Another new beginning…Hello, Waikiki for 11 nights!…Final cruise bill!…Interesting financial facts…A year ago today, first day on safari…Check out the photos!

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A Bottle Nosed Dolphin we spotted from the ship!

As we hear the grumbles of frustration from many passengers that are disappointed that the cruise ends today, we keep our mouths shut, shaking our heads in understanding.

Nothing ends here for us today by way of leaving the Celebrity Solstice. We have 11 nights in Waikiki in an oceanview condo with a washer and dryer in the building! Yippee! What more could we ask for?

Shops and restaurants in Kona.

No, it doesn’t feel like a vacation spending almost eight months in Hawaii. It now feels like a good life, leaving little time or circumstance resulting in boredom or a sense of the mundane. 

How will we ever settle down when we so love this life of constant change and challenge? We intend to continue on until we can’t, old age being the unavoidable obstacle and eventuality. 

As the tender approached the pier in Hilo, there were swimmers at the beach.

Today, we’ll play our usual role of “cattle” herded off the ship with assigned numbers and times, making our way down the ramps to the street where hopefully, we’ll quickly find a taxi to take us to our resort hotel in Waikiki Beach. 

Check-in time isn’t until 2:00 pm. We’ll wait in the lobby, more easily entertaining ourselves with a stronger (hopefully) WiFi signal while we commence preparing Monday’s post with photos galore.

Restaurants lined the shore in Kona.

We have no delusions about the crowds, the traffic, the noise and the smells of fried foods (as mentioned by daughter Tammy about Waikiki). None whatsoever. After all, since July 31st, we’ve been in Paris, London and Vancouver for 16 nights, 15 nights and 6 nights, respectively. We know and accept the annoyances of big cities.

But, we always find ways to entertain ourselves, seeing the sites we prefer to see, taking photos, writing here each day, eating the local foods (that which I can eat and which Tom will like) until 11 days later, we’ll head to the blissful quiet of Maui, away from the usual tourist locations.

Afternoon sun in Maui, from our veranda.

Our final bill for this cruise excluding the fare was $805.88.  The fare for this 12 day Hawaiian cruise, Vancouver to Honolulu was $4116.02 which included tax, $288 tips, $175 on board credit for a grand total of $4921.90.  The average cost per day including all costs was $410.16. 

Had we lived in a vacation rental for 12 days with a rental car, groceries, dining out and other miscellaneous expenses, our cost would have been roughly at $200 per day for a total of $2400.  

Adding the cost of airfare to reach Hawaii from any location could easily have been another $2000 for a total of $4400 for an average daily cost of $366.67. In essence, the cruise cost us an additional $521.90. The benefit we enjoy is the fact that we don’t have to pay for home sitting empty with all of its expenses, while we’re on “vacation.”

Kaanapali Beach, Maui, the famous strip of hotels and resorts along the coveted popular tourist attraction. Years ago, BT, I visited this location on several occasions when long hours in the sun and late-night fun were on the agenda. Not so much of that now.

Here we begin, dear readers, another leg of our journey with no end, only two months from seeing our family at long last which ultimately was our primary motivation for visiting Hawaii at this time in our travels.

Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos of our new temporary home, basically, a hotel room with a tiny kitchen which will easily fulfill our needs during this short 11-day stay and of course, our first photos of Waikiki Beach, as we breathe in the smell of the ocean air, flowers, and fried foods.

Aloha.

                                               Photo from one year ago today, October 5, 2013:

Our first day on safari in the Maasai Mara, Kenya, one year ago today.

This scene was our first while we waited nearby the airport for other safari participants to arrive to drive to the camp with us. Anderson, our tour guide throughout the adventure, decided to take us for a quick peek while we waited the 45 minutes. We couldn’t believe our eyes but, it was only a taste of what was yet to come!  For details and many more exciting photos, please click here.

Hello, Lahaina, Maui…We’ll also see you soon!…

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When the trolley in Hilo stopped to pick up passengers in a strip mall, we spotted this orchid.
The thought of returning to live on these various Hawaiian Islands is exciting. This morning at 7:30 am, our ship anchored in Maui, again requiring a tender boat to get to the shore to the village of Lahaina. Since we’ll be back in Maui in less than two weeks we decided to stay on board today and tomorrow, before disembarking on Sunday. Many of the tours and shuttles are off for shopping in Lahaina. We’ll visit Lahaina later on our own.
Gazebo at the park in Hilo.

With constant WiFi problems, honestly, I’m anxious to get on land where we’ll have a good signal. This has been frustrating. In our effort to post each day, I’ve literally spent hours attempting to upload two or three photos a day. Even the MiFi from XCOM Global is receiving a poor signal.

It’s easy to post text only. But, surely our readers enjoyed seeing some photos while we sailed across the seas. Hopefully, by the time we embark on our next cruise in May 2015, technology will have improved for a better signal aboard the ship.

Pretty scenery at Liliuokalani Gardens.

We have many wonderful photos to share that we’re unable to upload due to the poor signal. Once we’re situated in our condo in Waikiki and our laundry is done (almost out of clothes), we’ll be excited to post many of these photos of the various islands we’ve seen.

Once we get these “backed-up” photos presented, we’ll continue to explore each island on which we’ll live sharing new photos and stories along the way. We look forward to doing so.

Shoreline in Hilo.

After visiting cooler climates these past several months, we certainly can feel the impact of the scorching heat in Hawaii, especially today in Maui. We like the warmer weather and in a short time we’ll be used to it as we had in
Africa for almost nine months. 

Overall, most of our travels have included hot weather except after we arrived in Madeira, Portugal, where the average temperature was in the 70’s. In Hawaii, this time of year, most days will be in the humid, sun-scorching
80’s. 

We took the trolley in Hilo enabling us to get some good shots along the shoreline..
With AC in each of the locations in which we’ll live, we’ll have a comfortable mix of cool air inside and warmth when we’re out and about, ideal to our liking. As always, there’s a short period of time for adjustment to our
surroundings, the culture, the way of life commensurate with each locale.
With only 11 days upcoming in Oahu, we look forward to settling in for the six weeks in Maui, where today we need only look across a short expanse of the sea where it awaits us in all of its glory.
Sky at dusk in Hilo.

Again, we’ll continue to attempt to post photos while lounging in air-conditioned comfort aboard the ship in the luxurious Sky Lounge knowing full well that in almost 48 hours we’ll be off the ship to begin our almost eight-month stay in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Yum.

Photo from one year ago today, October 4, 2013:

It’s hard to believe that we were in Kenya a year ago, packing to leave the next days for a safari in the Maasai Mara, one of the most extraordinary experiences of our lives. On this date, one year ago, we experienced a power outage that prevented us from posting. Starting tomorrow, one year ago, we began the life-changing safari in the Maasai Mara. Of course, we’ll share photos each day on our daily one year ago posting at the bottom of each new post.

A flowerful walk in Honolulu…New photos…Preparing a post as opposed to uploading a post…

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Wow! The greenery and flowers in Hawaii amazed us as we walked the streets of Honolulu taking these photos.

Yesterday, we had mixed feelings about getting off the ship in Honolulu. The heat, the humidity, the lines at the ship’s security both coming and going, and the fact the port of Honolulu is located in a mostly business district, made it somewhat unappealing.

Add the fact that we’ll be on this island for a combined 20 days over the next several months, our plan has been to see the sites while we’re on our own, as mentioned in yesterday’s post. Why pay to see the city when we’ll be able to grab a free or low-cost bus directly outside our condo?

Many exquisite flowers bloom year-round in Hawaii 

With our family coming to Big Island, paying exorbitant fees to go sightseeing at this point becomes less of a priority when we’re watching our spending to a “t” in preparations for the upcoming big expenses for December/January.

In any case, we decided to “wing it” and head off the ship for a walk-in busy Honolulu, staying out for a few hours in the bright hot sun, stopping periodically to take photos.

We seldom find orange flowers but in Hawaii…

The location for taking photos wasn’t ideal when we’d have had to walk considerable distances to make our way to more “natural” areas away from the skyscrapers.

However, the time wasn’t wasted when the Hawaii I knew from 30 years ago, loomed before us with beautiful flowers growing at every turn. As our readers are aware, we both have a penchant for exquisite vegetation, particularly flowers.

Tom is thrilled to be in Hawaii.
Tom has become my expert “flower spotter” with a keen eye at long distances, often inspiring us to continue on an otherwise unlikely path for a single photo. Yesterday, was no exception as my “overly bubbly” self squealed with delight each time we stopped for a shot.

Too far away from good scenery photos plus, taking photos of skyscrapers holds little interest in finding flowers a most appropriate subject. We share these with our readers today, our favorites of the lot.

Beautiful!

I haven’t mentioned much about the new camera we purchased at a price of US $369 (duty-free) on our last cruise. It’s a relatively inexpensive Canon Power Shot SX50 that does everything we could possibly need or want. 

Why not purchase a higher caliber camera? The answer is simple. With constant travel, humid and hot weather conditions, we’d rather purchase a new camera every few years for the latest and best technology in a reasonable price range than cart around an expensive camera we’re fearful of losing, dropping, or having fall prey to rough handling and weather conditions.

These flowers so well depict Hawaii’s gorgeous colors.

Oddly, we still use the old Sony camera when we want to slip it into a pocket and not bear the weight around my neck. Since I don’t carry a handbag except on “travel days,” this newer Canon is heavier requiring a bigger commitment when carrying it around. 

So far, we’ve been pleased with the photos which don’t look a whole lot different than the photos we took using the Sony, minus the spots on the inside of the lens (which require I use an app to remove them). The new camera is usually a better option.

I can’t recall seeing yellow hibiscus.

Yesterday, when we walked around the immediate Honolulu area we’d brought the Canon resulting in some fairly decent photos we’re pleased to share here today.

Based on the time zone over the next eight months, we’ve found that it’s necessary to write each post the day prior to it being uploaded to our site. The web software allows us to upload a post at a specific date and time which we’ve set for 3:00 am Mountain Time.

This is the Hawaii I recall; hot, humid and hazy, and gorgeous.

The reason we’ve done this is for those readers who were used to seeing a new post when they awoke in the morning. When we were in Kenya, exactly one year ago, we were located in the East African Time Zone. The time difference between Hawaii which is located in the Aleutian Time Zone and Kenya is a whopping 13 hours. 

Along the way in our travels over these past almost two years, we’ve made an attempt to ensure that readers can expect to see our posts at familiar times of the day. It may not have always been perfect but, we try.  Please write to us if you have any comments or question regarding this topic

We’ve never seen this plant.

Thus, as I write this post it is September 30 in the afternoon. However, it will become available in the upcoming middle of the night here in Hawaii. As a result, we set it up to automatically post at 3 am. 

First thing each morning, Tom proofreads for errors while I make the necessary corrections which may not appear corrected until after you’ve already read the post.  Please excuse our errors. This is a reality of posting the equivalency of an essay each and every day, a perfect scenario for making errors that are easily missed by my own proofreading.

Vibrant color.

Today, as you read this, we’ll be on our way to Hilo on the Big Island as the cruise sails into Day #8, soon ending on Day #12, back in Honolulu. This particular cruise continues on to Sydney, Australia on October 5th, the day we disembark. On May 24, 2015, that we’ll board RC Legend of the Seas for our journey to Sydney, Australia.

We love cruising. We love life as homeless nomads. We’re both grateful and appreciative of this life we live. Please continue to share this journey with us. We appreciate and love that you do.  

                                            Photo from one year ago today, October 1, 2013:

Ironically, it was one year ago today, that we booked the condo in Club Intrawest in Vancouver, that we left only eight days ago to board this ship. For details from that date, please click here.

Arrived in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii…Photos…

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The city of Honolulu has grown into quite a metropolis.

It’s been 26 years since I’ve been to Hawaii. In my old life, BT (before Tom), I’d visited the islands on many occasions, each time enthralled by its beauty, reveling how each island offers its own unique environment and
charm.

Skyscrapers, office complexes, restaurants, hotels, and shopping line every major boulevard in Honolulu.

The Honolulu/Waikiki Beach area is a mass of people, vehicles, noise, and exorbitant prices, considerably more than I recall from many years ago. Nothing about this overcrowded area bespeaks the magic of Hawaii. The pace serves to remind us of why we prefer more remote locations.

The sky view is constantly changing when each of the islands has unique weather systems.

On October 5th, after visiting other islands by way of this cruise ship, as shown on this list below, we’ll return to Honolulu where we’ll disembark the cruise to stay for 11 nights: (See the list below for the dates we’ll stay in the islands)

Mon Sep 29 Honolulu, Oahu, HI 1:00 pm 

Tue Sep 30 Honolulu, Oahu, HI 8:00 pm 

Wed Oct 1 Kilauea Volcano, HI (Cruising) 

Wed Oct 1 Hilo, Hawaii, HI 11:00 am – 8:00 pm 

Thu Oct 2 Kona, Hawaii, HI 11:00 am – 8:00 pm 

Fri Oct 3 Lahaina, Maui, HI 8:00 am 

Sat Oct 4 Lahaina, Maui, HI 6:00 pm

Sun Oct 5 Honolulu, Oahu, HI 7:00 am  

Blue sky, blue sea, and vegetation depict Hawaii even in densely populated areas.

Here are our scheduled dates to remain in the Hawaiian Islands over the next
several months:

  • October 5 to October 16 – Waikiki Beach, Oahu
  • October 16 to December 1 – Maui
  • December 1 to January 15 – Big Island
  • January 15 to May 15 – Kauai
  • May 15 to May 24 – Honolulu, Oahu
Not unlike any other major city by the sea.

These extended dates on US soil will provide us with the opportunity to be with our family at Christmas on the Big Island, get medical checkups, have our teeth cleaned, do our taxes for 2014, renew our second
passports and any other necessary “paperwork” awaiting us. 

By the time we leave in May, we’ll be ready for the next exciting leg of our journey where we’ll spend over a year in Australia and the South Pacific.

They say driving and finding a parking spot in Honolulu is a nightmare. We’ll take taxis and buses while in Honolulu/Waikiki for twenty days, eleven on the front end, and nine on the back end of our almost eight months stay in the islands.

In all, we’ll be spending 20 days in the Honolulu/Waikiki area in the next almost eight-month resulting in a decision to avoid any tours during the ship’s short stays in the various ports of call. This island is the only one of four islands where we won’t have a rental car.

Several tourist boats were at the pier where the ship docked.

Surely, we’ll enjoy time on Oahu, seeing the sites and leisurely visiting points of interest with our condo in Waikiki as a base. Once we’re settled next week, we’ll be able to assess our location and means of public transportation which is readily available in the area.

Yesterday afternoon after the passengers disembarked for their tours, we found ourselves comfortably situated in chaise lounges by the pool. For once, it was easy finding a good spot for some fun in the sun.

Back at you tomorrow with more!

                                         Photo from one year ago today, September 30, 2013:

Flowers at the restaurant on this date one year ago. For details, please click here.

Hawaiian Islands, here we come…

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Sunset from the Sky Lounge through the window glass.

By the time this post appears, we’ll be only hours away from a noon arrival to the island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands.

We chose this cruise as a means of transportation for us to get to Hawaii rather than flying. Why not have a place to live with meals prepared, entertainment, and every amenities at our fingertips? Add the opportunity to
meet many wonderful people and it sure beats the commotion at the airport.

Another sunset from our balcony.

As a result of that reality, we don’t feel compelled to do what other passengers may be choosing to do with their time, trying to “pack it all in” on a once or twice a year (or more for many) vacation/holiday.

By the time we arrive at our final destination at our vacation home in Waikiki Beach on October 5th, it will have been 35 days since departing Harwich, UK to board Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas and nine days later on Celebrity’s Solstice (which we’re on now). Of those 35 days, we’ll have spent 26 days at sea, 3 days in Boston, and 6 days in Vancouver.

We love the easy life of cruising, the ability to choose to do exactly that which appeals to us in a time frame we find pleasing. Although we’ve stayed busy most days, we’ve also enjoyed quiet time relaxing, visiting with other guests and each other.

Lounges in the Sky Lounge for a catnap, if needed.  We don’t ever lay down or nap during the day. It’s a nice thought, just not for us.

Yes, the seas have been rough but, it’s finally settled down and we barely feel the movement of the ship. Yes, we’ve had constant WiFi issues using the ship’s poor signal but later today, we’ll be able to use our MiFi for
a clear signal for the bulk of the remaining days on the ship. 

Yes, we would have liked to sit by the pool but, when people grab all the chairs by 9:00 am which we’d rather not do, we figured we’ll have plenty of time to sun and fun soon enough. 

Over the remaining six days of the cruise, most passengers will be partaking in ship sponsored excursions.  Since we’ll have rental cars on Maui, Big Island, and Kauai, we’ve decided not to go on the excursions when we
can create our own road trips over the many months on the islands.

The Sky Lounge is located on the 14th deck at the bow of the ship, an ideal quiet spot for us while posting. We’ve attended a few parties in this area.

We’ve already booked an almost all-day private tour to Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Oahu on October 13th
and surely others will follow. Oahu, a short 11-day stay is the only island where we won’t need a rental car with easy access to most venues and handy bus service outside our door.

That’s not to imply that we haven’t enjoyed many ship organized tours. We have immensely. They’re usually well planned, safe, and comprehensive. At times, the prices are reasonable. But, the 60-people-on-a-bus thing just doesn’t appeal to us. 

An art auction transpired in the Sky Lounge. Tom’s thrilled that we don’t own any walls” and can’t buy art on cruise ships.

As a result, we’ve resorted to smaller group tours of the same ship offered sites, often at a lower cost making the small group tours a no-brainer for us.

Over the next several days while most passengers are off the ship on excursions, we’ll be able to find chairs by the pool, relaxing at our leisure, knowing that our upcoming over seven months in Hawaii (10/5/2014 to 5/24/2015) will provide us with sufficient time to do everything we’d like to do, documenting every step along the way.
A photo of a painting at the art auction.
However, we will venture off the ship on our own into the various ports of call for exploration and photo-taking, all of which we’ll share with our readers over the next several days.


We’ll be back tomorrow morning with not only a better signal but, also some photos we’ll have taken of Honolulu, our first port of call in the islands, where ultimately, we’ll return to disembark on October
5th.

Stay tuned, dear loyal readers, it’s going to get exciting and colorful from here on!

                                        Photo from one year ago today, September 29, 2013:

A year ago, out to dinner in Diani Beach, Kenya. For details from that date, please click here.

Food on the Celebrity Solstice…High expectations…

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Sunset over the Pacific Ocean in calmer waters.

This is our third Celebrity cruise of 10 cruises since January 3, 2013. From past experience we feel comfortable stating that Celebrity is our favorite cruise line for several reasons:

1.  Service: There is one staff member for every two passengers, making service over the top. Each time, we pass by an employee they smile and say hello, from the cabin stewards to the captain.

2. Cleanliness and general condition: No other cruise line we’ve experienced has this high level of perfection in maintaining every area of the ship, from the spotless common restrooms to the lounges and dining areas.

3.  No pressure to purchase extras: Many cruise lines have photographers constantly harassing the passengers to have their photos taken, others pestering for attendance at art auctions, and others annoyingly promoting spa services. The sales staff in the myriad shops are respectful don’t try to make a sale unless asked for help. We appreciate this.

All of these desserts in the  Al Bacio Bar are included in the fare., no purchase necessary. However, there is a charge for specialty coffees also available in this area.  Oddly, Tom wasn’t interested in anything in this case.

4.  The amenities:  Larger bathroom and showers, larger balconies, and larger cabins in this category. Robes are included in balcony cabins as well as shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion as opposed to cheap gels for hair and body. There are more areas where one can snack at no cost although specialty coffees and drinks are an extra charge. And, the desserts in the cases are included at no extra cost (those shown in photos).

5.  Parties are included for loyalty members (we’ve attended two so far) which include better quality cocktails and beverage options and upscale appetizers.

6.  Food: The food is of a higher quality including more menu choices and variety each evening in the dining room. 

No charge for a piece (or two) of this lovely strawberry cake.

As our readers are well aware, my way of eating can be tricky for staff to manage. With literally a few thousand diners to feed each evening in the main dining rooms, it’s hard for us to believe the special care given to my dietary needs. 

Natasha, one of the dining room managers, has paid such special attention to me, its almost embarrassing how often she checks to ensure I am happy during each evening at dinner.

I ended up ordering a second serving of this fabulous Pistachio Duck Terrine. 

For breakfast each day, we dine in the Oceanview buffet, an enormous buffet to accommodate everyone’s tastes and desires. Each morning, I order three fresh eggs over medium made to order and pile my plate with smoked salmon, bacon, cucumber slices, cream cheese, capers, and sautéed mushrooms, a satisfying meal that holds me all day until our usual 8:00 pm dinner.

For dinner, we dine in the Epernay Main Dining Room for those that choose “My Time” dining at whatever time we prefer. For us, a late dinner is ideal since we’re often still full from breakfast. Since many passengers eat at the earlier seating starting at 5:30 pm, our later dining results in a less busy, more relaxed environment.

Tom’s escargot was green due to the use of spinach in the buttery sauce. If I told him the green was spinach, he probably wouldn’t eat it.  He did!

We always request a shared table for no less than six away from the kitchen (too much commotion near the kitchen doors). This has worked out perfectly over the past five nights, each time resulting in meeting no less than
four new people. This couldn’t be more enjoyable.

Have they got my food right so far? Without a doubt, they haven’t given me a single item on my plate that I am unable to eat. Has the food been good for most of the meals? Overall, yes. Although there’s been a bit of inconsistency in taste, portions, and variety. Am I complaining? Not at all.

My dinner consisted of salmon and steamed vegetables which with the addition of a side dish of Hollandaise sauce was fine.

Without flour laden sauces, some of the meat portions have been dry, and let’s face it, steamed veggies leave lots to be desired. But, they’ve made homemade salad dressing for me each night that are delicious, that I often keep after eating my salad, for dipping the otherwise dry protein. 

Plus, they’ve been making Hollandaise sauce for me, the authentic, from scratch recipe that I am able to eat:  egg yolks, real butter, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and salt. This adds a fabulous flavor to anything on my plate, keeping in mind my diet consists of almost 80% fat and almost no carbs. (I know. 

It’s hard to believe I never gain an ounce eating this way. But, fat doesn’t make one gain weight. (Its the combination of carbs, fat, starch, and sugar that are the culprits).

Overall, I am very happy with the attention and care both the waiters and lovely Natasha have paid to my diet. At least on this cruise, I haven’t still been hungry after dinner, when they freely provide me with adequate portions.

Tom, on the other hand, able to eat whatever he likes (yes, gaining weight on cruises), has enjoyed his food on this ship, a considerable step above our recent Royal Caribbean cruise with more options, more flavor, and more unique dishes. 

Is the food as good as on our first cruise on the smaller Celebrity Century? No, but, he’s more than satisfied. Although we never eat lunch, Tom may occasionally have an ice cream cone that is available at no cost in the Oceanview café.

Tom’s dinner of Beef Cheeks over Parsnip Puree, Carrots, Broccoli, and Demi Glace Sauce which he found to be excellent.

As for cocktails, Tom orders Brandy and Sprite on the rocks at a usual cost of US $9.20 including tip. Our cruise fare included gratuities for all staff but, we’ve found that he is served a “better” cocktail by adding a tip to each check. On most nights, Tom doesn’t order more than two cocktails.

I rarely order a beverage for which there’s an additional charge, other than occasional sparkling water. On the worst of the rough seas nights, I ordered two club sodas with lime, each at US $3, in an effort to settle my bit of queasiness which along with eating, seemed to help the cause.

We brought along several bags of raw nuts, none of which I’ve yet to open having no room for anything after dinner.  After an 8:00 am breakfast this morning and it now after 6 pm as I write this, I’m still full from breakfast, wondering how I’ll be able to eat dinner. 

But, then, when one is on a cruise, one is less inclined to miss more than one meal per day, considering that meals are included in the fare. I’m sure that by the time, my special meal is in front of me, close to 9 pm, I’ll eat most of which I’ve been served.

The lively conversations at dinner with new people each night only add to the enjoyment of dining and ultimately in cruising in general.

In one more day, we’ll arrive in the Hawaiian Islands.  We’re as excited as we could be!

                                                     ___________________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, September 28, 2013:

Due to a high risk of crime in Kenya, the house we rented was enclosed by an iron fence and guarded 24 hours a day inside the fence and also at the entrance gate to the group of homes.  Overall, we felt safe but many horrific crimes occurred in Kenya while we were there.  For details of this date, please click here.

The rough waters continue…We keep having fun!…A year ago, more photos of the Indian Ocean…

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Please click this video for the swimming pool’s reaction to rough seas on the Pacific Ocean.

In two and a half days, we’ll be in the Hawaiian Islands hopefully in calmer seas. The rough seas have continued for four days although much less so than on the second day which was very unpleasant for most people
onboard (except Tom).

The rolling seas seem to affect me more than the slamming waves on the Norwegian Epic 18 months ago when I was never affected (nor was Tom). On this cruise, I spent only a few hours on the second day laying in bed in our cabin, napping off whil the storm was at its worst.

During a ship sponsored a party for Captain’s Club members for passengers who’d experienced multiple Celebrity cruises. Free drinks and appetizers were served.

We haven’t missed a beat other than during that one afternoon. We’ve been to two parties, done three Pub Poker Crawls, one Slot Pull lasting a few hours of outrageous laughing and fun, attended one late-night comedy show, attending four friendly shared table dinners in the main dining room, attended one interesting class on the history of volcanoes in Hawaii, had breakfast in the buffet each morning.

Most of all, we’ve met dozens of amazing people of all ages and have had a variety of enjoyable and meaningful conversations. No grass grows under these feet, rolling seas or not.

We laugh, we giggle, we cajole one another, never failing to enjoy and appreciate one another, knowing that in no time at all, it will be just the two of us once again and we’ll be each other’s main source of
entertainment barring any good fortune we may have, making new friends while in Hawaii.

Posting here continues to be a challenge but, somehow we’re managing to stay in touch with our appreciated and devoted followers all over the world. Please note that on the right side of our page, there is a link for
both Tom’s and my email. If you have a comment or question you’d rather we not post, please write to us there. 

Twenty-eight of us participated in the Slot Pull in this Cruise Critic event. We each contributed US $15 and received 15 pulls after which the winnings or remaining money was paid out. We each lost US $6 but had so much fun it was well worth it over the two-hour event.

If you’re comfortable sharing your questions or comments with all of our readers please feel free to comment at the end of each post. bou may do so easily and anonymously if you choose. Please keep in mind, that we receive and review each comment before it is posted. We do not post comments from “haters” or “nasty” critics, feeling that the nature of our site doesn’t include “shouting” matches or an arena for anger and hostility. 

We have received a handful of hateful comments and we’ve chosen to send them to the “spam” file rather than post them and engage in such unnecessary banter. However, we are open to suggestions, ideas, and thoughtful
critique. Kindness prevails in all areas of our lives.

We apologize for our inability to post many photos using the ship’s WiFi. It just won’t allow the upload of more than two or three photos at a time. However, cruising in the open ocean is not particularly a great environment for photo taking. It took a few hours of WiFi time to post the rough seas video on Thursday. 

The waves were rolling and the wind was blowing but, a few of us ventured outdoors to see the first sunlight in days.

It’s hard to believe that with modern technology, cruise ships don’t improve the quality of their signal. It all boils down to their unwillingness to spend the money to make it more efficient and based on demand by their clientele. 

We doubt that most senior passengers on cruises have a huge need for WiFi other than for email and
Facebook entries whereas, we are data hogs when posting with photos each day. We’ve met some equally frustrated business owners/managers/professionals in the senior age range that are unable to conduct business as needed.

We’ve had three-time changes since we boarded this ship. So far, so good. We’ve been sleeping enough and sleeping soundly through all the noise in the cabin from the rolling seas.

So far we’ve attended two classes on Hawaii, during which time I’ve taken notes on my laptop of which we’ll share as we build our stories about Hawaii’s over the next eight months. Hawaii has a fascinating history that hopefully with peak the interest of our readers when we’re able to add photos to supplement the
stories.

Never a day passes that we don’t think of our readers and how we can add photos and information appealing to the senses in one way or another.

Have a lovely weekend. Waves or no waves, we plan to do so.

                                            Photo from one year ago today, September 27, 2013:
 

A year ago in Diani Beach, Kenya, we visited this resort/restaurant for lunch on the Indian Ocean. For details of that date, please click here.

 

Big storm…Raging seas..Bad Wifi…Video of storm…

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Statue on the ship.

The past 38 hours have been comparable to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride from my childhood memories of Disneyland. The ship’s WiFi is the worst we’ve seen. I can hardly upload a photo.

Up until yesterday morning, I’d never been hit with any amount of seasickness until Tuesday our first night at sea as we made our way into the Pacific Ocean from Vancouver, British Columbia.

The pier in Vancouver.

After breakfast, Wednesday morning, in the not too crowded buffet (many passengers were sick in their cabins), a wave of nausea washed over me remaining throughout the entire day and evening.

Much to our disappointment, it was a formal night. On our prior cruise ending on the 14th, the formal night dress code allowed casual dressy which is easy for us to accommodate. Whereas, the formal attire rules on the Celebrity Solstice require more dressy clothes including a long sleeve shirt with a collar for the men and a skirt, dress, or pants suit for the ladies.

With the raging seas and my queasiness, I hardly felt like dressing in anything but my jeans and tee shirt.  However, my special food was already ordered the prior night and we felt there was no other good dining option for me. 

Tom has two long sleeve shirts, one, a khaki BugsAway and two, a white BugsAqay shirt, neither of which was ideal. He opted for the white shirt and hung it in the bathroom with the shower turned to remove the wrinkles.

In any case, we made it to dinner and were allowed inside for a nice dinner at a table for six where once I ate a little, I began to feel better and enjoy the conversation and dinner.

As for the storm at sea, it quickly began to work its way up to the caliber of the extreme storm we experience in April 2013 on the Norwegian Epic when we crossed the Atlantic Ocean with 50 foot swells for three days.

The sails at the pier in Vancouver.

Tom, having spent years on the railroad traveling on wobbly trains never felt nauseous for a moment, although I did notice him losing his footing on a few occasions when no one could have remained on their feet the way the ship violently heaved to and fro.

Included today are photos from the sailing away from Vancouver and of course, the video of the wild ride at sea.  Hopefully, by the time this post uploads the storm will have ended and our usual fun will be in full swing.

Hopefully, we’ll be back tomorrow with our itinerary, updates, and photos of this beautiful ship as our journey continues on.

                                                Photo from one year ago today, September 25, 2013:

Signal too poor to post more today. 

Goodbye, Vancouver!…Hello, Hawaii!…Excited for the new cruise on our favorite cruise line…

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St. Andrew’s Wesley Church in downtown Vancouver.

The “to-do” list is complete. We did it all; the laundry filled the pill cases, did the mani/pedi, packed everything, and, notified the family. This morning we’ll grab a taxi for the short drive to the Port Metro Vancouver where the Celebrity Solstice will be prepared for boarding.

As on our prior nine cruises, we prefer to arrive at the pier an hour or two earlier than suggested in the documents, allowing us plenty of time to become familiar with the ship, meet with the maître ‘d regarding my restrictive diet, sign up for the ship’s WiFi, and relax for a while in the buffet dining room for a casual bite to eat.

The church across the street from our hotel. Photo is taken through the glass on the 30th floor.

In most cases, gaining access to the cabins is restricted until around 1:30 pm, allowing staff to prepare and clean the cabins from the last cruise that most likely arrived the same morning, making way for the new passengers.

Tom says this was a Ferrari we spotted in downtown Vancouver.

Checking in for the cruise is usually relatively quick and painless especially when our early arrival allows us to avoid long lines. A few days before each cruise, we check-in online in a similar manner as when flying. 

Vancouver is often a starting point (and often ending point) for cruises to Alaska which we’ll definitely book sometime in the future.

It’s unnecessary to print the documents when passengers are able to show the bar code from their tickets on their smart phone. With no cell service, until we purchase SIM cards, we’ve printed the documents although we’d always prefer to use digital documents.

Fountain, outside our hotel.

Later today, once aboard the ship, we’ll post again with photos of the ship, our cabin, and any special features that may catch our eye. Once the muster drill (emergency procedures) is completed, we’ll attend the Sail Away Party, hosted by the cruise line. Usually, there’s another party that we’ll attend, the “Meet and Mingle” which is intended for members of CruiseCritic.com, many of whom Tom has met online.

On the first day on the ship, we check out the main dining room’s reservation process. This avoids waiting in line to be seated. On this last Royal Caribbean cruise, we’d selected 8:00 pm, primarily due to the fact that we often have breakfast and aren’t hungry until later.

Much of the produce was imported as is the case in many major grocery stores in the US. This is unlike the organic produce we’ve enjoyed in many countries throughout our travels.

Most cruise passengers (during the school season) are senior citizens as opposed to families with children.  Many seniors prefer to dine by 6 pm. We’re still full from breakfast by 6 pm and prefer to dine at 8 pm. 

With “My Time” dining, we can select dining times that work best for us allowing us the opportunity to meet new people each night at “shared” tables. Other passengers may sign up for fixed dinnertime, sitting with the same group each night.

We’re also able to choose to dine with people we’ve met when we’re arranged a time to meet in the dining room. On this last cruise, on three evenings, we dined with new friends in the specialty restaurants but, could easily have dined with them in the main dining room.

We were surprised that prices on produce were less than we’d seen two years ago in the US.

The social frenzy of cruising is the aspect we enjoy the most. As social butterflies we love meeting new people, learning from their travel experiences, and sharing our own. A cruise is the most appealing social venue we’ve encountered in our travels.

We’re grateful for all the fabulous friends we’ve made from all over the world on our most recent cruise and also, those on the past eight cruises in 2013, many of whom we happily remain in contact.

Tom eyeballed the baked goods, especially the doughnuts but decided against trying any when the cruise is imminent, a virtual food fantasy on Celebrity.

Look for us tomorrow morning which will include the itinerary for this cruise. Hopefully, we won’t have the WiFi issues we’d experienced on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas when I was unable to get online. We’ll be out to sea for the first five days of this cruise making it necessary to access to the ship’s slow connection. As always, while in port we’ll be able to use XComGlobal’s MiFi for a strong connection and ease of use.  

Happy Day to all!

                                    No photo was posted one year ago today, September 23, 2013:
Ironically, we posted the cruise itinerary for the cruise we disembarked on September 14, 2014. For details of the post, please click here.

Tomorrow’s cruise to Hawaii…Total expenses for Vancouver…Worrying?…

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Sunset in the Vancouver bay.

The departure checklist begins once again:

  • Do laundry – We found a laundry near the computer store that will do it for us for US $1.83, CAD $2 per pound in two hours.  Today, we’ll drop it off, picking it up later in the day.
  • Fill pill cases for the next two weeks
  • Do manicure and pedicure
  • Pack everything except Tuesday’s clothes and toiletries
  • Notify family that we’re leaving Vancouver – We do this each time we’re on the move
Sunny day skyline.

Gosh, this list is much shorter than in the past. We’ve already printed out cruise tickets. The hotel checkout is electronic with a copy coming to my email which I’ll save in a folder. It gets easier every time we move.

Colorful sky at sunset.

Our total expenses for Vancouver are estimated at US $2050.86, CAD $2247.35 including the hotel bill, airfare from Boston (one way), taxis, meals, laundry, and tips. At this total, our daily cost was approximately US $341.81, CAD $374.56. We’re actually pleased it wasn’t more costly than this. 

Lonely looking boxer waiting for his family who was inside the restaurant where we had lunch.

We’ve made every effort to keep our costs to a minimum during this six-day stay and the three days in Boston to offset the WiFi and beverage fees on the upcoming cruise which are typically close to US $900, CAD $986.  We’re actually, $600 under budgets expenses for Vancouver

The South Tower on the Sheraton Wall Centre where we’ve stayed since last Wednesday, with a blackbird in the photo.

There’s never a day that passes that we aren’t in tune with our expenses. It is this diligence that allows us to continue on our journey without financial stress. For homeowners and renters worldwide this type of diligence may serve them well in keeping living costs within one’s means.

Dining outdoors on an upper floor in the Sheraton Wall Centre South Tower.

Of course, there’s also the painful reality for those who’ve lost their jobs in this precarious economy or are unable to work due to illness. It’s difficult to commit to budgeting when there’s little to no income. 

On a walk, we passed by this Cannabis shop.

At some point in our lives, for some of us, we recall the angst and worry associated with not generating sufficient income to cover one’s living expenses, a dreadful state of being. For those of our readers in this precarious position we hope and pray that you find a resolution.

Distant small marina.

We always hear that good health is the most important aspect of our lives. And, unquestionably, it is. In our minds, freedom from worry is next in line. Worrying is disastrous for one’s health and sense of well being. Worrying is a roadblock to happiness.

Community garden.

That’s not to say that we don’t worry at times. Either of us can awaken during the night wrought with worry that is often exacerbated at night in the dark. Tom worries about the little things. I tend to worry about the big things. Together, we’re an “efficient worrying machine.” That’s teamwork!

Photo from one year ago today, September 22, 2013:

The table was set on the well-manicured lawn. With the balmy breeze and the fire roaring, the mosquitoes stayed away, although we were well-armed wearing our BugsAway clothing. For more photos, please click here.