Photos are at:- https://photos.app.goo.gl/pL9gio99WWFMhGC1A
Monday December 15th
Called in on brother) Ian and then waited all day. It rained again, but not as bad as the last time. Train to Cardiff and a pleasant wait in the waiting room. The train was not particularly crowded despite the previous train being cancelled. It thundered through the night, (in contrast Amtrak).to Reading and the change to Elizabeth line to Slough. Visited Tesco and got booked in to the Travelodge.
Tuesday 16th
Found the McD's and discovered that the two cards stored in the phone were missing. Got both of them stopped. Bus to Heathrow at 7am was £3 - a card was accepred at last. Flight to Dublin was good, had a window seat and we flew over the Bristol Channel and West Wales then up the Irish Sea. Rushed through TSA screening at Dublin only to find that the flight was delayed . Eventually it was cancelled. Tried calling BA but the line was terrible - panic that the phone was running out of battery, until I remembered that I carry a powerbank. Long line issuing hotel rooms but they could not re-book. Booked a flight on Kiwi via Lisbon at a cost of £560. Had to phone someone for that rebooking and they did for a flight from Heathrow
I was supposed to take a BA Flight to Heathrow at 6pm but they had not done the re-booking correctly and that one was gone by the time they sorted it. However, there was a 6am flight to Heathrow which gave a 2hr layover. So it was hotel in Dublin with evening meal and 4am start on Wed. Whilst there I got an email demanding the service charges for the flats - so that took a little shuffling of finances. Not a good day.
Wednesday 17th
4am start to catch the shuttle bus to Dublin Airport. 45min queue for check in. Security guy insisted I would lose scissors to TSA, I failed to tell him they had already been through TSA - he wasn't listening. They usual palarver getting onto the plane. Then the pilot told is there was a 3hr delay due to low visibility at Heathrow. But he expected less and in the end we were an hour late. Luckily the re-entry and screening was very efficient and I was in the terminal before the gate was announced. No assistance from Princess. Flight was full and I was in 50B so 10hrs of worry about getting through USA Immigration. Luckily the flight was early, despite a late departure. Passport was not too bad. Another couple were in the queue and I considered trying to blag my way onto their coach but abandoned as it was not yet 2pm. I managed to get the 13.57 BART to Embarcadero. There was a Post Office on the way so I stopped to post presents. One old man - just like Men in Black 2. Made the boat and was even able to Facebook the fact. It was nice to have a shower and relax.
I'm on Deck 15, and had forgotten how bad the lifts are on Princess Ships, still there is ice cream and lemonade available.. Departure was delayed as someone had to be removed from the ship, Called at Guest Services and all they could do was remove gratuities - I was willing to go down to $5per day. SF looked really pretty with all the lights.
Thursday 18th
Podcast Rare Earth helped me get a number of 1hr sleeps, (jet lag - another reason for leaving early) Up at 6am to the tune of a fog signal. Breakfast was pretty crowded even at 06.30. Made the mistake of letting a waiter get me coffee - it was too hot to enjoy. Lots of TV Channels not available. Attended a couple of presentations in the Theatre, very few people there and I failed to win the raffles. Lunch was a burger and a hot dog. Swapped out a James Patterson book for an Andy McNab and waiting (fighting the jet lag) to see if they will show the Thursday Night Game.
Which they did and what a game! Seahawks v LA Rams and from 15pts down Seattje came back to win 38-36 on a two pointt conversion in overtime (addded to two others). Jet lag had me asleep for the first half of the third quarter though, and I missed the first 5 mins but got to see all the scores.
Friiday 19th
Still suffering Jet Lag. Up at 7am having had more podcaststhrough the night. Found the lounge on deck 18 and read a little. Attended the theatre for an enrichment chat. Less waves now but still overcast, with glaances of sun.Got back to room to find that it had been serviced - not what I wanted. Seems I might have $150 ship credit.
Saturday 20th
This time it was Dan Snow's History Hit that enabled me to get sleeps. Up at 7am, Breakfast and up to the lounge to finish the Andy McNab book. Wander around and had an ice cream and cookie. Losing track of time and getting fed up with the piped Christmas music and constant selling. Plus the room was made up again! Apparently, we are between satellite coverage so no ESPN for 24hrs. Clocks go back again - games should start at 8am tomorrow. Went down to Theatre at 7.30 but it was packed so back and to bed.
Sunday 21st
Breakfast at 0700, clocks went back again so we are on Hawaiin time and games started at 8am, Two at a time for the early games, a short wander and then the evening game going on until 18.30..Actually made use of my travel mug for the first time today. Games were pretty good too!
Monday 22nd
Up to see us enter port and see the sun rise. Whales out at sea blowing as we tied up. Wandered up to Walmart and got toothpaste, probably too much, also got fridge magnets, discovered I had a double set once I got outside. Visited the Library and got a book (on England) and went through emails before returning to ship for a shower - it's hot and humid. Lunch, bit of relaxation and now the Monday Night Game. Which turned out to be pretty one sided.
Tuesday 23rd
Honolulu - and we were moored near the harbour entrance so it was further to walk to the Aloha centre and get wi-fi. Then on to the 7-Eleven and loaded the Holo card with $9. No1 bus was passing, so jumped on and made my way to the Pearl Harbour Memorial Centre via Skytrain and a bit of a walk. Rainbows up in the hills so bit of a worry about rain. Did the Aviation Museum first. Surprised at the size of F15's & 16's. Had to go back to the Visitor Centre to get to the Battleship Missouri. Good tour but below decks was a bit of a long trudge.
On way back I attempted to get photos but ran out of wi-fi as the skytrain departed, Couldn't get online at the Aloha Centre my guess is you only get one access per day. Dinner and asleep by 2000.
Wednesday 24th
Up at 6am, to watch arrival after breakfast. Locked myself out of the lounge while taking a photo and had quite a run around to get back to my coffee cup. Confirmed that I have $150 onboard credit, so booked a tour in Ensenada, contemplating a day of internet access @ $40 for one device. It was a long walk to get out of the dock area, but the Maui Mall had various wi-Fi options. No Komoot wanders so I started out towards the beach. Past the Water Reclamation Plant (Sewage) and wildlife area. The beach was beautiful, especially with the wind and the surf (which does not show in photos), The airport had various "Keep Out" signs around which had me climbing a fence, unnecessarily as it turned out. I also ended up trecking across some old sugar cane fields. The airport was very busy, lots of planes coming and going. Wander was over 10 miles. Boat departure was delayed due to strong winds. Interesting watching her swing round inside the harbour and then the pilot getting off.
Thursday 25th
Last year this place had massive waves crashing against the shore, not this year, quite calm. The canoes were out. I was back to room for the first American Football match, dozed a little but saw most of it. Second one was late starting (or at least being put on the cabin system) and I nearly got dressed - it will now have to wait till half time. They keep announcing tender bookings - makes me wonder how long you would have had to wait if you wanted to go ashore. Third match - Football from 8am to 18.30 - a great day.
Friday 26th
Nice breafast and upstairs to the lounge and a bit of podcast and finished the James Patterson book. For some reason we stopped, no idea why, but there was a lone Gannet flying around. Still quite warm so afternoon in the air conditioned comfort of the cabin, which despite my request for privacy had been made up. Took some anchovies to put on pizza, they didn't seem as salty as they should have been.
Saturday 27th
Rather late getting up. Breakfast, up to Skywalker Nightclub and a period of reading before going to the theatre. American Football started at 12.30 and there were two matches, so that took care of the afternoon. I keep wondering about next Christmas - another cruise - or somewhere ashore?
Sunday 28th
Another day of American Football, but with a more civilised start time of 9am. Cookies at lunchtime, an ice cream for tea and a look at future cruises reaching the conclusion that Hawaii does not fit in 2026, at least with Princess. Last game was a doozie - Chicago v 49ers. Up and down the field going down to the last play which Chicago failed to make - win for 49ers!
Monday 29th
Breakfast, up to Skywalker and finished large print James Patterson. Went to enrichment lectures and decided I could do a better job. Question is how do you get onto it - and how does it work. Going to be interesting. Waiting for the Monday night game. Which was also good going down to a final "Hail Mary" play. Falcons beat the Rams an upset as Rams are in Playoffs and Falcons have are well out of them.
Tuesday 30th
The room got made up again as the privacy please button reset itself. Overslept to almost 8am but was up in Skywalker by about 8.30. !0am wandered down to thre theatre for the "Meet the Captain" session. Stayed on for a session on Protected areas of the Pacific, but it was by the Frenchman and pretty incoherent ie content didn't really link. Though was interesting to see the area from Hawii which has been protected by being a National Monument - Obama getting around the paperwork - although first dedicated by Bush.
I am now the proud owner of an artwork having sat through the Art Auction. Americans really love their bright colours!
Wednesday 31st
The best laid plans , , , Well at least the ship docked early and I was able to go through the emails before having to go back through security to get my tour bus. Hour and a half drive to the Blowhole, which was not blowing as the sea was flat calm. I'm not even sure it is a proper blowhole. However, I did see a seal and a dolphin going past and got a photo of the dsark gull. Got a magnet and took pictures of the flea market, as the guide called it.
By the time we got back the rain was pretty heavy, so the plan to use the wi-fi and play on the internet went down the drain. More eating instead - that should stop soon. 4pm local is New Year in the UK. I think I can post to facebook via the Princess App - or at least the ship system - but apparently not. The Captain has just announced that we will be arriving in San Francisco early - like midnight. Everyone has to be off the ship by 9am. So much for getting photos of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Thursday 1st, 2026
So up early as practice for tomorrow and being thrown off early. Went and tried to purchase internet access but the guy just gave me the website address so that I could do it on the computer, which I have done and it has resulted in me staying in the cabin and playing on the internet all morning at least. No ESPN so no college football games which is unusual.
