From Cool Alaska to the Balmy South Pacific, Sail with Bill & Mary Ann on the Volendam 9-6-23 to11-22-23 77 days

[WCB]

Greetings all!

 

Thanks for the nice comments as well as the hints offered.  We are getting a late start today due to photo processing and reports.

 

The Command hooks will work well as long as you clean the spot first with alcohol.  Sometimes we noticed the room attendants using an oily cloth on the walls.

 

Now we know the correct spelling for the Forbidden Island.  Appreciate your input SanDiego1.

 

Thank you LouChamp for the info concerning the new work being done.  Nice to have someone in the know.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[Hogladyrider]

@WCB  enjoying following along as well.  While we are not seasoned HAL cruisers like you and Mary Ann we both enjoy doing our own thing when in port.  I am enjoying seeing your photos on your blog and the confirmation of my research that Kalapaki  Beach is within walking distance.  We will also checkout the nearby window shopping and dining options.

 

My other half has discovered Kona beer here in Utah so he is anxious to visit Kona Brewing when we are in Hawaii!

 

We will be doing a Kualoa Ranch tour on UTV's when we overnight in Honolulu.

 

Since we have HAL shore excursion credit we have booked the Molokini Crater and Turtle Snorkel excursion when in Maui.

 

We are very excited to get back on a HAL ship this coming January!

[Ineke]

I always enjoy reading your posts, but today I am a liitle sad, because we left the ship later to walk to Iolani Palace, and there were no leis to be seen. But only a little sad, because this is Hawai’i after all. Keep on posting, please, you have a very large following!

[LouChamp]

12 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

@WCB  enjoying following along as well.  While we are not seasoned HAL cruisers like you and Mary Ann we both enjoy doing our own thing when in port.  I am enjoying seeing your photos on your blog and the confirmation of my research that Kalapaki  Beach is within walking distance.  We will also checkout the nearby window shopping and dining options.

 

My other half has discovered Kona beer here in Utah so he is anxious to visit Kona Brewing when we are in Hawaii!

 

We will be doing a Kualoa Ranch tour on UTV's when we overnight in Honolulu.

 

Since we have HAL shore excursion credit we have booked the Molokini Crater and Turtle Snorkel excursion when in Maui.

 

We are very excited to get back on a HAL ship this coming January!

Aloha.  An interesting tidbit regarding the Kona Beer which I enjoy…When I am in New York it is actually brewed in Pennsylvania 😂

[Hogladyrider]

2 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha.  An interesting tidbit regarding the Kona Beer which I enjoy…When I am in New York it is actually brewed in Pennsylvania 😂

Interesting, I am sure it is brewed in several places!

[WCB]

Report #38    Thursday  October 12,2023 Honolulu, Hawaii Day #2  Docked Over Night Starboard Side To Pier 2-- Leave 11pm    Mostly Sunny And Hot 85 Degrees  Part#1 Of 2 .......77 Pictures----Casual Dress

 

At breakfast this morning, we met the new Pinnacle Grill manager, Anton, the 3^rd manager of this combined trip.  Yesterday Bagus, # 2 manager, told us he was moving to the lower dining room as a head waiter beginning today.  He also thanked us for the compliments we had given him, and reassured us that we would like the new man.  We trust he is right.

 

We stayed onboard until almost noon working on the computer to keep up to date.  We still have to go to the library to send the larger emails, as our room still has problems with the signal.  No matter where we move the computer, the signal just isn’t strong enough to send things in a speedy manner.  The library is much better. On a positive note, the laundry has been delivered same day service, or in today’s case, over- night service.  A nice hand-written note was included with our stuff asking if we are satisfied with their laundry service.  It was signed by Alex Maha, whom we need to thank for the super-fast service. 

 

It did give one of us a chance to see the tours for Honolulu today.  It surprised us that the Ho-Ho bus was $75 for 1 hour.  Actually the circle they take is one hour, but you have many stops you can make if you have the time to do them all.  A similar trolley with a tour guide ran $90 for 1 ¾ hour circle ride.    An easy coach drive to circle the island was $140 for 8 hours, while Oahu’s scenic shores was $120 for 4 hours.  Pearl Harbor for 5 ½ hours was $140 and the one suitable for wheelchair access was also the same time and price.  A vigorous hike up Diamond Head for 3 ½ hours was $220. 

 

We happened to be onboard long enough to listen and watch the extensive Coast Guard drill that began at 9:30am.   Today that drill included dropping the tender boats and also the life rafts.  It was interesting watching the inflatable life raft open near the water.  Never seen that done before.  The drill continued until close to 11am.  We happened to ride the elevator with Captain Paul when we returned to the ship later, and he was so proud to say the ship and crew had passed these tests with flying colors.  In fact, he said the scores were among the highest ever.  Nice to know we are in such capable hands if the need arises.

 

Today’s walk was a bit shorter with our destination being the Ala Moana Center which has 350 plus stores and restaurants on four levels no less.  One can get lost here without the help of a map, which are still available throughout the mall.  It was not quite as warm as yesterday, and leaving a little later helped with the trade wind breeze that comes in the afternoon.  And of course, we had a bottle of water to keep us hydrated.

 

Lunch was first on the list of things to do.  We found this at California Pizza Kitchen on level 4.  This is one of our favorite spots at home, and we were not disappointed with the BBQ chopped salad and the same BBQ chicken pizza.  Fresh sourdough bread was served with a bowl of seasoned olive oil while we waited.  For a Thursday afternoon, the restaurant was about full of customers.  Funny thing was we were seated in a booth we had a year ago.  Déjà vu.  After a leisurely meal, we went in search of some necessities we could not get while in Hilo.   First on the list was popcorn, a light snack we like for our room.  Needing some other toiletries too, we ran into a Target at this mall.  They had everything on our list.  Once again, we were shocked to see many items in Target’s section of Longs Drugs that were under lock and key.   We had to request a store helper to unlock the cabinet for a bottle of Tylenol.  Guess shop-lifting exists in all big cities, not just San Francisco.  One last stop at a smaller Longs netted us a pound bag of Halloween Snickers.  Our supply of Ghirardelli’s chocolate squares are dwindling…heaven forbid.  With all of our nifty cloth bags full, we headed back to the ship and arrived by 4:30pm.  Sure was nice to stash our stuff, and sit back and relax for a while. 

 

We had a sunset, but it could not compare to the one we saw last night.  There were far fewer clouds, so the color wasn’t as intense.  Just as the sun was going down, the Le Boreal sailed out of the harbor.  Originally, we had been scheduled to depart earlier, but Captain Paul extended the time to 10:30pm to give crew members more free time here.  And we forgot to mention that last night, the dining room was about empty during our dinner time.  What we failed to read was that there was an 8pm Drums of Polynesia local show in the World Stage.  We know from experience that most all of the guests love to see the Hawaiian and Polynesian dancers that come onboard. 

 

Dinner for us was back in the dining room with starters of one shrimp and chicken appetizers.  Caesar salads followed with mains of veal meatballs with spaghetti and tomato sauce with grated cheese.  Huli huli chicken was the other entrée with a bed of pineapple and macaroni salad.  Different, but good.  Desserts were banana frozen yogurt with sliced bananas and a chocolate-coated  pudding-like treat.  On the stage tonight was a gal named Annie Gong, an instrumentalist we have seen before on several cruises.  She still puts on a good performance.

 

We will have a few days at sea now as we sail south towards Fanning Island.  We will also be crossing the international Dateline, losing a day in the process.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. My daughter enjoys huli huli chicken and actually prepares it quite well. We have been blessed to visit fanning island several times and its 

remote location makes it very special. I am sure you have been there before and find it a pleasurable destination.  All the best.

[seagarsmoker]

1 hour ago, WCB said:

Report #38    Thursday  October 12,2023 Honolulu, Hawaii Day #2  Docked Over Night Starboard Side To Pier 2-- Leave 11pm    Mostly Sunny And Hot 85 Degrees  Part#1 Of 2 .......77 Pictures----Casual Dress

 

At breakfast this morning, we met the new Pinnacle Grill manager, Anton, the 3^rd manager of this combined trip.  Yesterday Bagus, # 2 manager, told us he was moving to the lower dining room as a head waiter beginning today.  He also thanked us for the compliments we had given him, and reassured us that we would like the new man.  We trust he is right.

 

We stayed onboard until almost noon working on the computer to keep up to date.  We still have to go to the library to send the larger emails, as our room still has problems with the signal.  No matter where we move the computer, the signal just isn’t strong enough to send things in a speedy manner.  The library is much better. On a positive note, the laundry has been delivered same day service, or in today’s case, over- night service.  A nice hand-written note was included with our stuff asking if we are satisfied with their laundry service.  It was signed by Alex Maha, whom we need to thank for the super-fast service. 

 

It did give one of us a chance to see the tours for Honolulu today.  It surprised us that the Ho-Ho bus was $75 for 1 hour.  Actually the circle they take is one hour, but you have many stops you can make if you have the time to do them all.  A similar trolley with a tour guide ran $90 for 1 ¾ hour circle ride.    An easy coach drive to circle the island was $140 for 8 hours, while Oahu’s scenic shores was $120 for 4 hours.  Pearl Harbor for 5 ½ hours was $140 and the one suitable for wheelchair access was also the same time and price.  A vigorous hike up Diamond Head for 3 ½ hours was $220. 

 

We happened to be onboard long enough to listen and watch the extensive Coast Guard drill that began at 9:30am.   Today that drill included dropping the tender boats and also the life rafts.  It was interesting watching the inflatable life raft open near the water.  Never seen that done before.  The drill continued until close to 11am.  We happened to ride the elevator with Captain Paul when we returned to the ship later, and he was so proud to say the ship and crew had passed these tests with flying colors.  In fact, he said the scores were among the highest ever.  Nice to know we are in such capable hands if the need arises.

 

Today’s walk was a bit shorter with our destination being the Ala Moana Center which has 350 plus stores and restaurants on four levels no less.  One can get lost here without the help of a map, which are still available throughout the mall.  It was not quite as warm as yesterday, and leaving a little later helped with the trade wind breeze that comes in the afternoon.  And of course, we had a bottle of water to keep us hydrated.

 

Lunch was first on the list of things to do.  We found this at California Pizza Kitchen on level 4.  This is one of our favorite spots at home, and we were not disappointed with the BBQ chopped salad and the same BBQ chicken pizza.  Fresh sourdough bread was served with a bowl of seasoned olive oil while we waited.  For a Thursday afternoon, the restaurant was about full of customers.  Funny thing was we were seated in a booth we had a year ago.  Déjà vu.  After a leisurely meal, we went in search of some necessities we could not get while in Hilo.   First on the list was popcorn, a light snack we like for our room.  Needing some other toiletries too, we ran into a Target at this mall.  They had everything on our list.  Once again, we were shocked to see many items in Target’s section of Longs Drugs that were under lock and key.   We had to request a store helper to unlock the cabinet for a bottle of Tylenol.  Guess shop-lifting exists in all big cities, not just San Francisco.  One last stop at a smaller Longs netted us a pound bag of Halloween Snickers.  Our supply of Ghirardelli’s chocolate squares are dwindling…heaven forbid.  With all of our nifty cloth bags full, we headed back to the ship and arrived by 4:30pm.  Sure was nice to stash our stuff, and sit back and relax for a while. 

 

We had a sunset, but it could not compare to the one we saw last night.  There were far fewer clouds, so the color wasn’t as intense.  Just as the sun was going down, the Le Boreal sailed out of the harbor.  Originally, we had been scheduled to depart earlier, but Captain Paul extended the time to 10:30pm to give crew members more free time here.  And we forgot to mention that last night, the dining room was about empty during our dinner time.  What we failed to read was that there was an 8pm Drums of Polynesia local show in the World Stage.  We know from experience that most all of the guests love to see the Hawaiian and Polynesian dancers that come onboard. 

 

Dinner for us was back in the dining room with starters of one shrimp and chicken appetizers.  Caesar salads followed with mains of veal meatballs with spaghetti and tomato sauce with grated cheese.  Huli huli chicken was the other entrée with a bed of pineapple and macaroni salad.  Different, but good.  Desserts were banana frozen yogurt with sliced bananas and a chocolate-coated  pudding-like treat.  On the stage tonight was a gal named Annie Gong, an instrumentalist we have seen before on several cruises.  She still puts on a good performance.

 

We will have a few days at sea now as we sail south towards Fanning Island.  We will also be crossing the international Dateline, losing a day in the process.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

Thanks again for the wonderful daily reports.

I would have the same feeling about Ghirardelli's running out... Only chocolate I can eat now.  

[cubfan63]

The Hard Rock Cafe’s Messi food line (including the chicken sandwich) maybe messy to eat, but it’s not named after a restaurant’s chef. 
 

It is named after Lionel Messi, is either the greatest or one of the greatest football (aka soccer) players in the world.  He currently plays for the Miami Football Club in MLS.  He’s got a marketing deal with Hard Rock Cafe, as he’s known worldwide.  
 

 

[WCB]

Report #39    Friday October 13, 2023    Day At Sea Enroute To Fanning Island    Sunny With Some Clouds  79 Degrees   6-8 Foot Seas  Part #1 Of 1......50 Pictures-----Dressy Night

 

Today happens to be Friday, the 13^th, and what a better way to start it was with a battery-operated smoke alarm going off loudly in our room at 6:30am.  Why, we don’t know, but we are not sure what type of alarm it was because everything on it was written in Dutch or German.  Obviously, it was not wired into the ship’s system, or else someone would have showed up at our door.  We called the front desk and were told they were sending a room steward to check it out.  A young fellow arrived within minutes and said it may be due to a low battery.  There was no smoke, although one of us smelled something electrical, but by then, we had the veranda door opened.  This might be a unit that detects cigarette smoke.  Hopefully a new battery will take care of it. 

 

As we head due south, the weather has remained mostly sunny and partly cloudy.  The temperature at 9am was in the high 70’s, but we are certain that it will get warmer as the day advances.  No rain in the forecast now.

 

We all received the American Samoa traveler health declaration forms this morning.  It was helpful that a sample guide was included to fill it out correctly.  It did ask if we had been vaccinated for Covid, were tuberculosis free, had a fever or cough, rash or trouble breathing and a few other similar inquiries.  No was the answer to all except the booster.  We don’t believe the rest of the countries care about the health of the visiting guests.  The last couple of years the biggest concern was Covid and the boosters we had gotten.  Also, before we entered every country, we had to be tested on the ship.  All of that is gone now….forever we hope.

 

Except for a morning walk, we had a lazy morning hanging out in our room as usual working on the blog.  Lunch was a run to the Dive-In for a hot dog and a cannonball burger.   Nine times out of ten, riding the elevator back to the room, someone will offer to push your floor button.  It can be done packing the tray and plates, but it helps when someone offers.  One lady told me that she heard someone ask another woman guest to push a button for her, and this person said “I am not your slave”.  Can you believe that?  Takes all kinds…..

 

Other activities today included talks on the up- and- coming ports and the shore excursions available.  Talks included the agriculture of Hawaii and the influence of Hawaiian education around the world.  Perhaps this will tie into the ports we are soon to visit.  There were Spa Specials advertised as well.  You could treat yourself to 75 minutes of massage, eye treatment, facial,  foot and ankle massage, and a scalp massage….all for only $179.  Bet there were some takers.  Acupuncture, teeth whitening, and posture analysis were also offered.

 

We had a great performance of the masked boobies all afternoon as a group of two became four, then seven and eventually 10 birds flying in formation.  There were few flying fish, but that did not stop them from hunting for hours.  Taking a seat on a couple of teak lounges on deck three, we watched as the sun began to go down.  There was some color in the sky, but nothing like we saw while in Honolulu. 

 

Dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill with wedge salads and clothesline bacon.  Mains were savory grilled lamb chops with mushrooms and a baked potato.  It was nice to see the guests dressed in something other than t-shirts and shorts or baseball caps, since it was “dressy” this evening.  Anyway, dessert was a couple of little scoops of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce.  Just right.  We passed on the tray of chocolates since we seldom eat them. 

 

The entertainer tonight was a magician Scott Pepper, CW’s network show Masters of Illusion.  The first show at 7:30pm must have been full, since we saw the procession of folks going from the World Stage, past the Pinnacle Grill, and off to whatever.   We know that down this hallway is a bank of elevators and the stair wells.  You cannot get to the other end of deck four since the kitchen is located in the center.  So there must be a long wait for the elevators to ride.

 

Captain Paul announced today that we will not be changing the day when we cross the International Dateline before Fanning Island.  Normally, we lose one day, but keep the same time.  There are no buildings of any consequences on that island with clocks, so it should not confuse anyone if the day is off by one.  When we cross back over the line, the time and day will be correct for a while.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Report #40    Saturday  October 14, 2023  Day At Sea Enroute To Fanning Island  Sunny With Some Clouds 85 Degrees 7-8 Foot Swell  Part #1 Of 1.......28  Pictures-----Casual Dress

 

Today’s highlights included another brunch at sea from 10am to 12:30pm with three choices of breakfast, lunch, and desserts.  It’s not for us, however, since we are still enjoying our morning meal in the Pinnacle Grill.  We do have the entire menu memorized, but still manage to try different items occasionally. 

 

Another activity that was not really promoted was The Fun Fair at 3pm in the Lido pool area.  While waiting for our Dive-In lunch order to be prepared after 2pm, we noticed that the lounges surrounding the pool were being removed by some of the housekeeping staff.  Busy as bees, they had the place clear of chairs and were setting up long tables along the windows.  One set-up was a table full of beer and sodas.  Our burgers were done quickly, so we did not stay to see what was happening.  On a world cruise, this usually happens towards the end of the trip, and is advertised for a week prior.  From what we read, the participants would play games and collect raffle tickets.  Then at the end, there would be a drawing for special prizes.  At the taco bar, there was a special dessert area set up for the occasion.  We heard from headwaiter Bayu later on that many people had a great time there. 

 

We spent the day doing very little except for reading and internet work.  A trip down to deck five is still needed to send and receive big files.  We are glad it is close to our room.  The only other event happened after we reported that the filter in the ceiling needed replacing.  We have been having sneezing fits every so often, and think that when these filters were replaced, we happened to be moving into this room from deck one.  Since the room stewards were bringing in our luggage and hanging clothes, the repair fellow with the new filters skipped this room and never came back.  We could see the old filter was very dirty, so now we know there is a clean one.  Hopefully, no more sneezing.

 

The small flock of boobies were gone today, but we still saw some flying fish.  We did capture a few shots of them as they “flew” across the tops of the waves.  With no birds hunting them, they will live to see another day.  Unless there is something hunting them from beneath the waves…..

 

Back in the dining room for dinner, we ordered salads and mains of BBQ short ribs and one prime rib.  The general consensus was that the ribs won out.  The sauce they use is particularly tasty and the ribs were moist and tender.  Better than we recall having on the grand world cruise.    Desserts were simple – frozen yogurt, sliced strawberries and bananas (they have really helped the leg pain) and one little hot fudge sundae. 

 

There was a planned star gazing with Captain Paul at the Seaview Pool at 9pm.  However, before we came to dinner, it was drizzling outside.  These activities are always weather-permitting,  so we do not know if it happened.  The other option was a movie in the World Stage – an older flic, The Descendants with George Clooney.   It began at 8am, so that would not work for us either.  Probably a better plan was to catch up on much needed sleep.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[oakridger]

I loved the BBQ ribs last year!  I made sure I went to the Lido for dinner when they were served because I could just ask for as many as I wanted without having to request more from the waiter in the MDR.  I ate my fill of them for sure!!

 

~Nancy

[WCB]

Report #41   Sunday  October 15, 2023  Sea Day Enroute To Fanning Island    Rain Showers And Some Sun 85 Degrees  Sea State  4-6 Foot Swells   Part #1 0f 1.......40  Pictures----Casual Dress

 

This morning’s sunrise was most unmemorable as far as color goes.  There were just too many clouds for the sun to shine through them.  It appeared we had been going through passing showers through the evening, which is most common considering where we are right now.  The temperatures have remained warm and the humidity high.  Also typical of the area around the Equator.  We spent the late morning at the Seaview Pool relaxing at a table along the side railing.  It really is the best place to catch a breeze.  Many folks were stretched out on the lounges getting burned very rapidly.  This equatorial sun can be very damaging if one is not careful.  However, while enjoying the fresh breeze, one of us decided to try a strawberry daiquiri.  It was just as refreshing as the ones we had while in Half Moon Cay.  This could turn into a dangerous habit. 

 

Captain Paul came on the speakers for his afternoon talk, and something in his voice gave us the impression that we might not be going to Fanning Island.  There was nothing specifically that we could put a finger on, just a hint of hesitation while describing some of the conditions at the tender platform that we may encounter.  If the seas remained like they were today, there should be no problem.  Still, we were doubtful that this tender port would happen.  Perhaps that is due to the fact that we have missed it in the past about as many times that we have successfully made it there.  Judging from the chatter on social media websites, we knew some folks would be bringing donations to the island.  It had been made clear that those who chose to bring things to give away, would have pack them off themselves.  There would be a collection booth near the tender platform to leave the donations. 

 

We ordered a room service lunch for a change.  Two entrée-size chicken Caesar salads were ordered, which arrived without the chicken.  The waiter had repeated the order back to us, but whoever fills it, forgot the chicken.  Then we split a roast beef panini, which is about half the size that it used to be.  Probably better for us to have smaller portions, but we have to keep that in mind when ordering.   It did take all of 40 minutes to arrive.    After lunch we turned a movie on by the name of Being Rose, a very deep and almost depressing movie. We watched it until the end literally because the main character died. 

 

Then it was time for a walk.  There are far fewer folks walking the promenade deck at 5pm, mostly because they are off to an early dinner.  Although it was still warm on one side, there are less people out and about.  At one point, we stopped in the forward area to take in the breeze.  Always on watch for flying fish, we did see some a good 50 yards off of the ship.  That is odd to see these fish popping up so far off.  It was possible there was something under them giving chase.  Lo and behold, up jumped two large dolphins, followed by several more.   They were pretty far out there, but we happened to have the small camera with us and got some shots.  At one point we guessed there were at least a dozen of them keeping up with the ship’s speed.  So fun to watch.  Within a few minutes, the entire railing was full of people watching like us.   It always pays to “stop and smell the roses”.

 

The sunset would follow, but once again, it was not a memorable one.  Too many rain clouds on the horizon blocked the setting sun.  All we got was some color in the nearby clouds.  Time to get dressed for dinner,so we went back home.

 

Dining room dinner was a varied menu, unlike any other so far this whole trip.  We are not seeing a repeated menu like we had on the 7 day Alaska runs.  This menu is full of South Sea-like items that go with the area.  A particularly good appetizer was a shrimp and artichoke heart cheddar cheese dip with one bread stick.  Actually it took a slice of bread to finish the entire bowl which we ended up sharing.  Salads were a mixed red and romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons minus the salmon.   Mains were chicken cordon blu – one with the potatoes and peas, and one with linguini and sausage.  It was a great combination.

 

Just as we finished our ice crem and yogurt desserts, Captain Paul came on the speakers.  Guess what?  The port of Fanning Island had to be cancelled.  Now the reason was one we have never heard before.  Turns out the Kiribati customs officials could not make it to the island tomorrow to clear the ship. Despite the fact this has been on the itinerary since day one, they claimed there was no flight or a suitable vessel for the locals to get to the island on time tomorrow.  The scheduled arrival time had been 7 or 8am with a departure time of 1:30pm.  It was a short window, but it was not to be.  Now here is where the story got interesting.  The Captain announced that he would personally be at the front desk to answer any questions that the guests may have.  And he specifically added not to engage with the front staff crew members as they were not responsible for this deletion.  We sure hope that he warded off any unpleasant confrontations, although we cannot imagine anyone not understanding the situation.  The final decision to abandon the planned stop is really made from the people in Seattle.  On addition there would be no problem with refunding any tours since there are none on the tiny little island. Captain Paul did add that the donations that the guests planned on taking over to shore would be stored on the ship for their next stop in January of 2024.  For some unknown reason, we were not at all surprised with this change of plans, but never expected the reasoning behind it.

 

So the plan for tomorrow is to circumnavigate the 14 mile island, then head off for the next port in Samoa.  Like we always say:  expect the unexpected.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. An interesting day for you lol. Sorry you will miss Fanning Island. It truly is a spectacular place and most unique. Not sure if you were ever there but it is one of those once in a lifetime experiences.  I recall we were able to visit the Falklands a few years ago and my parents sailing only a few weeks after us (scheduling didn’t permit us sailing together) could not do so. The same with Antarctica one year where we were able to visit places the following cruise could not. Sorry about your Chickenless Caesar Salad. I ordered a cheese danish once and they must have run out of them because when it arrived it was a plain danish with a slice of american cheese on top!   All the best!

[carolyn22]

That makes me a little sad that the captain felt the need to be at the guest services desk to potentially ward off unpleasant interactions. I’m glad he was protecting his crew, but it’s unfortunate that some people like to show themselves like this.
 

And LouChamp, I’m still laughing at the thought of a “cheese” danish with a slice of American cheese on it. 

[bennybear]

Enjoying following and your descriptions of food and wildlife.

 

@LouChamp good to know there’s still a chart house in Honolulu, sadly no longer Maui or Kona.  
 

We enjoy the pizza at the kona brewing company, our winter home.  

[Coco39]

Really enjoying your posts.  The flying fish photos were awesome.  Your Captain sounds very "hands on" when it comes to keeping the guests informed.  I agree that it is sad that he would have to deal with rude guests over a missed port.

 

Barb says Hi.

[WCB]

Greetings all!

 

We have been most fortunate to have visited Fanning Island several times on past cruises, and we did feel bad for those who so looked forward to this stop today.  A plain Danish pastry with a slice of cheese?  Who knows, it might catch on.  And good pizza anywhere is a favorite for us.

Captain Paul is very tuned in to every aspect of dealing with guests we are learning.  And we did not hear of any problems that may have sprung up with the announcement.  Most everyone understands. That was not the case a few years back on a world cruise when the tenders at Easter Island were stopped.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[LouChamp]

10 hours ago, bennybear said:

Enjoying following and your descriptions of food and wildlife.

 

@LouChamp good to know there’s still a chart house in Honolulu, sadly no longer Maui or Kona.  
 

We enjoy the pizza at the kona brewing company, our winter home.  

Aloha. If I am not mistaken the Honolulu Chart House is not affiliated with other restaurants of the same name. What I like about it is there is a pleasant mix of tourists and locals and we can walk from our condo and they have an excellent selection of menu choices. The staff is pleasant, they have music and it is really fun. I stay away from Hard Rock Cafe, CheeseCake Factory and other tourist traps. There are plenty of restaurants locals go to which since 2008 I have become. Also, some restaurants have Kama’aina rates so when I show ID or my local bank card they provide a discount. That is the aloha spirit lol!

[albingirl]

Really enjoying your postings and hope to do what you are doing someday.  So much travel! Awesome.

[USN59-79]

I imagine that if anyone is angry about the missed stop to Fanning Island it is the local residents.  And the people they are angry at are the government officials who decided not to show up for work.  Suspect most of their income comes from cruise ship visits.

Ray

[WCB]

Report #42   Monday  October 16, 2023   Scenic Cruising Fanning Island 7am-1pm   Cloudy With Sun 84 Degrees    Sea State 3-4 Foot Swells   Part #1 Of 3.......77 Pictures.....Casual Dress

 

The Captain began circling Fanning Island (also known as Tabuaeran) around 7am.  This island is actually an atoll that belongs to the Line Islands and is part of Kiribati.  One other place we have visited often belonging to Kiribati is Christmas Island, but that is located 200 miles away.  There are about 1990 residents living on Fanning, but when we visited in the past, we saw mostly women, children, and a few elderly men.  The younger men were always far off involved in the coconut industry as well as fishing and seaweed cultivating. 

 

When tourists like us invade the island, a series of tables are set up near the tender landing.  Very unique souvenirs are sold such as wooden-carved knives complete with ever-so-sharp shark teeth.  Many items made with seashells are bowls, platters, baskets, and jewelry.  And everything is really affordable.  The tender landing is located in a small village that happens to have remains of what was an NCL picnic/rest area, which is long since abandoned.  We learned later on during Kainoa’s talk that NCL had a ship that toured the Hawaiian islands, and in order to satisfy a foreign port stop for the Jones Act, this island served that purpose.  Once the Pride of America started Hawaii cruises, and it was registered in the USA, the need for NCL’s cruises and private island faded. 

 

The port essentials flyer handed out yesterday mentioned “fun facts” about Fanning Island.  They included the fact that there is no electricity, no plumbing, no restaurants, or bars on this entire island.  No plumbing means no public restrooms. Honestly, how much fun is that?  Perhaps that is one reason the scheduled visit was for 5 ½ hours.

 

Kainoa talked on the aft channel at 10:30am, which we could listen to as we slowly sailed around the island.  What we see as a coral atoll with a lagoon in the center today, was once a huge island.  Over the millenniums, the island began to erode in the center, leaving the wide ring of tree-studded coral.   This island has a total of 13.2 square miles of coral and a 42 square mile lagoon of the prettiest colors of aqua blue you will ever see.  The deepest part of the lagoon is only 49 feet deep.  It is believed that the first people to reside here were Polynesian, specifically the Marquesans.   Today the people that live here are Micronesian and speak a dialect of Gilbertese and some English. 

 

The Captain turned the ship so the folks on the starboard side could view the sights as well.  A few scattered facts we gathered from Kainoa’s talk were that there is some WWI history here, and an aerial view of the atoll resembles a footprint.  There were no reports of Covid here, even during the height of the pandemic.  As many times as Kainoa has been here, he admitted to never seeing the other side of the island.  Same for us, and it was a wonderful way to spend the morning without having to use the tender boats.  Even though the temperature was around 84 degrees, we were “melting” on our veranda.  With the ship doing a mere 8 knots, there was little to no breeze.  Being so close to the Equator made a difference as well.

 

There is really no need for money here, which by the way, is the Australian dollar.  People live with bartering and very well may be subsidized by the government.  We did not hear the details, but there is a general warehouse for everyday necessities, like a supermarket.  Common foods eaten are fish, pork, locally-grown veggies and fruits, and probably Spam, which is a favorite of the South Pacific Islanders.   Recalling what we learned while on Christmas Island, the average age for men was 50 while the ladies may reach 70.  They blamed it on the fact that the main diet consisted of mostly snack-type foods which are high in fat and salt, and low on nutrition.   But that was 20 or more years ago, and maybe things have changed since then.

 

The main mode of transportation is canoes, with a few vehicles like old pick-up trucks and jeeps.  The biggest concern of the locals is that the kids are sent to school when they are older, and many choose not to return.  For that reason, the population has declined over the years.  And there is no hospital to speak of.  If there is an emergency, the patient would have to be flown elsewhere….not an easy thing on such a small piece of land.

 

The Captain talked at noontime and said we would be leaving the island by 1pm.  He would increase the speed to 14 knots which was really fine with us.  Increased speed = nice breeze.  We had the best place on the ship to view the island tour…right from our veranda.  And the best aspect of the morning for us had to be the number of birds we saw.  Today’s varieties were the white terns, brown boobies, frigates, and most of all….. tropic birds.  They were the big surprise of the day that we did not expect since we have never seen them here.  We spotted them flying higher than most birds, flapping their wings rapidly, soaring and dropping like airplanes do when they hit turbulence.  First there were two, and eventually there were several.  Of course over a thousand photos were taken during the duration of the morning.  No kidding….  The job of downloading would take the rest of the afternoon.

 

At the end of the Captain’s talk, he mentioned some exciting news that we would be doing the “Golden Crossing” of the Equator and the International Dateline sometime between 3 and 4am.  No, we will not be awake for this one.  But there will be a King Neptune Ceremony tomorrow and trust us, we do have many of those certificates.

 

Dinner was casual, but when we got to the dining room, we noticed the waiters had on their bowties.  That is usually done on a “dressy” night.  Even some of the appetizers were formal ones like shrimp cocktails, foie gras, and escargots.  We had the cocktails and a niçoise salad with tuna.  Normally the tuna is flaked and barely there.  Tonight, we each had a seared filet of tuna steak along with the salad fixings.  Very good, but almost enough for an entrée.  One of us had the steak Diane (not extraordinary) and a Southwestern manicotti dish which was vegetarian.  Both good, but the salad was the best. 

 

Entertainment was an instrumentalist (flautist) by the name of Paul Stepien with a variety of musical styles, promising a breath-taking journey.   If that is not your cup of tea, then there is always the Ocean Bar Band, piano bar entertainer, and the Classical duo in the Explorer’s Lounge.  Never a dull moment.

 

Tomorrow will be another day at sea as long as we get the blessing from King Neptune……

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[bcummin]

Thank you for sharing so much with us.

Please tell us about the Port Essentials Flyer.  I have never seen one.  Is this new?

Barbara

[WCB]

Report #43  Tuesday October 17, 2023  Sea Day Enroute To Pago, Pago, Samoa   Cloudy Hot And Humid  85 Degrees  Sea State Flat And Calm  Part #1 Of 1.......51 Pictures---Casual Dress

 

Last night around the wee hours of 3am, the ship passed the Equator and the International Dateline.  This is considered a Golden Crossing with the coordinates of 0 degrees North and 160 degrees West.  Which makes us worthy of being Golden Shellbacks, which we already are more than once.  In fact we also passed the Emerald Crossing earlier this year when we were at the Equator and the Prime Meridian off the coast of West Africa.  There was supposed to be a buoy on the exact spot, but it could not be found.  Must have sunk.

 

Anyway, the King Neptune Ceremony took place at the Seaview Pool, although we thought for sure it would be held in the Lido Pool as it usually is.  So after the Captain’s talk, we went to the back and took seats at a table along the starboard railing.  That’s when we noticed that the area was being transformed into the stage for the big show.  Chairs were being brought to every level for the folks to watch the event.  And shortly, the area filled with guests…vying for the best spot.  We had not intended on staying for it, since we have seen so many of these shows, but since we had good seats, we did not want to give them up. 

 

At exactly 2pm, the ship’s horn blasted to commence the ceremony with King Neptune and the Mrs. along with the judges (officers), and the judge (Kimberly).  The pollywogs were the crew members and the show seemed to go on and on.  We did not actually see the fish that they had to kiss, but our buddy showed us a photo of the ugliest monk fish that her friend took.  Instead of being mounted where we could all see it, the fish laid in the bottom of the display. 

 

The best part of the show was when the Captain was invited to jump in the pool.  And he did just that, followed by every officer that participated.  It was rather amusing, since we have only seen one captain do that over the years.  At that time, it was on a Princess ship, and they had the captain walk the plank.  Kimberly had to admit she was a pollywog, so she really got slimed and dumped in the pool.  The crowd loved it as they did today.  Later in the afternoon, we all received certificates of the event, dated and signed by Captain Paul. 

 

By the time it was finally over, we figured we had sat outside for almost 2 ½ hours.  And we did get a bit toasted despite the sunscreen.  Still it was worth it to secure our place for the show.

On the way back, we picked up some food from the Dive-In and enjoyed it in the coolness of our room.   The remainder of the afternoon was spent with photo sorting and reading a good book.

 

Taking a later walk, we watched the sun go down, or at least the sunset without seeing the actual sun go down.  There was some nice color, but not the fabulous sky we have come to expect.  The weather remained warm and muggy all day and into the evening.  Lucky for us, the seas have been calm.

 

Dinner had a few new items such as shrimp and cheese quesadillas.  Salads followed with mains of the everyday chicken plate and a fettuccine with pot roast bolognaise sauce.  Both tasty although they could have been hotter.   We keep forgetting to ask our waiters for hot entrees. 

 

The World Stage had a movie at 8pm instead of live entertainment, which was Amelia.  This is also on the TV, so we don’t know how full the show lounge would be.  We passed on the movie, since the sun really zapped us today.  We still have a couple more sea days before we arrive to Pago Pago.  Also, we received an invitation to an exclusive party for President’s Club members, Pinnacle, and Neptune suite guests tomorrow at 8:15pm in the Atrium deck three..  We found it odd to be asked at that time of day, because that is our dinner time.  Perhaps we can sneak into the dining room earlier and be done by 8:15pm.  Our waiter Mario said that would work for him and Risman.  Time will tell.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[WCB]

The Port Essentials Flyer is a half-page paper that lists a few facts of the port we are currently visiting.  It also has the port authority name address, and phone number listed on it in case you need to contact them.  This form of information began with the beginning of the Tales of the South Pacific cruise.

Hope this answers your question.

 

Bill & Mary Ann