The ship gave a bit of a clonk at 0530 and we woke up to find ourselves on the dock in Honolulu. Went back to sleep for an hour and then got up and had breakfast. The immigration checks started at 0630 and it was all supposed to be orderly: tour groups at 7 followed by A deck at 0730, B Deck at 0800 etc. Being D deck, we sat in a lounge and waited. We heard the announcement for A deck and then there was a long silence. It got to 9am and we went to investigate and found that it was a free-for-all and that people had just gone when they liked and no one was monitoring. So we got in the queue. It took about an hour to get through and then we were off.

First impressions were that as expected Honolulu was like a smaller, less glitzy version of Miami. Not at all exotic or Polynesian. Those impressions stayed through the day. If you came here expecting South Pacific charm, you'd be massively disappointed. Not to say it isn't a good place. Just not exotically beautiful.

Got a shuttle bus which took us from the ship to a big shopping mall near Waikiki beach. Our plan was to find wifi and speak to the girls, have a quick look at the mall and then go to the beach. Had abandoned the diving because we heard it was a bit average and they wanted £200 to take us out in the afternoon.

It was a nice big mall, largely outdoor. The wifi was good and we managed long facetime video calls with both girls which was lovely. Daisy was at the Premier Inn Heathrow ready for her big day of interviews and tests tomorrow. We wished her very well and she seemed chirpy and cheerful. Will no doubt manage to catch her tomorrow after it's all over.

Lu was a bit sad for one reason or another so that wasn't very nice. But she is about to go off to St Andrews on a jaunt tomorrow so that will cheer her up and then her birthday this weekend. It's hard to be apart when a big hug is needed.

We had a pretty good shop fuddle around the mall. Probably for longer than we should. Macys was very good shopping.

We then got a local bus to Waikiki Beach. A long beach but very narrow and backed by a road along the back of which are wall to wall high rise hotels. Think Miami Beach and then keep humming "da da da da, dada dada da" i.e. Hawaii Five O theme. The beach is divided up by groins to retain the sand I suppose. Nice clear water. Not as warm as Tahiti, maybe 26C. There were swimming sections and surfing sections, the swimming sections had concrete breakwaters out from the beach to calm them. Lots of surfers out in the water but its not one of the BIG surf beaches. They're all up on the north shore.

We had a good wallow in the water and on the sand for a few hours. In all honesty not the most glamourous beach we've been on by a long chalk and I wouldn't personally choose to come to Honolulu for a holiday. Pass through to somewhere nicer say I. A lot of homeless people sleeping rough too. It has a definite "undercurrent" feeling to it. I'm sure the rest of the island is lovely.

We were peckish so we gave ourselves a treat and shared a sumptuous chilli dog and massive onion ring stack. They were outstanding, especially the onion rings. Obviously, as we are always watching our weight, we washed it down with Diet Coke!!!!!

We walked a long way along the back of the beach through the various parks there watching the beach doings. A lively scene. Went into a drugstore and bought some bottles of Hawaiian Tropic and some boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts which seem to be the best souvenir. Have hidden them under the couch to ensure they make it home LOL.

Got back to the ship about 545. Slightly underwhelmed by Honolulu to be honest. We've been to a lot nicer places. Will be interested to hear what others who went out of town thought and also to see Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii tomorrow.

The sunset was at 645 so went along to the end of our deck where there is a pool terrace and pulled a chair up to the rail and watched the sun turn golden. Unfortunately due west from our position was a scene of gas tanks and gantries but it was nonetheless a majestic scene. There was an impressive US Coastguard presence in the harbour and 5 of their small rib boats were out behind us charging about, presumably on exercise.

We sailed at about 715 and by then Honolulu was a gorgeous night scene of twinkling lights reflecting in the sea. Much more glamorous than its daytime persona.

Tired, so we had dinner up in the Horizon buffet - Italian theme tonight. It was ok. Did the job. Turned in with coffee and a brandy. Up earlyish tomorrow for Hilo. Hoping for a more exotic island…..