WE BOOKED OUR CRUISE

Last summer, we received notification of a good deal from PRINCESS for a 14-day Hawaiian Cruise so took the plunge and booked it on August 25, 2009. We are set to fly out to LA on February 27 and will board the PRINCESS GOLDEN on the 28th. We will disembark the ship on March 14 and fly back that day. (NOTE: We are flying in and out of Huntsville, AL as the flights were so much cheaper from there and always enjoy visiting Chip so it was a double good deal.)

We will sail from LA to Hawaii and the voyage just to get there is four days long, so that will be interesting. (We are praying for smooth sailing and settled stomachs!)

Our cruise itinerary:

2/28: Check in at 1:00 p.m. and board the boat at the Pier in LA
2/28: Set Sail in LA at 4:00 p.m. PST
3/01: At Sea
3/02: At Sea
3/03: At Sea
3/04: At Sea
3/05: Arrive 8:00 a.m. at Hilo, Hawaii and depart at 6:00 p.m.
3/06: Arrive 7:00 a.m. at Honolulu, Hawaii and depart at 11:00 p.m.
3/07: Arrive 8:00 a.m. at Kauai, Hawaii and depart at 5:00 p.m.
3/08: Arrive 7:00 a.m. at Maui, Hawaii and depart at 6:00 p.m.
3/09: At Sea
3/10: At Sea
3/11: At Sea
3/12: At Sea
3/13: Arrive 1:00 p.m. at Ensenda, Mexico and depart 8:00 p.m.
3/14: Arrive 7:00 a.m. at Los Angeles, CA at 7:00 a.m.

Excursions Booked:

HILO: Highlights of Hilo. Experience the Big Island's tropical splendors on a drive along the Hamakua Coast. Walk through lush rainforest to view Akaka Falls as it plummets 422 feet over a volcanic ledge. Board a tram for a narrated ride through Nani Mau Gardens, a 20-acre repository of of native Hawaiian flora. Tour the Mauna Los Macadamia Nut Factory and sample the nuts. (We will travel north from Hilo long the Hamakua Coast, passing large sugar cane plantations enroute to Akaka Falls.)

HONOLULU: USS Arizona Memorial and City Tour. Visit Pearl Harbor and the haunting Arizona Memorial. Experience the sights and sounds of Hawaii's capital on a narrated drive about town. Take in stunning island and ocean views from the Pali Lookout in the rugged Ko'olau Moutains. Cruise through Chinatown, see the state Capital and view the Iolani Palace, once home to Hawaii's last monarchs. (Along the way we will have a guided tour through Honolulu highlights. We'll see the Aloha Stadium (home of the Pro Bowl), the downtown district, Chinatown, the Kawaiahao Church, the City Hall, the State Capital, the Governor's Mansion and the Iolani Palace. We will continue on to the Punchbowl, home to a national cemetery honoring the fallen of WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.

KAUAI: Walmea Canyon: View Kauai's Spouting Horn on a scenic island drive that visits Waimea Canyon. Ancient Hawaiians believed the loud lava-tube blow hole was the voice of the angry goddess, Kaikapu. Mark Twain hailed Waimea Canyon as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Survey the dramatic slopes from a scenic lookout 3400 feet above the canyon floor. The dramatic red and brown volcanic slopes contrast with the lush vegetation at the bottom. NOTE: It's a 2-hour motorcoach ride to Waimea Canyon. We'll pass through Lihue, the island's main town, Koloa, home ofthe flower farms and sugarcane fields. We'll pas the small villages of Oma'o, Kalaheo, and Hanapepe in route to Saimea, where we will head inland and drive up the canyon to it's rim.

MAUI: #1 Whale Watching: Every year humpback whales migrate from Alaska to the waters off Maui, where they mate and calve from December through May. Board a state-of-the-art-whale-watching vessel that's equipped for both above and below water viewing. Our experienced skipper will manuever to provide the best views without disturbing these gentle giants of the deep. Once whales are spotted, our captain will position the boat to allow us to fully enjoy these astonishing mammals without disturbing them.

MAUI: #2 Iao Valley and Tropical Plantation: Explore Maui's sacred "Valley of the Kings" on a scenic drive to Iao Valley State Park. A guided walk leads to an overlook of "The Needle" - the sacred volcanic spire that rises from the valley floor. Board a tram for a 35-minute tour of Maui Tropical Plantation, a paradise of flower gardens, macadamia groves and sugar cane fields.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: La Bufadora Adventure and City Drive: Board your air-conditioned bus and proceed out of the harbor for your city tour and La Bufadora adventure. As we drive through Ensenada, our tour guide will provide interesting information regarding the past and present history of the area. The highlight of our tour will be the 25 mile drive south along Baja California countryside to Punta Banda where we will view the spectacular blowhole of La Bufadora.

Well, that's the plan for our 2-week cruise. Just one month from today, we will fly out of Huntsville to LA where we will catch the PRINCESS GOLDEN. Please pray for our safety and good health!

We'll keep you posted!!