A fair night and once again, calm seas. We can’t believe how lucky we have been on that score. By the time we got up, we were safely berthed at Pier 2.
Ship berthed on the starboard side – bow in.
One of our identical el Cheapo, $30 Vodafone pre-pay phones still worked, Paula’s of course…
As we’d been processed in SF, just a walk off again.
See below regarding shuttles and HoHo bus.
We did need either a government ID or passport copy on our return.
Cruise cards checked on returning to the dock area.
Scanning ashore of hand luggage on return – and once again, there were several bottles of spirits taken.
Once ashore, it was a little confusing with regard to shopper shuttles, as passengers were issued with a sticker – if they saw the rep that is. She was scuttling about and it wasn’t really made clear what the system was. We gave up on that and opted for the HoHo instead, which was charged to our room, which we were more than happy with, as we are still trying to burn through our on board credits. At $45, it wasn’t particularly cheap, though it did cover 3 routes and the Red route trolley only ran every 50 minutes, with the last trolley at 4:15pm. A bit slack given that the ship wasn’t scheduled to leave until after 10:30pm.
We waited patiently though and once on the trolley, we only did about 3 stops before the DFS stop, where we could transfer to the green route. The transfer station was quite well organised, though the 20 minute wait in an underground car park area was a bit depressing, but at least we had seating.
The Green trolley arrived and by the time we hopped on, there weren’t too many seats spare, as we headed out to Diamond Head, via Waikiki.
The commentary wasn’t the best (again) but neither of us had been inside the crater before. Some walk up to the summit, but no one from our trolley got off to do it, but several people clambered on and had to stand. The entrance to the crater is via a tunnel, reminiscent of the avalanche part of Universal Studio’s tram.
The run back to town was easy enough and we passed the studios where Hawaii 50 is filmed and there were police cars and Garrett’s Camaro placed strategically by the gates. We got off just before the changeover spot, as we wanted to go to the Ukulele Shop, on Lewers Street, #206. They had a great display of instruments and once again, a massive range of prices. We were tempted by the green uke that looked like a Kiwi fruit. After a bit of discussion, Paula bought me a banjolele, but that is my Christmas present(s) for the next few years sorted. Not cheap, but a nice sounding instrument. Boy, is it heavy though…
We made our way to ‘The Cheesecake Factory’. A hugely popular establishment and we’d heard good reports about it - but forgot that the portions are huge. Although busy, we only had to wait 5 minutes for a table, but meanwhile, we’d eyed a raspberry and lemon cheesecake in the cabinet and were licking our lips at the thought of tucking in.
The establishment is massive, the service excellent and possibly the longest menu we have ever seen. The lunch time specials were on page 8 of what was possibly a 20 page booklet. Paula opted for an avocado and chicken toasted sandwich and I opted for the shrimp and sausage pasta.
Drinks? OK, a milk shake and a coke if you insist. Within seconds, they also brought along two pieces of warm bread rolls, one a ciabatta and the other a very tasty rye bread, plus butter and a tankard of iced water each. Paula’s shake would have done as a dessert and we should just have shared the sandwich. I cleared my plate and thoroughly enjoyed it but Paula managed a little over half of hers and even with me having a bit of the chicken, there was still some food left, along with most of the green salad.
We were too bloated to even consider the cheesecake. The meals were $14.95 each plus the drinks and the inevitable tip and service charge. Highly recommended though.
We staggered up to the changeover trolley stop and instead of the double decker that normally does the pink route, we ended up on yet another trolley and hopped off at the famous Ala Moana shopping centre. We didn’t really cover it at all, but went out back and across the road and up the street to Ross, Dress for Less – but no purchases. We weren’t at all sure about any of the shopper shuttles heading back to the Pier, (if they were still running) so along with several others, we caught a service bus back - $1 each, seniors rate, though the driver did not seem to be too worried about whether or not any were seniors.
It had been very warm outside (30 degrees again) so we were happy to get back on board.
Salomon was playing in the Atrium so we sat and had a cuppa - and handed over the banjolele for him to have a go on it! He pronounced it a good instrument…
Although we went up to the buffet later, we didn’t eat much, as we were still full from that factory lunch.
Sailaway at 11pm was the usual meet back on deck 11 and there was considerable interest from the uke players, well, one of the several Rays, wanting to see the acquisition, so I had to take it out.
Afterwards, a hot chocolate down on deck 5 with a couple of others, then happily to bed about midnight.
We like Honolulu, though it is busy and very commercial, but it does have an attraction. Plenty to do and see and the water is usually warm.
Tomorrow, the third of our 4 Hawaiian islands, and a stop we are both looking forward to, Lahaina on the Island of Maui. One of just two tender ports on this leg of the cruise. We passed through it in 2007 in our hire car and regretted not stopping, so a chance to remedy that.
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