Between New Zealand and Australia we were able to watch the SuperBowl, live—ahhh the wonders of modern communications. At an enormous cost, the ship picked up the satellite feed from the NFL Network so we saw the game but none of the ads. There were three betting pools on board—none of which we won. But it was fun to see such an exciting game especially from halfway around the world. After a bumpy but otherwise uneventful crossing of the Tasman Sea we arrived in Burnie, Tasmania for a very short stay. Tasmania seems like almost an extension of New Zealand in [View Full Entry]

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After leaving Tahiti we were scheduled to stop in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There is not a dock there so it is necessary for any visiting ships to drop anchor and take passengers ashore via tender. Still feeling the effects of Cyclone Funa, it was necessary to cancel our visit as it would have been too dangerous to try to get everyone ashore in heavy seas. We have been to Rarotonga and enjoyed it very much as it is like French Polynesia but with a British flavor. Captain Dag said in one of his morning announcements that we have been [View Full Entry]

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We cruised into Papeete, the capitol of French Polynesia, on a sunny Saturday morning. The docks and waterfront area have been greatly improved in recent years. We were met by a small group of Tahitian dancers and musicians on the pier. When we disembarked we were given flowers to wear behind our ear—left if you are married and right if you are available. Papeete is the major town in all of the South Pacific and is the center of commerce and education for the islands. It is a busy place with lots of cars, trucks and mopeds. There is a distinct [View Full Entry]

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After all of the excitement of our three days in Hawaii it was nice to have five sea days ahead of us. The ship has a rhythm and a life all of its own and is best savored on longer ocean passages. We enjoy the sea days and find that there are more then enough activities to fill the days and nights. The Cruise Director kicks into high gear by presenting lecturers, games, movies, classes, special events and parties. On this segment we happen to have guest lecturers on a variety of subjects. Ambassador Samuel Hart speaks on Middle East policy [View Full Entry]

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The four day Pacific crossing was a good time for everyone to settle into the shipboard routine. The ocean was quite unsettled due to the winter storms originating in Alaska. So that meant no swimming pool or paddle tennis. It was a good time to tend to our new passengers and set up dinners and parties for this segment of the cruise. We gave our group the Cruise Specialists’ gifts which proved to be very useful. The fleece jackets were just the thing for the cool weather crossing and the tote bags are very handsome. The office put together a [View Full Entry]

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Our cruise into California was all about the weather. The state is in the middle of a drought but you couldn’t have proved it by us. We happened to catch one of the strongest storms in years which set records all up and down the state. Prior to our arrival in Los Angeles the Captain bid farewell to all of the holiday travelers. The crew staged another excellent show, with Manny in great form. We docked in LA the following morning and all was still calm. It took several hours for the ship to be cleared by local authorities and [View Full Entry]

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MEXICO Puerto Chiapas is at the southern-most point of Mexico and is the gateway to Guatemala. It is an area rich in history, political turmoil and a big coffee growing region. The port has been recently renovated and has a large thatched-roof pyramid to reflect the Mayan heritage of the area along with a restaurant and swimming pool exclusively for cruise passenger usage. We were greeted at the pier with music and dancers in native costume. Izapa is a 30 minute drive from the port and is the site of ancient ruins. It is believed to be where the sacred Mayan [View Full Entry]

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COSTA RICA The Captain announced that we had made such good time since leaving the Panama Canal, we would put in to Puntarenas nine hours ahead of schedule. So we plowed through a driving rainstorm to the pier. On our way in we saw a caiman (a type of crocodile) floating belly up. It looked to be about 8 feet long. Perhaps it was hit by a boat or maybe just died of old age. Puntarenas is a small coastal fishing village jutting out on a black sand beach peninsula, sitting in the shadow of several towering volcanos. It is a [View Full Entry]

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We reached the first set of locks in the Panama Canal around daybreak. It was raining as we entered the Gatun Locks. One of the beauties of having a balcony is that we can be outside and still be protected from the liquid sunshine. We sat on our porch, enjoying tea and berries from room service while marveling at the transiting operation of what is sometimes referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” There was a running commentary given by an employee of the Panama Canal Authority. The PCA has been in charge since the United States handed over [View Full Entry]

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It was really nice having two sea days which gave us time to get organized, meet our Cruise Specialists passengers and stow everything we brought aboard. It took some fancy footwork to find the tuxedo, studs, shoes, evening dress and accessories amid all of the different bags and get the clothes pressed and presentable in time for the opening round of parties. Our first night at sea began with a festive block party where we met our neighbors out in the hallway. This was followed by the formal Captain’s welcome aboard party in the atrium. Captain Dag introduced the ship’s staff [View Full Entry]

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