After nearly 2 years, Hawaii sees return of large cruise ships
Big-ship cruising is finally -- finally! -- restarting in Hawaii.
After a 22-month period without a single voyage around the Hawaiian islands by a vessel that carried more than a few dozen people, Princess Cruises' Grand Princess on Sunday arrived in Honolulu on the first leg of a 15-night sailing from Los Angeles.
The 2,590-passenger ship is the first from any major cruise line to visit Hawaii since the cruise industry shut down operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. Hawaii is one of the last major cruise destinations around the world to reopen to large cruise ships.
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"We are delighted to call again on Hawaii, and our guests are very excited about visiting the Aloha state, and doing so safely," a spokesperson for the cruise line said on Monday.
Carrying 1,188 passengers and 915 crew, Grand Princess will visit the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Hawaii and Maui before heading back to Los Angeles. The ship also will make a short stop in Ensenada, Mexico, toward the end of the trip.
Other cruise ships scheduled to restart calls in Hawaii in the coming weeks include Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Miracle, Oceania Cruises' Insignia and Princess' Ruby Princess.
Just one small cruise brand, UnCruise Adventures, already had restarted Hawaii cruises. The small-ship cruise specialist operates a 36-passenger, yacht-like vessel in the Hawaiian islands on a seasonal basis.
Usually synonymous with Hawaiian Island sailings, Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America has had to postpone cruises through Feb. 26, 2022, as part of a larger group of cancellations on which TPG reported last week.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii has had notoriously strict protocols for both inter-island travel and for travelers entering the state from elsewhere.
Last year, Hawaii also issued pleas for outsiders to stop visiting the islands, which were dealing with overtourism despite virus spikes in 2021.
In what some may see as an about face, the state is now reopening to cruise vessels even as some other destinations become more restrictive about ship visits due to the spike in COVID-19 cases worldwide being caused by the omicron variant of the illness.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 5/3/23.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.