SonuvaBeach

11 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Ha! Golf league starts tomorrow in Michigan. High 48. There’s a reason I miss the first 3 weeks of the season (although my neighbor just sent me a pic of my magnolia tree in bloom which is lovely). 
 

Meanwhile my current situation includes

watching this whale from my Lanai. Apparently some of the whales are refusing to head back before May also :). GMTA

 

Excited to share those beers! Give Pam my best 🙂

 

 

FullSizeRender.MOV 11.98 MB · 5 downloads  

 

AWESOME!!

18 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Jim,I finally got some time to watch every single video (Maui is still keeping me busy, whale season ended last week but several whales didn’t get the memo). These videos are exceptional and a wonderful reminder of the trip. Thank you so much. I was fun to spot me in so many. I shared a few with DH so he could see what he missed. We really did do a lot of excursions together! Goes without saying that I will hold you and Toni’s friendship near and dear for life :).

We hd such a great time with you! We are currently boring all our friends and family by making them sit through all 35 days of videos!! kidding...only the videos of the  ports...okay and a few sea days.  Toni just looks so GREAT on formal nights, we have to make people watch those videos too!! We serve them lots of wine and vodka, so that helps...

On 4/8/2024 at 2:00 PM, Hogladyrider said:

We booked this tour thru the cruise line as we had excursion credits to use.  We love the water and snorkeling though it had been years since we had snorkeled (pre Covid).

 

We visited in February 2024.  We really enjoyed this excursion, it was worth the money for sure.  We boarded the bus at the port and it was about a 30 minute ride to  the pier where we boarded the boat that would be our trip for the day.

 

We brought our own masks and snorkels though the ship included them as well as fins.  We used the ships fins.  The boat holds quite a few passengers and I'd say we were full.

 

We wore rash guard shirts to avoid sunburn.  Wet suit tops were available for $10.  Hindsite is 20/20, in February the water was chilly, so I would recommend a wet suit top for sure.  Once you get chilled it is tough to get warmed up.

 

Our first stop of the day, Captain's choice, was turtle cove.  OMG this was like swimming in an aquarium.  We jumped in off the site of the boat ILO going down the stairs.  Footnote: I am 71 female and he is 69 male so we are not kids by any means.

 

One must be careful when jumping in from the boar and hold onto your mask and anything else you have in your hands.  One gal jumped off with her I phone in hand and guess what, the phone went down to the bottom.  One of the crew jumped in and went to the bottom to retrieve her phone for her.  I will leave it at that.

 

We absolutely loved this first snorkel stop!  We were not the only boat there but it was not crowded everyone was evenly spaced out.

 

Once back on board we were off  to Molokini Crater.  This is quite a boat ride out there and we were visiting during whale season so we were often stopping along the way to watch the whale activity.  This was an added bonus to this excursion for sure.  We saw so many whales and babies both going and coming from the Crater.

 

We arrived at the Crater and once moored off the side we went.  Honestly, we both only stayed in the water about 20 minutes as we were cold.  This stop was nice but we liked the 1st stop better.  The Crater is unique and I would probably return but during much warmer water temps for sure.  Many folks got out early because of the current and the water temp.

 

Lunch was served and one beverage was included.  The food was plentiful and we were all hungry after our morning activities.  

 

It was a leisure ride back to the dock stopping several times for whale sightings.

 

I would book this excursion again, thru the ship for sure, as the travel time to and from the excursion location is about 30 minutes.  It was a fun exciting day and it could only have been improved with warmer water temperatures.  Pacific Whale  Foundation is a great outfit to do an excursion with.

I agree! We did a whale watch with them ...it was fantastic!

Our youtube video!

3 hours ago, rollie said:

Thanks for sharing.  I was hoping someone would post on You Tube.

 

Rollie

you are quite welcome

8 hours ago, Homer88 said:

@SonuvaBeach Wow-  Thank you for sharing!!!

You are quite welcome. I am glad you enjoyed the videos.

For anyone who might be interested, here is the link to  my youtube channel with the playlist of videos of our cruise. Right now, I am up to our first day in Moorea. In the next few days, I will be adding more videos covering the rest of our cruise .  I have skipped over the sea days, but will eventually add them too. I hope you all enjoy the vids!

Some photos from FAKARAVA

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I am now two islands behind but let us just say that Moorea was exceptional and Fakarava exceeded my expectations.

 

Backing up to day 2 in Moorea- My friend knows a guy so we literally took a taxi and showed up at his house. He took the 5 of us out on his private boat for the most amazing snorkeling. Then we hung out at his private pool. The only snafu was our private taxi driver that didn’t show up for our return trip. These are the risks you take for big rewards :). We were prepared to make the 5 mile walk back into town when an angel taxi miraculously appeared and saved the day.  That’s twice travel karma has shined down upon me this trip. 
 

 

As fate would have it,  I now know a guy on Moorea and will plan a similar trip next year. In fact, I will be researching taking a ferry from Papeete to Moorea and spending one or two nights there instead of overnighting Papeete. Moorea is way more my vibe. If this interests you tag me in the 2025 roll call.

 

In other news, as mentioned, we have earned back our salt and pepper shakers. Ironically, we were granted the privilege of using tongs again a full day before the article about noro was published. Gotta love main stream media. 
 

I wish I could upload my GoPro video. We did a tow snorkel over 2 dozen eagle rays, snorkeled with more reef sharks, stingrays, turtles, and a he took us to an unbleached secret coral garden. Pictures don’t do the experience justice. Here are a few screenshots i grabbed from the videos…

 

Side note- the GoPro video I have of the coral garden is 15 minutes long and won’t transfer to my phone. Therefore I can’t share screen shots with you. I’ll figure out how to do that once I get to faster internet so those stunning photos will come later. With all the coral bleaching events taking place throughout the world this place brought back memories of snorkeling in the Caribbean 30 years ago. 
 

 

These guys were that close 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eagle rays

 

360 Scenery

 

 

Dudes private pool 

love the eagle rays!

11 hours ago, danogg said:

Great pics!Was Tahiti by Boat a HAL excursion?  

No..it was an independent tour

3 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Your pictures are fabulous @SonuvaBeach

Thank you for your kind words!

For those of you who were on TAHITIBYBOAT on March 8. here a a few photos. I hope you like them

2 hours ago, canadianbear said:

@SonuvaBeach

 

Was such a great excursion yesterday. Awesome photos!  Was that from yesterday or today?   I got some yesterday but not as good as yours.  
 

Those are from March 7...today was even better!!

Just now, ljgordon54 said:

@SonuvaBeach at which port are you taking these? Just gorgeous! What type of camera. The colors are great.

Janet

These were taken in Papeete...camera: Olympus TG6. I  am glad you liked them.

A few photos for all those on the TAHITIBYBOAT  tour on March 7...I hope you like them!

43 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

It’s hard to go wrong during whale soup time, but we had quite the show-

-4 different sets of mom/calf/escort.

- one full out adult breach 

- multiple calf pickle breaches

-3 peduncle throws

- a 5 whale competition pod. 

- 1 mugging (where the whales got so close we had to turn off the engines.)

This is for you Cheryl! I had to reduce the resolution for this crappy internet, so the photos may be a bit grainy...

9 hours ago, Silver Sweethearts said:

Speaking of photos - Has anyone seen the Green Flash at sunset yet??  We're seeing it almost every day (clouds permitting) here on Maui.  Rather interesting.

Yes..I have seen the greenflash...and even have photos

1 minute ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Thankfully we are the only ship embarking on Saturday so that will help with the crowding.  
 

I totally agree with you when you say “when everyone has priority, then no one has priority”. With cruises this length it’s not uncommon to have half the passengers 4 and 5 star. Then add in those who purchased priority through room choice and club orange. I am totally fine embarkation with the rest of the detention kids near all aboard time. I have 35 days to explore the ship 🙂 

Heeyyyyyy!!! Are we going to have dueling LIVE REPORTS???

On 2/13/2024 at 9:47 AM, Miami-Girl said:

I am about to sail away on the 35 days Hawaii & French Polynesia on the Konigsdam. I cannot find information about the schedule of the tender in Moorea the day it stays overnight. I asked HAL (Chat) and they said it is at the discretion of the Captain.. I understand the timing of the last tender will depend on weather conditions, but if someone has been on this cruise before..? I'd like to see a show in Moorea, but I am reluctant to book it without having an idea of a "normal" tender schedule,

We are on this cruise too. In 2022 on the Noordam, we got off the ship before 8AM. It was not a problem. I am almost positive we could have gotten off at 7AM. The only variable is, as always, the weather. I have an 8 AM tour for our second day in Moorea. I am not concerned. I hope this helps.

deleted

11 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

 

 

Looks like salmon. Tastes like salmon. They said it’s trout….

 

 

 

Yup..that's salmon, for SURE!

17 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Today was Tortola, we’ve gone to the baths several times so elected for something new. We sailed on the Rebel Yell over to Jost Van Dyke (small island in BVI). Fantastic beach with soggy dollar bar, home of the original Painkiller. Just chilled on the beach and did some swimming. Perfect day in the Virgin Islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Been there! LOVE that beach!

1 hour ago, misguy said:

Ocean view room, not balcony

How do you like the OV room so far? We will be in one on the Koningsdam for 35 days on the cruise right after yours.

Following!

2 hours ago, RAS4331 said:

If we're going on a tour that leaves at 10:00 AM, what time do you recommend getting our Arizona memorial tickets?  I was thinking 10:45 - or does it take longer than that to get from the ship to Pearl Harbor?  Our tour is called Pearl Harbor History and Honolulu Highlights and does not include the Missouri.  I assume we'll go to Pearl Harbor first and then do the Honolulu tour.

 

I know chances are probably slim that we would time it just right but I think I will take the chance.  If we can't use our tickets I'll give them to someone who is waiting in line for tickets.

 

 

FYI....well, sort of....I phoned the Shore EX people at HAL. After over an hour on the phone with the  "experts," no one could tell me if the tickets for the Arizona memorial were included. I read TO HIM the description of the tour which clearly states we would be going to the USS Arizona Memorial and i asked if the tickets( which can only be purchased ahead of time) would be included. He said.."Let me check on that" and put me on hold...when he came back 10 minutes later, he proceeded to read back to me what i had just read TO HIM 10 minutes ago. Trying not to lose my patience, I pointed out that I just read that to him, and reiterated my concern about  the tickets to the memorial not being included. He  read the description to me AGAIN!  He clearly did not know the answer...Soooo..now I am not sure what we shall do..we may cancel the HAL excursion  and go off on our own and  lose the $149pp HIA perk. I looked through all the other tours for this whole cruise...all the ones we were even remotely interested are  now sold out. I do not want to miss out on the USS Arizona again.

Also, you can not give your tickets to someone else....They are not transferable. You have to show your ID to use them.

2 hours ago, Chris-n-Shawn said:

we fell into the HIA excursion credit pit, again. Since this is our must-do, we booked it first and it (expensively) used our HIA credit

We are on this cruise as well..which excursion did you take to Pearl? We are on the $149 pp tour...We took this for the same reason as you: HIA excursion credit, but we also have Arizona Memorial tickets for 9AM on the first day in Honolulu...we shall see.