Cruising-along

Good morning from the lovely Volendam!

It’s another lazy sea day as we head to Kiritimati tomorrow. Sadly we won’t be going to Fanning Island. Again the immigration authorities say they can’t get there for us.  The ship must have quite a collection of donations because the last cruise couldn’t make it there either. 😕

Last night was our first formal night (we’ve also had 1 dressy night). It was fun seeing all the sparkles, everyone was all decked out in their finest. 

36 minutes ago, travelholics said:

Hi Carolyn, Great action photo. Please can you tell us where you picked up the rental car in Hilo and how long the drive was. Many thanks

We took a taxi to the airport and had a car reserved with Budget. There was some question that they would pick us up, but the person who does that was sick. 
 

The drive from Hilo to the park took about 45 minutes, easy drive. The Visitor Center there is a wealth of information. We decided to drive the East Rim drive, best for our time limits and what to see. Loved it all, fascinating to follow the lava right down to the ocean. 
 

We left Hilo around 9:15 and were back to Hilo at 2:30. We also got lunch during that time. 

Yesterday we rented a car and drove to the Volcano National Park. It was a great day and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Weather couldn’t have been better. 
 

The singer last night is billed as a singer/comedian and we laughed our heads off! She was much funnier than the comedian earlier in the cruise. We hope she will perform again, we really enjoyed it. 
 

Tonight is our first “formal night” (we also have dressy nights this cruise) and the Volendam Ball. 

Hello from Honolulu and the Volendam!

This is our second day in Honolulu, we head to Hilo tonight. 
 

Yesterday we had an 8-hour circle the island tour with other CC’rs and had a great time. Other than some shopping at Hilo Hattie’s and Walmart this morning we’re taking it easy today—resting up for the Volcano National Park tomorrow. Loving this cruise!

For the Garden Club. 🙂

Sorry, I can’t get rid of the black void at the end. 😂

Cacao plant

Greetings from the lovely Volendam!

We’re having an amazing time, loving every minute. 

Meeting our fellow Dailyites and sailing again with Rich has been a big plus too. Last night we spent some time with Rich at the Island Dream party and we’ll have dinner tonight with him in the Pinnacle Grill. Tonight is the pop-up Tamarind night. 😀. If any other Dailyites would like to join us please let us know. The more the merrier 🙂🙂

I’ll put out a message on Navigator too. 

Tomorrow we will reach Honolulu. We have an all-day private tour and are looking forward to that. 
 

On 1/5/2024 at 5:03 PM, Cruise4food said:

I had a Lanai room on the Maasdam. The sliding door to the promenade area had a powerful force closing it. You will not be able to leave that door open.

I am on the Volendam now. As I walked the promenade deck yesterday there was indeed a lanai cabin door left open. 😡

We had a wonderful time this afternoon with fellow Dailyites!

Will definitely be doing this again. 😀

Henry (Cruising-along’s DH), Carolyn (Cruising-along), Lorraine (cruising sister), Caron (cruisercl), Rich, and Susan (durangoscots)

We were very pleased to see that a Tamarind menu will be available in the Pinnacle Grill on January 8 so we booked it today. Right now it will be offered only once but if it’s well received they may do it again. 

Good morning from the Volendam!

What a difference a day makes. After a wild first night out of San Diego, last night was perfect. I slept 11 hours (perfect rolling for sleep). The crew was even exclaiming over the first night. Many of us had bags under our eyes. I felt so sorry for the crew who had to get up and go to work. 
 

We had a large turnout at our M&G in spite of that, it was nice to put faces to names! And the Block Party was so much fun. There are a few other CCrs near our cabin. 
 

Today is a Mariner reception, Captain’s Welcome and our first Dressy night. We are getting things put away in our cabin but it will take awhile. I brought too much LOL!

Loving the cruise!
 

As Rich said, we had a rough ride last night and still a bit rough this morning. I didn’t get to sleep until after 3 this morning. 
 

Other than that everything has been great! The MDR Mgr. passed out long-stem roses to each woman last night and I hear the same thing was done in other dining venues. Our favorite Cellar Master (Rod) is onboard and we’ve had a few nice talks with him. 
 

Great M&G turnout this afternoon. So nice to put faces to names!

Greetings from the Volendam!

We met up with Rich soon  after boarding, still haven’t run across @durangoscots, @cruising sister, or @Cruisercl and look forward to meeting them. 
 

The Captain just announced we should be sailing on time. 🙂

We’re maybe 1/3 unpacked, and waiting for our last bag to arrive. Lots of bags, this will take awhile to get settled. 😉

Greetings from San Diego!

We’re settled into our room at the Wyndham and this is our view. Tomorrow morning we will see the Volendam waiting for us! 

We took a long walk to Rite Aid and then further, picked up some things for the cruise, and met more CC’ers out and about too. 
It will be an early dinner tonight because I’ve been awake since 2:30 this morning and running out of steam! 😉

We’re waiting for take-off from Everett, WA. So excited, I’ve been awake since 2:30 this morning! Should be interesting. 😂

Only 2.5 hour flight, San Diego here we come!

12 minutes ago, dfish said:

@Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda, I got it as well.  

 

I do have my t-shirt on under the hernia girdle.  The girdle does provide support, but it still is uncomfortable even with the t-shirt.  I'll be happy when I don't have to wear it.  The surgeon said three weeks.  I'm halfway through the first one!  

 

I have done some cross stitch and enjoyed it, but my hands lock up when doing work like that.  My grandmother did a needlepoint back and seat for a chair that once belonged to her parents.  That was back when I was in college.  We had it recovered and it is now in our living room with the needlepoint still looking good!  Grandma would be happy.

 

 

Debbie I love your Grandmother’s needlepoint. I have some my Grandmother did, but just on a small stool not a chair. 

6 minutes ago, cruising sister said:

Hi from San Diego. Cruising Sister, CruiserCL and Durangoscots!

See you soon ladies!

We are now settled into our airport hotel, and will be getting dinner delivered from Ivar’s. 
Thank goodness our flight in the morning is only 3 hours long — easy-peasy!

Happy New Year to everyone!

I was asleep by 10 last night, with the sound machine turned up full blast and a sleeping pill.  Still, I woke up at what must have been midnight when the fireworks (which started here around 3 yesterday afternoon) suddenly got VERY loud.  I just put the pillow over my head and turned over. 😅  We have a full 3 days ahead of us, I was determined to sleep last night. 🤣

DS will be here this afternoon to take us to our airport hotel, and tomorrow by noon we should be landing in San Diego.  Can't wait!!  It may be hard to keep up with everything happening with the Dailyites, but I plan to do my best. 🙂  

Sandi @StLouisCruisers I LOVE your DD's latest tree.  I think it's my favorite!

I wish a healthy, happy 2024 to everyone and maybe a cruise or 2 or 3.  🙂  

35 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

I'm glad you enjoyed the photos of Fanning Island today, and hope you have no problems reaching their shores on your cruise.  And I wanted to mention I have taken my projects on many cruises and often stitch with other crafters on the longer voyages.  I meet a lot of nice people that way.

Thank you Sandi!  I also have taken my counted cross-stitch on many cruises.  We also had a crafters group on the Voyage of the Vikings, and will have one on the GANZ too.  Since we'll have a lot of sea days I should be able to make some progress -- at least I hope so!

37 minutes ago, highscar said:

In navigator under details ,says already purchased. 

Have you been charged?  What does it say on your HAL website itinerary?  Like I said, my Navigator shows we have it but we haven't been notified, haven't been charged for it, and HAL's website itinerary says we're still waitlisted.  

28 minutes ago, Cruisercl said:

Happy New Years/Eve to all of the wonderful, wonderful people here.

we're blessed to have you in our lives this past year, may the next year be the same blessings with a few extras because we deserve them.

I arrived safely to San Diego, which completes the first leg of our journey cruise GVAUS/NZ.

I was told lots of cruisers are at this hotel; I am thinking not all are CC people.

Planning to meet up with a few RC people here for a HH. Very fun!

CC is acting funny so I'll sign off.

Take good care,

Caron

 

 

 

Thanks for letting us know you arrived safely, and thank you for answering my question on the roll call re the hotel shuttle.  Good to hear you had no problems.

According to the roll call spreadsheet, there will be 67 of us at this hotel!  

Please get some photos to share of the HH get-together tonight, see you soon. 🙂 🙂  

5 minutes ago, highscar said:

Another question.  I waitlisted for a tour. Are you notified when you are accepted to go.  My itinerary implies I’m going but I have not been notified about the charge.  

Are you looking at your itinerary on Navigator or the HAL website?  Because we're waitlisted for a tour and on the Navigator it doesn't mention waitlisted at all (and we've not been charged for the excursion either).  But on the HAL website when I look at my itinerary, it definitely shows "waitlisted".

Another case where Navigator isn't quite right.

Good morning all!

I can't remember the last time I stayed up until midnight on New Year's Eve, but we'll have our champagne tonight and celebrate early!  Since our area always has a TON of fireworks on New Year's Eve I may be awake, but at least in bed.

This is our last full day at home before the GANZ, so lots to do.  DS will pick us up tomorrow and take us to our airport hotel, we fly out Tuesday morning at 9.

I'm sure I would like the wine and probably the drink, but will pass on the spicy meal.  Don't need heartburn along with all the fireworks LOL!  Tonight will be pork chops and the last of the produce -- I can't believe I was able to make all the food last long enough but not too long.  This may be a first for me. 😅 I had thought I'd be giving food to my neighbor, but it looks like we'll eat it all! 

We will be in Fanning Island on January 15 -- thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisers for the great photos.  We're bringing things to donate too so I hope we're able to tender in.  Apparently the ship has items from the last cruise that couldn't tender in too.

It's exciting to hear that @durangoscots is in San Diego and that @cruising sister and @Cruisercl will be there soon.  Please post photos of any get-togethers for those of us who haven't gotten there 🙂  See you soon!

Sandi @StLouisCruisers That stocking will be beautiful!  I'm always excited to start a new project, especially beautiful ones like this.  I'll be bringing a large project with me on the cruise (a scene in Europe) -- we'll see how far I get 😉  I hope to at least get a good start on it.  

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!

Edited to add that I didn't have to prove I'm human.  But I never log out of CC.

5 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Carolyn, my house is never nor will it ever be as clean as the HAL stewards get the ship.  Too bad that HAL frowns on packing one of the stewards in your luggage when you leave.  😉🤣

Lenda don't get me wrong, mine never will be as clean as the HAL stewards get the ship either 😉  

I've always wanted to stash our cabin steward into our luggage -- hard to leave such great service! 

24 minutes ago, Cruisercl said:

I cleaned my house too but was thinking it will just be dusty etc. when I return so....did I really need to do that? I was thinking that, when I was tired from cleaning and thinking if I move I will need a smaller house. Safe travels to you and hubbie on Tuesday. See you on the ship! 😊

Thank you and safe travels to you!  We will go to our airport hotel on Monday and fly out Tuesday morning.  Can't wait to meet everyone!

I'm hoping that by having the house shut tight for 3 months the dust will be minimal.  I usually only have a problem with that during the summer when the windows are open. 

Good morning all!

Awake early (4 something) and got myself out of bed before 5...strange sleep patterns this week.  

Like most people I do like bacon.  I just can't have it very often due to the high sodium.  I can't remember ever making a resolution, and hopefully there are no enormous changes of the bad kind before we leave for the cruise.  

I would like the meal but as a side dish, pass on the drink, and although I haven't had this wine, I'm sure it's as good as all the other Marlborough SVs so I'd love to try it.  Have not been to this port.

Today is laundry day, take our mail key to the neighbor, etc. etc.  I'm feeling good that the house (should be) clean when we return.  Those wonderful HAL stewards do such a great job keeping everything spotless, it's hard to come home to a less than spotless house LOL!

Debbie @dfish So glad to hear you slept well with little to no pain.  Great news!

Good afternoon, I'm taking a lunch break from deep cleaning the kitchen.

We got good news this morning.  Previously we had asked our PCC and the upgrade department if we could upgrade from our BC cabin next week to a B or even BB.  The cost was too high, so we let it go.  Then this morning DH saw that our cabin has changed to a B!  So we're happy campers today, and no extra $$.

Debbie @dfish I'm very glad to hear that the surgery "couldn't have gone better", and that you plan to take advantage of the pain pills.  The trick is always to not let the pain get away from you, always stay ahead of it.  I learned that the hard way 😉