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Published: November 21st 2019
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Why is it that so many people regularly cruise around Asia and the Pacific on P&O?
Our experience is that there is consistently friendly service from the crew. This was certainly our experience on this cruise again. There are so many activities for anyone and everyone to find something quite stimulating. A great variety of music, comedians, magicians, lectures, trivia, deck & outdoor activities, dress up activities, and food!
It was interesting to see how much redecoration had taken place since our cruise to Vanuatu. There was much new carpet in the public areas, but you had to have a sharp eye to pick the changes. generally the same colour mix, but with subtlety different patterns. I had images on my mobile phone of the last cruise, and we could see those changes. Most would not have noticed.
On this cruise, because we had several sea days, there were special lectures. The first was a series including 'The Fall of Singapore', and the final in the series was 'Mutiny on the Bounty'. These, while delivered by a Professor of History were pitched to our kind of audience, and stimulated a lot of interesting questions and observations. Seems some
Gary Starr on stage
Crowd joined in with a little impromptu dancing of the lessons on the fall of Singapore should be studied by the current generation of world leaders.
The music in the theatre was generally very good and enjoyable. Around the various bars and lounges, there was an ever rotating selection of musicians of many differing styles. Our only criticism was the volume played in the Atrium where folk tended to meet in the evening for a chat over coffee or a drink from Charlies bar. Talking was near impossible as the sound engineer maximised the sound experience rather than the enjoyment experience.
Our first port of call was to be Bali where there was quite a selection of tours that could be booked. Marg and I had chosen one that went out to the coast where there is a very old Temple. However to get there, there were many steps to climb. Marg's knee was sore and swollen after walking around Singapore and up and down the stairs on the ship. Then there was the issue of those thumb scanners. The thought of being stranded in Bali by customs was not likely to encourage a visit ashore.
With the ship largely emptied of passengers, we found
Anchored at Bali
All sorts of vessels were anchored or moving abot the Dawn. a comfortable spot to enjoy the views without having to get off. The runway from the airport was a little to our right, a popular hotel and resort directly astern of the ship, and some long range views of the coast and other features of this resort city. Earlier in the cruise we met up with a couple from Toowoomba, a little older than ourselves, and they confided that she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Because of our past experience, we were able to help them and gained their trust. If he wasn't in sight she was unsettled, but seemed comfortable to stay with us while he got food etc. They did go ashore in Bali, walking down the long dock and what could have been a market (only 2 traders) this day. The lady said to hubby 'I don't like this place. Can you take me home?' 'Very well' he said, and went on to say that 'I'll take you back to the ship'. 'What ship are you talking about' was the response.
There were only a few at lunch in The Pantry' so Champa (hope I spelt that correctly) , one of the wait staff, wanted to
Anchored at Bali
Waves breaking at the far point of the bay. talk about the cameras she had seen Marg and I using, (Canon SX60HS) as she was wanting a flexible camera to shoot pics to send back to her family in India. This worked for our mutual benefit as we showed her some of the photos taken from the deck of the ship. She was able to identify the deities associated with the Temples and statues. (If any of the crew read this, pass on our regards to Champa. Hope she has found the camera she wants.)
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Ship A hoy
Nice looking ship.