ALOHA!!! - What An Awesome Vacation!

Well, I am back from my Hawaiian Cruise Adventure with my Mom, and we had a fantastic time! We did so many things and went at such high speed like there was no tommorow that we needed to come back to have a vacation from our vacation!!!

We sailed out of Vancouver headed for Hawaii at sunset on Sunday, September 17. Our first full day and a half at sea were really rough - we heard later there was a hurricane down in Mexico that we caught the tail end of. We didn't get really seasick (like a lot of our fellow passengers), but we were both woosy and nasueated, and even slept most of the afternoon on that first full day. Thankfully it calmed down around mid day on the second full day at sea and it was smooth sailing after that. The weather got warmer as we headed further south, and we spent more time outside, especially once the wind and waves calmed down.

The food was amazing (as always) and there were awesome craft classes on the cruise. We made floral leis (with real fresh green and purple orchids), kukui nut necklaces (I even bought several kits and made them in several other colors than the ones in class and also made earrings and bracelets), woven ribbon leis and beaded bandanas for western night (there really are Hawaiian cowboys!).

The enterainment was excellent - we saw a comedian and not only was he pretty good as far as language and subject matter (very little off color or risque humor) but he was hilarious and had us laughing til we almost fell out of our chairs. Lots of great entertainers and dancing shows as well as a singer that did great imitations - he said he would be doing a Neil Diamond tribute (among other singers) at a later show, but then he didn't do Neil so I was disappointed :).

I auditioned for and got in the Talent Show - it's now called "Star Seeker" (sort of an Idol knockoff) and based on audience reaction and judges response, you can win a trophy and the videotape of the winner is sent to NCL Headquarters in Miami and there is a chance to win a free cruise!!!! I sang an Amanda Marshall song (Believe in You) and did my best as I really wanted to win not only to the trophy but also the free cruise for me and Mom. There were 3 singers and 5 stand up comedians in the talent show, and although I did well, one of the comedians won. It's apples to oranges to compare comedy to singing, but maybe they are looking more for comedians than singers for being entertainment on a free cruise. Oh well, it was still fun and everyone who participated got a really nice tote bag full of goodies.

After 5 fun filled days at sea, we arrived in Hilo, Hawaii (Big Island). There we went on a wonderful 6 1/2 hour bus tour in and saw a waterfall, a volcano museum and learned all about volcanoes (I walked on a lava flow!), went to the Mona Loau Macadamia nut factory and had wonderful samples (and bought lots to bring back and share), and then went to the Noni Mau botanical gardens. Then we sailed to Kahaliu, Maui and went shopping during the day and in the evening went to a Luau at a beach 45 minutes from the ship (Kaanapali) and it was amazing - awesome sunset, food and polynesian dancing. We even bought really nice Muu Muu dresses so we looked the part!

The next day we rode in a tender (*fun* little boats that rock as you get into them and Mom almost fell in the water!) to get to Lahaina, Maui and went shopping till we dropped. After that was Kona, Hawaii (Big Island) (also by tender) where we did more shopping. We finished the cruise in Honolulu, then we had a 3 night stay at the Mirimar Hotel at Wakiki, shopped the International Marketplace, swam in the ocean at Wakiki Beach and went to the Polynesian Culture Center and Pearl Harbor before flying back to Vancouver to spend a few days with relatives.

All in all it was a fantastic trip and probably the best vacation I've ever had - but then I've come home from every cruise I've been on (this one was number 5) and said the same thing!!!

Now it's time to get back to real life and keep researching and writing my book!

Aloha!!!!!