mini-live from the Grand Princess: first Hawaiian sailing post covid--Jan 4-19, 2022

[JF - retired RRT]

Just now, cr8tiv1 said:

Inflation has hit the islands. $1.00 with Medicare card.  I was just thinking how long ago I actually rode da bus….thank you Mayor Frank Fasi.

Wow!! That's inflation on steroids.

[travelin.sisters]

walking around Honolulu, mostly flowers but also Aloha Tower

[travelin.sisters]

Germaine's Luau

[travelin.sisters]

Leaving Honolulu 1.9.22

[travelin.sisters]

wending our way into Nawiliwili harbor

[nocl]

Any word on changes to their expectations for the number on board for the Jan 19 cruise?

 

We just had our room changed  from B deck forward, star board side.  Notification said for operational reasons due to CDC requirements.  Makes me wonder if they are expanding quarantine capacity.

[travelin.sisters]

& out & about

[travelin.sisters]

[travelin.sisters]

[mousefan73]

In one of your photos on board you got the pool. Can you please confirm that those are stairs ( not ladders). I am trying to figure out if my mom could swim on this boat. she cannot do ladders. thanks!

[Bgwest]

1 hour ago, nini said:

@travelin.sisters Can you comment on the "new" smoking area for the crew? This has recently become an issue on the Grand and Emerald. Their smoking area has been moved to the aft Promenade deck which really bothers those guests in the aft cabins.

Thanks and we appreciate your time!

Interesting situation. 
While on the CB last month and the Emerald the month before, the Promenade aft was used for crew smoking only in the evenings and was blocked off with a very temporary restraint. 

Now on this cruise Promenade aft is blocked off all the time with a much more permanent looking restraint. 
 

who knows how long this will last. 

[kiwimum]

The only pool I have seen with stairs is deck 14 aft.   Stairs with a sturdy handrail also a lift to transport from deck 14 to the pool level.

Edited January 11, 2022 by kiwimum

[cr8tiv1]

25 minutes ago, kiwimum said:

The only pool I have seen with stairs is deck 14 aft.   Stairs with a sturdy handrail also a lift to transport from deck 14 to the pool level.

 

The aft pool is "deep" all around.  Coming from a gal who grew up in Hawaii and doesn't/can't swim!

[CruzinNoony]

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I believe the poster meant to ask if there is/will be a shuttle to the mall to catch a bus to the Maui Ocean Center.

You are so right!  My question is if there is a shuttle going from the port of Kuhului to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center.

[CruzinNoony]

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

Guessing that you made a typo because the Maui Ocean Center is located in Ma’alaea Harbor & not Queen Ka’ahumanu SC.

Yes, thanks Frank.  I just clarified my question.   

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

From the pics, it looks like someone really likes Roosters. 😁

[cr8tiv1]

https://www.servicewithaloha.com/kauai-chicken-problem/

 

Somewhere in my previous computers is a lost photo of a chicken wandering around Kauai's Kentucky Chicken.  Loved it.  So sad not to know where it is today.  Digital photography downer.

 

BTW...

 

https://www.kauaitravelblog.com/kauai-red-dirt-shirt-company/

(sad to see it closed)

 

https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/wiki/Hurricane_Iniki

 

And I was around for both of these hurricanes.  Hurricanes in Hawaii are destructive...but there is a bright side/rainbow.

 

Moving on to Maui...I don't have any recommendations or stories. 

Edited January 12, 2022 by cr8tiv1

[azbirdmom]

35 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

https://www.servicewithaloha.com/kauai-chicken-problem/

 

Somewhere in my previous computers is a lost photo of a chicken wandering around Kauai's Kentucky Chicken.  Loved it.  So sad not to know where it is today.  Digital photography downer.

 

BTW...

 

https://www.kauaitravelblog.com/kauai-red-dirt-shirt-company/

(sad to see it closed)

 

https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/wiki/Hurricane_Iniki

 

And I was around for both of these hurricanes.  Hurricanes in Hawaii are destructive...but there is a bright side/rainbow.

 

Moving on to Maui...I don't have any recommendations or stories. 

 

Too funny!  I also took a picture in Grand Cayman of chickens in front of KFC!

 

I have lots of Maui stories after our return in October 2021 and December 2021 after not visiting for 8 years.  We had been a couple dozen times but when we got addicted to cruising we gave up our twice yearly trips.  And there are wild chickens in Maui now but not nearly as many as there are in Kauai.  Saw them in Makawao in October and Olowalu in December.  Very entertaining!

 

 

[cr8tiv1]

@azbirdmomThere are feral chickens on every island.  Hilo has coqui frogs and Kauai has no mongoose (the port captured one just the other day).  

 

Your turn to share Maui stories.

 

 

[Bgwest]

Anyone else is had pancakes at Tasty Crust in Wailuku?

[travelin.sisters]

11 hours ago, nini said:

@travelin.sisters Can you comment on the "new" smoking area for the crew? This has recently become an issue on the Grand and Emerald. Their smoking area has been moved to the aft Promenade deck which really bothers those guests in the aft cabins.

Thanks and we appreciate your time!

I really can't, I know there is a blocked off area for crew, but since we don't have rooms in that area, I don't know the effect on the cabins. I haven't heard anyone on this ship mention the issue (just on the forum before sailing) so I really can't say anything pertinent.

[travelin.sisters]

13 hours ago, nocl said:

Any word on changes to their expectations for the number on board for the Jan 19 cruise?

 

We just had our room changed  from B deck forward, star board side.  Notification said for operational reasons due to CDC requirements.  Makes me wonder if they are expanding quarantine capacity.

I asked a customer services this evening, he said he didn't have a number but that it was at 70% (checked his computer).

 

At least they sent you notification of your room change I discovered ours about a week before sailing when I reprinted our travel summary & thought I know I didn't book Baja deck! We were moved from Aloha mid aft starboard to Baja mid forward port, disappointing since I picked the rooms we wanted as soon as this sailing came out almost 2 years ago, but we are sailing Hawai'i so its all good. Today I was told that the entire Aloha deck was closed off for isolation so I don't know what they are doing next. 

13 hours ago, nocl said:

Any word on changes to their expectations for the number on board for the Jan 19 cruise?

 

We just had our room changed  from B deck forward, star board side.  Notification said for operational reasons due to CDC requirements.  Makes me wonder if they are expanding quarantine capacity.

 

[travelin.sisters]

7 hours ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

From the pics, it looks like someone really likes Roosters. 😁

they are some of the "famous" Kaua'i chickens...desendants of those set free & surviving the tsunamis...at home (San Pedro where the cruise started from) we have feral peacocks (photo attached) which are either beloved or hated depending on who you ask & so I enjoyed taking photos of the Hawai'ian equivalent 

Edited January 12, 2022 by travelin.sisters
added photo

[travelin.sisters]

13 hours ago, kiwimum said:

The only pool I have seen with stairs is deck 14 aft.   Stairs with a sturdy handrail also a lift to transport from deck 14 to the pool level.

if she is a real swimmer, I don't know that she would consider it big enough to swim (like laps) in, but if she just wants in the water...

[travelin.sisters]

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

https://www.servicewithaloha.com/kauai-chicken-problem/

 

Somewhere in my previous computers is a lost photo of a chicken wandering around Kauai's Kentucky Chicken.  Loved it.  So sad not to know where it is today.  Digital photography downer.

 

BTW...

 

https://www.kauaitravelblog.com/kauai-red-dirt-shirt-company/

(sad to see it closed)

 

https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/wiki/Hurricane_Iniki

 

And I was around for both of these hurricanes.  Hurricanes in Hawaii are destructive...but there is a bright side/rainbow.

 

Moving on to Maui...I don't have any recommendations or stories. 

mahalo for all the helpful info.