I have recently enjoyed a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands on Holland America's Veendam.  We sailed out of San Diego, California and enjoyed five relaxing sea days on the way to the islands.  I thoroughly enjoyed life on board the ship with no demands and nothing to worry about except my favorite activities:  reading and eating!  You can do a lot of both on sea days.

First stop:  Hilo on the "Big Island" of Hawaii.  I went on the excursion to The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens at Popaikau.  It is 37 acres of lush tropical growth.  Many different orchids and other tropical plants were in bloom-even in December.

Next stop:  Honolulu on Oahu for two days.  On the first day I took the opportunity to see the Polynesian Cultural Center.  I had visited once before and loved it!  It highlights the cultures of Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, Tahiti, the Marquesas and Tonga. 

The second day I took an excursion to the only two Royal Palaces in the United States.  In the Nuuanu Valley we visited Queen Emma's Summer Palace.

Then we returned to Honolulu to tour the Iolani Palace which was the official residence of the Hawaiian kingdoms last two monarchs:  King Kalakaua and his sister and successor, Queen Lili'uokalani.   As we left the palace we found Hawaiian Santa!

The we island we visited was Nawiliwili on Kauai.  Here we took a cruise on the Wailau River to visit the fern grotto.

Everywhere we went in Hawaiian countryside we saw chickens running free in random places.  Chickens are a protected species there.

Next stop:  Lahaina where we visited the Maui Tropical Plantation and the Ocean Center.  We learned about growing pineapples, sugar cane, coconuts, macadamias, tropical fruits and many beautiful flowers.  The Ocean Center is a huge tropical aquarium with spectacular marine life found only in Hawaiian waters.

Here is how pineapples grow:

and bananas:

Next stop:  Kona, back on the "Big Island".  We went to a seahorse farm where we actually got to "hold" a seahorse.  Actually, he wrapped his tail around my little finger and held onto me!

Then five more relaxing sea days cruising back. On the way the crew decorated the ship for Christmas.

And of course we got a different "towel animal" each night of the cruise.

We made a short stop in Ensenada, Mexico because of the "Jones Act"  which requires that the ship stop at at least one foreign port.  We enjoyed a wonderful group of entertainers that displayed some of the music and dance of Mexico.

Last stop:  disembarkation back at San Diego.