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.

PRINCESS CRUISES’ ALCOHOL POLICY

That's right, ONE BOTTLE only! 

The alcohol policy for Princess Cruises basically states that individual cruisers can bring 

ONE (1) bottle of Wine or Champagne per adult of drinking age per voyage and the bottle may not be larger then 750ml. In addition, if you consume your bottle in your stateroom you will not incur a $15 corkage fee per bottle. If you choose to bring additional bottles a $15 corkage fee per bottle will be charged regardless of where you choose to consume it. It is also my understanding that those who are cruising solo can still only bring 1 bottle per person.

Below is the Princess Cruises’ Alcohol Policy as stated on their website:  

As provided in the Passage Contract, guests agree not to bring alcoholic beverages of any kind onboard for consumption, except one bottle of wine or champagne per adult of drinking age (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage, which will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles are welcome, but will incur a $15 corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Liquor, spirits or beers are not permitted. Please remember that luggage will be scanned and alcohol outside of our policy will be removed and discarded.*

Alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty free from the ship's gift shop, or at ports of call, will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to the guest's stateroom on the last day of the cruise.  A member of the ship's staff will be at the gangway to assist guests with the storage of their shoreside alcoholic purchases while our Boutiques staff will assist guests with shipboard alcoholic purchases.

*Princess Cruises is not responsible for any alcoholic beverages removed and discarded by shoreside security staff.
Such items are not eligible for monetary refund or replacement. 

Cruise Ship Docking & Other Port Helpful Information

Please be advised that changes can occur for cruise docking and that this information was based on my finding as of 09/02/2015, I found the following cruise docking schedule for the Ruby Princess on the Hawaii Department of Transportation for Harbors . Click on the highlight phrase or word  for more information and explore.

HILO  “BIG ISLAND” HAWAII - Thursday, October 8, 2015 

Cruise ships dock at piers in Kuhio Bay on Kuhio St approximately 2 miles east of downtown. Shuttles may be provided to Walmart and the adjacent Hilo Hatties at Prince Kuhio Plaza 2 miles south of the pier. The Downtown Farmer's Market may also offer a free shuttle.

Here is a google map of the cruise ship dock in Kuhio Bay on Kuhio Street, Hilo, Hawaii

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Hilo” 

HONOLULU “THE GATHERING PLACE” OAHU - Friday, October 9, 2015

I checked out the link below on the Hawaii Department of Transportation for Harbors and found that the RUBY PRINCESS on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015 is currently scheduled to be docked at the Primary cruise ship terminal Pier 2. It seems there are two cruise terminals and Pier 2 cruise terminal is at the West end of Channel Street, off Ala Moana Boulevard. This is not the Aloha Tower Cruise Terminal. 

Here is a google map of Honolulu Cruise Terminal Pier 2 

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Honolulu” 

NAWILIWILI,  “GARDEN ISLE” KAUAI - Saturday, October 10, 2015

Cruise ships dock at the port by the town of Lihue which is the commercial center of the island. Free shuttles run to car rental offices, Hilo Hatties, Kmart (beside Kuhio Grove), Walmart, and smaller malls from the pier. Kalapaki beach is nearby.

Here is a google map of  “Nawiliwili Bay” 

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Nawiliwili”

LAHAINA, “VALLEY ISLE” MAUI - Sunday, October 11, 2015 

The seaside town of Lahaina is located on the westside of the island of Maui

Cruise ships anchor offshore and tenders take passengers to Lahaina Harbor

Here is a google map of the seaside town of “Lahaina & Lahaina Harbor”

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Lahaina” 

Photos provided by CruisePortWiki

Roger’s Top 10 Thumbs Up Reason for this Hawaii Cruise!

1. To hang out and be with Roger and Diana and, of course, eat and drink.
2. Being there on board ....Simply because you can!  You’re not dead, you know!!
3. Good Food & Drinks and as much as you like! Did I already mention this?
4. Lots of Laughs and Laughter- special moments & stories
5. Meeting new and old friends - great reunions too!  Some you’ve already met??
6. Visiting the Hawaiian Islands (and on this cruise 4 major islands).
7. Lifestyle cruise, its living the good life! You have earned it!!
8. Being a part of both real and imaginary cruise stories to be shared.
9. Last Call for Roger & Diana’s Renewal Ceremony ...and you were there!
10. Experiencing the Aloha Spirit and did I mention....eating and drinking? 

On Your Own in Hilo...free shuttle to Hilo Farmer's Market & Downtown Hilo!

If you are on your own in Hilo which is our first port of call, this maybe of interest to you. I came across this website for the Hilo Farmer’s Market that offers cruise ship passengers free shuttle to the Hilo Farmer’s Market and Downtown Hilo. It is approximately 2 miles between the ship and downtown Hilo. Check out this link on HILO FARMER”S MARKET and decide whether this will work for you? Be sure you read the details as you do need to call and make advance reservations via email and its good until 11:00am only and our ship docks at 9am. Worth a peek if you are thinking of exploring downtown!   

Photo provided by Hilo Farmer's Market

PRINCESS@SEA & Internet Minutes

DON’T FORGET..to bring your smartphone, tablet or laptop on this cruise and here’s why!    

PRINCESS@SEA: Everything at your fingertips... while on board the 

Ruby Princess cruise ship. You will have access to PRINCESS@SEA

which connects to your personal electronic device with the Ruby Princess

ship’s Wi-Fi. No cellular or data charges required and it operates in 

“Airplane Mode”. 

Be advised that some portions of PRINCESS@SEA requires the creation of a user ID and password before proceeding. These include My Stateroom Account and My Cruise Planner which can be found on the Home Page.

Once you are on board, you can create an account and then open your browser and PRINCESS@SEA will be the default page that appears. Type in your browser “ruby.princess.com”  and then you can begin to explore:

HOME: Shows a sampling of today’s events while welcoming you to the next port

of call or encouraging you to enjoy your day at sea.

EVENTS: Show casing the current events and activities available to you throughout 

the ships.

INTERNET: Connecting to the internet is easy via Princess@Sea.

For more information about PRINCESS@SEA , double click and check it out!

PLUS: Check out your stateroom account, General Information from you stateroom directory, Itinerary, Locations, Hours and more including Internet access.

Check out Princess Cruises website under BOOKED GUESTS > CRUISE GIFTS & SERVICE>INTERNET & IN-CABIN CALLING for pre-purchase internet minutes. Buy them on-line and get those extra bonus minutes! 

TRAVEL GADGETS... that you might want to consider

Are you still making out your packing list? Came across this article below that I thought you might want to look over. Also here are a couple of my handy tips if you are interested that I like to bring with me... make a list? ...Diana 

• Removable hooks that are very handy. I generally place them near the hallway door... to hang our shore excursion back pack and another for Roger’s hat.
• Post-it Notes are a must for writing reminders that I can place on the mirror.
• Night Light with a on-off switch
• Power strip for all my extra gadgets
• Headlight or small flashlight in case of emergency 
• Booklight especially if you have a roommate

Cruise Critic Article

10 Gadgets That Enhance Your Cruise Experience