Hawaii Cruise day 5: Kona on the big island (updated)
Monday, April 18, 2011 at 8:16PM Last night we did the long sail around the top of the big island to Kona. I don't think Captain Buz has too much actual captaining to do on this ship. I think the total distance is only a little more than 100 nautical miles but we puttered along at 2 knots all night long...
Today we snorkel at 12:30 so we got up late and had a nice breakfast in the Lazy J. Kona is a tender port so we hopped off about 10am and wandered around the shops for a little while settling into a little overlook bar on the main drag for a couple of frosty Kona Longboards before the excursion.
So far we have booked everything with either Roberts tours or MauiAdventures.com and nothing through the ship. In each case the tour we ended up on was a combination of ship booked people and direct booked people. Same tour, only difference is we saved about $40 each time booking direct. Thanks Cruise Critic!
Captain Zodiac was indeed an adventure. 14 people on what is essentially a big rubber raft catamaran with two big Johnson 150's strapped to the back. Hang on!, - then off you go to snorkel one of the most beautiful reef's I have ever seen. The boat is remarkably stable and we never felt like we were going to get tossed off, but straddling the pontoon like a saddle and tucking your inside foot under a rope bar for stability was both a bit scary and cool at the same time.
Once at the reef we had 90 minutes to snorkel. That side of the island drops into the ocean very steeply and 10 feet from shore you are in 10 feet of water but 30 feet from shore you are in 300 feet of water. The resulting fish that like to hang out at different depths are varied and amazing. we saw eels, parrot fish that chomped at the coral and made a crunching sound, and probably 30 or 40 different kinds of tropical fish in every color imaginable.
On the way back, we buzzed the shore line in the zodiac stopping at several caves, blow holes and lava tube exits along the way. At one point we stopped at the face of Pele, a set of lava tubes that looks like the face of the volcanic goddess said to be a warning of her fury.
Of all of the islands we have visited so far, I think I like the feel of Kona the best. Oahu is very commercial and packed with tourists. Maui is nice Hilo on the other side was cool to see, but Kona has a feel to it that I can't describe. Laid back and comfortable, almost what I picture in my mind a 60's beach town would be. (as I write this, we have actually been to Kauai already) If I ever get a wild hair and decide to move to Hawaii, Kona is the place.
Updated Pictures Below
Back to shore about 3:45. Just enough time to grab another Maui Longboard and some island nacho's before the last 5PM tender back to the ship.
Tonight we chose to have dinner in our suite dining room. Wally our butler brought us a menu from the Jefferson Bistro and we ordered when we left this morning. When we got back to our suite, our dining room was all set up with a crisp white cloth, fresh flowers, and a chilled bottle of bubbly. He then served us escargot and french onion soup. I had a shrimp and scallop entree layered with puff pastry and Colleen had one of the biggest bone in filets I have ever seen. We split a whole lobster and finished with tiramisu. Simply divine.
I have read many places that the food on this ship is only marginal. I'm here to tell you - Bobby Flay would be proud.
Once we finished our gastronomic extravaganza, we had espresso under the stars on our deck, then it was a short ten foot walk to our comfy bed.
Our Dinner
The little bar in Kona (Hi Ernie - thanks for the Longboards!)
The POA from shore
Our balcony from the front (top row, both sides)
Here is the towel animal parade from our room
Our swans and 'hefelump
Harry the hair and Cool Runnin' the duck
Wild Boar (no name.... he's wild) and Larry (who tastes pretty good with a little drawn butter)
All over the islands there are feral chickens and cats. Some of the cats are approachable, others, look like they would rip your hand off if you get to close to them.
Someone asked one of our tour guides if the chickens were good eating. She said, well - they scavenge and eat trash all day - but I've heard if you drop one in a pot of boiling water along with a lava rock - then cook it until the rock is soft - you can then eat the rock because it tastes better...
We had heard that Dog the bounty hunter lived here.... & we had a sighting....
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Snorkeling pictures from Captain Cook's Monument
Captain Cook's Monument and the cove
Parrot Fish
Puffer Fish
Lots of fish!
Hard to see here but there was an eel in the hole
Another Parrot
These guys were playing cat and mouse
It was pretty shallow in some places
This hotel (the Sheraton) in Kona was designed by Franklin Lloyd Wright. the rooms on the bottom right have bullet proof glass, not because of security but because the waves kept breaking them.
Tomorrow its off to Kauai for two days......
Reader Comments (1)
Absolutely LOVING your Pride of America review! My husband and I are going in December on our first cruise/first trip to Hawaii. We never thought we were the cruising type so I'm VERY glad to read that we won't be waited on hand and foot because that's not our style. Your pictures are wonderful. You and your wife look like a lovely couple.