Hawaii Cruise Tax Blocked By Appeals Court

Above, a hillside view of Diamond Head and Waikiki hotels. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hawaii's Democrat-controlled government's cruise tax on cruise ship line has been blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before it went into effect.

This is a big win for cruise lines.

Travel Weekly reported:

A federal appeals court blocked Hawaii's cruise tax the day before it was set to take effect, a win for the cruise lines. CLIA, the cruise lines' trade group, had sued the state of Hawaii in August over the new legislation.

The Dec. 31 order in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was issued within hours of the 11% tax becoming effective in the new year. It followed a Dec. 23 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Jill Otake that had cleared the way for the tax to start Jan. 1. 

The appeals court has not yet reached a final decision on the lawsuit. The order blocking the tax remains in effect until it does so, and the process is being expedited. 

To read more, go here. 

Cruise Lines Deploying More Ships To the Caribbean

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked at Nassau, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cruising in the Caribbean is an enjoyable mode of vacationing. I have cruised in the Caribbean twice. The first was to Havana, Cuba after a stop in Key West in 2019. The second was last year to the Bahamas. 

It is easy to see why cruise lines are increasing the number of cruise ships in the Caribbean. When not in hurricane season, the weather is perfect.

According to Travel Weekly:

The Caribbean has long been the foundation for the contemporary cruise market, and recent moves by the largest cruise lines show that is truer than ever. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in 2026 will put 10% more of its ships in the Caribbean than it has this year, while having 6% less of its fleet in Europe. Its fun-and-sun itineraries were a heavy emphasis throughout the company's Q2 earnings call in late July, when CEO Harry Sommer said that demand for the Caribbean in recent years shaped decisions to increase deployment in the region.

"We want to operate itineraries that have the highest possible guest satisfaction scores and repeat rates, and we think this new deployment in the Caribbean and Bermuda will help to optimize for that number," Sommer said.

To read more, go here. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels 38 Sailings

Above, the Norwegian Sky doesn't seem to be affected (so far) by the cancellations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has cancelled cruises slated for the 2025 - 2026 season. No reason was given for the cancellations.

According to Travel Weekly:

Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled 38 cruises scheduled between November 2025 and April 2026. 

The canceled cruises were on the Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Star, according to a statement sent to travel advisors Wednesday. The line has not announced details of the ships' redeployments. 

To read more, go here. 

Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay Pier Buildout

Above, the Norwegian Sky and tender boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in August, a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line. One of the cruise's stops was at Great Stirrup Cay, an island owned by the cruise company.

When we arrived, our ship, Norwegian Sky, anchored offshore and we were transported by tender boats. During our visit to Great Stirrup Cay, we did some jet skiing.

Above, the tender boat docked at the Norwegian Sky. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO says the plan is to have a pier built that can service two ships by late 2025. That would be more efficient that the current use of tender boats.

According to an article in Travel Weekly:

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Harry Sommer said he feels "really comfortable" the company can unveil the new pier at Great Stirrup Cay in late 2025, which will be key to better utilization of the company's original private island.

And he said he expects to nearly double the number of visitors to Great Stirrup Cay in 2026.

The company expects to host around 700,000 guests at the Bahamian island in 2026 due to increased deployment.

That's a slightly more ambitious increase than Sommer's original projection in April of welcoming around 600,000 guests. This year, 400,000 guests will have visited the island.  

To read more, go here. 

Norwegian Cruise Lines Introducing "More At Sea" Pricing

Above, my cruise with NCL didn't break the bank with the bar tab.

When Mitch Geriminsky and I took the cruise to the Bahamas in August, we went there with Norwegian Cruise Lines's (NCL) Norwegian Sky.

For the most part, I had no issues with the bar charges. But, I was aware prior to boarding how that worked and kept my bar tab to a minimum. The only thing I had to pay extra was the $25 charge for the two lobster tails dinner. I thought that was reasonable. Besides, I made $60 in the ship's casino.

With their "Free At Sea" package, I was limited to 75 minutes of free WiFi. That was eaten up pretty quickly. Luckily, I put my phone on Airplane Mode when I wasn't using it and that helped prevent additional costs (like $5.99/minute).

According to Travel Weekly, NCL is changing their Free At Sea pricing:

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is doing away with its Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus pricing and replacing them with More at Sea, an inclusive package offering more premium-brand alcohols, more specialty dining meals and more minutes to use the ship's WiFi. 

The More at Sea package will be available on cruises beginning Jan. 1.

NCL describes More at Sea as more than a new product but a new brand positioning that commits to providing greater variety and elevated offerings. 

"There's more to be had, more value, more options for you as a guest to enjoy your cruise," said David Herrera, president of NCL.

To read more, go here. 

Family-Friendly Hawaii Resorts

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Resort was a favorite place to stay for Elvis Presley. According to an article in Travel Weekly, it is also a good place to stay if one has children in tow.

I have never personally stayed there, but I did wander around the resort's outside area and bought some ice cream at their ice cream stand. 

Travel Weekly has posted a list of the best resorts in Hawaii for families.

They begin it with: 

Considering that Hawaii visitors will be spending the majority of time outside of their hotel rooms, it's not always necessary to find a resort that caters to children and teens, or even has amenities they might appreciate. But there are some Hawaii resorts that do, and the kids love them for it.

Here's my short list of hotels where I've personally stayed with kids and that I would recommend for any families traveling to Hawaii. 

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii: Tips For A Big Island Visit

Above, a helicopter view of double waterfalls on the Hilo side of the Big Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A good time of the year to visit Hawaii is in May and June.

Most people to to Honolulu and Waikiki, but there's plenty to see and do on the Big Island of Hawaii.

One interesting place on the Big Island is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that includes Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. We took a helicopter tour of the park and were able to see lava in one of Kilauea's craters.

Travel Weekly has posted a Q & A with a travel expert with her tips on visiting the Big Island.

It begins with:

The Big Island of Hawaii is home to five volcanoes and offers a diverse landscape as well as some of the most unique experiences in the Islands. It also offers a challenge, because of its size, to anyone who's planning a vacation there and looking to squeeze in as much enjoyment as possible on a short stay.

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite Reinstating Reservation Requirement

Above, Upper Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most popular national parks, Yosemite National Park, is reinstating a reservation system to manage visitors in 2024.

According to Travel Weekly, "Reservations will be available for purchase online beginning Jan. 5 and will be required for vehicle entry to the park between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the reservation periods."

Travel Weekly also wrote:

Yosemite National Park will once again require reservations for visitors arriving by car beginning this spring as part of a new pilot program to manage visitation at the park.

The Peak Hours Plus program will be similar to previous versions of the timed reservation program but will include more reservation slots for afternoon entries. Yosemite last required reservations during the 2022 season.

Reservations will be required from April through October, in three stages: on weekends from April 13 to June 30; every day from July 1 to Aug. 16; and on weekends from Aug. 17 to Oct. 27.

To read more, go here. 

Sheraton Waikiki Unveils $200 Million Renovation

Above, the Sheraton Waikiki in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For me, the criteria for liking a place enough is to want to go or stay there again. Such is the case of the Sheraton Waikiki, where I stayed in 2016 while in Oahu. Yeah, I'd stay there again.

The hotel, even then, was a nice place and it has recently completed its $200 million renovation. 

According to Travel Weekly:

The oceanfront Sheraton Waikiki has completed its $200 million renovation of all 1,636 guestrooms and suites. Guests will also notice upgrades in the hallways, elevator landings and event and retail spaces.

The refreshed guestrooms feature platform beds, spa-like bathrooms and daybeds on the balconies.

"We're thrilled with the results of the renovations and are beyond excited for our guests to experience the beauty, comfort and aloha spirit that the Sheraton Waikiki offers," area general manager Tom Calame said in a press release.

To read more, go here. 

Why Are U.S. National Parks Crowded?

Above, Yosemite's Half Dome from Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

National parks are enjoying more popularity than ever. This is resulting in congestion in the more popular parks. There's just too many people.

Weather conditions are another factor in crowds.

This is the topic of a new article in Travel Weekly.

They begin it with:

Despite a drop-off in visitation this summer, overcrowding and congestion still dampened the visitor experience at many U.S. national parks. 

But this time, Mother Nature was mostly to blame. 

Yellowstone and Yosemite were among the parks where extensive traffic and long lines at entrances were a problem, despite a decrease in visitation compared with summer 2022. And while several factors were at play, the main one was the residual effects of last year's harsh winter and record snowfall in much of the Western U.S. 

"There have been some significant weather challenges in snowfall and precipitation, which forced prolonged road closures in the region," said Jonathan Farrington, CEO of the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau in California.

 To read more, go here.

Travel Weekly: Rediscovering Japan

Above, Godzilla peers over buildings in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those thinking about a vacation trip to Japan there is a new article in Travel Weekly on changing travel in Japan and Shinjuku.

Figuring prominently in the article is Godzilla.

It starts out with:

Outside Tokyo's Hotel Groove Shinjuku, where I was ensconced on the 36th floor, is Toho Cinemas, where a huge replica of Godzilla looks like it's trying to gobble up Harrison Ford in the heart of the Kabukicho entertainment district.

The sign advertising "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," the latest in that movie series, declares, "To the final challenge that will change our destiny." 

Other than thinking how apt that statement is, in light of the pandemic challenge that Japan tourism has been through, I'll also have you know that as a media franchise, "Godzilla" is way older than "Indiana Jones." 

The fictional monster made its debut in 1954, in Ishiro Honda's film, as a prehistoric creature empowered by nuclear radiation, while Indiana Jones made his first outing in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" in 1981. (Still, I must say, that while Indy has needed the help of AI and CGI to de-age him in his latest romp, Godzilla looks like he's hardly aged at all!)

To read more, go here. 

How To See The Volcanic Eruptions On The Big Island

Above, approaching a Kilauea crater by helicopter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Big Island is getting a lot of attention lately as it has two volcanoes erupting at the same time.

The volcanoes erupting are Kilauea and Mauna Loa at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Mauna Loa started erupting on November 27.

Many people are flocking to the Big Island of Hawaii to view the eruptions. Travel Weekly has posted an article on how to see Mauna Loa and Kilauea. 

Above, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters at Hilo Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I took a helicopter flight over Kilauea in 2016 with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters out of Hilo Airport. It was an interesting flight, one that I heartily recommend. Kilauea was quiet at the time, but we did see lava inside a crater as we flew over it.

Travel Weekly begins with:

It's been almost 40 years since the last time the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes were erupting at the same time. As such a rare event, it's already brought many visitors to the island specifically to see the spectacle, while others are still wondering whether they should get on a plane and go.

The answer to that question came earlier this month from Hawaii County mayor Mitch Roth. "It's actually a great time to come," he said in a press conference. "People are here and seeing some of the most unbelievable sights ever, and you don't have to go up Saddle Road. You can see [the Mauna Loa lava flow] from Hilo. You can see it from Kona. You can see it from Kau."

In order to see both the Kilauea and Mauna Loa eruptions at the same time, you'll have to go to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HVNP), atop Kilauea. The park is closest to Hilo, and it would be recommended to arrive at that airport if the park is part of the agenda. 

To read more, go here. 

USS Bowfin Back On Display

Above, the USS Bowfin on display at Pearl Harbor in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The USS Bowfin, a World War II era submarine, is back on display and tours after being drydocked for maintenance in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

According to Travel Weekly:

Following a month of dry dock maintenance work, the USS Bowfin has returned to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor, and tours will reopen today.

"We are very excited for the return of the USS Bowfin to our campus and look forward to reopening her to the public," said museum executive director Chuck Merkel in a press release.

To read more, go here. 

United Airlines Ending Flights To Hilo

Above, Hilo Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

United Airlines, once my favorite airline, is ending flights to Hilo Airport on the Main Island of Hawaii.

According to Travel Weekly:

After the winter holiday, United Airlines will halt service to Hilo Airport on the Island of Hawaii's east coast. The final service is scheduled for Jan. 7. 

After the move, there will be no remaining nonstop flights from Hilo to the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian and Southwest will continue to serve Hilo numerous times daily with flights from Honolulu, while Hawaiian and commuter carrier Mokulele will continue connecting Hilo with Maui's Kahului Airport. 

It was from Hilo Airport that we took our Blue Hawaiian Helicopters tour flight over Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, specifically, Kilauea Volcano.  

To read more, go here.

Pearl Harbor's USS Bowfin Now In Drydock

Above, the USS Bowfin in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of several attractions visitors to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, along with the battleships USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri, is the submarine USS Bowfin. 

As of Saturday, the USS Bowfin is now in drydock for regular maintenance.

According to Travel Weekly:

A popular visitor site at Pearl Harbor, the USS Bowfin World War II submarine, went into dry dock Saturday and won't be back until Nov. 1. 

The submarine will be towed to a shipyard for scheduled maintenance and repair work, which is conducted every 15 to 20 years. The last time it underwent repair work was in 2004.

To read more, go here.

CDC Downgrades Health Warnings On Cruise Ships

Above, cruise passengers doing some onboard shopping. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For good reason, many of us are skeptical about the warnings churned out by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But, there is some interesting news concerning cruise ships.

Travel Weekly reported:

The CDC eased off its warning that even vaccinated Americans should avoid cruise ships on Tuesday by downgrading its Travel Health Notice to a Level 3.

The decision comes as the Covid-19 positivity rates recede in the U.S. However, the CDC last week unveiled a set of Covid regulations that encouraged lines to require nearly all passengers to be boosted before sailing.

Cruise travel is now graded at Level 3, the third-highest in a four-level system that indicates health threats for travelers. The CDC upped the health notice to Level 4 in December, as the Covid-19 omicron variant began to sweep the country.

To read more, go here. 

Dock Repaired, USS Arizona Memorial Boat Tours Resume

Above, the USS Missouri as seen from a USS Arizona Memorial tour boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Boat tours to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii have resumed as repairs to the shoreline embarking dock have been completed.

According to Travel Weekly:

After the U.S. Navy completed repairs to a shoreside dock on Jan. 5, boat tours have resumed to the USS Arizona Memorial at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 

Tours had been suspended since damage to the dock was discovered Dec. 12.

The fix is temporary, however, and a new dock will be installed at a later date, according to a statement from the National Park Service. 

To read more, go here. 

USS Arizona Memorial Suspends Tours For Dock Repair

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial from the shoreline dock. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Boat tours to the USS Arizona Memorial have been suspended until a shoreline dock is repaired and deemed safe for visitors to use.

Travel Weekly reported:

Boat tours of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor have been suspended as work is done to repair a dock at the site.

National Park Service staff were alerted to an issue with the shoreside dock on Dec. 12. After an assessment was completed, work to repair the dock began Dec. 15. Navy personnel decided to remove the damaged dock ramp via crane and repair it at an off-site facility, according to an NPS statement.

While the repairs are being completed, public programs via the U.S. Navy white boats to the USS Arizona Memorial have been suspended. After the dock is fixed, it will be reinstalled, and the Navy will conduct stress tests to ensure its safety.

Operations will resume when National Park Service personnel deem conditions safe enough for the white boats to use the shoreside dock, but a timeline has yet to be announced by the National Park Service.

 To read more, go here.

Hawaii's COVID-19 Rules Vary By Island

Above, the food lines at an Oahu luau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Heading to Hawaii?

Before going it may behoove you to check what COVID-19 rules are at the places on the itinerary. Rules for visitors vary by county and island.

The following will be a big help in one's research before going.

Travel Weekly posted:

Just prior to Thanksgiving, Gov. David Ige announced that starting Dec. 1 all statewide restrictions on social gatherings, gyms, bars and restaurants would be lifted. Additionally, the state is no longer requiring county governments to obtain state approval prior to enacting emergency rules, allowing mayors more flexibility to adjust emergency regulations.

However, a statewide indoor mask mandate and Hawaii's SafeTravels Program remain in effect. SafeTravels requires out-of-state travelers to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test no more than 72 hours prior to entering Hawaii or submit to a 10-day quarantine. 

"Hawaii continues to have amongst the lowest rates of infection and fatalities in the nation due to the Covid-19 pandemic," Ige said. "As we have seen an improvement and stabilization of the virus activity in our community, it really is a good time to pivot state coordination back to the counties."

Hawaii's current rate of 10 Covid-19 cases per day per 100,000 people is the third-lowest in the U.S., and 72% of the total population is fully vaccinated.

In conjunction with the governor's announcement, the county mayors have all eased Covid-19 rules, but the regulations within each county all differ in some way, and travelers to the Islands, especially those planning any type of event, should be sure to consult the specific restrictions for the county they are visiting.

Here's an up-to-date look at the regulations in place across the state and its four counties.  

To read what the regulations are, go here. 

How To Safely View Kilauea Eruptions

Above, a helicopter view inside Kilauea's crater in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The recent eruptions of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island is drawing a lot of attention and people want to see it for themselves.

Travel Weekly has posted an article with tips on how to safely view it.

They start it with:

Kilauea, a volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, started erupting on Sept. 29, and, so far, the activity is contained within its crater, making for some spectacular sights.

During the day, spectators can see volcanic gas and steam billow out of Halemaumau, the summit crater. The park is open 24-hours a day, and at night visitors are entranced by the 127-acre lava lake casting a reddish-orange glow against the crater walls and into the dark sky. 

To read more, go here.