Live from the Rhapsody - 13 January - South Pacific

[lais]

CHeckin pretty cruisey

My bag got sent to the naughty room and didn't find it until 11pm! All for a pair of nail scissors

 

Ciao for now

You've got to be kidding me, right?

 

Hope the weather has improved for you and you are having a fantastic time.

[Flynnbo]

the only place to eat is the dining room

too much pitching for the windjammer!

pools all closed

i was getting tossed around in my aft JS too

safer out of there LOL

 

OK Text from Debsta this AM!!!!

 

24 straight hours of 14 metre swell. Im______ over it. Then I sent a very sympathetic text back and got more info.

 

Land Yayyyyyy. Just docking in Noumea now. The changed itinerary. Bit windy but its sunny. Yesterday was seriously _____. Sooooooooo many sick people. I couldnt even stand in my cabin in the aft. Had to sit on the shower floor LOLOLOL. Hopefully we've seen the last of that bitch cyclone Vania. LOL. Today I can laugh. Mitch n Amie were both in bed all day. Chris n I were ok although I gotta say I was feeling sick at some points. Met some fun Cruise Critic people too. She asked me to post that I had herd from her and that she is going to find a beach today.

So keep it coming Deb we all enjoy your reports.

 

Jude

[Debsta]

Good evening all. This is the Debsta speaking (in my best Captain voice LOL)

 

Pretty insane seas. Now let's get the facts right. The rumours going around was the swell was 14 metres and we would be bypassing everything and heading back around the cyclone towards New Zealand.

 

The seas felt like 14 metres though!!!!!

 

Captain just announced it was 7 metres (I'm sure the sets coming through where friggin double that though!). We stopped in Noumea today. My plan was to go to Duck Island however the cyclone has flattened it. We went to Anse Vate Beach for a swim. The water was pretty dirty though. Changed itinerary and being Sunday in Noumea nothing much was opened.

 

Having just set sail now, we have had another change of itinerary as Lifou appears to have got the brunt of the cyclone, so we are heading to Mystery Island, then Port Vila, and hopefully back to Isle of Pines, however, I believe IofP has also been damaged. Day at a time for our itinerary at present.

 

Captain has announced the we should be OK. There is another cyclone coming in from PNG way so hopefully that won't affect us.

[Debsta]

I have never seen so much vomit in my entire life! :p The ship was covered in it from aft to stern, in the restaurant, toilets, everywhere......I was fortunate, majority weren't.

 

Island night tonight. No island gear as we haven't been to a port where we can buy something...oh well. It's not like P&O where the evening centres around it. Doesn't start until 10.30 pm up on pool deck :confused:

 

I just had my nana nap so I should make it LOL

 

Doing well in the casino....as in, I'm just in front....which is better than being just behind hahaha

 

Mitch & Amie got very sick yesterday, although I'll hazard a guess Mitch was a combination of Corona poisoning LOL All three of them have said NEVER AGAIN! Can't blame them, it was a pretty poor initiation into cruising. Hopefully the rest of our days will be a lot calmer!

 

OK I'm off for a shower then din dins (did I mention the food was yummoooooooooooooooooo!)

 

Deb

[Debsta]

Oh one more thing :D We were tracking alongside the edge of the cyclone, literally on the edge of the cloudeline....it was the most bizarre thing.

[cazz0069]

Oh one more thing :D We were tracking alongside the edge of the cyclone, literally on the edge of the cloudeline....it was the most bizarre thing.

 

Gawd Deb that sounds awful. Hope you havent been sick too! Get back safe and sound! :)

[Bella cruiser]

Hi Debsta, sorry to hear about the terrible weather, I hope it all calms down soon and you guys can get to really enjoy the rest of your cruise. Its sad and worrying to hear about the damage to all those islands I hope the locals are safe.

 

Jenny

[yatchet]

Hi Debsta, sorry to hear about the terrible weather, I hope it all calms down soon and you guys can get to really enjoy the rest of your cruise. Its sad and worrying to hear about the damage to all those islands I hope the locals are safe.

 

Jenny

Some info here, New Cal and Lifou.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=58185

[Bella cruiser]

Some info here, New Cal and Lifou.

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=58185

 

Thanks for the link Yatchet, understandably, with the Queensland flood disaster they haven't really covered the effects of the cyclone on the Islands in our local news.

 

Jenny

[The_Big_M]

I can imagine such an initiation for first time cruisers isn't one they want to experience again. Unfortunately, it's part of the 'experience' - not much can be done to entirely prevent except to call the cruise off entirely (or go another direction!) neither of which would be accepted by many.

[yatchet]

I should have said sad info, with a cyclone and earthquake at the same time, would be horrifying.

[tassie cruiser]

Hi there, hope you have a win in the casino.... If you playing on the tables, say hi to Nicky, Gina, Igor... I know its sad when you get to know the staff in there so well :p They were great.If you get a chance play the 3 card poker, was great we (husb) and I both got a straight flush in same hand, same suit, big boss man came and took photo as he hadnt seen before. Husb got it 3 times and daughter once while on cruise, they excited as it is 40-1... Fiona...:D

[BrusselsGirl07]

Oh, has Rick moved on already? He was Canadian and excellent. Noticed his family were with him though, so they may have gone back together.

 

So sorry about the weather! We had Captain Stein last Christmas/new Years on the Rhapsody and Captain Rick this past Christmas.

 

Captain Rick and Captain Stein have a 10 week on/10 week off arangement. Apparently most Captains have something like that.

 

Hope everything improves and people on their first cruise are not put off!!

[Guest012]

 

All three of them have said NEVER AGAIN! Can't blame them, it was a pretty poor initiation into cruising.

Deb

 

Best they have the worst first:p;):D:D:D

...fingers crossed for better times cheers Shiona

[lais]

.If you get a chance play the 3 card poker, was great we (husb) and I both got a straight flush in same hand, same suit, big boss man came and took photo as he hadnt seen before. Husb got it 3 times and daughter once while on cruise, they excited as it is 40-1... Fiona...:D

 

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I hate you!

 

Just kidding :D I can't even get a cherry on the slots.

[Goodyab]

Oh one more thing :D We were tracking alongside the edge of the cyclone, literally on the edge of the cloudeline....it was the most bizarre thing.

 

Whow Debsta....what a bumpy cruise...:eek:

I hope we have smoother seas and that i won't be stuck on the bathroom floor...sea sicky :(

Glad you are still having a great time and looking forward to your pics...

Keep some money in the casino for us lol...:D

Cheers Angie:)

[Debsta]

Howdy :D

 

Got to Mystery Island yesterday. Was late disembarking as they had to fix the pontoon :eek: Had a nice day just lazing, swimming and snorkelling. Wasn't many fish, and the coral was so so. I think the fishies have gone away due to the cylone. We were two hours late leaving as the pontoon snapped off and they had to try and get the rest of the passengers back somehow? Lovely sunny warm day.

 

Today we arrived in Port Vila. Our day was shortened for some reason, so we had to be back by 2.30 pm. We did the Turtle Buggy Tour.....sooooooooooooo much fun and well worth the cost. We booked with Off Road Adventures direct. Stocked up on the obligatory booze and smokes. As we all know they take the grog until disembarkation but they let us keep the ciggies.

 

Casino! Igor is my friend LOL and a few others. I cleaned up two nights ago and won $800.......I'm not going back!!!!

 

Tomorrow they weren't sure were we could go. Captain said he had been ringing around trying to find somewhere for us to go. He's managed to convince Lifou to come in and clean up for us so that's where we are heading tomorrow.

 

All locals seemed OK on all the islands. It's not as bad as I thought it would be.

[Debsta]

We've had island night...heaps of fun and very well attended. Tonight is Toga night....should be interesting! :D

 

Other themes have been 50's/60's.....and I can't remember any others.....my brain is mush lol

 

The kids are happy now....and said they would cruise again :p

 

That's it for now........byeeeeeeeeeeee

[Debsta]

Ohhhhh.....never play the slots....they're ripped!

 

I won my cash on blackjack :p

[lizzy77]

Hi Deb. Such a pity about the weather, but there are some things that you can't change. I was so sad to hear about the family getting sick as I know that you would have told them all the wonderful things about cruising and then they have this cruise that makes them sick:o.

Enjoy the rest of the trip and take advantage of that amazing balcony. We had the cnr/aft one just underneath you and they just about needed to drag me out of it.

[cazz0069]

Howdy :D

 

Got to Mystery Island yesterday. Was late disembarking as they had to fix the pontoon :eek: Had a nice day just lazing, swimming and snorkelling. Wasn't many fish, and the coral was so so. I think the fishies have gone away due to the cylone. We were two hours late leaving as the pontoon snapped off and they had to try and get the rest of the passengers back somehow? Lovely sunny warm day.

 

Today we arrived in Port Vila. Our day was shortened for some reason, so we had to be back by 2.30 pm. We did the Turtle Buggy Tour.....sooooooooooooo much fun and well worth the cost. We booked with Off Road Adventures direct. Stocked up on the obligatory booze and smokes. As we all know they take the grog until disembarkation but they let us keep the ciggies.

 

Casino! Igor is my friend LOL and a few others. I cleaned up two nights ago and won $800.......I'm not going back!!!!

 

Tomorrow they weren't sure were we could go. Captain said he had been ringing around trying to find somewhere for us to go. He's managed to convince Lifou to come in and clean up for us so that's where we are heading tomorrow.

 

All locals seemed OK on all the islands. It's not as bad as I thought it would be.

 

 

Way to go Deb. $800 is a nice little haul. No lock it in the safe and get hubby to change the code ;)

 

Wow, the weather sounds extreme. Please be sure to try and outrun it so we dont cop it in 17 days. So glad your having a good time though. Look after her for us :D

[Debsta]

We just departed Lifou. Pretty ordinary day weather wise but to be expected......after all it is monsoon in the tropics and apart from the cyclone the weather has been great. Raining on and off today with sporadic sun. The steps have been roped off to get into the water at Jinek Bay so you had to jump in....decided against it cos I probably couldn't get out! :eek: Those steps were pretty ordinary before the cyclone so not really surprised. The water wasn't very clear on the side where you tender in, so today was just swimming.

 

Came back early as it was raining and had a yummy BBQ lunch poolside (in between rain showers LOL) and just set sailed.

 

Looks like calmer seas on our return journey!

 

LOL@Jas I don't have a hubby so I DO get to keep my money LOLOLO :p

 

Toga night was awesome last night. Really well attended. The crew have been saying our Island Night and Toga Night have been the best attended since they arrived....even better than NYE!.....it's a party ship :D There is a lot of 18-25's (and us) so that's probably why LOL

 

The shops are not stocked with very much. Very disappointing. No lanyards on day 1 even. Jewellery, watches very so so. Of course, I'll have to buy something :p but it's hard to decide on the limited stock. Word on the street is a lot of the stuff is stuck in Bond and they can't get at it.

 

I really have enjoyed this cruise. The company from CCer's roll call has been great. 4 of us are solo parents travelling with kids so we all seem to have bonded and so have the kids....awwwwwwwwww

 

OK off for a coffee, shower for din dins and it's 70's night...should be fun!

 

Which cruise next???

[Debsta]

Just looking out of window now from the internet cafe....it's P'ing down!

 

The reason I post a few at a time is because I was loosing posts and having to redo them!

 

What not to do on a cruise? Put your freakin kid in the pool who is not toilet trained!!!!!!!!!!......pool was shut 2 days ago from the middle of the day because there was a floater in it! Not impressed!

[cazz0069]

Just looking out of window now from the internet cafe....it's P'ing down!

 

The reason I post a few at a time is because I was loosing posts and having to redo them!

 

What not to do on a cruise? Put your freakin kid in the pool who is not toilet trained!!!!!!!!!!......pool was shut 2 days ago from the middle of the day because there was a floater in it! Not impressed!

 

Hahahaha you sure it wasnt a Picnic or Chokito bar? :p Also you sure it was a child? heheh

 

Hey Deb, can you tell me anything about this Quest game that seems so popular. I dont know much about it, but have seen it mentioned on threads. :)

 

Ok, if you have no hubby, knock yourself out and go and buy yourself something pretty :)

[Australian family]

Just looking out of window now from the internet cafe....it's P'ing down!

 

The reason I post a few at a time is because I was loosing posts and having to redo them!

 

What not to do on a cruise? Put your freakin kid in the pool who is not toilet trained!!!!!!!!!!......pool was shut 2 days ago from the middle of the day because there was a floater in it! Not impressed!

 

Oh that is horrible, we had that happen once at the Sheraton at Noosa, we weren't impressed, as they had to close their pool down.

 

Hope you have smooth seas for the rest of the cruise.