Philob

I renewed mine about 2 years early so that the new one expires the same year as my 10-year Chinese visa. I didn't want to take two passport books: 1 expired passport book but with a valid visa and 1 new passport book.

Mythbusters episode about toothbrushes in the bathroom...😶

SWMBO did months of research and we ended up at the Prince Waikiki. It's not in the center of things, but it's quieter and every room is an ocean view with windows that open. Second night we turned off the AC and just left our window open. From the infinity pool you can see the Hilton's Friday(?) night fireworks.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. If the moderators don't move it, it's best to ask this in the Ports of Call Asia board https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/43-asia/ Are you applying for an "L" tourist visa? ''cause this doesn't look like one.

I believe shuttle services to Hanauma Bay have resumed so you will not need the car. Reservations to the Bay sell out within 5 minutes, recommend you do a few practice bookings before you go.

Correct, head for River Rock Casio, can't miss the station. Try to get a room in the back, away from Bridgeport Rd; less truck noise and you'll see the planes on final to YVR. Don't know when you're going, but ask the desk if the Richmond (mostly Asian) Night Market is open. It's a few blocks away and we went there grazing between the food booths for our dinner. Everyone seemed to have sautéed octopus, spiral potatoes, and boba drinks...bring handi-wipes!

We stayed there a few years ago. Somewhere near baggage claim there is a bunch of white courtesy telephones to different hotels. OR just call them when you arrive. Liked it so much we cancelled our post cruise reservations at a downtown hotel and rebooked with them. We used this as our base for the next week. We felt safe walking between the hotel and Bridgeport Station along Sexsmith Rd. We initially followed G Maps and it lead us walking along Great Canadian Way but that added another 10 minutes. At the time you'll ruin your suitcase rollers walking Sexsmith Rd as it needed some overdue repaving.

Unless you arrive off-peak or "club membership" with the rental car company that allows you to just drive off the lot, by the time you get your car, you could be in Redwood City. I recently rented a minivan at SFO mid-morning and was in line for about 45 minutes to get to the counter.

We saw HA during spring break and it was one of the rare things Kid (teen) thought was great and wants to see it again. However, afterwards you'll be in a car caravan snaking down 83 (one lane each way) until you reach the H3 interchange. G Maps says it's a bit over a 1 hour drive to the cruise terminal, but you'll have to return your car. Took us 90 minutes for the drive to our hotel in Waikiki. IMO take the cruise excursion.

There's another recent thread about this with a similar itinerary:

Get a small battery inflator, better than turning blue blowing into it.

Was at the DoubleTree 'bout 8 years ago and they were doing renovations then.

There are no ATMs in the HK Kai Tak Cruise Terminal only a money exchange booth. Outside just about every MTR station and shopping mall will have some. But there's a saying, "When you don't need IT, you see IT everywhere. When you need IT, you can't find IT anywhere."

And medical permission from the parents. You really need to check with the cruise line about passports or certificates, some lines will require passports regardless of what the "rules" say.

The younger generation in Hong Kong switched to app payments. Credit cards a widely accepted but some merchants will tack on the swipe fee. Get HK cash from ATMs for the that trinket you're buying from a street stall lady...and she'll probably prefer WeChatPay over Apple Pay.

From what I've gathered about the online system (it was a trial run anyway) it was basically just an online portal to submit the application. One they "got it", the application still has to be reviewed and processed by an organic. Another problem was that once they "got it" it couldn't tell you the status even if you called to ask since it wasn't integrated into the old system.

I saw on one of those tv tabloids that there's a dedicated passport office in the Capitol building for members and staff only. Never know when a junior staff member gets sent to eastern Ukraine I guess.

News reporting source says "bar pilot tried docking on a 3 knot ebb current which is insane".

Unless the OP books passage on said freighter, who's gonna look after doggo?

And if it matters there is NO casino on Pride of America, Hawaiian laws do not allow gaming in its territorial waters.

If there are future plans for international (air) travel, you might want to consider going through the hassle and get the kids passports. Also while your at the bureau of records get additional certified copies of birth/death certificates & marriage licenses. We have copies, one each in a bank box, home file cabinet, and with a relative that is in town.

"I’m a little reluctant to pull the trigger on the cruise. Hearing from anybody will make me feel better one way or the other." It used to be contacting your Congressional representative to help, but even they are saying they can't help much now. One of them (NJ) had a press conference about this issue and came out with the slogan: "LOOK BEFORE YOU BOOK". He's pressing for more funding, but you know how that goes..... IMO you are doing the right thing and wait until you have your passports in hand before booking. If it's a closed loop cruise and you can travel with id and birth certificate then go for it, knowing the consequences of not having a passport.

Bought a package from Amzn (two masks, two snorkels). The total cost was about the same price as a one day rental for one at the beach. We had one suitcase between the three of us, didn't take up that much space.

The International Bartenders Association says bartenders should know how to make 77 "classic" drinks. The 77 should be made the same way anywhere in the world including cruise ships.

This conversation will get interesting when the bartenders become robots and will we need to tip them?