My sis and I booked this trip because we last went to Hawaii when we were kids, with our parents. We spent three days pre-voyage in Honolulu and were very shocked at what a big city it has become. Visited the Polynesian Cultural Center and Arizona Memorial, Waikiki Beach etc.

Then on Saturday Nov 16 we joined our Pride of America cruise. Our entire trip was arranged through Costco Travel, and it was nice not having to worry about transfers etc. Our hotel to ship transfer got us to the pier at 1 PM, but the lines were much worse than I had expected, and it took more than an hour to board. And we were all handed letters warning us that the previous cruise had experienced higher-than-normal levels of NoroVirus...not too comforting.

When we finally boarded our cabin was not ready, so we went as advised to the Aloha Cafe to get some lunch. That was a little frightening; it was a mob scene since so many were moving around with pieces of luggage, and the tables all needed disinfecting because of the virus threat. Read more