Journey to Paradise - Pride of America
Trip Start
Aug 09, 2008
1
2
8
Trip End
Aug 23, 2008
Honolulu,
Hawaii,
United States
Saturday, August 9, 2008
On the way to lunch we stopped by the reception area and made a reservation for Teppenyaki at 6pm. We had lunch at the Skyline. I ordered Siamese beef with rice noodle. I did not like it. It was tasteless. DH loved his barbecue ribs. We ordered another one because DD1 loved it too after she tasted it. There were only two party having lunch at skyline. Our waiter was Kevin he was so nice and accommodating. After lunch we decided to check out the conservatory. On the way, we passed by Aloha Café. It was so crowded. (That's were the people went). I'm glad we went to Skyline for lunch. We were able to relax and took our time eating. The conservatory was small. We did not stay long.
HNL Pier 2
We went to Deck twelve. While the kids where playing the giant checker I was taking pictures. Then we signed up the kids for Kid's crew. As we were leaving the Rascal's we heard the announcement that our cabin was ready. It was Deck 12 first then 11, then Deck 4 followed by Deck 8 then Deck 9 (Us). I set up a Meet and Greet for Cruise Critic roll call. Most of them had already left for Hawaii when I received the confirmation date. So I made a copy of the Meet and Greet confirmation letter, put it in an envelope and left it in the two cabins that we saw on our way to our own cabin. The kids kept asking if we are on the right track to our cabin. I just told them that I'm passing out the letter. When we reached our cabin the room was open. I walked in and the kids followed. It has two bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. They can't believe on what they saw. As they go from room to room, they kept asking if it was really our room. I finally said, "No, it was open and I just walked in and you followed". DS was quick to get out of the room. He was so scared thinking we were trespassing on somebody else's room. DH and I finally told them that it was our room. It's our gift to them for doing great in school, their birthday gifts and Mom and Dad's anniversary treat. Then the doorbell rang. They were impressed even more. DD1 exclaimed: "We have a doorbell?" I didn't even know it either. It was room service delivering the birthday cake. The room has birthday decorations that I pre-booked
Diamond Head
. What was missing was the soda package. We were told it will be delivered to our room. We tried the cake. It was not really a real cake. It tasted like pudding.When we originally booked this cruise we got what NCL had available at that time which was an inside stateroom on Deck 11 and Deck 8. What the kids didn't know was whenever I got the chance I visited NCL website (for no reason, I was drawn to it like a magnet). One day I saw two balconies next to each other and asked for an upgrade. Then I saw a suite with an obstructed view. I asked the kids about what they think of a suite with obstructed view. DS said it is better at least we're together. Talked to DH about it and upgraded again. Finally, on May 3rd I was in the downstairs computer surfing NCL's website again when I saw the Deluxe Family Penthouse Suite available. DH was upstairs and I can't yell it to him because I don't want the kids to hear. I run up the stairs, I strain my leg muscles in the process. I told him about the Deluxe Family PHS. He said to take it. I was like, "Can we afford it"? DH is the "cheap" type. Hearing this from him was so unbelievable. I let him made the call and we got it. DH said to forget the up sell fairy calling us. This is the highest category we can get for party of 5. This will be a surprise for the kids. I ordered birthday package for DS and DD2. I ordered soda package for DD2 so that she won't be left out. When we made the final payment, I spoke with Jose, NCL's travel consultant
View from our stateroom blacony.
. I mentioned the birthday and soda package that I ordered. It's a good thing I did because it was not on their record and he made sure that it's there. Jose is very patient and efficient. He listened and answered all my questions. He made sure everything was recorded.DD1 wanted to attend the Port Shopping Talk at 3PM to get a freebie. I went with her. She was not disappointed. She got a free Del Sol T-shirt. She likes Del Sol products because the color changes when you wear it outside. She's thrilled with that.
The Muster Drill was at 4:30 PM. After that, we met our Butler, Walter. He said to call him Wally if we want him to answer. He told us to make dinner reservation now for the whole week which we did. In turn, he gave it to our concierge, James Lines who made the reservation and typed the confirmation and gave us a copy.We told Wally that we want to start early at 7AM on Kona day and would like a room service for breakfast delivered to us at 0630.
Our room has 3 closets and plenty of drawers that I don't know where to put what. Plus, with the jet lag and terrible headache; I am crippled.
We had dinner at Teppenyaki. The food was delicious. At $25.00 PP, (half price for the kids) it was worth it. We still did not get our soda package. It is one day worth of soda that we missed. DH went to get it and came back with additional backpack. We were supposed to pick it up from the Kid's Crew. Nobody told us about it until tonight.
After dinner we stopped by Na Hoku to buy a pineapple pendant. This entitled us to pick up an oyster. We let DD1 picked and when it was opened there was a big beautiful pearl inside. We bought a flower for setting. We wanted the shell but the pearl was too big to fit in it.
