on your door decoration. Keep in mind that safety is a first and that protruding 3-D structures blocking the hallway or obstructing entry to the cabin will most likely end up that your masterpiece will be tossed to the trash. So use your common sense and keep it at least G to PG rated! 

  

Rocky's Hawaiian Cruise Photo Contest

Our fellow cruiser and renewal cruise photographer, Rocky is coordinating a fun activity for us to participate in during our 15 day cruise to Hawaii. Below is a description of a contest you can join in. It does not require you to be a professional nor have a 35mm camera. What it does require is for you to have fun and have a camera to make that storytelling photo. Use your iPhone, point & shoot or that Nikon you have. Check out the details below and join in the fun... oh yes there is prize ....thanks Rocky, you Rock!  

Hawaiian Cruise Photo Contest

Organizer: Rocky Alby (Stateroom D719)

Contest:  During the cruise please take your best photos, and then share them by entering them in a photo contest.  There are two categories to enter.  The judging will take place at 4:00 pm on Friday, October 16 (location to be determined). Three judges will judge all of the photos.

Instructions:  Prior to the judging date, go to the ship photo shop and have a 8x6 ($3.00) or 8x10 ($5.00) print made of your photo.  On the back of the photo put you initials, cabin number, and indicate Cat. I or Cat II.  Give the photo to Rocky Alby (cabin D719), prior to 4:00 pm, on Friday October 16. You can take your photo to the photo shop on a scan disk or thumb drive. Remember that any photo order will take 24 hours for the photo shop to complete. 

Category I:  Enter with a photo that was taken on or from the cruise ship. 

Category II:  Enter with a photo that was taken off of the cruise ship on one of the Hawaiian Islands.

Rules

1. Photo must be taken by the person entering contest.

2. No photos of photos please.

3. First, second, and third place winners in each category.

4. Must be willing to share photo with other cruise members.

5. No nude or compromising photos.

6. Judges can decide to accept or decline a photo.

7. All judges’ decisions are final.

8. Enter as many photos as you like.

9. Photos will be returned after contest.

Prizes:  A first, second, and third place prize will be given in each category.

The important thing is to have FUN, take great pictures and be able to show them off during our final days at sea.  Remember to use your imagination ! 

SEEK - SHOP - SHARE - SOCIAL by Peggy

Its me, Peggy.... and if you recall, I wanted to remind you all of my announcement at the Pre-Cruise Brunch about our SEEK-SHOP-SHARE-SOCIAL. Hopefully you got a chance to check out and reference Diana’s two favorite shopping picks in a previous blog article. Remember they are in the ports of Honolulu, Oahu and Lahaina, Maui. 

On our past Asia Cruise in 2013, we had this great opportunity to share our shopping finds, laugh with some companionship and of course enjoy some drinks and stories. Diana has asked me to coordinate this event for our Hawaii Cruise and I thought I would try and encourage you all to join us with your special upcoming purchases in advance.

Once on board you will receive an invitation to join us with the time and location so stay tuned. In the meantime, all you need to do is shop-shop-shop and we will all look forward and try not to be jealous... that you found a great deal and an incredible item. Will you try and keep track of where you found it tho’...just in case I can’t live without it and have to come back to Hawaii to get it? Oh what a pitty that would be, wouldn’t it?

Lastly, my hubby Rocky will also be involved at this same time with our Photo Contest judging. So stay tuned for more details on that event too. Having too much fun! I’m ready to c’mon aboard now...see you on deck soon! 

Shop till You Drop in Paradise - Two of Diana’s Favorites!

Which bag to take for my shopping spree?! 

With the Hawaiian Islands being a tourist mecca. You can count on shopping opportunities. Both Honolulu Oahu and Lahaina Maui are two of my favorites and will be great opportunities to find some unique island items to take home. 

In Honolulu there are must shop locations such as Ala Moana Shopping Center, Ward Village Shopping Center and of course Waikiki Beach with its numerous ABC Stores, Royal Hawaiian Center, Luxury Row and other small independent stores and centers off Kalakaua & Kuhio Avenue. 

Lahaina will have Front Street along the waterfront with the likes of Old Lahiana Center and The Outlets of Maui. Like Laguna Beach it has small souvenir and independent store shops and with a bit of a walk or a short taxi drive away check out Lahaina Cannery Mall.

Check out the websites I have mentioned to help you  assist in planning out your shopping and hopefully restaurant exploration for you adventures in Honolulu & Lahaina. 

  

  

Progressive Rummy by Karen & Buzz

Ahoy Fellow Cruisers!

   

Some of you already know the Progressive Rummy Game that Roger and Diana have taught many of us. If not, stay tuned as we heard that they have plans to gift you all with a set of cards, the rules of the game and a score sheet for your enjoyment and endless hours of entertainment....depending on your competitiveness. Grab an experienced player and learn the ins and outs of this really fun card game.

Truth be told, the game was introduced to them by Linda Kadis Davis, who with husband Duane, had to cancel their cruise due to medical reason. But here’s to you Linda & Duane, for keeping us all entertained for many, many hours!!

So on this cruise, Diana and Roger would like to make a little contest out of the game. They have anointed Karen and Buzz as guardians of the galaxy...oops...different game...of the contest so we are providing you with a few rules and procedures here.

Two Winners!

First, only games played during our days at sea will count. Because we have two segments of days at sea - at the beginning and end of our cruise - there will be two prize winners - one for each set of days at sea on this cruise! That means you may enter your scores for games played at sea on the first leg of our journey from Los Angeles to Hilo, Hawaii. Then you may also enter your scores for games played on the second set of sea days of the cruise -  Maui, Hawaii to Ensenada, Mexico. Here’s how it will work:

We will be collecting score sheets that wish to be entered prior to arrival in Hilo, Hawaii, our first land stop and the person with the lowest score of all the entries on this trip segment will be the winner. 

Then we will collect the next set of score sheets wishing entry the day prior to leaving Ensenada, Mexico, our last stop. The lowest score for all the entries in this segment of the trip will be the winner. 

Both winners will be announced and awarded their prizes at dinner the night we depart for home from Ensenada. If one person has the lowest score for both segments, that person may win both prizes. So, play often and play well. You never know what will wind up being the lowest score with these many people playing.

Entry

To enter the contest, please use an official score sheet! Contact either the Vaughns or Davises if you need one.  You must play with a minimum of 3 players total or a maximum of 5 players total. You can enter scores sheets as many times as you wish and your official score sheet should include the names of all players in the game.

Turn in your score sheet to Karen or Buzz Vaughn, or leave it in the mail box by our door (D201) prior to each of these deadlines. Again, you may enter as many times as you wish and only Karen and Buzz will know the scores that are entered. 

Best of luck and enjoy your game time!!

Cheers!!

Karen and Buzz

Dolphin 201

Photo provided by Amazon.com

THINGS ONE OUGHT NOT DO WHILST IN ONE’S CABIN by Roger

In case you hadn’t noticed, the cabins on the cruise ship are not only rather cramped but the walls are very thin without much insulation so it’s kinda like being in the room next to another.  Due to this type of construction, noises and odors seem to circulate.  Therefore, tone down the arguments; try to keep the sex at a more reasonable level; don’t smoke (tobacco and other medicinal products) or light candles or incense; use heavy perfume; and, especially for Roger, avoid the emission of noxious odors.

Don’t iron clothes in the cabin (there are irons in the various laundry rooms) and don’t use a hotplate (why on earth one would have a hotplate is beyond comprehension).  Also, for some reason you can only use a hair dryer at the desk.....not in the bath room as one would expect.

Although you might feel you are alone in your cabin.....one never knows.  You’ll be in for a major surprise if you’re running around naked with the curtain open and a crew member is outside cleaning the balcony glass or doing some painting or other maintenance chores.  Speaking of balcony’s, don’t leave the balcony door open and don’t hang items out to dry on the balcony.  Of course there are those of us that actually do enjoy flashing..........so have at it if that’s your thing!!

Don’t leave items on the floor and/or make a mess.  You’re in unfamiliar surroundings so you may trip over items at night when you get the calling at bed time.

And it goes without saying, don’t steal the towels and bathrobes!!  And don’t leave items in the safe when you leave......duh!

Other than the above, enjoy yourself and have a good time.  And if you want to ignore the tip about loud sex...........go for it!!  We only live once.