2007 Hawaii Cruise

Join Mary Nelle & Jack Figart and Virginia & Jerry Brewer on a 15 day cruise to Hawaii.

1 We sail from Los Angeles on the 2670 passenger Diamond Princess.	2 Mary Nelle & Jack are delighted with their large stateroom balcony.	3 Our traveling companions, Jerry & Virginia Brewer of Katy, TX.	4 We join Brad, of the cruise director's staff, on a tour of the ship.	5 Our ship has indoor and outdoor pools.
6 Mary Nelle & Jack check out the ballroom dance class on a sea day.	7 Ginger & Mary Nelle make masks for Mardi Gras night.	8 Line dance classes are always popular.	9 Look Ma, we're playing the ukelele!	10 Our forward facing cabin offers stunning sunsets sailing to Hawaii.
11 The audience assists in a cooking demo with the Maitre d' & head chef.	12 We celebrate Thanksgiving at sea.	13 Everyone's happy to see land, Hilo, after 5 days at sea.	14 Is anybody game for a helicopter tour of the Kilauea Volcano?	15 Jack is ready for lift off.
16 Meet our pilot, Pete, a retired navy pilot.	17 Rainbow over Hilo after a brief rain shower.	18 This lava flows from a fissure down toward the sea.	19 Lava flows have created much new land on the Big Island of Hawaii.	20 Macadamia nut orchards are plentiful near Hilo.
21 We're treated to a great view of our ship in Hilo Harbor.	22 Mary Nelle & the Brewers keep their feet on on solid ground.	23 Kilauea is the world's most active volcano.	24 Some leave sacrifices at the volcano.	25 The tour bus stops at an orchid greenhouse.
26 Orchids are plentiful throughout Hawaii.	27 Does the orchid on the left ear mean she's available or taken?	28 We dance the hula at the sail away party.	29 Mary Nelle latches on to Brad, the hunky hula guy.	30 Our next port of call is Kona, on the west side of the Big Island.
31 Our mode of transportation here is the Atlantis Submarine.	32 What do you see out there, Jerry?	33 Fish seem to love the sunken WWII LST.	34 An eel found a home on this sunken sailing vessel.	35 Quinn's offers a great fish and chips lunch in Kona.
36 Cute makes up for talent at a Kona craft fair.	37 Mary Nelle buys hand made necklaces from the craftslady.	38 Ginger & Jerry are awed by this banyan tree.	39 Kona is famous for its coffee.	40 Jerry & Jack sample the local coffee. But where are the ladies?
41 Mary Nelle & Ginger are on a fabric fondling frenzy at a Kona quilt...	42 Jack tries to woo a mermaid but she prefers the sailor.	43 Ginger & Jerry pause to watch the waves roll in.	44 We rent a Chevy Equinox to tour Honolulu on our own.	45 We visit a botanical garden on the way to the North Shore.
46 We enjoy a liesurely stroll along the garden paths.	47 Bromiliads are one of the many colorful native plants in the garden.	48 Like Joseph, the Eucalyptus tree has a coat of many colors.	49 Our next stop is the Dole Plantation garden tour.	50 Meet Stacy, our strumming, singing garden tour guide.
51 The bird of paradise is just one of the many brilliant flowers.	52 We stop for lunch at Macky's shrimp truck on Oahu's North Shore.	53 Macky serves up a plentiful platter of huge shrimp.	54 Time to shop for a new Hawaiian shirt at Hilo Hattie's.	55 The drive up to Diamond Head offers great views of Oahu's eastern...
56 Oahu's coastal highway is truly spectacular.	57 These young hula dancers put on a great performance.	58 Honolulu at night as seen from our ship.	59 Watching a full moon rise over Honolulu is a perfect ending to our day.	60 Coming into Kauai as seen from our stateroom balcony.
61 We share the port with The Pride of Aloha.	62 We cruise up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto.	63 The grotto is just a short hike away.	64 Entertainers perform the Hawaiian Wedding Song in a natural grotto.	65 "You may now kiss the bride!"
66 Can you spot the tourists?	67 Bringing the roast pig out of the pit means it's luau time!	68 Musicians and dancers perform while we feast at the luau.	69 These young sisters stole the show.	70 Don't get too close to the weedeater!
71 Jack falls in love with a pocket sized hula dancer.	72 Part of the gardens surrounding our luau facility.	73 What a romantic garden!	74 Jerry and Virginia get lei'd at the luau!	75 We renew our vows at a luau ceremony.
76 This proud fellow struts his stuff around the luau gardens.	77 A tender is ready to ferry us back to our ship.	78 Jack spoils Mary Nelle by bringing her breakfast on the balcony.	79 Our last stop is Maui, where we visit the aquarium.	80 Maui Ocean Center residents.
81 This eel patiently waits for a meal to swim by.	82 Beautiful starfish are available for petting.	83 Giant turtles, so clumsy on land, glide gracefully underwater.	84 Jellyfish look like delicate lace under ultraviolet lighting.	85 A diver feeds the undersea critters in the big tank.
86 The stingrays are graceful and playful.	87 It's a great place for watching the underwater creatures.	88 Mary Nelle checks out the underwater tube.	89 A happy faced stingray swims overhead.	90 Colorful flowers even adorn the boat docks.
91 Story of the largest banyan tree in the US.	92 This banyan tree is the largest in the US, shading an acre of city...	93 We tour a plantation to view a variety of crops grown in Hawaii.	94 All aboard for a tour of the plantation.	95 Crops inlcude pineapple,coconut, sugar cane, coffee and many more.
96 Mist shrouded mountains overlook the plantation.	97 Coffee beans turn bright red when ripe.	98 How to milk a coconut.	99 The coconut is now split and the meat ready to eat.	100 The Iao Valley Needle.
101 Iao Valley is nestled among steep, rugged mountains.	102 Cruise director, David, and assistant Leah perform a 20's skit.	103 The cruise director's staff performs a bit of 20's style silliness.	104 Hula classes attract students of all ages.	105 Jerry, is that really an emergency exit or a practical joke?
106 Virginia and Jerry are ready for formal night.	107 Mary Nelle & Jack are on their way to formal night.	108 Mary Nelle & Ginger toast to a fun cruise.	109 Male Princess dancers perform a number from the "Piano Man" show.	110 Some of the awesome costuming for "The Piano Man".
111 Mary Nelle volunteers for the hypnotist show.	112 She moves toward a dreamy hunk in super slow motion.	113 The atrium is the site of a champagne waterfall.	114 Guests take turns pouring Champagne over nearly 500 glasses.	115 Looking for Mary Nelle? Check the casino!
116 Jack & Mary Nelle ham it up on the stage of the 800 seat theater.	117 "I dreamed I was a Las Vegas showgirl!"	118 Jerry meets Tatiana, one of the Princess dancers from Russia.	119 We check out the dressing room during a backstage tour.	120 We're glad our ship didn't suffer the fate of this one in Ensenada.
121 What is a "La Bufadora"?	122 Tres loco gringos. What are they looking at?	123 La Bufadora, a Pacific ocean blowhole near Ensenada, Mexico.	124 Admiring the view of Ensenada Bay.	125 Enough wasting time sightseeing. It's time to shop!
126 Monkey see, monkey do!	127 Jerry, is that a relative?	128 What kind of tourist would buy a wrestler's mask?	129 Kez, one of cruise director's staff, bought 2 masks!	130 Our last glimpse of our ship as we depart LA for our return home.

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Nov. 18 - Dec. 3, 2007