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

[Ontariotrekker]

Looking forward to the pics of your headpieces. Wishing everyone blue skies - Shar

[CowPrincess]

The point about tender ports is a really good one. This is a cruise I'd been considering for when we sell the big house, and now, I'm giving all the tender ports a lot of consideration. Maybe we shouldn't do this cruise. Certainly I will look at how many tender ports for future cruises.

[kazu]

Looking forward to the pics of your headpieces. Wishing everyone blue skies - Shar

 

 

I posted them a couple of pages back Shar with the flowers and a pic of Gigianne & her DH wearing them at the their nuptials. I think it is post 665 (hard to read posts on tapatalk).

 

Kudos to gigianne's DH for putting it on. I didn't think he would let me put it on him.

 

 

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[MekesMom]

gift from Olga, PG wine steward. Looking forward to two more dinners and a wine tasting

[Vict0riann]

DH took a pic of me with the head lei we made this morning, but with my white hair, it didn't show up too well. Another roll call member let me take a snap of hers!

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Yay!!! CC is working. Ok, today there is a lovely buffet on the LIdo (again).

 

Mahi Mahi and Caesar salad.

 

Have a look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Moorea was constantly changing yesterday. Started out very pretty in the morning and we were very optimistic.

 

Early in the morning...

 

 

And then the sun came out.... Look how green and luscious everything is...

 

 

 

This is what it changed to later...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

More wonderful pictures.

The head leis look beautiful.

Maybe I missed it -- have the toilet problems and hot water problems been solved.

[kazu]

The point about tender ports is a really good one. This is a cruise I'd been considering for when we sell the big house, and now, I'm giving all the tender ports a lot of consideration. Maybe we shouldn't do this cruise. Certainly I will look at how many tender ports for future cruises.

 

CP,

 

For what it's worth, we were told by locals that this is the worst weather and spring these islands have seen in 50 years. We were just lucky I guess :rolleyes:

[kazu]

The point about tender ports is a really good one. This is a cruise I'd been considering for when we sell the big house, and now, I'm giving all the tender ports a lot of consideration. Maybe we shouldn't do this cruise. Certainly I will look at how many tender ports for future cruises.

 

CP,

 

For what it's worth, we were told by locals that this is the worst weather and spring these islands have seen in 50 years. We were just lucky I guess :rolleyes:

[Vict0riann]

TravellingDot won a cruise at Bingo this afternoon! Way to go, Dot.[emoji925]

 

 

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[frankc98376]

[ATTACH]383563[/ATTACH] gift from Olga, PG wine steward. Looking forward to two more dinners and a wine tasting

 

Olga is our favorite! Hoping she is on Westerdam in October in the PG.

Edited April 25, 2016 by frankc98376

[kazu]

Multi quote isn't working for me but neither is tap a talk. Grrrr. Difficulty posting sadly - had hoped to get a bunch of pics up today on our sea day.

 

KK, as far as I know there have been no water or toilet issues since the last report. Ours was short and intermittent - just two different days.

 

I haven't heard any more reports of hot water problems so I think all is good.

 

Victor0riann, that Dot is one lucky woman. She is doing very well on this cruise with bingo and the casino. Good for her!! I resisted the bingo temptation today and headed to the hydrotherapy pool to do some rehab. I was afraid if I waited, I wouldn't have the energy ;)

[kazu]

Passports were to be picked up today. Not sure why with Nuka Hiva tomorrow but today was the day (the ship took them at embarkation).

 

Have to say it was a very civilized procedure. They had someone with the passports for that floor at each centre elevator at each floor so it was a seamless process from what I could see.

 

 

Sad statement. Our Hawaiian girls were teaching people how to make leis today. They came with something like 66 needles and when it was over, they had something like 45. Now, because of a few bad apples, people are going to have to give their room card in order to get this type of stuff. Why in heaven's name would anyone want a leia needle?

Edited April 25, 2016 by kazu

[Scrapnana]

I've had major problems with the Internet this afternoon. I would log in and within five minutes I would get kicked off.

 

It was nice to see almost a full day of blue skies and sun although between 4 and 5 pm it went back to threatening gray skies.

[kazu]

Olga is our favorite! Hoping she is on Westerdam in October in the PG.

 

 

I can ask her if you want Frank.

 

Apparentlly there is a huge turnover taking place in San Diego. A lot of crew are getting off! I believe both our concierges, Patrick and Shirley are getting off then along with a large number of crew.

[teamflames]

Passports were to be picked up today. Not sure why with Nuka Hiva tomorrow but today was the day (the ship took them at embarkation).

 

 

 

Have to say it was a very civilized procedure. They had someone with the passports for that floor at each centre elevator at each floor so it was a seamless process from what I could see.

 

 

 

 

 

Sad statement. Our Hawaiian girls were teaching people how to make leis today. They came with something like 66 needles and when it was over, they had something like 45. Now, because of a few bad apples, people are going to have to give their room card in order to get this type of stuff. Why in heaven's name would anyone want a leia needle?

 

 

 

A few! That was one third of the group, what a sad state of affairs that such a high percentage of people are either thieves or feel such a sense of entitlement.

Our guesthouse owner yesterday told us that a similar percentage of guests steal her towels or bed sheets, she even had one guest who stripped all the electronics from the inside of her tv!!

These are people who can afford to travel but feel it is ok to take whatever they want.

[kazu]

I've had major problems with the Internet this afternoon. I would log in and within five minutes I would get kicked off.

 

 

 

It was nice to see almost a full day of blue skies and sun although between 4 and 5 pm it went back to threatening gray skies.

 

 

I guess we had to wait until dinner time (for some) and happy hour to post - LOL. Doesn't that just figure?

 

Can't do much in this short time, but I will try to follow up later, but we were welcomed very nicely in Moorea...

 

 

There was lovely fresh fruit waiting for us..

 

 

We went to Belvedere look out to see the two bays, but by then it was pouring and all we could see was fog, mist and rain.

 

We did go to a cool juice and liquor factory though. The juices were absolutely delicious and we bought a couple to enjoy on our sea days and make a change.

 

OK, I confess the liquors were really good too - LOL

 

 

 

The oldest church on the island...It looks modern as they "refresh" it constantly.

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

We did see a few nice views despite the rain...

 

 

 

And maraes...

 

 

 

And some beautiful vegetation (how could everything NOT be green with all this rain?)

 

 

Off to the Ocean Bar & then dinner. If tapatalk permits, I will post more later.

 

Congrats again to Dot for winning the cruise!!!!

 

 

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[kazu]

A few! That was one third of the group, what a sad state of affairs that such a high percentage of people are either thieves or feel such a sense of entitlement.

Our guesthouse owner yesterday told us that a similar percentage of guests steal her towels or bed sheets, she even had one guest who stripped all the electronics from the inside of her tv!!

These are people who can afford to travel but feel it is ok to take whatever they want.

 

 

You are spot on. It's sad as I am sure these were their own supplies. The Hawaiian troupe on board have been absolutely fabulous and I really hate to see them getting any bad treatment.

 

And now, I would be BANNED if I POSTED PICS]

But the night of Papeete was the Polynesian performance that was brought on board. One of the ladies lost her bra. She kept on dancing and the dancers subtly tried to kick it to the back. She had long hair which provided some protection but it was not always adequate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

Actually, the missing lei needles happened earlier in the cruise when we made the orchid leis - and evidently there was an injury from one of them. This time, in order to get a needle, we had to hand over our room cards as security that we would return them. And after it was all over, someone had left behind her room card!

 

There was a beautiful sunset this evening - hope it bodes well for tomorrow.

 

 

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[kazu]

Can you see this mountain? It was featured in a movie - Mutiny on the Bounty. It was used as a back drop but Hawaii got all the credit.

 

Apologies that it was foggy.

 

 

 

Of course the island is volcanic - not sure if you can see the waterfalls in this pic or not, but the water was tumbling down.

 

 

We saw lots of chestnut trees along the way and our guide stopped at a stand and bought us some to try. They were roasted but I think most of us agreed they "needed" something.

 

 

we were originally scheduled to do a private tour with the famous "Franky Frank" but because of the itinerary change, he was booked and couldn't accommodate us. It turned out for the best in view of the weather. His vehicles are open air and we would have been drenched. We ended up in a new modern van which was much better under the poor weather conditions than a vehicle like his. Not his, but similar.

 

 

The rain kept coming and didn't want to seem to let up. People were anxious to return to warmth, dryness and get out of wet clothes. We lasted as long as we could but you do reach a point of no return with the torrential rain we were getting.

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Actually, the missing lei needles happened earlier in the cruise when we made the orchid leis - and evidently there was an injury from one of them. This time, in order to get a needle, we had to hand over our room cards as security that we would return them. And after it was all over, someone had left behind her room card!

 

There was a beautiful sunset this evening - hope it bodes well for tomorrow.

 

 

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Thanks Ann for clarifying :)

 

I should have been more explicit. Muchly appreciated :)

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

And before I forget, here are the On Location and menus for today.

 

Note the ice sculpture - I did get pics and I will share them shortly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

More to come and a lot of back tracking to do. Hopefully the Internet co-operates. I think the bad weather and cloud cover is affecting things.

 

In any case, tomorrow is Nuka HIva. The weather there was great today. The weather tomorrow appears mixed. I have my fingers and toes crossed as we booked open air vehicles and while there is some minor protection, it doesn't work in torrential rain.

 

Our guide in Moorea said it should be good weather. I sincerely hope she is right. This is our last port before we sail for San Diego and we desperately need a nice day in port.

 

Laundry is done (it's called stuffing a laundry bag - LOL) and DH has repaired a loose button on a shirt so with an early start tomorrow I shall bid you all Bon Soir and thank you for following along.

 

 

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