Thoughts, impressions, and observations for the World Cruise.

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, orville99 said:

 

BTW, did the MP tour groups get off OK? Hopefully their excursion will go as planned.

I was wondering the same thing.

[island lady]

3 hours ago, orville99 said:

Always the best way to experience a new city if you have the chance. During my business travels through Europe, I always tried to build a "free" day into my schedule so my local counterpart and I could tour the city before we were walled up in a conference room somewhere.

 

BTW, did the MP tour groups get off OK? Hopefully their excursion will go as planned.

 

Not sure...since our tour left this morning as well...but from what they were planning, and it should have indeed happened...they were still busing them to the airport, flight to Cusco, then check into hotel and plan from there.  

[island lady]

Small boat tours to Ballestras Island.  Must be a fleet of 20 of them or so.  Open speed boat, extremely packed in like sardines, and the most uncomfortable full lifejacket (required to wear at all times) I have ever worn.  But getting past that...the ride was surprising smooth, good design to the hull and saw a lot of wildlife.  Boat captain very talented at the helm.  

 

Passing by our current home, some sights along the way, and then the islands themselves.  I like the "arch within an arch".  

 

 

[island lady]

OK...does this look like a face to you?  Did to me.  😉 

[island lady]

Humbolt Penguins...though guide told us not near as many as usual this year.  

 

 

[doghog]

Just now, island lady said:

OK...does this look like a face to you?  Did to me.  😉 

Yes. Forehead with eyebrows, pointed nose, lips and chin. 

[island lady]

All Sea Lions here, no seals.  Hey you got any room up there for me??!!  

 

 

[island lady]

1 minute ago, doghog said:

Yes. Forehead with eyebrows, pointed nose, lips and chin. 

 

And I think a hat!  😉 

[island lady]

Ahoy ladies!!   Very talented getting up on this thing bouncing around.  😉  Especially the one in the "cage".  😄 

 

 

Edited January 28 by island lady

[Ocean Boy]

21 minutes ago, doghog said:

Yes. Forehead with eyebrows, pointed nose, lips and chin. 

Agree.

[Luckynana]

On 1/27/2024 at 2:32 PM, CSHS1979 said:

 

Caught this as we left the comic

 

Shot with John's S23 ultra

 

WOW!

[orville99]

32 minutes ago, island lady said:

OK...does this look like a face to you?  Did to me.  😉 

Bob Hope?

[Luckynana]

36 minutes ago, island lady said:

Small boat tours to Ballestras Island.  Must be a fleet of 20 of them or so.  Open speed boat, extremely packed in like sardines, and the most uncomfortable full lifejacket (required to wear at all times) I have ever worn.  But getting past that...the ride was surprising smooth, good design to the hull and saw a lot of wildlife.  Boat captain very talented at the helm.  

 

Passing by our current home, some sights along the way, and then the islands themselves.  I like the "arch within an arch".  

 

 

Beautiful pictures, Patricia!

[3yorkies]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Not sure...since our tour left this morning as well...but from what they were planning, and it should have indeed happened...they were still busing them to the airport, flight to Cusco, then check into hotel and plan from there.  

I have friends who are doing the MP trip and posting on facebook.   They are having a great time and posting wonderful photos.   Kevin and Katherine are the couple.   They get off in LA, just in time to fly home to Vegas to go the the Super Bowl the next day, lol.

[pstone1]

Everyone left for MP this morning as planned!  I think there were 15 busses and it looked like everyone loaded up between 7:30 and 9:30.

[Etta1213]

Can any body tell me what the price range was for this full world cruise? Am assuming they sold all the cabin categories, just like regular cruises? Am really hoping Royal considers this a wonderful success and continues to offer it.

[pstone1]

There were only three Ship’s Tours listed for Pisco, and we didn’t want to take any of them enough to pay the price.  We were very lucky as we walked off the ship around 8:45am and jumped on a Private Tour. The first part was a boat ride that took us to the Ballestas Islands for 2 hours and then took us on a tour of Paracas National Reserve.  Both were amazing!  Pat posted most of the same photos of the Islands, but I will post some of the Reserve, which is a huge desert, 70 km by 30 km with beautiful beaches!  We ended our day with a Pisco Sour at a stand on the dock!

[pstone1]

7 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Thanks!  Will look that up.  Touring on our own with friends first day, but will research (if there is anything left) tours for 2nd day.  🙂 

Hope you guys join!  We’re really looking forward to it!  Would have cancelled the Ship’s Tour we have booked for Day 1, but it was too late!  At least it’s short and allows time for us on our own!

[pstone1]

A few more photos from the Paracas National Reserve!  It’s unique as it’s a desert adjacent to the beach.  The roads are constructed of salt. The ground is a red clay pan with gypsum running through it, covered by sand, shell midden fragments, and small mineral pieces.  There are shell fossils along a pathway and some mummified bodies in an off limits area.  The beaches are gorgeous!  We saw several different sandy beaches, all beautiful!

[pstone1]

A picture of the salt road - you can see the salt deposits on the rock from the desert, and a picture of the gypsum veins running along the surface!  The entire Reserve is protected.

[RFerrington]

Beautiful !

[island lady]

3 hours ago, Luckynana said:

Beautiful pictures, Patricia!

 

Awww....thanks!   😊

[island lady]

2 hours ago, pstone1 said:

Hope you guys join!  We’re really looking forward to it!  Would have cancelled the Ship’s Tour we have booked for Day 1, but it was too late!  At least it’s short and allows time for us on our own!

 

I have Haku booked for the second day now in Lima. I did not see your tour listed.  We are being picked up at 8 am at the port entrance.  Market tour and cooking class.  

[island lady]

1 hour ago, pstone1 said:

A few more photos from the Paracas National Reserve!  It’s unique as it’s a desert adjacent to the beach.  The roads are constructed of salt. The ground is a red clay pan with gypsum running through it, covered by sand, shell midden fragments, and small mineral pieces.  There are shell fossils along a pathway and some mummified bodies in an off limits area.  The beaches are gorgeous!  We saw several different sandy beaches, all beautiful!

 

Wow...beautiful pictures!!  Thanks for sharing!!  🥰

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, pstone1 said:

 

 

 

Love your photos!    Thank you for sharing.   

I do have to ask - what is this a photo of?    At first glance I thought it was a dead bird (looks like a beak and ey at the top of it)