She is finally here..almost.  The long awaited and much debated superferry is set to arrive on Saturday the 30th and will no doubt be a sight to see.  The Superferry will make a grand entrance by coming around Koko Head, around Diamond Head and in front of Waikiki before the $85 million vessel lands at Aloha Tower. Reservations also begin tomorrow.

For the three-hour Maui and Kauai trips, that fare structure will be $52 for adults for travel on Tuesday through Thursday and $62 for Friday through Monday. Fourteen-day online advance purchases will be $44 and $54, respectively, and children ages 2 through 12, seniors 62 and over, and retired military will be $41 and $51. Children under two will be $17 regardless of day. Transporting a car or SUV one way will be $59 on off-peak days and $69 on peak days. Fares for Big Island trips, which will take four hours and 15 minutes, will be $10 more when a second vessel begins service there in early 2009.

I have been holding on to my truck for a while for the very reason of being able to take my truck and my surfboards to the Big Island for visits.  I can’t rent a truck on the Big Island with the off road package I have that allows me to get to a lot of the Big Island surf spots .  The rental car companies don’t allow you to go off road with their vehicles anyway, so this gives me an opportunity to take my own car interisland and take my boards with me.  I am looking forward to this option and the option to be able to see the islands from a different perspective as the Superferry passes by the islands on it’s way to the Big I.

 ”Terry O’Halloran, director of business development for the Superferry, said the “experience” of traveling on the ferry will come in several forms. Among those, he said, are three different food and beverage areas; newly released movies on flat-screen TVs; a keiki play area next to tables and leather sofas where the parents provide supervision; a Surf Break lanai that will show sporting events; and a Hahalua lounge that will offer a higher level of service, including beer and wine, and be available for a $20 upgrade. There also will be a place for people to plug in their computer and work.”