Disney Wonder 4-Night Baja Cruise: The Ports

The Disney Wonder 4-Night Baja Cruise ports included San Diego (embarkation / dismebarkation), Catalina Island, and Ensenada.

The night before our cruise, we stayed at SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Bayfront, which is right across the street from the port.  They have a free breakfast buffet, and I was able to get a late check-out, which worked well for our cruise check-in time.  

On port days, if you plan to get off the ship, you need to make sure you have your key to the world cards (Magic Band+ will work too) for everyone in your party and appropriate photo IDs for adults.  Your belongings will be scanned as you go through a security checkpoint.  

Some people stay on the ship on port days, as pools and restaurants tend to be a lot less crowded, but I was happy to get off the boat and explore new-to-us areas.   You can book port activities directly through Disney Cruise Line or through third parties, or just wing it like we did. 

Our first port was Catalina Island.  I read that some people would rent golf carts to tour the area, but we would have had to rent a 6-person golf cart.  We decided to simply walk around instead.  It was pretty warm, as California was experiencing a heat wave.

We ate at a couple of places, did some shopping, and played mini golf.

At Ensenada, once we got off the boat, we went to catch a shuttle into Downtown.  It was $4 USD RT per person.  

We were originally just going to stay in Downtown and explore, but the shuttle is actually a sales pitch for tours, and we ended up getting sold on a tour to visit La Bufadora and the market.  I'm glad we went on the tour, as we saw some amazing places and experienced a lot in just a short amount of time. 

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Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani

It's been 5 years since my last staycation, and we were overdue for one.  We decided to go back to the Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani since we had such a wonderful time there.

Translated to "House of Welcoming Waters," Halepuna, sister property to the Halekulani hotel, is part of a brand that is synonymous with excellent service.  

We were fortunate to get a media rate for two Ocean View rooms for our family of 5 (because 2 bathrooms are a must!).

One room had a king bed and desk; the other room had 2 double beds.  

The blue tones of the rooms complemented the ocean views.

The views were stunning!

Each room included complimentary water bottles (water filling stations are located throughout the hotel), robes for use, a coffee maker, and mini fridge.

We had a shared foyer vs connecting rooms, which still allowed for privacy since we could shut the external door.

Dining options on property include Halekulani Bakery as well as UMI by Vikram Garg.

On property you will also find the Vitality Pool and Sun Deck with Cabanas, The Garden, where you can relax in tranquility, and a Fitness Studio.   

We were fortunate to get complimentary cabanas, which offered a respite from the sun as we relaxed by the pool.

Throughout the hotel you'll find some exceptional artwork!

I like that the hotel is at one end of Waikiki, so we were not in the midst of the crowds, but a lot of Waikiki spots were still easily accessible.  

The beach is just a short walk across the street, and you're not far from numerous other shops and restaurants.  

The Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani is a boutique hotel that scores big on ambience and service, and it was the ideal location for our staycation.  

We had such a nice getaway - one that was much needed to rejuvenate my soul.  

Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani

2233 Helumoa Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 921-7272

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Button Up Cafe

Button Up Cafe is a favorite breakfast spot in Pearl City.  They are known for their stuffed French toasts, but they have other great menu items as well.  

Stuffed Nutella Cheesecake French Toast

The Stuffed French Toast is like a dessert!  Such an indulgence!

Bacon & Mushroom Omelet

Omelets come with rice, fries, tots, potato hash, or upgrade to fried rice for extra.  I got the tots, because I love tots!  Some of the tots were overcooked and hard to eat, but most of it was nice and crispy.  I loved that the omelet was stuffed with lots of bacon, mushrooms, and onions - and not the skimpy kind of pieces.

There were more tourists than locals when we visited, which I was surprised about, but it was nice to see the little restaurant so busy.

Button Up Cafe
719 Kamehameha Hwy
Pearl City, HI  96782

(808) 454-5454

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Rainbow Drive-In

Because we staycationed in Waikiki for Mother's Day, we hit up our usual spot on the way home - Rainbow Drive-In.

Boneless Chicken with Gravy All Over

I got the Boneless Chicken with Gravy All Over.  It lasted me 3 meals - it was so much food.  

Fried Saimin with BBQ Beef Plate

Mix Plate with Gravy

Shrimp Tempura

BBQ Burger

Fries

And of course we had to get Slush Floats.  It's a must whenever we go to Rainbows.

Slush Float

Rainbows is such an iconic spot for local plate lunches, having been in business for 65 years.  

Rainbow Drive-In
3308 Kanaina Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 737-0177

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Shiatsu at SpaHalekulani + Kamaʻāina Discount

This year I'm all about self-care, and I decided to treat myself to a 60-minute Shiatsu session at SpaHalekulani. 

Upon checking in, I waited for my therapist inside (you could also have a seat outdoors, but it was pretty warm), where treats and water were available.

The spa is designed to be "suite-style," so unlike some other resort spas where there are shared facilities, you have a dedicated suite for your treatment with all sorts of amenities. 

I never had Shiatsu before, and the therapist explained it's basically a "dry massage" that focuses on pressure points.  The therapist hit different points from my toes to my head, with emphasis on my neck and shoulders, since I let her know that's where I was experiencing a lot of pain / tightness.  

I was afraid it would be painful.  

I requested medium pressure, and for the most part, the pressure was good.  There were some instances where she worked on my back and neck where I could really feel the pressure, but it was never painful.  

The 60 minutes went by too quickly!

At the end of the treatment, you can relax on a lounge chair outdoors and sip on tea and eat a cool confection.

Since I went on Mother's Day weekend, they were offering champagne or locally-made mead!

They were also gifting moms with eye masks!

Kamaʻāina get 15% (with ID) off the base price of a massage, body polish, or facial!  A 21% service fee is added to the base price, inclusive of gratuity.

SpaHalekulani
Halekulani
2199 Kalia Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 931-5322

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Sushi Que

 One of my husband's friends invited us to dinner at Sushi Que, and we happily accepted. The reservation was for 6:30 p.m., and when we asked if the time could be adjusted, he explained why it couldn't. Sushi Que is a cozy, intimate restaurant with just a sushi counter and a handful of tables. The tables have only one seating each night at 6:30 p.m., while the sushi counter turns over twice.

As it turned out, the single seating was one of the best parts of the evening. There was no pressure to rush through the meal or make way for the next guests. We were able to relax, enjoy good company, and savor each course at a leisurely pace.

The sushi itself was outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and expertly prepared. 

The intimate setting, unhurried atmosphere, and exceptional sushi made for a memorable evening. We're grateful for the invitation and left with full stomachs and an evening to remember!

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