CruiseSource

We woke up in Maui! We ate breakfast at the Cadillac Grill on the NCL Pride of America. The Cadillac Grill is a sit-down diner where you can have breakfast made to order. When there is an option, we prefer to eat at the sit-down restaurants over the buffets because the food seems to be a little better.
After breakfast we got off of the ship without any plans. We decided we would figure it out as we went. In Maui, NCL docks in an industrial area. Your options are a cruise line excursion which are expensive, a rental car, a shoretrips excursion, or Richard an independent tour operator who is a direct descendent of the Hawaiian King. When we got to the gate of the pier we found the only independent tour operator at the port. He charged us $50 per person for a shuttle to IAO National Park, Ka’anapali Beach, and Lahaina. It was a 6 hour tour and a similar tour is sold by the cruise line for $100+ per person. We were on in a shuttle van with 8 others and Richard gave us an incredible history lesson as we crossed the Island. We have video of Richard playing the nose flute asking the Gods for permission to enter the IAO National Park.
Ka’anapali Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If we would have gotten a rental car we probably would have spent the whole day there. Tonight is Lobster night and we have a cocktail party with the Captain. We will have to go to bed after dinner because we need to wake up at 2:30 AM to do the 28 Mile bike ride down Haelakulu Volcano . As long as the weather cooperates, we will get to see the sun rise over a crater the size of Manhattan Island.
Lastly, speaking of weather it looks like Hurricane Felicia, now downgraded to tropical depression will hit the “Big Island” at Kona. We are scheduled to be in Hilo during this time. I figure this weather system will have to impact our cruising at some point. We are getting lots of pictures and video, but we will have to upload most of those when we get home because of the expense of the Internet Connection.

Twitter has been giving me issues all weekend, but follow me there as I will continue live tweeting and posting pics on Twitpic.

I can get you set up with tours with Richard, his rate is 1/3 of the cruise line and he is an awesome guide. email me rtucker [at] cruisedeals.com.