Live from the Westerdam-Join the "Pearls of the Pacific" gang's South Pacific Cruise

[Krazy Kruizers]

Catching up

Great pictures in spite of the rain.

So they haven't had weather like this in over 50 years. Surely your luck will soon change.

Glad to hear that the toilet and hot water issues seem to be over.

Loving this "Live".

[sunsetbeachgal]

Thank you again for your wonderful posts that I have been following along with. Wishing you smooth sailing and sunny skies back to San Diego!

[Ontariotrekker]

A quick question for those of you who attended any lectures. Were they on point and on topic with your cruise itinerary - ie history flora, fauna etc? I ask because the lectures we had while doing the Amazon Explorer were not even remotely related to that area and dealt mostly with world economics and terrorism. Thanks heavens for the port talks!

 

Shar

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Having been away, I have just caught up with all the posts. Thanks to all aboard the Westerdam who contributed commentary and pictures. I feel so badly that the unusual weather has negatively impacted your cruise. You all have such a good attitude. Hoping your last port is sunny and bright and that you have calm cruising to San Diego.

[kazu]

A quick question for those of you who attended any lectures. Were they on point and on topic with your cruise itinerary - ie history flora, fauna etc? I ask because the lectures we had while doing the Amazon Explorer were not even remotely related to that area and dealt mostly with world economics and terrorism. Thanks heavens for the port talks!

 

Shar

 

Hi Shar!

 

Yes, the lecturers have been very good and very interesting.

 

Our ON Location guide is fabulous. The room is packed when he talks about the ports.

 

Our other lecturer has talked about the history of Polynesia, migrations, etc., very much on point and interesting.

 

The other lecturer is more about travel but they are good and very interesting.

 

The other nice thing about the lecturers other than being good, is that they have come to bat when we have had the extra sea days and done lectures - all good and you would never have knwon they were last minute .

 

One of the things that have made the sea days enjoyable has been the lecturers along with the activities - especially those by the Hawaiian troupe on board. IMO.

[kazu]

It is morning and Nuka Hiva day. I must be anxious to see if we have a red sunrise (red sky in the morning sailor take warning) or to see the sky and what it holds as it is 5 a.m. I am sure the throbbing elbow has nothing to do with it. LOL.

 

So, with Internet working (can't be many on at this time, can there?), let's go back to day 2 and Bloody Mary's on Bora Bora for a minute where I left off a number of pages back.

 

Bloody Mary's has been visited by a lot of famous people. Here are the boards listing them all...

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the history and story of Bloody Mary's/

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Bloody Mary's is a pretty spot and it is worth a visit.

 

Sure, it's touristy, but it's unique and nice. If you have two days, go earlier on the second. At least that seemed to work for us. The place was mobbed yesterday we heard from those that went. The day we went it was quite calm tourist wise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Yes, that is and on the floor you see. The floor is sand inside the restaurant.

 

I couldn't go into the famous men's washroom there and,from what I hear, if I posted a pic of it on here, I would be banned so I didn't ask anyone of the men in our group for a pic.

 

Here's the ladies washroom though. Shall we just say, it is open air. But very civilized...

 

 

 

 

 

The restaurant is in a great location and there are some fabulous views. I had to take this one.

 

 

 

It is very lush and very pretty...

 

 

 

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[kazu]

After our time at Bloody Mary's, it was time for the shuttle back to the ship. Our first shuttle was your standard Van/mini bus type thing. The one returning was...well....different.

 

 

 

Since it was going to the beach first (I believe it was called Muri Beach) before heading to the ship, we got a bit more of a tour...

 

 

 

Our timing could only have been a bit more perfect. We got off the ship before things were guaranteed to clear and avoided the tender rush when it was nice. Had good weather until it was time to get out of the shuttle returning to the ship and the skies opened. But we had minimal wait for the shuttle and were on in no time.

 

the day went from bright and beautiful (if only for a few hours) to this..

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

There was a very interesting cruise ship in Bora Bora with us. It was from Hawaii.

 

 

I kid you not. A combination container carrier/cruise ship. The tender they had was not appealing - especially in the pouring rain, but those on board all waved bravely too us as we crossed tender paths.

 

The grey thing at the top is their tender!!!

 

 

Truly a different cruise ship!

 

 

Soon it was time to bid farewell to Bora Bora.

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

I already talked a bit about Papeete, but, that night we made a visit to the rollouttes (food trucks).

 

The pier in Papeete comes alive at night. Food trucks arrive, put out tables and people come to eat, mingle and the children play. Very nice.

 

So, we went out a bit to savour the flavour (no, we didn't eat again).

 

 

 

 

I am certainly familiar with food trucks but I have never seen anything like this. Uploads are starting to fail so let me see if this will post and I will carry on later or when it permits.

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Food trucks and the pier of Papeete continued....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

There is one food truck that has pirates on it and the owner dresses as a pirate. He is pretty famous in these parts..

 

 

Everything sparkled - the people with enjoyment, the air which smelled so good with all that food cooking and the lovely ships in port all lit up...

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Yesterday, there was an ice sculpting demonstration at the pool.

 

He used a chisel and a saw and salt when he had to correct.

 

 

 

The people in the front rows were in range of the flying ice (and warned). They did a great job of keep it cleaned up though.

 

 

 

And the end result...yes, it is suitably a dolphin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Ontariotrekker]

Jacqui - Again great pics and info.. Hope you are having a better day. It's snizzling here & Gord's had to put our heat back on.. Enjoy the warm and have a swim for me.

 

Shar

[kazu]

Well, with all this rain, it had to happen... We had a double rainbow. I wasn't quick enough with the camera. Sadly the lens keeps fogging and by the time you clean it, things change, but here is what was left of it when I could get a picture...

 

 

Last night we met with friends in the Ocean Bar. And, yes, there were hors' d'hoeuvres offered.

 

 

They have run out of some of the selections in the Admiral pack (that or our waiter is very kind). DH got this red wine last night and he said it was VERY good. I don't drink red a lot (it doesn't like me sometimes) so I can't comment. But he is pretty fussy, so if you have the chance to try this wine, you might want to give it a shot.

 

 

I watched the sunrise this morning as we made our way to Nuka Hiva. Wondering if it would be a "red sky in the morning, sailor take warning". It started out that way...

 

 

 

 

But now, what were grey clouds are mostly white and the sun is shining. The forecast is mixed. One website says clear with just a small chance of showers and another says Tstorms and rain for part of the day.

 

Kainoa said in his lecture not to worry if it was 40% chance of rain since most of the time it is further inland and wouldn't apply to where we would be. I sure hope he is right.

 

We really need a good day today.

 

fingers crossed.

 

Tendering in this port is very limited so we will have to time our return carefully since we have Cellar Master Dinner tonight. Not sure why he scheduler it for Nuka Hiva tonight but since they are doing another one and it is DIFFERENT then we are going.

 

Kainoa explained the limited tendering to us at his talk and the possibility of line ups. He commended our Captain who asked that this be included and wants us all informed.

 

Back later, live, sailing to Nuka Hiva.

 

 

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[kazu]

Here are our menus for tonight and our On Location.

 

Note the first page of the On Location. Very confusing as we arrive at Nuka Hiva as scheduled but it says to go earlier to get tender tickets. I'm hoping that tenders will start earlier and we can get going earlier to get a good start to our tour today.

 

HAL tours are not until later and since we have enough 4* and 5* mariner's we should be able to get off without too much difficulty, I hope. ( I did say I hope).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

Ten past 8, and the tenders are being lowered, it looks like a beautiful day. The bay is full of little sail boats. We may need some sunscreen today!

 

Welcome to Nuku Hiva! Three lifeboats are going down on this side, I wonder how many they are using from the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Ten past 8, and the tenders are being lowered, it looks like a beautiful day. The bay is full of little sail boats. We may need some sunscreen today!

 

Welcome to Nuku Hiva! Three lifeboats are going down on this side, I wonder how many they are using from the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

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It looks like there are 3 from our side as well Ann.

 

 

 

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[Lizzie68]

This looks like the nicest day so far. Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way for the whole time you are ashore. Enjoy!:)

[sterling2]

I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered, but my iPad is not behaving. I'm interested in the name(s) of the ukulele instructor. Thanks so much.

[MsABGilroy]

I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered, but my iPad is not behaving. I'm interested in the name(s) of the ukulele instructor. Thanks so much.

 

 

His first name is Doug. I remember him saying a long last name but I didn't catch it.

 

 

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[Sir PMP]

'DH got this red wine last night and he said it was VERY good.'

 

That is a good wine Jacqui, it costs $15:00 in the store, ciao from Napa Valley!

[MsABGilroy]

I want to apologize to our Temarena excursion group. We got a tender ticket at 9:35 and I even told Leah we had a private tour at 10:30 and she said should be no problem. Long story short--our number was finally called at 11:30! By then it was so late we didn't even go. We had checked a couple of times while waiting, even went and asked in the Vista Lounge but they weren't willing to help. One time when I queried I was told NO tenders were running for more than 30 minutes but no one told them the reason. Hope you had a great tour and I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long.

 

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad you all are finally having a sunny day. Hope that didn't change once you were on your tours.

Why limited tenders?? Confused