Bon Voyage, it's a little late, but Bon Voyage!

[StanandJim]

How quickly time passes.

 

Believe it or not, the redux of Oceania's first ever World Cruise is finally due to sail out of Miami on Monday the fourth of January.

 

Heartfelt wishes for a safe and successful trip to Don & Betsy (Mr. & Mrs. Hondorner)

as well as all the other charmed passengers joining them on this voyage of a lifetime!!!

Over the course of 180 days, those lucky ducks will be visiting ports of call in Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Venezuela, Greneda, St Lucia, Martinique, Barbados, Tobago, French Guinea, Brazil (4 ports), Togo, Benin, Sao Tome, Angola, Namibia (2 ports), South Africa (5 ports), Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania (2 ports), Kenya, Seychelles, Maldives, India (2 ports), Burma, Malaysia (4 ports), Singapore, Thailand (2 ports), Cambodia, Vietnam (2 ports), China (5 ports), South Korea, Japan (3 ports), Philippines (2 ports), Indonesia (2 ports), Australia (7 ports), New Zealand (4 ports), Tonga, Samoa, French Polynesia (5 ports), Marquesas Islands, Hawaii (4 ports), California (2 ports), Mexico (2 ports), Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, and Colombia, before arriving home in Miami, again

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/180-day-world-cruises/miami-to-miami-INS160104G/

 

For those who may not remember how this voyage came to be, Insignia experienced an engine room fire while docked in St. Lucia,

during a ten-day Caribbean voyage which preceded her much anticipated World Cruise of 2015.

it was a tragic event which included the deaths of three crew members. The vessel had to be taken out of service, and by the time that the dust had settled, and the ship was repaired

and re-positioned, three segments of that '15 World Voyage had been cancelled.

 

As part of their compensation, Passengers had the choice of completing what remained of the Voyage in 2015 at remarkably discounted rates,

or sailing in January of '16 on a brand spanking new trip with an Oceania rebate in their pockets.

 

Let's all hope that the second time is the charm, and wish everyone concerned smooth seas and the very best of everything!!!

This Bon Voyage has been a very long time in coming.

Edited December 31, 2015 by StanandJim

[Paradisesara]

Thanks for posting. We are on this epic voyage for the entire 180 days. We were scheduled to go in 2015 until this horrible tragedy. We decided not to embark in Singapore in March (though some friends did) and re-booked for 2016.:)

[sitraveler]

Best wishes to all. Thanks for posting. BTW, if memory serves, 1crew & 2 non crew.

[cbb]

We 180ers are pretty excited and are participating in a very active roll call.

 

Sometimes it is prayer meeting, sometimes a hand-holding, often a sharing of ideas, information, and tours, but mostly a group who can't wait to meet at the Epic Hotel Jan 3 for drinks and hugs!

 

thanks for the lovely wishes!

[StanandJim]

Best wishes to all. Thanks for posting. BTW, if memory serves, 1crew & 2 non crew.

 

Depends on how you define "crew". Two of the casualties were specialized maintenance workers, who were brought in to prep the power plant so that there would not be any issues during the big voyage with all of the swells aboard.

Since they were Oceania employees (if subcontractors) who were living and working on the ship, I think that most of us would categorize them as crew.

[Floridiana]

You all have a wonderful voyage!

[seasoned]

Thanks so much, Stan and Jim. This feels like the first “official” send-off for our long-awaited 180-day adventure. For many of us, it has been two and a half years of planning. We are so excited to meet in person all of the Cruise Critic friends we have made during that time.

 

-Sukey-

[LHT28]

All the best to those sailing on the World cruise

safe travels

 

 

I can only dream of such a journey

 

Lyn

[hondorner]

Wow. Thanks, Jim and Stan, wish you were going with us, even for a segment or two, but I guess by the time you guys retire our cruising days may be over. Certainly have enjoyed all our times together!

 

Thanks for the good wishes.

[TKS]

Best wishes for a WONDERFUL trip to you all.

 

Glad you're having a 'meet/greet' party pre-cruise. I remember the excitement and energy of the party before the initial Marina cruise (where we first met Don & Betsy). I can only imagine what you all will experience this time, knowing you're meeting some new -and hopefully a few long-time - friends.

 

Bon Voyage, all. Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime!

[DOJO466]

Bon Voyage Don, Betsy and all. Looking forward to your blogs. A trip of a lifetime.

[Paulchili]

We join others in wishing all Bon Voyage on this truly unique adventure :)

Fair winds and following seas!

[Hawaiidan]

Wow. Thanks, Jim and Stan, wish you were going with us, even for a segment or two, but I guess by the time you guys retire our cruising days may be over. Certainly have enjoyed all our times together!

 

Thanks for the good wishes.

 

Too bad I am not in Hawaii any more...could give you another cooks tour have a good trip

 

Dan

[oceanprinceguy]

We join others in wishing all Bon Voyage on this truly unique adventure :)

Fair winds and following seas!

 

We booked this voyage the day it was announced, before the fire that cancelled the 15. The map at top is the first readable one I've seen posted, though it is obviously for the 15 cruise as quite a few of the ports have changed, not surprisingly.

 

We fly out tomorrow to FLL and will be in Miami on Sunday for the first meeting at the Epic.

 

Best to all.

[cathi]

Nice to know you all are thinking about all of us refugees. And yes it's been a long time coming. We spent most of December tracking Insignia!!!

 

Only 2 more sleeps to go!!!!!

 

Cathi

[cl.klink]

How quickly time passes.

 

Believe it or not, the redux of Oceania's first ever World Cruise is finally due to sail out of Miami on Monday the fourth of January.

 

Heartfelt wishes for a safe and successful trip to Don & Betsy (Mr. & Mrs. Hondorner)

as well as all the other charmed passengers joining them on this voyage of a lifetime!!!

Over the course of 180 days, those lucky ducks will be visiting ports of call in Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Venezuela, Greneda, St Lucia, Martinique, Barbados, Tobago, French Guinea, Brazil (4 ports), Togo, Benin, Sao Tome, Angola, Namibia (2 ports), South Africa (5 ports), Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania (2 ports), Kenya, Seychelles, Maldives, India (2 ports), Burma, Malaysia (4 ports), Singapore, Thailand (2 ports), Cambodia, Vietnam (2 ports), China (5 ports), South Korea, Japan (3 ports), Philippines (2 ports), Indonesia (2 ports), Australia (7 ports), New Zealand (4 ports), Tonga, Samoa, French Polynesia (5 ports), Marquesas Islands, Hawaii (4 ports), California (2 ports), Mexico (2 ports), Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, and Colombia, before arriving home in Miami, again

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/180-day-world-cruises/miami-to-miami-INS160104G/

 

For those who may not remember how this voyage came to be, Insignia experienced an engine room fire while docked in St. Lucia,

during a ten-day Caribbean voyage which preceded her much anticipated World Cruise of 2015.

it was a tragic event which included the deaths of three crew members. The vessel had to be taken out of service, and by the time that the dust had settled, and the ship was repaired

and re-positioned, three segments of that '15 World Voyage had been cancelled.

 

As part of their compensation, Passengers had the choice of completing what remained of the Voyage in 2015 at remarkably discounted rates,

or sailing in January of '16 on a brand spanking new trip with an Oceania rebate in their pockets.

 

Let's all hope that the second time is the charm, and wish everyone concerned smooth seas and the very best of everything!!!

This Bon Voyage has been a very long time in coming.

 

 

This should be a wonderful experience. Would love to do it one day. Please keep us posted on your journey. Settle in. Travel safely.

 

- Joel

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smoothsailors]

Yes, a joyous Bon Voyage to Don & Betsy & all the fellow 180's! Have already enjoyed your first log post about your preparations checklist...you deserve to relax and celebrate at the Epic on Sunday night!!!

 

Travel safe...enjoy every minute of this fabulous adventure...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Sandi & Mel

[msn123]

Adding good wishes for a Happy New Year and a safe and adventure-filled 180 days! Will be following posts and progress!

[CintiPam]

Bon Voyage to Don and Betsy and all onboard for the cruise of a lifetime. I already love Don's blog.

[Waynetor]

Just in case anybody in hoping to follow us with this map, the map is for the 2015 cruise. The 2016 is about 90% the same but a few ports are different.

[globevest]

Best wishes World and partial World Cruisers........;)

[RJB]

Happy New Year...... Good safe cruise to all. :):):)

[CAG]

So sorry we will not be joining the 2015 refugee's on the 2016 cruise. We were booked on the 2015, but are not able to do the 2016 World Cruise. We will definitely be cruising vicariously and are so jealous. Have a fantastic trip and think of us!

Cenia

[harryw]

I've been speculating on issues that may arise on a six month cruise. How do passengers obtain prescription drugs as needed? If a passenger discovers she is pregnant, is she required to return home, and would travel insurance cover that?

 

Harry

[Aussie Gal]

To our dear friends Cathi and Bruce and also Sukey whom we have cruised with before, we wish you all a wonderful cruise. I know how disappointed you were this time last year but as you know, a year moves quickly along and now you are about to join the ship for this "once in a lifetime" voyage.

 

To everyone else who will be joining them on this cruise, have a wonderful time and we look forward to hearing all about it from the various blogs.

 

Jennie