Our trip started with 3 nights at MGM Grand in Vegas, followed by 2 nights in Hotel Monaco San Fransisco, along with a lot of other English on similar itinaries. Our transfer to the Star Princess got us to the terminal at 12-30pm were we checked in and were taken to sit with some grumpy Americans, one whom said to a nice Princess lady "see this beard, I didn't have it when I sat down". I had to restrain my laughter, but we sat for 30 mins at most. Inside cabin was adequate and clean. Spectacular views of San Fransisco in the dark as we sailed away. Great ship, with lots of activities, we used a well equipped gym on sea days, and spent tme around a electronic poker table were we met a lot of new friends, whom we now facebook regularly. We did anytime dining, and used mainly the Portofino dining room, excellent food and good service, never had to queue, and we usually joined a table which generated interesting conversation, so we never used the additional fee dining rooms. Occasionally we used Horizon Court at breakfast, if the night before had been "heavy" which was fine but not to the standard of the dining room. Vines wine bar was excellent, with nice wines on offer, Schooners piano bar was also very good, drawing big crowds for his performances. Entertainment was quite good on the whole, without being West End standard, although the Russian dance couple were amazing, with some impressive stunts and cossack dancing. We went "off piste" with the excursions, and via the internet we booked a "combo" package with Roberts Hawaii, the main bus operator on the Hawaian Islands. This meant a trip on each of the four islands, taking in Volcano national park, Pearl Harbour, River cruise and grotto, nut factory, waterfalls, with still time to spend time on Wakiki and Nawilwilli beaches. We paid for both of us $280 total, if we had taken similar ship excursions they would have cost almost $700. The drivers on the Roberts tours were first rate for knowledge and humour, and we would have no quams using them again.

One warning, in Lahaina we were tendered off the ship which took forever, we sat and waited 45 mins before we got tendered to shore, by which time we had missed our trip. Get there early is the lesson.

We then paid $2 each to get the bus to Whaler's, which is a very nice beach resort, and then walked the 4 miled back to Lahaina, along the Pacific, were we were lucky to see dozens of metre size turtles in the surf amongst the rocks. Wonderful sight. In Ensenada we took a trip to a vineyard from the ship excursions, which was good, but as we didnt dock until 4pm the bus ride was in the dark, not ideal.As a NFL fan, the Movie under the Stars screened a lot of games and kept me entertained for hours, while the better half found a cozy corner with a book. Read more