DAY 26 - AT SEA - FEBRUARY 21, 2010
ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD DAY TO SLEEP IN, WE DIDN’T. WE DECIDED TO EAT VERY LITTLE AT THE BUFFET. OUR INTENT WAS TO HIT THE SUNDAY BRUNCH ABOUT 12:30. WE DIDN’T DO THAT EITHER. INSTEAD WE WENT TO THE PRESENTATION ON WWII IN THE PACIFIC BY GARY SHAHAN, A RETIRED TEACHER FROM PHOENIX.
AS WE EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT HIS PRESENTATION WAS PART 1 IN A SERIES WHICH WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 4 OR 5 DAYS. HE HAD SOME VERY INTERESTING PHOTOS ALONG WITH GREAT HISTORIC FACTS. WE PLAN ON GOING AGAIN TOMORROW.
BILL HYDE, A MEMBER AT OUR DINNER TABLE GAVE A PRESENTATION AT 4:15 ABOUT THE ORIGINAL PACIFIC PRINCESS AND A VOYAGE HE AND HIS WIFE HAD TAKEN IN 1994 FROM VENICE TO SINGAPORE. BILL IS FROM MARYLAND AND MAKES ALL SORTS OF THESE PRESENTATIONS AT RETIREMENT HOMES, TRAVEL CLUBS AND SCHOOL GROUPS. HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
THE ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT IS A SINGER, DONNIE RAY EVINS. HIS WHOLE SHOW IS A TRIBUTE TO NATE KING COLE, WHO WAS ALWAYS A PERSONAL FAVORITE OF MINE. THIS GUY DID ONE SUPER JOB AND HE RETURNS IN A FEW DAYS TO DO A WHOLE NEW SHOW OF JAZZ AND BLUES.
DAY 27 - AT SEA - FEBRUARY 22, 2010
WELL, IT FINALLY HAPPENED, OUR LARGE PRIVATE VERANDA WAS OVERRUN BY UNINVITED GUESS. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 50 OR 60 PEOPLE SITTING AROUND EATING AND CHATTING, SOAKING UP THE MORNING SUN (82 DEGREES). WE NEARLY DIDN’T GET A SEAT. THE NERVE OF SOME PEOPLE.
AFTER BREAKFAST WE HEADED FOR THE TOUR OFFICE TO FILL OUT THE 3 DAYS STILL OPEN ON OUR LIST. SAVVY CRUISERS THAT WE HAVE BECOME, WE MADE ALMOST ALL OF OUR TOUR RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE ON THE INTERNET SITE FOR PRINCESS. WHAT A TIME SAVER. THERE ARE SO MANY TOURS COMPLETELY BOOKED, MANY OF WHICH WE HAVE CHOSEN, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH NEXT BEST OR ON WAITING LISTS.
I WENT TO THE 2ND OF THE SERIES ON WWII PRESENTATIONS IN THE LOUNGE THIS AFTERNOON. I THINK THE CROWD WAS LARGER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY. THIS FELLOW IS EXTREMELY INTERESTING, AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. GEORGIA, ON THE OTHER HAND CONTINUED WORKING ON THE BOOK, AND WENT TO THE POOL FOR A SHORT PERIOD.
I SPENT TIME TRYING TO LEARN SOME OF THE FINER POINTS OF THE NEW CAMERA. I STROLLED THROUGH THE SHIP’S LOUNGES SNAPPING PICTURES USING VARIOUS SETTINGS.
EVERYONE MADE IT TO DINNER TONIGHT BUT WE ALL WERE WITHOUT ENERGY. IT WAS ALL WE COULD DO TO MAKE IT THROUGH DESSERT. WE WERE ALL DETERMINED TO GET THE SHOW TONIGHT TO HELP KEEP AWAKE. THE COMEDIAN WAS MEL MELLERS, THIS IS NO TYPO, AND HE WAS A VERY FUNNY MAN. A BRIT, WITH THE TYPICAL ACCENT, AND SOME INTERESTING TRICKS.
DAY 28 - AT SEA - FEBRUARY 23, 2010
TODAY WAS REALLY A RELAXING DAY, EDUCATIONAL IN A SENSE. THE EARLY MORNING LECTURE WAS LEGAL IN NATURE, ABOUT THE RISE OF CORPORATE LEGAL COST, INCLUDING THE REASONS WHY AND HOW IT HAS COME TO THIS STAGE. GIVEN BY AN ATTORNEY, IT WAS INTERESTING BUT I DON’T REALLY BUY ALL THE REASONING. I HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO SKIP THE REMAINDER OF HIS DISCUSSIONS.
THE FUTURE CRUISE DIRECTOR GAVE A GOOD PRESENTATION ON THIS YEARS ALASKA CRUISE AND CRUISE-TOUR ITINERARIES. GEORGIA AND I ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE ALASKA ADVENTURES SO WE CONTINUALLY EXAMINE THE LAND PACKAGES INCLUDED IN THE 100’S OF CRUISES OFFERED EACH SEASON.
OUR GUEST SPEAKER GARY SHAHAN RETURNED FOR PART 3 ON HIS WWII PRESENTATION. TODAY HE CONCENTRATED ON THE GUADALCANAL BATTLES AND THE AMERICAN ADVANCE WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO THE BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI IN AUGUST OF 1945. ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT A VET OF WWII HIS INSIGHTS ARE FASCINATING. HIS PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN THE BEST AND MOST INTERESTING TO ME.
THE LAST GET TOGETHER OF THE DAY WAS HOSTED BY CRAZY FRANKIE, WHO IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR A FUN TIME AND MANY LAUGHS. TODAY HOWEVER WAS OF A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, PIRATES AND PIRATE ATTACKS. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OUR CURRENT ONBOARD COMEDIAN, MEL MELLERS, WAS ON A SHIP LAST YEAR THAT WAS BEING TRACKED BY PIRATES.
HE RELATES THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL SAFETY DRILLS THE NEW BOARDING PASSENGERS MUST TAKE PART IN, THE CAPTAIN FELT AN ADDITIONAL DRILL, CALLED SAFE HAVEN, SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT. THE DRILL REQUIRED ALL PASSENGERS TO ENTER THE RESTRICTED AREA, RESERVED FOR THE CREW, LYE FLAT ON THEIR BACKS AND WAIT FOR THE DRILL TO END. THE PURPOSE OF THE DRILL IS TO GET THE PASSENGERS BELOW WATER LEVEL IN CASE THE SHIP WOULD BE FIRED UPON. ESSENTIALLY, IT KEPT PASSENGERS SAFE FROM GUNFIRE.
AFTER PRACTICING FOR THRE DAYS THEY HEARD THE ANNOUNCEMENT, “THIS IS NOT A DRILL, ALL PASSENGERS REPORT TO SAFE HAVEN.” THE SHIPS RADAR SPOTTED A VESSEL TRACKING THEM FROM A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 30 MILES. THE VESSEL NARROWED THE DISTANCE TO 20 MILES AND EVENTUALLY TO WITHIN 10 MILES OF THE SHIP. THE DANGER ENDED WHEN UNITED STATES AND UNITED NATIONS NAVAL SHIP ENTERED THE AREA AND BEGAN PURSUIT OF THE PIRATE SHIP.
FRANKIE, THEN RELATED, AND JJ KING CONFIRMED, A CRUISE THEY WERE ON, FROM THE SEYCHELLES TO OMAN, WAS REROUTED OVER 1000 MILES TO AVOID PIRATES. THE AREA THEY WOULD HAVE TRAVELLED HAD TWO INCIDENTS. A FREIGHTER WAS HIJACKED AND A YACTH, WITH A COUPLE FROM ENGLAND WERE TAKEN HOSTAGE. THE ENGLISH COUPLE HAS YET TO BE RELEASED AND THERE WHEREABOUTS ARE NOT KNOWN. THIS ALL HAPPEN LAST SPRING, 2009.
GREAT INFO YOU HEAR WHILE YOU ARE ON A CRUISE THAT IS HEADING IN SOMEWHAT THE SAME DIRECTION AND AREA.
DINNER WAS UNEVENTFUL AND ALTHOUGH WE SAID WE WOULD SEE OUR DINNER MATES AT THE SHOW, WE NEVER MADE IT. WE STARTED READING AND TYPING AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT, THE CLOCK INDICATED IT WAS 10:30.
DAY 29 - AT SEA - FEBRUARY 25, 2010
I’M SURE THOSE READING THIS WILL SAY HE HAS THE DATE WRONG. IT SHOULD BE THE 24TH. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
AS WE SLEPT WE NOT ONLY CROSSED THE EQUATOR BUT ALSO THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE. WE HAVE LOST A WHOLE DAY IN OUR LIFE, IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. UNLIKE THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT WHEN YOU LEAVE TODAY AND GET THERE TOMORROW, THE SHIP TRAVELS AT SUCH A PACE, AND WE GAIN SO MANY HOURS MOVING WEST, IT WAS THE 23TH WHERE WE WERE, AND SECONDS LATER IT WAS THE 25TH.
I MUST ADMIT, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THE WORLD HAS 24 TIME ZONES AND SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD YOU WERE IN DIFFERENT DAYS. MISSING A WHOLE DAY STILL KEEPS ME A LITTLE PERPLEXED. I SHOULDN’T COMPLAIN, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY DAYS WHEN NEITHER OF US KNOWS WHICH DAY OF THE WEEK IT WAS, AND PROBABLY DIDN’T CARE. WE’RE ON A SHIP HAVING A GOOD TIME...TIME FLIES.
WHILE WE WERE GETTING READY FOR BREAKFAST THE CAPTAIN ANNOUNCED HE WAS ALTERING HIS COURSE. THE ORIGINAL COURSE WOULD HAVE TAKEN US 27 MILES OFF THE COAST TO THE ISLAND OF KANTON. IT IS A SMALL ATOL NOT MORE THAN 3 MILES LONG AND 2 MILES WIDE. THE NEW COURSE WOULD TAKE US “AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE” TO THE ISLAND.
WE WERE AS CLOSE AS A MILE OFF THE SHORE OF THE ISLAND. IT HAS BEAUTIFUL LONG BEACHES. A BLUE LAGOON IN THE CENTER AND VERY FEW BUILDINGS. THE CENSUS IN 2007 WAS A WHOOPING TOTAL OF 41, DOWN FROM 61 SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER. IT PROVIDED THE PERFECT PHOTO OPT AND A GREAT TIME TO TEST OUR NEW CAMERA AND THE ZOOM FEATURES.
GARY SHAHAN HAD A PRESENTATION ON NATURAL DISASTERS THAT ALSO WAS QUITE INTERESTING. HE HAS OBTAINED SOME FANTASTIC PICTURES. I DON’T THINK I MENTIONED HE ALSO WORKS FOR THE PARK SERVICES IN PHOENIX AZ.
WHILE AT DINNER RICK BROKE THE NEWS THAT CINDY WAS GOING TO SING AT THE KARAOKE THING TONIGHT. AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL WE ALL SAID WE WOULD BE IN THE LOUNGE TO CHEER HER ON. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES GEORGIA AND I ARE NOT KARAOKE FANS.
WELL, CINDY GOT TO SING FIRST AND DID A VERY NICE RENDITION OF “CRY ME A RIVER.” SEVERAL OTHERS SANG SONGS AND SEVERAL SANG MORE THAN ONCE. ALBERTO, WHO SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE FRANK SINATRA, SANG MANY OF HIS SONGS. (ALBERTO IS FROM ROME) ALBERTO WAS BY FAR THE BEST OF THE GROUP.
THE WORST OF THE GROUP WAS YEN, A GUY FROM COPENHAGEN. HE SURE THOUGH HE HAD RYTHM. HE WAS EXTREMELY FUNNY WHEN FRANKIE GOT A GROUP OF GUYS TO SING. YEN HELD ON TO THE MIKE AND NEVER LET IT GO. WHEN HE WAS SINGING THE OTHERS WERE QUIET AND HE WAS QUIET WHEN THE OTHERS WERE SINGING.
FRANKIE IS THE ORGANIZER. HE KEPT THINGS GOING WHEN NOBODY WANTED TO DISPLAY THEIR TALENT OR LACK THERE OF. HE HAD PEOPLE ACTING OUT PARTS IN THE SONGS, SUCH AS THE SONG DELILAH. OTHER GROUPS DID EXTRAVAGANT NUMBERS OF SWAY, AND LEG KICKS. ONE GUY DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND PREFORMED LEG EXERCISE TO THE RYTHM TO THE MUSIC. WE DID JOIN IN THE GROUP FOR SINGING NEW YORK, NEW YORK SWAYING AND WAVING OUR ARMS LIKE TEENAGER.
BEFORE WE KNEW IT 11:00 HAD PASSED BY AND WE WERE BEAT.
DAY 30 - AT SEA - FEBRUARY 26, 2010
HEAVY EARLY MORNING RAINS KEPT MOST PEOPLE OFF OUR PRIVATE DECK AS THEY ATE INDOORS. GEORGIA AND I SAT WITH ANOTHER COUPLE FROM B.C. CANADA, OUTDOORS, UNDERCOVER.
WE CHECKED THE E-MAIL SITUATION AND GEORGIA CHOSE TO GO SWIMMING, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DRIZZLING. I BROUGHT THE TRAVEL LOG UP TO DATE, THROUGH YESTERDAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THESE DAYS AT SEA, JUST LIKE LAST WEEK, I PLAN TO JUST PUT THE ENTIRE WEEK ON THE BLOG AT ONE TIME ONCE WE HIT SUVA.
THE TRAVEL LADY HAD A FORMAL PRESENTATION ON OUR NEXT PORT OF CALL, SUVA, FIJI. NOW KNOWN AS THE FIJIAN ISLANDS, THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED. THEY ONCE CARRIED THE NAME CANNIBAL ISLANDS. I’LL GIVE YOU 3 GUESSES WHY!
TONIGHT WAS FORMAL ATTIRE AND LIKE GOOD LITTLE TRAVELERS WE ALL LOOKED GREAT. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE NO OTHER TABLE IN THE DINING ROOM LAUGHS AS MUCH AS WE LAUGH. WE HAVE ONE GREAT TIME.
ALTHOUGH WE WERE DOWN AT THE LOUNGE EARLY, FOR FRONT ROW SEATS, OUR PLANS WERE STALLED. THE PERFORMANCE STARTED AT 8:30 TONIGHT AND THE DOORS DIDN’T OPEN UNTIL 8:10. WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY FOR 45 MINUTES RATHER THAN STAND IN LINE. RETURNING TO THE THEATER LOUNGE WE MISSED OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR FRONT ROW SEATS BUT STILL MANAGED TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH FOR SOME PRACTICE ON THE NEW CAMERA.
THE PROGRAM WAS ALL SHOW MUSIC WITH A FEW DANCE NUMBERS FROM WEST SIDE STORY. THERE ARE 4 GUY AND 4 GIRLS IN THE TROUPE. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THE LEAD GUY HAS A GOOD VOICE AND SANG ONE OF THE SONGS FROM LES MIS.
WE STOPPED TO GET A PICTURE OF GEORGIA AND FRANKIE AND AFTER TALKING FOR A WHILE WE MANAGED TO GET TO THE CASINO LOUNGE AFTER THEY STARTED THE MUSIC QUIZ. WE DECIDED TO HEAD TO THE CABIN. TOMORROW IS ANOTHER BIG DAY OF LEARNING.
DAY 31 - AT SEA - FEBRUARY 27, 2010
THE CAPTAIN ALTERED THE COURSE AGAIN THIS MORNING AS WE CAME ALONG THE SHORES OF THE FORTUNA ISLANDS. THE FORTUN’AS WERE ONCE PROPERTY OF THE FRENCH BUT ARE NOW INDEPENDENT. THEY ELECT A NEW KING EACH YEAR. THEY CONSIST OF TWO ISLANDS, ONE LARGE, WITH NO INHABITANTS, AND THE OTHER SLIGHTLY SMALLER WITH LESS THAN 2000 IN THE LAST CENSUS.
ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL TERRITORIAL LINE EXTENDS 12 MILES FROM SHORE, WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE, IN DETAIL, THE CRASHING WATER UPON THE JAGGED TIPS OF THE ISLAND. AS WE MOVED CLOSER TO SHORE, FOLLOWING THE COASTLINE, WHITE SAND BEACHES CAME INTO VIEW. IT WAS QUIET, PEACEFUL AND SERENE.
WE WERE FORTUNATE TO VIEW ALL THIS FROM THE ALMOST EMPTY DECK 9 PRIVATE VERANDA WHILE EATING BREAKFAST. WHAT A WAY TO TRAVEL.
THE BIG THING OF THE DAY WAS CHECKING THE E-MAIL FROM THE INTERNET CAFE. GEORGIA WAS ABE TO GET INTO HER MAIL BUT THE SYSTEM KEPT TELLING ME MY PASSWORD WAS INCORRECT. FOR WHATEVER REASON THE SYSTEM WAS SCREWED UP. I WAS ABLE TO GET IN THROUGH THE MAIL2WEB SITE.
ALTHOUGH WE HAD PLANNED TO ATTEND THE TALK ON THE PORT OF CALL FOR VANUATU, WE SKIPPED IT AND TOOK UP RESIDENCES ON DECK 5. VERY FEW PEOPLE EVER COME OUT HERE, IT’S CLOSER TO THE WATER AND THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN RIPPLING PASSED THE SHIP IS ENOUGH TO PUT YOU TO SLEEEEEEEEP. (I’M ON DECK 5 NOW, TYPING THIS BLOG)
ADDITIONALLY, WE DECIDED TO SKIP DINNER TONIGHT UNTIL, GEORGIA SAW LAMB CHOPS ON THE MENU. PLANS CHANGE ON THE FLY AND SO IT WAS WITH DINNER. GEORGIA WENT SWIMMING AND I WENT TO THE LIBRARY TO SIT IN A MORE COMFORTABLE SEAT WHILE TRYING TO FINISH THE TRAVEL LOG FOR CHINA.
AFTER DINNER WE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE LOUNGE TO GET OUR FAVORITE SEATS FOR THE SHOW. THE COMEDIAN, MEL MELLAR, WAS BACK FOR HIS FINAL PERFORMANCE AS WAS THE ACT OF KUBA AND REBECCA LOWE. BOTH ACTS LEAVE THE SHIP IN FIJI AND A NEW BATCH WILL ARRIVE. WE FINISHED THE NIGHT IN THE CASINO LOUNGE WITH THE SINGER/PIANO MAN, DANIEL OLIVER. HE IS VERY GOOD, HE HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING BUT LEAVES US IN AUCKLAND.
BEFORE HEADING TO OUR ROOM WE STOPPED TO TALK WITH HIM. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO HE MENTIONED HIS BROTHER LIVES IN PITTSBURGH. WE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHERE BUT HE DIDN’T KNOW. OUT OF THE BLUE HE ASK IF WE KNEW ABOUT KENNYWOOD PARK. HE PLAYED THE BANDSTAND FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER SEVERAL YEARS AGO. SMALL WORLD
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