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

[KirkNC]

We have never done Chef Rudi's dinner but would like to try it once. It certainly looks like you are enjoying it!

[Vict0riann]

Today's lunch around the Lido pool was a "Polynesian Market" with little kiosks set up around the deck. I took pictures, but then we went inside for our usual salad and cheese and

 

crackers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

Super-sized seafood pie!

 

 

Desserts and a floral display.

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

And, of course, hula dancers....

 

....

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Doesn't do anything for me, Jacqui. Too fancy-fru-fru.

 

I'm a purist when it comes to chocolate. ;)

 

 

 

But happy that you had a lovely time.

 

 

Too funny Ruth. :). It really was delicious.

 

Internet was kind of fussy and I couldn't upload more pics yesterday. I will try this morning as it seems to be going ok.

 

We are at Fanning Island. It is very humid.

 

Fanning Island is very primitive. No washrooms, no running water and no electricity. During our port talk we were told that there were some that could be found if you asked at the store or post office. How good they are is truly debatable.

 

The first tender off the ship will be crew. They will have hammers, nails and wood to repair the pier and assist in other things that need repairing as well, I believe.

 

The ship was taking up a collection of supplies for them on board. I believe those will be on the first tender as well.

 

Everyone on the island is barefoot - even the police!!!

 

It will be interesting to see how many people get off the ship for this interesting visit and how many opt to stay on.

 

 

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[kazu]

We have never done Chef Rudi's dinner but would like to try it once. It certainly looks like you are enjoying it!

 

 

It is very nice Kirk. We enjoyed it. DH thought this one was the best so far.

 

Our Chef MC was Diddi. It was her first time as the regular person had been transferred to the Koningsdam and the back up who also does it told us his contract is over soon. She was charming and did a great job.

 

Was going to post a pic but I am getting network errors again. grrr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Here is Diddi - our Master of Ceremonies at our Master Chef's Table. Her dress was beautiful as was she.

 

 

 

Our chef

 

 

And our wine steward for the night - Olga. We have had Olga on previous ships and she does a wonderful job. Our cellar master advised that he will be getting off in San Diego and Olga will be stepping up to fill his shoes!!! I was thrilled for her!

 

 

Of course our dinner finished off with the customary cheeses

 

 

And the customary truffles

 

 

 

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[SilvertoGold]

Thanks for posting the photos of the Master Chef Dinner!

 

It is GREAT to see Mani, the Chef. He used to be a Chef Tournant and did the best cooking classes! I assume he is now the Pinnacle Chef?

[kazu]

That night we had the crescent shaped moon again. This time I got a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

All in all a very good night. Good food, great company, good service - what more can anyone ask for?

 

The next day would get a little confusing. When the itinerary was published (and my spread sheet was done), it showed the 12th as a day that would exist and the 13th would disappear because of the International Date Line. Instead, we discovered that the 12th had disappeared and it was now the 13th. Apparently the way we crossed it was very quick. Looks like it will be a different way coming back since we do have two complete 15th's.!!!!

 

Here is our On Location for the 13th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Well, we WERE at Fanning Island. Captain has just announced that we will NOT be tendering. Too dangerous. I was outside earlier and everything was perfectly still and I was positive we were anchored and could hear them playing with the tenders. When DH got up and looked out, it appeared we were moving. Turns out there was a huge swell and visibility dropped to nothing. Captain is not going to risk it. I just hope all those donations can get to the island somehow.

 

Disappointing of course but totally understandable.

 

Yesterday despite that fact that I sent invites out for the 12th for our roll call wine tasting, thankfully everyone realized that it was really now the 13th and we had a great turn out at the Piano Bar.

 

HAL had wonderfully set up glasses, etc. As arranged so it made things very easy for us.

 

 

 

Some of our roll call members all set for their wine tasting....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

I think everyone had a good time...

 

 

How could you not have a good time when your wine is being poured on bended knee?

 

 

We had some fun prizes and believe it or not a home made wine (yum it was good) won the prize for favourite.

 

HAL beverage staff came by to make sure everything was ok (and make sure there were stickers on the bottles). Our sincere thanks to HAL for helping us with this event and venue and the wine glasses.

 

After the lovely tasting it would soon be time for dinner.

 

Our menu for last night....

 

 

 

The meal was very good. DH had the pasta and I the shrimp and the dessert was delicious!!!

 

Food and service on this sailing has been very good in the Main Dining Room as far as our experience goes and from what I have heard from other roll call members so far, the experience seems to be the same.

 

Quality, presentation, etc. Have been good.

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

Our laundry came back last night in a paper bag! The previous two times it was, as usual, in a basket, wrapped in tissue paper...

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Our laundry came back last night in a paper bag! The previous two times it was, as usual, in a basket, wrapped in tissue paper...

 

 

 

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OMG Vict0riann~!!! Never seen that one before other than on Oceania. LOL. :). Maybe they are out of hangers??

[kazu]

DH and I have decided that we are intended to visit any tender islands that start with an F. We missed Falkland Island & now Fanning. So, it appears we are fated not to visit Islands that have names starting with an F.

 

A little toilet comment. We have lost the power to flush twice. The first time was for about two hours and the second time about 4 hours. There is someone doing the forbidden dumping in the toilet so it is causing issues. They have tracked it to the 6th floor and an area ......so warning to the person causing this....don't do it again.....they are ready to figure out who you are (if they haven't already). The fines can be hefty.

[Vict0riann]

So near and yet so far! When I looked out this morning, the island looked so beautiful, but when I went out on the balcony to take a picture, my glasses and the camera lens fogged up immediately from the high humidity. I had to go back inside to clean them off - all I got were a couple of snaps through the door, so not too clear. Oops, I'm not on Tapatalk, so will go over there to post the picture

[frankc98376]

Here is Diddi - our Master of Ceremonies at our Master Chef's Table. Her dress was beautiful as was she.

 

 

 

Our chef

 

 

And our wine steward for the night - Olga. We have had Olga on previous ships and she does a wonderful job. Our cellar master advised that he will be getting off in San Diego and Olga will be stepping up to fill his shoes!!! I was thrilled for her!

 

 

Of course our dinner finished off with the customary cheeses

 

 

And the customary truffles

 

 

 

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Olga is great!! Here's a bit of HAL trivia... You mentioned Diddi. Does anyone remember Dee Dee the social hostess from the "old days"? I think her last name is Thacher

[Vict0riann]

Here's about all I saw of Fanning Island.

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

A little excitement on the LIdo deck. Sitting here with some roll call members and we all noticed how nice it had become. One joked that we should turn the ship around. LOL.

 

Then down came the downpour......

 

 

The poor Lido attendant was frantically pounding on the automatic sliding roof control trying to get the roof to close. A very wet Lido later and the roof was closed. Everyone cheered!!

 

 

Looks like we have a great seat here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[sunsetbeachgal]

Following this thread, better late than never! We have a group of ten or so friends on this voyage, and I just found this thread. Thank you for all of the wonderful posts and photos.

[RuthC]

Olga is great!! Here's a bit of HAL trivia... You mentioned Diddi. Does anyone remember Dee Dee the social hostess from the "old days"? I think her last name is Thacher

I remember her! Thought she spelled it "Didi", though? :confused: Lovely lady, and you just brought back a memory of her hosting a Grandma's Tea on one of the cruises. Grandfathers had a Beer Blast! How come they got the alcohol and we didn't???

HAL sure was different in those days. <sigh>

[kazu]

Here is the On Location for today that we started out with...

 

 

 

 

 

Once the Captain announced we could not tender to Fanning Island, Mario, our CD wasted no time getting a revised On Location put together. He said they would be out by 10 a.m. But they were out before that. Along with having them available at the Front Desk, they were posted at every elevator so people could easily reference them.

 

Here is the revision for the day time activities...

 

 

Not sure which version is easier to read so I will provide both. They are duplicates so if the first was easy to read, disregard the 2nd one.

 

 

 

One great new addition to the On Location - a Mariner Appreciation Bingo. Yes, for every star on your key card you will get an extra card - woo how!!!!!! I bet the Vista Lounge may be packed. I've never seen this before and since Kazu only plays Bingo on the ships, she won't be missing this one for sure. Not that 5 free cards will improve the odds much, but it will be fun !!!!!! I've never seen this on a cruise before and it sounds like a really nice idea !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Captain Van Eerten has apologized at least three times for missing Fanning, citing safety of us and the crew.

 

In the meantime there were more hula lessons today. These ladies have a lot of costumes and are very talented. They do a lot of different things on the ship.

 

 

 

And here are our menus for tonight.

 

 

 

Well, time for the hydrotherapy pool - back later!!!!

 

 

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[MekesMom]

. After the tasty cellar masters dinner stood at monitors to catch the equator crossing

[Krazy Kruizers]

Catching up.

 

More great pictures.

 

Olga was one of our wine servers in the Pinnacle.

 

Never heard of a Mariner's Bingo before.

 

[canadianbear]

This is such a great thread! It's a cruise I was interested in going on but hubby not so much. At least I get to live it through all the posts and photos on here! Thank you all.:)