Report #60 Wednesday February 28, 2024 Tokyo, Japan Day #1 Of 2 Docked Starboard Side To Pier 8am-Overnight 38-57 Degrees With Some Wind Clear Skies With Sun---Casual Dress

 

Well here we are in Tokyo, the capital city of Japan.  The country has a total population of 127 million people, and according to the local travel guide, over 14 million of those folks live right here in Tokyo.   The word "crowded" does not come close to what you might find in the center of downtown, especially the ritzy Ginza area.  We have had the privilege of visiting Tokyo on previous cruises, one of which was the Asia/Pacific Explorer cruise on the Volendam in 2002.  On our two day stay back then, we toured every museum, shrine, and temple.  We ended each day with a hotel lunch and a shopping spree through the Beverly Hills of Tokyo – the Ginza district.  We will never forget just trying to cross the street to enter one of the massive malls, and once inside, we were shoulder-to-shoulder with scores of customers.   Thinking by going up higher on the escalator did not help, since the higher we went, the more people were there.  Once we made our way back outside, we never attempted a repeat performance.  Guess we are not shoppers at heart unless we are looking for something we really need. 

 

We docked very early this morning right in Tokyo's harbor, a first for this ship and the first for any HAL ship we have been told.  The International Cruise Terminal was built in 2020 and is quite impressive.  It has four spacious floors for the customs and immigrations, the entrance level for buses and taxis, and an observation deck with reception and multipurpose rooms.  When a cruise ship is in port, they offer a shuttle that takes people to the Tokyo Teleport Station where other transportation can be taken.  One of those options is the subway system which is quite extensive as well as complicated.  In addition to that shuttle was another bus that took a loop to the Hilton Hotel, Odaiba Kaihin Park, and Ariake Garden then back to the pier terminal.  That is the bus we took.

 

Leaving the ship around 10am, we bundled up with our arctic jackets which really helped with the cold weather today.  The skies were cloud-free, but the temperature was near 40 degrees with a strong wind that was bone-chilling.  We had no doubt that the day would warm up once the sun was up.  We had done some homework with the stops that were offered, but sometimes you just have to get out and explore.   No one got off at the Hilton TokyoOdaiba Hotel, and the same thing happened at the following stop at the park.  The last stop was at a mall, not a garden, so all of us got off.  Like many other buildings in this area, it was new and full of stores on five floors. 

 

Entering the food market was interesting.  We noticed a bank of what looked like cell phones, and we learned later that these are used to log every item in your cart, store the price, and total it all up when you are done.  By tapping your credit card, you bag up your stuff and leave the store.  Simple.  From here we went up each level, checking everything out.  The only store we recognized was H&M.  On the fifth floor we found the food court and some restaurants.  One of them was a TGI Fridays.  It was after noon time, so we went in and found our waiter spoke good English.  And their menus were in both Japanese and English.  We started with draft beers and added a platter of cheese nachos to share.  For a special treat, we split a chocolate and vanilla ice cream Oreo Surprise which was really good.    Afterwards, we walked around the entire floor of cafes and restaurants.  There was a food court style seating in the center where many little kids were with their moms.  Since today was a Wednesday, all of the older kids were in school. 

 

The nice aspect of visiting this mall was that it was not crowded like we knew the center of Tokyo would be.  This was just one of many new buildings here, so tomorrow we shall explore some more options near the Hilton Hotel. 

 

We found the bus pick-up spot and got back to the ship by 2pm.  We noticed there was a spot where we could get free WiFi if we could log on with the Kindle.  We'll try that tomorrow as well.  We were right that it warmed up, especially on our veranda.  It was out of the wind with the full sun shining that it actually got too hot.  Relaxing outside with a view of Mt. Fuji could not have been better.  

 

Dinnertime came right after the sun set behind the mountain.  We figured that some guests might go out to town for dinner, but it seemed that most everyone was in the dining room.  For a change, we ordered the beef carpaccio for appetizers and two different salads.  Mains were the Club Orange special of beef short ribs, mashed potatoes, and a mole gravy.  We shared a plate of egg noodles that came with the stroganoff.  Desserts were one scoop of pistachio ice cream and an almond cake with vanilla ice cream.  All good.

 

There was a Japanese Fusion show this evening in the World Stage performed by local musicians and dancers.  It is always a treat to see these cultural shows and listen to the traditional music using Japanese instruments. 

 

One more day in Tokyo and we hope for the same weather.  It appears that there may be a storm in the next port.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

266 Pictures

Report #59 Tuesday February 27, 2024 Sea Day #2 Of 2 Enroute To Tokyo, Japan Cloudy With Some Sun 35mph Wind 14' Swell 48 Degrees 38mph Wind Very Rough

 

Today began with a surprise.  The weather had taken a turn for the colder.  Not only cold, but gale force winds, temperatures in the 50's, and rough seas.  We swear the sea swells were 14 feet or better.  The spray from the waves came as high as our deck six at times.  By the time we decided to take our morning walk, most of the outside doors on the promenade deck were closed off.  We could see why.  The starboard side was drenched from the sea spray, making it slippery when walking.  Of course the tender boats overhead were dripping down on us as well.  We thought our heavy sweatshirts would be sufficient, but they were like wearing next to nothing.  Time to pull out the heavy jackets.

 

Back in our room, we bundled up and the walk was fine.  It sure wasn't crowded since most of the lounges had no cushions or towels.  The busier place had to be on deck nine poolside, where the Shop were selling $10 items.  Some of those items were heavy sweater-like ponchos and they were selling quickly.  Not everyone thought to bring something warm to wear on this cruise.  And the smart folks in the Shops know that.

 

Finally, Kimberly gave her talk on Tokyo at 1pm.  Since that was our lunch time, we didn't attend in person, but caught it later on the TV.  And once again, the reception on the TV was spotty.  Several times during the day, we lost the connection.  Only the inhouse channels worked.  By 4pm, the Tokyo lecture was on TV, and we watched it taking notes.  When we were here over 20 years ago, we must have docked in Yokohama, but tomorrow we will be in the new International Cruise Terminal, the first time for the Zuiderdam and we heard, the first of HAL's ships to dock here. 

 

There was a nice sunset tonight for a change.  Although the day began cloudy, it cleared up and we had sun for most of the day.  Not a lot of heat in it but sitting out by the Seaview Pool before lunch was pleasant.  We had looked for the packets of hot chocolate to make us two cups, but they were nowhere to be found.  Thinking they had been eliminated, one of the deck waiters asked if we would like something to drink.  We asked him about the chocolate and he went in search of some.  Lucky for us, he found it, and it sure tasted good.  Funny, just a week ago, sitting back here was almost too hot.

 

There was a theme for the dining room this evening called Kaiseki Dinner.  Red Japanese lanterns were hung in each entrance along with red lights on the floor.  It was quite festive as was the menu.  Appetizers were Asian such as miso soup and sesame chicken bites.  Our entrees were grilled teriyaki chicken breasts with jasmine rice and broccoli.  Desserts were one lemon sorbet and a croquant chocolate cake with banana and caramel.   Not exactly all Japanese, the meal was fine.  Tomorrow ends the second segment of this cruise, however, they chose not to repeat the farewell in the dining room like they did prior to arriving to Honolulu.  Fine with us and most of the world cruisers we know.  We did get another sticker of the stats for the second segment to add to our booklets. 

 

Got to rest up for two busy days in Tokyo, a city of millions.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

43 Pictures

Report #58 Monday February 26, 2024 Sea Day #1 Of 2 Enroute To Tokyo, Japan Cloudy And Overcast 35mph Wind 12' Swell Rough A Lot Of Pitching And Rolling.......No Pictures

 

Last night we think the swells got even worse, which was confirmed today when Captain Frank said we had 12 foot seas and gale force winds of 35 mph.  It was cooler as well with temps in the 60's….even lower with the wind chill.   Despite it all, we still got outside for our morning walk.  The teak lounges were mostly empty of guests today.  Actually, the starboard side was pretty wet from the spray off of the waves.  

 

Normally we take a ride up to deck nine to sit in the sun, which was not out at all today.  So it worked out well when we saw Greg and Rene, the spa manager, having a breaktime in the Lido.  Better to talk here than out in the blowing wind.  Greg brought us up to date with the Fun Fair from last night saying it was good for snacks, drinks of beer, wine, or soda, and lots of loud noise.  They did not last too long, and neither did another couple who picked up glasses of wine and headed to the Rolling Stones Lounge instead.  Now we know why this event was held while the ship was docked.  With high seas and blasting winds, it would have been impossible to play those games very well. 

 

Today was the presentation with Gus Antorcha in the World Stage at 2pm.  Among other things promoting the company, he announced the Grand World Voyage for 2026.  It will be on the Volendam  and will do a westbound itinerary.  We will give the details when we get the new flyer.    The Q&A lasted almost two hours with Gus answering most questions the best he could.  It was more or less a repeat of last year's grilling, with about the same results.  There were some questions that Gus did not know the details, such as perks that entice the guests to book certain cruises.   Or the reason  behind the 200% fee for booking a room for one.  We all understand that, but the single folks did not like the answer.   One announcement made total sense to us and that there will not be two grand world voyages offered at the same time again like they are doing now and next year.  Even by adding the New Zealand/Australia cruise this year divided our group in half.   Filling the ships to capacity was not in the cards.

 

Tonight was the special President's Club Reception and Dinner beginning at 5:30pm in the Rolling Stones Lounge.  Sailing onboard this trip are 26 members, with another 12 guests being inducted.   We were greeted and seated with friends Pauline and Mike, then joined by Jan who we have known for many years.   Drinks of our choice were offered as well as some pretty fancy hors oeuvres.  Then with a couple of short speeches, the new inductees were called up one or two at a time with the Captain, Henk, and Gus.  They had their photos taken and by 6:30pm, we were ready to be seated in the Pinnacle Grill for a fine meal.  But first we had a group photo taken with the entire group. 

 

Each table in the center section of the Pinnacle Grill was used.  Everyone had a place marker and a host.  We were seated with the Chief Engineer, Pedro, a nice fellow from the Netherlands.  Although we had not met him, he was also on the Volendam last fall while we sailed Alaska and the Tales of the South Pacific.  Small world.  Anyway our meal was off to a good start with a poached lobster salad or a lemon mascarpone risotto.  A very tangy almost bitter palate cleanser of orange spritz granita had us ready for the main course.  All three of us ordered the slow roasted black angus beef tenderloin with a cherry puree.  Potato crisps, whipped parsnip and truffle gravy accompanied the meat.  Something light purple was on the plate, which we deducted was two tiny macaroon cookies with a duck foie gras in the center.  Different, it went well with the meat.  And very rich.  The other main choice was seared black cod with fingerling potatoes, a tomato concasse with tomato oil.   Not huge portions, it was most filling.  But the best was yet to arrive.  It was the dessert of Basque cheesecake with strawberry ice cream,  brandy snap, and assorted berries.  Our waiter promised the dessert had no calories.  We wish……  Served with the meal were wines – one white wine from Napa and the red from Italy.   Only our host indulged.   The evening ended by 9pm where we all lined up to thank the staff for such a fine evening. 

 

There was a show with the singers and dancers in the World Stage but somehow we doubt there will be dancing with the ship rolling as it was.   By the way, we intermittently lost the TV reception today.  Why we are not sure.  Even the Chief Engineer did not know, but promised to check into it.  At least the TV was working when we got back to our room, and we watched a good movie with Keanu Reeves on the Prime channel.   The only other option was tuning into one of the recorded movies.  That was another complaint at the Q&A today.  The movies we get in our room are numerous, but very old.  The answer by Gus was  -  we will look into it.  And maybe he will.

 

Another day at sea, then we will be in Tokyo. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report #57 Sunday February 25, 2024 Naha, Okinawa Japan Day #2 Of 2 Docked Starboard Side To Pier Leave At 11pm Overcast With Scattered Clouds And Sprinkles 60 Degrees---Casual Dress

 

We both slept well last night because there was no rocking and rolling for a change.  Of course, we were overnight in the port of Naha, and docked.  We heard from our morning waiters that some of the crew went off to the neon lights of Kokusai Street and had a fine time.  It's not very often that we have overnights, so the crew and some of guests really enjoy a "night out". 

 

It was breakfast as usual for us….that is, until the President of HAL, Gus, and his colleague arrived for their morning meal.  Although there were only a handful of us present today, a hush fell over the room when Gus walked in.  And you have never seen such a fuss made over the two of them by the staff.  To be fair, we also had all the pastries offered as well as full cups of coffee.   Everything had to be perfect, even though the new guests might not have even noticed anything unusual. 

 

About 8:50am, Kimberly came on the speakers, as she always does, with a resounding Japanese greeting which sounds like "Ohio".  We all just about jumped out of our seats it was so loud.  We could see our buddy Don holding his ears and loudly complaining about the intrusion.  We had to laugh because Gus had overheard Don with the complaint, saying he agreed, it was too loud.  Don did not apologize, but stayed his ground, not intimidated by the president's presence in the room.   With that, all of us resumed our meal, and by 9am or so, it was time to go.  As it turned out, Don was not aware of Gus being in the restaurant, or as he said, he would not have put his foot in his mouth.

 

Doing some research, we did locate a recommended pizza restaurant to check out.  So we took the same walk we did yesterday, and both agreed it did not seem as far today.  For one thing, the weather had cooled off and the wind was blowing, like a storm was on the way.   The skies remained heavily overcast and we did have occasional light showers.  More like a mist, but enough to pack the umbrellas.  It was also the first day since boarding in Ft. Lauderdale that we put on long jeans and wore a jacket and a sweatshirt.  From here on, as we head north to Tokyo, we expect colder temps. 

 

Passing the Fukushuen Garden along the way, we peeked inside before the establishment was opened.  Serving as a relaxing oasis for the locals and tourists, it is a symbol of the ancient Chinese that once ruled here.  It was also a good way to beautify an urban section of the city.  The garden consists of ponds with koi carp, a fountain, several small buildings and plantings that reflect the colors of the seasons.  A convenient restaurant is on the property as well.  Admission was a mere 200 Yen or $1.35 US.  A night time visit was 300 Yen.  Bet it would be pretty to see it lit up at night.

 

One of us was looking for a new pair of black dress sandals, so we went back to the modern mall.  There was not one pair of shoes that were not enclosed, like old fashioned dress shoes.  Hate to say it, but everything we saw was dumpy.   It is possible that Japanese ladies do not wear sandals.  Now if you were looking for old fashioned flip flops, they were sold by the thousands in all of the shops on Kokusai Street.  Go figure. 

 

Much to our surprise, Kokusai Street had been closed to through traffic by noontime.  Perhaps this happens every Sunday, and the street becomes a food court.  We are only guessing, but there may be several food trucks that set up in the cordoned-off street.  There were a few of them there already.    One thing for sure, it was no where near as crowded as yesterday.  Somewhere in our travels we seem to recall that Saturday is a work and school day, and Sunday is their only day of the week they get off.  Yesterday, the only local kids we saw were in strollers.  We went as far as the arcade, and happened to run into friends Greg, Ginni, and Rich.  Heo was off running ahead of the group as he always does.  The two guys had come here last night for the lights and partying.  They said they did have a fine time among the locals.   And they also have a better knowledge of the food being served here.  They live in Sydney and indulge in varied cuisine from all over the world.  We did see from some photos they sent us that someone tried the fried Spam….something we ate on occasion as kids.  We both remember salty and greasy, an acquired taste.  We did see a stack of regular Spam cans for 480 Yen or about $3.20 USD.   Not to date ourselves, but we bet that same can would have sold for under a dollar when we were little.

 

We made another sweep through the arcade, still not finding any souvenir-like treasure to buy.  We already have a pair of the lion dogs (shisa) we bought for good luck while in Japan 22 years ago.  So it was getting close to 1pm, and time to search for that pizza venue.  Thanks to a good website, we were able to see the side streets (without names) and looked for the flag of Italy flying outside.  If it wasn't for the flag, we might not have found it.  Anyway, it was a very cozy café that held maybe 12 customers.  There were some folks in there when we arrived, so we took a table in the back.  The waiter did have a Japanese/ English menu, and by pointing to the pizza we wanted as well as the beer, it worked just fine.  Starting with two Orion drafts, we ordered one large Margherita pizza with various mushrooms.  And once again, they had a wood-fired oven, making the best tasting pizza in our humble opinion.  With the photos and memorabilia on the walls, we would have sworn we were in the middle of Naples, Italy. 

 

It was so nice to be able to sit and relax after the hike.  We prolonged our stay by ordering a dessert of a pizza shell with Nutella and mixed berries in the center.  The four slices were dusted with powdered sugar and cocoa powder.  A great way to end a nice lunch.  And all of that for about the equivalent of $26.   The cook and waiter both bowed as we complimented them and said goodbye or sayonara.

 

The wind had picked up on our way back, and down by the water, it was worse.  There was a mist in the air, and we thought rain would come any minute.  It never did rain and we never used the umbrellas.  For a change, we had to turn the thermostat up in our room to get warm.  The only thing we don't like is not being comfortable on our veranda.  We could go out bundled up, but with the wind, it was just too chilly.  It was a good time to work online and finally pick out a movie to watch, as we still have no live signal.  It appears that some new movies have been added, which is good, since most of them are really dated.  

 

Dinner for us was the usual time, despite that fact that a special event was happening in the Lido Pool area tonight.  The Grand Fun Fair was held from 7:30 to 9:30pm, our dinner time.   Carnival games and contests would take place.  It was free admission, and the tickets people won could be used for prizes.  Gus Antorcha would be present to share in the fun as well as enjoy complimentary drinks, appetizers, treats and snacks.  Obviously, this event was aimed at the early dining crowd, which happens to be the majority these days.  The dining room menu won over the event with an appetizer of a pork and beef egg roll, chicken noodle soup, and entrees of beef Wellington and an orange-glazed chicken meal. Carrot cake with a side of ice cream finished the ample meal.   All was good and tasty and hot as could be.   Finishing by 9pm, we could have gone to the fair, but eating and drinking would be out of the question.  We wonder why this was planned on a port night, when the folks were exhausted from a day in and out of town?  On previous cruises, these events were always held during an afternoon while we are at sea.  Makes more sense to us, but what do we know?

 

We will have two days at sea on the way to Tokyo.  Captain Frank said to expect up to 35 mph winds, rolling and rocking.  And there will be more activities with Gus with a presentation in the World Stage tomorrow for a Q&A and announcements of the world cruise in 2026. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

133 Pictures

Report #56 Saturday February 24, 2024 Naha, Okinawa Japan Day #1 Of 2 Docked Starboard Side To Pier 7am-Overnite Overcast With Scattered Clouds 70 Degrees---Casual Dress

 

The Zuiderdam arrived to the port of Naha, Okinawa in the early morning darkness.  The clearance happened right away around 8am, and everyone was free to go ashore, since we had done the face-to-passport drill yesterday.  We went out on the promenade deck around 9am, and caught the last of the traditional dance performed by local kids.  Dressed in bright red costumes, the little kids were the best.  Then we saw the line-up of officers at attention alongside the ship.  They were waiting for the President of HAL , Gus Antorcha, to arrive with his colleague.  When they appeared, they rushed to help them with their luggage and escort them onboard.   The next three days will be filled with special events.

 

We did not realize that 160 islands make up Okinawa with Naha being the capital.  There are a total of 330,000 people living here and have the distinction of having the longest lifespan in the world.  It is no secret that their diet consists of healthy foods, but on the other hand, they enjoy the fattiest beef and pork.  Perhaps due to the high price of the delicacy, they eat small amounts.  Two of our friends went to a steakhouse while in Ishigaki yesterday, and shared one of those special steaks.  They both claimed they never had tasted anything like it as it melted in their mouths.  We may have to check this out ourselves while we are Japanese ports.

 

With warm weather, this island attracts 6 million visitors a year  - mostly from Japan, but also worldwide.  There is a lot to see and do in and out of town.  This island is rich in military history as it was heavily involved in WW II.  One of the most visited sights is the Peace Memorial Park, 12 miles south of Naha.  It was the scene of the final confrontations of the Battle of Okinawa, where 200,000 people lost their lives in 1945.   Other sights out of town were Shurijo Castle Park,  a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Shurei-mon Gate, the symbol of Okinawa.  There are even caves to explore called Gyokusendo Cave about 10 miles out of town.   Our former host, Tom, was taking a group of his clients to the cave today, but he claimed he was waiting on the outside until they went through it.  He may have a 2 hour wait  but did not mind since he can't take tight spots like that.  We get it.  The same feeling overcame one of us while exploring ancient caves in Turkey several years ago.   We were never warned that we would have to crawl on our knees to access some of the caverns.  Nope…never again.  Anyway, the ship's tours ran from $135 to $210 (with lunch).  A couple of them ended up at the Kokusai Street district, where we intended to walk.

 

Leaving the ship was tricky, since we were directed to go through the terminal building, where we had to show our passport photos to the officials.  That involved going upstairs across the building then down an escalator where the info desk was set up.  Here we got a good walking map, and some other booklets and pamphlets for extra info.  Following the orange cones, we made our way out of the dock area and to the main street. 

 

Our destination was Kokusai Street about 1.2 miles from the port gate.  This district is located in the heart of Naha and is full of department stores, shopping malls and arcades, souvenir shops, hotels, and steakhouses and many eateries.  The most recognizable spots had to be A&W, KFC, and McDonalds.  The rest of the cafes and restaurants were 100% Japanese cuisine.  You can't go by the photos, since you had no idea what was in the food.  Common to Japanese dishes are oyster and clam juice…..both lethal to one of us.  So if we are not sure of the contents, we have to pass it up.  We did see one steakhouse after another, but many would not open until dinnertime.  

 

What we did find amusing was a mini robot that was vacuuming the area in front of a building.  It must have been programmed to stay within so many feet of the front patio and doorway.  It was still operating when we walked back two hours later.  And some folks from the ship were also watching it like we did, getting a laugh out of it going in circles.  At least that part of the sidewalk was very clean.  One thing we did notice when exploring some of the side alleyways were piles of cigarette butts, discarded  in front of the bars and small cafes probably at night time.   Another good reason to make use of the vacuuming robots.

 

So we window-shopped hundreds of stores as well as the arcades, making it as far as McDonalds.  By then, we had walked over three miles and decided to head back down the same way.  On the corner where we turned up this famous street was a huge modern mall, so we went inside to check it out.  Yep, a big mall with all of the familiar high end shops and boutiques.  On the bottom level there was a grocery store and a deli.  It was very busy as it was already after noon, and people were lined up buying lunch.  We decided to head back to the ship and get lunch there.  We could always explore more tomorrow.

 

We did spot the Okinawa Urban Monorail which runs right through town to the airport.  We know of some folks that will take that Yui Rail, as they call it here, to see some of the further out sights tomorrow.   The castle, Gate, and Gardens can be explored from the monorail stop.

 

At least the weather was in our favor.  Despite the high overcast, it was comfortable with temps in the high 60's.  Perfect hiking weather for sure.  We took our sweet time strolling back down towards the pier, admiring some gardens with blooming cherry trees on the way.   Passing by the guardians of the street were the two Dragon Pillar Monuments.  These lion dogs as we call them, are actually called Shisas here.  About every building in town has some form of shisa on them, especially the roofs.  They are used to protect the occupants according to their culture and beliefs.  It was about then that we spotted the Costa Serena coming into the harbor.  She docked in the other cruise terminal, much further away from downtown.

 

Back onboard, we ordered lunch and relaxed the rest of the afternoon.  Downloading the photos kept us busy.  Once again, the TV reception is zero and all that can be viewed is HAL programs.  At least we have access to many movies, even though most of them are really old.  One of the newer ones, Crazy Rich Asians, was on the grid, so we watched it before dinner.  So many of the places in Singapore that were in that movie, we recognized.  Now we are happy to be going there later on this cruise. 

 

Some Japanese items were on the dining room menu tonight.  We had one lumpia and one other Asian appetizer with two salads.  Mains were the sesame chicken with sweet and sour sauce and jasmine rice.  Very good.  Desserts were an unconventional strawberry cheesecake, and one hot fudge sundae with nuts.  

 

Murder on the Orient Express was on the big screen in the World Stage.  Or, we could watch it on our room TV, but without the popcorn.

 

One more full day in Naha, then we will have two sea days before arriving to Tokyo.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

220 Pictures

Report #55 Friday February 23, 2024 Ishigaki Island, Japan Docked Starboard Side To Pier Overcast And Cloudy With Some Drizzle Cooler 70 Degrees 16mph Wind-----Casual Dress

 

Being that our first Japanese port was today, it was necessary to have a face to passport check with the local immigration's officers.  We had the forms filled out and took them with us to breakfast so we could go directly when our floor was called.   They did start the procedure close to 8am, but this time, it was a more detailed visit taking longer.  Deck six was summoned by 9am, and we lined up shortly after the call.  This was the first time ever that we had trays of pastries and glasses of water offered to us while we waited in the long line.  Obviously, the earlier guests were not too patient while waiting, and they decided the best thing to do was give them food.  Most of the time, it works.

 

Scanning our room card, first, we proceeded to a customs agent who checked our forms, then our passport photos, and had us place two index fingers on a scanner.  Our photo was also taken at the same time.  One of us failed the finger printing and had to repeat it.  A visa stamp was placed in our passports.  Then we were set loose to get another little sticker put on our room keys on the way out of the dining room.   This will be good for the rest of the Japanese ports we assume. 

 

Gathering our few things like our wallets and passports we left the ship after 10am.  We had to bring the one declaration card with us to hand off to the officials on the pier.  Some officials were also showing posters of forbidden items to bring off  of the ship.  That included food of any kind and liquids with the exception of a sealed bottle of water.  Individual wrapped snacks, like a power bar, were allowed off, but they also could be subject to confiscation.  We took nothing....not even water.  Some guests carrying bags were randomly checked.  Even though it had been drizzling earlier, we did not take umbrellas. 

 

Speaking of the weather, it was really different today with heavy overcast and light drizzles in the early morning.  Although it felt and looked like rain, it never did.  The temperature was in the high 60's with little wind.  But certainly different from yesterday when we had warm sun and clear skies. 

 

Our port today was Ishigaki, an 85 square mile island that is only 7 miles wide.   The population is 50,000 pretty healthy people, according to Kimberly.  Located in the southern area of Japanese islands, this island is a vacation destination for many local Japanese as well as other visitors.  There are coral reefs, tropical fish, blue waters and miles of sandy beaches.  The prettiest area is Kabira Bay, but there is no swimming there as there are too many ferries and a powerful riptide.  During the months of May through October, there are habu jellyfish that can cause a bad sting.  Most of the smaller beaches are netted, but that is never a guarantee against the stings. 

 

There were some tours offered today which included sight-seeing, culture, and crafts.  They ranged from $135 to $200 with lunch.  We ran into Kimberly this morning outside the Pinnacle Grill where she was placing one of the balloon creations from the balloon artist at last night's show.   She mentioned that she was going with a group of friends to nearby Taketomi Island, a 10 minute ferry ride away.   She had showed photos of this island that was surrounded with beach and reefs.  Maybe with the dismal weather, they may have changed their minds.

 

There were shuttles today to take us from the spacious dock to the Ferry Terminal in downtown.  It was over a 3 kilometer ride, which is walkable, but we chose not to add that to the walk in town.  There were at least three nice and roomy buses to take the guests every 20 minutes or so to town.  An interesting fact was today happened to be the Emperor's birthday and somewhat of a holiday.  Not everything would be opened.

 

The ride took us over the Southern Gate Bridge and ended at the ferry terminal.  Before we boarded this bus, we were given a nice city map, which was far superior to the ship's map.  We had done our homework and located a recommended wood-fired pizza restaurant in downtown.  Now the trick was finding it.  Naturally, all of the streets were marked with signs with Japanese symbols, but they also had numbers, which helped.  There was a mall of sorts to see, so we followed the map to the Euglena Mall.  Expecting a typical city mall, this was different.  It was a series of small stores and shops with a covered canopy over the top.  It was opened on both ends.  There were cafes, and food shops, as well as very small clothing stores and some souvenir shops.   It was more like a municipal market.

 

From there we followed the map to the Torin-ji Temple and Gongendo Shrine, the oldest wooden building in all of Okinawa.  It is a Buddhist temple and Shinto Shrine with a very unassuming entrance.  After reading some of the signs in the garden, we discovered this complex had been almost destroyed during a tsunami in the 1700's.  It had been re-built and restored ever since then.  It was worth the walk to find it.  Across the street from the temple was a small garden where we visited with friends that seem to take the same path in the ports as we do.  They had to laugh when we said we were off to find pizza.  Japanese cuisine might be good, but not necessarily safe as far as the shellfish allergy is concerned.

 

There was a good street map on the corner, so after studying it, we realized we could locate Pizzeria Il Trecorde if we took our time.  It was not on a main street, but we did find it.  It was not marked from the main road, but happened to be fairly close to the mall.  It was not a big establishment, but a cozy pizza parlor with a few customers eating lunch.  They were all locals.  Good for us, they did have an English/Japanese menu.  There was a number of red or white sauce pizzas to chose from.  First of all, we started with glasses of draft beer, then ordered one pizza to share.  Our waitress who spoke little English pointed to the menu where it said each of us had to order a pizza, unless one of us was under 12 years old.  Funny, we do not have those restrictions at home, but "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" applied here.  So each of us got a 10 inch Margherita pizza with a very thin crust and parma ham on the top with basil.  They were just as good as they looked on their website.  There is something about a wood-fired pizza compared to an oven baked one.  Far superior, we savored every bite and left only crumbs.  When we got the bill, it was 3900 Yen which sounded really expensive, but doing the math, it turned out to be around $26 USD.  What a deal.  And even better, they had western-style restrooms.  If you have ever traveled in Asian countries, you know that restrooms are not always people-friendly.  Lucky for us.

 

Making our way back to the ferry terminal, we boarded a waiting coach and got back to the pier after 2pm.  We spent the rest of the afternoon working online.   All aboard was 4:30pm, and we left around 5pm.  Although the rain never did happen (only a drizzle), the seas became rough and the ship began to roll.  As the evening approached, the swell was noticeable.

 

By the way, before we arrived to the port, the TV reception was cut off.  There was no live feed, only pre-recorded ship stations and the movie station.  This has happened in other places we have been, but not too often.  Calling the front desk, we were advised that while in Japan we may have limited reception depending on the local rules and regulations.  It was a good time to watch Kimberly's talk on the next port of Naha, Okinawa.  Later after dinner, the reception did come back, but it was spotty at best.

 

Dinner was good, although we were not all that hungry.  Wonder why?  Part of it was the hardy lunch, but also the fact that once we left the port, it got rough.  Rough enough to make one of us slightly queasy.  Thank goodness for the seasick pills, as they work rather quickly.   Chicken noodle soup was the perfect starter, as was the crab and corn fritters and a Caesar salad.  One of us had the lamb shank and the other the chicken alternate.  Both were good, as was the dessert of a flan and a plate of watermelon for a change. 

 

On the World Stage tonight, there was an instrumentalist by the name of Chaw.  He was billed as leaving a mark on the world of music. 

 

Tomorrow, we will be in Naha, the first of a two day stay there.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

150 Pictures

Report #54 Thursday February 22, 2024 Sea Day #3 Of 3 Enroute To Ishigaki Island, Japan Partly Cloudy With Periods Of Sun 75 Degrees Slight Breeze 4' Swell-----Casual Dress

 

Surprise, surprise…..when we woke up this morning, it was still warm outside.  We sure did not expect that, especially knowing we have headed northwest for going on three days now.   Guess we will not have to pull out the heavy clothes quite yet.   One nice thing is that the seas are behaving.  There were no swells to speak of and the winds were minimal.  If anything, they were following once again. 

 

It appeared many of the usual diners in the Pinnacle Grill this morning slept in later.    We began with 10 customers at 7:30am, which increased by 8:50am.  Now you might think that the service would be better with fewer people, but that was not the case.  One of us was lucky to get a refill on the coffee in an hour.  Then we remembered there had been a crew party last night, so the waiters were having trouble waking up too.  Normally there are a couple of really cute waitresses in here, but they seem to alternate between the Neptune and here.  And when they are here, the coffee cups never run dry.

 

It was another lazy day, but our morning walk was pleasant.  Most of the guests were in the World Stage listening to Kimberly's talk on Naha, Okinawa, which will be on February 25 and 26.  We still needed to watch the lecture on tomorrow's port of Ishigaki and see what there is to see and do.  We also had a job to do – fill out the Immigrations and Customs Inspection forms, following the instructions given.  We also had one custom's declaration card to complete.  Now we are ready for the face to passport check when we arrive to our first Japanese port tomorrow. 

 

The other surprise of the day was some wildlife spotting.  During our morning hike, we actually saw a turtle alongside the ship.  Only one.  We also saw small white floating markers every now and then.  They may have been attached to nets or traps.   The ship has to stay clear of those because if they tangle around the azipods, we could be in trouble.   There were many flying fish, but only two boobies diving for them.  Then this afternoon, while watching the birds dive, we spotted dolphins.  Not in large numbers, but two at a time.  They did not jump high, but skimmed the surface and dove.  They were too fast to get a photo, but it is always a thrill to see them. 

 

We actually had a real sunset tonight.  If it wasn't for a thin layer of haze on the horizon, there may have been a chance for a green flash.  Never happened, but one day we might see one.   Dinner was good with a coconut shrimp appetizer and a bowl of Indonesian soup…..both excellent.  Mains were Weiner schnitzel with lingonberry sauce.  For a change, everything on the plate was appetizing like the carrots and sliced fried potatoes.  We could do without the fried lettuce used as a garnish.   What was nice was the dessert of strawberry shortcake, but not really traditional.  This old time dessert was served in a glass and was layered with a tangy cake on the bottom and a parfait-like cream on the top.  There was an essence of strawberry and few pieces of mango added. 

 

There was a different type of show tonight with a balloon artist called Syan.  One of the top balloon artists in Japan, he will demonstrate his speed and polished skills this evening.  We understand the combined talents of the ship's musicians was a success last night.

 

Looking forward to Japan.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

43 Pictures

Report #53 Wednesday February 21, 2024 Sea Day #2 Of 3 Enroute To Ishigaki Island, Japan Sunny And Warmer 80 Degrees Slight Breeze 4' Swell-----Dressy Night

 

What a difference a day makes.  The last few days the seas were rough and rolling, and today, they leveled out and we are all appreciating that.  It makes getting around the ship a whole lot easier.  Even the clouds had about disappeared and the skies were mostly blue.  The air remained warm with the temperature of 77 degrees and it was even hot in the sun at the Seaview Pool.  There is a group of maybe a dozen sunbathers that come back there about every sea day.   They are determined to keep their tans at least for a couple of weeks or so.

 

Today we had another Safety Drill, even though we did this exercise in the beginning of the month.  It was for the entire ship and began at 1pm.  As we stated before, it has been simplified to a very easy chore, as we do not have to lug our life vests along.  The first group was called from decks one, four, and five.  Then the rest of the passenger decks proceeded to go at 1:30pm.  We decided to go down to deck three 10 minutes early, and found there was no one in the elevators, as well as no one in the line to get our room keys checked.  All in all, the drill took us no more than 10 minutes.  Then by watching the safety video on our room TV, the regular programming resumed.  Easy peasy…..lemon squeezy.

 

Kimberly gave her talk on the first port of Ishigaki, Japan, at 10am.  We are sure she had a full house.  We intend to watch this on our room TV and be able to take notes.  This will be a new stop for us, so we shall also be doing some Google research.  It has been many years since we explored a lot of Japan…perhaps over 20 years.  One of the more recent world cruises did do some of Japan and Korea, but the stops were minimal.  As long as we have the local currency (Yen), we will be able to get around just fine.

 

After a relaxing day, dinnertime arrived.  The "dressy" theme was A Night of Music, with a menu that reflected some of the old time songs we know and love.  Bottom line……it was the same appetizers and entrees with fancy names.  However for one of us, there was a treat of the veal cutlet or the giant veal chop that was on the Club orange menu.   Trying to keep things lighter, one of us had the cheese tortellini.  Adding a tomato soup and a Caesar salad, the meal was complete.  Well almost….a dish of fresh berries with a scoop of ice cream, and a slice of chocolate cheesecake that was really cake finished our meal. 

 

And the clocks went back one hour tonight, not last night.  There was no explanation as to why we delayed the change for a day.  Doesn't much matter when you are at sea we guess. 

 

The entertainment was one show at 9pm with the String Trio, Rolling Stone Lounge Band, the Billboard Onboard and the grand Voyage Band united to wow the guests in the World Stage.   We learned that there was a crew party tonight, so that is probably why the show was early and at one time for all.  Our waiters were excited to attend as soon as they finished their duties.  They deserve it.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

 

 

Report #52 Tuesday February 20, 2024 Sea Day Enroute To Ishigaki Island, Japan Overcast With Rain Showers 77 Degrees 30 Knot Wind 10' Swells And Rough

 

A day at sea was what we all needed after two busy days in port.  It would have been easy to sleep in later this morning, but we do not want to give up our table in the Pinnacle Grill at breakfast.  The minute we are not there or arrive late, it will be occupied by someone who thinks they are missing something.  It's funny how we all become territorial.

 

We half-expected the weather to be a lot cooler today, as we are heading northwest now.  But we were wrong, because the air temperature was still warm, and when the sun did peek out, it was still hot.  The problem was that it was mostly cloudy and windy.  The sea swells were at least 10 feet, and the ship was rolling quite a bit most all day. 

 

We had gone to the Seaview Pool like we do on sea days, and did enjoy some sun for a while.  Greg wandered on back and joined us, bringing us up to speed on their day in Saipan yesterday.  We knew they had hired a driver and went to see the WW II sites.  Heo had already sent his photos of their tour with Ginni and Rich.  Suddenly, the clouds got darker and it began to sprinkle.  Thinking it would pass over, it did not and we were getting wet.  Taking cover, we stayed a little longer then left before the noon whistle.    It is better to hear the Captain's talk while in our room, since the speakers around the pool are not the best. 

 

He addressed one of the questions asked of him concerning our entrance into the port yesterday.  He explained in detail everything the pilot had told us, and then thanked our hosts, Luisa and Gene for asking the question.  Then he mentioned that the clocks would go back one hour tonight to be on Japan time.  Made sense to us, but later in the day, Kimberly reversed that request and said we would do the hour back in a few days from now.  Well, that's a first.

 

There were new speakers giving lectures today.  One was Tim Tamashiro discussing Okinawa, and Asumi Hama talking about Japanese essentials.  We guess the port talk on the first port in Japan will occur soon. 

 

There were dance classes during the course of the day, but with the motion of the ship, we doubt they happened.  The Sit, Knit, and Needlepoint group has expanded to some of the ladies working outside on the promenade deck.   It is incredible how quickly some of their blankets are completed.  We were happy to complete our 8 laps around the deck.

 

Lunch was room service Cobb salads, a shared beef panini, and a chicken quesadilla.  Time for another walk around the deck, we found it to be very wet.  One of us is much more cautious, paying attention to the signs that say slippery when wet.  The showers continued off and on all afternoon.  Good time to finish yesterday's pictures and report.  By the way, we noticed that there was a noodle bar in the Lido at lunchtime.  Not sure what that was all about. 

 

Dinner had several good things for a change.  The Thai beef salad was one of the appetizers, along with a salad and a bowl of chicken noodle soup.  Once again, the soup is spaghetti soup, but still tasty.  Our mains were sweet and sour chicken with rice and bell peppers.  Very good and served hot as could be.  The rolls were also much better….softer and no seeds.  They got it right.  Dessert was one panna cotta, but served in a glass instead of upside down on a dessert plate.  No fun unless you can wiggle it. 

 

A new performer joined the ship by the name of Venus Tsai, a violinist who has played since she was 6 years old.  Having dinner at a table for two, we seem to finish much earlier than we used to.  And it is way too early to wait for the showtime.  If she has a day performance, we may be able to catch it. 

 

We wonder if the weather will cool off more tomorrow?  The Captain did say the seas might level off for smoother sailing.  Hope he is correct.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

 

Report #51 Monday February 19, 2024 Presidents Day Saipan, USA- Northern Mariana Islands Docked Starboard Side To Pier 8am-5pm Overcast And Cloudy 80 Degrees

 

Some days cannot be predicted.  Today was one of them.  We arrived to our port of call, Saipan, early this morning under very overcast and cloudy skies.  This island is the capital of the of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  It is also the largest with a population of 53,000 or less people.  Once again they speak English and Chamorro the same as Guam.  This area appealed to the Japanese tourists, but for some reason, the trend has left.  It's just a guess, but from what we saw yesterday, we suppose the Japanese tourists have chosen Guam for their destination these days.  The island does have a lot to offer in the way of WWII history, turquoise waters, and white sandy beaches.  And it appeared that the temperature would far more tolerable today compared to yesterday.

 

So it was breakfast as usual for us at 7:30am, although the restaurant was not busy.  Later on, we learned that 500 guests had booked tours today, so many must have eaten breakfast in the Lido instead.   Just as we were on our way to check out the dock area at 9am, the alarms went off ship wide, and strobe lights were flashing everywhere.  This was not a drill.  Within minutes, Captain Frank was on the speakers saying there was an unexplained odor on deck four, and the area would be closed off.   People in those rooms would have to evacuate the cabins and go outside on deck three portside.  Until they found the source of the smell, they took no chances.   It was discovered that there was an ammonia leak from a canister of a refrigerator unit that caused the alarms to go off.  Once that was aired out, the folks could return to their rooms.  It was reassuring how quickly that event was under control, thanks to the frequent drills that are conducted onboard. 

 

At the same time as the ammonia scare, the local ladies were doing a dance on the pier. Our officers were actually dancing with them.  We viewed this from the promenade deck for one minute, then the entire group of officers and staff members began running back onboard to address the problem.  While that was happening, the tour buses were filling up and also the surprise shuttle that was used for a transfer to downtown Garapan.  We had been under the impression that town was 5 minutes away.  Then we heard that it was a 40 minute walk to town.  Which was it?  Now that the locals offered a free transfer, we need not to worry.  Besides, it looked and felt so much like rain was coming, we did not want to get drowned.  With the strong winds blowing, we would not have stayed very dry even with umbrellas. 

 

We left the ship by 10am and boarded the waiting bus.  It was only a 10 minute ride at the most.  It took us to nearby Garapan, the main town where there were lots of hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers or malls.  We noticed a huge difference from what we saw in Guam yesterday.  This town had a more 1950's look about it, with strip malls and local eateries.  The bus dropped us off at the newest DFS mall.  From there we followed the excellent map that had been handed out when we boarded the bus. 

 

On the way to this drop-off, we noticed a building that did not seem to belong here.  Namely, it was the Imperial Pacific Resort and Casino.  Standing out like a sore thumb, this building had gold-leaf figures of dolphins and seahorses plastered all over the outside of this massive structure.  Flanking the impressive entrance were statues of King Neptune standing guard.  This looked more like something you might find in Las Vegas or in Paris or Rome…..not here.  And with all this grandeur, this place was permanently closed, shut down since 2020 we heard.  There must be a story to it, and we shall do some research to satisfy our curiosity. 

 

From here we walked to the American Memorial Park where pathways led to the American WWII Memorial Court of Honor and Flag Circle.  Located in the middle of a tree-studded park, we walked the trails that led to a small marina with some moored sailboats.  The walkway led to a nice beach called Micro Beach with a narrow strip of white sand and very shallow waters.  While watching some kite boarders getting ready to launch themselves into the water, one of the fellows came over to chat with us.  Asking if we were from the ship, we said we were.  As luck would have it, he introduced himself as the pilot that had brought the ship in this morning.  Knowing this was a tricky port to enter, he explained that Captain Frank had contacted him yesterday and they coordinated a plan of entrance with the help of simulators.  Giving them more than one choice, they had a plan or two already mapped out for the early morning approach.  Fascinating, we listened to him giving details about winds , coral reefs, and azipods.  As we said goodbye, he helped his group launch their kites and away they all went.  He said he would see us later in the day to repeat the sail away, hoping the winds will die down by then. 

 

From here, we made our way back towards town passing by the nicer hotel of the Hyatt Regency.  We had done some research on restaurants, specifically pizza cafes, and found one highly recommended called American Pizza and Grill.  We had passed it on the way to the park, so it would be lunch first, then perhaps some shopping later. 

 

It wasn't a fancy restaurant, but an actual pizzeria with many choices.  We decided on a large Hawaiian pizza with two Asahi pint draft beers.  Sure tasted good and the pizza was excellent.  Most of the customers were locals, so you know it is good.  After relaxing for an hour, we headed off to a market called I Love Saipan.  It had most everything you needed or did not need.  Lots of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and snack items were for sale, and the crew members were stocking up.  We did not find anything we could live without , so went back to the bus drop-off spot.  We were told that the pick-up place had moved to the other end of the mall.  OK, we walked through the DFS, which was all high-end stores.   Then we joined a line of rather upset guests who had waited for 45 minutes for a bus.  Two of the coaches had arrived full of mostly crew members who were on their way back to the ship.  Obviously, they had a different place to board the coaches.  Finally a bus arrived, more than half full.  But the driver let most of us on, even if we had to stand in the aisle.   One of the nice crew members gave his seat up so I could sit.  He insisted.   We could have walked back, but the ride took only 10 minutes.

 

Back at the pier by 3pm, the official could not board the bus to check our room keys and ID's.  So once we got off, we went through a bag check, a wanding, and a room key check.  Getting back on the ship required our cards and another xray check as always.  Can't be too careful we suppose.  

 

While waiting for the ship to leave, we spotted a sting ray right down from our room.  All by itself, it floated alongside the ship then disappeared.  Reading the map, we learned that nearby Managaha Island had schools of tuna, trevally, barracuda, sharks, turtles, and sting rays.  Ferries took snorkelers there every couple of hours.  And the ship offered tours there for 2 hours for $120.  Other tours included a drive to the north or the south part of the island for 3 hours and $120. 

 

Sailing through the narrow channel flanked by shallow water and coral beds, it took a while for the ship to get in deeper waters.  Just by sheer luck, we saw jumping dolphins for a brief moment.  Once clear of the reef, the pilot left the ship and waved to all of us watching.  It was the same fellow we talked to on the beach.  Like we said, a lucky day.  The sun went down without any color, and now we were off for a 1366 nautical mile run to our first port in Japan, Ishigaki.  A new one for us.

 

Dinner featured the Culinary Council menu with good choices.  One appetizer was a crab cake and the other a baby beet salad.  Caesar salads as usual, then followed by prime rib with croquette potatoes.  Gravy on the side please and best of all……we had different dinner rolls tonight.  They were "seedless" and soft on the inside, crispy on the outside.   Wish we would have asked sooner.  Dessert was the craquelin, a donut-like chocolate filled delight.  A hard chocolate candy on the top had been formed with the ship printed in the center.  Sweet way to end a fun day.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

289 Pictures

Report #50 Sunday February 18, 2024 Guam Island USA, Apra Harbor, Marianas Docked Starboard Side To Pier 8am-5pm Sunny, Cloudy And Rain Showers 90 Degrees Very Humid--Casual Dress

Today's port of call was Guam, an unincorporated US territory, located in the Southern Mariana Islands of Micronesia.  The capital is Hagatna and the population is over 163,000 people.  The indigenous language is Chamorro, but most speak English.  The US has a military base and Anderson Air Force base  with a population of 22,000.  Guam is Micronesia's most populous and largest island that is filled with World War II history, but also a place of tropical waterfalls, beautiful beaches, and parks. 

 

Everyone has heard of Spam, but have you ever heard of Guam Spam?   Hormel actually makes a hot and spicy tabasco-flavored Spam just for this island.  We believe this canned meat is popular throughout all of the South Pacific.  We have seen it on shelves in Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, and Tonga to name a few.  Even spotted on Christmas Island.   As kids, we enjoyed fried Spam sandwiches on occasion….not so much these days. 

 

The Zuiderdam arrived early to Apra Harbor, but once docked, we had to wait for the customs and immigrations folks to arrive.   The plan was to have the guests and crew members do a face to passport check  beginning at 8am, but that did not happen.  More than once, Kimberly had to announce politely for the people that were lining up early to enter the upper dining room, to please go and have coffee somewhere until they were called.  The officials had to set up their tables and could not do that if the hallway was clogged. 

 

We were in no hurry to get off, so it was breakfast as normal in the Pinnacle Grill.  Our deck was scheduled in the middle, so after we ate, we wandered outside on the promenade deck to watch the first of the guests getting off of the gangway.   Of course, the first off were the tour groups.  There was one excursion today and it was the highlights of Guam for 3 ½ hours for $150.  One hundred and fifty passengers took the morning tour, and the same amount went in the afternoon.   Every guest was given a tiny seashell necklace, just like the ones we used to get in Hilo Hatties.  A group of local ladies handed them out. 

 

Since we have visited all of the WWII  historical sights in 2017, we were on our own today.   Leaving the ship around 10am, we joined a waiting bus for the free ride to downtown.  Specifically, we had a 30 minute ride to the Dusit Thani Guam Resort in downtown Tumon.  We did remember the ride along the scenic coastline, but this time we went to the high rent district of resorts and the most extravagant stores.  There were the big names of hotels such as the Hyatt Regency, Outrigger Resort, Guam Reef Hotel, the Westin and our destination -  the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.   A Thai-themed property, it was beautiful inside and out.  Surrounding the hotels were stores like Gucci, Prada, Chanel, etc.   There were dozens of eateries from fancy to popular such as California Pizza Kitchen, Tony Romas, IHOP, TGI Fridays, and more.  But the best discovery was finding the Hard Rock Café right next to the resort.  It would not open until after 11am, so we took a long walk in most of the air-conditioned malls that opened earlier. 

 

By the way, it was very hot and humid today.  The skies were clear and blue early on, but suddenly clouds appeared and by 9:15am, it was raining.  A big passing cloud, but enough to bring the umbrellas just in case.  Never did need them.  The temperature had to be in the high 80's, but the humidity  had to be in the 90% range.   Running into Christel, she showed us where the reasonable shopping was located like Macy's and Ross, but with the heat we decided not to try it.  And besides, it was mostly uphill.  

 

By noontime, we back-tracked to the attached mall of the Dusit Thani Resort, and walked through all of the shops on two levels.  We just happened to find the inside entrance to the Hard Rock Café, and decided it was time for those ice cold beers.  It took some time before the draft beers arrived…like 20 minutes.  The restaurant filled up quickly and they appeared to be short-staffed.  Kimberly had mentioned in her talk that Guam is similar to Hawaii….they do things at their own speed, which is much slower than us.  And we had plenty of time to get back to the ship before 4:30pm.  We enjoyed a haystack salad with Tupelo fried chicken.  This favorite of ours has been eliminated from most menus, and we were pleased to find it here today.   By the time we left after 1pm, there was a line of folks waiting for tables. 

 

Their shop was located downstairs on the street level.  We noticed that they were selling Saipan t-shirts as well as the Guam t's.  The shop girl said that the Saipan HRC had closed permanently, and all of their clothing was 40% off.   Well that saves time tomorrow looking for a t-shirt in Saipan, which we never would have found if they are closed. 

 

Back to the shuttle, the ride was 30 minutes even with traffic.  We did have to show our room keys and ID's before we left the bus.  Then our bags were searched.  Getting on the ship, we still went through the xray like always.  It was wonderful getting back to the room where we worked on photos and reports.  

 

The Captain took the ship out of the harbor a bit later than expected.  The Coast Guard promised to accompany us out of the harbor, but they showed up late.  With the help of two tugs, and the small gun boat, we sailed into the Philippine Sea, turned north, and headed towards our next port of Saipan tomorrow.

 

Dinner had a nice appetizer of Shanghai ribs.  Adding salads, we ordered one sweet and sour duck with noodles, and one flat iron steak.  The rolls still are coming hard as rocks, and we are surprised no other guests have commented about it. Or perhaps they are not eating them.  Our waiter suggested getting brioche bread tomorrow.  That might work.   Desserts were one strawberry tart and a peach crisp with a small scoop of ice cream. 

 

The entertainment tonight was a repeat of this afternoon's movie, Rogue Agent.   Some might call this dark night without a live show.  This seems to be the pattern so far this cruise.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

201 Pictures

Report #49 Saturday February 17, 2024 Sea Day #8 Of 8 Enroute To Guam Island USA, Apra Harbor, Marianas Cloudy With Rain Showers 84 Degrees 9' Swell 20mph Wind--Rolling seas---Casual Dress

 

Finally….day number 8 and the last day at sea.  Not that it hasn't been relaxing, maybe a little too much, but we are all ready for some terra firma (ground that does not move under your feet).   The weather seemed to warm up today with a noticeable uptick in the humidity.  We did expect this as we have sailed far enough south to experience this balmy weather.  It remained mostly cloudy, but we did get some good showers during the afternoon.   One thing about rain is that it did cool the air off briefly. 

 

Thinking we may have missed it in the daily newsletter, the talk on Guam and Saipan finally happened at 1pm today.  Kimberly covered everything we needed to know about both ports in the Marianas, much of which the majority of folks on this cruise would never see and do.   Things like climbing a mountain or exploring a cave with a 4 mile hike dealing with heat and humidity off of the charts.  Luckily, there is only one highlights tour offered in Guam, and it doesn't cover anything strenuous. 

 

There will be a shuttle tomorrow from the pier to a resort area about 40 minutes away.  At least we had some names of streets and hotels to do some internet searches this afternoon.  We have only been to Guam once, but it has been a while ago.  It does not appear that we will be dropped off where we were back then. 

 

Colorful animals of the sea was the subject of the lecture today.  At that time of day, we are always outside looking for those animals or birds and fish.  We only spotted one bird and dozens of fish.

 

There was another special event at 3pm in the Lido Market with "For Cake's Sake".   The bakers onboard whipped up another display of sweets and treats for the guests to indulge with every bite.  Around 2pm, one of us was collecting some Dive-In cuisine for lunch, and did notice that the Lido pool area was full of people waiting for the cake walk to begin.  Usually you can count the people in here on two hands.  Not today as every poolside table was occupied. 

 

This was a good time to do some business at the front desk.  We have learned that there will be some money exchange onboard.  Specifically, we are able to purchase Japanese yen, Singapore dollars, and Euro.  It may be a bit more expensive to do this on the ship, but it will save a lot of time searching for this service while in the specific ports.   And one last thing……we had an issue with a tank top that had gotten ink stains on it, not by us, but in the laundry itself.  Permanent ink that did not come out.  Prior to that, two tiny holes had punctured the lower front of this top, which was fixed by one of us.  The front desk girl took photos of the top and the laundry slip, and even came to our room to have me put a price on it and sign their form.   She handled this professionally and promised to inform us of a credit.  It is still usable if it is tucked inside, so we don't expect much of a refund.

 

With all of the clouds, there was no sunset.  It just got dark.  And before we knew it, dinner time had arrived.  Starters were Caesar salads, and a beef empanada with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.  Mains were KFC or crispy breaded buttermilk chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.  One of us forgot to say gravy on the side, and the potatoes were drowned with it.   And it tasted different, like it had a seasoning we could not identify in it.  Perhaps cardamom?  Oh well, not eating the potatoes left room for the panna cotta dessert and a dish of slice bananas. 

 

Pianist Judy Carmichael was the excellent entertainer this evening.   Her theme was swing time with songs from Gershwin, Cole Porter and Peggy Lee to name a few.  Our buddy Greg mentioned that she performs in Sydney (his hometown) and is quite popular there.  We can see why.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

 

Report #48 Friday February 16, 2024 Sea Day #7 Of 8 Enroute To Guam Island USA, Apra Harbor, Marianas Cloudy 82 Degrees 11' Swell 20mph Wind--Rolling seas---Casual Dress

 

Today marks day number 7 at sea, with a little over 700 nautical miles to go to our next port of Guam.    That will take one more day and we will be docking on Sunday.   It will be good to be on land after that many days on the rolling ship.  We'll all be lucky to be able to walk a straight line by then.  

 

It turned out to be a fairly nice day with scattered clouds, warm temps, and a nice breeze.  We have all agreed that this pleasant and comfortable weather will not last too much longer once the ship heads north.  It will be time to dig up those long sleeve shirts, jeans, and jackets.

 

There was a "Brunch Sampler" in the dining room at 11 to 1pm.  The guests had to make reservations for this special meal, or just show up.   We still noticed a large number of people diving into the food in the Lido Market.  It appears to be the popular spot on this cruise so far. 

 

Lectures on the sharks of Japan delivered by Justine Nadeau and another talk about Guam and Saipan by Joel Fleischer  took place in the World Stage.  We wish these talks could be televised and repeated later in the day.   Years ago all of the lectures were on TV, but not anymore.    Many sales were happening in the Shops.  We seldom walk through that area of the ship, such as the Casino, Gallery Bar, or the Rolling Stone Lounge.   Except for the Pinnacle Grill breakfast, most of our visits are on deck three where the promenade deck is located. 

 

The dinner menu had some good things tonight.  It was one arancini and one shrimp cocktail for appetizers.  Caesar salad and a mostly spinach/tomato salad were our other firsts.  Then one of us ordered the chili rellenos with the poblano pepper stuffed with cheese with rice and sauce.  Really good, and not as spicy as our waiter had warned.  The other entrée was the honey mustard breaded chicken breast.   Also moist and tasty.    Hazel, our head waitress, came by as always and asked how our meals were.  We said fine, but the dinner rolls were so hard and dried up, we could not even cut them in half with a knife.  She agreed and said she would inform the chef.  Our waiters have been serving the rolls hot, but tonight they were cold and hard as rocks.  We doubt that anything can be changed with the rolls unless the recipe is tweaked to make them softer.  And at times, the bakers add different grains to the bread such as bulgar.  It tends to have small, hard fibrous particles that could break a tooth.  Like gravel sometimes.  One of us would love to talk to a baker about when and how they make their breads for the day.  Anyway, desserts were one chocolate torte and a plate of fresh pineapple. 

 

Entertainment this evening was another performance by the Bird Dogs with more Everly Brothers tunes. 

 

One more relaxing day at sea, and we will be in a port……..finally.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

No Pictures

Report #47 Thursday February 15, 2024 Sea Day #6 Of 8 Enroute To Guam Island USA, Apra Harbor, Marianas Mostly Cloudy 84 Degrees 16' Swell 30mph Wind--Rough---Casual Dress

 

It's sea day number six, with two more sea days to go before reaching Guam.   But who's counting?  According to Captain Frank we still have over 1100 nautical miles to reach our next destination.  All through the night, the seas acted up to rock one to sleep or knock one out of the bed, depending on what deck you lived on.    This morning we woke up to very cloudy skies and many white caps in the deep swells.   These conditions may be with us all of the way to Guam we understand. 

 

After breakfast, we had a job to do.  Yesterday we received Saipan customs and declaration forms to fill out, as well as a yellow fever verification letter.  The customs form was fairly easy to fill out with the help of detailed instructions.  The yellow fever info was required for the change in the upcoming ports.  The good news is that if we have had at least one vaccination with documented proof, then we are good.  If for some reason you were advised never to get it, you would need a letter from a certified doctor to confirm that fact.  And something new to us was that if you are over 60 years old, you are not required to be vaccinated again.   Anyway, these forms had to be turned in this morning on each passenger deck, just like the passport collection and distribution.  Once the forms were scanned for accuracy, they were collected.  Easy.

 

It remained warm and partly sunny the rest of the morning, so we went to the Seaview Pool for some sun time.  A lone sea gull flew overhead, and actually landed on the back deck.  It hopped around until it found some fresh water that had overflowed from the pool.  Then it made its way under the tables, obviously looking for food.   Kind of freaked some folks out, so the waiters shooed it away.  Shortly, it flew away and did not come back while we were there.   The boobies are still with the ship, appearing on the starboard side all day.  We read that they are capable of staying out at sea for months at a time. 

 

We paid a visit to the shore excursion desk on deck 10 to inquire about the new excursions that are available to us to choose one for free.   It comes with the room we booked.  Nothing is printed anymore, so we were advised to go on the Navigator app (on the computer) and read each tour.  We have a choice of tours in Zanzibar, Cape Town, Namibia, or The Gambia.  If you choose not to book anything, we will lose that perk.  Use it, or lose it. 

 

Time for lunch at 2pm, we dined on Dive-In burgers and a hot dog.  We noticed that shawarma was being served in the Lido at lunchtime.  Once again, we have never seen lunchtime in the Lido Market so crowded.  They must be doing something right, because we heard that the dining room lunch has not been that great.  So far we have not tried it and probably won't since we have a hearty breakfast at 8am. 

 

There was no good sunset tonight due to the heavy cloud cover.  It simply got dark an hour earlier than yesterday.  Then it was dinnertime.  The appetizer section won over the entrees this evening.  Beginning with a crispy prawn spring roll, we added lion head meatballs but were not sure what they consisted of.   Asking Alfred our waiter, he went to find out and came back saying it was pork.   We shared mains of Katsu pork (like Weiner schnitzel ) and every day lasagna.  It was a good combination.  Dessert were thin slices of carrot cake.    Presty, the maître d' was working the tables tonight and came to us with questions.  He wanted our opinion how the food at dinner was comparing to last year's world cruise.   We began to compare when his phone kept going off, so we expect to continue this conversation another time.

 

The Grand Voyage singers put on a show called Pop-Opera titled Dream.  No dancing due to the motion of the ocean.

 

Finally, we are done with the hour back almost every night.  At least until we head for Japan…….

 

Bill & Mary Ann  

No Pictures