Report #66 Thursday, November 5, 2026---Papeete, French Polynesia---Docked Starboard Side To Pier--7:30am-Overnight--Broken Clouds--81 Degrees--78% Humidity--3.4mph-Winds-----Casual Dress

The island of Tahiti is the largest of the Windward Islands of the Society Islands.  Tahiti is considered the "beating heart" of French Polynesia with 75% of the population living in both Tahiti and her sister island, Moorea.  

 

Papeete is the capital and administrative center of French Polynesia.  Their Marche, or marketplace is a must-see full of produce, fish, flowers and a myriad of handicrafts from all of the archipelagos.  

 

Tahiti is divided into two parts, the largest is Tahiti Nui and the smaller part is Tahiti Iti.  Both parts are full of majestic valleys, lagoons, ancient sites and volcanic mountains.   Many land and nautical tours are offered here both from the ship or booked onshore.  Some of those excursions include a ride through all four corners of the island for 7 hours and $220.  A savory lunch is included.  Valley and waterfalls is a 3.5 hour tour for $130, while national treasures is 4.5 hours for $140.  A lagoon discovery from a small boat is 3 hours for $140 and the Ohana catamaran ride for 3 hours is $170.  A sunset sail with cocktails and entertainment runs 2 hours for $170.

 

Waking up early at sunrise, the temperature was already 81 degrees with 78% humidity.  There was a light wind of 3.4 mph, making it even seem more humid.  The forecast for the day was rain.  Guess what?  It never rained in town.  One of us watched the sailing into the harbor after 6:30am and docking portside by 7:30am.  The Aranui 5, the working vessel/cruise ship beat us there.  She has been in the last two ports with us.  We learned from friends that this vessel is like a freighter and a small no-nonsense cruise ship with a small number of cabins.  By 9am, the ship had been cleaned on the outside and left the harbor by 9am.    A smaller Windstar cruise ship, the Star Breeze was also in port.  We heard that this ship does 14 day runs and stays in the French Polynesia area.  Today was their turn-around day to disembark guests and take new ones onboard.  She would end up leaving by 5:30pm.  

 

There was a crew drill at 9:30am, and we left the ship by 10am.   It seemed to us that security around the terminal had been tightened up since we were here in the beginning of the year while on the Volendam's world cruise.   First of all, there was no welcoming band that we could see and no one was handing out the tiare flowers.  Usually, they are littered all over the ground outside the gangway.   There was not one bloom on the ground.  

 

It has been mandatory to climb a flight of stairs to go through the terminal building.  There is a ramp, but it is located at the far end of this terminal.   The first thing we noticed was that all of the vendors were gone in the building.  The left side of the receiving hall was closed off.

 

On the right, there were rows of seating for the incoming Star Breeze folks.   Buses and taxis were coming up the ramp on the street side of the terminal.  We had to walk down a ramp to reach the street.   We repeated the process on the way back, adding more time walking in the heat of the day. 

 

Taking our usual hike, we went down the street where all of the fabric stores are located.   Looking through their bolts, nothing struck us as something one of us must have.  One of the biggest obstacles for completing a blouse for instance, is the lack of time before we set sail again in January.   So we bought nothing. 

 

Then we entered the marketplace which was really busy for a Thursday morning.  It is a trinket and treasure heaven for most guests.   The escalator was broken to go on the second level, and we did not bother with the elevator.  All of the photos we wanted were all on the main level.  And that was not easy due to the crowd in there today.  We would come back here to buy flowers after our first walk.  

 

Our path took us to one of the main streets to Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been locked up tight for a few years now.   We have a feeling there was a problem with homeless people camping in there.  One shop always has nice Hinano t-shirts, so we bought a new one.   We were able to walk the Queen's Garden at the government building.   It is a nice respite in a bustling city.  And there are many signs explaining the history here.  However, they are all printed in French, which one of us can understand a little bit.  

 

One of the busiest places for fast food is located here and that is McDonald's.  We could see dozens of cruise guests using their free wifi, while locals were lined up buying lunch.  Across the street is the back entrance to Bougainville Park with the creek running through it and the old canons pointing to the bay.   It was a blistering hot and humid morning, so we decided to head back to the market and buy some flowers.  At least these tropical flowers will last until we go back home.    With all of the warnings about bringing food, drink, or flowers off of the ship, there is no problem bringing them onboard.    It is always best to check out the blossoms for ants before buying them.   These days, we think the vendors spray them before selling them.  We got back to the ship by 1pm after walking the long way around to go through the terminal. 

 

Putting the bouquets in water, we headed out again to go to lunch.   On past cruises, we have always been able to turn left from the gate, and head through the Viete Square to access the main street.  Well, today, only the guests boarding the Windstar ship were allowed access to the ship.  This entire area has been fenced off from town now.  So we had to go up the ramp and through the terminal to get out to the street.  

 

It seems like the hike to LaPizzeria gets longer every time we go.   We arrived to a mostly full restaurant by 1:30pm, lucky to get a table for two under a broken fan.  We ordered Hinano beers, which took forever to arrive.  Then we asked for a Hawaiian pizza which came soon enough.   It was still nice sitting for an hour enjoying probably the last of the pizzas we will get on this trip.  The majority of the diners were locals, not cruise ship folks like us.  They know where the good Italian food is served.

 

We crossed the street and walked the Paofai Park back, passing the Paofai Protestant Church along the way.    There is always a breeze along the water and more places to dine if we were here for another day.   The marina has a number of manmade coral gardens attracting many tropical fish.    We were back to the convoluted terminal by 3pm.  Walking up and down those stairs is a killer with those folks with knee and back problems.   

 

It was nice to spend the rest of the afternoon cooling off in our room and working online.  By the late afternoon, the Star Breeze left the pier, as well as ferries coming and going.  We had the best view of the harbor today. Then around 7:30pm, we had a knock on our door from the florist onboard with a new bouquet of tropical flowers.  We did not find a card with it, but we suspected that Margaret had something to do with the new bouquet.   She really is a sweetheart.

 

Before we knew it, the sun was going down blocked by many clouds.   Time for dinner, we headed for the Pinnacle Grill for a repeat of what we like there.  Wedge salads with 2  slices of candied bacon, lamb chops and a small filet.  We shared a baked potato with toppings but only had room for one pink macaroon for dessert.  I did not share it. 

 

The special performance from The Spirit of Tahiti, a local group, wowed the audience.  We could hear the drums on both decks four and five.  On previous trips here, we have seen the show and found it riveting and loud.   

 

Another port tomorrow will be Moorea, the quieter island.  And the last one in the Society Islands.  

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

350 Pictures

Report #65--Wednesday, November 4, 2026-- Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia--8am-5:30pm--Anchored Using Ships Tenders---Overcast--77 Degrees--80% Humidity--21.7mph--Winds---Casual Dress

One of the Leeward Islands of the Society Islands is Bora Bora.  It has the honor of having the most gorgeous lagoons in the world with sapphire blue and turquoise waters.  This lush and green island has two majestic peaks, Otemanu and Pahia.  The surrounding string of motus or coral atoll is full of extravagant resorts, most of which have over-the-water bungalows.   Think of "cha-ching" with $$$$$ to spend a vacation here.   

 

The island is only 5.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide and is estimated to be 7 million years old.  That makes it the oldest of the Society Islands.   When we arrived, the temperature was 77 degrees with 80% humidity.  The winds were 21.7 mph, and it was raining with very overcast and cloudy skies.   Certainly not the type of weather that we had hoped for, but this is the beginning of the rainy season.  The ship sailed through the Teavanui Pass and into the bay across from Vaitape.  It would have been nice if the sun was out, but it was not.  It reminded us of the many times we have visited Bora Bora in the past and found a near-perfect paradise.   

 

The morning began onboard with the dreaded event of the toilets not working in our quadrant.   In fact, it may have been more extensive because everyone we know at breakfast had the same problem.  Lucky for us, ours started operating right before breakfast.  Others were not so lucky.  These things happen on every ship, even the newer ones.  But they seem to occur more often on an older vessel such as the Zaandam and Volendam.  They are both showing their age.   

 

We stayed on the ship until most of the tour groups went off.   The island discovery in Le Truck is one we have done more than once for 2.5 hours and $70.  An easy one is the glass bottom boat for 1.5 hours and $100.   A deluxe lagoon cruise was 2 hours for $160, while for the same price, there was a shark & ray snorkel for 3 hours.    A longer tour for 5 hours was a catamaran cruise with sharks and rays and a BBQ picnic.  A more expensive option was a jetski ride for 2.5 hours and $560. 

 

We left the ship after 10pm when the open tenders were announced.  It was a 10-minute easy ride to the pier.   Going around to the parking lot, we searched for le trucks that are always here to transport guests to Matira Point and Beach, about a 5-mile ride south of Vaitape.  There were none to be seen, not even taxis.  Other folks were also looking for the $ 5 shuttle ride so we waited.  Within 10 minutes, vans and shuttles began arriving.  We took a van with six other crew members from the ship.  It is always a scenic ride, but there sure seemed to be a lot of traffic for a Wednesday morning.   We tend to forget that over 10,000 people live and work here. 

 

The shuttle passed by the new Bloody Mary's Resort which has been being built for the last couple of years.  The old restaurant is still intact but is being re-modeled.    Friends we know went there for lunch today, dining on the inside of their new hotel.  They reported it was wonderful especially sitting in a room over the water.  The restaurant across the street where the old one was located will be finished before the end of this year.   Or so they say.

 

We got out of the van at Matira Beach and strolled in the surf to the park area of Matira Beach, where we watched a local family waist-high in the water with a sting ray headed their way.  The mom got good pictures of it as it swam towards the shoreline.  A small dive boat pulled up near them and stopped.  We are  not sure if they were letting the snorkelers off here.   Then we wandered off to the  Intercontinental Resort.   For the first time ever, we saw a sign posted at the entrance to the lobby saying for guests only.    That was not our destination anyway.  It was another ½ mile up the road to the Maitai Resort where we were the first to enter their open-air dining venue.  Of course, we ordered two Hinano draft beers with a chorizo pizza to share.  It was great sitting there enjoying the scenery, but the best part of lunch was the dessert of profiteroles once again.   Hotel guests were beginning  to come from their over-the-water bungalows for lunch.   One big dog who has been here for years, laid almost motionless in the sand or under the tables.   Waiting for handouts we assume.  

 

Time to move on, we went back to Matira and hopped on the waiting Le Truck for a ride back to the pier.     We were back onboard after a quick tender ride by 2:30pm.  However, one of us found a nice, seeded necklace in the hut before boarding the tender boat.   

 

It was a perfect time to work online and try to stay ahead of the pictures and reports.  Captain Thomas came on with his updates by 4:30pm saying we had 150 nautical miles to go to reach Papeete, Tahiti tomorrow.   He expected the weather to be much the same and 8-foot swells.  Tomorrow we might get some rain.   The Zaandam left the lagoon by 6pm with not much in the way of a sunset.  Just some color in the clouds.

 

Dinner time was good with different types of salads and mains of lamb chops.  The theme was Casino Royale with activities in the Mix Bar at 8:30pm.  They advertised table games and a chance to win great prizes.    The songstress Anita Newby was in the World Stage this evening.  Her tunes included ones from the movies.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS   We are backed up a few days but are trying to catch up.  Stay tuned.....

 

321 Pictures

Report #64--Tuesday, November 3, 2026--Uturoa, Raiatea, French Polynesia--Docked Port Side To Pier--8am-4:30pm---Rain--77 Degrees--84% Humidity--19.6mph-Winds----Casual Dress

Well, here we are on our way to Raiatea, one of the Leeward Islands of The Society Islands.    Specifically, we will be docking portside around 7am in the town of Uturoa, the administrative center of the Leeward Islands.   There is a total of 12,250 inhabitants that speak French, and some English.   The highest point on the island is Mt. Tefatoaiti at 3,336 feet in elevation.   This island has it all such as mountains, a lagoon, maraes, and a unique navigable river.  It is also the base for yachties and boaters as it shares a mighty pretty lagoon with its sister island, Taha'a. 

 

Raiatea is the first island to be settled by Polynesians over 1000 years ago.   There is a history of war between the chiefs of Bora Bora and other nearby islands.   Long story short, the French arrived and won over all of the islands.   

 

Not to be missed are sailing in the shared lagoon with neighboring Taha'a snorkeling, scuba diving, and a visit to their botanical gardens.  The nearby two-story marketplace with fresh produce and flowers with handicrafts, jewelry, and island clothing on the second level is well worth a visit.  The largest marae or sacred rock platform called Taputapuatea is located here and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017.  And the famous Hawaiki Nui Va'a International Outrigger Canoe Race was held here at the end of October.  We just missed it. 

 

There were some excursions here such as a drive in Le Truck for 3.5 hours and $90.  A boat ride up the Faaroa River with a beach break and picnic was 3.5 hours for $170.  A land and sea 4x4 drive in Taha'a was $150 for 3.5 hours, while a visit to the Anapa Pearl Farm with a snorkel break was $160 for 3.5 hours.  Drift snorkel at Taha'a was 3.5 hours for $180 and the highlights tour was $130 for 3.5 hours.   

 

The Zaandam arrived to temperatures of 77 degrees with 84% humidity.   The winds were 19.6 mph and the ship's speed getting here was 7.5 knots.  We arrived at the opening in the reef near Taha'a around 6:30am, or so I was told.   And it was raining.  No sense for both of us to get up so early.  The one that wanted to stay warm in bed was able to watch our sail-in on the TV's bow channel.  

 

Every morning at breakfast, we have been sharing port news with our President's Club buddies about what we did and saw in the previous port.  All of us have different experiences.  Good info is always appreciated .  

 

One of the first things we noticed upon docking was that the pier area was cordoned off with two exits only.  And more important, the group of huts that have been deteriorating over the years were also fenced off and work was in progress with re-building.   These souvenir tents have needed major repairs for several years now and it is nice to see it happening.   We think a major storm recently blew through here and completed the destruction.   

We left the ship after doing some computer work by 10:30am.  We figured the rain had let up or gone away by then.  No such luck, as shortly after we began our walk, the rain returned.  It was still fairly light, and we did remember to bring umbrellas.  Along the small boat harbor closest to the ship, we found that work was being done on the wooden boardwalk.  This also has been a long time coming. We went as far as the marina and beyond to where the canoe race was held a week ago.  There are huge tents there and kayaks and canoes stored nearby.  There is also what the locals call a swimming pool, which really is a concrete wall with steps and a ladder down into the water.  Restrooms are nearby  as well as some picnic tables and benches.   

 

We had made our way to one of those benches when the rain began blowing sideways and heavier.   The umbrellas did not help a lot, so we decided to start walking back.   About the same time that we arrived,  a whole congregation of school kids from 1^st grade to maybe 8^th grade was led from across the road to here.   The younger kids went under a tented area, but the older kids went for a swim or played soccer at the far end.  The rain did not slow them down one bit.   It was still warm and very humid outside.

 

We went under one of the metal-roofed areas near the kids and watched as tubs of food were driven to them, obviously a lunch break.  But before their picnic, they had brought music and an exercise class began.   It was fun to watch them having fun, especially on a dreary school day.   Eventually  the rain eased up, and we continued our walk back.  

 

We made it to Saint Andre' Church in town and took refuge inside until the rain stopped.   We were not the only ones doing this.   We made a sweep through the handicraft table outside the marketplace checking out the seashell creations.   I think it best to hold out for Moorea and Fakarava where the same items are a fraction of the cost.   

 

We had intended to have a beer and lunch at La Raie Gate cafe across from the ship, but it was full of customers.  The few empty tables were not cleaned, and there did not see to be a waitress.  Looking for a menu, we happened to spot a counter where they sell mini pizzas for $3.   These were not covered and were exposed to flies.   Seeing this, we changed our minds about eating here and went right back onboard.  It was already 2pm, and we knew a room service lunch of salad, soup, and a shared sandwich was in order.   

 

Captain Thomas came on with his talk around 4:30pm, which was all aboard time.  He said that the winds were a factor today, and we would have to gain speed to get away from the dock.  We would then take the lagoon to the opening where we came in this morning.   Good thing, one of us was up this morning, because the island of Taha'a was on the starboard side all the way out.   All we had was a view of the reef and open ocean from our veranda.   Then the Captain added that we will be doing a speed of 7.5 knots since we are so close to Bora Bora.  The ride will take 130 nautical miles even though, the distance is far less.     In addition, he will be able to use the stabilizers to keep us all comfortable.   He anticipated a 6:30am sailing into the reef of Bora Bora around 7am, and drop anchor at 8am.   It continued to rain off and on as we finally left the lagoon surrounding Taha'a.   

 

Dinner had a few choices such as salads and a chicken tikka starter.  Mains were chicken and one veggie quesadilla.   We did save a bit of room for the boshe bal, a Dutch dessert we have grown to like.   This is the first time it appeared on the menu since September 2nd.  

 

Showtime was the comedy of Jeff Burghart who also did impressions.   Wish we could stay up that late, but it is getting harder to burn the candle at both ends.

 

Tomorrow's port will be Bora Bora, a very special one.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

365 Pictures

Report #63--Monday, November 2, 2026--Huahine, French Polynesia--11am-5pm---Anchored Using Ships Tenders---Broken Clouds--79 Degrees--81% Humidity--9.3mph-Winds-----Casual Dress

Today our port of all is Huahine, part of the Leeward Islands of the Society Islands.  Nicknamed the Garden of Eden, the island of Huahine is known for their excellent fields for cultivating watermelons, cantaloupe, cucumbers,  and every tropical fruit such as pineapples, mangoes, bananas, vanilla and the ever-present coconuts.   

 

The main town of Fare has a 1950's feel about it where time has stopped and everyone knows each other.   Basic stores and markets are there as well as cafes, bars, and banks. The main restaurant is the Huahine Yacht Club, not your usual type of yacht club at all.

 

Outside of town, there is a pearl farm, mountains with hidden sacred maraes, lagoons and beaches.  There are sacred blue-eyed eels in the river at Faie and endless scuba and snorkel dives .  

 

There were some tours offered through the shore excursions.  One of them was a lagoon cruise for 2 hours and $110, and a trip to the Pearl Farm, marae and a vanilla plantation for 3.5 hours for $120.   A 4x4 drive with a snorkel stop was 3.5 hours for $130.  Then there was a lagoon cruise and picnic lunch for 3.5 hours and $170.  A round-trip shuttle ride to Fare was $20 per person.  It used to be free, but not anymore. 

 

There is no cruise ship dock here, so we entered Maroe Bay and dropped anchor.   There were some choices to make.  You could book a tour, or take a tender ride to the shuttle drop off and go off on your own.  Or secure a tender boat ride followed by the paid shuttle to town.   Which is what we decided to do.  The only other option was to stay onboard and not go anywhere, as what was hinted at by Dario, the cruise director, yesterday.    That comment did not go unnoticed by a lot of people we know.  And later in the morning, he more or less retracted what he had said.   By all means, please go out but be aware of the heat factor and bring water, which is the only drink allowed off of the ship. 

 

Although the forecast said blue skies, it was mostly cloudy all day.  The temperature was 79 degrees and 81% humidity.  The breeze was 9.3mph and the ship's speed was 15 knots.  Late last night, a note had been slipped under our door regarding the transfer today.   Since we do not have a cell phone, and tour tickets are no longer given, Margaret sent the note with our meeting time in the World Stage at 11:45am  for the tender ride to shore.  We were group number 29, and that would be our shuttle number.     That process took almost an hour.  We came to the conclusion that this was the only way to control the crowd, who historically want to be first off and first to the village.   Our return time was between 2 and 2:30pm, although we think they would have taken anyone back with the shuttles about empty.    By the way, these transfers were in the old wooden school buses like always.  And made for little kids, not adults like most of us.  It was rather amusing watching the folks bent in half as they made their way down to their wooden seats.  

 

The ride was scenic taking us over a bridge and passing by steep hillsides and plantations in the valleys.  It took all of 20 minutes to arrive to the quaint village of Fare, where life has stopped for 50 years or so.  We walked from one end of town to the other and back within 15 minutes. The only birds we saw were a few brown noddies and some pretty little white terns.   Dogs roamed the streets again, especially where people were eating food.  Looking into the waters by a boat ramp, we saw a few large sting rays on the bottom.   The water was crystal clear.   If it wasn't so cloudy, the colors would have been striking.  

 

 We had not intended to go to lunch today, but when we saw that the "Yacht Club" had some tables available, we went inside and got a table near the door.  We ordered two cheeseburgers with fries and two Hinano draft beers - the large ones.  The burgers were excellent....who knew?    Cruise friends Rosie, Randy, Susie and Eddie have always said the food was good there.  On a side note, the restaurant did not accept Am Ex, but they did take Visa.   Another fellow passenger tried using a Visa debit card, and they would not take it at a local store.  He had to go to a bank and exchange US dollars for the francs.  

 

We headed back by 2:30pm, connecting with a tenderboat after the 20-minute ride.  The good news was it never rained.   That's because one of us brought the umbrellas.   We were back in our room by 4pm.    Captain Thomas did come on with his updates by 5pm, and said we had 96 nautical miles to each Raiatea tomorrow morning.  The average speed will be 7.5 knots.  He added that tomorrow's sailing will be mixed with higher winds and perhaps some rain.   That might determine how he will approach the island to dock.   The anchor was pulled and we were out of the bay shortly after 5:30pm or so.  

 

Dinner time found us back in the dining room with some different items to try.  All of the waiters were wearing island shirts including the assistant maitre'd's and Dwi, the head honcho.  It was nice for a change, and we are sure the crew liked it as well.  Starters for us were salads, and a bowl of tomato soup - smoked.  Good.  Another starter was a shredded beef serving that resembled Fancy Feast.  Mains were one tasty tenderloin strips and one salmon dinner.  Desserts were a slice of cheesecake and one scoop of coffee ice cream.  Filled again.

 

The entertainers of the night were the couple with the music and artistry of magic.  Our meals run late, so we seem to miss most of the shows.  

 

Tomorrow's port will be Raiatea, one we have visited numerous times.   

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

366 Pictures

Report #62--Sunday, November 1, 2026---Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia---8am-5:30pm--Anchored Using Ships Tenders---Cloudy, Rain And Sun--81 Degrees--81% Humidity--15.1mph-Winds---Casual Dress

Today's port of call is Rangiroa, the capital of the Tuamotus as well as the largest atoll in French  Polynesia.  It may be among the largest atolls in the world.  The two main villages are Avatoru and Tiputa where the ships enter into the inner lagoon.  There are 2710 residents with a lagoon surface of 1640 square kilometers.  It is so large, you cannot see the entire ring as it disappears on the horizon.   They have an airport, a couple of hotels, and pensions. Rangiroa is famous for their amazing dives where you can see hammerhead and grey sharks, manta rays, turtles and if you are lucky....dolphins jumping in the Tiputa Pass as the ship enters the lagoon.   

 

Maybe because it was Sunday, the local officials were one hour late in clearing the ship.  We had some heavy rain early in the morning, as we waited to view the entrance of the ship into the lagoon.  One of us stayed behind, while the other went to deck six forward.   Being able to see both sides of the ship as it entered through the rapids, dolphins were spotted briefly in the front of the bow. 

 

Once the rain stopped, it appeared that it was going to be a very warm day with temperatures in the low 80's and humidity of 81%.  The only thing that saved the day was the winds of 15.1 mph.  Despite the early morning showers and overcast, the skies cleared up and the rain never came back.

 

After breakfast, we decided to hang around until many of the guests had gone off.  But by 10am, we thought it wise to go over to the atoll earlier since we knew we had a long walk ahead of us.  We met with Margaret in the Wajang Theater where priority tender tickets were being handed out.  We did not need them, so she had us wait by the Pinnacle Grill until she radioed the "stair guard" on deck one that we were on the way.  The tour groups appeared to be using another platform, so the tendering went smoother. 

 

Speaking of tours, there were three of them offered today.  There was a ride to a pearl farm for 1.5 hours for $30.  A glass bottom boat ride for one hour was $90,while a snorkel adventure was also one hour for $120.   Each shore excursion had four starting times, and were fully booked we heard. 

 

The tender ride took about 15 minutes, taking us to the same new pier we used last year.  Located close to the Kia Ora Resort, there was a tented seating area to keep the folks in the shade, and also a mini handicraft market with over-priced island clothing and jewelry.  There is a small public beach right here as well as restrooms for the guests.  Lots of passengers went right here for the day with their swimsuits on and packing their striped beach towels.   

 

We were surprised at the lack of birds we spotted which were mostly red-footed boobies as we were sailing into the pass.  Then on the road walk, we saw several pretty white terns landing in a casuarina tree where they had some chicks.   Other than a few stray chickens, we saw nothing more.

 

We began our slow walk on the road heading past homes and the airport all the way to the Maitai Hotel, about a 2.5 mile hike.  It is a very scenic walk with little shade, so it ended up taking us up to 2 hours to get to our lunch destination.  We stopped in every little bit of shade along the road, thankful for the breeze at our backs.  We had expected some passing showers and were prepared with umbrellas.  It never happened. We almost wished it would.....

 

While we were walking the road, the Paul Gauguin cruise ship entered the lagoon and dropped anchor closer to the pass.  We assume they were using the older pier.  We also heard that several beachgoers had some cuts due to the broke coral-laden beach and surf near the tender pier.    Along our hike, we ran into several couples that were walking like us.  They were searching for sandy beaches, restaurants, hotels, shops and stores, but there are none up this way.  Private homes line the road, and everything is fenced and gated.  The most visible form of civilization here was the airport with some picnic tables and benches across the road.   Most of the hikers made it this far, then turned around due to the excessive heat.

 

About a half mile further up the road, we spotted the Maitai Resort sign and prayed they were opened, just like we did last year.    Almost reluctantly, the waitress was about to say no, when she invited us in to sit at a window table.  Thank goodness.   We instantly ordered two Hinano draft beers - the big ones of course.  They never tasted so good and refreshing.  Placing our order of a jambon and cheese panini to share (they are large), we asked if there were fries with it.  Yes, there were, but we asked if she could double them.  She must have heard us wrong, and thought we ordered rice, or "riz" which sounded like fries.  So we had a bowl of rice arrive with our sandwich.  One of us loves rice, so it worked.  We finished our meal with one serving of profiteroles, plenty to share and so good.  One thing about dining in French Polynesia, you are never rushed.  We had relaxed there for at least an hour while watching some of the guests enjoying the pool and spectacular views of the lagoon.  

 

Knowing that one of us would prefer a ride back to the pier, we asked the concierge if there was a van available to get us back.  Yes, there was a van that was transferring guests to the nearby airport, and they gladly let us hitch the ½ mile ride.    Once they were off-loaded, we climbed back in for the 2-mile drive back to the tender pier.   We thanked the driver and tipped him as well.

 

 

Cooling off in our room and working online, we waited for the Captain's talk at 4:30pm.  He said it was anchors aweigh after 5pm where he would turn around and gain speed to run the rapids on the way out of the lagoon.   One of us did see four dolphins jumping alongside the bow for a split second before they dove and disappeared.  Never would have had a chance to get a photo they were so quick.  We have 227 nautical miles to reach Huahine tomorrow morning around 10am.  The Captain warned people to be aware of a high solar index and the rising temperatures that easily cause heat stroke.  Dario followed with his evening activities, but then also added that some guests may be more comfortable staying onboard tomorrow in Huahine.    What?   That was a first to suggest not going ashore.  Fast forward to tomorrow, he had to walk back that statement.

 

Dinner for us was in the Tamarind pop-up in the Pinnacle Grill.  On the world cruise this year, we strongly suggested that the Tamarind venue should be one of the  complimentary meals we get for a perk.  If the ship we happened to be sailing had a Tamarind restaurant, it was included.   Long story short, our request was granted for the Volendam and Zaandam and now we can go to the pop-up using one our ten complimentary dinners.    Our meal was excellent with  starters of an egg roll, Thai beef salad, a wonton soup, and tempura shrimp.  We both ordered the wasabi tenderloin which came with tempura onions.  We added a small bowl of egg rice and assorted mushrooms. There was no room for dessert at all. 

 

The entertainment was a final performance by Elliot Finkel, the piano man, with Out of the Box program.  We missed it sine our meal ran well past showtime.

 

Tomorrow....Huahine.

 

Bill & Mary Ann    

 

294 Pictures

Report #61--Saturday, October 31, 2026--Happy Halloween--Sea Day #6 Of 6---Enroute To Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia---Broken Clouds--82 Degrees--75% Humidity--21.2mph--Winds---Ships Speed--12 Knots----Casual Dress

Happy Halloween to everyone!

 

Well here we are on day number six at sea, and celebrating the occasion of Halloween.  It is guaranteed to bring memories of everyone's childhood back to life....hopefully they are good memories. 

 

On our way to breakfast, we spied the first stairwell ghost hanging around.  Created by our room attendants, this ghoul was hiding in their linen closet.  There were more ghosts around the front desk, one of which was laying on the floor under the counter.  We all laughed and commented that he was waiting far too long in line and just died there.   We would find there were more decorations all over the ship later. 

 

While we were finishing our breakfast, Margaret, our excellent Mariner rep, stopped by for a chat.  Perfect timing,  we needed to ask her some questions regarding the stop in Huahine.  There has always been a free shuttle to the village of Fare, but now we have to book a time slot and pay $20 per person for the round-trip transfer.   We are not talking about tour buses here; we are talking wooden, open-air school buses made for small kids.   Actually, half of the fun of being in Huahine is the bus ride to town.   We have always associated the ride with "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go".   Anyway, Margaret said we needed to go to the shore excursion page on TV and book the transfer and the time slot.  Once that was done, she would credit back the charges after our visit, because the shuttle was free for the President's Club members.   Nice perk, thank you.

 

Captain Thomas wished everyone a most spooky Happy Halloween at the beginning of his update at noon.   He added that the ship was doing 12 knots with the 8-foot swells coming right at the bow and side of the ship.   Just a guess, we think that tends to slow us down.  We have sailed 1870 nautical miles from Kona and have an additional 262 nautical miles to reach Rangiroa.   He will pick up the pilot who will stay with us for all of the Polynesian ports.   Then they will make the run through the Tiputa Pass where the flow of water is immense into the lagoon.  It is one of the places we need to be outside for possible dolphin sightings. That will be the same upon leaving by 5pm.  He will drop anchor and the tender boats will take us to shore after 8am.   

 

By the way, the temperature this morning was 82 degrees with 75% humidity.  The winds have increased to 21.2 mph giving us higher swells and whitecaps. The Captain mentioned that the winds were a gale force of 30 knots and we have some considerable pitching and yawing.  

 

Here's some info on the Tuamotus Archipelago.   With an area of 20,000 square kilometers, the Tuamotus and Gambier atolls are often associated with each other.  There are a few "high" islands, but the majority are coral atolls - 80 in total.   The best way to describe an atoll is comparing it to a string of pearls with a lagoon in the center.   The "pearls" are the series of motus or islets creating the ring of coral land.  

 

The total population of these two archipelagos is 16,880 people that speak a dialect called Paumotu.  An interesting fact is that 98% of the luxurious black pearls are farmed here.  The other treasures found is the wealth of the underwater world of the gorgeous aqua lagoons.  The port for tomorrow will be Avatoru, Rangiroa, the largest coral atoll in French Polynesia.  More info to follow.

 

There were three tours offered in Rangiroa starting with a ride to the Pearl Farm for 1 ½  hours and $30, where they show how the pearls are farmed and turned into fine jewelry.  Of course, there is a fine shop for people that are looking for the "real" deal buying black pearls.  Prepare for sticker shock.  A glass bottom boat ride for 1 hour runs $90 and a snorkel tour is 1 hour for $120.  Last we heard, they were sold out.  

 

We took a walk around the ship, getting pictures of the Halloween decorations.  They have really gone wild with every deck this year.  More so than other Halloweens.   Every stairwell had a ghost or goblin, and the Lido pool area had a display of the pumpkin carvings done by the kitchen staff.   Each creation had a number so the guests could cast a vote for the best one.  In our humble opinion, they were all great....not one alike.  The Lido restaurant had a display of spooky cakes, all of which will be devoured by 2pm.  Our final stop was at the dining room entrance where the festive decorations greeted us.  

 

There was heavy scrubbing taking place on the bow, where the hitch-hiking birds had perched for all of these days at sea.  Oddly enough, the birds have flown the coup and were nowhere to be seen.   We suppose the high winds blew them back where they came from.  

 

Dinner had some "comfort' dishes such as crispy BBQ chicken spring rolls, Caesar salads with the dressing on the side, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf with mashed potatoes, peas and carrots.  You know what made it even more special?   The entrees were served piping hot on hot plates.  That was not the case last night with our special King's Room dinner, but that's water under the bridge now.  We are discovering that if we mention something to one staff member, the word seems to travel and more staff seems to be aware of something not quite right.   Honestly, it was not that big  of a deal or else we would have sent our entrees back for new ones.    Anyway, dessert this evening was one scoop of chocolate chip ice cream, and one Tres leches caramel flan .  

 

Since it was Halloween, many folks dressed in costumes for the special party in the Lido Poolside at 8:30pm.   They promised a spooktacular HAL-oween with prizes for the best costumes.   On past cruises, we went there, but it was always crowded beyond belief.    So we passed it up.

 

There was a show in the World Stage with the Vivace String Ensemble at the normal times.   They always deliver a wonderful performance.  

 

Will finally be on firm ground tomorrow after 6 days at sea.  Should be nice....

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

96 Pictures

Report #60---Friday, October 30, 2026---Sea Day #5 Of 6---Enroute To Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia---Partly Cloudy--84 Degrees---75% Humidity---12.6mph Winds---Ships Speed 13 Knots----Casual Dress

There was another fabulous sunrise this morning around 5:37am indicating we would have another fine day at sea.   Who's up that early?   Certainly, not me.   I am more than happy to see the photos.  

 

The temperature was already 84 degrees with 75% humidity at 10am.  The winds were 12.6 mph and it appeared they were not following winds from the way the waves crested.  The ship's speed was 13 knots.

 

We completed some computer work, made an attempt at gathering future port info in an attempt to catch up.  It  worked. 

 

We mentioned that the shore excursion channel was showing the system had gone awry.   In other words, it was broken.  Reporting it to Margaret, our rep, she promised to check it out.  She did find that not only was the TV channel not working, but also the Navigator app was awry.   She followed through with this and by golly, the channel was working this morning.    How about that?    It pays to speak up. 

 

Taking our morning stroll on the promenade deck, we saw that the ship's wake was way off.  Only the starboard side seemed to be operating full power, the portside propeller, not so much.  The max speed so far on this cruise has not exceeded 18 knots, so whatever problem there was previously, is not fixed yet.  We would have the opportunity to find out more info later this evening.

 

At his noon update, Captain Thomas said we were 1570 nautical miles from Kona and have another 563 nautical miles left to reach Rangiroa at a speed of 15 knots.  We had a 7-foot swell which is considered smooth in this part of the world.  At the time of his talk, we were passing some of Kiribati's remotest islands a couple of hundred miles away.  These islands have chosen to be on the other side of the dateline, so they are the first to start the new day. 

 

All of the Polynesian activities were in full swing such as bracelet-making, water coloring, ukulele playing, Polynesian music and dancing, and a Tahiti port talk. 

 

We had a special invitation to a President's Club Dinner and cocktails starting at 5:15pm in the Mix bar.   We lucked out and were seated near the chief engineer who was very informative regarding the situation with the ship's propulsion.  As we suspected, the portside engine is not working.  It has been dis-assembled to be fixed on the ship.  It should be back together and operational by the time we reach San Diego on November 19th.   To complicate the matter, all of the work had to be done on the ship. The work on the outside like painting etc. cannot be accomplished while in certain port areas of this sailing.   That includes Alaska and the South Pacific.  In addition, the speed of the ship can be assisted with the currents and following winds.  That was the case while in Alaska, but not the case now.  The best the Zaandam can do is 13 knots.  

 

Dinner followed in the King's Room at 6pm.  Everyone looked nice in their smart casual clothing and happy it was not a dressy night.   It has been on the warm side ever since crossing the Equator.  We asked Captain Thomas if the dark blue hull had an effect on the temperature of the ship's interior.  He said yes it did.   And there is a study being done to see if changing the color to a dove grey might solve that problem.  Most everyone likes the classy look of the dark hull, but if changing the paint helps, we say yes to the change.  

 

Another question came to light, and that was aimed at the color of the carpeting on all of the stairwells.  The dark blue strip of carpet at the last step is off-putting to one of us.  Perhaps it is your individual depth perception, but it throws many folks off.  The Captain said we were not far off asking that question, and there was a study being done to make changes there.  Anything that can be done to prevent falls is a step in the right direction.  .

 

Seated at assigned places in the King's Room, we were given a printed menu with tonight's choices.  The first course was a choice of tartare of beef tenderloin or baby beet salad.  The second course was a clear (tasteless) broth with chives and one ricotta parmesan dumpling.  A palate cleanser was grapefruit lychee sorbet, followed by a choice of halibut or ribeye.  We both ordered the ribeye, expecting something different.  One of us got a cut that was tender, while the other got an end cut that was tough.  Sadly, it was barely warm.  In hindsight, we should have had the halibut.    The vegetarian entree was a ravioli.  The last course was the best - an apple terrine Brule with pecan ice cream and creme Chantilly.  Wine flowed for those who drank it as well as sweet canopies and coffee.   From beginning to end, it was almost 4 hours.  A bit too long for those of us that have back problems.  It was a one-time occasion, and we all enjoyed the company of the Captain, chief engineer, staff captain, our good friend Rakesh, environmental officer, and Leonie, our hotel manager.   Thanks went to the chefs, our waiters, and Dwi, the dining room Matre'd.   Jacques the Cellar Master kept everyone well-hydrated. 

 

One thing was missing, and that was having a group photo taken by the ship's photographer.  Any other time, they are in both the dining room and Pinnacle Grill snapping shots.  Tonight, those with cellphones had the waiters taking personal pictures of the group.  We have always had a picture taken while everyone is seated from each end of the long table.  Tonight there were no photographers at all.  An oversight, or saving money?  Who knows.....  

 

There was a show tonight featuring Anita Newby with songs from Detroit.  The better show was the "dummies" that were placed in the stairwells for Halloween we assume.  Ghosts and goblins were more like it.  Tomorrow, Halloween, should be interesting...... 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

51 Pictures

Report #59---Thursday, October 29, 2026---Sea Day #4 Of 6----Enroute To Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia----Sunny With Clouds---84 Degrees---70% Humidity---4.3mph Winds---Ships Speed--13 Knots------Casual Dress

As we have mentioned, today should have been a visit to Fanning Island, Kiribati, but due to technical problems with the ship, it had to be cancelled.    For those who have never been there, it is a place like no other in that it has remained the same as it has for a very long time.....primitive.  Most of the villagers live in makeshift housing with shared facilities for cooking and cleaning.  Power is supplied by generators.  We never asked, but we think there is no sewer system, but there is fresh water from a massive lagoon and rainwater collectors.  Historically, seaweed and salt production took place here as well as harvesting the coconut palms.  Fishing is a lifeline here. 

 

During the day when we visited, we seldom saw any local men between 20 and 50.  They are out working for the day, leaving the women and children in the village to do the rest of the work.   Besides preparing meals, they tend the chickens and pigs and do the laundry by hand.  Everything is line dried.   In their spare time, they keep busy making shell beaded jewelry to sell to the tourists like us.   For the men among us, they like the shark tooth wooden carved knives. 

 

Their activities seem to revolve around school and church which is typical for island nations such as this one.   

 

Some of the guests from cruise ships like to bring gifts for them, mostly for the younger set.   Useful things like school supplies, books, or even coloring books.  Crayons are discouraged since they tend to melt in the heat of the tropics.   Basic health supplies are good such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, band aids, combs, and cosmetics for the teenage group and shampoos and soaps.   Trinkets that can be purchased online are popular with the little ones.   The only problem that arises is having enough for everyone.    On our last couple of stops here, the guests were requested not to hand out anything personally but give it to the officers who see it goes to the right place.  And in exchange for fresh coconuts, basic food supplies are trading with the natives.  That might include staples such as flour, sugar, dried eggs and milk.  The locals elders would not turn down a bottle or two of whiskey.  The islanders are subsidized by another country, but we have forgotten who.  At the very least, all of us were informed of the cancellation well before this 35-day cruise commenced, and people left the donations home.  

 

Captain Thomas came on with his update right on the dot.   He said we had crossed the Equator at exactly 9:27am and are now sailing in the southern hemisphere.  The temperature was a steady 84 degrees, with 70% humidity and light winds of 4.3 mph.  There was a 7-foot swell and the ship was doing 14 knots.  The Zaandam has sailed 1260 nautical miles from Kona and has another 883 nautical miles to go to reach Rangiroa.  The skies were partly cloudy and sunset will be 5:54pm and sunrise at 5:37am.    The days at the Equator are near to half and half.....half daylight, and half nighttime. 

 

We asked for our last bouquet to be re-done with a flat bottom container with Styrofoam instead of in a vase.    The flowers seem to keep much longer without the skunky water of a vase.  And less likely to fall over in rough seas.

 

The other job of the day was to turn in the passports for inspection with the local French Polynesian authorities.    They will be processed and returned by November 3rd.  We will not have to pack them with us when we go ashore.   

 

We had a light room service lunch and even a nicer walk on the promenade deck, where most every teak lounge was occupied.  Going to deck six forward, one of us filmed another sunset as well as the birds that have come back to roost on the flagpole.  Guess they are in for another night of rocking and rolling.     

 

Dinner had limited choices, which happens sometimes.  We both ordered the chicken empanadas, and one different salad.   The entrees were one cheese ravioli plate and one tenderloin steak with steak fries, the almost everyday alternate.  It wasn't bad at all.....tasty and tender.   Desserts were one scoop of coffee fudge ice cream, and one slice of lemon meringue cheesecake....also pretty good.  And we must mention the appearance of brand-new salt and pepper shakers in the dining room.  Gone are the grinders that often did not work.  The new metal ones are cylinder-shaped filled with granulated salt and pepper with the letters "S" and "P" holes stamped on the tops.    Thank you HAL.   Now we just have to work on replacing those old French onion soup urns.....

 

Showtime featured the singers and dancers with "Drive In" - music from the movies.   Did we mention that Elliot Finkel, the accomplished piano player, is onboard?   He gave an afternoon double-header concert yesterday afternoon.  He always "wows" the crowd.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

149 Pictures

Report #58---Wednesday, October 28, 2026---Sea Day #3 Of 6 Enroute To Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia---Clouds With Showers---82 Degrees---76% Humidity---12.6mph--Winds---Ships Speed 14 Knots---3' Swell---Casual Dress

Day number three at sea brought nice weather with it.  We did have some light showers and passing clouds, but the heat factor remains the same at 82 degrees with 76% humidity.  Winds have been light at 12.6 mph with a 3-foot swell. 

 

When we returned from breakfast, we had a knock on the door from the ship's florist with a vase of flowers for our final President's Club gift.  Since we have a healthy stash of Coke Zero's, we asked for one $60 beverage card instead.   Should work for some specialty coffees.   

 

Captain Thomas came on with his noon update with lots of news regarding our current position, which is 911 nautical miles from Kona and 1221 nautical miles to reach Rangiroa, French Polynesia.  We are nearing the Equator, and the trade winds and currents are pushing the vessel sideways.   Modern technology is keeping the ship sailing in the correct direction which is south.  The other news was that upon contacting King Neptune, the Captain discovered he was fully booked for a ceremony insuring our safe passage.   But be assured, the King will grant us a dispensation this one time.   Our actual crossing will be around 9am tomorrow morning. We bet that there will be a formal ceremony on our way back to San Diego after leaving Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas.   

 

Since we are approaching our next stop in a few days, we thought we might start adding some basic info on the area.  French Polynesia has five archipelagos spanning over 4167 square kilometers.   We do not have the exact formula to square miles, but suffice it to say, that is an area bigger than all of Europe, we seem to recall.  The Society Islands are the largest of the archipelagos with nine high islands and five atolls.  They are split into two groups.   The Windward Islands are Tahiti, Moorea, Maiao, Tetiaroa and Mehetia.  The Leeward Islands are Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Maupiti and some uninhabited islets.   

 

The Tuamotu/Gambia Archipelagos are the low islands and all of the atolls - Rangiroa and Fakarava among them.  The Australes Archipelago has five inhabited islands, and the Marquesas have twelve high islands without lagoons, a most powerful landscape. 

 

French is the official language for the 300,000 natives that reside here , however most Tahitians speak Reo Mao'hi and other similar dialects due to the fact the islands are so far apart.   English is widely spoken these days.   The exchange rate for the $US dollar is 100 Pacific French Francs more or less.  And not all credit cards are accepted .

 

We went to deck 6 forward to watch  the sunset, but never saw the actual sun due to extreme cloud cover.    What was more amusing was discovering three birds that decided to perch on the flagpole on the ship's bow.   Two boobies had found a perch midway up the pole,while a lone young frigatebird with a fuzzy white head took the very top of the pole.  Never saw that before.  And what a mess they were leaving on the deck.  We guess they will be spending the night bobbing up and down with the swells.  Enough fun....time for dinner.   

 

Back in the dining room, we ordered one calypso shrimp starter and one arancini plate with red sauce.   One of us had a salad while the other the tomato soup.   It was a toss-up as to who had the best entree.  It was either the turkey dinner or the chicken Parmigiana, which were both winners.  Desserts were one scoop of rocky road ice cream and a chocolate torte - more like flourless chocolate cake. 

 

There must have been a mistake in the entertainment listed, because we heard there was the funniest comedian on stage last night and not the World Stage Cast.  We will have to check out the funny man when he returns for another show. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

101 Pictures

Report #57---Tuesday, October 27, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 6---Enroute To Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia---Broken Clouds--82 Degrees---77% Humidity--6,7mph Winds---Speed--14 Knots----Casual Dress

It's quite possible that we are still sailing in the doldrums, a specific area where the seas and winds can be problematic in that things seem to stand still.  In the olden days of sailing ships, to be stuck in the dreaded doldrums meant there was no wind to move the ship.  You were stranded until the winds picked up.   Definitely not a very scientific explanation, but basically understandable. 

Today's weather was far from the doldrums with temperatures in the low 80's and 77% humidity.   There was a 6.7 mph wind with scattered clouds, some rain showers and a swell of 3 feet.  The Zaandam has traveled 570 nautical miles from Kona and has an additional 1563 nautical miles to reach Rangiroa.   

It was a good day to make some progress with the blog, as well as take some walks during the course of the day.   Lunch was a room service salad and mini burger sliders - one each.  And a bowl of soup.  We kept it light because we were dining in the Pinnacle Grill tonight. 

The late afternoon perked up when one of us spotted some dolphins in the front of the ship.   Grabbing the camera, he was able to snap a lot of pictures, testing the repeating frames as they dove over and over.  There were so many in this pod, it was hard to count them all.  They put on quite a show as they raced in front of the ship.  That is a sighting we never expected to see out in the middle of this massive ocean. 

Then some boobies showed up and circled the ship diving for flying fish.  There wasn't a fabulous sunset tonight, actually it was more like a fizzle.   The dolphin and bird sightings made up for it.

Dinner was really good in the Pinnacle Grill.  Our table was ready and waiting for us as well.  It surprised us to see how many people were still arriving to eat this late.  We ordered our wedge salads on larger plates with 2 strips of candied bacon on the side.  One of us had the tasty and tender lamb chops, while the other had the small filet mignon cooked medium rare.   One serving of skinny fries was shared by both of us.  Desserts were the special Hawaiian pinacolada trifle in a jar, and one chocolate souffle.    One of the chefs was visiting around the tables of the guests, and when he stopped at our table, we let him know the meals were excellent.  We did have a question for him regarding the pastry tray served at breakfast.  We wanted to know why the blueberry muffins are the color green.  He thought about it then said it was due to the insides of the blueberries that are really tinted green.   When over-mixed, the berries get crushed and the green color invades the muffins.   The bakers do not have the time to fold in the fruit like we would do at home.   The chef was pleased that we asked the question and he had an answer.  He promised to visit us when we return for another meal in there. 

The entertainment for tonight was a team of performers (husband and wife) with modern instrumentalist and unique visual art.  It promised to be a high energy electrifying must-see show.   We missed it because we were still eating our dinners when the show began.  However, they have been on previous cruises and we saw it then. 

And so ends day two at sea.

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

284 Pictures

Report #56----Monday, October 26, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 6---Enroute To Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia---Sunny With Some Clouds---81 Degrees---85% Humidity----12.2mph--Winds-----Dressy Dress

We have begun our 6-day stretch towards French Polynesia, and it is already heating up.   The temperature was 81 degrees with 85% humidity and that was at 9am.   The wind was 12.2 mph and the ship's speed was 14 knots.  We had clouds most of the day and some rain showers, typical in this part of the Pacific Ocean.  And we are heading due south, dropping like a rock, so to speak.  

 

This morning was a good time to catch up on reports.  It feels like we will never be caught up.  Captain Thomas came on with his daily update, half of what we missed because we did not have the TV on the bow channel soon enough.  The Zaandam was over 200 nautical miles from Kona, with a lot more to go to reach our next port in Rangiroa. The Captain gave a description of the atolls we will encounter as we sail over the ancient underwater landscape. 

 

We took a walk on the promenade deck checking out the condition of the ship's wake.  We saw little difference with the wake with the exception that there seemed to be more action on one side compared to the other.   We still have no idea if the problem the ship was having with the speed has been fixed. 

 

Going to the Seaview Pool for a while, we noticed there were many professional sunburnt passengers there laying in the hot sun.  There seems to be something about going home with a deep tan to say you have been on a hot weather cruise.  More so if you live in a cooler climate.  There was a small bird swooping overhead, making circles around the back of the ship.   Probably jumped ship in Kona yesterday.  We have our doubts that it will last 6 days at sea without fresh water and food.  It is strictly forbidden for anyone, including crew members, to feed or give water to these stray birds.  Sad, but true.

 

Back to our room, we ordered a room service lunch of one salad and a club sandwich.  We shared both.  We have to say that the entree salads from room service are the nicest onboard.   Some boobies appeared out of the blue, and we were able to use some different camera settings to obtain very crisp and clear pictures.   It is most difficult to photograph fast-flying birds while the ship is moving.

 

Sunset at 5:50pm was rather a nice one at 5:50pm.   Most people are in the dining room at this time and miss the show.   Dinner was dressy this evening, at least for most of the guests.  Starters for us were one French onion soup and a shrimp cocktail.  The urns for the soup have got to go, in my humble opinion.  They are getting beat up and sad looking.  Now they remind us of the large flower urns you might see in an English garden setting.  And one of us requested a Caesar salad without the dressing but added on the side.   Best idea yet, because the lettuce was crisp and cold....not limpy.   Our mains were rack of lamb, and a savory tenderloin steak.  Dessert was one scoop of chocolate/ chocolate chip ice cream and a slice of a decadent brownie cake.  

 

Tonight's entertainment was a Masquerade (not a ball) held in the World Stage at a one-time only 8:30pm.   The suggestion was to don a mask and dress to impress for a night of mystery and excitement.  A few guests wore masks they had made during the day, and they looked silly. Hey, whatever works for them is just fine with us.  

 

So much for day one at sea.  Five more to go......

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

171 Pictures

Report #55---Sunday, October 25, 2026---Kona, Hawaii, USA---Anchored Using Ships Tenders---7am-6pm---Broken Clouds---84 Degrees--79% Humidity---6.9mph-Winds-----Casual Dress

The Zaandam arrived early to Kona, and we were cleared by the local authorities before we even finished breakfast.  We did not dock today but tendered to shore since the ship was "parked" in the bay.  At anchor or held by the side thrusters is a more accurate description.

 

We stayed onboard until 10am, about the same time open tenders were announced.  A couple of days ago, all of the President's Club members got a note giving us priority tendering for the rest of the ports in Polynesia.  We assume the same perk went to the Neptune folks also.  We seldom use this service unless we want to go ashore early.   

 

What we did not realize was that it was Sunday and there were football games shown on the TV.  Once they were over, the guests left all at once.  We joined a line that went down the hallway on deck one.  We were in no rush since it was Sunday and things never open that early in town.  We estimate it took up to an hour by the time we arrived at the Kailua Pier. 

 

Some tours went off early like the ho-ho bus for one hour and $100.  The only other tour listed was Kona Reef by glass-bottom boat for 1 hour and $110.  There were more excursions, but I could  not locate them on the room TV.  

 

It was going to be another hot and muggy day with no rain.  We have never seen rain on this part of the island, but we do know that the island was affected by a hurricane not long ago.  The temperature was already 84 degrees at 11am. Some guests were already waiting to go back in the shade of umbrellas and sipping ice water when we arrived.  And we did notice that the sunscreens and aloe vera lotion were there for all to use.  

 

We took a right turn at Ali'i Drive, the main drag in town.  Most of the historic sights are here, mixed with the cafes and shops.  But first, we had to be careful of the sneaky high waves that crash over the wall here.  It must have been high tide since the sidewalks and street were flooded.  Walking fast, we made it before the next big wave hit.  There are always people here waiting to see the tourists soaked, then laugh like heck. 

 

The Hulihe'e Palace, the former vacation home of the royalty was next.  It has been closed for a few years now due to re-modeling.  It serves as a museum with Hawaiian artifacts. 

 

Following the busy road, we entered the Kona Inn Shopping Village.  It appeared that several of the small businesses were gone.  Even the original Donkey Balls store was gone.  These chocolate and nut candies rival the Moana Loa macadamia nut treats.  Bubba Gumps used to be here as well.  Another restaurant has taken their spot.  What was back was the Kona Farmer's Market selling fresh produce, flowers, handicrafts, and Kona coffee.  This popular spot has been closed the last few times we stopped here.  

 

Continuing on, we made our way to the Royal Kona Resort, stopping frequently to take photos while seeking whatever shade we could find.  Not many walkers were out and about this hot Sunday morning.   Cooling off on a shady bench, we strolled through the hotel grounds and pool area before we turned around and headed back.  This time we crossed the street carefully and wandered through numerous boutiques, artists' shops, and jewelry stores. 

 

Our destination was Pancho and Lefty's Cantina and Restaurant.  Climbing the stairs from Ali'i Drive, we seated ourselves on the railing of their upper patio.  It took a while before a waitress appeared, and even longer to get drinks.  What we assumed was a small crowd of guests, was way off.  The entire interior of the restaurant was full of local families out for a Mexican lunch.  There must be another entrance at the back of this venue since we only saw a few folks tackling the stairs.  A young boy who was helping brought us ice water and chips and salsa.  Our waitress came with the Longboard draft beer and one Diet Coke.  It took two of each to cool us off, despite sipping on a water bottle all the way here.  It is never enough.  We ordered the nachos with marinated steak strips, and enjoyed another fun lunch.  But we were not done yet.  They serve the best mud pie made with an intense Kona coffee ice cream.  Of course we had to share one.  We had relaxed for almost two hours before we moved on.

 

On the way back we passed by St. Michael's Church where a service was taking place.  We had intended to check out the Farmer's Market, but only took pictures as we passed by the tents.   The last icon we saw was Moku'aikaua Church, the oldest Christian church made with lava rock masonry in 1837. 

 

The most disturbing sign of the hurricane's damage had to be the gigantic and old banyan tree that covered the street and cafes near the pier.   It had been cut down with only the bottom five feet left.  We doubt it will survive.  We will have to do some research to learn what happened here.   OK...research done and here's what we learned:  Known as the Royal Banyan tree, it is a Moreton Bay fig tree that was given as a gift to the Royals in 1882.  It was 140 years old and the largest tree of this kind we have ever seen.   In 2025, a large limb fell and the tree was diagnosed with internal rot.  No choice, it had to be cut down....a very sad day in Kona.  

 

We got a few more photos of the nearest beach before boarding the tender back and arriving before 4pm.   We did catch the sunset around 6pm but missed the Captain's talk because we did not have the TV set on the bow channel in time.  The announcements do not come into the rooms most of the time.  As soon as the sun dipped past the horizon, we left the bay for a six-day sailing towards French Polynesia.  Great time to catch up for us.  There was an equally impressive moonrise where we got some wonderful photos.

 

Dinner offered two types of spring rolls, Caesar salads, and prime rib.  One of had a problem choosing between the pasta and the beef.   So I asked for a small slice of prime rib with no veggies with a serving of Bolognese spaghetti on the side.  They gladly honored my request.  Bill's entree was supposed to be a half order of an outside cut of prime rib.  However, it came like a double order.  He could only eat half of it, saving a bit of room for an apple tart, while I had one scoop of pistachio ice cream.   

 

The casino opened at 10:30pm after a 5-day closure.  And the show tonight was a performance by the singers and dancers with a Swing Thing.  We did a "Swing Thing" to bed.  It had been a long exhausting day.  

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

388 Pictures

Report #54---Saturday, October 24, 2026---Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, USA---Docked Port Side To Pier----Overcast And Rain---81 Degrees---81% Humidity---15mph--Winds---Casual Dress

The island of Maui is much different than Oahu in that it is more about nature than anything else.  Known for their spectacular sunrises and sunsets from the volcano Haleakala, it is also famous for their waterfalls, bamboo forests and black sand beaches.   

 

There were several excursions offered here today, but due to a glitch in their software, we can only give you details on a few of them that they printed.  Maui Tropical Plantation and Ocean Center was 4 hours for $220.  Out of Kahului was a trip to Paia Town and rainforest trek for 5 hours and $239.  Iao Valley and upcountry Maui was 5 hours for $300.  Finally, a Hana Road adventure & picnic was almost 9 hours and $450.  According to a local flyer, the Road to Hana is one of the most spectacular trips in the world.  It does include a picnic lunch, which we all know is a roadside boxed lunch with a beverage.  

 

Our port of call for Maui has always been the village of Lahaina.  However, since the devastating fire of 2023, that area is closed off to tourists these days.  A notice was printed on a map saying that parts of Lahaina are restricted areas and out of respect for the residents, they ask you to stay away so they can heal and re-build.  We did hear from friends that the ancient ficus or banyan tree did survive and is growing.   It is not the first time a fire struck Lahaina.  We were not aware that Lahaina was the first capital of Hawaii until it was moved to Honolulu in 1845. A major fire in 1919 burned down most of the buildings on Front Street, the main drive. 

 

Now the cruise ships dock at the commercial port of Kahului located on the north top of the island.   The Zaandam sailed into the port by 6:30am and was docked portside.  It was raining with passing showers.  We did catch a fleeting rainbow, always a sign of good luck as we were told by Pinnacle Grill Caroline, who gracefully did her little happy dance for us. 

 

After breakfast, we headed back to the room to do some internet work like we always do.  There was a knock on the door, and the room service waiter came in with a tray of a bouquet of flowers, a dozen Coke Zero's and a tray of sweets.....all gifts from Leonie, the hotel manager.  It wasn't time for our bi-weekly perks, so we were not sure what the occasion was.  We wrote a thank you note and hope to see her soon to thank her in person.   She is one of the most thoughtful managers we know. 

 

We left the ship by 10am, well after the showers stopped.  It is a long walk from the ship, through the terminal, then  passing through a cyclone- fenced trail to the main street in town.   Accordinig to the ship's map it is a ¾ mile hike to the Maui Mall Village across the highway.   This port area used to be filled with feral cats, and someone used to leave kibbles in old tuna cans for them.  Apparently they have been removed because we saw none.   

 

Maui Mall Village is directly across the street, filled with mostly essential grocery stores, pharmacies, car shops, hair salons, entertainment center, and various types of eateries.   And there are the fun stores such as TJMaxx and Ross, dress for less.   We needed to do some shopping and ended up with some bargains in the blouse department at Ross.   These stores always seem to be the busiest with the locals and today was no exception.   The check-out line at TJMaxx was too long, so we opted for Ross instead.   

 

It was time for lunch, and we went to the Ale House, a local sports bar and grill near Wendy's and other fast-food places.   I was already full of customers because of football we think.  We ordered a Stella draft beer and a bottomless Diet Coke.  We followed up with a giant 14-inch pizza topped with sauce, 2 types of cheese and Kalua shredded pork.  Their thin crust is probably a frozen shell, but the toppings make up for it.  Absolutely no room for dessert, we made one last stop at Longs Drugs for a bag of pretzels. You never know when we might get hungry, right?   Many shoppers there were crew members, among them dining room maitre'd Dwi and his waiters along to carry back bags full of Halloween decorations.   We all hustled back just in time to miss the coming showers, which eventually came down heavy.   

 

Back onboard, we used the time to figure out the dreaded computer again, which seems to have a mind of its own.  Captain Thomas gave his talk at 5:45pm, announcing that we would require two tugs to get us safely out of the harbor due to high winds.  We seemed to recall that last year we had a two hour wait to leave here.   The next port of Kona was 120 nautical miles away, and we would need a speed of 12 knots to arrive on time.  It will be a tender port, which we really don't like all that much.  We will have 15 knot winds along the way with a 5-foot swell.    The sunset this evening was 5:54pm and the sunrise will be 6:22am.  

 

At dinner, we had Caesar salads, bang-bang shrimp (because we like the name), one chicken noodle soup, and mains of one chicken/turkey Wellington (really ?) and one ½ order of beef brisket.  The mystery Wellington had a pile of spinach hidden under the slice of meat.....something that is not to our liking for several reasons.  We asked our waiter and head waiter Betty why they do that.  They had no idea why and promised they would check that before serving the entrees.   Our theory is that the cooked spinach came with another entree, and they cooked too much.  Hiding it under another meat entree, they get rid of it.  Maybe we're wrong, but this is not the first time this has happened.   No dessert tonight.

 

The entertainer this evening was a lady named Barrie Kealoha, an Island Girl with story-telling heritage with music as well.

 

One last port in Hawaii will be Kona.  Looking forward to one last Aloha.....

 

Bill & Mary Ann   

 

113 Pictures