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Sharing hopeful news about the Lahaina Banyan Tree: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/08/15/breaking-news/efforts-underway-to-revive-150-year-old-banyan-tree-in-lahaina/ “We’re not giving up hope,” said arborist Steve Nimz. “There’s no reason to give up yet.” He inspected the tree over the weekend, and found no significant signs of singeing, charring or cracking on the main trunk or most of its aerial roots, with the exception of two. The tree has more than 40 aerial roots anchored in the soil. After using a small pocket knife to cut through the thin bark layer into the tree’s cambium, he found there was still live tissue there, although very little sap oozed out when a lot should have for a healthy tree.

Here's a hiccup regarding short term rentals. Several counties (not sure about Maui, but definitely Honolulu) recently passed a bill that restricting "short term" rentals meaning 30 days or longer (excluding airbnb, hotels, etc). So many landlords are locked into long term rentals. The mayor of Honolulu suspended that, but it doesn't help that there is already a housing shortage. NCL Pride of America has not suspended their voyages. They are just adjusting their itinerary to not stop/over night in Kahului. All cruise ships are respecting the disaster on Maui and not calling on the island.

Cinnamon Donuts (not as much cinnamon as before) can be found in the IC during some mornings. Just making a statement: I brought my own donut up for the IC to Sabatini's Suite Breakfast. I was "mocked", but every day after that, there was a cinnamon donut at my table. So they do make them every day. I have never checked the buffet. As in many Princess recipes, this one has changed over the years. It is much more bready and not as light as previous versions.

I'm sure tomorrow will still be safe. Didn’t mean to alarm you.

Nope, just read that someone had put an excursion in their cart and didn’t pay for it. Booking was cancelled. Even heard they will cancel over a few cents. (Dons Vacation YouTuber).

Do not leave anything in your cart if you are past final payment, Princess will cancel your booking for non payment. Good luck reaching someone that can fix this for you. Some lady YouTuber was recording a session today (Monday) and mentioned that she was on hold with Princess…now going on 3.5 hours.

I don’t eat the crepes and they had something with pear, and another with pineapple. He was suppose to do a table side Caesar salad, but that didn’t happen. The pasta with garlic was wonderful. I skip most of the extra dishes except the lamb chops. I can skip the “new” ice cream heart attack treat for a make your own sundae in the MDR. if only they had hot fudge.

Was it ever decided when they made this change that if there were two unrelated passengers in the same cabin and each had CCL shares, they could then EACH get Shareholder non-refundable OBC? Veteran's OBC is not involved.

Too late. It's written in "concrete" (abiet poorly)

Still unanswered: 1. Will it cost you $10 to have the medallion shipped to your US home if you are a Standard Passenger. No mention in new enhanced email. 2. How will they deal with the suite perks? Tea/canapes/MDR meals. Suite/Elite minibar change outs? Am I missing something? I can't order my sister's medallion on the Medallion Class app. @startedwithamouse mentioned (after I started this comment and was interrupted) that you can't order the medallion anymore???? Will it be sent if you have a package automatically? To where? I'm sorry, I am so confused. If any one can simplify this for me, you will have my gratitude forever. Sailing soon without any packages (this time) and in a suite/elite.

You can always drop by the Reserve Dining room after dinner for coffee and the special desserts (peach melba, banana foster, etc).

You've got to wonder "why" the Royal is priced less than the Grand. Just for starters...how about 1000 more passengers? And fewer public venues. No Promenade Deck? No aft viewing. Itinerary/passage Bottom line: You are doing this cruise to be with family. If the cost will allow you a few more excursions, then you WILL have a great time on the Royal.

The Sapphire is closer to the Grand than she is to the Royal. She has a much larger (more impressive) Promenade Deck. I don't think you could go wrong with either the Sapphire or the Grand (one of my favorites). You have been given some terrific advice. I would take Skagway over Ice Straits. Inside Passage over sea time.

I apologize for the laugh icon. I think it is so silly that "we" have to educate the source. I wish the passenger luck in trying to do that. Not meant to be inflammatory. Sometimes the "rules" are too taken too strictly.

The shower bench will take up less than 50% of the shower stall.

Currently, neither Canada nor Hawaii requires proof of vaccination or Covid test. Australia still does. The Royal Princess is repositioning to Australia via Hawaii. If you are leaving the ship in Honolulu, you “should” be okay. My only reservation is that Australia is being proactive and considers that voyage as “one”. Thus requiring everyone getting on (in Vancouver or Hawaii) to have said requirements.

EZ Air only contracts for certain flights on certain airlines. I would book something now and watch and see if anything better (time/price) shows up. Get a flexible fare that you can change up to 45 days out.

I use alcohol 70%. Remember those wonderful sleep mist sprays they used to give to Elite? Good size bottle for traveling. I've actually gone out and bought a $2 bottle of something to get the right sized bottle. That's what my doctor uses. Good enough for me. Handy and accessible on the plane, at a table, etc.

The Navy also bought the defunct Super Ferry. But no word about its use. West Maui has a very very very small airport. One can only hope that Hawaii State assigns a capable coordinator with the Federal Government. Gov. Green is a very smart man and well liked by many.

We are an island. Limited space to dispose of debris. I mostly agree with everything else. Not sure if the airport runway is large enough for huge cargo planes. We have a port that is very functional. We have one barge company (Young's Brothers). Limited resources for construction workers. Many will need to come from the mainland. It's going to happen. It will just cost more and take a lot of time.

Latest report. Newly built tender pier survived the fire. The problem is that there are many sunken/damaged boats that have to be cleared out before the Coast Guard will allow traffic again. Priority will go to the Ferry between Molokai and Lanai (which currently just started up at a nearby harbor) and support groups. Lahaina and West Maui has always had a choke point when it came to traffic. A brush fire or traffic accident would often close down the highway (not even a freeway) between West Maui and the other parts of Maui. Priority at this point is to allow residents back in. With no infrastructure to support them, it's tough. No electricity. No cell service. No internet. No medical. No supermarkets. No water. Slowly, these things are coming back online. Critical shortage of basic needs like ice. Maui (like all the other islands) is the most isolated land in the world. 2500 miles from the nearest source of supplies. Everything has to be shipped in. There is no doubt that (all) the islands rely on tourism. I read somewhere (do not quote me) that cruise ships, for the immediate future, will by pass Maui as not to add stress to a straining island. There is discussion regarding a shortage of accommodations too. The other islands are welcoming visitors. I would welcome an overnight in Hilo (my favorite town). What would take the mainland to rebound in a year, expect the Maui to take twice that long. And Lahaina will never be the same.

My niece is a Fire Captain with a CA city. But a local girl still with ties to the islands. She told me today that it will take MONTHS for the cadaver dogs to find victims and have them identified. LA sent a couple of teams of dogs over today. They are part of the Federal USAR (Search and Rescue). The immediate (fire out) danger is over. But the long recovery is still to come. Please do not forget the people in Lahaina. My daughter and her young family are discussing this over dinner. So many of us have been to Lahaina and have beautiful memories of the place. Continue to send your support in whatever manner is comfortable for you.

Lots to address here. 1. Princess is doing away with ballroom dance music in the Wheelhouse and Explorers Lounge. Dancers are drinkers (blanket statement that will be contested, I'm sure). The Piazza is NOT a dance floor. I do miss the great dance bands Princess used to have. Token recorded dance music for an hour each night. 2. The Piazza is NOT the place for the Explorers Lounge band. It is too noisy and just clutters the Piazza and decks above. It is already way too loud for all the events in this central area (as registered on my Apple Watch). Princess: please heed. Chamber music, violins, piano, guitars do not need to me mic'd in the Piazza. 3. No shuttle bus to Boston from the terminal. Outside the terminal had the Hop On/Hop Off as paid by Princess Excursions. The bus stop was around the large building opposite the terminal. Turn right and walk around that building to catch the bus. 4. San Pellegrino is only at the Good Spirits Bar. The CB never had enough to start with. I was able to score an exchange for some of my mini-bar. I was standing right at the bar when I ordered a bottle. I could see that there were 3 passengers sipping at the bar. Bartender told me that they were out and offered me Perrier. 5. Jody, cruise director, had mentioned in one of her talk that they were only taking on shipments at certain ports. Don't know if that was contractual. You made a run to Trader Joes. Don't think the ship can do that. 6. No. bar snacks since the restart. Occasionally, Vines will have token tapas. Not consistent across the fleet. My opinion, another cost cutting. All minor annoyances but they do add up.

Me: Many, many, many, lots of cruises but I was reluctant to ever use Medical Center services up until this last cruise. I was pleasantly surprised: Not that expensive / reimbursement from insurance...that will be the most painful Well equipped "hospital" Fabulous Staff (Dr. Kristof Lim was a hoot) Credit for isolation Princess really showed support for my issue Hope @pamps2801 chimes back in.

Maui (as most neighbor islands) really is the poster child for the Aloha Spirit. You will find the random negative new articles, but for the most part, everyone across all the islands (state) are helping out. Today's good news. The newly construction Lahaina dock survived the fire. It will be instrumental in the recovery efforts as soon as they clear out the sunken vessels. Hope is that the Banyan Tree will somehow make it through the healing process. Malama Pono Maui and Lahaina residents.