Serenade of the Seas Hawaii Cruise, May 2004

Use the navigation bar to go directly to the port of call, then click on a photograph to enlarge... 

Click on the image to reveal further photographs of the Radiance class ships and cruise guests    Maiden Voyage: 01 August 2003 Passenger Capacity: 2,501 Gross Tonnage: 90,090 Length: 962' Beam: 105.6' Draft: 26.7' Cruising Speed: 25 knots Further detail can be obtained from: Royal Caribbean International & Meyer Werft Shipyard

Oahu is the third largest and the most developed of the Hawaiian Islands.  Like other islands of Hawaii, Oahu is the tip of an underwater mountain.  It is the most populated island and hosts five million visitors a year.  Honolulu, meaning ‘protected bay’ in Hawaiian, is the largest city of Oahu island and the capital of Hawaii.  It is a centre of politics, economy, culture, tourism and home to the majority of islanders in the archipelago.  Attractions on the island include the famous Waikiki Beach, renowned for the best surfing waves on Oahu, and Pearl Harbour which was originally known for its stocks of pearl oysters, but in 1941 it became the catalyst for the USA’s involvement in World War II.

Arriving in Honolulu

Formed six million years ago, Kaua'i encompasses approx. 55 square miles and is the oldest and northernmost of the main Hawaiian Islands.  The island is home of the Waimea Canyon, the Waialeale crater (the wettest spot on earth with an annual average rainfall of 450 inches or 1,143 cm) and familiar scenery from popular movies including Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Nawiliwili Park

The second largest Hawaiian island, Maui is sparsely populated.  The island is composed of two volcanoes (one extinct, the other dormant) which are connected by the Central Valley.  Maui's outer slopes are covered with cattle ranches and fields of sugarcane and pineapple.  Until 1845 Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, today, this small harbour town remains a popular visitor attraction.

The Banyan Tree in Lahaina, planted in 1873, measures a quarter of a mile (402m) in circumference, 60ft (18m) high and covers two thirds of a acre (2,700 sq m).  There are many celebrations and festivities held underneath it's branches - such as Canoe making during the Festival of Canoes.		A view of the seafront from Lahaina
Traditional Hawaiian Luau (feasts) are held to mark special occasions.  A major part of the event is the unearthing of the Kalua pig, which is cooked in an underground oven - a pit dug in the ground, filled with hot coals and banana and ti leaves.		Footprints in the sand
Our Surf Lesson - Practicing on the beach	...before hitting the water	Zoë riding the waves...
Mike demonstrates his new skills...	...and his surf rash!

Commonly known as 'The Big Island' or the 'Orchid Isle' Hawaii is more than twice the size of the other islands combined.  It's bulk includes the earth's most massive mountain, Mauna Loa which raises 30,000 ft from it's base on the sea floor.  It is relatively young (a million years old in comparison with Kauai's five million) so it is not yet ringed with sandy beaches.

Hilo (23 May 2004)
'No rain, no rainbows'.  Hilo is the wettest city in the USA, receiving an average of 134 (340 cm) inches of rain a year.  It is Hawaii's main flower-growing region, the largest grower of Orchids and produces 95% of Hawaii's Anthuriums.  Macadamia nuts and papaya are also grown here.  Aching from our surfing lesson, we decided to skip the rain & rest onboard - hence the lack of pictures!

Kailua Kona (24 May 2004)
Kailua Kona resides on the dryer side of the Big Island.  In earlier times, Hawaii's Kings and Queens lived and played along the Kona coast.  Today,  Kona is more well known for the coffee it produces - roughly 2,000 acres of land in this area are used for growing 'Kona' coffee beans.

Ahu"ena Heiau, meaning 'High Place of Worship' is a temple rebuilt and dedicated to the Hawaiian god Lono	Kona

Please click on the image below to more photographs of the guests...

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