Report # 57 Wednesday, October 29, 2025---Again---Sea Day #2 Of 4-- Enroute To Rarotonga, Cook Islands And A Pass By The Island Of Niue---Sunny, 80 Degrees, 20mph Winds, Speed 6 Knots-----Casual Dress

Well today was a rerun, so to speak, of yesterday.  The same day of the week, Wednesday, and the same date, the 29^th.   We do not have to worry about apps because we do not have a cell phone.  One less thing to think about.

 

There was one big difference today that did not happen yesterday, and that was the sailing past the island of Niue on our way towards the Cook Islands.   The weather was a bit more comfortable this morning with temps maybe in the low 80's and an 80% humidity.  There were more clouds than sun, but enough sun to make the surrounding waters a deep blue color.  The winds were over 21 knots with some fairly deep swells causing the ship to roll noticeably.  The Captain maintained a speed of 6 knots, which is one of the reasons we are like a cork in a bathtub. 

 

Yesterday during his noon update, the Captain had said he would take us past this island, mostly because he had never been here, and he suspected many of us had not either.  So we were up early to see the outline of this large, upraised coral atoll – the world's largest.   Niue (pronounced new-way) is considered an island country, a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand.  It consists of limestone cliffs and coral reefs and a plateau where crops can be planted.  The island measures 101 square miles and has a population of 1689 residents according to a census in 2022.  Their currency is the New Zealand dollar.   The capital is Alofi, which is situated on the other side of the island.  The locals are Protestant Christians, and their diet is mainly fruit, veggies, fish and seafood.  The water has to be boiled as it is not potable, so they depend on bottled water for drinking .   Agriculture is their main employer as well as fishing and tourism.  A small number of divers will come here for the coral reefs.    Having been here a few times, we do not recall seeing a hotel or restaurants.  There was a waterside coffee shop and a market of sorts on the hillside.  Other than that, there were no tours and the only other option was walking the perimeter road for a ways.  There may have been a 9-hole golf course on the top plateau.   People also come here to watch the humpback whale migration which happens between July and October.  

 

The first time we made it here, too many guests came ashore and crashed their internet connection for the entire day.  The market, library and school had to close for the rest of the day.  Tendering back became more difficult as the swells and winds increased in the afternoon.  So to be able to see the island by sailing close to it was far better than landing.  And the big plus of the morning was seeing the large numbers of the white- tailed tropicbirds flying back and forth from the island to the Zaandam.  These birds are much more numerous than we ever knew and we were happy to see their activity today.  Needless to say, many photos were taken in the course of the morning. 

 

We had another emergency muster station drill this morning from 10 to 11:30am.  It has been close to a month since we did the full drill before leaving San Diego, so this one was easy.  BY 11am, we stopped at lifeboat station 6 and logged in.  During the same time, we began running the safety drill video on our room TV.  Piece of cake. 

 

Working online kept us busy until it was time for a room service lunch of sandwiches around 3pm.  It has been a good time to  catch up on reading as well, thanks to friend Nancy who has been nice enough to share her pocket books with us.  These will be re-cycled at the library. 

 

At 9am, there was another port talk and at 11am, there was a lecture about atolls.  Another talk dealt with surviving in an atoll – lessons from a WWII pocket guide. The rest of the day was filled with the usual fun activities. 

 

Dinnertime was good with one bowl of doctored-up chicken noodle soup, a Caesar salad and another appetizer.   Mains were a lamb chop meal and a stuffed poblano pepper with rice.  Both good.  Dessert was one scoop vanilla ice cream and a sliced banana.  

 

Entertainment was a performance of the singers and dancers with Hit On 45.  So much for re-run day.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

104 Pictures

Report #56 Wednesday October 29, 2025 Sea Day #1 Of 4 Enroute To Rarotonga, Cook, Islands Mostly Sunny, 78 Degrees, 25 Knot Winds, Speed 8 Knots-----Dressy Night

One of us slept so soundly last night, it was near 8am by the time I woke up.  That never happens, but after so many consecutive nights of getting less than needed sleep, it tends to catch up with you.   And taking a long hot shower before retiring did not hurt one bit.

 

Getting a little late to the Pinnacle Grill was OK, as we do not think too many people want our table at the entrance.  Manager Arsa really cannot say no to a guest who asks for it.  And if you are late like today, we could have lost it.  Anyway, the coffee has been piping hot and the food done just right. 

 

On our way back to the elevators, Kumar our rep stopped us with some info we had asked about.  So far, no one has been assigned the job of cruise director on the 2026 Grand World Voyage, now that the job description has been modified with two people taking over the duties.  We are only guessing, but we suspect a job re-description might mean a cut in pay.  There has to be a very good reason for losing some of the best cruise directors in the business recently.   Kumar had a list of fellow President Club members and which grand voyages they were sailing on in 2026.  The numbers of members booked has dropped on each ship, some under the amount of 30 guests.   And for some unknown reason, we have gotten emails advertising reduced fares for the Grands of 2026.  All of them are targeting the segments, which of course, the benefits of early booking and paying in advance have long since expired.    Kumar is puzzled as to why we would even receive these ads since we are already booked and paid.  One hand at HAL headquarters does not seem to know what the other hand is doing. 

 

Since one of us was so far behind in daily writings, staying in the room and writing was the better bet.  The more active one of us took a long walk on the promenade deck after breakfast as usual on a sea day.   It is always less crowded when there is a port talk at 10am followed by a lecture on whales and dolphins.  Out of the blue, a low-flying passenger jet appeared on the starboard side flying near the ship.  Too quick to pull out the camera, it was gone just as fast as it had appeared.   Hopefully the Captain will talk about this incident during his noon talk. 

 

Noontime arrived, so we listened for some details with the jet, but he said not a word.  Good thing was there was no crash reported, so we assume these things happen all the time here.   The current temperature was 78 degrees with 25 knot winds coming straight at us.  We are rolling with the swells because we are maintaining a speed of 8 knots.   We are not sure the stabilizers can be utilized at this slow rate of speed.   The Captain did admit that today's skies were looking better with scattered clouds, a little sun, and blue skies up high.  It sure felt less humid, but that may be wishful thinking.  The Captain also had a surprise up his sleeve.  With some extra time, he decided to stray a little off course in order to be passing by the isolated island of Niue (pronounced new-way).  He surprised us again with the fact that he has never been there and wanted bragging rights to be able to see it on the portside only.   Hey, that works for us, however, we have been there at least three or four times on past cruises.   We have by-passed it as well due to too deep swells to tender ashore.  It is one big mound of an island but is a country itself and counts when you are a member of the Century Club.  Like we said, bragging rights.   It has close ties to New Zealand which takes care of its citizens.  Other than that, there is not too much there to attract tourists.  Our first visit there we went to the picnic grounds outside the main shopping market, where a local lady proceeded to root through my HAL bag I had on the bench next to me.   No kidding.  Another local yelled at her and she said she was looking for candy, from the ship we assume.  People always brought over pillow chocolates to hand to the kids.  That same day, too many passengers came over and crashed their internet for the day.  They had to close the school early due to no internet.  On the way back boarding the tenderboat,  a crew member said to go, and when I did, the swell took the boat down 10 or more feet, and I was literally airborne.  I hit the floor so hard I thought I broke my thigh bone.   Never again I said will I go here.  We did return, but the swell was not so bad. So sometime tomorrow morning, we should be passing by this island and possibly getting some photos.   

 

We are now on a four day at sea sailing towards the Cook Islands.   We were supposed to have two ports there with Aitutaki being one of them.  This island has to be the jewel of the Cook Islands it is so pretty and scenic.  Both ports of Rarotonga and Aitutaki do not cater to tourists in ships on Saturday and especially Sunday.  Why HAL keeps adding these ports on weekends is beyond our understanding.  The problem lies with the dockworkers who will not work on weekends, nor do most of the shore excursion folks work on weekends.   Restaurants and stores may be closed, especially on Sunday, their big church day.  Banks are not opened.  It stands to be seen if we can even tender into Avatiu as the swells can be lethal.  But that is another story for when we get closer.

 

Now let's complicate things a bit more.  We will be crossing the International Dateline once again, essentially giving us back the day we lost around October 15^th or so.   As a result, the ships clocks will be turned back 24 hours.  Therefore, we will experience October 29^th twice.  Guests using the Navigator will need to refresh the app to see the current day's activities.    So Wednesday remains the same (no elevator carpet change) and the 29^th is the same.  Confused?  As long as we are fed and entertained, we will all survive.  And gaining an extra day at sea has it good points as well.

 

Here is Clare's riddle of the day:   It happens once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a 1000 years.  Can you guess the answer?  It was easy this time. 

 

We ordered sliders once again with one order of chicken nuggets from room service for lunch.  It is a sure way to keep your meals as light as you can without other tempting foods to fill up on.  We were able to catch up on photos and daily reports during the day, as well as re-arranging our furniture to get the heavy coffee table out of our road to the veranda.   It was as easy as pulling the oblong glass table to alongside the desk and against the wall.    The flowers stayed on the table, and now the entire couch is open for sitting or propping up our legs and feet during the day.   We should have done this back in September. 

 

Dinnertime was wrapped around the theme of Masquerade Ball and was dubbed "dressy".  We have been due for one of these better-dressed evenings.   The time has arrived for the folks that have been working on creating masks in classes onboard to wear them to dinner or after dinner.  The menu this evening was really creative with some different items again.  Oa's Groentesoep soup with meatballs, root veggies and noodles was a big hit according to Regie, who had served it to all 18 of his early-seating guests.  So one of us had to try it, and yes, it was that good.  A potato latke and a beer and cheese dip with long skinny pretzels were equally as good.  Still too much cheese sauce for the pretzels, but there is always the bread to dip in the beer cheese.   One Caesar salad finished the starters.  The entrees were a hard choice, but the pork wellington was quite nice looking.  I chose the sausage and spaetzle, but it ws not as I expected.  Once again, the pork wellington was the winner.  Dessert was a small slice of Swedish apple cake…very moist and full of cinnamon…another winner.   The dining room emptied out with the folks heading for the World Stage to listen to their favorite band playing until well after 10pm.    Our friends had brought the "real" masks they bought while in Venice and if anyone wins a prize, it should be them.    

 

So tomorrow will be a repeat of today with different activities. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

No Pictures

Report #55 Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga ---8am-4:30pm---Anchored And Tendering--Mostly Cloudy, Possible Showers, 81 Degrees, 89% Humidity, 9mph Winds----Casual Dress

The Zaandam basically sailed north to a group of islands called Vava'u.  They have a far different look about them compared to the low-laying island of Tongatapu.  This area is most popular with the yachting and fishing crowds, as well as divers.  And with the early-riser among us he spotted a rare sighting of a Pacific imperial pigeon with greens wings and a grey body.  There is also another bird to be seen here called the Tongan whistler, basically yellow and black, but we have never seen one.    A few frigates flew up high and some black birds flew right above the water in large flocks.

 

It took all evening of sailing to get here, or by plane, a one-hour flight.  Too bad the weather was rather dismal this morning.  It sure did not appear to be a good beach or snorkel day either, although that did not stop the many beach folks from going somewhere or anywhere to find that beach.  The Zaandam sailed in between the numerous islands and islets on the way to the village of Neiafu located somewhat in the center of the grouping.   Tendering began while we were eating breakfast with "green" tender tickets being called a few at a time.  Warnings were repeated over and over not to bring any food or drink (other than bottled water) to shore.  That includes coffee.  Last year, cruise director Daniel, used to add not to bring over any souffles, as a joke of course.   We have to add here that it has not been stressed that the bottled or canned water must be commercially-sealed, meaning that lots of folks used their personal thermoses to bring the water.   We have not seen any of those being confiscated on this trip. 

 

Sitting where we do in the Pinnacle Grill, we do not miss too much as the tour people file by our "window" on their way to the show lounge.  You might be surprised how many folks we see carrying huge loads of stuff in a backpack they should not be toting.   We are talking snorkel equipment, aqua shoes, the blue and white heavy beach towels, cameras, cover-ups, and changes of clothing.  These back packs can easily out-weigh the folks wearing them.  The sporting goods stores where they live must love their business.  And we are happy for them to have this opportunity to enjoy nature.  Just hope their backs survive the day. 

 

Our buddy Nancy stopped by with the state of affairs concerning some of the odd happenings on the ship.  Wish we could help solve some of the problems here, but no one seems to know anything……how convenient is that?  It's not like the old days when you could pop into someone's office on deck three for a quick visit, since most of the curtains are drawn and "velcroid" together.  At least Hotel General Manager, Leonie was available as her door was always opened.  

 

So here are some of the tours offered here today.  A Talehau beach and swim excursion for 3 hours was $60, while a Polynesian cultural tour was 3 hours for $100 with fruit and water.  The cultural land tour ran 3 ¾ hours for $120 with dessert & fruit, then Nuku Island & swallows cave was 5 hours for $200 with a packed lunch and one water.  That was it.

 

We left the ship around 10:15am and joined the short line on deck A forward.  Shortly afterwards, opened tenders were announced.  It has been our experience so far, that if we waited for that announcement, the line could go down the hallway by then.  Today we got it right.  Due to strict speed limits, the ride was 15 to 20 minutes to reach the tender landing.  By the way, Vava'u has about 4000 people that cater to the yachties, mostly from New Zealand or Australia.  

 

Once at the landing, which has to change with the rising and falling of the tides, we watched a small group of locals sing and dance their greeting performance.  There used to be many more souvenir tables set up under tents on this pier, but today there were less than half.  We explored the Utakalongala Market right near the tender landing.   The vendors had gone to some trouble arranging their produce just so for quick sales.   They sure have healthy-looking veggies and fruits, especially the pineapples and melons.  Stepping inside the building, we found a series of tables set up with lots of handmade jewelry, similar to what we saw yesterday in Nuku'alofa.  They had woven baskets, weavings, paintings, and assorted costume jewelry….some plastic and some stones.  We did purchase a  leather/seashell bracelet as a memento from here.  

 

Then we made our way up the narrow street full of taxis, cars, and small buses to Fatafehi, the main road.   On top of a knoll sat the historic church St. Joseph's Cathedral.  It did have striking architecture, not indigenous to this region of the world.  It appears to be a landmark and center of the town's village.  One of us went inside for the photo op while the other waited outside.  There was a ramp, but we forgot it was around the side.  That's where we met to exit the property.

 

Close by here is a cliffside bar and grill we like to visit for lunch.   They were already opened so we made our way down the long flight of wooden stairs to the water's edge.  They have an open-air lanai that overlooks the harbor with many moored watercraft and sailboats.  We sat at an end table for two right above the water.    It was nice because we could watch a big shoal of small bait fish swimming as well as tropical fish in the mix up to a foot long.  The largest ones were hiding under the boarded veranda.  This had to be way better than snorkeling for us.

 

We ordered local Maka beers in bottles (no draft), a BBQ chicken pizza, and the free company of a gold tabby male cat.  He insisted on begging food, but we knew better than to feed him.  He was too close to jumping on our laps, and eventully laid down under our table.    We ended our lunch with two more beers and one order of a decadent chocolate and walnut-studded cake with two generous scoops of chocolate ice cream.  Hmmm, death by chocolate comes to mind…  So good, glad we shared.

 

We reluctantly left by 2pm and made our way back to the wharf.  There was no shortcut to access the tender landing.  All aboard was 4:30pm with the last tenderboat leaving at 4:30pm.  You never want to wait for that last boat as it could be filled to the gills.  There was an empty boat arriving, and we made it on it with a tad bit of room to spare.  The ride took about 20 minutes and we were back in our room by 3pm with wonderful air-conditioning. 

 

The Zaandam pulled their anchors, and we were off and running after 5pm.   We watched the scenic cruising from the comfort of our veranda of course.  We would have quite a job with photos and reports ahead of us after two full days of being in the Tongan ports.  Not expecting it, we were treated with another beautiful Tongan sunset.  More "frosting" on the cake.

 

Dinnertime arrived and we both ordered Caesar salads, one small crab Louis salad and a chicken pho soup…hot-hot-hot.  Mains were one German meatball by a funny name with creamy mashed taters, and one blue plate Club Orange chicken dinner.   Hands down…..the meatball entrée won tonight.  Desserts were sliced pineapple and one small mixed berry tart. 

 

There was an entertainer by the name of CJ Finley, a highly-skilled ventriloquist with his crazy puppet characters and comedy.   Bet it was funny, but by the time we finished our leisurely meal, half or more of his show was over.

 

We will now have four sea days, one of which will be a repeat as we will have two days of October 29^th. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

410 Pictures

Report #54 Monday October 27, 2025 Nuka'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga Docked Starboard Side To Pier--8am-5:30pm--Overcast And Hazy Sun Shine--79 Degrees--94% Humidity--4.6mph Winds---Casual Dress

Today's port of call was Nuku'alofa, on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga.  The kingdom of Tonga has a total of 171 islets, but only 45 of them are inhabited.  Tongatapu is one of the largest islands and happens to be the nation's capital.   It is about the only (if not the only) remaining monarchy or "kingdom" left in the South Pacific.   We are glad we have been here numerous times, because today turned out to be a different one as we will explain.

 

The Zaandam arrived to the Vuna Wharf, originally built in 1906 where most of the visitors arrived by ships.  A railway ran here transporting copra and other crops to be shipped elsewhere as well as playing a part for transporting tools and equipment during WWI.  This wharf was recently upgraded by the Chinese government to accommodate larger cruise ships and super yachts. 

 

The ship was cleared while we ate breakfast, and the tour groups were off and running.  The temperature was predicted to be 79 degrees with broken clouds and 94% humidity.  The winds were 4.6 mph, and there was a chance of light showers, which never did happen.  If it rains here, it has never been light.

 

We left the ship by 10am during another crew drill and by then the welcome group of singers and dancers had left.  One of the first things we noticed was that the souvenir tents had been set up in the bus parking lot, opposite of where they have been for the last couple of years.  Also, the small tourist info shack seemed to be closed.    There was a local lady standing outside the door and we asked her about the rumor we heard of a holiday here.   Yes, it was a holiday celebrating the 150 years of Constitution Day, and many venues would be closed all day.   Well, not having the time to listen to the port talk before today, we missed that notice.  We were able to get one very good and informative map inside the kiosk where, oddly enough, three Tongan men complimented my blouse.  They liked the colors of the orange/black/and white design, thinking I may have bought it here.  Well, no, actually I bought the fabric in Tahiti, and they smiled saying close-enough. They probably say that to everyone to be fair. 

 

There were a total of six excursions today starting with historic Nuku'alofa for 2 ½ hours and $60.  We did this on our own for zero dollars.  A swim at Tongatapu (somewhere on the island) was 3½ hours for  $70, while Captain Cook Landing & culture was 3 hours for $75.  Liku'alofa scenic island drive was 3 ½ hours for $80 or Island encounter & ancient Tonga was 3 ½ hours for $85.  Last was Oh-olei Beach & Hina Cave for 4 ½ hours for $100 with lunch of a suckling pig cooked in the ground. 

 

So our self-guided tour found us on the way to the Maketi Talamahu or the marketplace.   This is a huge produce market on the first level as well as Tongan handicraft items, tapa cloth, weavings, mats, carvings, and some costume jewelry.  The second floor has a huge variety of Tongan t-shirts, beach towels, sarongs, and shoes.   And guess what we found?  It was locked up tight, no one there, not even locals that normally fill the place.   That was a big disappointment.   We continued up a side street that led us past housing and shops to the street where the Catholic Basilica is located. 

 

The Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua was the very first basilica in the South Pacific islands completed in 1980 with volunteer labor.  The altar, baptistry, pews and tables were made from coconut wood and inlaid with mother-of-pearl including the Stations of the Cross.  Only one of us made it up the flight of stairs to the church's entrance, although both of us have seen this church several times on past trips.  Still feeling the effects of the sudden cold symptoms kept one of us needing more stops to rest and cool off.   The photos taken will suffice.

 

Directly across the road was the "unveiled" Royal Tombs…unveiled because for the last two years this whole complex has been covered up for construction purposes.  King George Tupou I was the first king to be buried here in 1893, followed by several of his descendants.  This recent project was funded by the Chinese government with the outside corners turned into sitting areas and parking lots.  Some of the outside paving and tree-planting was done by the Japanese with plaques taking credit for the work. 

 

Directly across the street is the oldest church here, or what remains of it.  The name is Centennial Church built of coral blocks in 1888, and it was a magnificent example of early Tongan church architecture.    But time, hurricanes, and tsunamis have taken a toll on the condition, reducing this church to mostly rubble.  All that remains now is a shell with a few spires and no interior.   There was a time we entered this church with stained glass windows and was a truly an impressive official state church.  Obviously, there is not enough money available to renovate it.  Maybe someday, another government will offer funds to bring this icon back to life.   We highly suspect it may be China.

 

Surrounding the Royal Tombs are several schools such as Queen Salote College, Tonga High School, and Queen Salote Memorial Hall, the national auditorium.  This hall can hold over 2000 people, one of the largest in the South Pacific.   This was funded by the Taiwanese government in 1995 and happened to be the venue of the Miss South Pacific competition in 1995.  And guess who won?  Yep, Miss Tonga won the title of Miss South Pacific for the first time ever.   What a surprise…..

 

Walking back towards the ocean, we passed by the walled fence of Mala'e Mamaloa, or a huge field used for church occasions and annual feasts, where hundreds of roasted pigs are cooked and served.  Many of the street trees have been removed and new trees have been planted.  They were still in the process of planting even more.    Right next to this field is the Centenary Church or Royal Church originally named the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga built in 1952.  This church seats 2000 people.  However, we were surprised to see that it is undergoing major reconstruction and is closed to all functions. 

 

Across the road is His Majesty's Army Forces.  There are about 700 soldiers in three different camps on the island.   The guards here protect the Royal Palace right next to it.  This used to be the official residence of the King and his family, buy these days the stately building is used for official functions as well as housing the Royal Archives and artworks.  The King and his family have at least two more residences on the island, one of which we believe is near a golf course.    From where we were seeing the palace from Hala Vuna, we could take many pictures….along with the bus loads of tourists doing the very same thing.  

 

Running into friends who had just left the photo op, we compared notes about what we had already seen and the changes that have taken place since a year ago.  They also have followed the progress of foreign countries coming into these specific South Pacific Islands and setting up possible sites to benefit them, not the Tongans.  When you see signs that mention reciprocity, you know there are strings attached maybe not right away but sometime in the future.

 

Usually from this point, we walk the length of the shoreline road, but since one of us still was not up to it, we sat on a nice bench and took in the breeze instead.  At least for five minutes.  There is a small but cozy cottage along this stretch where we have enjoyed nice lunches before.  However, it seems that we have arrived on a day they were closed again.  Friends Gerard and Jan had already checked it out, and said the gate was closed, as was the restaurant. 

 

One other thing worth mentioning is that the trees that held the fruit bats had been cut down.  Even the huge mango trees that fed them were gone.  That is one way to get rid of them and hope they go to another part of the island.  There is a colony of these critters at Kolovai Village and one of the tours goes there. 

 

Back-tracking, we headed down a side street passing the Nuku'alofa Club where the elite Tongan men go to socialize and play games of snooker.   Next to it is a girls tourist school of sorts. 

 

At Raintree Square, there is a gigantic shade tree said to be there since WWII.  This is a place where locals gather and sit on benches in the shade.  Nearby is the new post office, and across the road is the Public Service Commission, one of the oldest buildings in town.    Up this street a piece is Friends Café , a modern coffee shop with a Handicraft Center next door. 

 

Passing the Pangai Lahi, or the huge green field next to the palace, we realized it was royal land used for special events, feasts, parades, and kava ceremonies.   It is fenced and no one is allowed on it.

 

At this point we had gone full circle and continued to walk up the road past the local bus station and a row of fast food-like eateries.   We seemed to recall seeing a few hotels up this way, one of which was the Tanoa Hotel.  We were correct and located it right next to the Emerald Hotel.  Except it sure looked closed to us.  Then we spotted a sign by the front door saying the facilities in this hotel were reserved for registered guests only.   Oh no……this would be our only choice for a place for lunch.  We went inside anyway and spotted a lady on a computer.  She said yes, they were opened and follow the lobby to the back of the property.  We discovered a nice swimming pool and a restaurant with tables surrounding the pool.  Perfect.  A waitress greeted us and said to sit wherever we wished.  That would be under an overhang with fans.  We ordered local beers, Tiki, although they were not draft, the ice-cold bottles were most welcomed.   We shared a burger that came with bacon (actually back bacon) and a fried egg, which we asked for no egg.  It came on it anyway, which was OK.  A pile of fries on the side was just right.  It took two more beers to cool us off, then we added one order of cinnamon churros with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream.  You cannot go wrong with anything cinnamon. 

 

We headed back to the ship slowly after checking out the souvenir tents in the bus parking lot.  There really wasn't anything of interest, and the vendors were not in the bargaining mode yet.  The closer it got to all aboard time at 5:30pm, perhaps they would be willing to deal.  At 3pm, it was far too early.  Back in our room, we cooled off until sailaway, where we watched from our veranda.  The Captain turned the ship around and we saw what remained of a farewell group of local Tongans singing and waving goodbye.  As we headed through the lagoon, we saw a very nice Tongan sunset.

 

At dinnertime, we had to apologize to waiter Regie for forgetting to tell him we had Pinnacle Grill reservations last night.    Actually one of his buddies Arjay (Joseph) works in the Pinnacle and he could have called him to see if we were there.   So tonight we ordered one bowl of hot lentil soup and a Caesar salad.  Mains were one chicken dinner and a short rib plate with savory mashed potatoes.  All good "comfort" food, we ended the meal with one scoop each of rocky road and coffee fudge ice cream. 

 

On the way back to our room, one of us needed to make a stop in the Liquor Shop for one simple item.  It just so happened that without a bar code, this product could not be priced.   Two of the salespersons hauled out paperwork and a computer to run numbers while I waited and waited.  Finally, I said is there a comparable item, and the gal said yes…and it had a bar code.  Duh…   Funny this group has had a month to price things, and it still is incomplete.  Go figure….. 

 

The entertainer of the evening was Bruce Mathiske, a guitar player and also a didgeridoo musician.  What a combo.  Obviously from Australia, he was sure to be a hit with the crowd.

 

Tomorrow we will have a very different Tongan port called Neiafu, Vava'u. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

447 Pictures

Report #53 Sunday, October 26, 2025 Sea Day Enroute To Nuku'alofa, Tonga Mostly Cloudy And Overcast---79 Degrees, 88% Humidity, 10mph Winds------Casual Dress

A day at sea was on the agenda today.  It was also Sunday brunch day beginning at 9:30am to12:30 pm.   Ever since boarding the ship back on September 3^rd, we have yet to eat breakfast or lunch in the dining room. 

 

On our way to the Pinnacle Grill this morning,  we had a meeting with one of our buddies regarding the closing of the show lounge doors on deck four.  Yesterday, Clare made a pointed demand that no one is allowed going into the lounge when the doors are closed while entertainment groups may be practicing.   Apparently, people are doing what they want and ignore the signs.  We do know from past cruises, that the entertainers object to an audience while rehearsing.   We get that but was it necessary for Clare to say if the doors are barricaded, that should be enough of a clue not to enter.   She went on to say if they must, the fire doors would be closed.    Then last night at showtime, this same entrance was still blocked and closed.  We do not have a clue of who to ask about this, but it seems to be a safety issue now.  Closed fire doors?  Really?

 

One of us was still feeling under the weather, so the other took a long walk on the promenade deck, while the not-so-well person wrote reports.  There were still hundreds of photos taken yesterday that had to be sorted, and it seemed to take the rest of the day catching up.

 

The Captain came on with his noon talk and reported we had 221 nautical miles to reach Nuku'alofa, Tonga tomorrow morning.  He expected to be docking on time, if not early.  The weather to be expected tomorrow was 78 degrees and partly cloudy skies.  However, the TV screen said something different which was there was a 100% chance of rain and 10.2 mph winds.  The sunset and sunrise times were given, but one of us failed to write it down. 

 

Today's craft was a class on making masquerade masks, perhaps for Halloween.   The port talk for both Tongan ports happened at 11am, and it should be recorded to watch later in the day.  In fact, we discovered that the TV format for the shore talks has been fixed.  Now we can read her entire lecture as well as listen to it.    The other usual activities took place all day.

 

Lunch was from room service with one pulled pork sandwich and one club sandwich.   Nothing else. 

 

Dinner tonight was in the Pinnacle Grill at 8pm.  We did a fine job finishing our wedge salads and soft chicken taco.  The Pinnacle chef stopped by for a visit and when we complimented his new items, it earned us a pat on our shoulders.   One of us ordered the lamb chops (oddly enough, the toughest ones yet) with skinny fries on the side and the other had the small filet mignon with 2 crispy onion rings on the top.   It was more than enough food since we had not done a lot all day to work up an appetite. 

 

Tonight's entertainer was a repeat performance by the country western singer Patrick McMahon with road tested classics from the highways of America.    Judging by the number of folks passing by our window in the Pinnacle Grill , we would say he drew a nice crowd.   One of these days, we might catch a show. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann   

 

No Pictures

Report #52 Saturday October 25, 2025 Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji--8am-4:30pm--- Anchored And Tendering To Copra Shed Marina-- Mostly Cloudy, 82% Humidity, 8mph Winds-----Casual Dress

The final stop in Fiji, Savusavu, is a very vacation-like village, popular with the yachting groups from New Zealand and Australia.    There are 8000 people that live here and work mostly in the coconut oil, and black pearl industries as well as resorts that cater to the snorkelers and divers.  According to the port talk, it is more about nature here with hot springs for cooking food in the ground, kava ceremonies, and a marketplace with 150 vendors selling jewelry, carvings, some clothing and produce.   There is one certified? pearl shop that is reportedly a 10 minute walk from the tender landing.  The name is J. Hunter Pearls and perhaps the only place to buy the "real" authentic rare and lustrous pearls. 

 

Tendering meant tender tickets, but not for our group.  We would be able to go over to shore anytime joining the next available tender.  Of course, the tour groups would go first.   There were six excursions today starting with a waterfall and rainforest trek for 3 ½ hours and $90.  A traditional Fiji village tour was next for 3 hours and $90 with green coconut juice served.   Savusavu sight-seeing was 4 hours and $110 and snorkeling with Cousteau for 2 hours was also $110, but you got a drink and a cookie.  You were not really snorkeling with the famous Cousteau's but using their resort as a base.   A cultural exchange and waterfall was 3 ½ hours for $130, while a visit to a chocolate farm and factory was 1 ½ hours for $130 which included tastings. 

 

So, we had two different days, which is rare for us.  One of us had an appointment with the doctor onboard, while the other went ashore for a few hours.   The medical center visit was most thorough, the same as at home.  Health forms had to be filled out before I could be seen by the nicest lady doctor.  I was asked if I objected to a Covid test, and I said it was fine….do it.  At least I would know what to blame the illness on.  I tested negative, thank goodness.    After checking the current meds I take, she prescribed antibiotics, a cough medicine, and another important prescription I was taking, but ran out.   These were filled while I waited, which total time, it was an hour.    So glad we had taken out a good medical coverage on this trip as we know the cost of going here can be very high.  Sometimes you have no choice.  The rest of the time I worked on 2 reports before I forgot what we did.

 

While sitting on the veranda, gathering notes, there was a knock on the door.  We had gotten another card saying that the verandas would be cleaned.  Again?  We did not read it right, and it was the carpets that were being shampooed.  It took all of 15 minutes, but it left the rug really damp and smelling like oranges.   At least we know it is clean and maybe some of the shedding will stop since the carpet is new. 

 

In the meantime, Bill took off for a tenderboat ride to shore when open tenders were called.   He had a fine time walking the town and checking out a new marketplace that had been completed since we were here last year.   Dropped off at The Copra Shed Marina,  he recalled how wet we got last time when the skies opened up.   Today it stayed dry, although the cloud cover was heavy most of the day.  It was still very hot in town with little breeze.  There are always souvenir tables set up along Main Street, and he decided to look at some of the pearl items being sold.  Granted, these items are authentic Fijian pearls but are the culls of the lot.   Still, they make nice necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.  Even though I said do not buy anything, he knew it might make my day bringing back a neat-looking bracelet of black pearls.    And he was right.  After 58 years of being married, he knows me well. 

 

Around 2:30pm, we ordered two plates of burger sliders and one plate of chicken nuggets with fries.  Yes, they are on the kid's menu, but it was just enough to tide us over to dinner. 

 

The Captain came on with his talk saying goodbye to Savusavu and the country of Fiji.  Once he picked up the anchor, we would sail to the next country of Tonga, 428 nautical miles away.   Being that it was too far for a one-day sailing, he would take a full day at sea and arrive on Monday.  Also the clocks would need to go forward one hour tonight to be on Tonga time.   We can expect the temps to be 78 degrees, and that's all he said.  He is a man of few words.

 

Dinner was not attended by a lot of diners since there was A Lido Fair Event held at 8:15pm.  They advertised games, food, and prizes under the Lido Dome.   Why they are doing these events on a port day puzzles us, when most of us are exhausted after a day in port and on tours.  But what do we know?

 

Anyway, one of us had a bowl of doctored-up chicken noodle soup, thanks to waiter Regie.  A Caesar salad and another appetizer of bruschetta was good for the other one of us.  Both of us had the sweet and sour chicken plate piled high.  Holy moly, we could not eat it all and there definitely was no room for a small dessert.  We were back to the room by 10pm since we had already put the clocks ahead.    So it was a night off of writing but watching a Star Trek movie on TV instead. 

 

Looking forward to the lazy sea day tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

349 Pictures

Report #51 Friday, October 24, 2025 Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji--Day #2 Of 2--Docked Port Side To Pier---All Aboard--3:30pm Cloudy With Some Rain---84 Degrees, 65% Humidity, 12mph Winds---Casual Dress

Lautoka day 2 started out with temperatures back in the 80's and 65% humidity.  The breeze was stronger with 11.6mph with overcast skies, broken clouds, and possible rain showers.  All aboard was early at 3:30pm.

 

Being that we had "done the town" yesterday, we stayed onboard until 11:30am.  Yesterday's rain had had certainly cleared the air with one exception. We had noticed that sugar cane fields were being burned, leaving a plume of heavy smoke in the distance.  During the late evening hours, the winds had shifted to make the entire town and dock area totally obscured.  The smoke was so heavy it was hard to see the dock.  And it smelled terrible, wishing I had not opened the veranda door.  By morning, the smoke was back in the fields with the plume heading straight into the sky.  

 

This morning, one of us was having a sudden problem with a dry cough.  Not bad, just annoying.  Within a few hours,  I had chest congestion with a bad cough.  Now we wondered if that smoke triggered it.  Who knows, but there may be a doctor visit for me tomorrow. 

 

Back to Lautoka,  we went straight to the Tanoa Hotel & Resort, arriving at noontime.  Once again, the staff was setting up the buffet which began at 1pm.   This time we ordered a 12 inch BBQ chicken pizza which was really tasty.    We had hesitated to order a different one because it said there was capsicum, which we know as hot peppers.  Taking a chance, the peppers appeared to be sweet and not hot.  They were out of draft beer, so we ordered Fiji Gold bottles, just as good.  We had enjoyed the brownie dessert with ice cream, so decided to share another one. 

 

We took our sweet time walking back since all aboard was 3:30pm.  We were on the ship by 2:30pm.  In most every port where the heat is oppressive like today, there is a sweet bar staffer handing out frozen washcloths.  We said yes we need it, and while she was giving them to us, one of the older local vendor ladies approached her and asked for one also.   She said sorry, but it is not allowed. We heard later on that there had been some problems with the crew and dock workers last night.  Suffice it to say, some of the crew members got into some kind of trouble and may have lost their option of getting off for a while.

 

The Captain gave his 3:30pm talk prior to leaving the port, adding that it was time too say goodbye to Lautoka.  We would have 252 nautical miles to reach Savusavu tomorrow early in the morning.  After navigating through the reefs with a pilot, the Zaandam would have to go at a fast speed.  The winds were expected to be 20 knots tonight, and tomorrows' weather would bring sprinkles, sun, clouds and warm and humid.  The same-same.

 

Dinner was titled Prost Dinner in the dining room, but we were not sure what that meant.  We soon found out it was the German menu.  Not feeling 100%, one of us had the watered-down chicken soup, the other had salad and potato latkes, followed by Weiner schnitzel with German potato salad.   Quite good we may add.  Bee sting cake called Bienenstich was dessert for one of us, while it was pineapple slices for the other.  

 

The entertainer of the night was a soprano singer by the name of Clarissa Spata.  She sang award-winning tunes from opera, classical, and theater.    One of us was so tired, I do not remember my head hitting the pillow.  

 

Tomorrow we will be in Savusavu. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

117 Pictures

Report #50 Thursday, October 23, 2025 Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji Docked Port Side To Pier--8am--Overnite Till 3:30pm On 10-24-25 Mostly Cloudy With Sun 83 Degrees, 94% Humidity,5mph Winds---Casual Dress

Lautoka, Fiji, on the island of Viti Levu, has  population of 71,500 people, many of whom are of Indian and Chinese descent to name only a few.  Nicknamed "Sugar City", Lautoka was built on the sugar cane production long ago.  This city has a far different feel about it, as if you are in a 1950's setting.  Most of the businesses are still operated by these two groups of people with the Chinese being the bankers and the Indian population being the store and restaurant keepers.   At least 200,000 residents work for the sugar cane operations. 

 

It was going to be a very hot and humid day again with temps in the 90's and light winds at 4.6 mph.  It was heavily overcast, and you knew at one point, there would be rain showers.  We are here for two days, because Dravuni Island was cancelled weeks ago.  There was damage to their tender landing, and would not be fixed anytime too soon.  That's too bad, because that is one stop people looked forward to seeing and spending some time on the beach and swimming in the water. 

 

In the meantime, there were some tours offered here today starting with a ride to nearby Nadi for 3 ½ hours and $80.  Kula Eco Park was an option with lunch for 5 ½ hours and $120.  Two excursions for 4 ½ hours and $130 were to the essence of Fiji with lunch and Homestead & History.   Thermal mud pools was high on the list for 3 ½ hours and $150.  Bring an old swimsuit, as the mud may stain.   Definitely not our thing.  For $180, you could do the Savala day cruise with lunch for 4 hours or Bula coffee and sand dune adventure for 5 ½ hrs.  Finally for $190, there was a zipline and Tau Cave for 4 ½ hours or a day at the Hilton Resort Denarau Island and resort for 6 hours and lunch.  Here is something interesting, while in Suva, a flyer was handed to us with some tour options such as the Hilton day pass which was only $85 for the same tour as HAL's.   And the zipline was $120 for the same amount of time.  You would have to pay us to do that activity. 

 

We stayed onboard until 10:45am, then headed out for the walk to town.  The port provided shuttles today, but you had to book your complimentary tickets on you phone app or online or even on the TV in our room.  This practice started while we were on the Grand World Voyage this year.  They ran about every 30 minutes and took the folks to Jack's of Fiji, a popular clothing and souvenir store in town and to Tappoo City Mall.

 

It was easier to walk, although it was hot, we did get to see the big rigs loaded with the cut sugar cane….the most we have ever seen before.  The sugar production story is outlined on billboards on the way to town and provide excellent info on what made this place successful.  We heard "bula" from here, there, and everywhere, even coming from the big rig drivers.  What a kick.   Bulas came from the numerous taxi drivers as well as from locals all the way to downtown. 

 

Having been here several times, we knew our way to the marketplace, which is every bit as big as the one in Suva.  Local shoppers were out in droves since they are in the middle of two events -  Dewali and Fiji Day.  Along the way to the market, we came across a fabric store called Island Fabrics.   We found the exact type of white-on-white fabric for a long sleeve blouse.  The storekeeper was hesitant to accept US dollars, but with 4 meters of 42 inch material, she came up with $10 USD.   Good deal and we wished her Happy Diwali Day which brought a smile to her face.

 

Entering the local market, we ducked into the enclosed fish counters.  It was obvious that most of the daily catch had been sold, but we did see various types of tropical reef fish ready for sale.  There are the very same fish that you would see while snorkeling, having paid hundreds of dollars to do so. Obviously, their numbers are staggering, and they are in no danger of going extinct.   The rest of this massive market was loaded with "heaps"  of healthy-looking produce which makes for colorful photos.  One of the friendly ladies in the market spent 20 minutes talking to us, asking questions such as where are you from, how many kids do you have, how old are you, and how much does it cost to be on the ship.  They are not shy here, and we answered the best we could.  Asking our names, she wanted Bill to take a photo of the two of us.  We did, then said our goodbyes. 

 

At one end of this market was the "fast food" section where you can buy slices of watermelon or pineapples on a stick.   Another nice lady asked where we were from, then proceeded to describe the products she was selling.  All really foreign to us.  We think talking with the locals is more fun that just visiting the sites.   Then a couple of cute little boys passed us eating sliced watermelon, and we asked to take a picture.  The parents seemed to like that. Spending time in this town was like frosting on the cake for us. 

 

Time to start thinking about lunch, we walked the main street opposite the Tappoo City Mall.  Small shops provide a great window-shopping opportunity, but since we had not exchanged any US dollars for Fiji money, we bought nothing.  Just as well, we might be overweight already going back home.   Following the park down to the water's edge, we were on Marine Drive where the Tanoa Hotel & Resort is located.    Their restaurant, The Fin, had wonderful air-conditioning and ice cold draft beers.  At 12:30pm, there were only a  few customers, but by 1pm, a buffet lunch was set up for a group of seminar guests.  They were serving a buffet of chicken/beef stew, a pile of rice,  and veggies on the side.  Judging from the heap of food piled on their plates, we determined that  Fijians are really good eaters.   So along with the Fijian Gold beers, we ordered a 14-inch Hawaiian pizza, followed by a  decadent chocolate brownie with ice cream to share.  It took two more beers to re-hydrate before we headed back to the ship.  

 

There was no heed to hurry back, since we were spending the night.  Following Marine Drive, we had essentially taken a short-cut on the way back to the ship.   We were closer than we thought.  At the pier, we asked the price of a poncho-style top, and the vendor said $35.  No way, as elsewhere in the world, they are $15 or less.  The rain was just beginning to fall, so it was a good excuse to leave the vendor to other guests.  Within minutes, the rain began and  fell hard as there was lightning and thunder.  Once again…..exciting especially watching it from our veranda. 

 

Dinnertime came quick enough giving one of us a break from photo-sorting.    One of us order a bowl of chicken noodle soup, noticing that it was "skimpy" with more broth than anything else.  Darn, the soup chef had gone home and we have a new person.  Regie promised to ask for more veggies, noodles, and chicken in the soup next time.  He has been very good that way.   There was a baba ghanoush appetizer and two different salads as starters, followed by Club Orange pork belly and sweet and sour duck.  We would have passed on dessert, but they had Bosche Bol, the whipped cream filled éclair-like treat, so we shared one.  

 

Entertainment was a comedian by the name of Flip Schultz, who has been seen on Last Comic Standing,  Comedy Central and HBO.   It had been such a long and warm day, we were happy to turn in early as usual.  Burning the candle at both ends has never been wise for us.  And we have another day here in Lautoka.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

277 Pictures

Report #49 Wednesday October 22, 2025 Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji---Happy Diwali--Docked Starboard Side To Pier---8am-5:30pm--Broken Clouds With Rain, 79 Degrees, 94% Humidity, 3.4mph Winds--Part #1 Of 4....70 Pictures Of 275---Casual Dress

Happy Diwali Day!  That's how The Daily newsletter began this fine day.   Diwali is an Indian holiday….the feast of lights we believe.   We first became aware of this occasion when we visited Fiji for the first time around this time of year.   We happened to be walking in Lautoka, Fiji, when we saw candle vigils along the sidewalks in town, posters in every store window, and young boys lighting off fireworks in the local park.   Fiji has a large Indian community due to the migration of workers needed for the sugar fields back in the old days.    So this community still celebrates every holiday that India does.  This is the first time we actually were here on the exact date.  One of their traditions is creating designs on the sidewalks with multi-colors of chalk.  We saw the most of this while in Lautoka, tomorrow's port.

 

So today's port was Suva, Fiji on the island of Viti Levu.   The Zaandam arrived at the harbor under broken clouds with rain showers all over the place.   At 8am, it was already 79 degrees, and 94% humidity.  Winds were mild at 3.4mph.  It appears to be another hot and muggy day, but that is normal for this part of the world.   

 

We had breakfast first, then waited to leave the ship by 10:15am.  Most of the tour groups had gone off by then.   There was a total of twelve excursions starting with the most affordable ones.  Six of the tours were under 4 hours and ranged from $50 to $80.  They visited a veggie market and scenic drive for $60.  A day at a beach was $50  and a Sawani village and Kila eco trek were $50 to $90.    A longboat ride and a park and waterfall was $70.  The most expensive tour here was The Pearl South Pacific Resort for 7 hours and $150 with a lunch.  The Fiji Museum at Thurston Gardens was part of the tour for 3 hours and $80 .  How about doing a zipline?  That would set you back $150 for over a couple of hours.     An easy sit in the bus tour was Best of Suva for 4 hours and $90.  Most of the excursions include a kava ceremony as well.

 

Unlike Samoa, the Fijian tourist folks do not distribute maps or brochures at an information booth.  The only snippet of info we get is on the ship's paper with samples of most-seen places not to be missed.     Brief descriptions of these sites are printed on the back of that paper.  We always pack this paper with us in case they are needed.   The port gent's number is listed on them too.  As far as the port talks go on TV , they have had their share of problems on our end, since it is difficult to read the bottom captioning.     

 

Just as we decided to leave, it began to rain.  Light at first, then stronger by the second, we found we were in quite a storm.   Directly across the street from the dug-up cruise terminal, is the Suva Municipal Market that offers tons of really nice produce, crafts, and best of all….fresh flowers for sale.  Taking shelter from this downpour, we strolled the mostly empty market and took all the photos we liked.  Even the locals were not out and about in large numbers due to this rain.  We were in the market for flowers but decided to buy them on our way back.

 

We did hear a lot of "bula" greetings from both the men and ladies as we continued to the main street along the waterfront.  Bula means "welcome" if we remember correctly, and we always respond back with the same word, although we should be saying thank you.   All-in-all, we felt most welcomed and not intimidated as some other passengers suggested.  Even the police men and women guarding the doors to the many large banks along the way greeted us as we passed by them.    For those folks who ventured out into downtown like us, they could have gone right into the Tappoo City Suva, a modern shopping mall with international brands, shops, and cafes.   We do know that most of the crew intended to come here today, as they are not really interested in seeing the sites.   Snack foods, local cuisine, and affordable clothing is more their thing. 

 

Good thing we did have our umbrellas, since the rain was coming down "cats and dogs" as the policeman said.  Passing the small shops, we did see the fabric store one of us likes.  Once again, we would come here on our way back.  We did make it as far as the Holiday Inn, one of the very first hotels here in Suva.  By now, our shoes were filling with water and except for our heads, everything else was soaked.  We were better off than those guests that ventured out this morning without umbrellas or even waterproof jackets as Clare had suggested.  Taking shelter near the hotel entrance, the hotel greeters invited us to sit on a bench to stay dry until the worst of the cloudburst eased up.   That was not going to be any time too soon, as we watched the parking lot and gutter fill to overflow.  At this point, it was funny.  The hotel workers said this storm might slow down by 5pm.  Then they asked how long the ship was there.  We said until 5:30pm, which they laughed and said "bula"….welcome to Fiji – ha-ha! 

 

The most elegant hotel was right next to the Holiday Inn, the Grand Pacific Hotel, which dates back to the late 1800's we think.  Although we would have made a visit to nearby Thurston Gardens where the Fiji Museum is located as well as next to Suva's government buildings, we figured it would be far too wet and muddy to walk under the mature trees with hundreds of hanging fruit bats in them.   It would have been nice if we could have walked as far as the Presidential Palace to see if the guard at the entrance was standing in this downpour.  Chances are he may have been standing in the narrow guard house with his rifle at his side.

 

It was a relief to enter the opened doors at the Grand Pacific Hotel, the only place in town we would consider having lunch….and a proper one at that since it is so British.  Passing through the elegant flower-decorated lobby and past the center carpeted seating where afternoon tea happens, we entered their garden restaurant.  Several tables were set up with the view of the swimming pool and the ocean beyond.   It's almost as if time has stood still surrounded by this setting.   And for the first time we can recall, the place was near empty of customers even at noontime.  Fine with us as we had seamless service.  The first order of the meal were two draft beers, which the waiter recommended Vonu, a low carb beer, which we did not hear.  It was OK to wet the whistle, but we switched to Fiji Gold once we remembered the name.  Much bolder and better than the light ones in our opinion.  Most of the lunch choices tended to be on the Indian side,  so we went for the pizza, which is not a surprise.  Margherita had the best toppings, and we added some onions, mushrooms, and pepperoni.  There was a little confusion with the pepperoni, since the waiter thought we meant peppers.  Glad he asked.  No, we described pepperoni as looking similar to salami.  A puzzled look told us the waiter was not familiar with salami.   So the pizza ended up with sliced sausage, which was close enough.   It did take a while to arrive, but we were in no big hurry.  By now, the worst of the rainstorm had passed over he city and eventually stopped.   We did add a shared dessert of pineapple strudel with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.   There was something diced small and tangy, but we could not agree what it was mixed with the pineapple.  Then it struck us, it was candied ginger.   And ginger is not something that we use at home in cooking, but here it was a good combination.  And we just had a fleeting thought…..so far between the Alaska runs and this Legendary cruise, there has been no yum-yum person handing us ginger or candies like they do on the grand world cruise.  Is this another tradition that will disappear?

 

We had lingered long enough, and decided it was time to head back before the rain started again.  The streets and gutters were still full of water, so we had to be careful where we walked and watch for cars and trucks that might find it amusing to spray us as they made a quick turn.  There was a sign posted by the entrance that we had not seen when  we arrived.   It was aimed at the folks that used to come here, and with the price of food and beverages, they used the hotel pool and lounges.  Well not anymore.  It  has been strictly forbidden to do this, and the notice was strongly worded to that effect.  And they blamed it on health concerns, as well as unfortunate incidents that had occurred with some unruly (drunk) visitors.  We recall many of the ship's crew members and officers  used to come as a group to enjoy the amenities here.   Not any more…..

 

The first stop was a visit to the same fabric store where we had bought some yardage last year for a blouse.  Wearing that blouse today, one of the salesladies recognized it and made it her job to help us again today.   However, looking for a fabric that was basically white possibly with a leaf pattern in it was near impossible.  Trying to replace two plain white bouses that got lost with the luggage a year ago had proved to be a problem.  Of course we could not leave empty-handed, so two lengths of tropical fabrics were purchased for really, really inexpensive. 

 

Then we arrived to the produce market where we easily found bouquets on the outside tables to bring back to our room.  These tropical blooms will outlast anything that is made onboard.  Having saved some of the florist sponge-like holders, these new and fresh flowers were stuck in these and will stay much cleaner than if they were in water only.   We made it back to the ship after 3pm, well before all  aboard by 5:30pm.  That was when the rain began falling again, but this time there was thunder and lightning.  Pretty exciting, but maybe not for the extra-large bats that took wing and flew over the ship until it got dark.   

 

Time for dinner once again, we had one shrimp appetizer on a skewer and one bowl of piping hot chicken noodle soup.   Different salads were next, followed by a Club Orange dinner of short ribs with a pineapple/ mole sauce on the side.  Veal cordon bleu was the main course for me.  Desserts were a berry tart with few berries since they are running out of them, and a couple of slices of pineapple.  

 

We noticed that many folks had left the dining room at around 8:45pm and may have been headed for the World Stage to listen to a new singer, Patrick McMahon.    His gig was "country" with hits from Glenn Campbell, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Kenny Rodgers.  

 

Tomorrow we will be in Lautoka, a short distance from here.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

275 Pictures

Report # 48 Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Sea Day Enroute To Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji Clouds And Rain Showers, 81 Degrees, 87% Humidity, 25 Knot Winds----Casual Dress---Sun Rise 5:32am

This morning was dark and overcast with rain by noontime.   It is good to  have at least one day at sea before arriving to Suva , Fiji as we are way behind in the photo department.  The Captain came on with his noon update, saying that since leaving Apia, Samoa, we had traveled 322 nautical miles and had 369 nautical miles to go to reach Suva, Fiji.   The skies were cloudy, and the temperature was 81 degrees with up to 25 mph winds expected later in the day. We may expect some rocking and rolling, but not enough to be concerned about.  Sunset would be 5:58pm and sunrise tomorrow will be 5:32am.   All of the Hawaiian ambassadors will be leaving the ship tomorrow, while the Polynesian group will be boarding. 

 

We stayed working all day, never leaving the comfort of our room.   The break was good for an aching back and the ice pack has worked wonders.  Lunch was two beef sliders each from room service and also on the kids menu.  Surprisingly good, it was just enough to tide us over until our 8pm dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.  

 

A rumor we heard concerning the little "extras" that have been given to all of the President's Club members in the past took us by surprise.   We are referring to the complimentary photos from cocktail receptions, dinner with the officers and Captain, and Mariner awards presentations.  Either posing by ourselves or in a group, these 8 x 10 photos have always been delivered to our rooms at the latest….the following day.    Comparing notes with fellow President's Club members onboard here, none of us have seen one photo gifted yet.   However, these pictures have shown up in the Photo Shop at their regular inflated price.  One of our buddies had a chance to ask Kumar, our rep, about this, and he confirmed her suspicion that we will not be receiving these photos anymore as a gift.  Geez, another niggling cutback.  Only those guests who receive the award of the gold-plated HAL ship pin will have a free photo.  After that, we will get nothing, since there is not another level for us to receive any recognition.  Obviously, we are not happy about this, nor are any of our buddies. 

 

Dinnertime arrived at 8pm, and our table was ready for us.   Starters were wedge salads with plenty of dressing.  Once again, we added a shared chicken taco appetizer.  The teriyaki soaked chicken slices are grilled to a crispy exterior – the best ever.  Entrees were one New York steak, medium, with a side order or skinny fries.  The other main was the 8 ounce filet mignon, medium rare, with a side of a ½ baked potato with the toppings.  We shared the pinacolada  dessert with pineapple an toasted coconut.    

 

Showtime was Solid Gold, a performance by the World Stage Repertory Company with a 70's celebration that rocking and rolled the audience.   

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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Report # 47 Monday, October 20, 2025 Apia, Upolu, Samoa Docked Starboard Side To Pier 8am-4:30pm Sun With Clouds And Rain Showers 82 Degrees 87% Humidity, 20mph Winds----Dressy Night

It was raining when we sailed into the harbor of Apia, Samoa on the island of Upolu.  Despite the winds of 20.2 mph, the humidity was high at 87%.  Once docked, another group of kids performed on the pier like yesterday.  However, the Zaandam was docked starboard side to the dock and we could not easily see the dancing or hear the singing very well.   One reason for docking this way was to be able to clean verandas on the port side, as well as paint the hull on the other side.   The skies were heavily overcast but the sun did peek out for a while.  

 

Breakfast was first at 7:30am, followed by leaving the ship by 10am.  The tours went off first which included Apia highlights & Robert Louis Stevenson Museum for 3 ½ hours for $120.  Piula Cave Pool & Vailele was 5 hours and $120 with food tastings.  Manu Sino beach was 6 hours and $250 and included a buffet lunch.  The final excursion was Lolomanu Beach & Feast for 6 hours and $260 with a buffet lunch.  

 

We had a long walk after leaving the gangway to the port gate.  One of the largest tents we have seen was set up near the ship with everything you may have forgotten yesterday in Pago Pago.   There is a string of taxi drivers that offer cheap tours or a ride to the downtown area.  Most everyone was determined to walk instead. 

 

Walking the Main Beach Road on an elevated seawall path, we made our way around the bottom of the harbor to the bridge at  Vaisigano River.  This is where the famous Sheraton's Samoa Aggie Grey's Restaurant is located.   This property is now owned by the Marriott group.  It has undergone major updates since pre-Covid days and finally re-opened this last November 2024.  We will be back here for lunch a bit  later.  

 

There are as many churches as bars, lounges, and cafes we think, because Samoans are very religious.  One of the nicest churches is the Immaculate Conception Cathedral,  a predominant feature facing the harbor.  Another must-visit site, we will go back on our way to lunch.   Have we mentioned the heat and humidity we had in the morning?  Even with a nice breeze, we were melting within minutes.  But that's the price you pay to be in  special  rainforest paradise.   

 

Along the way, there is a place to cool off for a few minutes.  That was the info center where you are greeted by several locals handing out area maps and brochure.  These folks had to be the friendliest yet, although we decided most of the help had colds.   We collected some nice maps and brochures and continued on our way.   

 

The government buildings loom here facing the harbor and the Town Clock is in the center of a roundabout.  Up the road from the clock is the fish market and if you go early, you might see blue and black marlin, yellowfin tuna, giant trevally, sailfish, mahi mahi and mackerel.   Most of the daily catch was sold by the time we got there.  Smaller fish like parrotfish snappers, or groupers were still available and being fanned by the vendors.  Keeps the flies away.  One local fellow was snacking on shrimp and feeding the tails to some fish near the old fishing boats.   There was so much stuff floating on the water it was hard to see the fish. 

 

Heading up a main street from the clock, we located the Fugalei Market with dozens of tables of produce, handicrafts, and local food.  And of course, it was the best place to buy a few more souvenir cuff bracelets.  We love these types of markets here you can mix with the locals and most times their little kids.

 

Across the street was a Home Depot type of store, where we thought we might find another ice or gel block in case the one we have springs a leak.  The young fellow working in the store did not have a clue what we were describing.   He said no one uses anything like that.  We thanked him and gave up looking. 

 

The next stop on the way back was the Immaculate Conception Cathedral with crafted wooden timbers in the interior and the stained glass windows.   Most impressive.  Drained of energy at this point, one of us stayed outside and decided not to tackle the flight of stairs going inside.   This is one of the most visited churches here, so there were a lot of taxi vendors there offering rides back to the ship.  Sometimes they drive you nuts, but they did seem to pick up a few customers.  They take cash only…no credit cards. 

 

The Sheraton Hotel, now owned by Marriott, could not come fast enough to escape the heavy heat.  The poolside Aggie Grey's Restaurant was the perfect place to relax under ceiling fans.  Ice cold draft Taula beers were so good, we each had two.  Pizza was on the menu, so we ordered the margherita with sauteed mushrooms and onions.  The mozzarella cheese used here is the creamiest making this one of the best pizzas on this trip so far.  Two resident cats kept us company, looking for crumbs we assume.  We knew better than to feed them because they would have been in our laps.   The gold tabby climbed onto one of the padded chairs and fell sound asleep.  It was nice watching some of the guests swimming in the pool, which we could have done being paid customers at the restaurant.  We had read online that the service was slow here, but you cannot rush a perfect pizza.  It was worth the wait.  We added one slice of a chocolate/white cake with ice cream to share.  Then it was time to leave.  One thing we discovered was that they did not accept American Express, so we paid cash in US dollars, thus avoiding a 3% fee. 

 

On the way back to the dock, we passed by the Marina where some waterside bars and restaurants were located.  Many offered free wifi, so they were busy.  We heard later that McDonald's in town was so jammed, the internet was slow or did not work at all. 

 

Ther were no bargains at the pier souvenir tent that we could see, and we were back onboard by 4pm.  All aboard was 4:30pm, but there were some guests still missing.  The Zaandam left after 5pm with hazy scenic cruising along the northern coastline.   It was still hot as ever on our veranda. 

 

Dinner was wrapped around an event which earned tonight a "dressy" evening.  Why on a port night, we do not know.   It was the great Gatsby Night where people stepped into the Roaring Twenties……well before our time.  There was a musical performance starting at 8pm in the World Stage.    Each one of the resident bands played until after 10pm.  Many did dress for the occasion. 

 

Dinner for us was 2 shrimp cocktails, Caesar salads, and rack of lamb with beans and artichokes.  Our meat was tender and tasty, but a fellow sitting across from us complained that they fed him mutton or old lamb.  He was the same one that got the smelly lobster.  Can't please everyone all of the time.  Dessert was on flourless cake and one bowl of sliced bananas.   When we got back to our room, our room steward had two end tables for our veranda as we had requested. 

 

Looking forward to a day at sea, especially after turning the clocks back one hour for the last time this cruise.  From here on, they will go forward.  And we had crossed the international dateline, so the ship's clocks had been turned forward 24 hours.  October 19^th did not exist, so we moved from October 18^th to the 20^th.    Confusing……

 

Bill & Mary Ann   

 

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