Silver Sweethearts

As far as we know, alcohol is not free on the POA.

We hope that you will enjoy your cruise and find Maui (all of Hawaii, actually) to be everything you have been dreaming about. We don't know where you are located, but at 5 p.m. it is 70F right now where we live with partly sunny/partly puffy white clouds and wind only about 4 knots. E komo mai!

We have never noticed it that much because we were raised and lived in smoggy Los Angeles and then had the cane burning with its smoke, ash and various problems when we moved here. Due to that, things don't really seem that bad nowadays. Kapalua always seemed (still does) the freshest place to be on Maui, if that makes sense, but that is just us talking.

Are you around the Kahana/Kapalua area? We usually don't feel much here (Upcountry).

As you know, Maui has many things to offer our visitors - though some of those things may not be the experience you had envisioned. It is a shame that Lahaina was not as you had expected. Have you had the chance to visit Upcountry? You would find it very unlike Lahaina.

We have found the best way to make sure we have a wheelchair is to bring our own. Folding, lightweight travel wheelchairs are relatively inexpensive and have made our life easier.

Sorry. Meant to say we see 750 as being bumped out - but 748 is not.

Odd. In the latest brochure we have, we see 850 as being bumped out - but 748 is not.

Glad you mentioned the part about not pouring your water yourself, as it brings up that such is just one of the usual rituals of a luxury line. With all due respect, if things like that make you uncomfortable you would simply be much happier with a more casual line.

We would imagine that any such list would become full of inaccuracies over the months due to concessions the cruise lines might make in price.

Each cruise line's website should have a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and this subject usually is right at the top of the list. As a rule, obviously the more money you have to spend, the more amenities there are available. What other cruise lines do you have in mind?

When you check the time of the luau, the information we saw said the show itself runs until 8:30 p.m. If so, unless you want to leave early and miss part of the show, you are really cutting it pretty close. Remember that on board time means just that - being all the way on board your ship and not just arriving by taxi at the port facility.

We asked our computer for exterior photos of the Splendor and it came up with shots from all angles. You might take a look at those.

In the past when we are together, Silversea staff has addressed us as "Mamsir". Sort of covers things.

Why not call the Mall's Management Office and ask them? (1-808-877-8952 is the latest phone number Hawaiian Telcom lists for them).

We have no personal experience with them, but believe Makani'Olu Ranch in Waikapu (Maui) may provide what you are looking for at a location not that far from where the ship docks in Kahului.

We found it to be a drab room with food to match. The outfits the servers wore didn't fit any of them well and (we thought) did not carry out the theme for that restaurant. Yes, we could choose where we wished to dine every evening by virtue of being in a Grand Suite (and a Master Suite works too - don't know about other suites). Our butler would come around each morning and ask about our preference for the evening. We enjoy dining early, so we had very little trouble getting a table then. We don't know about those dining later.

In checking the Kahului (Maui) cruise ship schedule, we see your ship will be docking at Kahului and not tendering at Lahaina. Our main airport (OGG) is about three miles from the dock. You may also want to check out the Enterprise location almost across the street from the pedestrian entrance to the harbor. We believe they also have a rental location at the airport. Neither one is a "moderate walk up the hill", as you will be at sea level.

You can take Uber or a taxi from Kahului Harbor to the airport (OGG, not ITO- which is Hilo). The harbor is only about three miles from the airport.

Why don't you do a whale watch out of Ma'alaea Harbor instead of Lahaina (7 miles versus 23 miles)? The whale watching excursions go out of both ports, so Ma'alaea would be closer and more cost and time effective.

Please correct us if we are wrong, but we believe the sea bass is offered only in Pacific Rim on the Explorer and Splendor, and the black cod is found at Compass Rose.

Here is NCL's explanation of the zodiac tour: (the "scenic ride" would have to be to Ma'alaea Harbor by bus or van, as no tours leave Kahului Harbor by water). We would ask where the zodiac is going to go that other vessels can't, since as far as we know there are strict rules for everyone in search of whales to follow. Drive up the coast to Lahaina/Ka'anapali/Kapalua as we believe you first intended to do. Even if no whales, it is a very nice drive. From NCL: Zodiac Whale Watching Adventure DETAILS 3 hrs Estimate Duration Cruise through the National Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary in a Zodiac, a vessel that is ideal for speedy maneuvering and up-close viewing of marine creatures. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a scenic ride across the neck of Maui to lovely Maalaea Bay on the island’s southern shore. Here, you’ll board a Zodiac vessel that can navigate into areas other vessels can’t, offering you a close-up view of the marine life. You will be cruising into the National Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary. It is one of the favorite mating and birthing grounds for humpbacks because of the water’s ideal temperature and depth and the scarcity of killer whales, which are the young humpbacks’ most feared natural predators. As you zip through the water, you can expect to see humpback whales putting on a spectacular show of breaching the surface, tail and fin slapping, and spy hopping, where only the whale’s head pops out of the water. The males are known for their singing as part of the mating ritual. Humpback whales come to Maalaea Bay each year to breed after a month or so of migrating from their feeding grounds in Alaska, nearly 3,500 miles away. To enhance the whale-watching experience, a naturalist will be onboard explaining the whales’ behavior during this time of the year. Feel free to ask questions during the two hours or so spent on the water. which you will return to Kahului.

If you are going on your own, do remember that reservations are necessary to enter the park between 3a.m. and 7 a.m.

Beaches in Hawaii are for public use, so don't let anyone try and charge you for their use.

No, but it is a lot more public due to the size of the restaurant. We personally prefer the smaller, more intimate setting provided by the other locations for our special occasions.