Mark and Urana's 14 Day Hawaiian Cruise!

Day 1~ Port of Los Angeles. As we arrive at the Port Of Los Angeles, we take in the incredible site of our ship, Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas as she sits at the dock. The porters are quick to aid us and relieved us of our luggage. We quickly more through the check in and after a short wait, boarding started in an orderly number system.

One on board, we found our stateroom and spent a few minutes enjoying the view from our balcony. We then started our tour where every cruiser should - in the dining room!!!! In this case it was the casual dining room, the "Windjammer", for a quick bite.

We arrived back in our stateroom and were pleased to find half our bags already in our room, and just a few seconds later our room steward appeared and had the rest of our bags! We unpacked and explored the rest of the day.

Day 2-5 ~ At Sea. We are at sea making the long trip to the Hawaiian Islands. We used this time to relax and plan our shore excursions in Hawaii. We found time to enjoy the many onboard activities, including bingo, the spa, shopping, lectures and the casino.

Day 6 ~ Oahu. We arrived in Hawaii at the dock in Honolulu. We rented a car for the day and visited the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, the most visited attraction in Hawaii. This is a must see if you visit. The memorial is run jointly by the U.S. Park Service and the U.S. Navy. Once you enter the visiter center, you are given a ticket for a tender ride to the Memorial. The Arizona was sunk by a surprise attack by air and naval forces of the Japanese Empire on December 7, 1941, plunging the United States into World War II. The Arizona sank with over one thousand of her crew members on board. These men are still on board the Arizona. The tomb is a very moving place to visit.

There is a museum and gift shop on shore at the visitor center, which helps to make the time go by while waiting for your tender number to be called. There were several survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor there that day. Stop by and talk to these heros. They have some incredible stories, and will pose for photos and sign books. These men and their peers are responsible for saving the world from the axis powers that were controlled by evil, horrible men. So take a few minutes to say hello and thank these men!

After our stop at Pearl Harbor, we are off to the Dole Plantation in the center of the island, where we explore the wonderful garden and attempt to find our way through the extremely large maze. The plantation also has a large store where you can buy anything made with or about pineapples.

The world famous North Shore of Oahu is our last stop. The North Shore is home to the world center of surfing, and the beaches are great for watching the action. If you prefer, grab a board and catch a wave! The North Shore has that small town feel, with lots of surf shops. Even non-surfers will find lots of shopping and great eateries spread up and down the coast.

Day 7 ~ Kona. When I heard we were going to Kona, located on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, my first thought was of the coffee they grow and export all around the world. Once on shore, you can see the impact the coffee industry has had on this small community.

There is a lot more to Kona than coffee. The waters just off the coast are alive with beautiful reefs, coral, fish and other marine life.

I went on a snuba trip. This is a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving. You dive down no more than 25 feet while attached to an air hose that is hooked to air tanks floating on a raft above you. Unlike scuba, you do not need to be certified to participate in this activity, nor do you carry the tanks on your back.

There are many other activities to choose from in Kona, with many tours taking you into the mountains, valleys and even the volcanos on the "Big Island". If you are like my wife, shopping is always an option, and Kona did not disappoint her. Many of the shops orivite free shuttles to the stores and markets.

Day 8 ~ Oahu. Today we were scheduled to be in Hilo on the "Big Island", but high winds and seas made going into port unsafe. Our Captain made the decision to return to Oahu. We were back in Honolulu by 7:30 am and rented another car and were off again. We stopped first at the swap meet that is held every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at Aloha Stadium. You can find any type Hawaiian souveniers you want and at very reasonable prices.

We next stopped and looked at Hanamuna Bay, a state park that was once an active volcano. When this volcano erupted, it blew one side out and the ocean flooded into the crater, creating a beautiful bay that has reefs and coral with thousands of fish and even turtles. This makes the bay the best place to snorkel in Hawaii.

The windward side of Oahu was our next destination. The drive along the coast is breathtaking, and when I think about Hawaii, this is what I will remember. There are a number of stops where you can pull off and watch the surf crash into the rocks below. If you make this drive, make sure you look for the sign that says "Blow Hole". Stop and watch as the water slams into the rocks and then is pushed up into a tube in the rocks. The water sprays up like a giant whale blowing water and foam into the air!

The last stop today was the Pali lookout, high above the coast, giving unforgetable views of the windward side of Oahu. The winds were very strong and the clouds were pushing into the mountains all around us, making an eerie scene. It was about twenty degrees cooler than down on the coast, making this a very refreshing stop.

Day 9 ~ Maui. Our last stop in Hawaii gave us an overnight in Lahaina Town. We enjoyed this former whaling village that has outstanding shopping and dining.

We rented another car and explored the coast. Maui is beautiful and peaceful and the pace is very laid back.

We made a stop at the Maui Tropical Plantation and enjoyed a tour of the grounds that were full of lush plants and towering palms.

Our next stop was a great luau in Wailea at the Marriott. The setting was unbelievable, right on the beach! The food and the show were terrific.

Day 10-14 ~ Return to the mainland. This was a bittersweet time. We hated leaving the islands, but the return was very relaxing and we had a great time.

We planned an extra day in Los Angeles, so we booked an excursion through the ship to tour L.A., with stops in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and a lunch at the Farmers Market. This is part open air market, part mall and part food court. This excursion was a nice way to end our vacation,