Thank you for the information on specialty resteraunts Dave very much appreciated. I think I will enjoy the specialty resteraunts a few times while I am on-board that's a must. Shana

I found this web page which has menus for both the main dining room and the specialty restaurants. It probably isn't current, but it is close enough to give you an idea of what to expect. It is not a speedy website, so you will need to give it a minute or two to load all the images.

That was pretty darn close to the menus we had on Island Princess in April. I can highly recommend the Chilean Sea Bass and the Cold Water Lobster Tail in Sabatini's.

shana, the filet mignon in the dining room could be cut with a fork; you will love it. I am surprised there wasn't a combination with lobster or shrimp in Sterling's. Let's all suggest it to them.

Rick

I would definitely need a translator for that menu. I haven't had "perfumed" soup yet. It all sounds delicious though.

Dwayne

quote:

perfumed soup, lol

I am not sure what alot of this food is but boy does some of it make my mouth water so this cruise can't come fast enough, no that's not true because I am learning alot and still am exploring things I might be able to do since I can't do alot of it although I can walk up to about 30 steps with my cane if need be and maybe I can push that more because I really want to go to a excursion on the beach in the evening when they dance and you eat and all that fun stuff but wheelchairs aren't sand friendly so hopefully it's not to far to walk. I read somewhere that princess is cutting out 1 of the ports is this true? As it is on a 15 day cruise to Hawaii you don't get alot of land time so hopefully we keep all they have at this point since my cruise is not til 2010. I have seen some beautiful pictures of the golden princess and am looking forward to cruising her and if I get the chance money wise were going to take a shorter cruise before then somewhere not sure yet but have been looking at the western carribean and hopefully somewhere I am able to participate in some of the excursions. I really want to touch a dolphin but am not able to go waist deep in water but can go thigh higgh so not sure if any of them will make an exception for medical reasons but hopefully they will. Anyone know where there is good shopping in Hawaii for things you wouldn't find in the states? Shana

perfumed soup, I don't think I will try that, lol. Shana

shana, starting this October, Princess is cutting the round-trip to Hawaii cruise to 14 days and cutting out Kona as a port. Since it is a tendered port, I don't think you will miss it. That leaves Lahaina and possibly Nawiliwili as tendered ports.

When you are able to book shore excursions, read the descriptions very carefully; they are very explicit about what kind of, and how much physical exertion is involved.

I doubt if you have many "Hilo Hatti's" in North Dakota; we have several here in Southern California; and they have all the same stuff you can get in Hawaii. But all your ports will be pretty much the same for shopping. Lahaina is kind of fun for shopping and eating off the ship; several seaside restaurants that are good and have great atmosphere.

Rick

I was looking forward to going on the exxcursion to the place that has seahorses because I am fascinated by them after seeing them on animalplanet station so that's a bummer but I will live I am sure I will find things of interest at other ports of call. I can do tendered ports as long as it isn't a tiny fishing boat, lol, with assistance. Thanks for letting me know about the change. I will be putting a down payment down today or tommorrow I wonder if they will adjust my price after they change it from a 15 to a 14 day cruise, does anyone know if they will? Shana

O we have no Hilo Hatti's here in ND., lol so I will definately have to take a peek in there and will save my major shopping for Lahaina and will definately eat there and will want some names of places closer to the cruise time. Thanks, Rick. Shana

I just looked at my itineray and if they take away lahaina all that is left for ports on this 15 day cruise is Hilo, Honalulu, and Kauai, and then ensenada Mexico. I don't know if I like paying 11 thousand something not including airfare or hotel stay yet for only 3 days in Hawaii. The only reason I am really wanting to book this cruise is cause there aren't many roundtrip cruises to Hawaii and leaving a US port and this way I am guaranteed a cruise to Hawaii in 2010.... What would you do? Anybody. Shana

Who said they were cutting Lahaina?

O I am sorry, I messed up he said Kona is being cut and I was thinking that was 1 of the ports so my mistake but it still seems like I have very few ports is that the norm? I saw 1 cruise on holland of 09 and it had more ports it stopped in. It seems the price I am paying is awfully high for such few ports am I wrong? Shana

That was going to be my next suggestion: take a look at Holland America. They will continue to do 15 day cruises out of San Diego. I didn't mention it earlier because you seemed pretty set on Princess; but I have cruised on HAL once and highly recommend them. The price is a little higher than Princess, but it is money well spent.

Rick

The bottom line with cruises to Hawaii from the mainland - it takes a while to get there and you'll never have a lot of stops because of the eight sea days involved, and also because there are only so many ports in Hawaii. You are hitting the four major islands. There really isn't much else the cruise line can do.

Rick, I looked at HAL and I like the fact that there is i think 2 more ports and the price is worth it if you get great service and the 2 more ports than princess although I really do like the golden princess but they say limited handi-cap accessible tendering in Lahaina also and I would be very upset to not get to get off at that port and it specifies that on my reservation that I had put on a courtesy hold. Is room vs/d737 that is a suite with a couch and seperate livingroom area right? On the golden princess on the dolphin deck. If I do book this I want to make sure we have a large room since we will be on the ship for so long which I am looking forward to. Shana

Which cruise on HAL are you looking at? The only difference I see is HAL will still stop at Kona but the other ports are the same as with Princess. And trust me - Ensenada is not something I'd look forward to. It is tossed in to make the cruise legal since a foreign flagged ship has to have a foreign stop if it sails from U.S. ports.

Shana, Holland America and Princess currently both have the same itinerary--five ports in Hawaii plus Ensenada (the only difference being HAL sails from San Diego); 15 days.

Starting October 1 this year Princess is cutting back to 14 days and eliminating one port--Kona. HAL's itinerary will remain the same.

Yes, you have a hold on a Vista Suite, D737; I have not stayed in one but I have seen them and you will will have plenty of room. The balconies of the aft suites are very large also.

As for Lahaina, rest assured that Princess will do everything humanly possible to get you ashore. I have seen crew members literally lift people in wheelchairs onto the tenders. But you must understand that if the water is choppy or the wind too strong, for your own safety, they may not be able to put you aboard. A ship will occasionally have to miss a port if the conditions are not right. Passenger safety is their number one priority.

But whichever ship you choose, you wil have a wonderful cruise.

Rick

Thank you both for clearing things up for me and I will double check I thought I had seen a sail on HAL with a stop in a different port than what princess showed but I was probably wrong I am new to all this and want to make sure I have the best trip I can have just in case this is my 1 and only cruise. You both are so helpful so thank you and bare with my dumb questions, lol. Shana

Shana,

Rest assured, you are not asking dumb questions. We enjoy helping new cruisers, and you have asked good questions and have been receptive to our advice. You'd be surprised at how many people drop by, ask for advice, and then take issue with what we tell them.

Thank you Dave, I am glad you guys don't mind me picking away at your brain when it comes to me trying to figure out if I am making the right decisions when it comes to the cruise plus you guys have great first hand experience at this cruise stuff. I can't imagine people taking issue when your just giving suggestions and advice from first hand knowledge, well there loss and you guys have great sense of humor also so you make things fun. I am going to go ahead with my trip on golden princess I think, I will make final decision tommorrow after looking at the HAL website some more but this way I am guaranteed to go to Hawaii in 2010 winter months as I don't see anything in 2010 on HAL yet. Shana