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Published: January 28th 2010
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We are fortunate that the Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world’s four seas because it takes a while to cross this vast expanse of water. Thus we get to begin our cruise with six sea days. This is just perfect planning by the maker of the world and the cruise line. After all the last minute frenzy of getting ready to go on a four month cruise, it is heaven to board the ship and have plenty of time to unpack, settle into our stateroom, meet our passengers and get into the rhythm of shipboard life. With so much luggage, it does take a bit of time to get organized. We figured that we probably brought too much stuff, but then again this is our home for four months and we want to be comfortable while on board. We bring books and computers and printers, office supplies and paperwork. I also have my arts and crafts supplies with me. We need weather appropriate clothes to take us from the California winter to summer “Downunder” and back up to winter in China and then light clothing for the tropics of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. We’ll need safari type
John and Babs
Mattapoisett, MA clothing for our multiple stops in Africa and of course have our fancy clothes for all the festive evenings on board. We need sports clothing for tennis and exercise and beach wear for the islands. Fortunately, Regent provides us with extra dressers to stow things and we have a walk-in closet which easily holds our wardrobe.
One night after dinner there was a knock on our door and to our great surprise there stood Johnny D. We met John in 2001 on our first world cruise and sailed together on six subsequent circumnavigations. He got to know Barbara on board that first year and they ended up pledging their everlasting love for each other in a lovely ceremony on the bridge of this ship in 2006. Kevin was his best man.
Babs Manss, Barbara’s remarkable mother, Captain Dag, Jamie and Dana and Frankie Holiday joined in the celebration. We have enjoyed many hours of tennis and good times with John and Barbara and even visited them in New Hampshire. They kept it a secret that they were boarding the Voyager in San Diego. They came on the ship dressed in disguise in order to surprise us and all of
Mike Smith
Club.Com Manager their cruising friends. We were mighty happy to see them and to have a chance to add a few more memories to our shared experiences.
With so many sea days there is also time to attend the excellent lectures offered by the cruise line. Charles Duke was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 16 and he spent 20 hours exploring the surface of the moon. He is an Annapolis graduate and has become a motivational speaker and gives informative and entertaining talks. Andy Heath, a guest host on the radio program MoneyLine, is lecturing on the economy and personal finances. Sandra Bowern, a riveting Regent presenter gives fascinating multimedia lectures on the areas of the world we are cruising in. If there is time after all the lectures, passengers can join a mah-jongg group, play bridge, do some wine tasting, take a few spa treatments, work out in the gym, create crafts projects, play ping pong or tennis, take a sketching class, a computer course or join Dana for a writing workshop. The fabulous Platters did a great show singing some of their most famous songs, like "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." Marilyn Maye, the torch singer who appeared
Michael and Gudrun
G.M. and Cruise Consultant at the
Seven Seas Society Formal often on the Johnny Carson show, performed for the elegant "Dinner and a Show". And those are just a few of the reasons we love days at sea.
We had ideal weather while crossing the Pacific. Each day out of San Diego the temperature warmed up a bit. The winds were light and the seas were calm. We crossed the equator and had a ceremony for all those first timers. The “pollywogs” were initiated in a ritual overseen by King Neptune and Captain Dag. Everyone gets into the spirit with a country fair where all the departments on the ship set up game booths and the passengers can to test their skills.
With all this going on, before we knew it, we woke up one morning and “land-ho!” There on the horizon we could see the mountain tops of a speck of land in the middle of the ocean and soon we're rounding the sheer cliffs of the “Mystic Island” of Nuku Hiva. It was time for our waterborne village to have its first encounter with shoreside life.
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Carolyn and Ray Kreiss
non-member comment
Did you two read our blog?
Hi Guys.....glad you are safely aboard and on your way again. Did you read our comments to your last blog concerning how we had carefully saved the Voyager for you. We were aboard her during her Rio and Caribbean adventures...just before it left Ft. Lauderdale for California. Wish we could have stayed on, but 25 days was plenty. Have fun!!