Report #78 Wednesday November 20, 2024 San Diego, California, USA Docked Starboard Side To Pier 6:30am Final Day Of The Cruise------Going Home ---Going Home Dress

Well, here we are, the last port of the trip….San Diego.  Like it or not, we set the alarm for 5am, because breakfast would be at 6:30am in both the dining room and the Pinnacle Grill.   The Lido was even earlier at 6am.   

 

Just as Captain Smit predicted, the pilot was picked up in the dark, and the ship sailed into the picturesque San Diego Harbor.  Too bad most of the guests did not see it. Both of us were awake, due to a strange noise in the corner of the room near the bed.  It was like something was swinging and hitting the wall with the deep swells.  We searched everywhere, but finally decided it was coming from next door.  It finally quit happening  when the seas calmed down around 1am.  We were lucky to get 3 hours of sleep.

 

Breakfast was nice as always and the waiters all came by to say goodbye.  Some of them were also going home, with many new crew members boarding today.   Afterwards, we walked the promenade deck to watch the activity on the pier.  The ship had major re-fueling to do before heading back out at sea on the way to Hawaii.  And new provisions were waiting in several big rig trucks on the pier.  The ship was not cleared until well after 8am.   

 

Since we did not have a set time to debark, we could choose to go anytime from 8am to 9:30am.    We always hang out in our room watching the morning news before leaving.  Well……after our deck walk, we came back and guess what?  Our room keys did not work.  We were locked out.  We went to find our room steward, who came to let us in.  We were not alone, as more guests found they were also locked out.  Someone on the ship pushed the "erase button" way too soon.  Not wanting to take a chance that would occur again, we stayed there until 8:30am.

 

There was no line at the gangway, and we were pleasantly surprised to see Captain Smit standing outside saying farewell to the departing guests.  That is really a nice touch we think.  Hopefully, he will be on another cruise we take as he earned an "A-plus" from us.   We also said goodbye to Darren the hotel manager inside the terminal, as well as some of the crew who had lined up to wave us onward. 

 

The line for the Customs and Border control zigzagged back and forth, taking about 20 minutes to see the agents and get clearance.  They were quick with the passport and photo checks, then we were off to locate our luggage.    We had a black tag, which happened to be the area right next to the customs check point.  We easily found our luggage and proceeded ever so slowly to the taxi line.  We got a driver who was a magician fitting all four bags and us with hand carrys in his vehicle.    It was well-worth the $25 taxi fee compared to the $24 per person bus ride with HAL. 

 

We arrived to the airport, a mere 3 mile ride, around 9:30am.   It was a bit surprising to see how many people were traveling, although this may be the beginning of the holiday crunch.  The first thing we were told was that there were delays with some of the San Francisco flights.  It turned out they were the flights that had connections to Canada and elsewhere.  The storm system had delayed many of those flights, but we were OK.  We checked in the four bags and if they were slightly over-weight, they did not mention it.  Maybe fewer folks are checking baggage these days, so they are not so picky.

 

The line for the TSA security check was really long.  Disneyland-like back and forth lines took us up to 45 minutes to get through to the end.  But it was not to be easy.  Knowing that we did not have to take our shoes off was nice, but when you do that, you are questioned.  As long as you are over 75 years old, you are OK to leave the shoes on.   If they are questioning you, then take it as a compliment.  They think you are younger than 75, right?   So belts, jackets, sweatshirts, and any other metal type objects have to be put on the xray machine.  This time, Bill's camera bag had to be emptied into one of the tubs.   First time that happened.   The scanner lady said it was empty it now, or be pulled aside and empty it with another agent.   I had to do the special xray due to my knee replacement.  The lady also did a pat-down of that knee.   Always leave plenty of time for these procedures that may take longer than you expect.    

 

Our flight was running 10 minutes late, but still was leaving by 12:50pm.    It was a typical commuter flight, so it was full.  We are always happy when the TV screen works in the seat in front of you.  We watched a documentary on the Inuit's life in Alaska, which included hunting scenes.  Very entertaining.  We landed and deplaned by 2:30pm, went to the luggage carousel, and found our luggage immediately.  Like we said, few folks on these short flight have bags to check. 

 

Our driver was waiting at Starbucks, and we were on our way home in the rain and the wind, which probably slowed the traffic down more than normal.   It was moving, so that was a good thing.

 

We arrived home just as darkness settled in.  Safe and sound and really tired after a long day.  It was hot soup and pizza for us, and early to bed.   It was a wonderful trip, and it is also nice to be home.

 

Thanks for joining us on this Alaska/South Pacific journey.  God-willing we will be back on the 2025 Grand World Voyage on the Zuiderdam.  To be continued…….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

32 Pictures

Report # 77 Tuesday November 19, 2024 Sea Day #6 Of 6 Enroute To San Diego, California, United States Sunny With Some Clouds 63 Degrees 16 Knot Winds 12' Swell---Casual Dress

Well, the day has come where we have to wrap it up, and be ready to leave the ship tomorrow morning.  After breakfast, we stopped at the front desk to pick up the final copy of our shipboard account.  Unlike the old days, these statements are not sent to the rooms anymore.  More and more, everything is on your cell phone app or on the computer.  We still prefer the paper trail.

 

We finished most of the packing before the Captain came on with his daily update.  The Zaandam is very far from Nuku Hiva now, and we are only 208 nautical miles away from San Diego.   The current speed is 15 knots, which should get us to the harbor by 5:30am where they pick up the pilot.   We should be docked by 6:30am and cleared by 7am.   And the weather is expected to be sunny and warm. 

 

Captain Smit admitted that today happens to be the roughest one of the whole trip with those deep and long sea swells of 3 to 4 meters.  The force 4 winds are coming from the north and are chilly, even though the temperature is 63 degrees.  The wind chill drops that a lot.   It is mostly sunny with very few clouds.  The sunset will be 5pm and the sunrise 6:23am. 

 

We received our disembarkation envelope with 4 luggage tags to fill out and attach to each piece before putting them out in the hall later.  We discovered our flight number had changed and the time was upped by 10 minutes.  The good thing is that we can get off anytime between 8 and 9:30am .  Breakfast will be in the Pinnacle Grill, but starting at 6:30am.  We will be there, so we can leave for the airport early.  What we like about San Diego, is that the airport is very close with a short ride in a taxi. 

 

The usual activities took place today with the addition of an ice cream social in the Lido pool area.   That is at the same time as our lunch, and we always forget to go.  Starting tomorrow, there will be no desserts at home.  These days, we find we don't need the extra calories.  

 

Dinnertime was fun as they had the farewell parade with the head chef, head waiters, cooks, and wait staff winding through both decks of the dining room.   Something went wrong with their music, so head waiter, Iggy had to sing the farewell song as the waiters played their trays for music.   With the guest clapping, it turned out better.  Everyone showed their appreciation to the crew as they marched by each table. 

 

So for dinner, one of us ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup (last chance), a shrimp cocktail, and a crispy Thai spring roll.  One of us that likes rice had the sweet and sour shrimp, and the other one of us ordered  a delicious and tender plate of BBQ ribs.   Desserts were vanilla ice cream and watermelon sorbet.  We thanked both  of our excellent waiters and let them know we wish we see them again.  Sarif said to stay healthy, and we wished him the same. 

 

The entertainer this evening was John Milligan, a singer and pianist with renditions from popular artists like Sinatra, Dylon, Adele and Carole King to name a few.  And finally, there was a Wajang movie, "Devotion" at 8:30pm.   As for us, we had a date to finish the last touches of the luggage and get it out in the hall before 11pm.   We did receive the stickers for our "Journeys" booklet in our mail slot, which showed we have traveled a total of 13,962 miles since September 25^th to November 20^th. 

 

It has been a pleasure having you all reading our "journal".  The cruise has gone by so fast, but we do plan on joining the Zuiderdam for her Grand World Voyage in early January 2025.  So we will be back………….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

35 Pictures

Report # 76 Monday November 18, 2024 Sea Day #5 Of 6 Enroute To San Diego, California, United States Sunny With Some Clouds 68 Degrees 16 Knot Winds 6' Swell--- Dressy Night

Wow, this will be almost the final report.  Where has the time gone?    The dining room was closed once again for both breakfast and lunch, since the other half of the guests were invited to the second Mariner's Appreciation Lunch.   At least on this longer cruise, no one was left out.  Yesterday, we had received regular-sized tiles with the 150^th year Anniversary on them.  We thought that was strange since this was a Legendary Voyage and we should have gotten different tiles.   Before we had a chance to ask about this, two larger tiles were left on our bed, compliments of the Captain and Hotel Manager.    One of these fine days, we will have to count the number of tiles we have.  Currently, they fill a dresser.   And weigh a ton.

 

On our way to the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast, we came across a full-size towel animal in the elevator lobby.  Always gets a laugh from both of us.  But wait….there was more.  He was one of many, as we saw several towel creations of all sizes around the front desk, then in every elevator lobby.   The gremlins were quite busy last night.   We figured this was a great idea, as opposed to putting them all in the Lido Pool area.

 

Many activities took place today such as the Zaandam Crew Show.  It is no longer just the Filipino or Indonesian show.  Everyone gets a chance at showing off their special talent.  Of course there were many sales in the Shops, but it is seldom what we are looking at.  One exception was the Larimar collection which was 50% off.  The Jackpot Bingo was over $2300 with an added chance to win a cruise lottery.  This used to be a major event on the cruise ships like 30 years ago.  We never won, but did sit next to a couple who did.   The elderly lady sitting next to me had failed to mark one of the numbers called.   She actually had them all, but did not know until we pointed it out to her.   And the cruise director was moments away from calling the next number, when she yelled BINGO.  So glad we had helped in this case. 

 

We learned something we need to remember with booking back-to-back cruises.  As President's Club members, we get 2 bottles of sparkling wine with each 7 day cruise.  On the Tales of the South Pacific, we received more bottles.  In 77 days, we consumed one bottle.  What we failed to remember was that we should have exchanged the bottles of wine for scotch or whiskey but do it early on so we have time to enjoy it.    That goes for the Coke Zero as well.   We had a case left.  So we made a visit to the Food and Beverage folks this morning, and they gladly said they would take it back and give us a shipboard "have-to-spend" credit.  They even came right away and took it from our room.  Then we got a call from our Mariner rep, who said we had to use it or lose it.  Seattle would not give credit on a "gift".  With that, we asked for them to return the bottles and Coke, so we could donate it to our room stewards.  And it made our day since our fellows were quite happy to take it. 

 

The Captain's update at noon informed us all that we were 490 nautical miles from the Mexican Peninsula with 710 nautical miles to go to San Diego.   We have traveled a total of 2000 nautical miles from Nuku Hiva.  He was keeping the ship at 16.7 knots and the seas were calmer.  We still had 22 -25 knot winds with some swells and temps at 70 degrees with partly cloudy skies with an occasional drizzle.  There was not a lot of warmth in the sun, an indication we are rapidly traveling north now.  The Captain added that tomorrow the swells may be up to 3.7 meters with 25 knot winds – typical of the long swells along the California coast this time of year.  We believe we heard him say – sorry about that.  Funny…..

 

So the rest of the day was set aside for packing.  Half of the suitcases are done and weighed in less than 50#.  Or at least close to it since the ship is still rocking and rolling, but not as bad as yesterday.  Two more to pack tomorrow and we will be done.   We took a break for our Lido lunch and realized through half of it, we had missed the Crew Show.  Maybe it will be televised later. 

 

"Dressy" was tonight's suggested attire, although that description can be taken many different ways.  We saw a few men in suits, sports coats, or long sleeve shirts with ties or no ties.   Then there are some that put on their best t-shirt.  The ladies seem to like dressing up a notch, and considering that this is an older crowd compared to the Alaska runs, people tend to be a little more dressy.  The menu was Gala with the usual suspects…..escargots, surf and turf, and shrimp cocktails with the best red sauce.  We each had one of those.   Then it was the everyday Caesar salad and a bowl of the chicken noodle soup, although it was not on the menu, Sarif knows one of us likes it and anticipates the order.  Entrees were one oven roasted chicken with veggies and the other was the everyday sirloin steak with French fries to share.  These steaks have been better than we have eaten on past cruises….tender and tasty and not too big.  Desserts were one hot fudge sundae (hold the marshmallows) and one watermelon sorbet without the seeds (Sarif said so).    

 

Most of the diners left to go to the last Zaandam Rep Co. musical at 9pm.  They promised a perfect blend of pop classics and ballads, but no dancing.  It was still rocking and rolling enough and it would not have been safe for the performers.  

 

So much for day five at sea.  One more to go…….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

23 Pictures

Report # 75 Sunday November 17, 2024 Sea Day #4 Of 6 Enroute To San Diego, California, United States Sunny With Some Clouds 35mph Winds 75 Degrees 25 Knott Winds 12' Swell --- Casual Dress

Does anyone remember the lyrics from an old be-bop song – we'll be rocking and rolling all night?  Well that applied to last night….all night.   Some words that describe the experience might be:  rolling, bouncing, twisting, rattling, creaking, shuddering, and a merry-go-round ride.  That can apply to our nerves as well, unless you are gifted with the ability to sleep through just about anything.  That is one of us.  The "sissy" one of us (me), had to take a precautionary sea-sick pill just in case.  It must be the appearance of those white bags in the elevator lobby that triggers the power of suggestion.    Whatever the reason, the little pill worked. 

 

So just about the time sleep was about take over because the motion decreased somewhat, it was time to rise and shine.  Figures.  These conditions were not the worst we have had,  but the motion just kept up most all of the night.   It turned out that it would continue all day as well. 

 

Today was Sunday so it was Brunch Day in the dining room at 10am to 1pm.  More than usual, we looked forward to our hot breakfast with lots of coffee in the Pinnacle Grill at the usual time of 8am.  The way we see it, you do much better with food  in your stomach with high seas.  We are going to miss this morning venue, since we have made it here every day since we boarded on September 4^th.  That is one plus of being on these longer voyages, because the wait staff knows exactly what we like to order, and how we like it.   They always keep our coffee cups filled and end our meal with both a cappuccino and an Americano.    Spoiled, is what we call it.

 

Walking the promenade as we always do in the morning, we came across a bird sitting on the floor in the aft of the ship.   It was a shearwater, and did not appear to be injured.  We suspected the bird was simply resting and would take off when it was darned good and ready.  Sometimes the night lights on this deck can attract birds.  After a few more laps of walking, we did see the bird had left.  Whether it had help from a crew member, we will never know.

 

We finally did some successful shopping, so that job is pretty much done.  Later in the day, we received the complimentary photo from yesterday's Mariner's Event in the World Stage.    Then after dinner, we had two more 150^th Anniversary Delft tiles gifted to add to our collection at home.  

 

There was a cooking demo with the Captain and the hotel manager, Darren in the Wajang Theater this morning.   We bet that was fun since they seem to be good buddies.   Later in the afternoon, there was a scavenger hunt with the guests versus the officers.  These seem to be new games recently added to this itinerary.  Then in the late afternoon, there was another guest versus officers music trivia.  All in good fun.

 

Today's theme was "A Splash of Orange" also known as the Orange Party.    This evening's attire was to wear a splash of orange, the color of the Dutch.   There was a party planned in the Lido dome from 6:30pm to 11pm, however, it had to be switched to the World Stage.  Exactly what this party involves is a mystery to us, because it is right in the middle of our dinner time.   On past world cruises, we have made a pass through these gatherings and found them crowded with folks that have taken every seat and stay there for the rest of the evening.   There is always a band blasting music, and perhaps some folks dancing.  Other than that, it is all about the drinking. 

 

The dining room dinner was "Dutch" even though most of the items offered were not Dutch.  We ordered the green pea soup, which was very good.  In our humble opinion, they should serve it more often.  A tasty bay shrimp cocktail was one appetizer, and salads were the second ones.   Entrees were one bami goreng, an Indonesian favorite, and one Hodge Podge Klapstock, which was really braised beef brisket with veggies and gravy.  It was not Dutch, but German according to Sarif.  And it was just right since it was ordered half-size.  Dessert was one slice of apple pie with a scoop of NSA vanilla ice cream, because they had run out of the good vanilla.  The no sugar added was not the best…butter pecan would have been far better. 

 

There was no entertainment in the World Stage this evening, but there was a movie, A Million Miles Away" shown in the Wajang at 8:30pm.   The ship continued to rock and roll and will continue to do so according to the Captain's noon report.  We have sailed 1679 nautical miles from Nuku Hiva and have 745 nautical miles to go to San Diego.   We are still maintaining a good speed, although normal speed would have been 20 knots.  The Captain expected the winds to increase to 6 or 7 on the Beaufort scale with continued sea swells and wave heights at 12 feet.    He gave us all hope that tomorrow will be calmer with less wind and lower swells.  Hope he is correct since we seriously have to start packing.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

49 Pictures

Report # 74 Saturday November 16, 2024 Sea Day #3 Of 6 Enroute To San Diego, California, United States Rain With High Winds 75 Degrees 25 Knott Winds 12' Swell ----Casual Dress----Orange Party

Saturday began an hour earlier (technically) due to the clock change last night.  Participation at breakfast was far less for two reasons.  The time change of course, and the fact that the Mariner Society was having a medal award ceremony in the World Stage at 11:30am.   It will be followed by a Mariner's Lunch in the dining room at 12:30pm.  We intend to go to the first event, but probably will not attend the lunch.  It is too early for us.  Pulung happened to stop by to say hi, and he did confirm that the lunch will not be hosted, but open-seating.  Perfect, we will keep to our 2:30pm Lido lunch. 

 

Vini, our Mariner rep, called and said that the extra money that was missing from the final President's Club perk would be credited to our account.  And he also said that reminders will be going out to anyone with extra non-refundable money to spend.  The rule is:  use it, or lose it.   Then he added that in the future, if time runs out on this final delivery, the perk will be worth only $40 and not $60.  Go figure???   Makes no sense to us, but these new rules seem to change with every trip we take.    With that, he said "happy shopping".

 

The Captain came on the speakers announcing a mandatory crew drill, and apologized for the interruption.   Not a big deal, we have not missed one of them since we boarded and find them interesting, not annoying.   

 

We had a few questions regarding the upcoming drydock of this ship.  Rumor has it that "wear-and-tear" projects will be addressed with carpets, drapes, and some cabin updates.   Behind the scenes work will be done with the plumbing and electrical parts of the ship.  It is possible that more wifi hotspots will be installed – very much needed on the passenger decks and USB ports will be added hopefully to all of the rooms.  

 

Vini called us and said he had reserved seats for us in the World Stage, deck 4, so we could come in and go directly to the front where wine or mimosas were served.    We did just that 10 minutes before the show began.  Daniel introduced the Hotel Manager, Darren, and Captain Smit, the main medal-givers.   Most of the awardees were silver (300 days), gold (500 days), and platinum (700 days).  

 

We were introduced last, along with the other President's Club member.  All of the awardees including the three of us had photos taken with Darren and the Captain.  This event was well organized and went according to schedule.  It was wrapped up 12pm, then anyone who wished a photo with the officers could come up and do it.  Many did just that.   

 

The doors to the lower dining room opened at 12:30pm and we heard they served a nice multi-choice lunch with champagne.   We believe this lunch will be repeated Monday for the remainder of the Mariners. 

 

Captain Smit was almost on time for his noon update but at 12:15pm.  We have traveled 1255 nautical miles from Nuku Hiva and have 1569 nautical miles to go to San Diego.   He has been maintaining a speed of 17.4 to 19 knots in order to fight the sea swells.  At the moment of his talk, the swells were 3.1 meters, probably the highest of the whole trip.  He apologized for the ship being "wobbly".  Had to laugh with that remark.  A bit more than wobbly, we are rocking and rolling quite a bit….enough so that the little white bags have appeared in the elevator lobbies. 

 

The winds were 20 to 25 knots with cloudy skies, showers, and 79 degree temps.  Tomorrow, he expects winds to increase to a force 6 on the Beaufort scale, with the temps dropping to 75 degrees, and sea swells at 3.7 meters.  Tonight's sunset will be at 6:15pm, and the sunrise will be 6:35am.   With that, he advised all of us to be most careful if going outside on the promenade deck as the combined winds and speed of the ship, we could encounter 50 knot winds.  Also he added, please use the port side doors to go outside.  

 

The only wildlife besides us were schools of flying fish.  The lone masked booby seems to have departed the ship for parts unknown. 

 

The photography competition exhibits were in the atrium for folks to see.  It would be crew members who did the voting this time.  The prize-winning ceremony would be held at 8pm, also in the atrium.  Promotional sales headed the marquee to entice the guests to spend-spend-spend.    We still need to do that. 

 

We had a most unexpected sunset tonight. The skies had been depressingly overcast all day, so we did not expect to see anything at all with a sunset.  It was a nice surprise. 

 

This evening the Seafood Boil was the big event in the Lido.  The top dishes served were Northwest-style clam chowder, Dungeness crab, Alaskan salmon, clams, mussels, and a triple berry crisp.  So that's where all of the fresh berries have gone……  We think the price for this meal is $35 plus 18% gratuity.  

 

Our dinner would be more traditional with salads, soup, a shrimp appetizer, and good old-fashioned turkey roast with gravy,  cranberries, apple-pecan stuffing, dill carrots, and Brussel sprouts.   One scoop of ice cream topped off our delicious meal. 

 

Annie Gong performed in the World Stage with her second show and the movie, The Estate" was shown in the Wajang. 

 

So much for a busy day….# 3 at sea.  Three more to go and we had best start packing.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

113 Pictures

Report # 73 Friday November 15, 2024 Sea Day #2 Of 6 Enroute To San Diego, California, United States Overcast With Little Sun 75 Degrees 25 Knott Winds 6' Swell ----Casual Dress

Pulung, our friendly Matre'd stopped by our breakfast table to ask how we liked the special dinner last night in the Pinnacle Grill.   Of course, we let him know that we enjoyed ordering the Delmonico steak which was most delicious…..tender, tasty, and cooked just right.   We are sure that he had a part in the evening from the menu to the hosts.  It was most appreciated by all of us.

 

The biggest event of the morning was having our veranda sanitized and scrubbed by a machine the size of a small lawn mower.  For the first time since we switched to this room, it was spotless.  Since we will be arriving to a US port in a few days, cleaning shipwide has kicked up a notch or two, because more than likely there will be a CDC inspection.  They have to be prepared either way and take great pride in getting top scores for their effort. 

 

We did have some cashable credit on our account, so decided to take it now before the front desk gets inundated with customers.   We still have some non-refundable money to spend, so we will need to go shopping.  This amount was "have-to-spend" and will not go back to our credit card on file.  And since we only have about 4 days left, our President's Club twice-monthly gifts should be credited back to the non-refundable part of our account, according to Vini, our Mariner rep.  It may take a few days to show up.

 

Captain Smit came on the speakers with his daily update from the navigation deck.  He said we had 2007 nautical miles to reach San Diego at a speed of 20 knots.  He sounds like he intends to keep slightly ahead of schedule in the event the sea conditions slow us up over the weekend.  And since we crossed the Equator, we are now sailing in the Northern Hemisphere and out of the South Pacific.  The temperature was a bit cooler at 77 degrees with 25 knot winds coming from two directions.  On Saturday, the sea swells and wave heights might be higher up to 4 meters or 12 feet.  The skies were heavily overcast all day with some passing showers.  It should remain the same for at least two days.   Lastly, the clocks will go forward one hour tonight, putting us back on Pacific Time. 

 

Some fun events took place during the day.  One was the boat building and float test in the Lido pool.  Bet that was a hoot.  The guests versus the officers cornhole challenge had to be moved inside due to winds and showers in the Sports Court.    And there will be a photo contest, and the folks were asked to bring their best picture to the Queens Room this morning.  And we noticed that there were smokers in the casino the last couple of days and evenings.  There were very few players, at least the times we pass through there.    Perhaps the casino activity picks up at night.  

 

The Christmas display with a village and a train was being set up in the corner seating area on deck five forward – near the clothes shop and across from the atrium centerpiece.  It will be done for the new guests arriving on November 20^th….just in time for the holiday cruises.

 

Other than that, we did see one lone booby and many small flying fish today.  The bird stayed mostly to the front of the ship, diving for the little fishy treats.    We hope to see more of them tomorrow.

 

In the afternoon after a Lido lunch, we made a pass through the shops just to look at the merchandise.  We like watches and jewelry since they are easy and light to pack.  There wasn't a giant selection, but enough to choose from.  As always, the salespeople are very attentive, and we had to remind them we were only looking.   And there did not seem to be many customers, so they dogged us.  There are a few more days left, so we will try again when the shop is busier. 

 

We were back to our regular table and our very nice waiters tonight.  One of the appetizers was a favorite – crispy spring rolls with the good chili sauce.  We each had one, followed by one salad and one bowl of chicken noodle soup.   Our entrees were one Club Orange special of pork belly, and one chicken cacciatore, which happened to be the dish that the Hotel Manager, Darren, showed the guests how to cook in the Wajang Theater today.    Desserts were simple – one scoop of vanilla and one of pineapple sorbet. 

 

And so ends day two at sea.    Four more to go…….

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

17 Pictures

Report # 72 Thursday November 14, 2024 Sea Day #1 Of 6 Enroute To San Diego, California, United States Sunny With Clouds 80 Degrees 20 Knott Winds 2' Swell -----Casual Dress

The Zaandam has begun the six- day trek back to San Diego, and the weather couldn't be better.  Whether it lasts this way, time will tell.  According to Captain Smit, we are headed northeast now at a high speed of 18 knots or better….feeling like a herd of horses headed back to the corral.   We are also going to cross the Equator at 2am Friday morning, but he promised the horn would not be sounded.   We are also approaching what is called the "doldrums", which we are not sure exactly what it means, but we will find out later.  The plans are that the ship will do 20 knots to get ahead of schedule, like many other captains have done on several trips we have been on.  He will put the pedal to the metal….his words.  Tomorrow he expects the winds to be 25 knots with the waves at 2 meters or six feet. The temperature will remain in the high 70's.  There may be cloudy skies and some showers with waves to increase to 3 – 4 meters by Sunday.  The distance we have to travel to arrive to San Diego is 2478 nautical miles.   Sunset will be 2 minutes before 6pm, and the sunrise will be 5:42am. 

 

The majority of our day was spent on the computer, reading, or playing games on the Kindle.  A slew of photos had to be processed as well as catching up on yesterday's reports.  The internet has been squirrely with s-l-o-w sending and receiving.  Even with the door propped open, it still took a long time to send big files.  Even though we are told it doesn't matter where we are logistically, we are really in the middle of nowhere in an ocean that never seems to end.

 

 

The high light of our day was another invitation to pre-dinner drinks and a President's Club Dinner with hosts Captain Ane Smit and the newly-embarked Hotel General Manager, Darren Lewis.   We met with one other President's Club member and his grandson in the Mix Bar at 6pm.  Joining us were one of the front desk supervisors and the travel and cruise director, Daniel.  This was the first opportunity we have had to get to know the cruise director, and he was really interesting and easy-going.  And although we have been on some  of the same ships and cruises as Darren, we have never formally met since he has not been in this same position years ago.   We enjoyed a quick round of drinks, then went down to the Pinnacle Grill by 6:30pm. 

 

We were seated at the table in the back room and given a menu where we had choices.  For starters, there were jumbo lump crab cakes, forest mushroom soup, or the wedge salad.  That is one of our favorite items in this dining venue, so we both ordered them.   Once again, we could have had our choice of wines, but we declined.  The entrees were a dry aged Delmonico steak, grilled lamb chops, or Dover sole.  We have never ordered the Delmonico, so we both asked for a smaller portion, knowing it would be huge.  And it was, as Darren and Daniel both ordered the regular size monster steak.  They ate every bit of it too….it was that good.   Dessert followed after a nice port wine was served.  It was the same as the dessert we had at the first dinner…..a deconstructed pavlova with mango sorbet and a strawberry leather leaf curled in the center.  Sweet -sweet-sweet. 

 

The conversation was all over the place and flowed easily, which is nice since the dinner took a long time to be served.  We asked the question about the "doldrums" and Captain Smit explained it well.   Simply put, the south meets the north, creating a calmness that is only unique to this area above the Equator.  It was not good for the sailors from the past, since without wind, they were dead in the water.   Now we know.   It was time for Daniel to leave and announce the second performance in the World Stage, so it was the perfect time to say thanks again and we went our separate ways. 

 

Back in the room, we sent the rest of the photos hoping the internet speed was faster.  It was a little better, but still on the slow side.  During dinner, the subject of the ship's wifi came up, and Daniel said he had to laugh because he saw that many guests were propping open their doors with a shoe in hopes of a better connection.   His room must be near ours because we have seen the same thing, although we use a door stop we borrowed from our room attendant.    So much for day one at sea.  Five more to go, but who's counting?

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

15 Pictures

Report #71 Wednesday November 13, 2024 Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia Anchored 8am-5pm Tendering Ashore Mostly Cloudy 80 Degrees ----Casual Dress

Well, our final port of call has arrived…… the island of Nuku Hiva located in the Marquesas archipelago.  There are twelve "high" islands in this group but only six are inhabited.   They are spread over 217 miles with limited inter-island connections.  And because of that, their customs and dialect are unique to each island.   There are no coral reefs or lagoons here, but stunning landscapes and rugged-beyond-belief mountains.   It may come as a surprise that Nuku Hiva is the second largest island in French Polynesia with Tahiti being the biggest.  With all of the Marquesas combined, there are 9350 natives on the six islands.  

 

The population of Nuku Hiva is 3025 people living on an island of 854 square miles.   There are eight villages, with Taiohae being the administrative capital of this archipelago.  The most scenic part of this island has to be the entrance into Taiohae Bay.  And we happened to be up early enough to watch our entrance where the views are spectacular.  We were promised a 100% rain-free day, so we sure hope the cruise director got it right this time.  In fact, the surrounding cliffs showed that there has not been a lot of rain here recently as they were drier than we have ever seen them.  Like a desert. 

 

There was only one tour offered which took the guests on a three hour ride into the Taipivai Valley where their growing fields are as well as the site of where Herman Melville created his book Typee back in the late 1800's.   This tour was in private 4x4 vehicles with a driver/guide who may or may not speak English.  The price was $140.  This excursion can also be done independently for a lot less we have heard.  It has been explained to us that doing these tours on your own do not provide the extra insurance needed to cover you in case of an accident.  On our first visit here years ago, we did this tour.  Back then, the price was $50.   Inflation we guess changed that.  

 

We went off of the ship by 10:30am, when we figured most of the folks had already left.  It wasn't crowded on the tenderboat, and we left within minutes of boarding.   In some of the ports, we had to wait until the boat was completely full.  And that seemed to happen when it was the hottest and most humid days ever.   This would be our last time to tender and last port to visit.

 

When we landed at the cement pier, we had a drummer and two tattooed  Marquesan fellows dancing for us.  One of them was handing out tiare blossoms.  Directly on a knoll near this landing was a sculpture called Tiki Tuhiva.  It is a towering statue of a tiki that resembles something from outer space and a Marquesan warrior on the backside.   A few shops and a café are in this area, but they were full of shoppers already.    Further up the road was a combination produce market and a dining area with tables and chairs under a roof.   There were a few tables of souvenirs set up here.  Most of the items were seashell necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  Some pendants were being sold as well.  One table had some miniature wood carved tikis….something for the guys. 

 

There are two separate huts here.  One had more trinkets for sale, and the second one was the information center with convenient restrooms.   There were a few black pearl vendors, but this was not really the place to buy them.   The pearls are not farmed in these islands at all.  No lagoons?   No pearls.  We continued up the main road walking by the shoreline.  There were several stores, a bank, and some cafes along the way.  Many places were not opened.   Some local fellows passed by on their Marquesan horses, which are much smaller than a regular horse.  None of them had saddles. 

 

The tide was up, so we had to be careful where we walked.  The wave action was unpredictable and if not watching, you could get a soaking.  There is no beach here to speak of….only rocks and murky water.  We had been warned not to swim here for several reasons.  One good reason is the fact there are sharks.  And we are not talking harmless reef sharks.  These are the grays and sometimes great white sharks.  On a previous visit, we saw these sharks in action when a fisherman baited a rope with a fish head.  The sharks came from out of nowhere trying to get the large fish head.  It was quite an experience seeing these sharks close up.  They are powerful creatures.   The other reason for not swimming in these waters is the fact they are probably not safe due to contamination from seepage from the village.   When the tide is low, you can see the pipes going out into the bay. 

 

Further up the road, we passed by the Monument to the Dead, a solemn tribute to the fallen French soldiers.  Near to this spot, is the road that leads up to their famous church, Notre Dame Cathedral.  We walked up the street about the same time as a tour group had arrived.  We were able to take plenty of photos inside and out before the place was mobbed.  The wood carvings in this church are made from wood that came from every island in the archipelago.   It is a very pretty setting, although the voices of many local children wake the place up.  There is an elementary school here.  Today the youngest ones, kindergarten size, were being picked up in a school bus to go home.  

 

Back down to the road, we turned right and  made our way to Tohua Temehea, a restored ancient ceremonial site which we have seen being built for the last three visits here.  There are new sculptures created by artists of the islands. Besides a grandstand and stage, there were new covered buildings for food tables and covered pergolas to sit in the shade.  It appears that a separate building will be restrooms for the crowds that gather here.  We do know that there are yearly concerts with bands competing from the six islands of the Marquesas.   It is a huge event for the locals. 

 

A little further up the road, we came across the Paanatea cemetery and the spot where a monument was dedicated to the writer Herman Melville.  Eventually this monument deteriorated badly, and now it is gone.  In fact that was the reason one of us decided to find this book, Typee, in the library and read what it was all about.  Very interesting, whether some of it was fact and some made-up, it put a whole new light on the history and people of this ancient island.  

 

The road eventually turned into a rocky gravel road before it came to a dead end.  A museum used to be on this end, but seems to be closed now.  This is where we turned right, and hiked up a steep road to the Le Nuku Hiva Pearl Resort. We saw a tethered cow on the side of the hill too. Expecting a crowd up there, we were surprised to see one couple from the ship relaxing at a table and swimming in the small  pool.  We had a very nice lunch with two Hinano beers each and a shared cheeseburger.  Dessert was a volcano cake with rich creamy vanilla ice cream which we shared.   And we can say for a fact that this meal had to be the most expensive one of the entire trip.  It gets first prize for being close to $90 USD.  It was no surprise, since we knew it was expensive, but well worth the treat.  Alcohol is pricey in French Polynesia and consisted of half of the bill.  The breeze was blowing across the patio and it was difficult to have to leave.   But all aboard was 4:30pm, and we did not want to be that late in getting back. 

 

We did take our sweet time walking, even though it was not as hot as it usually is.   At this end of the road, there is a dark sand beach where the locals come with their families for a BBQ.  That normally happens on the weekend, so today there was no one on this beach.  In fact, the tide was so high, we could not walk on the sand this time like we always do.   It was under water.    So it was back to the road, past the high school, where kids were playing basketball, and past the concert site.  One thing we did remember was to bring double the water with us.  It came in handy, and was way better than what they call lemonade at the drink station at the pier.

 

At the info hut, we did find a good pamphlet on the island, and also checked out their treasures.   Already having this different type of jewelry, we did not add anything to the collection.  A tender boat was just arriving, and we loaded on with a handful of guests and crew members and were off to the ship.   Good to be back in the coolness of our room.

 

There was a complimentary wine and cheese party on he Seaview Pool deck at 4:30pm, Sail away time.   Knowing what a fiasco that can be, we skipped it and spent two hours on our veranda as the ship left the harbor before 5pm.  Captain Smit came on with his updated talk and said that he and the crew were happy that this was the final tendering of this trip. It is a big job keeping us all safe boarding these boats.  We now face six days at sea with 2824 nautical miles to go to reach San Diego a week from now.  He needs to maintain a speed of 18 knots or more to achieve this mileage.  Then he warned us that we might be facing 3 to 4 meter swells or up to 12 foot seas, the highest we will have on this whole trip.   Tomorrow he expected morning showers with a temperature of 77 degrees.   Lastly, the clocks will go ahead ½ hour this evening.  Now we are only one hour ahead of Pacific Time.

 

Dinner was good with two different salads, a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and a shrimp taco.  Mains were one rigatoni with chicken meatballs, and one prime rib plate with a baked potato.  One scoop of pecan ice cream and one of mint chocolate chip finished our meal just fine. 

 

Like we said, we will now have lots of time to relax as well as think about packing for home.   And by the way, we never got rain…only a few  sprinkles at the cathedral.  Guess the cruise director got it right this time.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

487 Pictures

Report #70 Tuesday November 12, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Nuku Hiva, Marquises, French Polynesia Mostly Sunny 80 Degrees 18mph Wind 4' Swell---Dressy Night

After such a busy week in French Polynesia, we were more than happy for a day at sea.   That is what we call port intensive, like the first time we flew to Europe for a 10 day cruise.  By the time we adjusted to the clock change, we were heading back.  With only two sea days, it was one big city after another, where we took tours in every single one.  We came home exhausted.   Longer cruises are the way to go as far as we are concerned.

 

The weather today was about perfect.  There were a few clouds in the morning, and eventually, the skies turned blue with lots of sun.  We may be dreaming, but we both agreed that it was far less humid even with the temperature staying at a steady 80 degrees. 

 

Captain Smit gave his noontime talk and repeated most of what we just wrote.  He said tomorrow's forecast for our stop in the Marquesas might be cloudy with showers.  He seemed a bit concerned about the 25 mph winds and some swells, but we do know that the ship will be in a fairly sheltered bay.  That should make tendering possible.  In all of the times we have stopped in Nuku Hiva, we have never missed it due to inclement weather.   It will be our final stop of this trip, so we are sure every effort will be made to make it a successful day. 

 

Our day was spent mostly catching up on photos and reports as usual.  For some reason, the internet has been slowing down for the last week.  Today was the slowest, but it may be due to our location.  We always thought that the new Starlink system was capable of keeping the speed at a good rate no matter where we are located. 

 

Shipboard activities went on as usual and included a talk with Captain Smit with a Q&A session.   There was a "Sunday" brunch, but the Pinnacle Grill was fuller than ever at 8am.   We also saw more room service activity this morning as well.  However, we sure wish the folks would not put the dirty trays outside their room on the floor.  They become a tripping hazard and a blockage for the guests using walkers or wheelchairs.  Questions about Nuku Hiva, our next port, was held at 3pm, because there was a Legendary Ball this evening in the World Stage beginning at 6:30 to 11pm.  Really?  We have never seen such long hours for this event before. 

 

There was lettuce back in the Lido this afternoon.  We enjoyed our usual custom-made salads by Samuel, the friendly Lido salad server.   We usually add a couple of slices of pizza, and most times they are good.  Today they were slightly warm at best.  Maybe the hot tray was not working properly. 

 

There was also a very nice sunset tonight since the skies were mostly clear of the heavy clouds.  We were able to film it right from our room because we are basically heading northeast now.   Dinner was "dressy" once again, and the menu had  the usual "formal" items like shrimp cocktails, escargots, surf and turf, and lemon garlic shrimp.   This group of guests seem to like dressing up for a change.  We ordered one Caesar salad and a bowl of chicken soup that I thought our waiter said had chicken feet.  Yuck….really?   He had a good laugh over that one, but he repeated that it was chicken meat as in a meatball.  You never know because in some parts of the world, chicken and duck feet are consumed.  Our entrees were one lamb cutlet  (chops) plate and one alternate steak with fries.  The steak was thin, but tender and tasty.   Only one of us had dessert -  a scoop of orange sorbet.

 

There was no show due to the Ball, but there was a movie in the Wajang…..Plane. 

 

Looking forward to our last visit tomorrow, since we will be at sea for 6 days after that,

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

48 Pictures 

Report # 69 Monday November 11, 2024 Veterans Day Fakarava,Tuamotu, French Polynesia 8am-6pm Anchored Tendering Ashore Mostly Cloudy With Rain Showers ---Casual Dress

Today's port of call is located in another archipelago – the Tuamotus.  These are the low islands consisting of numerous coral-ringed atolls with lagoons in the center.  It is a less traveled area of Polynesia, but is part of the Natural Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.  Some of the larger atolls such as Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi and Fakarava are major scuba diving sites. 

 

The atoll of Fakarava is the second largest in Polynesia, as well as the former capital of the Tuamotus.  There are two main villages – Rotoava and Tetamanu.  The reef crown is 37 miles around, and 15.5 miles wide.  The center lagoon area is massive with 2903 square miles and has two passes.  The north pass, Garuae is the largest pass of French Polynesia.  The total population of all of the Tuamotus is 16,880 people. 

 

The population of Fakarava is 845 inhabitants with the main village being Rotoava.   As well as exceptional diving, there is a strong concentration of grey sharks and groupers.  But their biggest claim to fame has to be the pearl farms which produces some of the highest quality black pearls in all of Polynesia. 

 

There were no ship tours today, although we do know that some folks had pre-booked independent lagoon tours online.   There are plenty of white sand beaches inside the lagoon to enjoy the warm waters.    Watch out for the large nurse sharks that tend to swim along the shallowest part of the shoreline.  They do bite when least expected.  

 

The skies were full of back clouds when the Zaandam entered the north pass of the lagoon around 7am.  We had some passing showers and even saw a rainbow from our veranda.  The winds had picked up enough that we doubted we would be able to tender shore.   The cruise director came on with the agriculture warnings in both French and English, as he has been doing since we entered French Polynesia.  However, we were not cleared to tender ashore until closer to 9am.  The Captain had to find that "sweet" spot for the safest tendering first.  Obviously, he found it.

 

We left the ship by 11am, right before the open tenders were announced.   We had to wait for the first boat-full of guests that were already coming back to the ship.  A few people were soaked from the rain and complaining all the way to the elevators.   Had they stayed, they would have found a dry rest of the day onshore.  Oh well.   The ride over to the landing was not as rough as we thought it would be.   At the tender pier, there were greeters handing out tiare blossoms.  Native musicians were beating their drums under a tent.  

 

We headed for the coral-base main road lined with some shops, homes, cafes, and schools.  A must-see here is the Catholic Church, which was built on 1874 using coral.  We were about to enter the doors, when a nice couple stopped us and asked if we were Bill & Mary Ann.  Yes, that's us.  They said they had been following our blog for many years, and decided to do this cruise based on some of the information we had written.  That was SO nice for both of us to hear.   It makes the time we take creating the blog well worth it, even though it really is a diary of what we see and do everyday.  We thanked them as we all went off exploring. 

 

Visiting this unique church is almost a pleasant experience.  The interior is simple, but the ceiling is painted blue, like the sky, with a most cooling effect.  There are wood carvings and seashell chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.  In the back of this church is another small open-air chapel, equally decorated with thousands of tiny shell necklaces hanging from the low ceiling.  At the very back of this property is a good-size cemetery with many of the graves draped with flowers.  If you continue walking past this cemetery, you hit the ocean waters since the coral ring is quite narrow. 

 

Continuing up the road, we passed by large numbers of folks that had come over here to spend some time on the beach and in the water.  We searched for those nurse sharks along the shallow banks of the lagoon, but did not see any.  Darn…..it is exciting to see them so close up, unless we were in the water with them.   Usually you don't notice them until they move quickly.  There are rocks that are about the same size, and the sharks blend in with them quite well.

 

There was some traffic on the road, such as small cars, pick-up trucks, and bicycles.   Many of the local have electric bikes now.  When we got off of the tender, we saw a pile of bikes that were being rented to the guests.  We hope those folks that rented these bikes were careful because we have seen the results of many falls and collisions over the years.   The coral rock road us not kind to the elbows and knees if you accidently fall. 

 

Usually, we stop and take a break on one of the many cement benches along this road.   Today the snorkelers had the benches full of their belongings.  The further up the road we got, the fewer people were hiking there. Another mile past the paved road was the graveled road.  That led us to the Havaiki Pearl Lodge and their outdoor café Snack le Requin Dormeur.    We found a table under their covered patio and quickly took it.  There is a counter in the food shack where you order and pay for your food.  We had two large bottles of Hinano beers, which we brought to the table.  We ordered and paid for a cheeseburger and fries, taking the little buzzer that lets you know when to pick up the order.  Even though they were busy, our food arrived pretty quickly.  And it was good.  The beer could have been colder, but we were thirsty and it did not matter.  This outdoor eatery has several wooden picnic tables that are located in the shallow water off of the little sandy beach.  People take their food and drinks and sit in  waist-high water under the umbrellas.   Our fun is watching the nurse sharks that come close and circle the tables.   Today we watched for an hour, but did not see one shark.  Darn……

 

Ready to head back, we took our time checking out the few tables of treasures some of the locals were hawking.   Of course, most every item was seashell based and very affordable.  One tiny shell necklace that matched recently bought earrings in Moorea was added to the collection.  

 

Stopping at the Catholic Church, a pickup truck turned into the driveway.  Two men got out with boxes and an ice chest, and introduced themselves as the pastor and his priest colleague.  We never would have known they were priests until they told us.  We had a nice short conversation and before we departed, the pastor blessed us.  Another memorable moment of this trip.

 

Back at the pier, we had to wait until the tender boat was secured enough to be able to board it.  The wind was acting up now, and getting on the boat was dicey. We had a few minutes, so we ducked into one of the portable shops that were selling more shell jewelry.  Their prices were double of what we paid.  Always a good idea to check prices out before buying. 

 

Our timing had to be just right to board the boat.  It was going up and down like a merry-go-round.  Once safely seated, we were tossed around so much we thought whiplash was possible.  Luckily, the boat filled up fast and we were on our way to the ship.  That was about 3:30pm.  All aboard today was 4:30pm.

 

Sitting on the veranda, we could see there were still three ship boats in the water at 4:45pm.   Captain Smit came on the speakers explaining that one of the tenders had a rope wrapped around the propeller and we would have to wait until they were able to bring the boat back to be loaded.  The disabled vessel had to be towed back by another tender boat.  It wasn't until closer to 6pm by the time we were on our way out of the lagoon.  We were treated with a nice sunset as the ship headed west, then took a right turn to exit the North pass of the lagoon.  The pilot, who has been with us since Raiatea, got off of the ship safely.  Then we headed northeasterly towards our final port at Nuku Hiva, Marquesas.

 

Dinnertime snuck up fast as it always does.  Tonight we ordered pot stickers and two different salads.  They still have lettuce, so we need to order them every night and at lunchtime as well.  Our mains were veal cordon blu with veggies.  Very good, but also an ample serving size.  We suspect these were created here and not frozen.  Dessert was a scoop of vanilla ice cream and one orange sorbet.

 

Even with the ship rolling with the deep swells, there was a performance by the Zaandam Rep Co. with "Dance".  A new Indiana Jones movie was shown in the Wajang. 

 

The clocks went forward ½ hour this evening.  We will go ahead the other half hour when we leave Nuku Hiva.

 

And we do have one sea day tomorrow……much needed by all.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

377 Pictures

Report #68 Sunday November 10, 2024 Day #2 Of 2 Papeete, Tahiti Docked Starboard Side To Pier Leaving At 5pm Mostly Cloudy With Sprinkles 84 Degrees-----Casual Dress

We learned something new yesterday.  We spotted a fellow passenger taking a photo of a manhole cover….something we do sometimes.   Why?  Because they are there and it is interesting to see where they are made.  Well, we remarked that we were happy to see someone else had the same interest, and the photographer said there is a site on Facebook all about manhole covers around the world.   Who knew that?  Certainly not us, but we shall have to check it out just for fun. 

 

Anyway here we are on day two in Papeete, having spent the evening docked.  That gave some of the crew members a chance to go out at night and have some fun.  They will often go in groups, pay for a taxi, and find a bar or lounge where there is music and dancing.  One of the sweetest waitresses in the Pinnacle Grill did just that last night and had a fine time, although she was finding it difficult to wake up this morning.  She showed us her dance moves, which she considered conservative compared to the local Tahitian girls. 

 

We also heard that many of the crew visited the roulettes or food trucks in Place Vaiete last night.  We have never eaten there, but we did stroll through the trucks one evening after dinner to see what it was all about.   Besides French cuisine, they catered to the Filipino and Indonesian crowd with their favorites.  The nice thing is that it is very close to the ship and there is no need for a taxi. 

 

Today's weather appeared to be a little more comfortable than yesterday.   Some of the humidity was gone, and early in the day, there was a nice breeze.  Although it looked like rain, it never happened.  Only up high in the mountains where the showers traveled across the peaks and back out to sea.  We stayed onboard until 11am, then went out for a walk.  Following the same path we took yesterday, we passed by the information office and picked up a local map.  There used to be single page maps of the other islands, but they are gone now.  The majority of folks on the inside were using the free wifi.   There were about half of the souvenir stands we saw yesterday, and most all of the shops and stores were closed due to the fact it was Sunday. 

 

Checking out the Marketplace, we discovered that only some flower vendors were out on the sidewalk beyond the closed market.  Nothing was opened in this area.  We had hoped to see the Cathedral during a Sunday mass, but it was closed up once again.    Back out to the main street, we checked out the new Burger King.  We did see a special meal for a family of four that ran about 4500 Pacific French Francs or about $45 USD.  Drinks were not included.  On our way out of the gate this morning, we ran into a couple that had just come from McDonald's.  Due to the heat, they needed something to drink, and ducked into McDonald's for some sodas.  One medium and one large soda set them back $7 USD.   And they were not re-fillable.  Another good reason to pack some water with you even on a short walk.  The heat can be a killer in these tropical islands. 

 

Our destination was a walk along the marina and through Paofai Park.  There were a few local families here, lingering at the picnic tables under the pergolas.  It is a nice place to have a Sunday picnic and watch the world go by, so to speak.  There are many benches as well for cooling off in the shade.    Towards the end of this park are some fast- food type restaurants, but only opened after 6pm.  At the very end, there is a complex that looks like a concert stadium with a large parking lot.  During the day, there is little activity there, so we turned around and walked back into the park.  

 

We ended up at Le Moana, a nice restaurant that faces the harbor and the marina.  Taking a table in the upper patio, we ordered two Hinano beers….one blonde and one ambree or dark.  Both were good and nice and cold.  They make very good cheeseburgers here, so we ordered one with extra fries to share.   Instead of catsup, they served us a small dish of Thousand island dressing, the way our moms used to make it.  It was so good, we asked for a second dish.  Catching a wonderful breeze, we sat at our table for over an hour.  We ended the meal with one deep plate of profiteroles which we shared of course.  A resident cat paid us a few visits looking for handouts.  Too late, the food was all gone.  Even the doves and roaming chickens pecked at the ground looking for crumbs.  If nothing else, it was entertaining.    Good thing we like animals.

 

All aboard was 4:30pm, so we pulled ourselves away and followed the marina all the way back.  They have successfully planted a coral garden here that attracts all types of fish.   A wall of glass panels allows you to look over at the coral.  We remember when these were first installed, and marvel at how the corals have grown.  Nature sure is fascinating. 

 

It would have been nice if we could have taken the short way to the ship, but once again, a guard was there turning the folks away.   Maybe the next time we visit here, they will have developed a safe way for the cruise passengers to walk back and keep clear of the bus traffic.  After walking the long way around yesterday, we happened to talk to another elderly man that had sweet- talked his way through the gate because he exaggerated his limp due to his knee replacement.  Gosh, we never thought of that, but truthfully, the extra walking was better for us and only took a little longer.  It was fun listening to the grumpy people that did not like being turned away.   And there were many of them. 

 

We were back on the ship by 4pm, and relaxed in our room until the ship left a bit late after 5pm.  One tour group was not back yet.    Captain Smit came on for his daily talk, and said we have a long way to go to Fakarava tomorrow, and would need to leave on time to get there by 7 or 8am.  He planned on a speed of 18 knots and also added that it might be rough due to wind.  In port tomorrow, he predicted rain…how much, he did not know.  We will be sailing into the lagoon, and he hoped the winds would be less there.  Time will tell. 

 

This evening's dinner had a variety of new items.  One of our favorite appetizers is chicken tenders with honey mustard sauce, and they were on the menu tonight.   Very small Caesar salads were served, and now we wonder if they got their full order of lettuce yesterday.   Sarif indicated that we should enjoy the salad while they have it.  That says it all.   Our entrees were the recommended Japanese pork katsu with curry sauce on the side.  Asking Sarif exactly what it was, he said the pork was like Weiner Schnitzel.  It came on a bed of rice and bok choy with carrots.  They served two slices of the pork, which would have been enough for both of us.  No way could we eat two slices each.  Dessert was one small scoop of rocky road ice cream.   There was also a Polynesian Dinner in the Lido tonight at the normal times of 5:30 to 8pm.   It was mostly seafood, so we did not attend.  We like lunch in there, but never dinner. 

 

Finally, the entertainment this evening was a comedian by the name of Sid Davis with a show called Common Scents.  We wonder how many folks actually make it to the 9pm show.  We are usually so tired, we seldom or never attend.  But that's just us.  There was a movie in the Wajang called The Mountain Between Us, which we are sure we have seen.  A good time to catch up on some beauty sleep.  The ship was rocking and rolling pretty good since we left Papeete, so sleeping should be easy.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

220 Pictures

Report #67 Saturday November 9, 2024 Day #1 Of 2 Papeete, Tahiti Docked Starboard Side To Pier 8am-Overnight Mostly Cloudy With Sprinkles 84 Degrees -----Casual Dress

The Zaandam arrived at the busy port and harbor of Papeete, Tahiti early this morning.  Like Huahine, Tahiti consists of two volcanic islands – Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti.  The total land area is 1042 square kilometers and the highest point is Mt. Orohena at 7350 feet in elevation.   Tahiti is considered the heart of French Polynesia with 75 % of the population living here and sister island, Moorea.  That adds up to 200,000 natives with 27000 of them living in Papeete.

 

Papeete is the administrative center and capital of French Polynesia with the largest international airport and probably the biggest and busiest harbor of all of the islands.  As with all large cities, Papeete has many businesses, shops, and eateries, as well as old churches and the seat of government buildings. 

 

A "must" see has to be Papeete's Market.  It is a two- story building in the center of town that sells everything from handicrafts, island clothing, fresh fish, produce, and flowers.  The deep sea fish include tuna, mahi mahi, swordfish, and lagoon fish like parrotfish.   Woven hats and baskets from the Australes are sold here as well as Marquesan stone and wood carvings, monoi oil products, and more shell jewelry.   Mostly cash is accepted with the exception of the clothing and pearl shops on the second level. 

 

After the mandatory speech that we were not allowed to bring food off of the ship, it was announced we were cleared after 8am.  The tour groups were in the process of leaving by the time we left the Pinnacle Grill after breakfast.  Tina, the manager, would be going home today, and she will be missed.  Many other key officers were also leaving like Presty, the Lido manager, and the  food and beverage manager Murat, along with many beverage workers and waiters.   Some of the front desk staff were also going home.  We highly doubt most of these positions will be replaced before we end the trip in San Diego. 

 

It was nice not to have to use the tender boats today, and tomorrow as well, as we are staying overnight here.   We left the ship around 11am walking to the downtown area first.  There is a brand new terminal building that appeared to be finally finished.  But it was not opened yet, so it was necessary to walk around it to get in and out of the port area.  Only the tour buses and private vehicles were allowed to come in through the blocked parking lot. 

 

Knowing that the market place was going to close at 1pm, we headed straight there, passing a side street filled with souvenir and jewelry tables.  These same items used to be in a tented area right off of the ship's exit and next to a decent information center.  That is all gone now, so the vendors have moved to town.  Most of the items duplicated what we saw yesterday in Moorea, but seemed to cost more here.   Not that we were searching for more things, it is always fun to look. 

 

We passed by the fabric shop where one of us always finds an irresistible piece for a blouse.  Today was different, because we simply looked but did not buy any more.  The time is approaching where we have to start packing, and it is more than likely the suitcases might be overweight.  

 

Downtown was busy especially the market where we did a quick walk from end-to-end and up the escalator to check out the second story items.  There were cruise people everywhere shopping for last minute stuff.  This market will be closed tomorrow, only opening for a few hours or not at all if we recall correctly.  We were mostly interested in their flower department, as we always come back to the ship with some of their bouquets.  We made a decision to come back here a little later after strolling through the center of town.

 

We headed for the Notre Dame Catholic Cathedral dated back to 1875 only to find the doors closed.  It has always been opened for visitors, but not today.  One of the busiest places in this part of town had to be McDonalds.  If people were not buying lunch, they were using their free wifi.  And with today being Saturday, there were kids everywhere…..all eating Big Macs.  

 

Next to the famous eatery was the Territorial Assembly and the Queen's Garden.  In the last couple of visits we made here, the gardens were closed.  But today we were able to walk the path that took us back to the ponds, gazebo, and the Queen's private bathing area.  Many of the native trees and plants are labeled and described in both French and English.  We happened to get into a conversation with a couple from Canada when they asked if we could take a photo of them with their cell phone.  That happens a lot and we said of course.  It turned out we were on the same page as far as recent events were concerned and it was fun sharing stories. 

 

The Australes group were in this Assembly hall with their collection of handmade hats and woven handbags and mats.  Several tables were set up where the local ladies were actually making the tiniest seashell necklaces, bracelets, and earrings we have seen.   Most of the necklaces were choker-size and too small for one of us.  Just as well, as these were not inexpensive. 

 

There was one more garden to stroll through and that was Bougainvillea Park, named after the sea explorer that came here back in the days of Captains Cook and Bligh.  The actual plant, bougainvillea was named after him as well.  This was a good place to turn around and head back to the market.  We did make one stop at a local shop, Tahiti Lifestyles, to look at t-shirts, but all of a sudden, it got too busy with customers, and we left. 

 

Back at the marketplace, we found two bunches of large tropical flowers in orange and yellow colors.  We added two bunches of cut flowers, and the vendor gave us one more bunch for free.  It was 12:45pm by now, and the vendors were hauling the rest of their bouquets and arrangements outside since the doors were closing at 1pm sharp.  Happy with our purchase, we went back to the ship, having to take the long way around, because the security guard would not let us inside the blocked parking lot.  Then we remembered the same thing happened last year, so rules are rules, and when in "Rome", you do as the Romans do. 

 

We made it back to the ship, arranged the bunches of flowers in a tall vase, and headed back out to go to lunch.   It had begun to drizzle by now, which felt wonderful, but it stopped.  We made our way back down the main street Boulevard Pomare to La Pizzeria.  We had not taken the time to see if they were opened today, since last year they were closed due to Armistice Day.  We were happy to see the door was opened and many customers were enjoying their cuisine.  In fact it was very crowded, so we were seated in a busy spot, but the waitress found us a better table under a nice big ceiling fan.  Perfect.   It was so warm and humid outside today, we were soaked.  Immediately, we ordered two large Hinano draft beers and a Hawaiian pizza to share.  So good, and our last chance for pizza on this trip.  La Pizzeria is closed on Sunday, which is tomorrow.  We ended up sharing a dessert of a banana split, also good as they fried the bananas and also toasted the slivered almonds sprinkled on the top of the ice cream and whipped cream.   And just so we remember, they did accept American Express here, unlike yesterday in Moorea, where they did not. 

 

Back at the pier, we had to wait for some people getting off of the steep gangway.  It happened to be all of the crew members heading home today.  We were happy to be able to say good bye to them and wish them all a safe trip. We will be seeing Tina and Presty in January on the Zuiderdam.    We cooled off in our room working on photos and relaxing before dinner.  We could see and hear the food trucks or roulettes setting up in the Place Vaiete where many crew members go for a meal at night. The sun was also setting, and was really a pretty one.

 

The dinner menu was labeled gala, although it was not a dressy night.  We ordered one Caesar salad (not on the menu) and one veggie salad with minimal lettuce.  We sure hope their deliveries of food came through today as it will be the last port to pick up major supplies.  We had one Orange Club special of Peruvian chicken and one entrée of breaded shrimp with a tenderloin steak that tasted much better with Lea & Perrins.   Before our meal ended, we had four visitors to the table.  Starting with the head waitress, Pulung came along, then the food and beverage manager, Stephen, who had left after Alaska, returned for a chat, and finally Tihana, the cellar master discussed our final President's Club delivery in a few days. Dessert was a small slice of lemon meringue pie and one scoop of watermelon sorbet.

 

We did not notice this earlier in the newsletter, but there was another evening under stars with the Lido Market at the Sea View Pool from 6:30 to 10:15pm.  This is, if it did not rain.

 

Finally, there was a local show featuring Manahau, a dance and singing team celebrating the heritage and culture of Tahiti.  It began at 9pm, but we were still eating dinner by then.  Since we have seen this performance several times, we did not mind missing it.  

 

We will have one more full day in Papeete, but a quieter one since most everything will be closed.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

291 Pictures