San Diego's airport is big enough to handle the nonstop cross country flights, but small enough to be user friendly. It is a short drive to the terminal.
The terminal and embarkation couldn't have been any easier.
If you are there on a Jones Act stop don't bother going off the docks if it is after dark. We were told on the ship by passengers who had been on this cruise before, and didn't follow their advice. Big mistake. If you go off the docks do it on a ship sponsored tour.
The tour company messed up an otherwise great tour. We followed their instructions to a T and they still didn't get us back to Pearl in time for our scheduled ticket time. Then the tour guide negotiated with the Park Service to get us in, and told the group that if anybody needed to get water or go to the bathroom now was the time. About half the group left thinking they would be going on the Arizona Memorial tour at noon. It was less than two minutes when the Park Service herded the rest of the group into the theater, leaving those of us with spouses following the tour guide's advice out of the group being admitted. It took a rather stressful 20 minutes of arguing with the Park Service personnel about what happened before they decided that "Oh well, you missed your scheduled time," was not the answer we wanted to hear.
Eventually they "worked us in." But, after a couple of hours of standing on the Missouri tour and waiting for admittance to the memorial it was not acceptable to have to stand during the mandatory movie presentation before being shuttled to the memorial.
To put a cherry on the top of the day the bus driver/tour guide directed us to the wrong bus stop to get to the beaches.
OTOH, the taxi driver that took us to Diamond Head was worth every penny.
Iao Valley tour was excellent. We had rented a car and driven to the Haleakala Crater and the Road to Hana the day before. This was icing on the cake, a day to take a relaxing tour and see some beautiful scenery while learning about Maui. It is a great place to take pictures.
Maui Tropical Plantation Rating: Not Rated
If you wonder what all the plants you are seen are, go on this tour. It isn't too long and the tram makes for an easier day.
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