Trekking the Globe with Bill & Mary Ann on the 2017 World Cruise - 126 Days

[NordicPrince]

 

First, we would like to see their upgrading of staterooms to be based on the number of days sailed with the cruise line. Their most loyal customers should have that privilege. Nothing makes more folks upset, than when they hear that a first or second time cruiser gets upgraded from a lower category to a veranda or better. Now if this was based on days sailed, then there would be no resentment.

 

I can understand why people might get upset about this. However these people are already longer term "captive" customers. However, if you're not happy with the cabin you originally booked why did you book it in the first place? Then you shouldn't have a complaint. Everybody wants more for less.

 

Marketing looks at how they can entice people new to the line to come back. This practice is common among all the cruise lines.

 

I got an upgrade on the first HAL trip I took and finally figured out why they would do this.

 

Of course, an "upgrade" is always not such a good deal if they put you in a higher category but at a location which is not as preferred as the one you originally booked. That's why people book "no upgrade".

 

They do offer "upsells" don't they?

 

Smooth sailing. Following.

Edited January 25, 2017 by NordicPrince

[mame42]

For attempting to find an answer to my question.

[Bostonjetset]

Thank you for taking us along on your voyage through your excellent writing! I'm looking forward to reading about the rest of your journey, especially the China ports as it's a country I've been to twice [on land trips] and I always love hearing others' impressions.

 

One question, you mentioned further back that daily newsletters are no longer delivered to the staterooms. Am I to assume you mean the "real world" newspaper printouts like Times Digest? Surely they still deliver the daily programs for the following day's activites each night, right? It would really be a pity if they make passengers collect them from the reception desk every day but yet still send silly spa adverts to the staterooms haha.

[DAllenTCY]

I would like to reply to Q1.... and ask that you consider this.

 

I would never expect to take a segment of the WC, but if I were to.....after 13 years as an employee, why should I not be offered an open, higher category cabin if it were available?

 

Friends and Family rates are often very low for some of the WC segments, and I'm certain that upgrades would be a valued perquisite for may of us working shoreside.

 

As I said, I respect your point of view.....just giving you my perspective.

 

David

[WCB]

Report #26 Hilo, Hawaii January 25, 2017 Wednesday Chance of rain & 69 degrees Part #1 Of 3 85 Pictures

 

Our first stop in Hawaii is on the big island of Hawaii. The city of Hilo is the largest settlement on the island, thriving on the production of sugar over the years. When the sugar plantations closed, tourism took over. The temperature remain around 78 degrees year round, making this island a hotspot for worldwide tourists. There is so much to see and do here such as drive to the top of two shield volcanoes….Mauna Loa at 13,679 feet and Mauna Kea, the tallest point in Hawaii at 13,796 feet. There are beautiful waterfalls, gardens, and macadamia nut factories. But the most visited attraction here is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with Kilauea Volcano. It is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

There were 13 tours offered through shore excursions. They ran from $60 to $200. And we have done most of them, with the exception of the helicopter ride over Kilauea. So today, we were on our own to explore for the day.

 

As there was a complimentary shuttle offered by the local Walmart, we joined the crowd to make a morning run there. You all may laugh, but we bet half of the ship’s passengers and crew were there. Something we noticed today was the fact that lots of folks were sneezing and coughing, victims of the cold bug onboard. And once inside the huge store, you could hear them coughing in every corner of the building. Hope they find some cold meds here to help them back to good health…..soon. Anyway, with a ride there and back, lots of supplies can be purchased there. We found about everything we needed, then went back to the ship.

 

The weather was a mixed bag today. The bus driver told everyone that it had rained heavily yesterday, all day, and we lucked out that today was just showers. We got lucky, and happened to miss the passing clouds that did soak some folks. All we needed were out new umbrellas and off we went for a long walk towards downtown Hilo.

 

Following the highway from the cruise terminal, we walked towards Reeds Bay. This entire area has the look of the 50’s and 60’s. It was around 12:30pm, so we decided to stop at Ponds Café and have lunch. Not a fancy restaurant, it has the best burgers, and as we discovered today, delicious homemade taquitos. The café is literally built over a pond that houses huge koi carp. You can eat lunch and watch the fish swim under and around the café.

 

All onboard was 4:30pm, so we had to watch our time. Continuing on, we walked past several hotels on the shoreline until we got to Liliuokalani Gardens, where we strolled through 30 acres of Hawaiian and oriental plantings. There are meandering walkways, pagodas, ponds, and cement bridges. We kept a lookout for mongooses, but saw none today. Last October, they were everywhere under the bushes and running across the grassy fields. We did see some rare Nene geese, native to the islands, and a few yellow warblers, we believe.

 

Across the road, we crossed over another foot bridge to Coconut Island (Moku Ola). As well as a great place to view downtown Hilo and the bay, it is a popular place for locals to swim and fish. With public restrooms and benches, many families come here for picnics. Last fall, this place was solid people, while today, there was a handful of us tourists. Of course, it was a school day, and the weather was significantly cooler.

 

Time to start back, we stopped at a roadside shop that sold Drumsticks. It has become a tradition for us to enjoy the treat while walking back to the ship. Forget the gourmet food, these nut-covered ice cream cones are the best. We noticed that the roadside had huge puddles that were not there on our way over earlier. Guess it rained here, and stayed dry just a couple of miles away.

 

Security was top-notch at the pier. Even on the bus, a security guard can on the coach to look at each and everyone’s room key and government photo ID. Walking through the terminal building, we showed the ID again, then had our bags and purses checked. Each one of us had to go through the xray door frame. Up until today, all liquor was being collected at these check points. However, one man, who had bought boxed wine, and disposed of the cardboard boxes, went right through the check. He proceeded on the ship with four bladders of white wine (gallon size), and was not stopped. So much for their new rules.

 

We did not have much time to work on photos until it was time for the promised complimentary sail away. Remember this did not occur as was written for the San Diego sail away. Drinks were not complimentary, and many folks complained loudly, we understand. Today the Lido Pool area was set up with tables and tents, serving anything you wanted for one full hour. Artisan-style snacks (whatever those are), were passed among the party-goers. The place was wall-to-wall people. As we usually do, we went to deck nine to get some photos. The Amsterdam Orchestra played very loud music , but got shut down when a sudden downpour drowned their stage and instruments. The retractable glass roof was mostly closed, but opened enough to cause some damage.

 

We stayed out back for the “real” sail out of the harbor and bay, and were soon joined by Barb, Scoop, and Bill & Leta. By now, showers were falling here , there, and everywhere, with a rainbow in between. We learned that Hilo is among the wettest city in the world. Too many clouds for a sunset, we left by 6pm.

 

Dinnertime menu offered few good items for us. The lamb was unusual, almost like a stew meat texture. One of us opted for French onion soup and a chicken Caesar salad. Perfect after such a nice and filling lunch in town.

 

Ukebox was back with an all new show in the Queen’s Lounge tonight. They really are a talented group of young fellows with tons of energy.

 

Tomorrow, the Captain said we would have a sunny day in Honolulu with temps in the 80’s. Hope he is right.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[easyboy]

We also went to the local Walmart when in Hawaii where we were able to get some of our favorite snacks back home. The shuttle made it convenient.

[WCB]

Report #27 Honolulu, Hawaii January 26, 2017 Thursday Sunny & 80 degrees Part #1 Of 3 86 Pictures

 

The next two days spent in Hawaii will be on the island of Oahu, and in the city of Honolulu. It is the capital of the state, as well as the southernmost major city in the United States. Although it is not as lush as some of the other wetter islands, it does have well over 400 high-rises, ranking it fourth in the nation.

 

Sometime in the 11th century, the Polynesians arrived, but it took centuries before the city showed promise as a central hub. These days, millions of tourists world-wide come here for the surf and sand. There is much to see and do here, so the shore excursions offer 14 tours, ranging from $40 to $260.

 

The biggest attraction has to be a visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, stark reminders of the attacks of WW11 in 1941. We know it was quite a lesson in history the first time we visited Pearl Harbor. Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, and the Atlantis submarine tour are high on the list. An evening visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center or a sunset dinner cruise might entice some guests. And there is always the Ho-Ho trolley, or an expensive 50 minute helicopter tour around the island.

 

And did you all know that the shops and major department stores at Ala Moana Center are located in the world’s largest open-air shopping center? At least that is what our port guide says. It also houses Hilo Hattie’s with the Hawaiian gifts, souvenirs, and matching tropical clothing.

 

So, on with our day. It began rather pleasant, with temps in the 70’s and a light breeze blowing. Barely a hint of humidity. Last October, it was a far different story…….it was hot and sticky, almost unbearable. Guess January is more tolerable than October.

 

We left the ship, which was docked at the Aloha Tower, and headed towards town. We did have the option of taking a complimentary shuttle to the shopping mall, thanks to Hilo Hattie’s. But we chose to walk the distance, like we always do. Walking slowly and taking photos along the way, we ended up at Waikiki Beach and the Hawaiian Hilton Hotel complex. It’s always a pleasure to stroll the white sands on our way towards Ft. Derussy. Following side streets, we wound our way to the Hard Rock Café. Time for a well-earned lunch, we split their new Heineken burger, like we did in San Diego. It was every bit as tasty here. Downing a couple of diet sodas, we relaxed for an hour until we resumed our hike.

 

But before we left, we made a visit to the new store next door, which happened to be a Tommy Bahama store. Last December, we had gotten a $50 reward card for a future purchase. It expired today at midnight. Lucky for us, the timing was just right for our stop here today, because they had just the shirt we were looking for. The sweet salesgirl handed us at least seven samples of men’s and women’s colognes, something our store at home does not do anymore. These tiny samples will last for the entire cruise….perfect size.

 

At the oldest part of the Ward Center, we stopped at another small boutique, where a few more items got added to the wardrobe. Kind of a late birthday gift, and the best place to find unique quality clothing for a long time to come on this trip.

 

We got back to the ship by 4:30pm, cooling off in or room and working on photos. No sail away tonight since the ship is here until tomorrow after 3pm.

 

There was a sunset, however, which we did catch a glimpse of right before a moving cargo ship blocked the view on the horizon. Of course, the sky was clear of clouds, and there may have been that chance for the “green” flash. Guess we will never know.

 

This evening there was a Hawaiian Cook-In taking place from 5:30 to 8pm at the Lido Market and Dome. This took the place of the BBQ that was always held around the mid pool. Only drink stations were around the center pool, while all of the food was served as usual inside the lido restaurant. We took photos of the affair from deck nine, while visiting with friends on the railing.

 

Everyone but one was present at the table for dinner tonight. The entrees served were the same as the ones at the BBQ, we were told. So we tried the Korean ribs, but were disappointed for the first time. One of us got a plate of mostly small round bones…….little meat on them. Since they are braised for many hours, the meat must have fallen off the bone. Appeared we got the last of the servings for the night. Oh well, there was always dessert, and we could have two if we wanted. The upside down pineapple cake with vanilla ice cream kind of made up for the meager meal.

 

A special local show was held early at 9:30pm in the Queen’s Lounge. It featured the Drums of Polynesia, direct from Maui, with exotic music and stunning dances. Most of us lingered after dinner, and did not leave the room until close to 10pm. We sort of forgot the show was ½ hour early this evening. More than likely, it was the same group we saw last October.

 

Another change in tonight’s schedule was Piano Bar’s Debby Bacon, playing under the stars by the Seaview Pool at 7pm. Jim and Maureen did go to listen to her, and really enjoyed it, although they admitted it did get nippy back there after the sun went down.

 

Today was the end of the first segment. The Cruise Log was left on our mail slot showing that we have traveled a distance of 6862 nautical miles so far. By the end of this trip in April, we will have 5 times that amount or more.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS We want to address the few comments concerning the upgrade process with HAL. We feel that to make things simpler and more fair, our sea days earned should be treated like frequent flyer miles. That would simplify things, and be completely fair for all.

[WCB]

Report #28 Honolulu, Hawaii January 27, 2017 Friday Sunny & 75 degrees Part #1 Of 3 66 Pictures

 

Last night, we got the first Cruise Log, signifying the end the an official segment. It began in Ft. Lauderdale, and ended in Honolulu. One of the interesting facts printed on the brochure is that the ship is capable of producing 370,000 gallons of water a day, although only 160,000 gallons are consumed. We can assume the difference between those two numbers is the amount of water used around the ship such as in the pools, cleaning decks, washing windows, and also laundry. The ship has an excellent desalination system, so we will never run dry.

 

Other notable numbers are the guests that are onboard…….1067 and crew members……655. Around 50 folks left the ship today, and the same number of new guests took their places. Also tied in to the end of this segment, was the special limited offer of the DVD collections so far. Clips from many special events that were held on the ship since the beginning of the month, were shown on channel 26 on our TV’s. From what we saw, these DVD’s are most amusing, and we’ll leave it at that so we don’t get into trouble. By the way, one DVD cost $35, while if you purchase 10 DVD’s, they are $250.

 

Time was limited today, since all aboard was 3pm. Having had taken a long hike yesterday, we slept really soundly. This morning we had a light breakfast in the dining room while chatting with our AM tablemates that sit near us. They shared shopping info with us, reporting all the special sales they had found at Ala Moana Center. That reminded us of our British tablemates that had a ball shopping in Hawaii last fall. Compared to England, they loved the quality of the clothing in the US ports, and also the low prices. Also, the Hawaiian sales tax is much lower than in other foreign countries…….even lower than a lot of the other US states.

 

So we headed off once again, around 10am, and much to our surprise, it was cooler today. With fewer stops for taking pictures, we reached the Ala Moana Center in an hour or so. As we followed the canal along the park side, we spotted a black-crowned night heron perched on a rock above the water. Assuming he was searching for his normal prey of fish, he was really waiting for a young local gal that was coming over with a handful of bread chunks. Like a pied piper, she was followed by an array of birds like pigeons, sparrows, egrets, and the heron. Obviously, she does this every day. She threw some bread in the canal, and the heron flew down to gobble it up. Probably not the best diet for these birds, they are scavengers, surviving on everything they can find.

 

Lunch was the first thing we did, and that was on the top level of Ala Moana at California Pizza Kitchen. By now, it was after noon, and we were lucky to get about the last table for two. We always order their BBQ chicken salads (half order), which comes with fresh French bread with spicy olive oil. We had hoped they offered the weekday combo of salad or soup with a small pizza. However, it was not on their menu. Hungry for pizza, the waiter suggested we get the mini pizza off of the kiddie menu. That worked for us. No matter where we find a CPK, their pizza crust is always the best.

 

We wandered through the open-air mall until we found Longs Drugs. We only needed to buy a spray can of disinfectant. This is the hint of the day: we spray the ceiling air return with the disinfectant with hopes of purifying the air in our room. As long as you are careful about the aroma, we believe it helps to kill bacteria. Especially the cold virus. Actually, the recovery from this latest bout of cold virus has been good for one of us. It never developed into bronchitis, or worse, pneumonia. Just a nasty head cold. Slowly, our other tablemates are getting better as well.

 

As we rounded the corner near the pier, we spotted another ship in the slip……Regent’s Navigator. They must have arrived sometime after we left this morning. A much smaller ship, the Navigator is 5 stars in the Berlitz book, and having sailed on this ship several times in the past, we can agree with the high rating. They are all-inclusive, and spoil their guests. Expensive? Quite, but a nice and easy way to travel.

 

We got back to the ship around 2:30pm, and shortly thereafter, attended the mandatory passenger emergency muster drill. It went smoothly as the new handheld computers were used to log each one of us present and accounted for at the drill. By the way, as we left our room to go up to our station, we noticed Ratno, our room steward, checking rooms for guests. He put an “evacuated” card in each key slot in the doors. No more hiding in the bathrooms to avoid attending the drill. Yes, we know folks that did that almost every time.

 

Sail away was from 4 to 5pm on the aft pool deck. With the wonderful weather we were having, it was very crowded back there. Delayed by some late arriving guests, we left the pier, and headed in a westerly direction. The ship was not far from shore, when the officer of the watch announced that we were coming near a pod of humpback whales. Golly, the people ran to the starboard railing to get a look at this sight. Staying more towards the back railing, Maureen, Jim, and one of us had a good view eventually. Bill did snap some great photos of some of the whales breeching before they stayed down under. At one point, we spotted 4 whale blows, with some doing shallow dives.

 

Most everyone left after 5pm, because dinner was starting. That’s when we saw some dolphins feeding off the port side. What a lucky day to see both.

 

We had hoped to catch the sunset, but since the ship was heading dead west, it was mostly blocked from this angle on the aft deck. Today, the horizon was cloudy, so we did not want to wait to see it. We had three days of long hikes, and were feeling a bit tired.

 

Dinner time found the dining room mostly empty. Philip, the dining room manager, said that many folks were quite tired, and had an early light dinner before turning in for the evening. That’s probably why a big screen movie, Amelia, was shown in the Queen’s Lounge tonight. Few people would have gone to a live show tonight.

 

Now we have several days at sea to get ready for the next port in Majuro, a new one for most all of us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[erewhon]

Thank you for all your reports.

[easyboy]

Seem pretty fast for one segment. Thanks for your notes!

[WCB]

Report #29 Sailing Towards Majuro, Marshall Islands January 28, 2017 Saturday Partly cloudy & 77 degrees 4 Pictures

 

Today was Chinese New Year, the year of the rooster. However, we would not have realized it, because the holiday was not celebrated with a special dining room feast tonight. This affair was moved to the Lido Market instead. Chinese lanterns and dragons were going up in the Lido after 2pm for the buffet dinner from 5:30 to 8pm. No fair…..we always celebrated Chinese New Year with a gala night with the dining room decorated with flair… lots of red lanterns and dragons. Even the wait staff dressed the part. Perhaps this will happen when the Amsterdam gets closer to the Asian ports. So if you had cravings for Chinese cuisine, the only place to find it was at the buffet.

 

This morning we attended the second Cruise Critic meeting in the Crow’s Nest. A few more members joined recently, and today they were welcomed onboard. Many of the members were looking to hook up with tour groups that have been offered well before this cruise began. Jane, our leader, reminded the new folks that we do not discuss tour plans at this meeting. It had to be done elsewhere. Once again, coffee, tea and cookies were served while everyone mingled.

 

We encountered some interruptions with the internet today. It is possible it is due to where we are located at the moment. Or there are mechanical problems. Yesterday, we did spot a crew of workers in unusual uniforms up on deck nine, near the equipment. During the day, we heard that several of the sports stations were gone on the TV. For a lot of folks, that is tragic.

 

Spending the afternoon at the Seaview Pool, turned out to be fruitful. Around 2:30pm, one of the bar staff came out with insulated soda/beer zippered bags with a strap. It should hold a 6 pack. He passed them around to most everyone sitting around the pool. Now that was nice, and we are sure to find a good use for them.

 

Back at our room, we found a new delivery of President’s Club amenities. We got a fresh bouquet of flowers, and 14 Zero vitamin water bottles. Barb told us later on that she had asked for Makers Mark, but was told they were out of it. How strange is that? She is willing to pay the difference from the $40 allowance, but if it is gone, then she will have to switch to something else. Last year, they ran out of Jack Daniels and even Jim Beam. That must have been a huge oversight, leaving many serious whiskey drinkers quite unhappy.

 

At 3pm, we had a room service lunch. Curious if we could order a regular cheeseburger (not a Dive In burger), we were told no. They are no longer available on the room service menu. Only the Dive In burgers will be delivered for a price of $4.95. We also asked if they have potato salad for a side, and we were told no, they stopped making it at the beginning of this cruise. We really do not care for the scoop of coleslaw. It is full of mayonnaise, and runs all over the plate, soaking the sandwich. So from now on, we will order our sandwiches without the coleslaw. We still have to inquire if we can order room service lunch items from the dining room during their service hours from 12 to 1pm. And we are not sure you can still get something off of the dinner menu during their serving time, 5 to 9pm. With so many changes taking place, it is hard to keep up with them.

 

The dining room was about empty at 8pm this evening. Most everyone had gone to the Chinese buffet instead. So we had our table for 8 (Martha was visiting elsewhere). There were no customers around us at all. Even at that, we ended up talking until 10pm.

 

Bobby Brooks Wilson was the entertainer this evening. We remember his show that featured music from the Motown years. The only one going was Scoop, so we will depend on his opinion whether it was thumbs up or thumbs down. That is….if he stays long enough.

 

Another day at sea tomorrow….hope it finds the internet working better……….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report #30 Sailing Towards Majuro, Marshall Islands January 29, 2017 Sunday Cloudy & 79 degrees 62 Pictures Tropicbirds

 

Sunday at sea……another brunch day in the dining room. Seems that the folks like this venue, especially the ones that prefer to sleep in late. As for us, we need our early morning coffee, so going to the dining room by 8:30am is just right. Finally, we have the serving sizes down to smaller portions. The chefs have already down-sized some of the breakfast meats such as Canadian bacon or ham. Some of the slices are paper thin, and better for us.

 

Relaxing at the aft pool, we had the treat of seeing a small flock of red-billed tropic birds. You would never suspect that they are in the pelican family, but these birds have four webbed toes, instead of three. They have the reputation of being plunge-divers with water-repellant feathers and bones with substantial air spaces. This helps them float back to the surface with their prey of fish or squid. The ones we saw today were more like the white-tailed tropicbird, with two long central tail feathers that twist and flutter while in flight. We had trouble spotting the tail feathers, because the color was orange instead of white. Obviously, these birds are able to fly great distances, because Captain Jonathon said we were over 100 miles away from the nearest island. Later on in the afternoon, we were able to get some good photos of these pretty birds.

 

The Location Guide, Barbara, gave a talk on the Marshall Islands this morning. Since we have never been there, we will make it a point to watch her talk on the TV later. Actually, we did get some great info from Leta and Bill, who have been there many times over the years. Except, at that time, it was during his career as a pilot in the Air Force. They remembered it as being extremely beautiful, with lagoons, tropical atolls, and hot, steamy weather. Since there are no tours offered, we suspect we will have fun exploring on our own.

 

Our job of the day was filling out forms for immigrations/customs for the upcoming port in the Marshall Islands and Singapore. The ship gets a group visa, and some of those are actually free. Some will come with a nominal fee, which is charged to our ship board accounts.

 

We heard mixed reviews on the Chinese New Year dinner in the Lido last night. Some folks said they never saw Asian food like they served, while some others said it was good, the usual stir-fry fare. No fortune cookies however. And as we suspected, it was crowded big time.

 

Tonight was another gala evening, with the Black and Silver Ball taking place in the Queen’s Lounge at 9:30pm. For that reason, the singers and dancers of the Amsterdam performed at 5 and 7:15pm. We could hear the singing when we walked deck three to watch the sun set.

 

No one at our table made it to the ball, since we had a guest from Shore Excursions….David. He is a pleasant young man who speaks at least four different languages. Being from Belgium, he enjoyed chatting with our Dutch buddies, as well as each and every one of us. Although we have not had much interaction with the shore ex people, he seemed to remember seeing us on several cruises. As recently as the Tales of the South Pacific. The conversation flowed until 10:30pm, when we realized the surrounding tables were being set for breakfast. David confessed that he had looked up all of us in their guest info, so he would not be blind-sided by going to a difficult table. He admitted to having some pretty long evenings in the past. Guess we passed inspection.

 

He told us of some interesting things about crew preparedness in regards to safety. All of the crew has to be certified to handle any emergency with possible ship accidents. He claimed that a lot of extra training has been required since the Costa Concordia had that terrible incident several years ago. Good to know they are all trained well, and not only the sailors, but the dining room and stateroom stewards as well.

 

There were crab legs, filet mignon, veal chops, and lobster on the menu tonight. We had the veal and it came with the creamiest mashed potatoes and a mushroom gravy. Excellent. Finished the meal with a small slice of key lime pie.

 

This evening we had a nice surprise gift in our room….two umbrellas. Now, does that mean we can expect rain? Of course, we are heading into winter time in Korea, Japan, and China. However, when we listened to Barbara’s talk on the Marshall Islands, she warned everyone of feral dogs in these islands. Never heard that one before, but we do know one of our friends that got a severe bite while visiting Nuku alofi in Tonga a couple of years ago. Barbara said to bring an umbrella to ward them off in case you are attacked. So we had to laugh when we saw two of these on our bed.

 

Another job tonight…..a clock change. Since we will be crossing the International Dateline, we had a gentle reminder that the ship’s clocks will be turned back one hour and one day forward, as we sail into a new time zone. Does that make sense to you? So we will end up losing Monday and go right to Tuesday. And as we mentioned already, we will get this lost day back, one hour at a time as we circle the globe.

 

There is rain in the forecast tomorrow, but we sure hope not.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

Photos of the tropicbird……

[jaxonboy]

David is easy to get along with. In 2014, we did an overland to Taj Mahal etc from Colombo with him. He was of course the HAL Rep.

 

The 2018 World shows to be sold out. What is the scuttlebut onboard? We have not been on a Grand with so many people (1200?). We booked in June.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[WCB]

Report # 31 Sailing Towards Majuro, Marshall Islands January 31, 2017 Tuesday Chance of rain & 84 degrees

 

We just realized that there was no printed itinerary for this portion of the world cruise. Normally, when we begin another segment, it is written in the Daily Navigator. It includes the port days as well as the sea days, along with the arrival and departure times. In addition to that, every day’s dress code is noted. Furthermore, we did not receive a new port guide, the booklet that has the maps and some info on each port.

 

So when we turned in our immigrations forms at the front desk, we inquired about the missing materials. The answer we got was they were not sure why it was not printed, and they did not know where the port guide brochures were. One suggestion was that the three upcoming ports were small islands, and only one, Guam, had tours. No wonder Barbara H promised to work on getting good maps for Majuro. We figured since this itinerary included these three ports for almost two years , they had plenty of time to research the information and have it printed. Something has fallen through the cracks……Anyway, they promised we will have an itinerary for the Beijing segment.

 

If it did rain today, it must have been quite early in the morning. Just as we got settled at the Seaview Pool, it began to sprinkle lightly. Not even enough to get the deck wet. For the remainder of the day, it stayed warm and humid as we continued in a southwesterly direction. A few boobys followed along, but the tropicbirds were nowhere to be seen. As we had spotted only one flying fish, we suspect that there is not enough feed to support the birds out here.

 

The announcement of the 2019 world cruise was discussed today at the future cruise consultant’s talk in the Queen’s Lounge this morning. The actual itinerary has not been decided, nor has the pricing come out. But starting today, Thom and Tina were taking future deposits on the voyage. In fact, all of the Grand Voyages were open for deposit. It really is a “no-brainer” to put down $100 per person to hold your room, even if we don’t know where it is headed as of yet. And if we should change our minds, we can transfer the deposit to any other cruise within the next four years.

 

Two interesting talks were given in the Queen’s Lounge today. One dealt with the coral reef, and the second with major sea battles in the war in the Pacific. The areas we will be visiting soon are filled with both coral and major WWII history. All great info.

 

The first photo contest (part one) was announced today. It is a fair deal, where all guests are invited to submit their best photos taken so far this trip. The categories include people/life, wildlife, architecture, and landscape. Although there is a $5 fee per picture, an 8 x 10 printed copy of their photo is theirs after the contest has been judged. And we are proud to say that our friend and tablemate, Heo, won during last year’s contest with an incredible picture he captured while in Abu Dhabi. It was so good, that it ended up in the Mariner magazine. Good job, Heo.

 

All of us were present at dinner tonight. As we all get to know each other, it seems that there is never a dull moment. The entrees have been a little unusual….most with names we do not recognize. We are willing to try new items, but we cannot say they are all winners with us. There is always dessert, which never fails to make us all happy.

 

The entertainment this evening was an internationally acclaimed saxophonist by the name of Barry Seacroft. We could hear him practicing while relaxing on deck five at the Ocean Bar area, well before his first performance.

 

One more day at sea and we will be in the Marshall Islands. By the way, we put the clocks back another hour this evening. This is bound to catch up with all of us soon. Either way you set the clocks, it can be difficult to adjust to it. We think that is part of the reason why many of our friends still have the nasty cold virus.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[NordicPrince]

Fascinating reading. Smooth sailing.

[bettty45]

Report # 31 Sailing Towards Majuro, Marshall Islands January 31, 2017 Tuesday Chance of rain & 84 degrees

 

 

 

We just realized that there was no printed itinerary for this portion of the world cruise. Normally, when we begin another segment, it is written in the Daily Navigator. It includes the port days as well as the sea days, along with the arrival and departure times. In addition to that, every day’s dress code is noted. Furthermore, we did not receive a new port guide, the booklet that has the maps and some info on each port.

 

 

 

So when we turned in our immigrations forms at the front desk, we inquired about the missing materials. The answer we got was they were not sure why it was not printed, and they did not know where the port guide brochures were. One suggestion was that the three upcoming ports were small islands, and only one, Guam, had tours. No wonder Barbara H promised to work on getting good maps for Majuro. We figured since this itinerary included these three ports for almost two years , they had plenty of time to research the information and have it printed. Something has fallen through the cracks……Anyway, they promised we will have an itinerary for the Beijing segment.

 

 

 

If it did rain today, it must have been quite early in the morning. Just as we got settled at the Seaview Pool, it began to sprinkle lightly. Not even enough to get the deck wet. For the remainder of the day, it stayed warm and humid as we continued in a southwesterly direction. A few boobys followed along, but the tropicbirds were nowhere to be seen. As we had spotted only one flying fish, we suspect that there is not enough feed to support the birds out here.

 

 

 

The announcement of the 2019 world cruise was discussed today at the future cruise consultant’s talk in the Queen’s Lounge this morning. The actual itinerary has not been decided, nor has the pricing come out. But starting today, Thom and Tina were taking future deposits on the voyage. In fact, all of the Grand Voyages were open for deposit. It really is a “no-brainer” to put down $100 per person to hold your room, even if we don’t know where it is headed as of yet. And if we should change our minds, we can transfer the deposit to any other cruise within the next four years.

 

 

 

Two interesting talks were given in the Queen’s Lounge today. One dealt with the coral reef, and the second with major sea battles in the war in the Pacific. The areas we will be visiting soon are filled with both coral and major WWII history. All great info.

 

 

 

The first photo contest (part one) was announced today. It is a fair deal, where all guests are invited to submit their best photos taken so far this trip. The categories include people/life, wildlife, architecture, and landscape. Although there is a $5 fee per picture, an 8 x 10 printed copy of their photo is theirs after the contest has been judged. And we are proud to say that our friend and tablemate, Heo, won during last year’s contest with an incredible picture he captured while in Abu Dhabi. It was so good, that it ended up in the Mariner magazine. Good job, Heo.

 

 

 

All of us were present at dinner tonight. As we all get to know each other, it seems that there is never a dull moment. The entrees have been a little unusual….most with names we do not recognize. We are willing to try new items, but we cannot say they are all winners with us. There is always dessert, which never fails to make us all happy.

 

 

 

The entertainment this evening was an internationally acclaimed saxophonist by the name of Barry Seacroft. We could hear him practicing while relaxing on deck five at the Ocean Bar area, well before his first performance.

 

 

 

One more day at sea and we will be in the Marshall Islands. By the way, we put the clocks back another hour this evening. This is bound to catch up with all of us soon. Either way you set the clocks, it can be difficult to adjust to it. We think that is part of the reason why many of our friends still have the nasty cold virus.

 

 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

Thank you again for your diligence in blogging and making it so relevant. Hope we get to meet one day

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited January 31, 2017 by bettty45

[WCB]

Report # 32 Sailing Towards Majuro, Marshall Islands February 1, 2017 Wednesday Partly cloudy & 82 degrees

 

As we are sailing about 8 degrees north of the Equator, we are experiencing tropical heat, warm breezes, and humidity that is heavy in the air. This is about as far south as we will get during this cruise, with the exception of sailing around Singapore, where we will be a mere 90 miles above the Equator. We have to admit, it is still more comfortable than it was last fall when we stopped at Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga. For some reason, the heat was almost unbearable then.

 

Thought it might be a good time to add some info on the area we will be seeing tomorrow. As we stated previously, this will be a new stop for us. The Marshall Islands consist of an expanse of slender, flat coral atolls with the smell and feel of salt air and water no matter where you go. It is considered a neon-blue water world. To say it is remote is an understatement. It is an environment for navigators, fishermen, and canoe builders. Over the centuries the British, Spanish, German, and Japanese have claimed these atolls. However, the Americans have a huge US military presence there these days. But even this Pacific paradise still stings from the lingering effects of bomb testing decades ago, specifically on Bikini Atoll.

 

The dry season is December through August, although it can rain at any given moment……common around the equatorial regions. Stand-out things to see are the sun setting over the lagoon in Majuro. Too bad we won’t be staying that late (6:34pm). At the little museum, they have model canoes and shell tools. Twisted wreckages of Japanese WWII bombers can be seen if you are a diver. Then there are the local crafts which consist of masks, fans, baskets, and something called “kili” bags. Since these were made famous by Jackie O, we will certainly learn what they are tomorrow.

 

If we were here longer, perhaps we might have the chance to dive the WWII wrecks off Bikini Atoll. Something we are sure will be offered by locals is a traditional canoe ride in the lagoon waters of Majuro. There’s always the chance to have a picnic on the beach or perhaps go deep-sea fishing.

 

A special treat they eat here is a boiled sweet pandanus fruit. It comes with a warning to watch out for the hairy insides. Not sure we have seen this fruit anywhere. Their favorite drink is coconut served ice cold.

 

The trademarks are canoes, stick charts, sports fishing, diving, nuclear testing, US military, and the bikini, no less. That leads to the random fact of Bikini Atoll. It was the sight of the first peacetime explosion of the atomic bomb many years ago. The two-piece swimwear, the bikini, was thought as awe-inspiring as the blasts, so the story goes.

 

So with no tours offered, we will have fun exploring on our own. A map was passed out today that shows the layout of the capital Delap. The full proper name is Delap-Uliga-Darrit or DUD for short. By the way, the population is a little over 63,000 with the official language being English and Marshallese. All the atolls are within an area of 70 square miles.

 

We had a visit with Henk, our hotel director, at the Seaview Pool today. Quite often, he will come out for lunch with his wife Christel, and make a quick go-around the deck. We mentioned that we noticed the guest speakers were not listed by their names in the Daily Navigator. Henk said it was an over-sight, so today was the first day they began adding the names. He also mentioned that their lectures are repeated on channel 39 during the rest of the day. This recently began about four days ago. A few years ago, someone decided that the lectures should not be on TV, and lots of us complained. Speaking for us, if the sun is out, we like to be out with it. So it is much more convenient for us to catch the talks later, sometimes after dinner. So we thanked him for that change.

 

Somehow, we had missed the itinerary that was printed for the next segment. Henk sent 2 copies to our room, then had Philip deliver enough for all of our tablemates. Not everyone had seen that itinerary to Osaka. Nice to know he is quite willing to get our opinions and suggestions, although there are some things he is powerless to change. Only the folks in Seattle can do that.

 

Tonight we tried the fried chicken with French fries. Not featured as Kentucky-fried anymore, we found it tasted even better. You will not find anything but legs and thighs now. No white meat. Perhaps it is easier the fry pieces that are of similar size. Dessert was refreshing with one mint-chip ice cream, and a chocolate muffin-size cake with a side of vanilla ice cream. Serving sizes have been just right….more on the small side.

 

The entertainers this evening were three young ladies we happened to meet on the night we sailed out of the Honolulu harbor. Tre Bella is their stage name, and they sang popular Italian songs to rock and roll. Great voices. Anyway, they had asked if we could be kind enough to take a photo of them with the Aloha Tower in the backround. Using only their cell phone, we hope the photos came out OK. Hard to capture a good picture with the fading light. Whatever, it had to be better than the selfie they were attempting.

 

When we got back to our room, we found a letter that went over the “no” photography or video-taking at the evening shows. It seems that there have been numerous complaints about people using their cameras, phones, and tablets to take forbidden photos. Yes, we agree, as it is distracting to the folks sitting behind these people. A warning was given that the staff will ask those who do not comply to cease doing it, or otherwise, be invited out of the lounge. We did see this happen while on the Disney cruise a few years ago. Oh well, rules are rules.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[candbgirl]

I saw it happen a few times in Disney last April.

Thanks for taking us along. I don't post much but I love to read your story.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[WCB]

Report #33 Majuro, Marshall Islands February 2, 2017 Thursday Cloudy & 83 degrees Part 1 Of 3 86 Pictures

 

Happy Groundhog Day! And what a better way to spend the day than by visiting the atoll nation of the Marshall Islands. It is one of the world’s youngest countries, as a matter of fact, gaining its independence in 1986. The other “all atoll” nations are the Maldives, Kiribati, and Tuvalu. We have learned that coral reefs only grow in waters that are about 80 degrees.

 

The capital, Delap-Uliga-Darrit is also known as DUD, and surprised us how civilized and populated this atoll was. There are a total of 29 separate atolls in the Marshall Islands, but Majuro was chosen for the capital.

 

The ship arrived to the dock by 8am to already steamy, hot weather. It was immediately apparent that we were docked in their working port, as the area was full of containers and the usual storage buildings. Several large commercial fishing vessels were moored in the lagoon, sitting idle for the day, but probably active at night. We had expected to see military ships, but there were none in sight.

 

There was a shuttle service available to transport the passengers to the middle of town. Actually, we should say there were many large vans that really were school buses. Fine idea, but as the morning progressed, the line of guests grew longer and longer. The heat and humidity was surely going to be a problem for some folks.

 

We were in no rush to go to town, so we had breakfast first, and waited until 10am to head to town. By then, the line was impossible, so we decided to walk. That was our plan anyway. If it got too hot later on, we could always take the shuttle back. Shirley and Jack had been here before, so they told us about the walk to town, knowing that we could handle it.

 

At the gangway, there was a table with a group of locals handing out maps and info. Should have made our way to talk to them, but there was such a crowd, we relied on the map that was provided last night. It was not as complete as we would have liked.

 

The first building outside the port gate was the Tobolar Copra Processing Authority. They must be one of the major producers of beauty oils, soaps, coconut oil, cooking oils, and even something called copra cakes. No, not the dessert kind of cakes, but a by-product that is made for livestock feeding. A young lady was selling some of their products outside the factory.

 

At the main road, if you turned right, you would come across three embassies…Japanese, Taiwanese, and US, as well as a laundry, a BBQ shack, a kindergarden, and the airport. To go to the center of town, we turned left passing a few pubs, supermarkets, and the local hardware and lumber stores. Across the road, we saw a lady selling produce. One of the items she was hawking were huge pandanus odoratissimus, grown in the Pacific islands. The fruit contains edible seeds and flesh, that is boiled and served as a snack. The leaf fibers are used in clothing, bags, and mats. Bet some of the woven baskets, fans, and jewelry we saw later on were made from this fiber.

 

Going further back towards the lagoon, we saw some hand-carved double-hulled canoes, traditional to these islands. We recognized this particular area as the same scene we saw on a Lonely Planet TV program right before we left home for this cruise. Glad we detoured here, or else we would have missed seeing the canoes altogether. Sort of had the impression they were numerous in this lagoon, but we saw none.

 

We came upon a very nice resort by the name of Marshall Islands Resort, formerly The Outrigger Hotel. Checking it out, we found they had an indoor/outdoor restaurant, where they were currently serving breakfast. We inquired if they served lunch, and were told yes, at 11am. Did they have pizza and beer? Yes, of course, we were told. OK….we will be back……pizza……yes.

 

The main road seemed to go on forever, or at least four miles. It was lined with many shops and businesses. We came across the Catholic Church and school grounds, where a group of elementary kids were practicing singing in the church. We snuck into the back of the church, and ended up talking with their principal, a friendly lady who was so proud of her kids. This happened to be Catholic Week, and the kids were going to be performing next Sunday for the entire congregation.

 

There were a few dogs that passed us along the way, but they were friendly, not the feral dogs we had been warned about. Still not wanting to take any chances, we packed the umbrellas with us just in case. Good thing we had brought plenty of water, because it got hotter as the day advanced. The only savior was a breeze that came through in between the buildings from the ocean side of the narrow atoll.

 

Relaxing outside the church for a minute, a friend, Howard, came by and stopped to chat. He had picked up a much better map at the gangway, and was glad to donate it to us.

 

A bit further up the road, we saw the College of the Marshall Islands. We may be wrong, but we believe that this was their high school. The kids were getting out at 11am for lunch we assume. On some other islands, we have noticed the kids get a long afternoon break, then go back around 4pm, when it has cooled down somewhat.

 

Finally, we came upon the end of the shuttle ride at Adele Museum. A stage was set up with live entertainment and rows of chairs for the passengers to sit. This is where we found the only souvenir tables that were selling the baskets, fans, and seashell trinkets. Prices were not exactly cheap, but we did manage to find a covered woven basket, and a jewelry set made with faux black pearls. They’ll be nice reminders of our visit to Majuro. There was also a restroom stop here in the museum.

 

We continued further up the road to the post office, a clinic, and another older hotel across the road. We were informed that everyone and their brother was over there drinking ice cold beers and doing internet for free. So that was the last place we wanted to go. We are among the few that never bring our computer off of the ship, as there are too many other things we like to do better. Like look for pizza, which should be waiting for us at the first resort, right? Maybe…..

 

The line for the vans was ridiculously long. Mel and Helen, who is in a wheelchair now, said that many vans were bringing the folks from the ship, but only half of them were getting off. Once they saw what was in town, they stayed on the bus and went right back to the pier. No doubt in our minds that there will be some unhappy people complaining at the front desk later today. Would not have been so bad if it wasn’t was blazing hot.

 

We even caved in, and negotiated a ride back to the resort for a mere dollar. Gas must be subsidized here, although later on we hear some guests paid $10 for a ride back to the ship from here. The taxi driver was an interesting Marshallese local who sounded his resentment towards the local shop owners, who happened to be Chinese or Indian. Claiming that they had taken away their livelihood, he said they were responsible for the Marshallese population to become less and less. Guess all countries have their problems.

 

Lunch did not turn out as we had hoped. Looking at the menu, we could find absolutely no pizza. How cruel was that? Yes, there were burgers, and Asian food, but no pizza. So we downed cold beers ($5 each), and headed back to the ship. We did learn that this resort arranged picnics with snorkeling on smaller isles across the lagoon. Big game fishing could also be booked at this resort, where you have the chance to catch marlin, tuna, wahoo, and a fish called rainbow runners.

 

Back in our room, we ordered salads and split a sandwich while cooling off with lots of ice cold water and sodas.

 

Sail away was late for some reason. Shortly before we left, the sky opened up, and it rained heavily. Just as fast as it had arrived, it was gone. We stayed at the aft area for 2 ½ hours, watching the ropes drop, then sailing slowly out of the lagoon, which was larger than we had thought. After going 14 miles without the stabilizers out, the Captain took us through the narrow opening of the lagoon, well-marked on both sides. Then we eventually headed west, as we are now heading for Guam.

 

We had high hopes for the sunset, but it was not quite as brilliant as we expected. Too many clouds. Perhaps over the next four days, we may see more color at sunset.

 

Dinner found all of us present. The general opinion was that we were glad to have stopped in Majuro, but once would probably be enough. Only Jim and Maureen from Vancouver did not go to town. The heat and humidity was simply too high for comfort. Can’t say we blame them.

 

Tonight there were two entrees that sounded good. Veal cordon bleu or prime rib. Slam recommended the prime rib, and he was correct. It was tender as could be, and baked potatoes were appreciated. Philip, the dining room manager, brought Petr, the top chef, to our table. Of course, all of us complimented his cooking, especially Martha, who took over as our spokesperson. We love her.

 

Four days at sea should give us all a chance to recuperate from today’s heat. Then we hit Guam and Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 34 Sailing Towards Guam February 3, 2017 Friday Partly cloudy & 82 degrees

 

Well, partly cloudy was partly correct, mostly rainy was the other. Not in today’s forecast, the rain started exactly at the time we decided to try out the aft deck for sunbathing. Not gonna happen, at least not today. The alternate plan was to keep busy with other activities.

 

It was the perfect time to finish up yesterday’s photos and the captioning. Walking on the lower deck is always a good form of exercise for us, and also gives us a chance to visit with friends. Jack and Shirley had given us a total rundown of Majuro yesterday, and we had to let them know they were spot on with their description. We can understand why so many folks ended up staying on the mini bus to go back to the ship. We would say that the heat was like opening your oven door with a turkey roasting. You got that blast of steamy air, followed by the heat. That was what it was like going from the inside the ship to the outside deck.

 

The best story we heard about Majuro’s visit was from a couple who found a place for haircuts for $10, and also pedicures for $10. Not surprisingly, their new hairdos pretty much looked the same….a his and hers matching almost buzz cut. While the gal waited for a pedicure, the owner of the shop brought her a cold glass of water. Guess she failed to listen to Barbara’s talk about drinking strictly bottled water from the ship. May take up to 24 hours before she finds out why you don’t drink local water. But she did get a deal on the hairdo, and nicely painted toenails.

 

The shore excursions from Guam to Shanghai were discussed this morning. Don’t know how full the tours are, since we have not taken one for quite some time. They are certainly good for those visiting the ports for the first time, but once you know the lay of the land, then you can navigate on your own.

 

Two lectures took place in the Queen’s Lounge. With the dismal weather outside, these were two good options to learn something intelligent. Both speakers have been interesting.

 

The movie in the Wajang was “Sully”. We remember there was always an afternoon showtime, but we found out yesterday, that a certain travel group has taken over the theater during that time slot. We’re all trying to figure out what in the heck do they do in there? Last night, we gave Martha the assignment to find out. She probably will, since she is a good sport. If enough people complain about the change, then perhaps they can get the afternoon showtime back. For us, we can wait until tomorrow when the movie is on TV.

 

We met with Barb for lunch in the dining room. They were serving some good Mexican food. The appetizer was a taquito, and the soup was tortilla. Both really good. We ordered the toasted ham and cheese sandwich, ending with one fruit plate and a chocolate éclair. Conversation kept us in the dining room until well after 2pm. Our waiters were very patient with us as always.

 

Dinner tonight was in the Pinnacle for us. Nice to have a table for two sometimes. We both ordered Caesar salad, which is made to order here. Lots of dressing, and hold the anchovies. Ribeye steaks cooked medium were our entrees, with potatoes and mushrooms. Dessert was a different version of the baked Alaska. The best part of this dessert is the ice cream, so we order just that without the cake and meringue. Easy for them, and perfect for us. Dinner was great.

 

We forgot to mention the entertainer last night. It was gymnast, Lance Ringnald , an Olympic medalist. It is a miracle with the moves he can accomplish. And doing it on a moving ship is even more impressive. This evening, the show is a mystery. The Emmy award winning writer, Don Mcenery had an act that may have tied to his writing for Seinfeld and the animated movie, A Bug’s Life. Comedy is our guess.

 

Hope the weather improves tomorrow. One good thing is that the showers have cooled down the temps.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[bcummin]

So pleased that you appreciated getting to visit Majuro.

Their seafaring skills and delicate fine weaving are unexcelled.

Barbara

[MMDown Under]

Loved your description of Majuro heat - "like opening your oven door, with a turkey roasting. Blast of steamy air, followed by the heat."

 

I have visited Melbourne on a couple of days like that and I felt like I was in a fan force oven!

[WCB]

Report # 35 Sailing Towards Guam February 4, 2017 Saturday Overcast and 81 degrees

 

We had to laugh when we read “overcast” in the forecast this morning. During breakfast in the dining room, the rain was torrential as it came down in sheets over the back windows. No doubt in our minds that the ship was going through a good “car wash”.

 

There is a handful of us that continue to go on our morning walk, round and round the lower promenade deck, avoiding the puddles and drips from the lifeboats. As long as the wind was not blowing, one can stay fairly dry.

 

Barbara H was giving her lecture on Guam and Saipan in the Queen’s Lounge at 10am. Curious as to how many people attend her talks, we ducked inside to check it out. Entering the lounge on deck five, we were surprised to find the place full to the max. Two things figured into this…….the fact that not too many folks have been to these ports, and also the inclement weather sent everyone inside. We did not stay long, because we knew that this talk could be viewed later in the coolness of our stateroom. We bet that most of the passengers stayed in place for the following lecture by Dr. Lax about Captain Bligh and Mutiny on the Bounty.

 

Lunchtime came for us and Barbie after noontime. Since she and Martha would not be joining the table tonight, we enjoyed a long lunch with her. Both gals were invited to their second Pinnacle dinner with their hosts. Lucky them, they had been gifted with a complimentary dinner each month of the world cruise. Nice touch.

 

Sometime during course of the afternoon, the rain stopped for a short time, and some folks made it to the pool. We had gotten side-lined with doing research on our upcoming overland trip in China. While we were in Ft. Lauderdale, our travel agent had sent a Fed Ex package with our final documents for this private excursion. Since it was “overcast” outside, it was a good time to double-check the updated info. If we had questions, this would be the time to communicate with our agent. Turns out, we will have questions, because some of our inner China flights had been rescheduled with different airlines. Never know how the luggage weight restrictions vary from airline to airline. We always strive to travel as light as we can on these side trips. This one may be different because every stop may have different types of weather. Cold and colder, we suspect. Over the years, we have enjoyed safaris while traveling in warmer climates in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. This time packing may be a challenge. Good thing we have plenty of time to prepare, since we don’t get to China until February 22nd.

 

A flyer was delivered advertising Super Bowl Sunday, which will be televised Monday beginning at 8:30am. The feed will come in through the internet, we all hope. Special beverage packages were offered in the Queen’s Lounge with unlimited drinks for $35, or beer buckets for $24 to $30, and the always game day drink specials. If you want a front row VIP package, that would set you back $50 per person, providing unlimited drinks for the duration of the game with service from your own butler. You get to keep the souvenir glass, and the next day’s hang-over is free. Ha-ha.

 

It was another gala night in the dining room with decorations of red, white, and blue. When we saw our waiters dressed in red and blue vests with matching army hats, we had to ask what the theme was. Maureen beat Slam and Yuci to answer the question…….it was Boogie Woogie bugle boy of the Company B. Translated…….relating to the history of WWII in the area we are currently traveling. To extend that theme, it was recommended that the party continue in the Piano Bar, Ocean Bar, and Crow’s Nest after dinner.

 

The dinner menu had most of the expected items you would find on formal night. Escargots, lobster bisque, beef wellington, and rack of lamb. Desserts were cheesecake, pecan pie, and Snickers cake. The officer and his special lady who joined us tonight ordered the Snickers cake, which he said was a sweet, sticky, nutty cake…very chocolatey. We swear these kids are getting younger and younger, as the 3rd Officer in the Navigation team barely looked old enough to drink the wines that were provided. Or, it could be we are all getting older? Never…….

 

The clocks went back another hour tonight. We can all use the extra sleep.

 

Anyway, we hope for a better day in the weather department tomorrow. It is what it is, right?

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[jaxonboy]

The China Overland is quite an experience. In 2012 we did it from Lompoc. It started with an overnight flight sequence to Beijing. We were fortunate in that Beijing was fairly clear, and we went to the Great Wall where we could see maybe two miles.

 

As in most of China, the public WC are downright smelly, take a roll of tp and a damp washcloth in a ziplock.

 

T square and the Forbidden City are unique in the world. You will get a chance to walk. Maybe by now it has changed, but five years ago we felt like celebrities, parents would hand us their babies for photos with the gangin. The lake around the summer palace was pretty. It was frozen. The government jade store has some beautiful things, and they will bargain and ship if required.

 

My favorite stop was Xian and the Terra Cotte Warriors. Xian is a walled city, do rent a bike and ride around the city. It is a little too far to walk.

 

We met the farmer that found the tomb out in his field while digging a new well. There were three huge buildings for different areas that have been excavated. The painstaking job of piecing together the life size figures continues. Of course all of the shards of one figure are in the same small area. The bronze horses are amazing. This is worth the trip by itself.

 

Then on to the Li river. I think the city was Guilin. Beautiful boat ride through tranquil mountains. You may notice the large cook pots on the back of the boats, where the cooks scoop up river water to cook the lunch. Since the river carries raw sewerage, you will appreciate the box lunch provided by the hotel. Each box is enough for two or three people, so give one to the river men who hook on alongside to hawk their wares.

 

A late night flight to Hong Kong completes this amazing journey.

 

We had an excellent government guide, Hugh No Lie. I asked him about the skinny guy that faced the tank in T Square while we were there and he said he hadn't heard of it. Later I found out that the government had suppressed any news about it, and no Chinese knew of it.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[WCB]

Report #36 Sailing Towards Guam February 5, 2017 Sunday Overcast & 81 degrees 3 Pictures

 

Well, today did turn out to be a much nicer day, despite the overcast forecast. Just the opposite, the clouds eventually lifted and the sun came out. There was no rain at all today.

 

Since it was so nice outside, we did not go inside the Queen’s Lounge to listen to Barbara’s talk on things to see and do in Osaka. We have been there at least twice, but it has been several years ago now. One thing for sure, it will not be warm and humid as it is here, on our way to Guam. Guess we need to enjoy it while it lasts.

 

The guest chef, Denise Vivaldo, is still cooking up a storm in the Culinary Arts Center. Her classes filled up immediately after we boarded. Since we are entitled to one hands-on cooking class, which includes a nice lunch in the Pinnacle, and a free apron, we hope to sign up with the following chefs later on in the cruise. Today we got the list of classes that will be available in March with a returning chef, Paulette. We are kind of hoping to hold out for George G, who is also a regular. However, he was unsure if he would be invited back. Sure hope so.

 

We hope to catch Mark Lax’s talk on Saipan and Guam, and the shipwrecks that are in these very deep waters. The WWII history is going to be everywhere we go in these next two ports. In fact, up until yesterday, there were no tours in Saipan. Now the shore excursion office is offering a north and south highlights tour for 3 hours for $90. Both are loaded with war history.

 

Two more tours have been added in Osaka. They are both described as easy, and are recommended for guests who prefer little or no walking. They are both 2 hours in duration and thee cost is $100.

 

We spent the afternoon being totally relaxed at the Seaview Pool. We had a following breeze, but strong enough to keep us comfortable. Friends Bill and Leta always know where to find us, so they made a stop for a visit. They always get a table for two that can seat four, so that way they can invite company occasionally. They invited us tomorrow, so that should be really fun.

 

We took our walk later in the day, which worked out better as the worst of the heat and humidity were gone. Hoping for a good sunset, we were disappointed. Usually in this part of the world, the sunsets can be stunning. So far, we have yet to see a spectacular one.

 

Even though it was Barb’s birthday, she was invited to a table upstairs with her long time buddies. Our waiter, Slam, mentioned that he had a birthday cake for her, and we all suggested that he serve it anyway. We could dig up a balloon or something to put in her seat. Barb would have had a good laugh with that one. Guess they changed their mind, because it is possible that the cake is frozen, then decorated at the last minute. Perhaps they will celebrate tomorrow instead. Too bad we will miss it.

 

Just as we were finishing up with our meals and lingering conversation, we noticed that the head waiters were packing huge containers of food into the back end of the dining room. In our area to be exact. Turned out the staff had prepared Indonesian food for the wait staff, and they would soon dine on a meatball soup, ramen noodles, rice, and shrimp crackers. The largest container, perhaps 20 gallons, contained a fruit mixture with a creamy jello soup. They almost seemed giddy as they prepared the tables that were all vacated by now. One of our waiters said that they called it “family night”, and they would share some home-made cuisine that had been prepared by themselves. We all gladly left our table, so they could start their party.

 

The clocks went back again tonight. We have calculated that we have had nine time changes since leaving Florida. And of course, the big change by crossing the International Dateline, losing a day. It is no wonder that it messes with your body’s time clock, even with gaining the extra hour. With this change in time, we are eating dinner at breakfast time. Still, we are told, it is better than losing the hour every couple of days.

 

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Day with the festivities beginning at 8:30am in the Queen’s Lounge. We cannot imagine drinking beer, cocktails, or hard liquor that early in the day. Perhaps the special game day food is OK, but still too early for us. You can bet that we shall peek into the lounge and see what’s happening in there, then probably retreat to our room to watch the game on our TV (reception permitted).

 

Bill & Mary Ann