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Kama’ainaCruising

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The Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of Hawaii is the largest U.S. flaggedpassenger ship ever built at 965 feet long and 106 feet wide. It enteredservice in April 2006 and has 1,233 guest cabins.

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Old man rhythm is in my shoesNo use sittin and a singin the blues

So be my guest, you got nothin to loseWon't ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

Oo-ee, oo-ee babyOo-ee, oo-ee babyOo-ee, oo-ee baby

Won't ya let me take you on a sea cruise?

--- Huey P. Smith and Frankie Ford

t was late. The fundraising event for theMaui Coastal Land Trust at the OldLahaina Luau was on to the auction

items and the group had wisely waited untilthe audience had finished off their compli-mentary Maui Tai’s.

Suddenly, the auctioneer had movedbeyond artwork, lunch with the Mayor andwhale watches. Now, he was on the big

stuff. The thingsyou could “win”

and talk about foryears afterward.

Then it happened, Iheard him announce a

7-day cruise for twoanywhere in the world

on a Norwegian CruiseLines ship.Seven days! Anywhere in

the world! Yes! Yes! Take mine!Make mine the winning bid!

And that is how, at the tender ageof 59, I made the successful bid for a

good cause and decided to take my firstcruise. Seven days aboard the NCL Pride ofHawaii. The largest U.S. flagged passengership ever built and only sailing the seassince April 2006.

Why Hawaii you ask? Why not Europe?The Mediterranean, or even Africa? Well, it’sthis way. I live on Maui. I’ve never seen allof the Hawaiian Islands from the sea. I’dnever been on a cruise and I didn’t know if I

would like it. I wanted to be close to home ifit didn’t work out. I also liked the idea ofpacking only my shorts, slippers, Alohashirts, laptop computer and CD player andleaving the rest behind. For the record, I didbring one pair of long pants and dress shoesin case I decided to eat at a “dress code”restaurant on board the ship.

Time passed slowly until the magic dateof Monday, March 12 . I had decided to flyfrom Maui to Honolulu so that I could sailon the Pride of Hawaii, which, unlike its sistership The Pride of Aloha, did not board its com-plement of passengers at the Kahului Harbor.

I Board the Really Big Ship

The ship is really big. Fifteen decks, 965feet long and with a tonnage of 93,500 grosstons. I don’t know what that means except ithurt my neck to stare up at her too long. Iarrived at 8:00 AM for a boarding thatbegan at 11:00 in the morning. I was first inline. I was so early that I may have had“First Time Cruiser” stamped on my fore-head.

Boarding is seamless, except my name istoo long for the computer program makingthe ID cards, so I become just “Thomas”instead of Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez. Nopoint in protesting. Now I know why so

by Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez

II

Pride of Hawaii Captain Evans Hoyt beganhis seafaring career at the age of 17 with aCongressional appointment to the U.S.Merchant Marine Academy.

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many Italian immigrants became“Tony” when they encountered EllisIsland at the turn of the century.Their luggage was tagged “To NY,”as in “Tony.”

On board shortly after noon,my ocean view cabin with balconywas scheduled to be ready by 3:00PM. All my friends told me toupgrade and get a cabin with abalcony on the Port (left) side ofthe ship. “Don’t get one to far aft(rear) or forward or too high, you’llget sea sick,” they warned me. So Iwaited for cabin 10540, just aboutin the middle of the ship and onthe port side.

The press material said it was aspacious stateroom that featuredtwo lower beds and a floor-to-ceilingglass door that opened to a privatebalcony. It featured a sitting area,rich cherry wood finishings, aminibar, a tea and coffee maker,Internet connection and a muchlarger bathroom unit than otherships. All this and it was sized at aspacious 243 square feet. On Mauiit would probably rent for about$1,500 a month.

Where Does This Ship Go?

With almost 3-hours to kill, whatshould I do? Study the itinerary?Hmmm. Sail today at 8:00 PM andarrive at 6:20 AM the next day atHilo, Hawaii. Then leave Hilo at

6:00 PM and arrive in Kahului,Maui on Wednesday, March 14, at6:41 AM. Stay on Maui untilThursday and set sail at 5:30 PM.Head to Kona, Hawaii, for a 7:00AM arrival and then depart at 6:00PM the same day. On Saturday,March 17, we arrive at NawiliwiliHarbor in Kaua’i. We hang for twodays and then set sail on March 18,at 1:30 PM, arriving back inHonolulu on Monday, March 19th,in the morning.

Wow! I’m tired already. What todo? Why, what everyone else doeson a cruise. Eat and have a drink!The buffet was open and thelounges were filling up fast withothers who had the same idea.

I Promise Not to Eat TooMuch

The Pride of Hawaii operatesunder the NCL signature FreestyleCruising program, which includesFreestyle Dining. According to NCLthis, “…represents the best way toexperience the flavor of Hawaiiwhile letting passengers remain on

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Deck 12 is the main outdoor pool area on the ship with two swimming pools, a waterslide, four hot tubs, chaise lounges, tables, chairs, beach umbrellas, and an entertainmentkiosk stage.

Danielle Choquette, from Juneau, Alaska, is a waiter on the ship and has plans to starther own business as a private chef on chartered yachts around the world. U.S. citizenslike Danielle make up 90 percent of the ships crew, with the remaining 10 percent hav-ing applied for citizenship.

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‘island time,’ allowing them to dinewhen and where they choose.”

From my rough observationover seven days, the passengers—ranging in age from the late 20’s tomid 80’s with a small number ofchildren and teenagers—took themat their word. This included 24-hourroom service: “Coffee, orange juiceand croissants for two at 7:00 AMplease.” It was all included in theprice of my ticket, and gave meaccess to 10 restaurants, enoughfor every taste, including myfavorite “Le Bistro,” with killerFrench food and “Cagney’s” withperfectly prepared steaks and ahard working wait staff. I alsoenjoyed the morning, lunch, anddinner buffet on Deck 12, and theall night restaurants that servedburgers and light fare.

Some restaurants, but not all,

required a minimal per personcover charge, again with the mealincluded in my ticket fare.Alcohol was extra, unlike someother cruise lines—as I was tolearn later from more experiencedcruisers—where soft drinks andalcoholic beverages were compli-mentary. Meaning you did nothave to pay twice.

The ship boasted 10 bars andlounges that served any drink onecould imagine. Especially popularwas “Bar Central,” that had 3-barslinked together serving Martini’s inone, champagne in another, andfinally beer and whisky in a pub-like setting. Evenings also foundmany people enjoying hand rolledpremium cigars and cognac in theCorona Cigar Club on Deck 6.

Entertainment was terrific withlounge shows and Broadway style

“If you didn’t wantto head to a show,there was alwaysthe Sports Deck, avideo arcade, a bou-tique, an artgallery, a golf proshop, the ships “SSUnited States”Library, a cardroom, the KumuCultural Center, theInternet café, and afitness center thathad massages todie for.”

Lava flows into the ocean from the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, continuing a process of at least 70 million years ofvolcanic activity in the Hawaiian Island-Emperor Seamount chain. At night, as it leaves the Big Island, the ship sails in a circle givingpassengers on the port and starboard sides a view of the lava flow.

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The Na Pali sea cliffs and coastline, extending upwards of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, may have been the first area of the island of Kaua’ito be settled by ancient Hawaiians. The area had abundant freshwater from mountain streams, native vegetation, fertile land, andunparalleled fishing in the vast oceann.

productions every evening in theStardust Theatre. If you didn’t wantto head to a show there was alwaysthe Sports Deck, a video arcade, aboutique, an art gallery, a golf proshop, the ships “SS United States”Library, a card room, the KumuCultural Center, the Internet café,and a fitness center that had massagesto die for.

Would I cruise again? You bet!

The crew was helpful and enjoyedsharing their stories, including oneofficer who had won the lotteryseveral years back, invested in realestate and was now getting ready toretire. The shore excursions werefun. I got to play tourist andenjoyed myself immensely. The bestfor me was when I rented a car anddid a day trip to the HawaiiVolcanoes National Park. The earth

was still warm from lava flows ofdecades ago and the impermanenceof man was once again broughthome.

Oh, and my 243 square feet ofclothing optional paradise? I lovedit. I think you will too. But you betterhurry; NCL has just announcedthat they are moving the Pride ofHawaii to the European market inFebruary 2008. REMS

A well known Maui personality enjoys a relaxing moment restingup for an evening of excitement at the Medusa Lounge &Nightclub on Deck 7.

The popular Mixers Martini and Cocktail Bar on Deck 6 is partof “Bar Central,” that also includes a champagne and winebar and a beer and whisky pub, all connected but with threedistinct personalities.

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