Golden Princess Hawaiian Islands Cruise Experience

It was like a scene from Moby Dick: 50 pairs of expectant eyes strained against the afternoon sun to scan the ocean around our 70ft catamaran.

Golden Princess. Princess Cruises

No one spoke and the tension mounted as seconds ticked by. Then we heard: “There he blows, close at three o’clock!”

The cry from the wheelhouse triggered an expectant rush to the port side to witness the tell-tale spout of water. Without warning, a huge humpback whale soared into the air, water streaming from its flanks.

For a moment, this magnificent 40-ton beast hung there, glinting in the sunlight, before plunging back into the ocean with a tremendous splash.

What a thrill, and to think this experience was in the same stretch of water that inspired author Herman Melville to write Moby Dick in 1851.

Our two-hour whale-watching cruise in the bay off Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui was a highlight of our cruise to America’s 50th state

There are few places more exotic to see on a 14-day cruise. Hawaii is a beautiful and magical place, combining its traditional Aloha spirit with the spruce efficiency of the US.

Although flights to and from Los Angeles, where the cruise embarks, take 10 to 11 hours, a pre-cruise night in LA adjusts the body clocks.

We took a two-hour coach tour of downtown Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Hollywood, ending in a teatime departure on Golden Princess, one of 17 in Princess Cruises’ fleet.

Refitted in 2009, this 109,000-ton ship has 13 decks and an amazing glass-walled room atop the stern with spectacular views from both sides.

After four days at sea, our first port of call was Hilo, capital of the Big Island of Hawaii and home to two volcanoes.

Next day we reached what some saw as the Mecca of the cruise: the island of Oahu and the state capital, Honolulu with its magnificent Waikiki beach.

So many movies have been shot here that it seems strangely familiar. We dutifully photographed the narrow, rock-strewn beach where Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr daringly frolicked in the surf in From Here To Eternity.

A must on Oahu is the pilgrimage to Pearl Harbor and the sunken USS Arizona — a poignant war grave.

It feels like we’ve visited our next stop, Kauai, too because it’s appeared in films such as South Pacific, Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Jurassic Park. Its fairytale beauty is stunning.

Take a scenic drive to Waimea Canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon. You will be bowled over by its magnificence from a 3,400ft viewpoint.

If you can, try to view the green-fringed, corrugated mountain wilderness of the Na Pali coast from the sea. It’s one of the world’s most wonderful natural beauties.

Helicopter flights, from $269, aren’t cheap, but it’s a great way to see the sights.

Of course, the long 2,500-mile voyage to the Hawaiian Islands might not suit those who like cruising mainly at night.

But there is plenty to do onboard the Golden Princess. Their programme includes everything from deck and pool games to quizzes and dance classes. And even with 2,700 passengers, there’s lots of space for relaxing in the sun.

More exclusive is the adults-only Sanctuary pool, or you can spoil yourself with one of the treatments at the Lotus Spa.

The Golden Princess has cruise ships’ latest must-have: movies under the stars.

There’s also a casino, lots of entertainment and 14 bars to choose from. You have a variety of meal options too, from formal dining to buffets and pizza.

I met a man who’s certainly very happy with the service. Retired soldier Eric Antonen from Pembrokeshire was on his 79th cruise with Princess and P&O since 1995.

He says South America is his favorite destination, but Hawaii must be up there too. This was a momentous trip, even before a whale took his bow.

Image Courtesy. IGLU Cruises

Article Courtesy. MEN Media

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