Cruise credits

Have you been on several cruises? Cruise lines keep up with stuff like that, and if you have cruised on their line before, you get perks. Take Royal Caribbean for example. We have cruised twice on that line, and their records show five "cruise credits." I'm not sure how they came up with that number, but it entitles us to perks that range from a bathrobe to use during our next cruise to priority boarding and debarking. Those are cruise terms for getting on or off the ship. Boarding and debarking can be a hassel, taking as much as two hours. It takes a while to board or debark two or three thousand people. The priority treatment cuts that down to minutes.

Repeat cruisers may get invited to onboard events that are not open to all passengers. They may get discounts and special tours, cabin upgrades, free drinks, gifts and all sorts of stuff that varies from one cruise line to another.

So if you have cruised with that line before, be sure that you mention it when talking to your travel agent or the cruise line people. You might be in line for some royal treatment.
Howard

The Hawaiian Islands

Most people who go to Hawaii head straight for Waikiki Beach near Honolulu. The name of that island is Oahu, which sounds like "Wa-who." There are Hula shows all over Waikiki, but this one was in a shopping mall.

Hawaii has other islands, but Oahu is where you will find Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and the North Shore with it's famous surfing beaches. The Bus, as the local bus line is called, can take you all the way around the island for $1.50. If you have a Medicare card you can ride for half price.

Once you have seen Oahu, go to the other islands to see the real Hawaii. The Big Island, which is actually named Hawaii, just like the state, is one where you can see active volcanoes with liquid lava pouring into the sea. There are mountains that are so tall they are often covered with snow, yet they are in the tropics. Lava flows many years old often look like they cooled yesterday. There are deserts and rain forests. Hawaii has spectular waterfalls and plenty of rainbows. You can also drive down to the southernmost point in the United States. It's a beautiful spot with a green sand beach.

Hilo is on the wet side and it rains most days, but you won't mind. The rain falls as a soft mist, and even if you get a little damp, the temperature is comfortable.
Be sure you ask about the tsunami that almost wiped out Hilo in the late 1940's.

Kona is the dry side. Beaches tend to be small because Hawaii is the youngest island in the state. Be sure you drive up to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Most towns on Hawaii are quite small, but worth a stop. People are friendly and don't mind if you ask questions.

Some people say that Molokai, Lanai, and Kauai are the real Hawaii. They have not been overly developed like Oahu.

If you could only see one island in the Hawaiian chain, it should be Maui. It has a little bit of all the things you see on other islands. Haleakala has not erupted in over 200 years, but the view from the top is breathtaking. At 10,024 feet, the oxygen is a little thin, and you'll need a sweater or a jacket.

Kauai is a small island, but a big favorite. They call it The Garden Isle. The cliffs and golden beaches of Kauai have starred in many a movie. This is where Hawaiians go for vacations. They have caves, blowholes, coconut palms, a canyon and cliffs that make you gasp. Kauai is the home of famous Poipu Beach. Some call it the best beach in the world.

You can fly to Hawaii, or catch a cruise in California and go there and back in style.
Check with www.altotravel.com They specialize in cruises, or they can book you a hotel right on the beach.

There is a lot more than hula shows in Hawaii.

Hazard, Kentucky circa 1943

If time travel was possible, I'd like to go back to Hazard, Kentucky during World War II. These pictures were taken on Main Street, near the courthouse and my father's clothing store. I'm in one of the pictures. If you are interested, find a man in overalls near the bottom of the top picture. Look past him over on the sidewalk and I am standing there in a dark sleeveless sweater with a light-colored shirt under it. I have my elbow bent about 90 degrees.

So what was going on in Hazard that day? My father was one of the organizers of a scrap drive to help the war effort. We scoured the whole town for scrap metal which we carried, dragged or hauled downtown and piled it all the way aroung the courthouse. Trucks took it across the river to the railroad yards and loaded it on a train to be taken to Pennsylvania. We liked to think that our scrap metal became parts of tanks, ships, airplanes, bombs, and bullets that helped win the war.

Hazard looks a lot different now. Even the court house has been replaced, but the house we lived in is still there.

Cruising

Cruising is a lot of fun. Even if your idea of cruising is driving slowly around town on a hot summer night with the top down, it's a lot of fun.

For some, cruising is best done on a large-displacement motorcycle. Others prefer an antique motorscooter. That can also be fun. But cruising on a huge ship with luxury all around, is my favorite kind of cruising. I like pretending to be rich folks.

Cruising is not expensive. Nobody pays the rack rate. You can search for those last minute deals on the internet, but you might do better putting it in the hands of a travel agent. They know where the bargains are and can save you money. They also know how to get you a better cabin at little or no extra cost. Booking late has its risks, but it's the best way to save money. Sometimes, after all of the cheap cabins are sold, the bargains are in rooms with balconies.

And did you know that the more you cruise, the more perks you get? Cruise lines love to pamper their regular customers. Be sure you mention it, if you have sailed on one of their ships before.

So what is there to do on a cruise ship? In a word: Eat. There is usually one big formal dining room, and a cafeteria style dining room on each ship. But it doesn't stop there. Some ships had ultra-formal(for want of a better word) dining rooms where you pay a cover charge. They tell me you really get pampered, but frankly, I have never been in one. The big dining room is good enough for anybody. The service is fantastic, the food great, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you are in a technicolor movie.

You will also find snack bars and free ice cream. And there is no charge for room service. Coffee and tea are everywhere. You only pay for a drink if it comes from the bar.

Tired of eating? There are swimming pools and hot tubs. A few ships have a hydrospa with has bubbles and jets of heated salt water. Evaporation consentrates the salt content and you can float around like it was the Dead Sea or Great Salt Lake. Some ships have indoor pools or a sliding top that encloses the outdoor pool when it rains. You can swim in comfort in the Inside Passage to Alaska when it is wet and cold outside.

Do you like shows? Cruise ships have one or more theatres. The main theater usually has two shows a night. Music, dancing, jokes, jugglers, magic, acrobats, you name it. A few ships even have an ice rink, and put on an ice show. Or you can go skating yourself.

There are lounges and night clubs with music and humor. You don't pay a cover charge and you don't have to buy a drink. One of my favorite day-time shipboard passtimes is to sit in the big lounge up front, usually even higher than the bridge, and just watch the ocean go by. I've watched albatross riding the wave of air that flows over the ship. They can almost go forever without flapping their wings. You may see whales, dolphins, or flying fish. Once in Alaska I saw bald eagles soaring across in front of the ship.

There is Las Vegas style gambling on ships. Those of you who gamble help pay the bill for those of us who don't. Cruise lines make most of their money on gambling, alcohol, and shore excursions. They also sell a lot of pictures. Sometimes I think they could give cabins away free and still make a profit. I get my money's worth on the free stuff like food, shows, activities.

Many ships offer free classes on everything from napkin folding to watercolors. I once went to a lecture and slide show on the history of ship building.

Movies are available in one or more theaters. Free.

Don't expect too much from your onboard TV channels. Sometimes they just can't seem to find a satellite. You can watch TV at home.

After a dozen cruises, I'll be glad to recommend my favorite cruise lines and travel agents. Check out www.altotravel.com Tell them you want to cruise on Howard's favorite cruise line.
Howard