April 5th

The bags are packed and I am not ready to go. The ship has been rocking and rolling since we crossed the equator.  The mood has changed the last day or two as people are preparing for re-entry into their respective worlds.  It is sad but true that many of the people I became close with I will never see again.   We may cross paths on future cruises but so many of the passengers are much more well traveled than I am and have gone to most of the places I am interested in seeing.  I have a few deposits down for 2025.  I will see how things go and decide what I will do.  I am most excited about my Antarctica Expedition leaving Ushuaia on December 29th.  I will post once I get home the trips I do  have planned so you can check back to follow along.

Thanks for coming on this voyage with me. I will do a short post that I got home safe and sound.  I am scheduled to arrive home tomorrow evening. I can’t wait to see the kids!

 

March 30th

Today was our last port of call in Nuku Hiva.  We then sail for 6 days arriving in San Diego the morning of April 6th.  Today’s island was mountainous and green.  Their ancestors were known cannibals. There were several tiki’s( some real and some recreations) to see.   The waters were not safe to swim in due to the sharks. It was very hot and not much to do other than go on 4X4 tours.  The 4×4 consisted of 4WD trucks with benches fitted into the bed of the truck. I passed on that excursion.  I walked around the port area and went back to the ship.  Tonight will be our last sail away and they are doing it up big. I have been on the deck for all the previous ones and will make it to this one too. 

March 29th

Hello again, it has been a bit since my last post. Our WiFi was blocked the second day we were in Papeete and was not good in Fakarava.  It is a day at sea today as we head to Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia.  Now for a recap of the last few days.

March 26th

This was the first of two days in Papeete, Tahiti. I had a morning excursion sponsored by my new travel agency.  It was billed as a cultural experience. It was just ok.  We went to an open air Tahitian temple with the alter for human sacrifices, a waterfall, botanical garden, a grotto and an old colonial house.  We did get to see a large part of the island including the area they are using for the summer Olympics surfing competition.

That evening I had an amazing sunset sail on a catamaran. There was good food, drink, music and a pod of dolphins who played for us as we watched the sun set over the island of Moorea.

March 27th

The second day in Papeete I wandered through the markets and did some shopping. It was very hot so I only went for a short while.  We had a beautiful sail away on our way to Fakarava, Tuamoto, French Polynesia.

March 28th

Fakarava is an Atoll which is formed when a volcano erupts under water forming the atoll. This is a sharp contrast to the islands we just left which were formed from a volcano erupting on land forming hills and mountains.  Fakarava is flat and horseshoe shaped with a large lagoon. I wandered around the small island and met friends to have a bite to eat and sit outside to enjoy the beauty.  There was a small Catholic Church decorated with shells. Snorkeling was great and right from the shore.

As we sailed away I got a picture of the pilot climbing down the rope ladder and jumping onto the waiting boat.

It is sad to say but today at sea is an organizational day.  I will be getting things together for my luggage forward bags. I will toss out the suitcase that they broke the wheel on and use the rolling duffle they gave us.  It is huge and will fit what I want to send to meet me later at home. I can’t believe this amazing journey is coming to an end.

March 25th

Hello from Huahine, French Polynesia.  I have been having difficulty with syncing my pictures for several days.  I will get with the tech guy on board in the next few days to help me figure it out.   We spent the last two days in Moorea.  Just when you think it can’t get any more beautiful it does.   The first day I did a tour around the island.  We saw Tahitian temples, pineapple fields, visited a juice and rum factory and saw the mountain in the movie Moana. Our guide was very energetic.  We had a great time.  Did I say we were in open air jeeps?

The second day I went on another snorkeling trip that included the rays and sharks again along with another coral garden with colorful fish.   We stopped at a Motu and ate lunch. The guide prepared ceviche (which I did not eat) along with grilled chicken and sides.  They played music, wove hats and opened coconuts which the they used the milk to prepare the ceviche. We went on a modified outrigger boat which was way cool. I will have to do a photo dump once I get the pictures  to sync.  Here are a few teasers that have come through.

Tomorrow will be the first of two days in Papeete, Tahiti.  I have an excursion on the first day and will explore on my own the second day.  They have started to give us disembarkation information which is depressing. For me the time has flown by and it is hard to remember what I did in January, or that we spent a month in Australia! I will need time to decompress when I get home and read through the log to remember all that did do. 

March 22nd

Today we visited the island of Bora Bora.  We had a scenic sail in at dawn.  It was truly magnificent. This morning I went on a Shark and Stingray snorkel in the Lagoon.  The water was calm and not very deep. It was really fun.  The shark (black tipped reef sharks) swam all around you.  There were lots  colorful fish and coral. We sailed past the beautiful over the water bungalows.  Tomorrow we have an overnight in Moorea.  We have 7 French Polynesian ports in a row. 

Happy Birthday my sweet Nick! I miss you.

March 21st

Our stop in Rorotonga was not to be.  Only 25% of ships are able to tender in due to the high sea swells.  We were not in the top 25. The captain took us on a cruise around the island on our way to Bora Bora.  We had a stow away on our ride.  It was a Frigatebird.  They have wing spans up to 7.5 feet. They have a characteristic forked tail.  The island looked beautiful but not for us today.

March 18th

Good afternoon from Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga.  I will try to post more often.  It is easier for me to remember what I have done if I post right away.  We have returned to the land of the hot and humid weather. When I checked the weather app at 7 AM it was already 90% humidity. My plan today was to get off and explore on my own which I did for the first few hours.  I visited a local market and watched women weave their wares.

On my way to the Main Street I ran into a woman I recognized from the ship but not had met who asked me if I wanted to go on a taxi ride around the island.  I said yes and off we went to see the tsunami rock, the three headed coconut tree, the blow holes and the Kings Palace.  We saw tapioca plants among the coconut trees.  ( did not know they were plants).  After the hot and wild cab ride I headed back to the ship for a nap!

 

We have the next two days at sea crossing the international date line and gaining back the day we lost.  We get two March 19th’s.  The next time I post from Avatiu, Rarotonga, Cook Islands we will be on the same day. 

March 17th

Happy St Patrick’s Day from the South Pacific.  We have officially left New Zealand and are on our way to Nuku alofa, Tonga. I have some catching up to do.

March 12th, I was in Tauranga where  I had a semi private tour with one other person. It was really fun and we stopped at kiwi groves and tasted red, gold and green kiwi. The kiwis grow on vines that look like grave vines at a distant.

March 13th and 14th, we spend an overnight in Auckland. The first day I did an afternoon excursion with my travel agency over to the town of Devonport with a ferry ride home.  I have been very happy with the agency hosts on board and for the most part the excursions they have offered.  The second day I did the hop on hop off bus in the morning where I met a woman from French Polynesia and she gave me great tips for the islands we are going to next.  In the afternoon I teamed up with a friend and did more exploring.

March 15th, we were in Waitangi (Bay of Islands), I went on an excursion that took me to the Glow Worm caves ( no pictures allowed), a fantastic bakery with over 30 meat pies for lunch, a chocolate factory and a forest to see the Kauri trees.  The Kauri tree is a protected tree which is slow growing but has nearly indestructible wood that was used in building in the past.  They grow very large as you can see in the picture with the person standing next to it.  The forest also had a lot of silver fern which is the national plant and symbol for the national rugby team the All Blacks

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I took a picture of the oldest house in New Zealand along with another picture of the black swan with its red beak.  They are not native to New Zealand and are thought of as pests like we think of the canada geese that poop everywhere at home.

Our itinerary is changing back to a visit to Bora Bora. Everyone or mostly everyone is happy about that.  We only have a little over 1,000 people on the ship and they have agreed to let us dock.  I will be doing a shark and ray encounter along with snorkeling.  More to come on that in a few days,

Many times I have thought how Ed or Nick would have loved to see and do the things I have done.  I know they are with me in spirit.  I miss them so much.

March 12th

Good morning, we are sailing into the port at Tauranga, New Zealand.  I have not posted for a few days as I was a bit under the weather. I am much better today. I missed the port at Akaroa.  It was a 20 minute tender ride and I didn’t feel up to it.  I did get off in Wellington and had a meh excursion.  It was listed as a working farm with some interesting WW II history.  We ended up sitting in white plastic  lawn chairs for 2 hours listening to the “farmer” tell the tale of the marines coming over to help save New Zealand. It was interesting but could have been said in a half hour.  We walked his yard and saw two Highland Bulls and his two dogs.  That was the working farm.  Not worth the money.  My evaluation reflected my thoughts.

Yesterday I was in Napier where my friends Debbie and Bruce picked me up for the day.  It was a lovely day and we walked and looked at the Art Deco buildings.  Napier was devastated by an earthquake in 1931.  The city was rebuilt in less than 2 years using the architecture of the day.  The buildings are still preserved in the art deco style in the downtown area.  It was beautiful.  After we walked they took me to run some errands I requested and one was to replace a suitcase that was destroyed on the way here. With my new  purchases I definitely needed a new one. Thanks again Debbie and Bruce. 

This morning we had a beautiful sunrise with what looks like smoke out of a volcano, we are in the ring of fire.  I am getting off to do a tour that includes a kiwi and avocado farm with tastings. 

March 8th

Our luck with the weather is still holding strong. It was forecasted to have rain for the past 2 days and it has been beautiful.  I stepped onto New Zealand yesterday in Port Chalmers. The nearest city is Dunedin. I took an excursion to Larnach Castle, the Royal Albatross sanctuary and to Wildlife Wonders to see the fur seals and the Omari Blue Penguins. 

Lanarch Castle was built in the 1870’s at a cost of over $150,000.  Imagine what today’s cost would be.  It is one of New Zealand’s most haunting buildings. There are gardens you can wander and tours you can join.   Unfortunately for me they had lots of lavender which is not my friend. I sneezed my way around the grounds. We then ventured to the Royal Albatross Sanctuary where we climbed up high to see the nests and watch them fly.  What a sight!  We next visited  the fur seals and the Omaru penguins which are  the world’s smallest penguins. They are incredibly tiny and shy and were told not to take pictures of them by the guide.  Today we are in Timaru. I walked around and found a small market and some old cars and old guys trying to get people to go see there exhibition of cars. I am sure Ed would have gone to see them.

New Zealand has  different kind of beauty to Australia.  It is soft and flowing while Australia seemed hard and more barren.  Both are beautiful but in different ways.  I am a bit disappointed that we missed Milford Sound but not to the extent others are.  I spent 2 weeks looking at the fjords and waterfalls of Norway last May and can picture much of the same.  Enjoy a few pictures.  

March 5th

Our journey in Australia has come to the end as we  are now crossing the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.  The sea is living up to its name as being very rough.  So much so that we will not make our first port of call at Milford Sound.  The ship can’t sail fast as it needs to so we will head to our second port which is Dunedin. 

I had an enjoyable 2 days in Sydney and wished  I had more time. On the first day I went on an excursion to the Blue Mountains which is another UNESCO World Site. On the way we stopped at an animal sanctuary and I found a new favorite animal.  It is called the Quokka. It is known as Australia’s friendliest mammal.  It smiled up at me.

We also saw an albino kangaroo and a number of Koala’s. One who looked like it was rowing which is one thing that I like to do.

We traveled to the Blue Mountains which were less than ideal due to the rain.  We saw 3 sisters rock and the Boars head. 

The second day I wandered around with a friend.  We did the HoHo bus and a ferry ride and saw the usual sights. You can see people at the top of the bridge.  You can walk across for free but pay about $200 to climb it.  If you are over 75 you need a doctor’s note to climb.

The sail in and out of the port was beautiful with the city skyline.  I have pictures of sunrise and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Luckily my room was port side and I had a great view.

I am excited for the next part of the journey.  It will be very port intensive and most likely tiring. I meet up with friends in Napier which will be a nice change of pace.  I started a watercolor class yesterday.  We will see how long that lasts.  I am not very artsy.

February 29th

Happy Leap year!

I am wrapping up my two days in Tasmania.  It was  way too quick with much more I wanted to see.  Last night I did the nocturnal Boonorong Wildlife Sanctuary excursion.  It had not rained in 2 months until last night.  It was a fun experience even with the rain.  The animals were out to play and eat and we had quite the show.  We saw how they rescued animals and prepared them to return to the wild.  They had an extensive medical center which they are expanding at this time.  Here are a few pics from last night.

Today I visited the Port Arthur Historic Site.  It is a World Heritage Site that tells unique aspects of the global story of forced migration of convicts of the British Empire. When you enter the visitor center you pick a card that names a convict who can you follow their story.  My card was of a 12 yo boy.  Boys and girls as young as 9 were sent to prisons as the age of responsibility at that time in Britain was 8 yo.  They eventually built a boys prison in Port Arthur to attempt to stop the influence of older convicts on the young. Women and girls were housed in a separate prison elsewhere.  Punishments were harsh for minor infractions.  The weather was not good and many prisoners ended up with scurvy and Tuberculosis. They had a narrated guided tour you could play on apple pod cast or Spotify which was nice as I could wander on my own. 

A tragedy occurred in 1996 when a gunmen took the lives of 35 people and wounded 19 others.  

I am getting a little sassy after all these days at sea.  I am feeling more confident and don’t take kindly to others telling me how I should be doing this as a solo traveler.  I now just get up and walk away.  It’s kind of like people telling you what grief is how to grieve. Sheesh, people should mind their own business. 

We have a day at sea and then have a 2 day stop in Sydney ending our time in Australia. The time has really flown by.

February 28th

We sailed into the port of Hobart, Tasmania this morning after a day at sea yesterday.  We will be here until 4AM.  I have an evening excursion to the zoo for a behind the scenes tour. I will get off this morning and do a little exploring.

My last port was in Melbourne where I visited a wildlife sanctuary.  I was thrilled to see the elusive platypus and Tasmania Devil.  It is sad that the Devil’s are getting close to extinction due to a head and neck cancer.  Sanctuaries are trying hard to breed them to save the species.

Tomorrow’s port is Port Arthur, Tasmania which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is about the prisoners sent from the UK who essentially built Australia.  There is an excellent exhibition which has many of the original sites available to view.

We have gone from extreme heat to cooler temps.  The clothes I thought I would never wear and mad I brought are coming in handy. We will hit the heat again when we travel through French Polynesia on the way back to San Diego.

February 25th

Yesterday was another amazing day in Australia. I went to the Cleland Wildlife park and had up close and personal encounters with kangaroos, koala’s, wallabies and a several others I will post pictures of.  We have a day at sea before our final 4 ports of call in Australia.  We had to do another muster drill as we had completed another 30 days at sea.  I found out yesterday that one couple I had met at the pre cruise hotel went home.  She could never seem to get over the motion sickness and was advised to go home and make sure something else was not wrong with her.  We have some rough seas ahead crossing over to New Zealand. To me the time is flying by but to her it must have seemed like forever.

I had a walking tour of Melbourne  scheduled for tomorrow. My right foot has been bothering me and I thought best to find one less strenuous.  I will wander around the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary. We have not been able to get the hull of the ship cleaned and we will find out tomorrow if we can make it to Tasmania or need to stop for cleaning.  The divers are on board and look about 12 years old. They seem to be enjoying themselves while waiting to do their job.  I had a night tour of the zoo with back of the scenes tour and a Tasmanian Devil Unzoo experience scheduled there.  I am pretty sure we won’t be making one or both of those ports. Sidney is the last port of call for Australia and I doubt they would cancel that one. It all depends on the weather. We have to be 12 nautical miles off coast to do the cleaning.

February 24th

We arrived in the port of Adelaide early this morning. I have an excursion to the Cleland Wildlife Sanctuary in about one hour. The WiFi has been spotty at sea so best to post in port.

I had a fantastic excursion in Port Lincoln 2 days ago. I went on a 4×4 wildlife safari.  Luckily it was an enclosed 4×4 as we headed to the sand dunes.  We had a thrilling ride over the dunes to see some spectacular coastline where we were fed lunch over looking the coast. You can see by my hair how windy it was. After sight seeing we went to a sheep station where we roamed among the trees and saw Koala’s in their natural habitat. They were so close you could have reached out and touched them.  The kangaroos and Emus were more elusive. When I got back I had sand stuck to my sunscreen and eyes.  I still have sand coming out of my eyes in the morning.

Yesterday we were headed to Kangaroo Island when the Captain announced we would skip the port to do hull cleaning. New Zealand has enacted stricter biosecurity laws to protect its waters and he felt it best to do another cleaning. We had done 2 since leaving San Diego.  The morning gave us rough seas so the divers could not do their jobs so we headed into port for a half day excursion.  It was just ok.  There was not much to see and definitely not live Kangaroos.  Lots of carcasses on the side of the road like the deer we have at home.  I did see the black swans.  I better get going for my day of fun. I will write or later.

February 20th

The weather has turned much cooler.  We have moved  our clocks forward 2 hours and will have one more change before reaching Sydney. We gained several hours on the way here and will lose them again on the way back. 

Yesterday in Albany I visited the Whale Museum.  Albany was  a small whaling city until the late 1970’s when the whaling companies went out of business. We spent 2 hours  at the museum and I did not see all of the exhibits.  It was surprisingly interesting.  I have included a picture of the beach next to the whaling station that is called Misery beach.  One explanation for the name is that the water was always pink colored due the processing of the whales.  It is now voted as one of the best beaches.    We saw some amazing scrimshaw artwork.  Scrimshaw started with the whalers as they carved designs into the teeth and bones of the whale.  I have included a picture of a whale jaw bone and teeth that was on display. 

We have two days at sea to get to Port Lincoln which will be followed by Penneshaw Kangaroo Island and then Adelaide before another day at sea. I have a lot of wildlife outings coming up and have my fingers crossed the weather will be good. 

There have been a lot of wine tours on this sailing.  I guess Australia and New Zealand have lots of wineries.  Not of interest to me but others have signed up for several. There is a small group who have gone fishing at several ports and have had a good time. 

Yummy scone we had with tea on the excursion!

 

 February 18th

We are sailing towards Albany, Australia after 2 days in Fremantle. The weather was beautiful and much cooler. The first day I went an excursion to the Pinnacles about 3 hours from port.  We left at 1pm and stopped first at some sand dunes for sand surfing. The  Pinnacles is an amazing site of sandstone pillars that were formed by a combination of wind and marine life.  Exactly how it occurred is still up for debate.  Once the sun went down we did star gazing with some  telescopes and binoculars.  You could see a lot with your bare eyes.  We saw the southern cross and I took a picture of it.   kangaroos  came by to join us. We returned to the ship about midnight just as some of the crew were going out to party.  Youth!  Yesterday I walked around town and to the local market.  It was full of food, crafts and music.  Tomorrow I have a tour to the whale museum.  It is a short one and I will have time to look around the small town of Albany.

The next two weeks will be jammed packed with ports.  I have quite a few wildlife excursions I am really looking forward to doing.  Since it is a day at sea it is mandatory to nap.

To see the southern cross follow the tow stars at right corner (alpha and beta centauri) that are slanting towards the diamond shape to the left.  The diamond is the southern cross on its side. 

 

 

 

February 15th

I am on another sea day on the way for an overnight in the port of Fremantle, Australia.  Yesterday we visited Exmouth. It is a relatively new town whose origins began with the USA building a military post to construct towers to use for underwater communications in the 1960’s.  It is a desert area that had very few inhabitants at the time.  They built a complete city within the base including baseball fields, movie theatre and made everyone drive on the right side when inside the gates. (Australia drives on the left). A town formed to help with construction and it is now a resort town.  It has 3,500 permanent residents that swells to 20,000 between March and October.

Exmouth attracts tourists to its unique barrier reef called the Ningaloo reef.  It is unique to have a reef next to a desert.  It is an active reef but lacks the colors you see elsewhere. Something complicated like  being near the desert, shallow water etc. I was busy looking out the window and did not hear the whole explanation. It has diverse wildlife and is a huge breeding ground for turtles and whales. The snorkel trips were canceled due to being off season so I hopped on a glass bottom boat. We were forecasted to have temps in the 100’s but a cold front came in and it was in the mid 90’s with 50% humidity.  To us it was a cold front.

We had two stow aways on the sea view deck at sail away. I hope they find their way home.  Sorry the pictures are not great.  See if you can find the rare sea turtle in one of the pictures.

A termite mound

Prayers for Kansas City!

 

February 13th

Happy Fat Tuesday, at least it is here.  The ship is celebrating Mardi Gras tomorrow to match with the western part of the world.  We are on our way to Exmouth,  Australia.  We spent yesterday  in Broome.   I woke up to a beautiful sunrise and an early Super Bowl.  Kick off was at 7:30 in the morning here.  I watch the first half and headed out on a shore excursion. I have unlimited data in Australia so I was able to follow the game on my phone. They are replaying it today in case passengers that missed it due to excursions have a chance to watch it.  

 

Broome, Australia is known for pearls.  By the 1870’s it was booming.  The divers were mainly Japanese and 1 in 5 died each year.  Deaths were due to deeper dives with primitive equipment along with the dangers that lurk in the ocean.  This is very sad part of the history.  The main use for pearl in those days were buttons. Once plastic buttons came into play the industry tanked.  Now they sell high end pearl jewelry.  My excursion took me to some of the beaches that were simply beautiful with the sandstone rocks.  There were even some dinosaur  prints and a fern impression in the rocks. There was no swimming again today due to jellyfish and other stinging creatures. This is the wet season and they are more plentiful.

We ended the day with a sail away party where a new friend from my Great Barrier Reef stinger suit comedy joined us.  She is from Minnesota too.  There are several people from Minnesota on this cruise wanting to escape the winter.  I am off to another slot pull tournament.  The machines are stingy and not much fun.  Have a great day. 

February 11th

Hello from a day at sea. We arrive in Broome Australia tomorrow morning. On our way out of Komodo Island we were entertained by a pod of miniature dolphins playing in our wake.  Last night we were treated to a beautiful sunset. I also found a good picture of the Komodo Dragon’s tongue.

Yesterday on our way into Darwin I saw giant jelly fish from my verandah. Our guide told us that no one swims in the ocean due to crocs, jelly fish and other dangers.  The only time they get action in the ocean if there are big waves from a storm and people come to surf. My tour yesterday was to the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum. This service was started to provide emergency medical services to the Australian Bush in the North country.  It has now expanded to include primary and preventive care including dental.  It was very interesting.  We also visited the Airplane museum and saw videos of the bombing of Darwin which like our Pearl Harbor brought Australia fully into the war. We walked around a bit after the  tour and I was very impressed how their walkways are all covered from the sun.

The food has been especially fun  having special theme nights in the Lido Cafe (buffet)  The last two have been an Indonesia night and the  Lunar New Year.  The food and decorations have been good.

I am really enjoying the cruise and loved seeing new places and meeting new people. I will have to look for something more to do next winter!

 

February 7th

Good hot afternoon, I know I have said it before but it bears repeating.  It is hot here.  After 4 days at sea we arrived at Komodo Island, Indonesia.  It is one of 17,508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia.  It has only about 2,000 permanent residents. We came to see the Komodo Dragon.  It is the world’s largest living lizard and is in the monitor lizard family.  They are very deadly not only with their bite but have a toxin secreted in their saliva. The only passengers allowed off the ship were ones with a guided tour.  No free roaming around the island allowed.

Today was our lucky day.  We saw 10 lizards.  We saw babies up to about 25 year old lizards.  Males can live up to 50 to 60 years.  I got some great pictures and don’t worry I was not as close as it looks.

Several guests did not tolerate the heat and were brought back on board on stretchers.  They warned us of the heat and rugged terrain.  Many did not heed the warnings and paid the price.  I was shaking my head on the tender when I saw who was trying to go on this excursion.  I hope they are alright. Again, it was very hot and humid. Tomorrow is a sea day before we arrive in Darwin Australia. I will make sure I hydrate myself well in preparation for another hot day.

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February 4th

Good morning from the second sea day on our way to Komodo Island, Indonesia. I had a rest day yesterday after an amazing day snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef.  We sailed to the reef in a large catamaran where they kept us fed and hydrated. It took a bit longer, about 2 hours to get there and only 90 minutes to get back.  I did not have an underwater camera so you will have  to take my word for it that it was truly amazing. I was in the water for 3 hours straight which flew by.  I saw all kinds of fish, sharks and of course beautiful coral.  Once when I was drifting with the current a school of fish swam all around me.  They also had a glass bottom boat you could take a ride in and go further into the reef to see other things. We had to wear stinger suits which was a trip getting into.  A new friend I met on the catamaran and I had quite a lot of fun getting in and out of them.  They had some young guy who looked you up and down and handed you a size.  Of course, the first set didn’t fit and we exchanged for a different size.  I have a bruise on the bridge of my nose from my snorkel.  I switched to one of theirs after my 3 hour jaunt but didn’t like it as well.  All in all I snorkeled about 4 hours which was plenty long for me.  

There are lots of activities planned for the next 3 days to keep us busy.  We have to clear immigration and be granted a visa to get into Indonesia.  There were 4 people who did not follow the rules and had to disembark in Cairns and meet us back up in Darwin at their own expense.  They were very transparent that you needed 6 months left on your passport to enter Indonesia.  I guess they thought that didn’t apply to them.  

I will sign off with a few funny photos of me on my snorkeling excursion.  Have a great day.

February 1st

Hello from Townsville. It was a partly cloudy and hot day.  Rain moved in right before sail away. I have been going up to the aft pool for sail away and happy hour (non alcoholic)  and have had the best view on the ship.  The geriatric crowd on this cruise (very old) tend to stay indoors.  There are about 5 of us who regularly toast the ship leaving the harbor.  Yesterday afternoon we had a lecture from our “reef pilot”.  For those who don’t know, there is always a local pilot that comes on board to help guide the ship into each port. The reef pilot is different he stays on and guides the ships through the Great Barrier Reef.  There will be at  times only 1 meter of clearance between the bottom of the ship and the top of the coral. They have reef pilots for every vessel that traverses this water way. They can be on the ships as long as 10 days. Ours will leave on February 4th. It was a very informative and enjoyable talk.  

Today I took a shuttle into town and walked along the “Strand”.  It is a harbor walk with a few monuments, shops and small restaurants.  I was really hot when I got back and wanted a shower and a nap.  Unfortunately they needed to fix a pipe on my balcony and I had to stay out of the room for a couple of hours.  They offered a bottle of wine for my inconvenience which I declined.  I think I will ask them for a trip to one of the specialty restaurants instead.

Tomorrow is Cairns and my excursion to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef.  It will be a long day and I am hopeful the weather will hold out.  The forecast is for rain on shore.  We travel by high speed catamaran to reach the snorkeling platform. I think I read it takes about an hour to get there.

January 31st

Good morning, we are at sea heading to Townsville, Australia. Yesterday we were in Brisbane and it rained all day.  I decided not to do an excursion after reading the weather report and I am glad for that decision.  Talking with a few cruisers and their report that it rained so hard when they were at the Zoo ( Steve Irwin Zoo) they could not hear each other talk.  I took a shuttle into town and dashed with my umbrella into a large mall to pick up some supplies.  Tomorrow’s forecast is for more rain and I don’t have any organized tour there either.

We had a small show last night with a couple of aboriginal people singing and playing the didgeridoo. They have had either a lecture or entertainment by indigenous peoples along the way.   Have a great day.

January 28th

Good afternoon,

We are on our first of two sea days before reaching Brisbane, Australia. We will be cruising around Australia for the next 30 days. I have lots of excursions planned and it is very exciting.  Yesterday we were in Noumea, New Caledonia.  It was amazing.  It was the first stop that I felt I would come back and stay awhile, It was beautiful, clean and friendly.  I took the tchou tchou train around  the city and then wandered a bit on my own. The weather there was a bit cooler as we had traveled north to reach it. The next few stops will be very hot and they have a heat warning in Brisbane. I have a neck fan and cooling towels I will be breaking out to take with me on my tours. 

Today they had another cake extravaganza in the Lido cafe. It was really yummy. I have managed to stay away from the breads as they are not good but those darn cookies and cakes call my name.  Overall all I have been satisfied with food and have not gone hungry.  The cruise has been going very well and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  The time is flying by and will seem more so as we get to New Zealand.  I miss my little kiddos but will try to FaceTime them in a bit. 

Take care

January 26th

Good afternoon, 

Mystery Island (Anelghowhat, Aston Vanuatu)

Yesterday we visited this small uninhabited island. The locals from a neighboring island came over and offered some wares but nothing of interest to me.  We walked around the small island and went back to the ship.  I was going to snorkel but the current was strong and I decided against it.  I will have lots of opportunities to snorkel later in the cruise.  The naming of Mystery Island is a bit of a mystery.  Some people believe it is from WWII when there was an airstrip there and the Japanese could not figure out where the planes were coming from hence the mystery. Another theory is that it was named Mystery to attract tourists to the island. Either way it is a lovely place to have visited.

Easo, Lifou , New Caledonia

Today we visited the first of two islands in New Caledonia. Today’s island was very rural and populated by Kanak’s who are native to this island.  New Caledonia is part of France and as with all colonizations there are some who are not thrilled with being colonized.  They did ask for us to be respectful with our dress and not to take pictures of them unless we are told we can. They were quite emphatic about this and will deny future visits if not respected.  This geriatric  crowd should not have  a problem following rules. Today was the day to get in the water if you wanted to because tomorrow’s island has a box jellyfish problem. I chose to walk around and climbed a large hill to see a small church.  It was a very very hot climb and I was rewarded with a fantastic view.  I have chilling in my room this afternoon reading and will go up on the deck for sail away.

Stay warm and safe!

January 24th

Good afternoon from the lovely Volendam,

It was a rainy day in Latouka, Fiji yesterday.  It cleared up later in the evening for a lovely sail away.  I ended up sitting out visiting with new friends and ended up missing dinner. I woke up with a headache today which I am sure is from a combination of the heat and lack of food.  Lucky for me it is easy to remedy both on board the ship. Tomorrow we go to Mystery Island. It is small and uninhabited.  Locals from neighboring Islands come over if a cruise ship arrives.  It is a tender port (small boat brings you over to land) and I don’t have an excursion.  I will wait a bit before attempting to go to the island. 

Today I have laid low.  My main past times are reading and listening to books.  People are creatures of habits and I see the same people as I go about my day. I have really enjoyed their tales of travel and it has inspired me to put down a deposit on an Antartica expedition for next January (actually I leave on the 29th). It is the kind of cruise where you zodiac over to Antartica and get up close with nature. The following winter I am looking at the Galapagos.  I figure I need to get the more strenuous vacations done while I can.  I have enjoyed the enrichment lectures on board and the cruise director is the best.  I don’t go to the shows much unless it is something unique.

I am going to the Italian specialty restaurant for dinner tonight.  It is one of my new friend’s birthday.  I brought birthday cards with me on board.  It is a tip I read online from a world cruiser.

One last thing, I have been sending my laundry out to be done.  They do a fantastic job. I have washed  a few things out by hand that were dry fit and quick to dry.  With the humidity on board it takes other materials a long time to dry. I decided I didn’t want to live with wet hanging clothes or worry about what to wear based on what is drying and treated myself to laundry service.  It is the best decision I have made so far on this trip. 

I hope everyone is doing well and the weather improves.  Oh ya, there is a cyclone going to hit where we are going next week. Fingers crossed everyone stays safe and we can explore that part of Australia.

January 22nd

I had a wonderful day in Suva, Fiji. My shore excursion took me to a village where we were welcomed by the villagers and treated to entertainment and food (which I did not eat).  There was a Kava ceremony which is a traditional drink.  After I saw the kid mix it up using water from a bucket I passed. They had not any visitors for 4 years and were excited as well as nervous for us to come.  The chief said he was so nervous he did not sleep last night.  We had a brief tour of the city of Suva before visiting the village.  It is an industrial city and not the typical island paradise that one would expect.  We will see paradise tomorrow in Latouka, Fiji.  It was predicted to rain today but lucky for us it did not. There is rain in the forecast for tomorrow and hopefully it will hold off as well.  Either I am getting used to the heat or it was not as hot today. The seas have been calm with little wind. Which is making many happy. I prefer to be rocked to sleep.

Go Chiefs! 

January 20th

I am now officially 19 hours a head of you all.  I am one calendar day ahead after skipping the 19th yesterday.  It will stay this way until we come back across the date line in late March.

We were serenaded into port this morning with dancers and musicians.  When I left the ship at 10 AM  the temperature was 84 degrees but it feels like was 106 degrees.  There was 91 percent humidity and my glasses were fogged up with our first step outdoors. When the rain fell later in the morning it was a cool blessing from the sky.  I did not have an organized tour but hopped into a taxi with my friend and went to the local market.  It is Saturday here and the market was buzzing with activity.  We will have a day at sea tomorrow before arriving  in Suva, Fiji. 

We were talking with some locals and asking about the traditional Samoan tattoos and if they were still being done after learning about the serious infections and death that can occur with these tattoos yesterday in American Samoa. We saw some of the tattoos on the dancers this morning so we had our curiosity peaked.  They said they still go on but are falling out of favor due to the deaths and pain but many still feel it is their birth rite and feel that not everyone dies.   These tattoos take days to complete with the primitive tools and many get sick and die before they are finished. I have a back shot in one of the pictures.  The tattoos go from the waist to the knees.

Stay warm and I will write again after Fiji.

January 18th 

I will need to catch up as it appears my January 16th post did not save.  January 16h we crossed the equator and the International dateline at the same time.  You are called a polywog before the first time you cross the equator and you turn into a shellback after crossing.  There was a big King Neptune ceremony where polywog crew were initiated into King Neptunes court. I have crossed the equator before but it is not common  to cross both lines at the same time.  For the honor of crossing both at the same time I am now Golden Shellback and have a certificate to prove it. Haha. I kissed the fish even though I was not a polywog. I am hoping for some luck.

Today we explored Pago Pago, American Samoa.  It was hot, hot, hot!!!  We rode in a converted school bus with wooden benches.  The scenery was beautiful and we visited the southern most U S National Park (shout out to Glo and Dom). The islands main economy is based on tuna canning.  It is the home of Starkist Tuna. They are also known for their large fruit bats. See if you can find one in my pictures.  I did the tour with my Minnesota friend Caron.  Tonight 5 of us are going to one of the  specialty restaurants on the ship. It will be nice to eat somewhere other than the buffet.  I could have been eating in the main dining room but without a set dining time , early or late, I get sat at a new table each night and get tired of telling “my story”.   I have found my “tribe” in the buffet and I am perfectly happy.

Tomorrow we visit Western Samoa.  It is on a different time zone than American Samoa and we will lose the 19th of January.  We will pick it back up and the way back to San Diego. The ports will be closer together and I will get a lot busier. I will keep up the best I can.  Everyone stay warm.  I sure wish I could send you some of this heat!

heat.back to you.

January 14th

Today we attempted to tender into Kirtimati (Christmas Island).  It is the first time Holland America has visited this island which is actually an Atoll. I learned that an Atoll is a circular island rimmed with coral and has a center lagoon. Unfortunately the water is shallow due to all the coral and the tides were not in our favor.  Several hundred guests made it off but right before my turn to go they suspended operations.  They are still evacuating the remaining 200, with only taking a few at a time to prevent grounding.  Our departure tonight will be delayed. They did bring on locals to sell their wares.  My goal is to not bring anything back home (except for the grandkids). People were grabbing at stuff so I am sure they made some money.

Our next stop is Pago Pago which is pronounced Pango Pango.  I have a bus tour there which is really more like an open bed truck with benches. We have two sea days to travel to get there. I continue to meet nice people and enjoy my time reading and listening to books. I have a regular group the walks at 7 AM with the activity director which is a nice way to start the morning.

Stay warm and safe

January 13th

The weather has turned much warmer with rising humidity.  We have had some rain and the outdoor activities have been on hold.  The seas have remained calm which has been a blessing for some. My biggest problem is FOMO.  There is way too much to choose from. I have been on over 20 cruises and this by far has had the most activities, so much so that they do not have enough venues to hold them. The  food has also been a step up too.  Today we had a cake extravaganza and for those who know me I like me some cake!! 

I went to the dining room last night and got seated at a  large table with very  interesting and well traveled and cruisers. My life seems dull in comparison.  I spent the afternoon on my balcony watching the ocean churn as we sailed on. I know many of you are freezing and dealing with snow so I won’t rub it in too much.

Stay Warm!

January 11th

Good afternoon from warm and sunny Hilo, HI. I am hesitant to sat too much about the nice weather when a bomb cyclone is bearing down on many of you.  I walked off the ship with my Minnesota friend and we headed to downtown and visited the Tsunami museum.  It was well put together and had a historian telling different stories.  We wandered a bit and then headed back to the ship when it started to sprinkle.

The food has been very good on the ship.  The executive chef has done a nice job incorporating local cuisine into the menu.  Look what was on display last night.

Our stop at Fanning Island was canceled.  They could not get anyone to the island to help clear customs.  We will instead visit a sister island called Kiritimati or (Christmas Island).  I will be interested in hearing the lectures on the island over the next 3 days at sea. The cruise line will make sure all the donations get to Fanning Island.  The islanders count on the ships dropping off supplies.

I will part with you all with a couple of photos one of the ship and one from the view from my balcony this afternoon.  Please stay safe from the storms!

January 10th

What a great day for a whale watch!  Weather was perfect and the whales came to play.  Of course, I missed all the shots but I bought a picture of some of the whales we saw today.  Tomorrow we head to Hilo.  I plan on taking a shuttle into town and explore the historic district. I will be brief as I am meeting some people at the sail away.

Talk to you soon,

January 9th

Good morning.

I had a relaxing day at sea with a long massage and a good nights sleep. We docked in Honolulu early this morning., I am sure many are glad to see land again.   I have nothing much planned today other than taking a shuttle with my archeologist friend to a nearby shopping mall.  We will venture a few blocks from there to Walmart to pick up school supples for Fanning Island, a stop we have a few days from now.  The ship drops off supplies quarterly to this remote island.   Tomorrow I have a whale watching tour.  Today’s forecast is for rain.  Hopefully,(fingers crossed), we don’t get too wet.  Tomorrow’s forecast calls for some sun and calm seas.  Come on whales please put a show on for me.  I am thinking of all of you in KC digging out from the snow as I enjoy the warm weather. Next week I will be complaining about how hot I am!!

Take care and have a great day,

January 6th and 7th,

The seas have calmed some but many of the walker and wheel chair set are not out and about. One couple I met at the pre cruise hotel have had problems with sea sickness.  The wife has not gotten out of bed since we set sail.  I would be getting off in Hawaii as there are more rough seas ahead.  The daily program is crammed with things to do.  From music, crafts, exercise and enrichment activities. The set up on this voyage is a bit different. There is an Entertainment Director who plans the activities and a Cruise and Travel Director who plans all the talks and introduces people.  The CD is fantastic,he is from England and Oxford educated his lectures are both entertaining and informative. We also have Polynesian ambassadors who will be on board until we hit Australia.  They are fun and full of interesting information.

I am very happy with the travel agency Cruise Specialists.  They have hosts on board and they have had a daily get together. It’s nice that someone knows I am on board.  Yesterday my 86 yo archeologist friend and I went to a solo get together lunch.  She is a pip, she and I decided it was not our jam!  

I was worried I would run out of books to read and listen to and I have not finished a one. This is very different than any other cruise I have been on but in a good way. I have never been a late night bar person so I don’t miss that. I am looking forward to learning about the places I am going to see and I am very glad I have the opportunity to do it on this cruise.  This kind of cruise might not be for everyone but it fits me nicely.  

Wish me luck at the slot tournament today!

Lorraine

January 5 At sea

The first full day at sea was not kind to those who get sea sick.  Many activities were canceled. Lucky for me I do not have a problem. The ship was very empty so exploring was easy. We had a hall block party yesterday where the crew brought around wine and hors d’oeuvre so we could meet our neighbors. The captain went around to every floor and greeted us. Everyone is very nice and excited about the trip.  At dinner my favorite waiter from my Norway trip found me and gave me a big hug.  I have requested his table for the rest of the voyage.  I will have to eat later but oh well, I am on vacation.

I finally found a place for all my stuff.  It looked like a bomb went off until I did. Being able to bring as much as I want with the luggage forward option created a monster!

Please bear with me as I figure out this website.  I can’t talk to the creator until I get to Hawaii.  

Talk to ya soon!!

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