OK...
Just set up my pricey (very) internet account so this will be short but sweet.
Aloha from Maui - arrived here today and rented a car and drove from the airport area up to Napili, back toward Ka'anapali...dipped my toes in the Pacific - felt great...enjoyed lunch at Cheeseburger in Heaven. Truth be told - not the exact name, but it was great.
Found Lahaina VERY different - first/last time I was here the only thing there was the banyan tree and the monkey pod shop - if you wanted a soda, you went into the monkey pod shop. As I remember, it wasn't very cold. T'was a loooong time ago!
Day 1...
We arrived for our cruise after a fairly uneventful flight - but it did remind how different flying is post 9/11. I do NOT like taking my shoes off in a public airport. And, when I arrived at the ship, I found I had 3 (three) bottles of "liquid" in my purse that never were discovered???? Also, we heard the Oakland airport was on "high" terror alert - we were told it's always on "high" alert there???
Rented a car - got upgraded from a compact to an SUV and we took off towards the north side of the island - NW kind of area. Saw homes built on stilts, many with aluminum roofs, beautiful greenery - the bougainvillea here grows in many colors - hot pink, white, and orange. Got into a short downpour when we stopped at a shopping center for lunch - yes, Dairy Queen, Blimpie's, and Orange Julius are all alive and well in Hawaii. Also, checked out Walmart and picked up a throw-away camera, sunscreen, etc. Called a friend who used to live in Honolulu-that shopping center was very close to where she lived in.
Eventually, made our way to the ship, and got checked in and onboard fairly quickly. I ended up getting a private tour of all the public rooms (I was the ONLY passenger to show up) and Ricky from the cruise staff did a stellar job - great ship...beautiful main dining room - Liberty Dining Room, several bars, theatre, etc. Our room more than adequate for two and the balcony is terrific. It's not cantilevered like many of today's cruiseships and I liked that fact. Now, for 3 or 4 people in one room, the closet will be pretty small - my friend & I filled it up. (Partly, because we stopped at Ross in Hilo yesterday and we both added to our wardrobe.)
Managed to snag a reservation for the Italian eatery on board the first night - Little Italy. Absolutely superb!!!!! Earlier I had asked my "tour guide" if he thought the chef might make veal saltimbocca for me (wasn't on the menu Sat. night). He did and it was FAB. My father would have enjoyed the dinner very much - a risotto dish was on the menu and they served some with my entree - delish. The caesar salad included anchovies so I was in 7th Heaven! Too full to enjoy dessert so we'll have to find out what the "chocolate salami" is on another evening - we return to Little Italy on Wednesday evening.
A note on freestyle dining on NCL - altho it's proving to be very popular, I still prefer the traditional early or late seating with the same table mates every night. While Little Italy was fun and we had a good time, I would have enjoyed dining with more than one person.
A bit of frustration when we returned to our cabin for the night. We could NOT figure out how to turn out one of the lights - the really, really bright one. Finally about 2 am, my girlfriend DID manage to find that pesky light switch.
Day 2...
Yesterday was Hilo and we arrived about two hours late - Cap't. had announced over the loudspeaker that our "escort" boats hadn't arrived so we couldn't dock. Hmmm, three people onshore said there are no "tugboats" used...rumor abounded about problem with the ship motors????? So, lingered a bit on the ship and enjoyed a great breakfast (Matt was a terrific waiter) before disembarking and getting a rental car.
Drove through town (in another upgraded SUV) and saw a little Catholic church - buili in 1841...still has candles you can light (all the Catholic churches in California now have the little electric/battery lights). Found a great natural foods store where we enjoyed lunch (the Mexican eatery was closed on Sundays). Oh, and just prior to lunch we walked through a Farmers' Market and had the tiny, sweet bananas and I had a terrific tasting tomato - ate it right there in the market.
Stopped at Starbucks (my girlfriend needs at least two of these per day - we had checked out one in downtown Waikiki also on Saturday. Then we hit Ross and I added to my "cruising" wardrobe with some formal dresses. (I'm going to have to start doing the driving so we can avoid the shopping centers.)
Last night we ate at the Teppanyaki section of the Asian restaurant - excellent. Enjoyed the company of a couple living near San Diego, another from Oklahoma, and a younger couple from Boston on their honeymoon. Really enjoyed the interaction with other people while we dined. Their filet wa very, very good.
Wanted to take in the show but we were beat and were in bed quite early - before ten, and ya'll know what a nightowl I am.
Day 3
See above for some of the notes. Enjoyed another nice breakfast (smoked salmon - yummers) before heading off to the car rental place.
It's probably time to go because I've got to log onto my bank account to float a loan so I can buy more internet time.
Looking at dinner in the "something" bistro this evening. But, it will be at a table for two - I do wish we were eating with some of the people we've met. And, I'd like to run into that couple from San Diego - they were going zip-lining today and I want to hear all about it.
Ta Ta....more tomorrow - if I can get that loan.
Aloha.
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