Diamond - Hawaii Jan 6-22, 2023. Semi Live

[cruzin4us]

Today I headed to the buffet for lunch.  Got there when they first opened.   Again, it reminded me of why I don’t eat there.  The food all looked pretty good but everything was lukewarm at best.    I wasted a bunch of food which bugs me to no end.   I did make a salad which saved the day.   There are a variety of items to choose from and the romaine was nice and cold (and crisp).  I piled on, eggs, carrots, squash seeds, Bleu cheese, chicken, raisins, corn, garbanzo beans, tortilla strips, sunflower seeds and bacon.  There is probably more but I don’t recall.    Salad bar was excellent.    No more hot food for me from the buffet.  
 

On port days the MDR is closed for lunch.  

 

 

[cruzin4us]

47 minutes ago, vivian02 said:

You have a really good review going here for Hawaii. Our first cruise to Hawaii back in 2003 I got up early on the morning we were to arrive in Kona. My wife will usually sleep in but on this particular day my wife found out what the anchor room was all about. It was about 7:30 am when the anchor was dropped. Sleeping in a cabin next to the anchor room meant you would hear each link of the anchor chain hit that last piece of metal after being dropped. Once I made it bac to the cabin, I got chewed out for booking a cabin next door to the anchor room. I at least have an idea of what you heard while getting out of bed. For those who book a cruise in the front of the ship just know what ports you will tender in. Make sure to get up before the anchor is dropped. There is nothing worse than to be on a cruise and have your whole morning rattled. Keep up the good work I am really enjoying this reading on the Diamond. Tim

Right about the anchor, you hear every link of the chain and the room does rattle…a.lot!   I’m an early bird so normally that wouldn’t have scared me.   lesson learned on this cabin!

 

[cruzin4us]

1 hour ago, Cruisin Camper said:

Thanks so much for the delightful posts!  We too are sailing on the 29th.  Good info to have, kinda scared that we booked Sabatini's for one of our Specialty dinners.  First time on Princess, but long time cruiser on multiple lines.  Hoping to meet some great folks at our Meet & Greet.  Edit3d post to ask if you know if they have Captain Morgans Private Stock Rum onboard.  While their regular stuff is ok, we prefer the private stock.  If not, we shall just explore other options.

I just asked out waiter on the Sun Deck and he checked on the rum and returned with a NO answer.  I’ll check one of the inside bars later.  Not all the bars have the same items 

Edited January 15, 2023 by cruzin4us

[Cruisin Camper]

23 minutes ago, cruzin4us said:

I just asked out waiter on the Sun Deck and he checked on the rum and returned with a NO answer.  I’ll check one of the inside bars later.  Not all the bars have the same items 

Thanks so very much.  I think we will have to take advantage of our drink package and try all the ones they have!

[cruzin4us]

Today was a wonderful day, I’m not joking when I say I saw 100+ whales sitting on deck 15.   They were spouting, tail flapping and I saw one massive one breach.  
 

I’ve cruised to Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico a lot and I’ve never seen this many whales in all the cruises combined.  I was truly blessed today 

 

[cruzin4us]

Platinum/Elite Happy Hour - Had a few different items from what I’ve seen before 

 

fried fish, steak tartare and some kind of potato curry ball along the some ice the standard items (veggies, fruit, cheese, bread sticks)

[arctickitty]

Love the bacon with a side of asparagus…looking forward to trying it!

 

Glad to know about the anchor!  We are booked on deck 5 forward.  

[suzyed]

On 1/7/2023 at 3:49 PM, cruzin4us said:

Kai Sushi for lunch:

 

I cuddled up to the sushi bar and the sushi chef made me a great dish.  Yellowtail Carpaccio.  It’s a bit on the spicy side but I loved it    I wasn’t going to eat as much as I did, but formal night can’t be as good as Sushi, surely…..right?

 

It’s a good thing I sat at the bar my myself because I moaned with delight as I ate every bite.   

 

Miso soup (complementary)

sake

Poke

yellowtail carpaccio (not on the menu).   The kind of stuff I dream about at night.  If it wasn’t formal night, I’d have ordered more.  
Sextent Sashimi:   Scallops, shrimp, calamari, salmon, yellowtail and tuna - very good but the Yellowtail Carpaccio was my favorite 
 

Kai Sushi is more expensive than the sushi on the Discovery, but it’s a different experience.  Much nicer venue.  Both are good.  On the Discovery you are sitting out in the Piazza, here is more formal.   As a sushi/sashimi lover I’m in heaven.  
Every item was beautifully platted.   The little itty shrimp are from Japan and the sweetest I’ve ever eaten.   I laughed at the size but shut up after I tasted them.  Oh, so sweet!

2 orders of sake and my sashimi and they pretty much had to roll me out of here…..I will be back

 

YUM!!! Everything looks WONDERFUL!!  WOW!

[cr8tiv1]

58 minutes ago, arctickitty said:

Love the bacon with a side of asparagus…looking forward to trying it!

 

Glad to know about the anchor!  We are booked on deck 5 forward.  

 

Forward Deck 5 is jarring when the anchor deploys.  At least there is only one tender port (for Lahaina).  

[cruzin4us]

Was able to see the biggest whale of the day breach near my dining room window.  It was massive and putting on a show right next to my window.   Boy was I lucky.   Especially with the 500 people that all ran to the window.   Not really, it was quite cute listening to the “ohhhhh, ahhhhhh” every time it breach.  It must of breached 10-15 time’s giving us a show of our lifetime.    Something, I’ll never forget.  

 

Dinner for Tonight 

 

Cocktail of Bay Scallops, Calamari and Black Mussels - served well chilled and it was nice.  No complaints 

 

Poached Pear, Bleu Cheese Crumble (no pecans by choice) - This not my favorite. On of my pears was rock hard, the other was perfect.  The Bleu Cheese and pears combo didn’t work for me. 

 

Roast Pork Tenderloin, Lavender Fig Butter - Sent this one back.  It arrived hot but was tough as nails.    Decided to order the Steak Diane instead

 

Steak Diane - much, much better choice.  Arrived super hot and cooked perfectly. Glad I sent the other one back.    Meat was a little on the gristly side.    What I thought was a pear was actually potatoes.  Cute touch 

 

I didn’t eat all my dinner, so I indulged on 2 desserts:

 

Pineapple Cheesecake with Midori Liqueur - Cutely decorated plate - it was like all Princesses cheesecakes, it’s light and not real dense.   Didn’t taste much pineapple.   

 

Apricot Flambé - non remarkable 
 

tonight was not my favorite dinner and this would be a night if I was considering booking a Specialty Dinner, I’d do it.    But then again, maybe it was best dinner ever thanks to the whales!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kluv2cruz]

16 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. Thank you again for your pictures and posts.  There are a few local establishments in Honolulu which make a proper Mai Tai and most on the Islands make them correctly because they are closely monitored.  On the mainland and on most ships, they add grenadine which really detracts from the accurate flavor. I never order them in NY as in my opinion the east coast mai tai is horrendous.  Since I fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly, I learned years ago that they serve On The Rocks Mai Tais which are made in Texas but come pretty close. My local liquor store in NY sells them and 

definitely is a must for me. Of course I need the umbrella lol but I do have some tiki glasses!  The Halekulani hotel in waikiki makes great ones as well as some local restaurants I frequent but oh no…never in NY !
Enjoy.

Need a list of your favourite Hawaii maitai locations. Please? I’ve enjoyed many from Halekulani, Moana Surfrider, Kahala, Maitais @ Royal Hawaiian…. Always in search of the ultimate maitai. Never good on a ship - way too sweet. Thanks!

[arctickitty]

18 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Forward Deck 5 is jarring when the anchor deploys.  At least there is only one tender port (for Lahaina).  

looking forward to it!  I’ve never stayed low on a ship but it was the only cabin available at the advertised price so we decided to go for it!

[cruzin4us]

7 hours ago, cruzin4us said:

I just asked out waiter on the Sun Deck and he checked on the rum and returned with a NO answer.  I’ll check one of the inside bars later.  Not all the bars have the same items 

asked a couple other bars about the Captain Morgan and the all sai they don’t have it.  

[AZjohn]

56 minutes ago, cruzin4us said:

Was able to see the biggest whale of the day breach near my dining room window.  It was massive and putting on a show right next to my window.   Boy was I lucky.   Especially with the 500 people that all ran to the window.   Not really, it was quite cute listening to the “ohhhhh, ahhhhhh” every time it breach.  It must of breached 10-15 time’s giving us a show of our lifetime.    Something, I’ll never forget

Awe….. one of several things that make Maui a very special and magical place for us! Nothing better than hearing everyone’s ohhhhhh’s and ahhhhhhh’s while watching the breaches (especially when a baby is learning how to do it for the first time with mama) 🙂 

Edited January 16, 2023 by AZjohn

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, arctickitty said:

looking forward to it!  I’ve never stayed low on a ship but it was the only cabin available at the advertised price so we decided to go for it!

You will love the location of the Plaza Deck cabins.  They are so convenient to the Piazza public spaces.  Only if they had an International Cafe!  

[LouChamp]

4 hours ago, kluv2cruz said:

Need a list of your favourite Hawaii maitai locations. Please? I’ve enjoyed many from Halekulani, Moana Surfrider, Kahala, Maitais @ Royal Hawaiian…. Always in search of the ultimate maitai. Never good on a ship - way too sweet. Thanks!

Definitely the Halekulani.  Hy’s is excellent as well as the food.  Taormina.

Most of the time the ships mess it up by adding grenadine.  I ask them not to add it.

[lori.ki]

How is the temperature in the pools?

[Cruisin Camper]

11 hours ago, cruzin4us said:

asked a couple other bars about the Captain Morgan and the all sai they don’t have it.  

Thanks for checking.  It is odd, because when I go to purchase it on shore there are very few bottles and lots of empty space.  Someone else is enjoying it too!

[LATTELOVE]

Fantastic pictures of the whales.

I can't imagine the feeling.  Amazing creatures.

We have taken over 20 cruises and have

never seen anything coming out of the ocean but seaweeds. 😄

Even though we spend sea days on a chair

looking at the ocean for hours.   Can't wait for that day.

 

 

[KLM3164]

15 hours ago, cruzin4us said:

Pineapple Cheesecake with Midori Liqueur - Cutely decorated plate

I don’t see this dessert on the menu. Was this an extra dessert for CC dining? 

 

What an amazing experience to see the whale breaching just outside your window. I’ve seen many whales over the years but never had the opportunity to see one actually breach. 

[cruzin4us]

Slept like a baby with gentle rocking of the ship.   I like being in a foreword, 

 

Spent the morning helping Brian and Rowena get some of their clothing unpacked and set up for their clothing sale tomorrow.  Had fun chatting and doing something productive 😁.    
 

Going to lunch in a bit because I skipped breakfast.   Today has been relaxing as have all the other days.   I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this cruise from the moment I set foot on the ship.   
 

oh, the Maitre’D asked if I wanted to go to Sterling Steakhouse which there are going to hold in Sabatini’s.   Up until now rumors were flying around that either the grill was broken or that they didn’t have enough staff to operate it.   Either way, I have a reservation for the 19th and I’m looking forward to a nice steak.  
 

more later 

[cruzin4us]

8 hours ago, lori.ki said:

How is the temperature in the pools?

I’m not sure…..the only pool I attempted to get into was the Terrace pool and it was way too cold for me.  I got up to my thighs and that was enough.   Maybe someone else knows?

[cruzin4us]

1 hour ago, KLM3164 said:

I don’t see this dessert on the menu. Was this an extra dessert for CC dining? 

 

What an amazing experience to see the whale breaching just outside your window. I’ve seen many whales over the years but never had the opportunity to see one actually breach. 

I take a snapshot of the menus in the morning and then post them with my food pics.   One of 2 things happened.   Either I grabbed the wrong photo when I uploaded them or the menu was different on the app than what was actually served that day.   Not sure which happened 

[cruzin4us]

Well, there is a table outside the door in the cabin next to mine.   It’s been there 2 days so I’m assuming they have Covid.   No proof, just putting two and two together.   I’ve not seen or heard of any other Covid cases onboard.    
 

Compared to my cruise in November, everyone seems to be healthy.  In November everyone was coughing like crazy.  
 

 

[cruzin4us]