Greetings from the rockin' Golden Princess!

[Working 2 Cruise]

More movies: Johnny English Reborn with Rowan Atkinson. Very funny. Also War Horse, Sarah's Key, Bridesmaids... Just saw Bridesmaids, and enjoyed it very much. It is not shown on MUTS as it is too raunchy for children.

 

Speaking of children, there are a lot of them, the most I have seen on a Hawaii cruise. Might have to do with Spring Break...

 

Chair hogs are in full swing. Tried to see this evening's movie, War Horse, without success.... Somebody had left a plate of half eaten pizza on one chair. I wanted to remove it, but my husband is too kind hearted! If you want to find a decent seat at the 7:00 p.m. show, make sure to be there thirty minutes ahead of time! We will probably see it at 9:45. Tonight's show production is a tribute to boys' bands of the 60's... We are definitely going to pass on that!

 

Weather in Hilo was the best we have ever seen in Hilo. We saw dolphins playing in the surf a little beyond the dock... Lovely!

 

A funny... Horizon Court, lunch time. Beef brisket was the highlight of the lunch. A man approached the carving station and demanded that the beef "be cooked properly." I guess he does not know what beef brisket looks like!

 

Tomorrow is Honolulu. I will report back tomorrow night. In the meantime, if you have questions, I will do my best to answer!

[Belle]

Ship moving 1st 3 days..if have problems

bring something. Doesn't bother us.

 

Ate in Sabatini's first night. No reservations

needed. few people, great service..good night to

go..dining room to busy 1st night.

 

Food is good all over the ship so far.

 

We see the movies in the showroom, MUTTs to windy and cold.

Saw..Week with Marilyn, Sarahs Key saw another one but forget

the name. War Horse tomorrow.

 

The show tonight..Walk Like a Man was very good.

4 young men singers.

 

Working to Cruise hope you don't mind me posting.

Just gives a little more information for everyone.

 

Let you know building for Hilo port is closed so if planned

to buy flowers for room. Not there any more.

Yes was nice no rain..70's to 80's.

[putnam]

 

Speaking of children, there are a lot of them, the most I have seen on a Hawaii cruise. Might have to do with Spring Break...

 

 

We were on the Golden for the 3/14/12 departure and the CD said there were 80 children on our cruise and that they were expecting over 200 children for your current cruise. I definitely think Spring Break is responsible.

[woodspines]

You mentioned that the Golden is well loved and showing some wear and tear. Can you be more specific? We will be on her in June with some friends who are new to cruising. Will they be impressed, or does she look really tired?

[kathy_bc]

Is Kevin Hughes (comedian) performing?

What about the Cruise Director staff?? And the other performers? Who is playing in the promenade bar?

thanks,

the countdown is on. 1 week until we board.

[SoBaycruiser]

You mentioned that the Golden is well loved and showing some wear and tear. Can you be more specific? We will be on her in June with some friends who are new to cruising. Will they be impressed, or does she look really tired?

 

Don't forget that Golden is going into dry dock after the April 25 cruise. I'm sure it's to give her a fresher look.

[Elua]

Is Kevin Hughes (comedian) performing?

What about the Cruise Director staff?? And the other performers? Who is playing in the promenade bar?

thanks,

the countdown is on. 1 week until we board.

Aloha Kakou,

As of this cruise, Kevin Hughes is not on board. The CD staff is as follows:

CD-Martyn Moss

DCD-John Loney

Cruise Staff:

Bernadita

Jorge

Theo

Dave

Eric

Angela

Bands:

Retrospect in the Wheelhouse

Sol Provider in the Explorers

Marguerite Nering in the Piazza

Elua for Hawaiian music in the Piazza and Neptune's Reef

Antonio String Quartet

David Moore in the Promenade

Entertainers:

The Checkerboard Guy (juggler/comedy)

Sean O'Shea (vocal impressionist)

Alexander (magician)

Bernie Fields (harmonica)

Walk Like A Man (Four Seasons tribute)

David Cameron (comedian)

Alex and Evgenia (adagio)

Uber Rossi (acrobatics and comedy)

Keep in mind that entertainers do change...I believe mext cruise we will have Mark Preston in place of Walk Like A Man...not sure of the others coming next cruise.

 

Dave

(of Elua)

[kathy_bc]

Thanks Dave!!!!

Looking forward to our cruise... BTW, do we need to losen the ukulele strings for the plane trip (even though they will be in the cabin with us?). I read that on the airline packing tips, but it doesn't specify if that is only for instruments being checked in and going in the cargo area.

[jrobinso]

Elua (Dave)

 

Will you be aboard in the fall? We are looking forward to meeting you in October.

 

Jan

[kathy_bc]

I have to say Elua (Dave & Leialoha) are the best thing about the Golden. Which is why we are sailing with them again, instead of the newly refurbished Sapphire.

[baseballmom2]

We were on the Golden for the 3/14/12 departure and the CD said there were 80 children on our cruise and that they were expecting over 200 children for your current cruise. I definitely think Spring Break is responsible.

 

I'm glad you posted this info, thanks! I started a thread about kids being on the Hawaiian cruises at this time of year (Spring Break), but didnt really get a definite answer. We are planning to go next year the same 2 weeks you were on so I'm hoping there will be some other kids, I dont want mine to be the only ones!! :) I just hope they're not all babies and toddlers, as my kids will be 14 & 9 :)

[Garfunkel]

Thank you for the post. I watched your sail away from San Pedro on the web cam yesterday. Have a great trip and report back when you can. We don't sail to Hawaii until October and it is a long time to wait. Guess I will keep myself busy reading "live from...." posts until then. Looking forward to your next installment.

 

Do you have the link to the San Pedro webcam, where you watched the sailaway? Or were you referring to the ship's webcam? We're sailing to Hawaii on the Golden in September, and my Mum likes to watch us back in the UK, if she can.

 

Sue

[jrobinso]

Do you have the link to the San Pedro webcam, where you watched the sailaway? Or were you referring to the ship's webcam? We're sailing to Hawaii on the Golden in September, and my Mum likes to watch us back in the UK, if she can.

 

Sue

 

I just went to the princess web site and watched the Golden princess bridge cam.

[Jasperdo]

Do you have the link to the San Pedro webcam, where you watched the sailaway? Or were you referring to the ship's webcam? We're sailing to Hawaii on the Golden in September, and my Mum likes to watch us back in the UK, if she can.

 

Sue

As far as I know, there is no cruise ship webcam for San Pedro. I'm hoping that Port Fever will set one up in the near future. The roof of one of the Ports of Call restaurants would work nicely.

[lovevacadays]

Nina, sounds like the weather is beautiful for you in Hawaii and you are getting to enjoy that balcony and some "alone" time on the ship. Nice to hear.:)

 

I will be looking forward to reading about your upcoming Carnival cruise with lots and lots of interest!

[Working 2 Cruise]

You mentioned that the Golden is well loved and showing some wear and tear. Can you be more specific? We will be on her in June with some friends who are new to cruising. Will they be impressed, or does she look really tired?

 

Not to worry, the Golden is going into drydock in about 30 days, give or take.

 

Honolulu:

 

It was hot and humid... But what a great day! You could see clouds around the Pali lookout, more than probably rain...

 

My husband took me on a two and half hours of walking (as he was trying to get to Waikiki Beach)! It was all good as we got to see sights that we would have otherwise missed, such as the beautiful Hawaii Convention Center.

 

I think Kevin Hughes is supposed to perform during this cruise but has not been heard of since.

 

Tonight we saw the children who perform in the Halau Olana Show arrive onboard... They are all very cute! I am sure it will be a great show, but since we have seen it before, I will pass on it for two reasons... The first one being that bed and shower beckon!

 

David Moore is the pianist in the Promenade Bar. Some of the bands playing are Retrospect and Sol Provider. I hope this helps!

 

She is a beautiful ship, this is a great cruise, and if it weren't for the numerous problems caused by the Purser's Desk, it would be a perfect one! If anyone has anything else to say about the cruise, please feel free to step in!

[Belle]

The weather was great today in Honolulu.

Only downer, we didn't dock at Aloha Tower.

We were far away..asked why..what they (port) gave them.

Wonder why we were the only ship in port today.

 

Think they will be in dry dock about 2 weeks.

To me not much wear and tear but I don't go

looking for it. Different answers when you ask

what their doing in dry dock.

 

Just got thru with dinner..good tonight.

Deck party at 9:30 Buffet at 10 pm.

[Elua]

Aloha Kakou,

To answer a few questions posted:

-No, you don't need to tune down the strings on your uke if you have it with you in the cabin

-As far as this fall, no offer has been officially extended to us yet to return to the Golden Princess. Usually we will be asked about half way through the summer, but we have been in contact with the Princess folks and are pretty sure that we will be back

-Mahalos for all the kind words for Leialoha and myself...we love working on the Golden and bringing Hawaiian music and culture to the passengers on board. We look forward to many more years of doing just that.

 

Malama Pono,

Dave

[isujim]

What were the problems with the purser's desk? Just curious.....we sail next week.:confused:

[Working 2 Cruise]

Nina, sounds like the weather is beautiful for you in Hawaii and you are getting to enjoy that balcony and some "alone" time on the ship. Nice to hear.:)

 

 

I will be looking forward to reading about your upcoming Carnival cruise with lots and lots of interest!

 

The Carnival cruise should be interesting! Will definitely not do a live from since we will have no benefits on that particular cruise... :mad:

 

 

ELUA as usual is great. Yet again, I have not participated in the ukelele classes (my husband would kill me) nor the hula classes, but once back at sea, I just might try one.

 

 

Weather in Kauai is just so so... So far anyway. Our plan for the day is just to go to the beach just beyond the Anchor Cove stores, and possibly have a Mai Tai or two at Dukes!

 

Michelle, I am looking forward to our first transatlantic although it is only 17 months away!

 

As for the problems with the purser's desk, it all had to do with our transition from Gold members to Platinum members, and we still are having problems. This is just a minor annoyance, nothing to ruin a cruise. Just annoying.

 

The Golden is really beautiful!

[many cruises]

Aloha Kakou,

To answer a few questions posted:

-No, you don't need to tune down the strings on your uke if you have it with you in the cabin

-As far as this fall, no offer has been officially extended to us yet to return to the Golden Princess. Usually we will be asked about half way through the summer, but we have been in contact with the Princess folks and are pretty sure that we will be back

-Mahalos for all the kind words for Leialoha and myself...we love working on the Golden and bringing Hawaiian music and culture to the passengers on board. We look forward to many more years of doing just that.

 

Malama Pono,

Dave

 

We loved listening to you when we were on the Golden a few weeks ago. I even purchased one of your CDs...to extend our cruise to home! We were on the Golden the 2 weeks it never stopped raining, so we will be back. :) Princess: please extend Elua's contract!!!

[LaCal]

Any Luck Yet in the Casino?.....Hope so...:D

 

If you see Vannesa the Casino host Please tell her Teri & Rene Say Hello....

 

She was Really Great on Our Golden/Hawaii Cruise this past November and Comped us lots of Drinks and Dinner/Wine....

[Adventures ahead]

The weather was great today in Honolulu.

Only downer, we didn't dock at Aloha Tower.

We were far away..asked why..what they (port) gave them.

Wonder why we were the only ship in port today...

 

We're on the Golden at the end of April and have been planning our private transportation based on docking at the Aloha Tower.

 

According to the Aloha Tower Marketplace web site, Princess normally docks at pier 11. The alternate location could be pier 2.

 

I'm wondering, how far away is the 'far away' dock? Do passengers use the same exit as if the ship had docked at the usual Aloha Marketplace Tower pier and, therefore, it's just a longer (or shorter) walk to get to the street? Or, did you dock at an entirely a different location?

[Astro Flyer]

We're on the Golden at the end of April and have been planning our private transportation based on docking at the Aloha Tower.

 

According to the Aloha Tower Marketplace web site, Princess normally docks at pier 11. The alternate location could be pier 2.

 

I'm wondering, how far away is the 'far away' dock? Do passengers use the same exit as if the ship had docked at the usual Aloha Marketplace Tower pier and, therefore, it's just a longer (or shorter) walk to get to the street? Or, did you dock at an entirely a different location?

 

We'be been to the other pier which as I recall was closer to Waikiki but definitely not a part of the Aloha Tower area. The free Hilo Hattie & Walmart shuttles still picked up passengers from the other pier.

[lovevacadays]

The Carnival cruise should be interesting! Will definitely not do a live from since we will have no benefits on that particular cruise... :mad:

 

 

ELUA as usual is great. Yet again, I have not participated in the ukelele classes (my husband would kill me) nor the hula classes, but once back at sea, I just might try one.

 

 

Weather in Kauai is just so so... So far anyway. Our plan for the day is just to go to the beach just beyond the Anchor Cove stores, and possibly have a Mai Tai or two at Dukes!

 

Michelle, I am looking forward to our first transatlantic although it is only 17 months away!

 

As for the problems with the purser's desk, it all had to do with our transition from Gold members to Platinum members, and we still are having problems. This is just a minor annoyance, nothing to ruin a cruise. Just annoying.

 

The Golden is really beautiful!

 

Hey Nina,

I am really looking forward to that first TA. I agree with you when you say it's only 17 months away. Typically, I would say a cruise is so far, far away at 17 months. Since I've never done a TA or Europe 17 months seems so close. So much to learn and think about. I got a few, great tips from Pam. I'll send you an email and let you know.

 

Enjoy the remainder of your cruise. I won't look for a live from on your Carnival but will look for your review and comparison afterward (please):)