Almost as expected, the throat tickle developed onto a head cold or sinusitis but whatever, it is going to be with me for the next few days, so if anyone says I was being snotty, you can take it however you like. The first choice of the day was whether to take a Nurofen, Coldral or an antihistamine. I opted for Coldral. The second choice was whether to have a cooked breakfast, my much loved sausage rolls or fruit. Jill would be proud of me as I opted for fruit – and coffee. I’m not sure whether the excess sugar from the pineapple is a good thing or not, but hopefully, the vitamin C will help.
Ship berthed on the starboard side.
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.
There was a free Walmart shuttle.
I think there was a rather run down HoHo bus, at the port exit
We did need either a government ID or passport copy on our return.
Cruise cards checked on returning to the dock area and our bags physically searched.
Scanning on board of hand luggage on return and I presume, more liquor was found…
Once again, we couldn’t see any point in rushing off and this was also a repeat port for us. There is more to see in Hilo or around the largest of the Hawaiian islands, (it is called The Big Island) and there is still an active volcano, so helicopter trips were a popular option.
Our option was to take the Walmart Shuttle, which in this instance was a 45 seater Robert’s coach. Or to be more precise, there were two of them doing the 15 minute run to the semi industrialised shopping area.
Although this was a shopping shuttle, the driver treated it like a normal tour and gave a bright commentary, right to Walmart’s door.
This was the least Hawaiian feeling stop of all. It could have been anywhere. We dutifully went inside the massive Walmart store anyway, only to find a small McDonalds inside and a Hawaiian version of our daily Shed meeting going on. Four locals were happily sitting at a table, playing their ukuleles, with most other tables occupied - several by early cruisers resting their feet.
I sat on the thoughtfully situated ‘boy’s bench’, just outside Macca’s, near the store entrance, opposite a massive stack of soft drinks.
It always intrigues me that we are usually charged upwards of $3.50 for a coke, on or off shore, yet here, we could buy a pack of 20 for $8.00. We could also buy a Hawaiian favourite, Spam – in different flavours(!) for $2.44. I hadn’t realised that you could get garlic flavoured spam before. I wonder if the Monty Python team knew that?
Paula mooched around but only managed a pair of sandals at $10. Hardly enough to cover the shuttle cost. We then crossed over the road and thanks to our informative driver, we knew that the Macey’s we could see, was just one end of a decent sized mall, so we went across. Much to our surprise, the mall wasn’t really very busy and had a nice variety of middle of the range shops. I managed a rare purchase, from a shoe shop, with another pair of Skecher’s (my first pair was bought in Nottingham and I found them very comfortable). When Paula found the Macey’s ladies department, she bought another pair of shoes – for $11. Not exactly Auckland prices at all on either count.
We got a little tired waiting in the queue for the shuttle back. So when a (taxi) van arrived and several people piled out, 9 of us piled in, happy to pay the $3 a head to get back. A couple of younger travellers had bought a takeaway picnic and were off to a beach as soon as they returned.
This may not sound like an exciting or venturesome stop, but as stated earlier, we’d been before and no doubt other blogs will be a bit more informative and interesting – and with much better pics…
Back on board, a very light late lunch of soup only, then an afternoon, trying to catch up with this blog. (This is obviously written days later).
We were just about to rest our eyes with a nana nap when we got a phone call from Jo and Garry, who unusually (for them), were back fairly early and we happily joined them for a cuppa and a natter, down in the Atrium on deck 5.
We returned to the atrium at 6:45 for one of the orchestra’s very popular Dixieland sessions. I finally managed to hand over my last double CD of the Barber/Ball, ‘Down Under Tour 2000’ album, to Tim, the Orchestra manager. When I say last copy, I mean the last of the six copies I brought on board. On every cruise to date, I have passed on an album, in the hope that although they are session musicians – and very good ones at that – getting some exposure to good jazz will be of benefit to them.
We had all opted for the buffet and I wasn’t feeling 100% anyway, so another very light meal. Soup again.
We did go to the late show as it was an act totally new to us – and I suspect, Princess. Billed as ‘Bande Artistique’, all anyone knew in advance (and that includes Cruise Director Mark), was that either they had performed at ‘Cirque Du Soleil’, or that it was a cirque type act.
Probably a reasonable description. Male and female. She sang – and talked a bit, danced a bit. He clowned and juggled (well). The act started with him hiding under her massive ball-gown and part way through, he stood up, just showing skinny hairy legs, in boots, whilst she was obviously on his shoulders. Visually, very funny.
Apart from a couple of times when the act was a bit flat (mainly when she was on stage on her own, talking), a good show but often quite visual. He is also a very good juggler, bouncing up to 7 or 8 balls at a time, much better than the previous juggling act. They got a deservedly good reception from the audience.
Many people did miss out on the show, as they were congregating on the deck as we passed (from a fair distance I might add) the lava flow into the sea. It then started to rain anyway…
I didn’t feel too good, so bed after a Coldral. Cold and flu medications seem to be in everyone’s travel kit on these cruises and I think I have needed them every time on the long cruises .
Probably a good time to try the 5-2 diet too, more of which tomorrow, as we really are heading for home now. Strange, that Tahiti and Bora-Bora are seen by us as ‘nearly home’. The truth is, that with just the two ports left, just makes it seem nearer home, but the reality is that we now have a run of 5 sea days then after Bora Bora, another run of 4. So that is 18 trivia quizzes to go. Although we may have added (some) knowledge, so have all the other teams.
With no Salomon, (his contract finished) hopefully the ukulele players will still meet.
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