CRUISING, Part 2: HONOLULU TO EUROPE AND BACK

To catch a Christmas European River cruise in 2024, I made two itineraries involving cruises, sailing east from Honolulu to Europe and west from Europe back to Honolulu.

Unfortunately, couldn't find a cruise to the West Coast from Honolulu. Something to do with the Jones Act. Possible to sail to Vancouver, but no options coming or going during these two itineraries for the Fall and Winter of 2024. Also, no cruises from the West Coast of North America to Honolulu during this period. Well, there is one loophole that comes at the end of this posting.

So we start with a flight from Honolulu, and the only cruise heading south, then east, was on the Holland America, from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale on the Nieuw Amsterdam. Thus, beginning in September of 2024.

Fly from Honolulu to Vancouver on September 26. Stay a couple of days at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown.
Board the Nieuw Amsterdam on September 29 for a 21-day cruise.
Verandah cabins start at $5509/person with beverage package and WiFi.
Stops in San Francisco, San Diego, various Latin American ports, through the Panama Canal and eventually to Fort Lauderdale on October 20.
Spend two nights at JW Marriott Marquis in Miami.
Fly to Memphis on October 23.

Board the America Cruise Lines American Symphony on October 25 for a 9-day cruise.
Arrive New Orleans on November 2.
Spend three nights at the Saint Hotel in New Orleans.
Fly to Miami on November 6 and stay at the JW Marriott Marquis.

Board the MSC Magnifica on November 8 for a 23-day cruise to Genoa, Italy.
Spend a few days sailing in the Caribbean, then to Madeira, Lisbon, etc., Barcelona, Civiravecchia (Rome), arriving in Genoa on December 1.
There is a large number of Christmas river cruises, but the following is one example.
Fly to Amsterdam on December 1 and stay at the Amsterdam Marriott hotel.
Board the Viking Tir on a 15-day river cruise to Budapest. A veranda room is available for $7,200/person.
Arrive Budapest on December 19.
Fly from Budapest to Hamburg on December 19. Stay at Hamburg Marriott Hotel.

There aren't too many westward bound transatlantic cruises. The following seems possible on Cunard's Queen Anne, which just began sailing in May of this year.

Has 15 restaurants for 3000 passengers.
Board the Cunard Queen Anne on in Hamburg on December 20, 2024 for an 18-day to the Canary Islands, and back to Hamburg on January 7, 2025. Balcony $8195 ($455/day)/person.

Queen Anne will begin its Maiden World Voyage, taking 111-nights from Hamburg on January 7, 2025. balcony room costs $28,169 ($254/day)/person.

Continue on the Cunard Queen Anne from January 7, 2025 in Hamburg for a 26-day cruise to San Francisco, arriving on February 4, 2025. Current balcony room for $6000 ($231/day)/person.
That above leg seems bookable today.
However, the ship then sails to Honolulu, arriving on February 9, 2025. Perhaps this will be allowed. Got to look into it.

If not, then stay at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront and fly from San Francisco to Honolulu on February 7, 2025. Then again, why not take that World Voyage, which ends in Hamburg on April 29, 2025? But then, we'll need to fly back to Honolulu from Hamburg. So many options. Cost for them? Today, the above remains a fantasy. Why spoil those dreams today?

Tomorrow, details on our global journey in the coming spring. A lot of flying, plus three cruises. This one is real. Cost? Return for details.

DAY 1 on the DIAMOND PRINCESS

But first, Sheraton Yokohama Bay highlights of our Sheraton Club eats/drinks and breakfasts. Breakfast stations. Then taxi off to the Diamond Princess. Fall colors. Approaching from the rear of the Diamond Princess. Departure of Diamond Princess from Yokohama, Departure snack of lamb, beef, penne pasta, Johnny Walker Gold and champagne. Leaving Yokohama. We then went to Kai Sushi for dinner, Sushi and sake dinner, Then, off to Fun Dance Class. That followed by karaoke. The night continued into some old time disco. Finally, after midnight, back to our stateroom. Walked 4127 steps today. -

ON THE MATTER OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Hawaii today celebrates King Kamehameha the First Day as a public holiday. Next Monday, June 19, or Juneteenth, is a Federal holiday. However, 22 states, including Hawaii, do not recognize this as a public holiday. Four of these will begin to honor this day next year, not Hawaii. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery. Here are the Hawaii holidays, and note three that only we have: New Year’s Day: 1st day in January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day: 3rd Monday in February Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day: 26th day in March Good Friday: Friday before Easter Easter: Calculating Easter Memorial Day: Last Monday in May King Kamehameha I Day: 11th day in June Independence Day: 4th day in July Statehood Day: 3rd Friday in August Labor Day: 1st Monday in September Veterans’ Day: 11th day in November Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November Christmas: 25th day in December There are 11 paid Fede...

HOW TO WATCH NETFLIX SHOWS

But first, maybe President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza Peace Plan is showing some progress . No one expects the Hamas to accept all of them, but they did agree to release all captives and the act of handing over administration to Palestinian technocrats. So far, in the Gaza Strip, 66,288 have been killed and 169,165 wounded. On 7October2023, almost two years ago, 1139 were killed in the initial Hamas-led attack. About my topic of the day, I've long been lamenting the overflow of watchable films and series available on Netflix and Prime. Why expand into the plethora of other streaming options when I can't keep up with what I have, which costs me around $30/month. And, of course, why venture out to a movie theater to end up watching a film that will cost me around that amount of money, when you add the popcorn, drink, gasoline cost, time it takes to get there and back, and the risk of a car accident or worse. Oh, also getting infected with ...

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