April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Wonder to Hawaii- who is with me?

[auntlynne]

Sorry if I missed this......What ports do we dock & which are tender?

All of ours should be dock.

Reading about all the wonderful things to see I wish we were in each port more than one day. I wish Disney would come out with the excursions before the 120 day slot.

You and me both, Charlotte.

Are you settled in back at home?

 

[auntlynne]

Port of Call: Honolulu, Oahu, Sunday, May 6
'Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States used as an official residence by a reigning monarch

"Meticulously restored to its former grandeur, this National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu tells of a time when their Majesties, King Kalākaua, who built it in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Lili‘uokalani, walked its celebrated halls."

http://www.iolanipalace.org/

'Iolani Palace is open the first Sunday of each month in 2011; perhaps they will continue this into 2012.

Palace guided tours are offered every 15 minutes between the hours of 9:00am - 2:00pm.

We take reservation for groups of 10 or more, tour times offered from 1:00pm, 1:15pm, 1:30pm, 1:45pm and 2:00pm.

Admission (2011) is $20 adult/$6 child 5-12yo - Military w/ID $15


"‘Iolani Palace offers two tour options, a docent Guided Tour and a Self-Led Tour. Both options include a tour of the first and second floors of ‘Iolani Palace followed by self-guided exploration of the basement gallery exhibits. It is suggested you allot approximately 90 minutes for either tour.

Guided Tour:
Travel with your docent to the 19th century from completion of ‘Iolani Palace in 1882 to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. Learn through story about the furnishings and Royal residents as you are led through the first floor state rooms and second floor private quarters. The tour ends in the basement, where you will be free to view the gallery exhibits on your own."

Shoe covers (made by Friends of the Palace) are made of cloth to be washed and reused

Perhaps you will have a docent as enjoyable as our Auntie Gladys

 

[kmitchel]

And I could have always worn those fab golden Mickey Mouse ears - surely they are formal?
QUOTE]

There was a table next to ours that wore different hats every night to dinner! They had several versions of mouse ears (pirate ears, princess ears, golden ears...). I can't remember all of them, but it was cute that the entire table wore them and they coordinated every night!

 

[newgeneb]

Just found the thread Gene & Cheryl here lots of posts to catch up on This will be our 11th Dis cruise and i'm sure one of the best I think we have cruised with some of u before

 

[valbob89]

There is a lot of beauty in Hawaii so you might think it strange I would share with you a picture of snails. However, on one of our first visits to Hawaii, in the early 70's, I was walking early one morning in a forest and heard what I thought must be some kind of wild animals ripping and crunching plants all around me. I was amazed to find out it was just the local garden snails. Thank goodness we don't have to fight them in our gardens.

 

[granmaz]

Thank you Val...I think!!!

I have 2 guide books for Hawaii and there is just so much to see. It has fried my brain!!!! We are going to need lots of help deciding what to do and see as we will never go back.

 

[aan1701]

Just found the thread Gene & Cheryl here lots of posts to catch up on This will be our 11th Dis cruise and i'm sure one of the best I think we have cruised with some of u before

Hi, this will be our 11th as well.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We are going to fly in the day before the cruise and will either stay somewhere near the airport or the port. When we come back, we will probably stay at Disneyland for 3 or 4 nights before coming home.



I hope that you will have a wonderful trip.



I hope that you will have a wonderful cruise.

I am about to head to work for the second day of the 8 that I have to work in a row. It is all good though. At the end of those 8 days, I am heading to Dubai for my vacation. I can't believe how quickly this has come around. I just booked tickets for the observation platform on the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. We will do this next week Saturday. I also hoping to see the Dubai Fountains at the same time. We will also get started on project wedding band. They have a whole area in the shopping mall next to the Burj Khalifa with just jewellery stores. Unless something catches our eyes straight away, we will also check out the Gold Soukh at some stage during the vacation.

DH is teasing me mercilessly that I am not allowed to come Dubai unless I have finished my trip report for the Panama Canal cruise. I am about half way through the last sea day and then I just have our day in Los Angeles to do, so this should be doable.

Corinna

Thanks!
Did have a wonderful cruise(s) ofcourse!
Just got home last night and we're bummed to be home. Reality kinda stinks- too much to do and bills to pay and unpacking and junk like that. Bah humbug. It never seems long enough NEVER! Not even back to back cruises LOL But the 3 ports in Alaska one day after another made the 2nd cruise fly by at lightning speed- I knew it would. Sigh.

It's a gloomy rainy day here today... kinda fits our bummed mood (that we're home) I suppose. LOL

I'm super MEGA behind on the thread now. I'll try to catch up tonight and please anyone email me something important that needs to be put on the original post. I seriously need to catch up.... bigtime. LOL

 

[granmaz]

Thanks!
Did have a wonderful cruise(s) ofcourse!
Just got home last night and we're bummed to be home. Reality kinda stinks- too much to do and bills to pay and unpacking and junk like that. Bah humbug. It never seems long enough NEVER! Not even back to back cruises LOL But the 3 ports in Alaska one day after another made the 2nd cruise fly by at lightning speed- I knew it would. Sigh.

It's a gloomy rainy day here today... kinda fits our bummed mood (that we're home) I suppose. LOL

I'm super MEGA behind on the thread now. I'll try to catch up tonight and please anyone email me something important that needs to be put on the original post. I seriously need to catch up.... bigtime. LOL

Glad you had a great cruise. Getting back to normality is so awful!!!

It is such hard work having ports on days in a row. Of course we have 4 in a row in Hawaii. I think we will all be sleeping the 5 sea days going home!!

 

[auntlynne]

Thanks!
Did have a wonderful cruise(s) ofcourse!
Just got home last night and we're bummed to be home. Reality kinda stinks- too much to do and bills to pay and unpacking and junk like that. Bah humbug. It never seems long enough NEVER! Not even back to back cruises LOL But the 3 ports in Alaska one day after another made the 2nd cruise fly by at lightning speed- I knew it would. Sigh.

It's a gloomy rainy day here today... kinda fits our bummed mood (that we're home) I suppose. LOL

I'm super MEGA behind on the thread now. I'll try to catch up tonight and please anyone email me something important that needs to be put on the original post. I seriously need to catch up.... bigtime. LOL

Welcome back - our Alaska cruise thread had links to your cruise's blogs. Was cheerfully reading what adventures would be in store for us. I am extremely thankful to hear that that Pacific Ocean part around Vancouver Island is not scheduled to be the standard route - don't know how y'all put up those waves. I would have been green and lying flat in the bed to ride it out.

Thank you Val...I think!!!

I have 2 guide books for Hawaii and there is just so much to see. It has fried my brain!!!! We are going to need lots of help deciding what to do and see as we will never go back.

My brother said the same thing before I took him there last year. So I jam-packed our 3 weeks full of activities. Before we got on the plane, my SIL said, "oh, I think this won't be my only trip." NOW, they both are obsessed with Hawaii and talk about it all the time. I think they would move there if the right job opportunity came up.

"Repeat visitors accounted for 62.3 percent of the total visitors to Hawaii." (2005 statistic for air visitors).

 

[socababy]

Welcome back to those Alaskan cruisers! While I feel your pain and sadness about getting back to reality, I have to say I have a little snicker/giggle inside me each time a Wonder cuise ends because that means I am one cruise closer to sailing her again. Has anyone counted how many cruises the Wonder will do before we set sail on her? I should do that because that number will sound a lot better than the 300+ days we still have to go!

 

[granmaz]

My brother said the same thing before I took him there last year. So I jam-packed our 3 weeks full of activities. Before we got on the plane, my SIL said, "oh, I think this won't be my only trip." NOW, they both are obsessed with Hawaii and talk about it all the time. I think they would move there if the right job opportunity came up.

"Repeat visitors accounted for 62.3 percent of the total visitors to Hawaii." (2005 statistic for air visitors).

I really don't expect to go back. Might not get on this cruise yet. Flights are so expensive and with illness and the need for a lot of money to cover flights, the cruise or other accommodation, it will really be a nono.

 

[LindaBabe]

Good Morning, Happy Cruisers!

Welcome back from Alaska - can't wait to read your trip reports!

I really don't expect to go back. Might not get on this cruise yet. Flights are so expensive and with illness and the need for a lot of money to cover flights, the cruise or other accommodation, it will really be a nono

Don't EVEN THINK IT! We're GOING to stay healthy and get on that plane!!!!

Happy Day, all!

 

[mebweb]

Hi all,

I'm more of a lurker here, but as of this moment, my wife (Dawn) and I (Marc) are booked on this cruise. I grabbed one of the last Cat 10B GTY reservations last week. We would love to go on this cruise for our 10th anniversary, which is actually in February.

However, we have a two sons ages 7 and 4 who would not be going with us. So, one of the issues is finding someone to watch them while we are gone. Luckily, we have grandparents close by. But this is a long time to ask family members to take care of both of them. We would want to spend a few days at Disneyland as well, so this would be an almost 3 week trip.

We're actually leaning towards cancelling this and doing something shorter. We're hoping that with the cruise bookings being so successful, Disney will do the Hawaii itinerary every year and we can try going when the kids are a little older and are more independent.

Anyone else in the same boat (pun intended)? How should we approach the grands to ask them to take the boys for this long of time?

Thanks

 

[Happy Goofy]

Has anyone priced air fare to LA yet and back yet? I think Disney wants around $550 which was about what I got from a Southwest rep. SHe was just guessing because they are not booking that far yet.

 

[Meerkat504]

Has anyone priced air fare to LA yet and back yet? I think Disney wants around $550 which was about what I got from a Southwest rep. SHe was just guessing because they are not booking that far yet.

I looked at Southwest Airline's site just to gauge what prices currently are. While SWA is currently booking reservations right now only through November, from Houston Hobby to LAX is just under $400 round trip. Goes without saying, the price will depend on where you are flying from but I know Southwest offers sales at points throughout the year. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on possible sales once the prices for next April/May post.

 

[socababy]

Hi all,

I'm more of a lurker here, but as of this moment, my wife (Dawn) and I (Marc) are booked on this cruise. I grabbed one of the last Cat 10B GTY reservations last week. We would love to go on this cruise for our 10th anniversary, which is actually in February.

However, we have a two sons ages 7 and 4 who would not be going with us. So, one of the issues is finding someone to watch them while we are gone. Luckily, we have grandparents close by. But this is a long time to ask family members to take care of both of them. We would want to spend a few days at Disneyland as well, so this would be an almost 3 week trip.

We're actually leaning towards cancelling this and doing something shorter. We're hoping that with the cruise bookings being so successful, Disney will do the Hawaii itinerary every year and we can try going when the kids are a little older and are more independent.

Anyone else in the same boat (pun intended)? How should we approach the grands to ask them to take the boys for this long of time?

Thanks

I will be traveling without my kids who will be 9, 7 and 4 at cruise time. My in-laws will be watching them and they were happy to do so. The main reason the kids are not going is because the older two will be in 3rd and 1st grade and I didn't want them to miss that much school. Them being in school is a plus for my in-laws. The boys will be in school from 8-2:20 and then dd will be in pre school on MWF for 3 hours a day so my in-laws will get some breaks in there. So when approaching your parents, bring them being in school (at least your oldest) as a little break each day.

What a great trip this will be for you and your wife and a great bonding time for the grandparents and your kids!

 

[Frodo UK]

Glad you had a great cruise. Getting back to normality is so awful!!!

It is such hard work having ports on days in a row. Of course we have 4 in a row in Hawaii. I think we will all be sleeping the 5 sea days going home!!

OMG! Trying to ignore all Hawaii planning issues for a few months yet. When we hook flights and decide number of days before and after, LA/ San Francisco in/out etc will start to focus.

At least possible BA/unions may have sorted out their disputes

 

[aan1701]

OMG! Trying to ignore all Hawaii planning issues for a few months yet. When we hook flights and decide number of days before and after, LA/ San Francisco in/out etc will start to focus.

At least possible BA/unions may have sorted out their disputes

I am with you. I pretty much know what I want to do in Hawai'i. I just want it to come around.

 

[gdaneowner]

I looked at Southwest Airline's site just to gauge what prices currently are. While SWA is currently booking reservations right now only through November, from Houston Hobby to LAX is just under $400 round trip. Goes without saying, the price will depend on where you are flying from but I know Southwest offers sales at points throughout the year. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on possible sales once the prices for next April/May post.

Depending on where your flying from, you might also keep Air Tran in mind. Although I have read that they are going to start integrating Air Tran and Southwest together. I found that air tran, even with the baggage fee, was cheaper than Southwest for our Florida flight from Kansas City to Orlando.