“the Big One”! World Cruise on Sojourn

[shark b8]

Noumea seems a fun, upscale kinda place.  Has a number of WW2 memorials and other such sights, as apparently it was a key place in the 40’s for the Pacific war against Japan.  They also have a restaurant built out over the water, with a glass floor, so diners can watch fishies do their thing.

 

 

 

 

[shark b8]

The beaches were deserted of course, due to the fatal shark attack mentioned before.

 

[shark b8]

The “Tchou Tchou Train.”   Touristy?  Undoubtedly.  Tacky?  Probably.  But if you’re able to get past that, this sort of thing can be an effective (and cheap) way to get a good overall feel for a place, if you only have a few hours.  We’ve done the on-off bus thing any number of places, and while it doesn’t exactly feel “authentic”, it can be…..practical.

 

 

 

[shark b8]

Hey lincslady!  We’re looking forward to playing a bit of roulette.   🤦‍♂️

 

[shark b8]

[shark b8]

CD Ross certainly seemed to be “having the time of his life”.  

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by shark b8

[lincslady]

Glad you are liking it.  I would have loved the tchou tchou train, tacky though it may be.  My remembrance of the Casino is exactly right, which pleases me as it is many years - possibly 20 - since I was there, and the memory is not as good as it was.

 

We were able to have a lovely day at the beach at the Isle des Pins; I guess that is currently a no-no. I bet the sailaway was fun, sadly my laptop is not able to show the video; some work and others don't and I have little knowledge of what  to do about it.

[shark b8]

2 hours ago, lincslady said:

….. sadly my laptop is not able to show the video; some work and others don't and I have little knowledge of what  to do about it.

 

Sorry about that - I compressed the vid further, maybe it will work for you, below.  While I’m thrilled that the wifi has gotten just SO much better than it has been on any of our previous Seabourn cruises, I can only judge usage on this side, so it’s always useful to hear how things work at the other end of the pipeline. If this vid doesn’t materialize either, it was just a very brief bit of CD Ross going wild to “Dancing Queen”, he raced all around the deck, in and out of the hot tub, up to the Skybar deck, and really cranked up the sailaway crowd.  

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by shark b8

[lincslady]

No, it is me or my laptop, sharkbait, but thanks for trying.  I can quite easily imagine it, just the right thing for the day, I am sure.  Really fun.

 

Just realised your CC name is sadly appropriate at present.

[shark b8]

 

 

[whogo]

All three videos worked for me.

 

I appreciate your taking time from your world cruise to entertain me with this live thread, shark b8.

[cadburysmom]

On 2/21/2023 at 3:37 AM, shark b8 said:

 

Decades ago my friend/co-worker Charlotte finally (after months of my bitching and moaning about it) dragged me, kicking and screaming, into a trendy sushi restaurant, stuck a piece of hamachi sushi in my mouth, and…..well, The Clouds Parted, The Sun Shone Down, and All Was Revealed.   I only regret I spent the first 35 years of my life in willful denial.

Too funny!

Charlotte sounds like my kind of gal... definitely need her to work her magic on a few friends of my own

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by cadburysmom

[shark b8]

Pretty soggy today, and apparently more to come.  The Captain, in his usual noon PA address, said the short and long term forecast looks wet.  Cairns is next, in 3 days…..the last time we were there, we took a shore-excursion-catamaran ride out onto the Great Barrier Reef, I had never been there - would have preferred diving, but snorkeling would do, in a pinch.  The seas were having none of it - we bounced around, probably 10+% of the crowd was seasick, the catamaran crew ran out of vomit bags.  When we finally anchored I strapped on the gear but only lasted a few minutes - I couldn’t see my own fins, much less any marine life.  Anyway, looks like Cairns II might be similarly affected.  

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by shark b8

[shark b8]

I have a question for y’all.  In the olden days, window tables in the MDR were coveted, I used to love them, looking out and seeing the spotlighted seas, churning with our progress.  Somewhere along the line, many cruises ago, I remember hearing that the curtains in the Observation Bar would be closed at night, as it presented a hazard for sea birds which would be attracted to the light.  And then, the curtains in the MDR began to be closed, and now the window glass appears to be treated somehow, which renders them mirrors rather than clear, after dark.  So, even if someone decides to pull them open, there’s no view to be had.  I’m sure I could research this in this CC forum, but lazy person that I am, I feel confident I’ll get the answer(s) from you stalwart Seabourners….are my assumptions about the after-dark bird life correct vis-a-vis the MDR?

[shark b8]

Ok, after the previous question, another one.  Anyone have experience with this?  Is it for certain sea-day-cruise-level folks, or….?  And, 50’s-60’s attire suggested?  🤔

 

 

 

[frantic36]

2 hours ago, shark b8 said:

I have a question for y’all.  In the olden days, window tables in the MDR were coveted, I used to love them, looking out and seeing the spotlighted seas, churning with our progress.  Somewhere along the line, many cruises ago, I remember hearing that the curtains in the Observation Bar would be closed at night, as it presented a hazard for sea birds which would be attracted to the light.  And then, the curtains in the MDR began to be closed, and now the window glass appears to be treated somehow, which renders them mirrors rather than clear, after dark.  So, even if someone decides to pull them open, there’s no view to be had.  I’m sure I could research this in this CC forum, but lazy person that I am, I feel confident I’ll get the answer(s) from you stalwart Seabourners….are my assumptions about the after-dark bird life correct vis-a-vis the MDR?

 

When we were in South Georgia area for a few days we had block out curtains put on the windows in the restaurants, bars and were asked to keep our curtains closed at night because of worry about bird life strike. This was an environmental rule imposed by South Georgia.

 

We haven't had curtains drawn at night otherwise unless someone complains about the glare as the sun is setting and asks for them to be drawn.

 

I will ask on Quest here at the moment about the window tinting. Since I usually dine late I usually don't get a window table but I'm fine with that. In Antarctica especially it was very cold when you sat right next to the window.

[lincslady]

News to me - could it be partly because obviously people like to have a window table, and it saves any  hassle for the maitre'd?  If no view, they won't bother asking.

 

We were lucky enough to go in early (on purpose) one evening when the mdr opened, and got a window table to view the Seine from Rouen back towards the channel.  Which was lovely.

 

[shark b8]

The post-sailing COVID-oriented restrictions on port entry have been largely minimal (or non-existent) to this point.   The Aussie authorities have apparently decided to go a different way, although in fairness I suppose I can’t assume this is necessarily COVID-related.  Pretty sure I can’t remember a situation where cruisers were required to go ashore for an entry interview, if they were staying onboard the ship.

 

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by shark b8

[shark b8]

…..and this is in addition to the whole moderately-complicated Aussie online visa process with their app, which was required before sailing.

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by shark b8

[jakes47]

Australia is also very strict about protecting the country from biosecurity risks.  At airports and international entry points they have dogs to detect food focusing on fruit and Veg - so please remember this when you come off the ship for your excursions.

[shark b8]

20 hours ago, lincslady said:

….got a window table to view the Seine from Rouen back towards the channel.  Which was lovely.

 

Love little experience-based nuggets like this.  Filed away for future reference.  (might you remember….port or starboard?!)

Edited February 24, 2023 by shark b8

[shark b8]

2 minutes ago, jakes47 said:

….biosecurity risks. 

 

Yes - in the French Polynesia ports, CD Ross made an announcement every morning before the gangway opened, that no plants/animals/foodstuffs could be taken ashore, “including any snacks from Seabourn Square”.  But that was it, an announcement.  I saw no evidence of any enforcement anywhere, on or off the ship.

[lincslady]

16 minutes ago, shark b8 said:

 

Love little experience-based nuggets like this.  Filed away for future reference.  (might you remember….port or starboard?!)

Port, although I think it was probably as good on the other side.  Very bucolic, with people waving from the bank, and able to wave back.  It is odd how we can all remember things which happened many years ago vividly - this was probably at least 12 years, but not what happened yesterday.  Yes, it is good to have these memories stored away for a rainy day.

[florisdekort]

Australia is no stricter than the United States is for foreigners 🙂 

 

[shark b8]

On 2/23/2023 at 4:16 AM, shark b8 said:

Anyone have experience with this?  Is it for certain sea-day-cruise-level folks, or….?  And, 50’s-60’s attire suggested?  🤔

 

 

The online Herald listed the Colonnade tonight as “Closed - World Cruise Event”. So, apparently some were invited and some weren’t - I assume it was the folks onboard for the whole 140 days, rather than those doing segment(s)?  Still not sure.   Anyway: