Hawaii and Tahiti.....Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

[DaveOKC]

I had an altercation with someone in the spa once who left her towel on one of the heater loungers and went into the spa pool.

 

Every heated lounger area I have been in clearly states a 20 minute time limit on the loungers. You should have pointed that out.

 

DaveOKC

[WCB]

Report # 17 October 19, 2013 Saturday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

Usually days at sea are lazy, sometimes uneventful, usually lovely, but quiet. Well, today was not one of them. Lovely....yes, uneventful....far from it.

 

While we were walking the lower promenade deck this morning, we kept an eye out for any sign of sealife. Being out in the middle of nowhere, we did not really expect to see anything. But it is always a good excuse for one of us to take a break from the walk and be the look-out. Much to our surprise, we did see a large pod of dolphins, we assume, feeding on the surface about a 1/4 mile away from the ship. Collectively, they herd a shoal of small fish to the surface, then gourge themselves. They can disappear as fast as they appear. But if you don't stop every now and then, you would miss it.

 

A few days ago we received an invitation to attend a Cabaret Luncheon in the Showroom, deck seven. Now that was a different type of invite, so we inquired at the front desk as to what the occassion was. The answer was that it would be a 5 star Mariner member affair. OK, we would just have to go to find out what was involved. Besides, Captain Eric Van Der Wal and Hotel Manager, Bert Mackelenbergh had kindly asked us to attend, so we accepted.

 

The party began at 11:30am. We showed up exactly at that time, but the lounge was almost already filled with guests. On this ship, there are many cocktail tables with comfortable chairs for two scattered below the length of the stage. All these tables were set for lunch as were the tables on the second level of bench seating. We guess there were about 70 of us, which according to Linda, the cruise director, included 5 star members and suite guests on the Navigation deck. Linda welcomed us all, then wished us good health and wealth with a cosmopolitan toast.

 

With that, lunch service began with the offer of white or red wines from California, generously poured for the entire meal. As we ate the seafood martini cocktail of lobster, smoked salmon, and shrimps, the entertainment started on stage with the piano player, Robyn. Guess this was the "cabaret" part of the lunch. Chilled pea soup followed, and The Neptunes took the stage. Karen and the Halcats continued with modern tunes. By the time the entree of Sterling Silver Ranch filet mignon and a jumbo prawn skewer with potatoes arrived, we were listening to singer, Annie Frances, who was very good by the way. A pair of opera singers took the stage, but we think they may be on a future show. Our sweet dessert of tiramisu, with ladyfingers soaked in kahlua and espresso mixed with mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa powder was over the top. Appropriate with this dessert was the treat of listening to the Adagio duo...one violinist and one piano player, incredibly talented playing classical melodies. As if this wasn't enough, we were served friandises of rich chocolate, milk, dark, and white. Good thing we had kept breakfast minimal this morning. We all got the hint that the show was over when the curtain was drawn, and the song, "Time to Say Goodbye" came on the speakers. On our way out, we thanked the staff and told them they had a winner with this event. We suggested that this would be nice on the world cruise, and they invited us to pass that message on to the hotel manager on the Amsterdam. You can bet that we will.

 

It could be due to the wine, which we usually do not drink, that we looked forward to doing nothing at the aft pool. For some reason, many lounges were free of people's stuff and we had our pick. Also, there was a special presentation in the showlounge at 3:30pm featuring the World's Largest Cruise Sale associated with CLIA. We are not exactly sure what CLIA is, but it has something to do with booking groups of passengers on cruises. And the promise of a raffle that was awarding some nice prizes must have attracted many guests too. Works every time.

 

Despite many rain clouds surrounding us, the sun that was peeking through was still plenty hot. At least, until we hit one very big black cloud that they could not avoid. The drizzle began slowly, but it soon became heavy to the point where 99% of the folks ran for cover. We, along with some happy folks that were drinking beer, stayed firm and sat it out. It really did feel good and we had our swimsuits on anyway, so what did it matter?

 

Tonight was formal and also a special evening for one of our tablemates, who was celebrating her birthday. We did not wait until after the meal to sing Happy Birthday, but did so as she joined the table. We also had a guest, Stephanie, one of the guest relations assistants, who works behind the scenes at the front office. She was delightful, as she engaged each and every one of us all throughout the evening. At dessert time, the waiters brought our birthday gal an individual piece of cake (chocolate cake with layers of whipped cream) with one candle on it. And as always, a group of waiters gathered and sang the special Dutch/Indonesian birthday melody, compete with special sound effects from metal trays and silverware. Who says we don't have fun???

 

Sometime after 9pm, a sudden announcement was made by the Captain shipwide. An ill crew member had become in dire need of being transported off of the ship by helicopter, and it would occur during this evening between 1 and 3am. The Captain insisted that no one was allowed outside during this transfer or would be allowed to take photos, since the flashes could be dangerous to the flight crew. Can you believe that on past cruises, we have witnessed these helicopter pickups, and some unthinking people have taken flash photos? Clueless. Moments after that announcement, a German-speaking officer gave the same message in German for those passengers that do not understand English. We asked Stephanie how many Germans were on this trip, and she said about a total of 240, and few of them speak English. Stephanie happens to be of German descent, so she has been overwhelmed by trying to translate daily for some of these passengers. Since most everything is printed and delivered in English, she is puzzled as to why these folks booked this cruise. Guess the price was right.

 

We hope all goes well with this medical evacuation and the crew member will be OK. Having to go to the hospital by ambulance is one thing. But being lifted into a helicopter from a ship out at sea has got to be something else. Will keep you updated.

 

If all goes according to schedule, we should arrive in Bora Bora late tomorrow afternoon.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[PathfinderEss]

Captain is Eric van der Wal, his 1st command. He'll still be there when you join

 

Thanks Copper, appreciate the information. :)

Love your reports WBC, thanks.

[KirkNC]

We had a passenger taken off in the middle of the night and the captain did the same thing.

[WCB]

Report # 18 October 20, 2013 Sunday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

During the evening and wee hours of the morning, we woke frequently thinking that we heard the blades of a helicopter hovering over the ship to evacuate the crew member to a Papeete hospital. That was supposed to take place around 1am, but that apparently did not happen as announced. Obviously, we were imagining the noises. The actual evacuation took place before 8am, when the chopper lifted the patient, who was strapped on a stretcher, from the aft pool deck. The Captain made this announcement shipwide after the process was completed.

 

When we went to the dining room for breakfast, we inquired as to who the crew member was that had to be taken off. Our waiter told us he was part of the kitchen staff, and had taken a serious fall down a flight of stairs. The extent of his injuries were severe enough to require evacuation. They don't have the specific equipment onboard for those types of injuries. Being that we were closer to Tahiti, and civilized hospitals, he will be in the best hands. Good thing this accident did not happen when we were in Fanning Island, as he would have been out of luck for such care.

 

During his 12:45 talk, the Captain mentioned that the weather was going to remain the same for the next 24 hours. He added that the mist would get heavier, with the droplets joining together to make drops. Translated, we think he meant to say it was going to rain, but was hesitant to say so. He probably hates to disappoint the guests. We do have to admit that the lack of sunshine makes a huge difference in the colors of the waters around the islands and surrounding reefs. So we do hope for better conditions once we get to Bora Bora.

 

For a change, we ordered room service lunch. Since the weather was lousy all day with several rain showers passing over, watching a movie in our room and having lunch was a good idea. Our choice from the menu included caesar chicken salad and club sandwiches. A funny thing happened when we called the order into the kitchen. We are sure we had ordered two club sandwiches, one with potato salad, and the other with chips. We asked for the mayo and mustard on the side. Then when the fellow repeated the order, he said two tuna melt sandwiches. What? Not exactly. Must have been time for his afternoon break. When the order arrived about 30 minutes later, everything was there with one exception....no mustard. Guess we'll live without it, but it is laughable to us because there has been something missing everytime we have ordered room service in the last couple of years. Small stuff like salt and pepper, mustard or catsup, etc.

 

The Statendam arrived to the island of Bora Bora around 3:30pm under heavy overcast skies, a strong wind, and intermittent rain showers. Making our way to the bow, we were greeted with strong winds, but no rain. Today, being Sunday, there was little sign of activity on the island or even on the water. From previous visits here, we do know that Sunday is the native's day for church and family picnics and early dinners. Not much is open for the tourists.....they simply close up shop and they do not care.

 

The Statendam dropped her anchors once inside the bay near Vaitape. Tenderboats were dropped, and many anxious guests lined up on deck four to exit quickly. "Quickly" did not happen since the ship had to be cleared by local authorities first. An announcement came over the PA telling folks not to clog the hallway at the stairwell to B deck. Did they listen to these instructions? No, they never do. The problem is for the people that live on deck four. They can neither get in or out of their rooms sometimes. It wasn't until after 5pm that they began loading the boats for the short transfer to shore.

 

Like we said, we know that there is not too much to do in Vaitape, especially late afternoon on a Sunday. Where these people were going was beyond us, but sometimes some folks need to be the first ones there. The sun was going down as well. So we went up to deck 12 to photograph it. It was amusing to watch the tenderboats coming back from the pier, fully loaded with passengers coming back. And besides, there was a nice luau BBQ happening on the Lido Pool deck at 6pm. Bet the aroma of roasted pork, BBQ'd ribs, steaks, and chicken drew the hungry folks back. These special dining events are nice for the guests who wish to dine outdoors while listening to the music of the Halcats. It also makes it easy for the wait staff in the dining room as far fewer people dine there on these nights. As for us, we always check out the BBQ, but seldom partake.

 

All but two of our tablemates showed up at 8pm for dinner. One of our favorite entrees was on the menu, veal parmigiana with spaghetti and chunky tomato sauce, so we would not miss it. Expecting to find small pubs and cafes in Vaitape, one of our nice tablemates was so disappointed to find none there. Too bad he didn't think to ask us before we arrived here. Since all of our friends have booked tours tomorrow, we hope they find the island as beautiful as we remember it. All we need is some sun.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 19 October 21, 2013 Monday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

We spent the night at anchor in the protected waters of the bay across from Vaitape. Actually, the strong winds kept the ship swinging slowly from the bow anchors the entire time we were here. The tenderboat service began at 6:30am, although we are not sure what you would do there that early. Many shore excursions began early, even the circle-the-island-drives, snorkeling, and 4x4 wheel drive adventures. One good thing was that the rain seemed to be holding off, but the sun was still not coming out. Come to think of it, when we were here in late January of this year, it was so unbelievably hot that we almost melted. At least today, there was a cool breeze, keeping it pleasantly comfortable.

 

We did not take a tour today, because we have taken these excursions numerous times in the past. By the time we ate a light breakfast it was around 10am. By then, all of the tour groups had headed to shore, and the boats were half empty. The ride was about 10 minutes. Have we mentioned that these tenderboats are pretty nice? They appear to be roomier than the ones on the Amsterdam, since we seem to fit better leg-wise in the rows of seating.

 

Once on shore, we walked through the souvenier shop where the locals were selling tons of seashell jewelry,,,,and not cheaply we might add. That is one thing we noticed years ago about French Polynesia.....it is expensive no matter where you stay, what you do, or what you buy. Their most prized black Tahitian pearls are exquisite, but oh so pricey....especially the ones set with diamonds. Can't say we have seen or heard of any passengers buying them. The duty free allowance doesn't stretch far enough to cover these treasures we're afraid.

 

Taking our time walking the town, we wandered in and out of the shops, which were full of ship guests looking at the island clothing. In particular, the t-shirts and pareos. These items make really nice souveniers, and are still quite affordable and of good quality. The one gas station was busy, as was the pharmacy and grocery store with locals going about their daily chores. What we did notice, was that the usual crowds of tourists were not here. Perhaps this is not the peak season, judging by the dismal weather. Actually, it was nicer for us, because nothing was over-crowded.

 

Our plan was to make our way to Bloody Marys, a famous bar and restaurant, reportedly put on the map for developing the drink of the same name. It was too far to walk there, so we took a shuttle bus for the reasonable fare of $5. per person. It was a nice slow ride there, giving us a shoreline drive with views of the mountains on one side and the azure waters of the reef on the other. Local life seems to be in the "slow lane", which is nice for a change. No hustle and bustle of city living with rush hours, traffic lights, and blaring horns.

 

Bloody Marys opened up at 11am, so by the time we got there before noon, it was still fairly empty. We have never, ever seen this, so we took advantage of the lull, and purchased a nice t-shirt to add to the collection. Strange thing.....if we elected to pay in US dollars, the t-shirt would have cost almost $10. more. But if we used a credit card, it was $10. less. OK, we did have to consider that it cost us 3% for a foreign purchase, but that did not come close to $10.

 

For the first time, we stayed for lunch and had the pick of any table there. Everything on the menu looked great, but in the end, the hamburgers looked the best. Nothing was over-priced either...no different than the restaurants where we dine at home. The hamburgers were as good as they looked, and the beer was even better. Many new friends we have made walked in as we sat there for over an hour. Some were there to take photos, others to use the bathrooms, and some to stay for lunch. Speaking of the bathrooms, they have some unusual ones here. The ladies has a neat rock waterfall that is used as a sink by pulling a wooden handle connected from the ceiling to make it work. Decorating a small garden in the bathroom, is a very anatomically complete wood-carved male tiki. Most of the ladies came in here just to take a picture of the tiki man.

 

After lunch, we took a hike on the narrow shoreline road to Matira Beach. It was about a 30 minute walk, being careful to keep on the edge of the roadside. Good thing everyone drives rather slowly here. Matira Beach is a narrow stretch of white sand beach full of broken coral. It is a public beach too. Today, the it was virtually empty. Like we stated before, we think it is a low season time of year here. Our timing was perfect, because we were ready to go back to the pier, and so was a van whose driver stopped and agreed to take us back to Vaitape for a mere $5. each. He stopped at Bloody Marys, picked up a few more folks, and away we went.

 

We walked through the souvenier shop for a last look at the jewelry. Funny thing was that some of the prices had gone up from the morning. That's a perfect way to kill any chance of making a sale. From what we remember, they do not bargain like in other countries. Think we'll have better luck in the Marketplace in Papeete.

 

Several boats were coming over to take us back to the ship. We have to say that the crew on the Statendam have run their operation quite well in regards to the tendering service. No waiting.

 

After downloading photos, we went to deck 12 and found some teak lounges outside the Crows Nest just waiting for us to use. By 4pm, the sun had finally decided to peek out of the clouds for awhile. It was heaven relaxing in these nice lounges. Now we see why so many people like these on the lower promenade deck. So comfortable, they don't leave them all day.

 

Sunset was stunning tonight. A small group of the same passengers have been going to deck 12 every night, but this evening, there was only one man with us. Isn't that always the way things happen. When you don't go, the best sunset ever occurs.

 

Dinner was fun tonight with everyone sharing their adventures of the day in Bora Bora. Some took a ride around the island, while one couple spent the day snorkeling with the sting rays and black-tipped sharks. They seemed to enjoy that the most, despite the fact that the sun did not appear until they were done. We did learn one thing about the drinks at Bloody Marys. If you went to the bar and ordered a drink, it was very expensive....like double of what we paid. They said the bloody Marys were $18. Ouch. So we guess that by eatling lunch, we got a much better deal.

 

We think we kept dinner light by ordering chef salads, which were very good. The dessert of flourless chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, probably wiped out the light part of our meal. Oh well, we're having fun.

 

The ship pulled out of the bay before 11pm, passing by another ship that had come in during dinnertime. We think it may have been the Paul Gauguin, but not entirely sure.

 

Tomorrow, we will be a new stop for us....Raiatea, another piece of paradise in French Polynesia. We're looking forward to it.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[viper79]

In 2011 we were on the Westerdam, wanting a small brew i inquired at the Marketplace for a cold one. Found out that it was more than what it would cost on board. I let them keep it for somebody else.

[kennicott]

We are really enjoying your running positive comments. Have already booked the same, months ago, beginning in mid February, but actually were toying with the idea of bagging the entire voyage due bad stuff we keep hearing about HAL.

 

So, the deadline approaches for final payment and it looks like we are a go (thanks to you). It will take us up to 250 days total on the high seas with HAL if we do.

[Krazy Kruizers]

wonderful review

[Copper10-8]

...........................The ship pulled out of the bay before 11pm, passing by another ship that had come in during dinnertime. We think it may have been the Paul Gauguin, but not entirely sure.

 

Tomorrow, we will be a new stop for us....Raiatea, another piece of paradise in French Polynesia. We're looking forward to it.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

You are correct WCB! That was Paul Gauguin pulling into the Bay about an hour before our departure from Vaitape, Bora Bora

[ScriptOhio]

Report # 18 October 20, 2013 Sunday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

The actual evacuation took place before 8am, when the chopper lifted the patient, who was strapped on a stretcher, from the aft pool deck. The Captain made this announcement shipwide after the process was completed.

 

Being that we were closer to Tahiti, and civilized hospitals, he will be in the best hands. Good thing this accident did not happen when we were in Fanning Island, as he would have been out of luck for such care.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

FWIW, if the accident happened close to Fanning Island they might have evacuated him to Christmas Island. I was on the Rotterdam (Hawaii/Tahiti in 2012) after leaving Fanning Island there was a medical emergency. They went close to Christmas Island and transferred the person to a boat from Christmas Island. It was after dark, the sea was a little choppy, and they had "a heck of a time" doing the transfer. They had to drop a lifeboat to effect the transfer; the sick person went from the ship to the lifeboat to the Christmas Island ship.

 

I googled to see what the hospital on Christams Island looked like:

 

New 12 bed Hospital on Christmas Island

In what turned out to be a wonderful collaboration of efforts, the little hospital on Christmas Island in Kiribati now has a modern, up to date and sanitary facility for patients.

The new 12-bed facility began its life late last year when U.S. Navy Seabees built a great little 24 by 80 foot building adjacent to the old and decaying hospital building, with the layout and interior rooms designed by Pacific Islands Medical aid supporter Dr. Dimitri Demetriades, head of the trauma department at USC/Los Angeles County Hospital.

 

See entire article and pictures: http://www.pacificislandsaid.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104:new-12-bed-hospital-on-christmas-island&catid=49:blog&Itemid=61

 

Needless to say as WCB indicated, medical treatment in Tahiti is going to be preferred over the Kiribati Republic. Also, travel medical/evacuation insurance, etc. is highly recommended.

Edited October 23, 2013 by ScriptOhio

[WCB]

Report # 20 October 22, 2013 Tuesday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

Today's port of call was a new one for us...the island of Raiatea, 88 square miles and 116 miles from the island of Tahiti. The capital, Uturoa, is the administrative center of the Leeward Islands, and is the second economic island after Tahiti. About 12, 800 citizens reside here. The highlights of this island are its mountains, the highest being over 3300 feet, the maraes, sacred ceremonial sites, and motus, little islands with palm trees and sometimes a hut or two. There is a navigable river by the name of Faaroa, pearl farms, vanilla ranches, not to mention a yacht harbor, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and windsurfing. A short water taxi ride will take you to the little sister island of Tahaa, half the size of Raiatea, with 3300 natives.

 

We did not have any organized plans for today, but did want to explore the town and surrounding areas on our own. Leaving the ship, we were pleased to see a nicely paved dock area with colonial built buildings that housed shops and cafes. The center was made into a courtyard that was filled with huts. Inside each hut, were vendors selling local souveniers. Mostly island clothing and seashell jewelry. In one of the first buildings we walked through, there was a big information desk with plenty of maps and booklets of things to do and see. Then outside in the street, many le trucks were lined up, gathering customers for a 3 hour tour at more than half the price of the ship's tour. They got many passengers in a short time. We considered joining them, but the seating was not the best for taking pictures. The padded benches were not facing forward, but in a circle looking at each other. No, for us it was better to walk. And besides, we were on the lookout for a good pizza place along the way, of course.

 

The weather was fabulous today, with a few stray clouds, but mostly sunny. A nice breeze was blowing, saving us from the usual high humidity that is here in French Polynesia. We began our walk to the central market, where we could hear the beat of drums and island singing. Sounded like the natives were restless. The market itself houses a series of veggie and fruit stands, while the upstairs offered a variety of clothing and jewelry unique to the South Pacific. We watched one lady weaving necklaces with colored shells, black pearls, and mother-of-pearl decorations. There was not one item that was mass-made. Every piece was different. We happened to find one necklace that had the white pearly seashell with green stripes in it, and a black pearl too. A nice memento of Raiatea. Later on, a pair of matching leaf-shaped earrings found a place in our collection.

 

On with our hike. Following the harborfront, we found our way around the small, but picturesque boat harbor. That led to a park area where several fellows and one girl were windsurfing, or should we say kite surfing. This seemed to be the spot where they could catch the strong winds that took them flying across the water from the shoreline to the beginning of the reef. We assessed from watching, that it is all about the turns, as they leaned backwards, shifting their weight on the small surfboard, then literally lifting out of the water, doing spins, and finally landing going in the opposite direction. It looked easy, but for us, we could picture instant whiplash, ha-ha. Even when they wiped out, they soon recovered as the wind lifted the kite higher into the air. One observation for sure, is that this sport takes a lot of upper body and leg strength. Equally difficult, is windsurfing with the sail. One gal was very good at it, although it appeared she was fighting to keep that sail upright the entire time. Whatever, the sport made for great videos and photos.

 

After passing the marina, the road narrowed and led to seaside houses mixed with gas stations and home improvement shops. We had left the main part of town and were heading towards what looked like the airport. According to the map in the very informative tourist info booklet, we should be approaching the elusive pizza restaurant, Le Napoli. But where was it? Almost giving up, we decided to continue a little further up the road, and if we did not spot it, we would go back. It was darn warm when the sun peeked out and we were losing the breeze. Could be setting us up for heat stroke if we were not careful. It sneaks up on you.

 

That's when we saw the Avis car rental sign, and recalled that the cafe was located nearby. Passing Avis, we could see a very small blackboard sign, partially covered up with hibiscus shrubs, saying Le Napoli - open. That's was great, but where was it? We walked down the driveway to find someone's house with dogs tied up to trees and chickens running around willy-nilly. This surely is not the advertised Italian cuisine setting we pictured, or was it? Yep, we did it again. The "restaurant" was a shack, buried under palm trees and no bigger than small shed. And it was shut up tight, despite a note stapled to the locked door saying it was opened for lunch and dinner daily. Now that we think about it, when we inquired at the nearest gas station as to where this place was, the fellows kind of chuckled and said it was a 20 minute walk up the road. What they failed to say was why would you want to go there, since it was closed....maybe forever?

 

Oh well, sometimes things work out better in the long run. Making our way back slowly to the ship, we found the perfect cafe, La Cubana, located about 50 yards from the gangway. Thinking they only served Cuban-style food, we discovered that the menu had a whole page of specialty pizzas. Duh. We checked out the menu, and told the nice server we were going back onboard to drop off cameras and bags, and would be back well before 2pm, when they took a break before the dinner service.

 

Their margherita pizza with extra tomatoes and onions was cooked to perfection. The ice cold Hinano beers were just what we needed to cool down while dining al fresco in this lovely port. No rush to go back on the ship, we took our sweet time before the 4:30pm all onboard time. So did many other passengers who joined us and ordered the same pizza we had just enjoyed.

 

The winds had picked up by the time they dropped the ropes and we were leaving this island. The Captain took us halfway around the neighboring island of Tahaa, which appeared to be a very sleepy island full of isolated seaside huts. There is so much reef surrounding these islands, that the Captain had to dart in and out to avoid hitting it. Topping off the scenic sailing, the sun went down to another beautiful, colorful sunset.

 

All in all, we really liked this stop, and would recommend it for the world cruise. You had the choice of visiting two islands in one day. Both un-touristy and unspoiled in our opinion.

 

Our next stop is Papeete, Tahiti, a short distance from here. Hope the weather remains as nice as today's.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Krazy Kruizers]

That is a wonderful that you had a new port and enjoyed the island.

[DFD!]

This entire report is such a delight to read. It surpasses your already very high bar for writing. You paint such lovely pictures with your words. It's is great fun to read. Thanks so much.

[WCB]

Report # 21 October 23, 2013 Wednesday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

Papeete, Tahiti, was our port of call for today. It is the capital of Tahiti, the largest of the Society Islands, with a total of 1225 square miles. There are mountains that reach up to 7260 feet, as well as waterfalls and hiking trails. Tahiti has the most roads that are accessible by 4 x 4 wheel drive vehicles. Lagoons offer diving, snorkeling, fishing, and swimming, although it may be hard to find beaches with white sand, as most are black sand beaches. Over the years, we have taken most of the tours, so today, we will stay in town and enjoy the sights and sounds of the bustling city.

 

One good thing is that we are here in the dry season (July through October). The evenings are cooler, which is really great. The temperature remained in the low 80's today, and although there was a prediction of rain showers, they never happened here in town. Around 11am, we took a walk off the ship, where we encountered at least four vendors hawking tours for Moorea tomorrow. Each one of them had flyers with 2 to 3 hour excursions, starting at $40 per person. That's probably a good option for those who did not book any tours on the ship. We did see many takers once again.

 

There is a tourism office located directly across from the pier where we were docked. There just happened to be a Tahitian dance show taking place as we strolled on by. We knew not to get too close to the dancers, as we may have become part of the show. They love to pull in tourists to teach the dance, which is similar to the Hawaiian hula, only on steroids. Besides the performance, there were at least a half dozen tables set with trays of tropical fruit, compliments of the locals. We have never seen this welcome, even while stopping here on a world cruise. In this case, they were clever, because along with the food, there were stands of souveniers for sale. People strolled the tables while eating the skewered fruit, buying treasures as they lingered.

 

Our next stop was at a fabric shop where we purchased some material last January. Intending to only look at the bolts, we ended up picking up a precut length at a much better price than by the meter. Across the street from the fabric stores is the Municipal Market, which is open from 4am to 6pm every day but Sunday. This place is the historical, cultural, and social center of the city as most local buy their food here. The bottom level has the veggie and fruit stands. You can find tons of taro root, sweet potatoes, bananas, pineapples, limes, mangoes, grapefruit, and star apples. Every vegetable we eat can be found here. The other end of the market sells fish such as tuna, bonitos, mahi mahi, swordfish, parrotfish, snappers, and an assortment of shellfish. Roasted piglets with crispy brown skin is bought by the natives. By the time we got to this part of the market, all the pork was gone for the day. Very little of the fish was left.

 

At another end of the lower level, you can buy reasonably-priced Tahitian flowers. We did just that on our way back to the ship. Added to the bottom level, were a series of food stalls that we did not notice in January. The usual handicrafts were still there such as woven hat and baskets, arts, crafts, and shell jewelry. Lining the outside of the market, you can find tables of Tahitian pearls being sold by the bag, like about 20 black pearls for about $50. These are not the quality of the highend jewelry stores, but are passable. Some are drilled, while some are not. Readymade pearl rings, bracelets, and necklaces are easily bought here.

 

Upstairs, you will find clothing such as pareos and t-shirts, more jewelry, and lots of swim-related items. Had to pick up a Hinano t-shirt since the one we bought 20 years ago has finally worn out. Half of the upstairs shops have been demolished and the place is being remodeled. Bet it will be done by the time we come back next year. It was time to leave here before we found more things we could not live without.

 

We walked past Vaima, the first shopping mall in these islands with chic European stores. Itr is small compared to the malls you find in large cities, but adequate for here. Across the street, is a McDonalds, obviously a favorite of the locals, because dozens of younger folks were crowding the place. Sure reminded us of home with the kids plugged into their phones and computerized toys.

 

Near the fast food restaurant was Bougainville Park, full of picnic benches for people to rest and eat their food. Lily-filled ponds wind through the park, keeping all cool under the large trees. What we did not expect to see where the fish were swimming, was a rat coming out to drink from the pond. Suppose paradise has a little bit of everything. A nicer site was the Catholic church, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Papeete, built in 1875. It's also close to McDonalds....such a contrast.

 

We thought it may be wise to locate the pizza restaurant we found last January, a short walk up the main drag. At that time, we were here on a Sunday, and it was closed (story of our lives). And since we have struck out three times on this trip with closed restaurants, we did not want to chance it today. Lucky for us, we found the place, L'Api'zzeria, right where we remembered, and it was open. Great, we decided to go back to the ship, and put our purchases away, then come back. It was still too early to eat, and anyway, it was crowded. Good sign the food is appetizing.

 

There is a very well done promenade park with a meandering walkway along the shoreline. That was where we chose to take a stroll, which took us towards the pink church, Eglise Evangelique, built in 1818. The grass covered walkway has public restroom facilities, a place for little kids to play, and ladders along the waterfront for those who wish to dive in the harbor. obviously, it is the place for the locals to show off diving skills and soccer at the same time.

 

Pizza was calling us at L'Api"zzeria. By now, the place was not crowded and we were ushered in to an patio-covered table. The margherita pizza looked the best to us, and the Hinano beer of course. We noticed that there were overhead fans, but they were not on. Another customer, sitting near us, asked the waitress to turn them on, since we must have looked hot and sticky. We did. We thanked him, although we are sure he only spoke French. And we must add that the pizza, cooked in a wood-fired oven, was excellent. Wisely, we split a large one, because we have reservations at the Pinnacle Grill tonight, and needed to keep lunch on the lighter side.

 

It was still warm and humid as we made our way back to the ship. We continued beyond the pier gate towards the ferry quay, where daily ferries make several runs to nearby Moorea. Then we walked through Vaiete Square with a large bandstand and benches to relax under the frangipani and palm trees. During the day, this place is full of kids on skate boards and bikes, showing off for the girls. In the evening, it fills with stands of fast food carts set up out of trucks and cars. By 6pm, we could hear the music and drums coming from the square.

 

We laid low, cooling off in our room, until it was time for the sun to go down. We would have bet that tonight's sunset would have not been too impressive. But that was deceiving, because the sky lit up so orange that the harbor water turned red. Big wow.

 

Dinnertime came at 8pm in the Pinnacle Grill. The place was more than half empty, maybe because we went later than most folks eat on this particular cruise. We ordered the baby arugula sald with warm bacon dressing, but found it was made once again with spinach. We like it better anyway. One of us had the filet mignon, but cooked medium, just right. The New York strip steak was not quite as tasty as we remember it on the Amsterdam. What seemed to be missing was the seasoning and salt we come to expect. Or it could be that the quality of the meat is not the same....who knows? We still managed to save a little room for the excellent berry cheesecake. The presentation is as nice as the dessert itself. And the good thing is that the serving size was conservative.

 

Usually when we are in a port where a local show can be brought onboard, we make it a point to go to the show. This evening at 9:30pm, there was one performance of "Tahiti Ora", a group of 6 musicians, 7 male dancers, and 6 lovely, young Tahitian ladies. Their showing was entertaining and well done. What we did not like, were the few passengers that insisted on taking photos and videos during the entire performance. Don't they realize that when they plunge their cameras over their heads to film, that they are blocking the view for everyone sitting behind them? Clueless or rude, you name it. There are lots of these folks on every cruise, we're afraid. We watched the majority of the show, but ducked out before the crowd began to leave. Since there was only one performance, the showlounge was crowded to the gills.

 

Tomorrow, we will be in Moorea, the sleepy sister island of Tahiti.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Krazy Kruizers]

Boy -- wish we could do a cruise to those places -- they sound so wonderful.

[Mondis]

This entire report is such a delight to read. It surpasses your already very high bar for writing. You paint such lovely pictures with your words. It's is great fun to read. Thanks so much.

 

 

I totally agree! Thank you for sharing your journey with us! :)

[WCB]

Report # 22 October 24, 2013 Thursday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

The island of Moorea formed as a volcano over one million years ago. Who would have thought that this gorgeous island would turn out to be a hot spot of tourism today? It has been described as breath-taking with accessible beaches, mysterious mountains, scores of nautical activities, and unforgettable excursions. When we dropped anchor in Opunohu Bay, the real mystery was where to find these accessible beaches. Unless you take a private van (no public buses) to other areas of the island, there are no beaches within walking distance of the tenderboat landing. That was one very good reason that so many vendors were in Papeete yesterday hawking their tours in Moorea today. You know, we heard a rumor that booking some of these independant tours on Moorea this morning was a better deal, since the vendors were selling them cheaper to fill the vans.

 

Moorea has over 17,000 residents and enjoy no traffic jams like we saw in Papeete yesterday. The drive around the island is about 37 miles, while the interior of the island offers sites of waterfalls, green valleys, maraes, tikis, as well as pineapple, banana, and vanilla plantations. A popular spot is Mt. Belvedere at 790 feet in elevation. You can see both bays of Cook and Opunohu from the top of the mountain, and a great view of your ship.

 

From our past experience, we think that Moorea is all about the water activities., if you like that sort of thing. Snorkeling over the coral gardens is spectacular, and the tropical fish are abundant. Reef sharks and rays can make the experience even more exciting. Another must, is an island drive around the coastline to see the many resorts, and never-ending pearl boutiques.

 

Speaking of black pearls, here's a little information in a nutshell. These gems are created by seeding or grafting the black-lipped oyster. In the 19th century, these particular oysters were in demand for their shells which were used in Europe for button making. Only one oyster in 15,000 have a natural pearl inside them, making them priceless if the quality is good. With the help of the Japanese method of grafting, the industry of pearl farming in these waters began in the early 1960's. Government regulations dictate that a continuous pearly layer has to be at least 80% of the surface. The underlying nucleus cannot be revealed, or they are considered rejects. All these rejected pearls must be destroyed. Black pearls range in color from silver to grey, to jet black. The black pearls that have the reflection of a rainbow are considered superior, and can be quite expensive. Made into settings with diamonds, they are really exquisite.

 

We tendered over to the island by 11am, with a small number of fellow passengers. Two of them needed to bring elaborate walkers. It was nice to see how attentive the boat crew were in assisting these folks on and off of the tenderboat. You cannot beat the choice of crew members on the HAL ships....they are the best. And for that reason, we were glad to see that a special late night deck party was held for their enjoyment a couple of nights ago after we left one of the Polynesian ports. Speaking of crew members, we inquired about the condition of the injured kitchen staffer, and found out he was stable, but still critical in the hospital in Papeete. Sadly,he will not be able to join the ship while we are still in these waters, but he is in good hands.

 

We were recently here while on the 2013 world cruise, and instantly recognized the pier landing with the Tahitian clad greeters. The dance show was already over and the group was ready to leave. Continuing up the gravel road, there were tents set up with tables laden with black pearl creations....some reasonably priced, others expensive. Some of the boutique owners had brought their jewelry to us to sell here, as they were teasing all with the promise that they accepted all credit cards. There was a shuttle offered for free for those who wished to go to the pearl shop, but then you would feel pressured to purchase something, we think. Many people will use these shuttles to make a quick pass through the shop, then duck out and head for a beach or something. You can do this, like in Rio, where the store is big, but probably not here.....hard to sneek out discreetly.

 

Taking our time walking was fine with us this fine sunny day. As long as the road had shade from the breadfruit and palm trees, we would not "melt" from the heat and humidity. It was a good way to see the locals and their houses, which are mainly constructed with metal roofs held in place with large rocks. It was not unusual to see folks laying around in the heat of the day, watching us walking on by. What a contrast from the hustle and bustle of Papeete yesterday. There was literally no traffic as well as no local buses, except perhaps a school bus.

 

Making our way from the road on a well-worn trail, we found a cool spot along a small cove on the water. There was a great place to sit on the concrete steps that led into the water, and drink a soda. Schools of fish were swimming right under our feet, all different sizes. Some of the larger ones were almost translucent, with black tipped fins with a yellow tail. They sure scattered when a couple of birds swooped overhead. We assume these fish are food for the birds. While relaxing there, we noticed some tiny fish hooks with plastic feathers attached. So it was obviously a spot where the locals come to line fish.

 

Up the road a piece, there was a fruit stand, manned by a couple of local ladies chatting away. We spotted a canoe with two fellows arrive to this cove, where they jumped out several yards from shore to waist-high water. It appeared they had brought their catch of the day back to shore.

 

We continued furthur up the road, collecting fallen fresh flowers from the frangipani and tiara trees. These blossoms are very fragrant, and are the base for many lotions and colognes sold in the islands. Equally nice are the many varieties of hibiscus that grow like weeds along the roadside. Since it became obvious that we were not going to see anything else in the way of civilization, we decided to turn back. Besides, we had run out of soda, and were in need of more. Passing us going the opposite way, were many crew members and passengers toting beach towels in search of a suitable beachfront to go swimming. There was none that we could see.

 

The best access to go swimming was at the pier landing, behind the cemetery at the little church. A rock wall provided a great spot to sit and watch the braver folks enter the shallow waters from a four foot section of sand and broken coral. Since there were no restaurants to look for pizza, we were ready to go back for lunch. Of course, we could have purchased an array of canned sausages and mini hot dogs at the corner store where we bought our bottles of soda. There was an entire aisle dedicated to this delicacy, like you may find canned Spam in the Hawaiian Islands. And another staple sold here are the two foot long baguettes of soft French bread.

 

Once back on the ship, we opted for room service chicken caesar salads and a shared club sandwich. Not quite complete with the condiments, the room service was speedy and brought with a smile from a very nice waiter by the name of Billy. And once again, a phone call from room service came just as the waiter knocked on our door. They were inquiring if the order had arrived and was it correct. It was close enough, and besides, we would never bother to send someone to come back with only mustard or catsup.

 

Sailaway was around 5pm, and we were treated to a complete view of the volcanic peaks of Moorea. Most times, these same peaks are covered in clouds, never appearing to be seen. Our tablemates had reported that they were told that it had rained here yesterday, and the snorkeling was not good...neither were the island tours for site-seeing. We know, we have been here in the rainy season and saw very little. Visiting with our nice tablemates, we ended up staying at the aft pool while enjoying the sunset at 6pm. It is possible that there was the elusive green flash as the sun dipped below the horizon. Not really sure we saw it. It would have happened in a nano-second, and would have been recorded by our video camera. The folks must have seen it, because there was a round of applause afterwards. Or maybe it was due to the drink of the day, the Chi Chi, a blend of vodka and pina colada mix. Who knows?

 

The entertainer this evening in the showlounge was a man by the name of David Pengelly, a singer and humorist...with strings attached, whatever that means. Will report on the show tomorrow, since most of our buddies were planning to go.

 

Tomorrow's port of Rangiroa sounded "iffy" if you listened to the Captain give his sailaway talk. He mentioned a problem with winds and tides, and probable difficulties with tendering folks ashore. Sounds to us like a port to be cancelled. We shall see...........

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[hpf]

Wow, you make everything seem like we are all right there with you.

 

I am enjoying your reports so very much and wishing I was seeing it all for real.

 

Thank you for taking the time and doing such a great job.

 

Helen

[RuthC]

The entertainer this evening in the showlounge was a man by the name of David Pengelly, a singer and humorist...with strings attached, whatever that means. Will report on the show tomorrow, since most of our buddies were planning to go.

Oh, I haven't seen him in years! How wonderful to know that he's still doing the Hawaii and South Pacific run on HAL.

Thanks for that info. Wish I could see him again.

[WCB]

Report # 23 October 25, 2013 Friday Hawaii & Tahiti...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

There is no other way to say it, but today was a disappointment. Spotting the atoll of Rangiroa at 7am, we expected to be dropping anchor soon. However, that did not happen, because the Captain kept going until the island was out of sight. Shortly before 8am, he announced that the port of Rangiroa was cancelled due to strong winds. It would prove to be impossible, if not downright dangerous to attempt a tenderboat landing. So for the sake of the passenger's and crew's safety, we would have to bypass this atoll. Drats! Not only was it windy with rough seas, it was raining as well. Guess even if we had made it ashore, the rain would have put a damper on any activity people had planned. Our thoughts were correct yesterday, when the Captain gave his sailaway talk and hinted that there may be problems with tomorrow's port.

 

Listening to the port talk about this island, we got the impression that not very much was here on this atoll. Looking at the ship's map, Rangiroa resembled Fanning Island...a coral atoll around 50 miles long, with a center lagoon that spanned 12 miles wide. Unlike Fanning Island, there are numerous lodgings, including three hotels, a bank, pearl shops, eateries, and snack stalls on Rangiroa, the largest atoll of the Tuamotus Islands. There's even an airport. With their two main villages, there are about 2500 inhabitants here that work in the coconut/copra industry. Small freighters come from Tahiti to bring supplies to the islanders. With 700 species of fish, snorkeling is a huge draw for the tourists. What the divers see are hammerhead and grey sharks, manta rays, turtles, and dolphins.

 

This is what we missed, but sometimes things happen beyond anyone's control. Too bad we were not close to another atoll, but if the conditions were the same, then what's the point? Rain, wind, no sun and no pooltime meant that a new daily itinerary had to be created to keep the passengers busy.

 

At 10am, speaker Charlie Urbanowicz began his series of talks about World War Two and the Pacific. In the afternoon, a talk was given about the Space Station by Frank Buzzard. The usual games entertained the folks like team trivia, a scavenger hunt, bean bag toss, a foodie fight, and ukulele playing and pareo tying. And being that we were not in port, the shops and casino were open for business. The movie, Oblivion, was shown all day in the Wajang, while the dining room and Pinnacle Grill were open for lunch. If nothing else, people could find a way to eat all day long, always a favorite passtime.

 

After watching some movies and enjoying another room service lunch, we caught up on emails, and did some walking on the promenade deck. It sure was not crowded there today......no one saving lounges finally. The sunset really did not wow us this evening. It's funny that we are not far from where we were last night in Moorea, when the skies lit it like fire, but there was hardly a sunset at all tonight. Perhaps there were too many rainclouds blocking the sun. Guess we have to have days like this, to appreciate the days we have it all, right?

 

Dinnertime came around quickly. The menu had a different type of ribeye steak, which we both ordered. It was thin as could be, but extremely tender and tasty with carmelized pearl onions and mashed potatoes with a savory gravy. Nice surprise. Even a better treat, was the calypso pie, or what we know as Mississippi mud pie. A nice surprise with dessert was the serving of champagne as a gesture of goodwill from Captain Eric for missing the port today. A letter stating this was delivered to our staterooms, but ours did not arrive until we got back from dinner at 10pm. It also stated that everyone that had purchased a shore excursion would be refunded, and the government fees and taxes would also be applied to our shipboard accounts. We have a feeling the tax refund will be minimal, like under $10 per person.

 

The Unexpected Boys were the entertainers tonight, singing tunes from the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. Yes, we have heard them many times on previous cruises, but they are a fun group of guys and put on an energetic performance. We don't think that they were the exact same members that were on the world cruise, since we know they have several groups of four fellows that sing all over the globe.

 

The Dessert Extravaganza was held in the Lido pool area at 10:30pm. The pastry chefs prepared a delectable concoction of cakes and tortes, mostly chocolate, but also other favorites like carrot and strawberry cakes. Yes, it was a whole lot of calories, but if you only took photos, like we did, there were no calories. We had already been there and done that at dinnertime.

 

Hopefully the sun will peek out tomorrow as we sail northeasterly to the next port of Nuka Hiva.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 24 October 26, 2013 Saturday Tahiti & Hawaii...Welcome to Paradise with Bill & Mary Ann on the Statendam

 

See, when you wish hard enough for something, you get it. And that was sunny skies and warm temperatures...no more clouds or rain as far as we could see. Yep, it would be a good day.

 

Now that we are at sea, the dining room breakfast service has gone back to 8 to 9:30am. That's nice because we do not feel the need to get up at the crack of dawn. No rush to go anywhere really early in the day. And it appears that the receptionist has gotten to know our patterns, as he always has a table for two waiting for us now when we arrive.

 

More pearl stringing and bracelet making continued for the ladies (we assume?) as well as a creative crafts class. The lectures on World War Two and space exploration may have appealed more to the fellows. A kitchen tour took place once again, giving the guests a chance to see where 12,000 meals are prepared daily. That is a whole lot of food.

 

An important thing we needed to do at 12:45pm, was setting the clocks ahead 1/2 hour. An odd change, but the Marquesas are on that time schedule, so we need to be also. Captain Eric reminded us of the change during his afternoon talk. Speaking about tomorrow's port of Nuku Hiva, he sounded very cautious about the conditions he will be dealing with once we arrive to the bay. With the detail he went into, we sort of had the impression that this may be his first time sailing in this part of the world. What he did stress was that the tender landing was a difficult one in the best of conditions, and he recommended that only able-bodied passengers attempt to go over to shore. Wonder how many people will take his advice?

 

We did get in some pool time, and found that the aft deck was not quite as crowded as it was previously. The weather should remain warm as we are nearing the Equator. Once we pass that mark, we expect our poolside relaxing days will be less and less as we get closer to San Diego.

 

A few days ago, we received an invite to join the Captain at his table for a dinner at 6:30pm in the Pinnacle Grill. Normally, this only happens on longer voyages, so we were not expecting any special affair on this cruise. Turns out, all but one of our tablemates have been invited on different formal nights to join the Captain and some of his officers for a special dinner. We guess the invites are based on your number of Mariner Days and/or suites and veranda guests. What would have been nice, would have been for us to know who we were dining with. We would have chosen our other tablemate, who is a sweet lady, and a few other nice people we have met on this cruise. The Captain and the International Concierge Officer were great company, and did help make the evening pleasant. We were seated at a rectangular table for ten, which is impossible for hearing everyone. Sometimes that turns out to be a good thing. Conversation came up about sailing in this part of the world, and someone asked the Captain if he has been here before. The answer did not surprise us, as he said no, this was his first time in these waters. Now his daily talks made a lot more sense to us, because we guessed this was his maiden voyage to this tropical paradise. He claims that he has really enjoyed every port in the South Pacific, especially our stop at Raiatea. Since the Noordam is Captain Eric's usual ship, this has been a nice change of scenery for him.

 

The menu did not disappoint anyone. The starter was a smoked salmon, crab, and shrimp trio with a dab of caviar. A few slices of grilled veggies decorated the plate also. The bowl of consomme soup with skewered mushrooms and mozzarrella cheese balls was excellent. We had a choice of entrees..halibut or medallion of beef tenderloin. Both were served with asparagus spears, carrots, and tiny Parisian style poached potatoes. The two wines served with our meal were Zonin Pino Grigio and Antinori Santa Cristina Sangiovese, both from Italy. We saved room for the decadent dessert of chocolate opera dome, which was a combo of kiwi and passionfruit mousse in a double shell of semi-sweet chocolate. Black walnut ice cream was served on the side. We all agreed that it was a fine way to end a nice meal, when the waiters came with even more gormandises...all sweet chocolate delicacies. Captain Eric jokingly assured us all that the calories had been removed. Wish it were true.

 

Now that you read how appetizing the menu was, you can see why we were puzzled by the one guest at our table who chose to have a cheese plate with a huge pile of red grapes, which was not on the menu, by the way. That was ALL she had. We could hear her say that she was extremely picky about what she ate, and it was her business and no one else's. That was probably in response to something said by the people that sat across from her and her husband, who both behaved "off the wall" throughout the entire meal. Anyway, after we had all finished dinner, this lady asked for a doggie bag for her grapes, which she did not eat. The waiter came back with the fruit in a basket made of foil, which we thought was pretty nice. We do think that the Captain got a chuckle from this too, as did the four of us on the opposite end of the table.

 

The rest of the guests and officers, about 30 of them, had exited the room, and we were the last to leave around 8:30pm. During the meal service, the door to the Pinnacle Grill had been closed, since this was a private dinner. That seemed to make the room twice as warm as the dining room. And of course, dressed in formal clothing made in worse. It was a relief to walk the promenade deck to cool off a bit afterwards. The show in the lounge had been at 6:30 and 8pm for a change, so we missed both of the times. The entertainer was a fellow by the name of Stephen Clark, a flutist. At 10pm, an Awards Show took place in the lounge featuring performances by favorite entertainers and our fellow guests. Hopefully, our tablemates went to this, so we can find out what it was about. With tomorrow's port arrival set for 7am, or earlier, there was no way we were going to attempt to stay up much past 10pm.

 

Hope all goes well with the tides and winds for a successful stop at our final port on this cruise.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Spinner2]

The concern about the tendering at Nuka Hiva may be well-justified.

 

We did this trip on the Statendam last December, and it was a difficult tender stop indeed. The sea was very rough, which of course could be quite different for your stop, and those with mobility issues were quite challenged, boarding the tender at the ship end of the trip. The fear I saw in the eyes of one gentleman, and corresponding concern on the faces of the two crew members who were trying to help him and his walker onto the tender from the ship was not pleasant. If the tide is high, leaving the tender at the Nuku Hiva side requires some care as the step-up is a little high, but the Statendam is carrying a box for an intermediate step that will help a lot. However, when we returned in the afternoon the tide was out so those arriving from the ship, exiting the tender, even with the box, had a huge step-up to the dock and we saw many arriving passengers look at what was involved, and decide to just stay on the tender and go back to the ship. The dock at Nuku Hiva can only handle one tender at a time, so there was a bit of a line of tenders waiting to come in, and when a substantial number of passengers stayed on board, the tenders could not board the usual number of those waiting to go back to the ship since many of the seats were already filled. The lines were long.

 

This is a wonderful port; there is so much interesting to see that you'd hate to miss it, but the best strategy, I think, is to try to go over when the tide is high, so you can exit fairly easily once you reach land. Getting back onto the tender when the step down is so steep is a little tricky, but easier than trying to climb up to exit. Do your best to take anything you'll need ashore in something that is carried on your back so you have two hands to use entering and exiting the tender. The crew is wonderful and very helpful, but passengers who can use both hands to assist themselves at the doorway really speed up the process.

[Copper10-8]

The Nuku Hiva call went fine! Tides, swells (minimal) and weather all cooperated! :)

[cccole]

The Nuku Hiva call went fine! Tides, swells (minimal) and weather all cooperated! :)

 

Great news!!!! By the way, have you sailed with this captain before? I don't think I have ever seen comments re how much a captain is enjoying a new route. Sounds like he has some of the same anticipation of ports as the passengers. Cherie