The view from our Moxy Hotel room towards the port.  But that does not look like the Queen Mary 2. Taxi to the Queen Mary 2. Checking into any cruise ship is a slow and sometimes painful experience.  This one was no different.  We had been traveling for nearly 6 weeks, so we missed getting an important document that others had.  Took us a bit longer, then, to get through the system, only to find another line.  We were sent to an area with six elevators, but 5 were being used to bring luggage to the rooms.  Waited and waited and finally got to our floor.  However, my suitcase was not there.  This same thing happened on our Tauck Tulip cruise.  My baggage went to another room, and I did not get it until 8PM after I had given up hope.  Some canapés provided by Costco (we worked through them to get this cruise paid) and champagne, provided by the ship. Not much of a view from our veranda. Still no suitcase, so went to dinner. Cocktails befor dinner.   Then the ship departed.  Last view o

From  Worldometer  (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):           DAY    USA    WORLD      Brazil      India      South Africa 2020 June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82 July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572 Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130 Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82 Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85 Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118 Dec     30       3880    14748       1224       299      465 2021 Jan      14       4142      15512       1151         189     712 Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398 Mar      2       1989     9490        1726       110      194 April     6        906    11787         4211       631       37 May     4        853     13667        3025      3786     59   June    1        287    10637         2346      3205      95  July    7         251      8440        1595        817     

Have you ever had a 5-hour dinner for two with a view of Diamond Head and a Waikiki sunset that cost a thousand dollars?  We did last night at La Mer, which is on the second floor above Orchids. The evening began with a gin martini on ice with olives at House Without a Key. We went on to be served Heidsieck Champagne at La Mer, which once was free...but no more. After being kept away from fine cuisine for more than 2.5 years by the pandemic, we splurged on Malossol Caviar.  The roe came from  U.S. aquacultured sturgeon .  Caviar prices are absurd, but  China  is entering the picture, and prices could drop. We selected the $300 version. Sunset at Waikiki. We selected the following Menu Dégustation. First the amusement, of more caviar in a soup sauce. Foie gras paté, beets, onions and popcorn, with a Justin Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. Then a roasted scallop/lobster consommé with cuttlefish. Followed by a plate of chorizo, lobster and squid ink gnocci. The final entre was filet o