We're almost aboard!

It's Thursday September 27 and we're in San Pedro, California. No touring today. We were too tired. It's 9:00 California time, but it's midnight our time. So we're all pretty tired and ready to call it a night.

Hopefully we'll have some pics tomorrow.

And I already had my first daiquiri of the trip.

More details soon!

Excursion dilemma

Just a note to the other 5 couples joining us:
You need to sign on to http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ and fill in your seapass information.

https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/mycruises/login.do;jsessionid=0000P7Eatia2zi3E7n6BB9kN4Kh:12hbiocus?cS=MHDR

and, if you haven't already done so, you'll need to create a member login account. You can do this by clicking on the 'create a My Cruises Account.

You may also have to specify your cruise reservation number in order to be able to find where you enter the sea pass. If you're having any trouble, give me a call and I'll walk you through it. You know where to call me...

In addition, in case you're thinking of renting a car: During my searches (and you know I've been doing a lot of that :), I've discovered several warnings about reserving a car BEFORE you get there. Let's face it. You don't want to get there and find out that all the cars are rented...

And don't forget to indicate your correct country of residence. I couldn't believe it but it made a difference.

_____________________________

Well, Pride of Maui has just informed me we can't get on an excursion on October 6th. Funny, it's the same message I received from Fair Winds II a couple of months ago. Something smells fishy...

Anyhow, I have my eyes peeled on another potential excursion that starts at 7:30 right from lahaina port - so we don't have to worry about a drive since it departs from the port of Lahaina. Drop by http://www.islandstarexcursions.com/rafting.html I found it on the Hawaii goldcard site. But since I've had bad luck trying to book anything on October 6th, I'm waiting for an email back from them. It leaves from the Lahaina port at 7:30.

I initially had my eye on this website http://www.bluewaterrafting.com/ it appears to be a very awesome choice except that we'd have to be off the boat before 6:00 am in order to make it to checkin at 6:30. I know I wouldn't have a problem but hubby and the tenders might...

If there isn't any availability for excursions, I have a map of some neat beaches and snorkeling sites that we can drive around and check out. Yes, some of them indicate hiking could be involved so if you don't want to get wet, you don't need to.

Cruizin

After many requests, I've finally decided to create a blog about my cruising adventures. As most of my friends know I am an avid Cruiser. And I'm always on the lookout for great deals.



For me it all started with a 3 day Disney cruise - just to see if we'd get sea sick. And we've been cruising ever since. We even spent 7 days on a second honeymoon on a Disney cruise (without the 'kids') and we had the time of our lives. Disney cruises are not 'just for kids'!

We currently have around 7 cruises under our belts. And we've gone Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Liked them all. It's a matter of looking at where you'd like to go, and how much you want to pay. Each have their positive points.

Our latest selection is a 15 day Hawaii cruise on the Radiance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean). There are quite a few days at sea. But we offset this by convincing 5 other couples to come along with us. We booked a year in advance, but the prices are $150 lower - at least we didn't pay the 2400 some people did. But actually the price is just for a guaranteed inside cabin room and I like mid-ship so I guess that's the price you pay.

Some of the activities in the works are:

• A (mini) golf tournament
• a pool (the table kind) tournament
• a Euchre tournament
• and anything else we can think of...

The itinerary includes:

• Departure from Los Angeles Sept 28
• next 4 sea days
• Kona (Big Island)
• Hilo (Big Island)
• Lahaina (Maui) - 2 days
• Oahu - until 2 am the next day
• 3 days at sea
• a brief 'wave' to Ensenada, Mexico (really just another day at sea)
• back to LA

Because I'm an avid snorkeller, most of our activites will be snorkelling related. Here's some of the excursions we're looking at:

• Helicopter ride (Blue Hawaiian) http://www.bluehawaiian.com/bigisland/
• Zip line excursion http://www.zipline.com/haleakala_course.htm (we already have one couple on the waiting list - boy did it book up fast)
• A swim with wild dolphins in Oahu - I'd like to see them in their natural habitat - none of that riding around a pen and kissing stuff. Just to see them in the water will be awesome http://dolphinexcursions.com/excursioninfo.html Yes, 'Virginia', you can get prescription masks (see http://www.snorkelbob.com they have weekly and daily rates and you can start renting on one island and return at another island - check the site for locations.
• swimming with turtles - did this in Barabados - what an experience! (same link as above)
• An Ocean rafting adventure - ok, snorkeling, but we get to see lava caves and there's only 6 to 12 of us http://web.mac.com/sqhawaii/iWeb/seaquesthawaii.net/Home.html
• Molokini snorkel http://www.prideofmaui.com/trips/morning.html - Yes, Debra, you can get prescription masks (see www.snorkelbob.com ) - I would have preferred another rafting snorkel, but I couldn't get any confirmation on what time we'd be able to get to shore. We have to tender and that would mean being ashore by 6 am just to get to checkin on time. (i sure hope we'll be able to be ashore by 7 to get to this one
• Instead of swimming with dolphins the rest of the gang is going to visit Pearl Harbour http://www.ussmissouri.com/ maybe uss arizona http://www.nps.gov/usar/
• Old Lahaina Luau http://www.oldlahainaluau.com/index_main.html

I'm hoping that I'll be able to post some photos from my digital so everyone can enjoy our cruise with us (vicariously of course). Sorry, my underwater camera isn't digital so they won't get posted until we're back.