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‘We looked and it was a bus running over people’ | Witnesses describe deadly shuttle bus crash

By Eric Naktin

Click here for updates on this story

    HONOLULU ( KITV ) — A peaceful morning turned into a life or death situation for vacationers at Honolulu Harbor’s Pier 2-B on Friday morning.

Lillian Le, a visitor from Denver told Island News, “We heard the tire of a vehicle screeching, we looked and it was a bus running over people and hit against a wall.”

Carnival Cruise Line said that nine Carnival Miracle guests were hit by a shuttle bus in the transportation area outside the Honolulu cruise terminal on Friday morning – one guest died from her injuries. She was traveling with her husband, who was also injured and is expected to recover.

Honolulu police say a 57-year-old shuttle bus driver had dropped off customers at Pier 2, and someone told him his vehicle was moving forward. Police say the driver then jumped back into the driver’s seat and tried to stop the vehicle but pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake.

The Hilo Hattie shuttle bus then collided with two concrete barriers and pedestrians.

Mark Elwell works within the same complex where the accident occurred.

“We saw the first responders coming, it was substantial, probably about 10 a.m., four or five ambulances, two fire trucks, ten cop cars, looked pretty bad – it’s really distressing, I’ve worked here 21 years, I’ve never seen anything to this magnitude, really sad to see, obviously people were hurt pretty bad to be taken away by ambulance,” Elwell said.

Police say that speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash and it’s unknown if alcohol or drugs were contributing factors.

Carnival has expressed it’s thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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1 dead, several injured in Honolulu after shuttle bus crashes outside cruise terminal

One person has died and multiple people were injured in a shuttle bus crash in Honolulu , Hawaii on Friday.

"Nine Carnival Miracle guests were hit by a shuttle bus in the transportation area outside the Honolulu cruise terminal on Friday morning," Matt Lupoli, senior manager of the Carnival Cruise Line , told USA TODAY. "Sadly, one guest has died from her injuries. She was traveling with her husband, who was also injured and is expected to recover."

The shuttle bus crashed into pedestrians and two concrete barriers at the terminal. The shuttle bus driver mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the break when they attempted to stop the bus from moving, Hawaii News Now reported.

All of the victims were taken to local hospitals and are being treated for their injuries. The victims are in different conditions ranging from serious to stable, the news outlet said.

"Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones," Lupoli said.

USA TODAY has reached out to the  Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services for comment.

1 dead, 13 injured: After man crashes truck into Texas Department of Public Safety building

Eyewitnesses share their experience after the Honolulu shuttle bus crash, reports state

Eyewitness told KITV Island News that the relaxing Friday morning turned deadly after the shuttle bus crash.

"We heard the tire of a vehicle screeching," Lillian Le, a visitor from Denver told the broadcast station. "We looked and it was a bus running over people and hit against a wall."

An employee at the complex said he has never experienced this before.

"We saw the first responders coming, it was substantial, probably about 10 a.m., four or five ambulances, two fire trucks, ten cop cars, looked pretty bad - it's really distressing," Mark Elwell, an employee at the complex wher the accident occurred. "I've worked here 21 years, I've never seen anything to this magnitude, really sad to see, obviously people were hurt pretty bad to be taken away by ambulance."

Jessica Lani Rich, a visitor at the Aloha Society of Hawaii told KITV Island News that the woman who died was celebrating her 46th wedding anniversary with her husband.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at  [email protected] . Follow her on  Instagram ,  Threads  and  X @forbesfineest.

Woman killed and 10 others injured after shuttle bus crashes into Hawaii cruise dock

A cruise ship shuttle bus driver left his vehicle unattended and on being alerted it was moving forward jumped in only to hit the gas instead of the brakes with tragic results for passengers and pedestrians alike

• 10:07, 14 Apr 2024

One woman died after a shuttle bus driver for the Carnival Miracle cruise accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes, crashing his vehicle into a concrete terminal.

A further ten Hawaii holidaymakers were injured, including the 68-year-old woman’s husband who was injured but is expected to fully recover, according to Matt Lupoli, senior manager of Carnival Cruise Line.

The shuttle bus slammed into the Honolulu cruise terminal in Hawaii after the driver was told by a bystander his vehicle was moving forward on Friday morning. The driver jumped back into the vehicle accidentally hitting the gs instead of the breaks, resulting in the bus crashing into a cruise terminal.

READ MORE: Mother in law of missing mum and friend arrested in huge SWAT raid

The 68-year-old woman died of injuries after the 57-year-old shuttle bus driver dropped off a group of customers at Honolulu's Pier 2 terminal.

The bus slammed into two concrete barriers and eleven pedestrians, authorities said. The woman remains unidentified but it is known that she was traveling with her husband at the time as part of the Carnival Miracle cruise in Hawaii.

He smashed the bus into two concrete barriers before hitting eleven pedestrians, Honolulu police said in a statement. Nine of the people hit by the vehicle were cruise ship passengers.

Four others, two men and two women, all over the age of 50, were seriously injured by the incident according to Hawaii News Now .

Linda Reck, who was visiting from Florida, told NBC News: “It just kept going, and my daughter yells out 'There's nobody there driving the bus.' Then it hits the wall. I was...shook up, pretty shaken.”

Another visitor, who said she works in an emergency room, said: “It definitely puts a damper on my vacation. I deal with this everyday... but this is just different.”

The Carnival Miracle cruise had just kicked off its 15-day excursion, starting in Los Angeles, California, on April 6, scheduled to round off the excursion on April 21, according to records on Cruise Mapper. A further five pedestrians were then taken from the Honolulu location to hospital for treatment following the crash.

Another six pedestrians affected by the crash were offered treatment at the scene but reportedly refused any medical assistance, according to Honolulu police. It is not currently known why the incident took place or why the driver was not inside the vehicle at the time it started moving forward.

Police added that the crash did not occur because of speeding issues. However, it is currently unknown if substances were a contributing factor to the incident.

The cruise manager Lupoli added: “Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones.”

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US .

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1 visitor dead, 11 injured in Honolulu Harbor crash

By Kacie Yamamoto and Allison Schaefers

April 13, 2024

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A shuttle bus sat at the Pier 2 cruise ship terminal at Honolulu Harbor on Friday after it struck a group of pedestrians, killing one and injuring 11.

Officers secured the area as the investigation of the crash continued.

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A 68-year-old Illinois woman, who was on a Carnival cruise with her husband to celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary, died Friday at The Queen’s Medical Center after she was hit by a tourist shuttle bus when the driver confused the gas pedal for the brakes. The collision also injured 11 other people.

Paramedics responded to the incident at Honolulu Harbor’s Pier 2 cruise ship terminal after 10:20 a.m. and treated victims ranging in age from their 40s to 70s, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. The injuries ranged from life-threatening to lacerations, EMS said.

The 68-year-old woman was treated for life-threatening injuries and taken in critical condition to a hospital, according to EMS. Honolulu police confirmed that the woman later was pronounced dead.

She was traveling with her husband, who “was also injured and is expected to recover,” according to a statement from Carnival Cruise Line.

The woman’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family members, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s office.

Jessica Lani Rich, president and CEO of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, which helps visitors in crisis, said VASH is assisting the woman’s husband, and a cousin and her husband who were traveling with them from Illinois. Rich said the cousin and her husband were celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary.

“This was the Hawaii vacation of their lifetime. The victim had always dreamed of coming to Hawaii,” Rich said.

Rich said the two couples said they were waiting to get on the shuttle to go shopping “when it all happened so quickly.”

“It’s such a shock to be on your dream vacation and within a minute your whole life changes,” she said. “They said the victim was loving and caring and helpful, and that they can’t believe that she’s gone.”

Rich said VASH was at the emergency room with the woman’s family and is providing bereavement support and assisting them with transportation arrangements.

“They don’t want to continue the cruise,” Rich said. “They just want to go back home.”

Rich said VASH also has reached out to offer support to other visitors who were injured in the accident.

VASH is able to provide support to visitors due to funding from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawaii’s visitor industry and other partners.

HTA board Chair Mufi Hannemann said, “Visitors who meet with unfortunate circumstances can count on VASH. That’s why HTA continues to be a major supporter of VASH’s mission throughout the state of Hawaii.”

Hannemann also expressed his condolences to the woman’s family for “this tragic loss,” and added, “we continue to wish for a speedy recovery for those that were injured as a result of this incident.”

Police said that at about 10:24 a.m., a 57-year-old male driver had dropped off customers at Pier 2 and was notified by a bystander that his vehicle was moving forward.

He “jumped in the driver’s seat and attempted to stop the vehicle (but) pressed the gas pedal instead of the brakes and collided with two concrete barriers and five pedestrians,” according to a report by the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division Vehicular Homicide Section.

HPD said speed does not appear to be a factor in the collision, but it is unknown whether drugs or alcohol were factors. The investigation is ongoing, police said.

EMS said two men and two women, ranging in age from 55 to 67, were taken in serious condition to a hospital, while a man in his 70s was treated and was in stable condition.

In addition, EMS said, paramedics treated six more adult patients ranging in age from their 40s to 70s at the scene, but they declined to be taken to a hospital.

Police said three pedestrians were taken to The Queen’s Medical Center and two others to Tripler Medical Center.

Nine of the victims, including the woman who died, were guests on the Carnival Miracle cruise ship, which is on a 15-day sailing that departed Long Beach, Calif., on April 6.

“Members of the Carnival Care Team are assisting the guests. Our thoughts are with the guests affected and their loved ones,” Carnival said in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The shuttle was labeled as a Hilo Hattie express shopping shuttle. Hilo Hattie did not immediately respond to a call from the Star-Advertiser.

Carnival Radiance Offers Its First Ever Cruise to Hawaii

• October 22, 2022

The Carnival Radiance is currently sailing its first ever cruise to Hawaii.

Temporarily moving away from its regular schedule of short cruises to Baja California, the Carnival Cruise Line vessel departed Long Beach for the 14-night journey on Oct. 16.

The itinerary sails to Honolulu, Kahului, Nawiliwili and Hilo, and also includes a short call to Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to Carnival’s homeport in the Los Angeles area.

Originally set to be offered by the Carnival Miracle, the cruise was transferred to the Radiance in May.

At the time, Carnival said the change of ship was necessary due to required drydock maintenance on the Spirit-Class vessel .

Before resuming its regular program of three- and four-night cruises to Catalina Island and Ensenada, the Radiance also replaces the Miracle on a five-night voyage to the Mexican Riviera.

Sailing from the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, the cruise is set to depart on Oct. 30 and includes visits to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.

The Carnival Radiance debuted in December 2021, kicking off the program of short cruises in the West Coast ever since .

Formerly the Carnival Victory, the 2000-built vessel was completely rebuilt as part of a $200-million refit that included new public areas, cabins and features.

Highlights included Carnival’s latest beverage and entertainment spaces, such as Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Bonsai Sushi and the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub.

The 101,509-ton ship also received the second sea-going unit of the Big Chicken, a restaurant created by Carnival’s Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal.

Other new features included the Heroes Tribute Bar, which salutes those that serve in the Armed Forces, and the Liquid Lounge, home to Carnival’s award-winning Playlist Productions shows.

With capacity to nearly 3,000 guests, the Radiance is part of Carnival’s three-ship Sunshine Class.

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State signs port agreement with Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines

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JOHN BURNETT/Tribune-Herald Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess eases into Port of Hilo on Feb. 10, 2020.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division announced today the execution of the first port agreements with Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines to formalize health and safety protocols for the return of cruise line operations in Hawaii.

Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Conditional Sail Order set to expire on Jan. 15, cruise lines with capacity to carry more than 250 persons (combined passenger and crew) and itineraries including overnight stays are required to have a formal port agreement with local port and health authorities.

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The port agreement must include:

• Medical agreement outlining evacuation of passengers or crew in need of care;

• Housing agreement should quarantine or isolation of passengers or crew be needed; and

• Acknowledgement of the public health response resources of the local jurisdictions and vaccination strategies implemented by the cruise lines to minimize risk of spread of COVID-19.

The CDC order requires each ship to have on-board testing and medical staff to ensure proper prevention, mitigation, and response protocols and training. Additionally, Carnival and NCL have committed to “full vaccination rates” in addition to pre-boarding testing and onboard safety and cleaning protocols.

In addition to the cruise line and CDC requirements, the state will require participation in Safe Travels digital platform to upload proof of vaccination or negative test results for cruise lines arriving in Hawaii from outside the state. Safe Travels participation will not apply to cruise lines sailing interisland.

The signed port agreements will apply until superseded by a new agreement regardless of expiration of the CDC order. The agreement also allows the State to suspend, rescind, or amend the document at any time in case of changing situations. Counties may also implement additional restrictions at any time.

Notification of signed port agreements will be made through the HDOT website and social media accounts prior to the first confirmed sailings.

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Carnival Miracle Arrives Hawaii for 50th Birthday

Sarah Bretz, Contributor

• February 26, 2022

Earlier this week,  Carnival Miracle  set sail from Long Beach on Carnival Cruise Line’s first 50th birthday “Sailabration” voyage.

On Friday, the vessel arrived in its first port of call along the 14-night itinerary: Honolulu, Hawaii. To commemorate the festivities, shipboard leaders presented a celebratory birthday cake to local officials from the Port of Honolulu.

Miracle ‘s 14-night Journeys sailing is the first of 17 themed Sailabrations cruises taking place through March 10, 2022. The voyages will feature at-sea meetups with other Carnival cruise ships, 50th Birthday Bash Sailaway Parties, special entertainment and programming, and the biggest TikTok video at sea.

Since 2015, Carnival has brought around 75,500 guests to Hawaii . Honolulu is the first of several featured ports on the ship’s cruise that departed on Sunday. Additional stops will include Maui, Kona, and Hilo, Hawaii, as well as Ensenada, Mexico.

MORE: Cruise Lines Cancel Russia Port Stops, Look For Alternative Destinations

On March 5,  Carnival Miracle  will meet  Carnival Radiance  in Baja, Mexico outside of Ensenada to host Carnival’s first birthday party meetup. It will allow guests to not only celebrate with their own shipmates, but also guests on the other Carnival ship.

The other ship meetups during the special Sailabrations cruises will be:

• March 7:  Carnival Breeze, Ecstasy, Glory, Pride, Sunrise, Vista,  and  Mardi Gras  (between Cozumel and Costa Maya)
• March 9:  Carnival Conquest, Spirit, Freedom, Legend, Liberty,  and  Sunshine  (between Eleuthera and Nassau in the Bahamas)
• March 11:  Carnival Miracle  and  Panorama  (outside Ensenada, Mexico)

Carnival Cruise Line is planning to have its entire fleet back in service by this summer, completing its restart of guest operations.

The line began sailing with one ship from PortMiami in 1972, and has since grown into a fleet of 24 ships carrying over six million guests each year. It employs over 40,000 team members from 120 countries.

For more information on Carnival’s 50th birthday cruises, visit Carnival Kicks Off 50th Birthday With Series of Special Cruises .

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News Release

Carnival cruise line opens carnival spirit 2024/2025 cruises from mobile.

Ship Also Set for Several Carnival Journeys Cruises – Including Carnival’s First-Ever Voyage from Seattle to Hawaii 

MIAMI, May 2, 2023 – Carnival Cruise Line announced today it is opening for sale its 2024/2025 cruises departing from Mobile, Ala. on Carnival Spirit. The new sailings from Mobile include five-, six- and eight-day Caribbean itineraries, as well as a 12-day Carnival Journeys Southern Caribbean cruise. “The sailings we’re opening today offer some great new choices for our guests and build on our plans for the Mobile community, where we’ve enjoyed a long and successful partnership,” said Fred Stein, Carnival’s vice president of revenue planning and deployment. “When Carnival Spirit arrives for her first season this year and then returns for the cruises we’re announcing today for next year, she won’t just be bringing a newer and larger ship experience to the port, she’ll deliver more opportunities to visit beautiful destinations compared to our past operations there.” In addition, two new Carnival Journeys cruises departing Seattle have been announced for the ship. The additional Carnival Journeys itineraries from Seattle include Carnival’s first-ever voyage from Seattle, Wash. to Hawaii and a spectacular sailing to New Orleans, which includes a transit of the Panama Canal.

New Details About 2024/2025 Sailings from Mobile, Ala. New sailings that just opened for Carnival Spirit from Mobile feature a wide selection of itineraries operating from the fall of 2024 through the spring of 2025. The following are examples showcasing some of the cruises now available:

• Eight-Day Exotic Western Caribbean Cruise departs Mobile on Oct. 26, 2024, and visits Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
• Eight-Day Bahamas Cruise departs Mobile on Nov. 9 and Nov. 23, 2024, and visits Key West, Fla.; Freeport, Nassau and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.
• Eight-Day Western Caribbean cruise departs Mobile on March 15, 2025, and visits Grand Cayman, Cayman Island; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico.
• Six-Day Western Caribbean Cruise departs Mobile on several dates, including Nov. 11, 2024, Nov. 17, 2024, Dec. 1, 2024, Dec. 15, 2024 and Dec. 29, 2024, as well as Jan. 12, 2025, March 23, 2025 and April 20, 2025, and visits Belize and Cozumel, Mexico.
• Six-Day Western Caribbean Cruise departs Mobile on April 6, 2025, and visits Cozumel, Mexico and Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan.
• Five-Day Western Caribbean Cruise departs Mobile March 10, 2025, and visits Yucatan (Progreso), and Cozumel, Mexico.
• 12-Day Carnival Journeys Cruise departs Mobile Jan. 18, 2025 and visits several spectacular Caribbean destinations, including Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Aruba; Curacao; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Carnival Spirit will begin homeporting in Mobile for the first time this October, with the ship set to operate a series of six- and eight-day sailings from the fall of 2023 through the spring of 2024. The ship is currently deployed to Seattle, Wash., where it is operating a series of Alaskan sailings which will conclude this fall with a Carnival Journeys cruise from Seattle to New Orleans. To see all sailings currently open from Mobile, click here .

New Itineraries for Carnival Journeys Cruises from Seattle In addition to the new sailings from Mobile, two Carnival Journeys cruises also operated by Carnival Spirit are open for sale. Carnival Journeys not only offer longer sailings with visits to more destinations, but they are also enriched with activities tailored to each itinerary in the areas of dining and entertainment. Carnival Spirit’s newly opened Carnival Journeys sailings are planned as follows: 

• 15-Day Carnival Journeys Hawaii Cruise departs Seattle on Sept. 24, 2024, and visits Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), Maui (Kahului) and Hilo, Hawaii, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.This cruise marks Carnival’s first-ever sailing from Seattle to the Hawaiian Islands.
• 16-Day Carnival Journeys Panama Canal Cruise departs Seattle on Oct. 9, 2024, and visits Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Puntarenas, Costa Rica, then transits the Panama Canal and visits Cartagena, Colombia, before arriving in New Orleans.

The 2,124 passenger Carnival Spirit offers a wide variety of amenities and features many guest-favorite Carnival venues, including  Alchemy Bar ,  Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse  and  RedFrog Rum Bar . For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1 - 800 - CARNIVAL , visit www.carnival.com , or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

# # # ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. For over 50 years, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently operates 25 ships and is in an exciting period of growth with the addition of three ships over the next two years.

MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected]

AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market. Home of the smile, AIDA Cruises is the epitome of a premium-quality, relaxing cruise and operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets. Visit: www.aida.de

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable vacation experiences at a great value. Visit: www.carnival.com

Costa Cruises delivers Italy’s finest at sea, bringing modern Italian lifestyle to its ships to provide guests with a true European experience that embodies a unique passion for life through warm hospitality, entertainment and gastronomy. Visit: www.costacruise.com

Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travelers who relish the line’s impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment, and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Visit: www.cunard.com

Holland America Line's premium fleet of spacious, elegant mid-sized ships feature sophisticated five-star dining, extensive entertainment and activities, innovative culinary enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries. Visit: www.hollandamerica.com

P&O Cruises (UK) is Britain’s favorite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Visit: www.pocruises.co.uk

P&O Cruises (Australia) provides a quintessential holiday experience for Australians and New Zealanders, taking them to some of the world's most idyllic and hard-to-reach places across Asia and the South Pacific. Visit: www.pocruises.co.au

Princess is the world’s leading international cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of modern cruise ships, renowned for the innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities. Visit: www.princess.com

Seabourn provides ultraluxury cruising vacations in a unique, small-ship style that focuses on genuine, intuitive service, all-suite accommodations, superb cuisine and unique experiences in destinations worldwide. Visit: www.seabourn.com

Carnival cruise ship helps rescue couple at sea

(CNN) - The United States Coast Guard teamed up with Carnival Cruise Line to rescue a distressed couple at sea in the Bahamas.

Carnival says the couple was stranded in a sailboat near Castle Island early Monday.

The Coast Guard called on the crew aboard Carnival’s Mardi Gras cruise ship to assist.

According to Carnival, the ship’s team was less than nine miles from the distressed couple. They were able to approach the sailboat and lower a lifeboat to the couple.

The man rescued was taken to the ship’s medical center for treatment.

There is no word yet on the possible injuries he suffered.

Carnival says the cruise ship continued with its itinerary and was slated to arrive in Aruba on Tuesday.

Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

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• Cruise Destinations
• Hilo-Cruises

Hilo, Hawaii, HI

• Carnival Legend
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• Things To Do

Nestled on the slopes of volcanic Mauna Loa, the port of Hilo offers visitors a path on which to step back in time. Your Carnival cruise to Hilo alohas you to low-key Hawaii, where island life moves at a slower pace, people still greet each other on the street and blossoming flowers and macadamia thrive, all to the delight of the senses. A Hilo cruise transports you to this Hawaiian town draped in lush tropical foliage, overlooking the placid waters of Hilo Bay.

• Meander among the trees of Banyan Drive. 
• See a slice of 19th-century life in the Lyman Museum & Mission House. 
• Experience a tsunami safely — without even getting wet — at the Pacific Tsunami Museum.

Things to do in Hilo, Hawaii

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* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

Carnival is taking on Royal Caribbean with its own $600 million private resort — see Celebration Key's planned features

• Carnival Cruise Line is set to launch its new private destination, Celebration Key , in 2025.
• The $600 million project has amenities similar to Royal Caribbean's private island.
• Carnival is "clearly following Royal Caribbean's footsteps," one analyst told Business Insider.

Step aside, CocoCay. Royal Caribbean's private island could soon face some serious competition.

About 140 miles east of Miami, Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay receives thousands of eager families virtually every day of the year, drawn to the private Caribbean island's irresistible waterpark, beach clubs, and family-friendly amenities.

The tropical destination has become a massive hit with the cruise line's guests. And it seems Carnival, which also targets cruising families, wants a slice of its competitor's winning pie.

Carnival already operates its own private island, Half Moon Cay.

But what's better than one exclusive port? Two of them.

The cruise giant is now building another destination just for its guests: Celebration Key, a mile-long resort-like getaway on Grand Bahama Island .

The $600 million project, Carnival Corp's largest, is set to open in 2025 — a sign that the company is "clearly following Royal Caribbean's footsteps," Patrick Scholes, lodging and leisure research analyst at Truist Securities, told Business Insider in March.

Carnival’s promises for its private destination might sound familiar.

Royal Caribbean's private island has a waterpark with 14 slides and children's play areas.

Similarly, according to Carnival's recent announcement, Celebration Key will have a large, family-friendly freshwater lagoon with two 350-foot-long waterslides and a children's water playground.

It's a scaled-back version of CocoCay's popular feature — for now. Looking ahead, Carnival said it plans to build a waterpark and zipline course, too.

Celebration Key would also offer amenities like ping-pong, basketball, and volleyball.

As you might've guessed, these activities are also available on Royal Caribbean's island as well.

Looking to escape the sound of screaming children? Carnival says Celebration Key will have a separate adult-only section, again with frills reminiscent of CocoCay's recently opened pool club (as in, a swim-up pool bar, a DJ, and no kids in sight).

It wouldn’t be a cruise-owned private island without up-charged amenities.

Travelers at Perfect Day at CocoCay can splurge on private beach clubs, cabanas, shopping, food, and alcohol.

The same goes for Celebration Key. In fact, "You'd be surprised at how much people are willing to pay to rent cabanas for the day," Josh Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corp, told investors in late March.

Like CocoCay, Carnival expects its private destination to be a big money maker with increased ticket revenue and "incremental in-port spending," Weinstein said. Plus, it'll be near Florida's major cruise ports, allowing Carnival to save money on fuel — another major benefit to owning private Caribbean properties.

Celebration Key is already included in over 500 of Carnival’s itineraries across 18 ships.

We're still a year from its debut, but that's not stopping the company from planning the expansion of its upcoming property.

Carnival said it'll spend $100 million extending Celebration Key's pier, which, when completed in 2026, will allow it to accommodate four of Carnival's largest cruise ships.

By 2028, the cruise line says the destination will be able to accommodate 4 million travelers annually.

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The 8 best Hawaii cruises in 2024 and 2025

C ruising the Hawaiian Islands offers U.S. travelers an immersive South Pacific escape with all the comforts of home. In fact, the Aloha State is in many ways an ideal cruise destination. It has year-round sunny weather, four main islands featuring varied topographies — including sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls, volcanic mountains and vibrant green valleys — and a wide array of land- and water-based activities.

The main caveat? Hawaii cruise options are somewhat limited — just a fraction of what's available in the Caribbean — and many itineraries involve multiday crossings from the West Coast. Only one cruise line offers Hawaii itineraries throughout the year; most others visit during specific months or when repositioning ships in spring and fall.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Looking for the Hawaiian Islands sailing that's right for you? Here's a look at the eight best Hawaii cruises for every type of traveler.

Norwegian Cruise Line's 7-night Inter-island Hawaii

For travelers who want more aloha time than the typical eight-hour port call allows, Norwegian Cruise Line has a solution. Its 2,186-passenger Pride of America lets vacationers sample four Hawaiian islands over seven days, with overnights in Maui and Kauai, plus port calls on both Hilo and Kona on the island of Hawaii. In total, this itinerary offers nearly 100 hours of shore time.

Pride of America sails round-trip from Honolulu every Saturday year-round. As a U.S.-flagged ship, it's the only large vessel permitted to sail this way. Not only do you skip the long Pacific crossing that most cruise ships do to reach Hawaii, but passports are not required for U.S. citizens, and you can tack on pre- or post-cruise stays on Oahu.

The overnights on Maui and Kauai also mean it's possible to try several of Hawaii's signature experiences that most port calls don't allow. Passengers can catch dusk or dawn from atop Maui's massive 10,023-foot dormant volcano with sunrise and sunset excursions to the Haleakala Crater. And with the ship in port all night on Kauai, guests who want to enjoy traditional Hawaiian cuisine, music and hula performances can book the Luau Kalamaku for a fun evening out.

Pride of America, which has been cruising Hawaii since 2005, doesn't have the onboard thrills (race track, virtual-reality gaming, waterslides) of Norwegian's newer ships , but that's okay because the islands, not the ship, are your main destination. Its American-themed decor celebrates U.S. cities in a vibrant, and at times, kitschy way, but a 2021 refurbishment left its cabins and public spaces feeling refreshed.

Many of Norwegian's specialty dining venues (which incur a surcharge) are on board, including Cagney's Steakhouse, Le Bistro (here, it's Jefferson's Bistro), Moderno Churrascaria and Teppanyaki.

Who should go: Anyone seeking a convenient way to island-hop — and see a lot of Hawaii — by making the most of the generous shore time with a combination of independent exploration and shore excursions. Most sailings attract couples ages 50 and older, although summer and holiday sailings have plenty of families on board.

Related: Best time to cruise Hawaii

UnCruise Adventures' 7-night Hawaiian Seascapes

Cruisers seeking a less traditional, more carefree Hawaii experience can have it from November to April aboard UnCruise Adventures ' 36-passenger Safari Explorer. The seven-night Hawaiian Seascapes itinerary, which begins either on Molokai or the island of Hawaii, is an unconventional one designed for those who enjoy going off the beaten path in an intimate and more authentic setting. U.S. passports aren't required to sail.

UnCruise visits four islands — Maui and Lanai plus Molokai and Hawaii — and focuses on not only their striking landscapes and underwater beauty but also the cultural traditions, cuisine and music of the Hawaiian people. On Molokai, where there's not a single traffic light and the lifestyle is slow-paced, passengers get a chance to "talk story" with locals and enjoy a pa'ina (feast) and evening jam session. Lanai activities range from snorkel, paddleboard and kayak excursions to off-road adventures exploring the privately owned island's dramatic sea cliffs, red rock formations and vast fields once filled with Dole pineapples.

Most UnCruise sailings are during Maui's humpback whale season, so sightings while cruising off the coast of Maui are possible. You might also catch glimpses of dolphins and sea turtles. A "Captain's Choice" day is a wild card determined by the weather, marine life in the area and other factors, while the final two days are spent exploring the Big Island of Hawaii — including a hike up Hualalai volcano and a skiff ride along the rugged coast.

Constructed in 1998, Safari Explorer was designed with adventure itineraries in mind (in summer the U.S.-flagged ship repositions to Alaska). Its size allows it to navigate areas larger ships can't reach, which in Hawaii means bays and coves ideal for snorkeling or watersports.

With such a small number of passengers aboard, guests get to know each other — and Safari Explorer's friendly and knowledgeable crew — quite well. Passengers come together over meals featuring locally sourced ingredients, and as all UnCruise fares include unlimited wines, spirits and microbrews, shipmates can raise a glass without worrying who's buying a round. It all lends itself to an exclusive yet utterly relaxed week of cruising.

Who should go: The ship's laid-back onboard vibe paired with its land- and water-based activities make the Hawaiian Seascapes itinerary ideal for active travelers seeking a nature-focused itinerary — although cruise fares (which start around $5,900 per person) are among the priciest for a Hawaii cruise.

Related: Why it's easier to meet new people on a smaller cruise ship

Holland America's 17-night Circle Hawaii

Travelers who have more than two weeks to spare and who prefer to arrive in Hawaii via ship rather than an airplane can do so on Holland America 's 17-night Circle Hawaii itinerary. They'd better also love sea days because crossing the Pacific from San Diego or Vancouver to Honolulu and back requires 10 days.

That means passengers enjoy five or six days in Hawaii on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the island of Hawaii. Some itineraries stay in select ports overnight. Cruises departing from San Diego also call on Ensenada, Mexico. With either departure port, passports will be required.

The itinerary is offered in 2024 and 2025 on the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam and 1,432-passenger Zaandam.

Travelers with more time on their hands can also visit Hawaii as part of longer Pacific island cruises with Holland America. Koningsdam will sail a 35-night Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas itinerary in 2025 that combines visits to four Hawaiian islands with calls on five islands in French Polynesia and Fanning Island, Kiribati (and 20 sea days).

Related: Holland America unveils epic cruise to Hawaii and Alaska for 2025

Zaandam will also sail 51- to 56-night Tales of the South Pacific itineraries that visit multiple islands in Hawaii and French Polynesia along with ports in the Cook Islands, American Samoa and Fiji.

Holland America is popular with cruisers ages 60 and older, many of them retired, who have time to enjoy longer itineraries on ships that offer good value with a focus on culinary and musical enjoyment. Two of Koningsdam's most popular venues are its live entertainment area with three venues — B.B. King's Blues Club (for Memphis-style rhythm and blues), Billboard Onboard (for chart-topping hits played by a live pianist) and Rolling Stone Rock Room (for a live band playing classic rock), and World Stage, a theater with a 270-degree screen used for both special BBC Earth in Concert and theatrical productions.

Onboard specialty dining options (at an added cost) include Pinnacle Grill for steaks and seafood, Tamarind for Pan-Asian cuisine and Rudi's Sel de Mer for French Brasserie specialties and seafood.

Who should go: Mature travelers who prefer not to fly and who enjoy a more traditional cruise experience. They should also love sea days as much (or even more so) than port exploration.

Related: 16 mistakes cruisers make on cruise ship sea days

Princess Cruises' 15- or 16-night Hawaiian Islands

Princess Cruises is also a good option for longer sailings. The cruise line offers numerous round-trip itineraries to Hawaii from Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego in the fall and winter.

The majority of sailings are aboard the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess and Ruby Princess from San Francisco, and the 2,600-passenger Grand Princess and 3,080-passenger Emerald Princess from Los Angeles.

Ships are in port for nine to 11 hours in Hawaii (Hilo), Kauai and Maui and for 16 hours in Oahu. Itineraries include a stop in Ensenada, Mexico (so passports are required), plus nine or 10 sea days.

The ships feature many of Princess' popular dining venues, including Alfredo's Pizzeria (a sit-down venue serving personal-size pizzas), Crown Grill for steaks and Sabatini's Italian Trattoria. There's plenty of outdoor space for soaking up the sun — including an adults-only sun deck — and a dazzling Piazza for enjoying cocktails, gelato and pop-up street performers.

Fans of Princess' Movies Under the Stars poolside screenings (with free popcorn) and Discovery at SEA enrichment programming will have ample time to enjoy these perks on a Hawaii sailing.

Who should go: These sailings will appeal to couples or groups of friends who prefer to have a wide choice of sailing dates, can take the time to enjoy a leisurely Pacific crossing and appreciate Princess' focus on quality cuisine and a sun deck designed for relaxation rather than thrills.

Related: Best Hawaii cruise shore excursions

Celebrity's 9- to 12-night Hawaii Cruise

Travelers seeking modern interior decor on a ship designed with couples in mind can visit Hawaii aboard Celebrity Cruises ' 2,852-passenger Celebrity Solstice or 2,918-passenger Celebrity Edge on itineraries ranging from nine to 13 nights — but only if the timing is right. That's because the line offers only two sailings per ship each year (in spring and fall) as the ships reposition between Alaska and destinations in the Pacific. The itineraries are one-way (Vancouver to Honolulu or vice versa) with passports required.

These cruises call on three ports on two islands: Honolulu (Oahu) and Hilo and Kona (Hawaii), with one or two overnights in port and 10 hours ashore on one-day visits. All include five days in a row at sea. Since the itineraries either begin or end in Honolulu, there's also a chance for some pre- or post-cruise exploration.

Sea days offer opportunities to enjoy the chic, grown-up ambience and amenities aboard these ships. Each vessel offers multiple complimentary and extra-fee specialty restaurants. Celebrity Solstice features Tuscan Grille for Italian specialties and steak and Murano for modern French cuisine, while Celebrity Edge offers the whimsical Le Petit Chef and the international Eden Restaurant.

Celebrity's signature Martini Bar and many other onboard watering holes keep the grown-up vibe going day and night. Choose cruise fares that include alcohol and Wi-Fi, or pay a lower rate and pay for your drinks as you go.

Who should go: The slightly shorter one-way sailings and the ships' contemporary ambience make these itineraries ideal for couples and groups of friends seeking a relaxing escape — especially Gen Xers in their 40s and 50s, who are Celebrity's target market.

Related: 6 national parks you can reach by cruise ship (and 2 are in Hawaii)

Carnival's 14- or 15-night Hawaii from Los Angeles

If fun is your cruise mantra, the "Fun Ship" brand Carnival Cruise Line offers a handful of round-trip sailings to Hawaii from Los Angeles (Long Beach) aboard the 2,984-passenger Carnival Radiance. Like other roundtrips from the West Coast, these itineraries spend just five days in Hawaii, offering eight to 14 hours of shore time in ports on four islands: Maui, Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii. Along with enjoying eight sea days, guests will also call on Ensenada, Mexico, so passports are required.

Carnival Radiance first sailed under that name in 2021, but it's not a new ship. Before an epic makeover, it sailed for the cruise line as Carnival Victory. Ship features include many of Carnival's signature complimentary and extra-fee dining venues, including Guy's Burger Joint and Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, BlueIguana Cantina, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi Express.

Additional guest favorite destinations on board include the RedFrog Pub, Alchemy Bar and WaterWorks aquapark. Expect high-voltage theater shows from Playlist Productions at night and poolside interactive contests by day.

Who should go: Socially inclined cruisers who love Carnival's emphasis on onboard fun and can appreciate a colorful ship with a lively ambience and lots of day and evening activities.

Related: Best Hawaii cruise tips for getting the most from your island-hopping trip

Royal Caribbean's 9- to 13-night Hawaii Cruises

A megaship cruise experience to Hawaii is available, too — with pricing that's quite affordable. Royal Caribbean cruises there on two vessels in one of its newer classes of ships: the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

All are one-way cruises just before or after the Alaska cruise season (so late April or early October) between Oahu and Vancouver (or vice versa). The ships call on two Hawaiian islands and spend four or five days in a row at sea. Passports are required since these itineraries begin or end in Vancouver.

Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas feature a mix of thrills for all ages. These include RipCord by iFly simulated sky diving, FlowRider simulated surfing, bumper car racing in the SeaPlex indoor activity complex and the North Star sightseeing capsule, which ascends 300 feet above the top deck for 360-degree views.

Both ships also offer 14 dining venues, including the innovative Wonderland, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver and kid-favorite Dog House, as well as bar options that include Schooner Bar for by-request piano tunes, Boleros for mojitos and merengue and Bionic Bar for drinks poured by robotic bartenders. Entertainment includes live cover bands in the Music Hall and multimedia music and dance performances in Two70.

Who should go: Cruisers who love a big ship with a wide array of dining choices, all kinds of evening entertainment and plenty of exciting activities to pass the time on sea days. Quantum-class ships are great for families, but the sail dates might not work for those with school-age kids.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Viking's 16-night Hawaiian Islands Sojourn

For a guaranteed adults-only sailing in a relaxed, boutique-style setting, upscale cruise line Viking also offers round-trip Hawaii cruises from Los Angeles in late 2024 and early 2025 on its 930-passenger Viking Neptune.

What sets Viking apart from most of the other lines offering Hawaii cruises is that it includes a free shore excursion in every port. These include a highlights tour of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor on Oahu and a visit to a scenic waterfall and the Kilohana sugar plantation on Kauai. Additional excursions can be booked at an extra charge.

The 16-night Hawaiian Islands Sojourn sailings visit four islands — Hawaii (Hilo), Oahu, Kauai and Maui — and like other round-trip sailings from the West Coast include 10 sea days and a call on Ensenada, Mexico, so passports are required.

Viking Neptune will also do 32-night Grand Hawaii and Polynesia sailings round-trip from Los Angeles in late 2024 and early 2025 that visit four islands in Hawaii and four in French Polynesia.

The ship, which debuted in 2022, features sleek Scandinavian-inspired decor, a soothing spa with a complimentary thermal area, an aft infinity pool and hot tub, a panoramic Explorer's Lounge and five onboard restaurants. Specialty restaurant Manfredi's serves an extensive menu of Italian specialties, while The Chef's Table offers rotating five-course themed menus, including Asian, French and California-inspired.

In addition to the free shore excursions, pricing includes complimentary wine or beer with lunch and dinner, specialty dining at no extra charge, crew gratuities and transfers.

Who should go: Couples who prefer the quieter ambience of a ship that doesn't allow anyone under 18 onboard, doesn't have a casino and offers presentations by regional experts that enhance immersion into local culture. Viking cruisers are generally over age 55.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Travel | Travel: Here’s why the best way to see French…

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Travel | travel: here’s why the best way to see french polynesia is on a cruise ship.

Experience should tell well-traveled warm-weather wanderlusters that when offered this greeting at a tropical resort, it’s best to take it with a grain of sea salt. Too many times has this heat-seeking holiday maker been burned, not by the sun’s rays, but that seemingly hospitable phrase.

At the five-star GoldenEye resort in Jamaica, for one, “paradise” had me waking up in a bedsheet speckled with blood despite having the protection, or not, of a mosquito net and generous layer of insect repellant. Las Brisas Acapulco is a luxury property affectionally called “The Pink and White Paradise,” but the only color I saw was red due to loud service carts whizzing past our room at all hours of the night. A drive-by shooting across the street was the cherry on top during a visit that was far from utopian.

If I had a nickel — or other small-value coin of foreign currency — for every time a tropical destination failed to live up to the paradisical hype, that would be a tidy sum and fodder for a tell-all travel book. But since life is short and we need more positivity in this topsy-turvy world, let’s not dwell on places where slices of heaven are inadvertently mixed with bits of hell. We should instead focus our travel binoculars on a corner of the world that rarely disappoints.

We’re talking about French Polynesia in the center of the serene South Pacific. Made up of five archipelagoes and 118 islands, nearly half of them uninhabited, this pinch-me place is a popular setting for screensaver graphics and wall calendars. It literally is the model of what many of us picture as the quintessential tropical paradise.

Who doesn’t dream of cooling off with a fruity libation while lounging beside palm trees swaying in the breeze on a pristine white-sand beach? Here’s where that vision becomes reality, and the icing on the coconut cake are views of crystal-clear turquoise waters surrounded by lush, green mountains. Even sweeter, unlike many vacation destinations near the equator, French Polynesia gets the seal of approval — a Level 1 travel advisory — from the U.S. State Department for safety.

Air Tahiti Nui, American, Delta, French Bee, Hawaiian and United airlines all fly between Tahiti and Los Angeles or San Francisco, and it’s a minimum of eight hours in the air. Although not a short trip, or a cheap one with roundtrips costing north of a grand, the ROI is a French-accented dream vacation with a joie de vivre.

Blessed with unmatched beauty, unique culture, friendly people and an alluring sense of seclusion, French Polynesia is a favored nation for honeymooners, celebrants of milestone anniversaries and others with the urge to splurge somewhere sultry besides the likes of South Florida, Hawaii, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

Staying at a resort is how 80% of visitors do French Polynesia, per the country’s tourism authority ( tahititourisme.com ), and many go big with lodging at one of those luxurious overwater bungalows synonymous with the destination. The pinnacle of posh is arguably The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort ( www.stregisborabora.com ), where from inside your high-class hut you can watch sea life though glass-bottom flooring, and outside jump into an aquamarine lagoon off your private platform with a perfect view of iconic Mount Otemanu.

Making a full-service, five-star resort your base for an entire vacation sounds like paradise, and the majority of visitors would seem to agree. But know that if you ever want to explore other islands to get a different taste of Tahitian-French culture, that, mon amie, can be a hassle. Because flights and ferry service are limited to certain islands and days of the week, even the most resourceful hotel concierge may try to talk guests out of this well-intentioned, yet impractical idea.

If catching “island fever” after spending a few days on one property is a possibility, then your best ticket to paradise could be a cruise. By ship is the easiest way to visit multiple islands in a sprawling destination that’s roughly the size of Europe. On a typical 7- to 10-day journey around the Society Islands, for example, ships make calls in Moorea, Taha’a, Raiatea, Huahine and, of course, Bora Bora, before returning to Tahiti. Paul Gauguin, Windstar and Silversea are offering the most roundtrips with this itinerary over the next year, give or take a port, and of special note are those that anchor overnight in Bora Bora.

One of the benefits of cruising is you go to many places and unpack only once. But when given the opportunity to abandon ship to spend a night in an overwater villa, fussing with luggage a second time is a pleasant inconvenience. On a recent weeklong “More Society Islands & Tahiti” voyage aboard the 332-passenger Paul Gauguin, at least two guests skipped out on their spacious veranda stateroom with butler in exchange for an “Overwater Deluxe Villa” at the St. Regis, the only Forbes five-star resort in Bora Bora. That coveted category starts at $1,530 a night. By comparison, the InterContinental Tahiti and Hilton Tahiti were reporting midweek availability in July with rates starting at $330 and $370, respectively, but with markedly less wow factor.

Selling points of the St. Regis include snorkeling safely in the stunning Lagoonarium stocked with more than 120 species of fish, adults-only nooks and crannies, a heavenly spa, themed dining events nearly every night at one of the six restaurants and bars (the luau-like Polynesian Evening on Wednesdays is a high-energy hoot), and among the recreational offerings is an assigned bicycle for every guest.

The good life continues back on the Paul Gauguin ( www.pgcruises.com ). With an excellent 1:1.5 crew-to-guest ratio, service on the Paul Gauguin is solid — quite possibly the most caring and friendly this sea-legged scribe has experienced. Several among the crew flaunted other talents at a delightfully entertaining crew show on the penultimate evening.

On other nights in the understatedly beautiful 314-seat Grand Salon, Polynesian culture is shared through song and dance by impressive local acts. Late-night entertainment is often a weak link on small ships, but not here; the Santa Rosa Band and pianist-singer Jerry Lomocso are two versatile acts out of the Philippines worthy of the extended contracts they just received.

Shipboard entertainment, a stern-side marina for watersports, and most organized activities are included in the cruise fare, which for a 7-day sail can be booked for as low as $5,000, double occupancy. What’s not included are treatments at the well-managed Algotherm Spa and shore excursions. That’s typical even for luxury-category cruising. Looking at a few tours, ATVing in Huahine costs $279 per machine (single or double), but the views along the route, road and off-road, are priceless; “Coral Garden Drift Snorkeling” ($120 in Raiatea, $125 in Taha’a) takes swimmers to one of the best spots in the world; and the “WaveRunner Adventure” in Moorea ($239 per machine, single or double) includes a pitstop at a motu for a thrilling ray encounter.

Adventures of the epicurean kind were mostly successful on the recent cruise; dishes starring steaks, shellfish, lamb and veggies were of the high caliber one would expect from French-based Ponant, which acquired the ship in 2019, and is known for outstanding cuisine. A tip of the chapeau to Cheese Night at L’Etoile restaurant, featuring a dazzling spread of 15 types of prized French fromage.

Like the food, pretty much everything about the Paul Gauguin goes down smoothly. Even the ship’s bones are specially designed for smooth navigation in Polynesian waters, and at the risk of causing a nerd alert, here’s why: A 17-foot draft allows the ship to get in close to shallow lagoons and isolated islands, maximizing stopover time.

As for parts of the ship we can actually see, recent refurbishments have the 27-year-old ship looking younger and more distinguished than when I sailed on it in 2018. If only the spa’s $210 “Deep Regenerating Sun Care” treatment could have done that for me.

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