We were looking to escape for Thanksgiving, and because we enjoyed Hawaii on the Ruby Princess we decided to return. We arrived early hoping to find a little time to make it over to see the USS Iowa berthed nearby, but that didn't happen.

Despite her age, the ship is in really good shape. The bathrooms in the cabins look a bit dated, but outside of that, you wouldn't know her age. Having been on the Ruby, Emerald and Caribbean the layout is familiar. The Horizon buffet is a bit smaller, with a what seems a bit less seating.

We chose this cruise because we enjoy sea days. My wife was delighted to find many activities to fill her day. This cruise featured a couple (Kimo and Lokelina) which served as Hawaiian Ambassadors. They taught Lei Making, Hula, Ukulele and exposed us to a bit of the Hawaiian language. When they weren't teaching classes, they gave port and island lectures and exposed us in the Hawaiian culture. But they also entertained in the Piazza with their music. By the time we arrived in Hilo, we looked at Hawaii in a totally different way, it was fantastic. This couple was great, as they were always around and were more than happy to share their knowledge of the island with you. Read more