Sea Birds

Some photos of birds we're seeing around the ship. They live at sea, going to land only to reproduce. Masked Booby, Brown Booby, and Red-billed Tropicbird.

January 11, 12

At Sea: temperature is 77 with calm seas and 3575 miles to Nuku Hiva (French Polynesia), our next port of call in 8 days. Partly cloudy skies at 6:30 am.

Went to our knitting group, read The Other Boleyn Girl, worked on photos from the last week, and photographed a few birds that are seen flying in our air currents: brown boobies, masked boobies, and the beautiful red-billed tropicbird. (Photos to follow.) Lots of activities going on, but my book and photos needed me today!

January 12 At Sea:
75 degrees at 6:30 am, 15 knot winds, seas are light chop. Overcast. Boobies still flying around the ship.
Activities today will cause us to split up since they are at competing times: what to see and do in the Cook Islands and Polynesia, wine tasting for a wine package we can get, America's Test Kitchen is doing an Italian thing, and what to see and do in Nuku Hiva (our first port)...knit group, exercise, etc. Busy day at sea...love it.
We are apparently about 160 miles north of the northern-most Galapagos island today (never been there...yet.)

Just checking in before turning in and will probably upload this early in the morning when wifi is better...set clocks back an hour again tonight so I know I'll be up at 4 or so! The day was excellent...the America's Test Kitchen on board has a great cook...learned a lot today about Parmesan cheese...and a few great recipes. Lots of info on upcoming ports in Polynesia that was useful...signed up for a few more tours. It remained overcast and 70's all day so it was very comfortable walking on deck. Tomorrow looks like an easier day for us...fewer competing activities! (Probably due to the football games that are scheduled.) I haven't accomplished much that I hoped to on these sea days...a week left...from then on the "real cruise" begins with ports nearly every day. 'Night all ...
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January 9 and 10: Panama!

Yesterday was a very good transit of the Canal...a bit of sun as well as rain but a bit cooler than we've been before. It was fun knowing that a few were following us on the webcams! We anchored "around the corner" after our transit so that people can get into Panama City if they want to. Not many went in last night, but many took the tender into Fuerte Amador today from where they can get a shuttle into the city itself. We leave at 3:30 this afternoon so we decided to remain on the quiet ship. We have 8 days at sea coming up! (Little to no internet available.) The days will be busy though, so I'm getting the blog updated and going through photos now while I can get online.

January 10: a few extras

Just a few odd things to mention before I may go silent for the next 8 days as we travel the Pacific in search of land! We have been receiving gifts along the way from the Captain and crew (HAL)...so far, in addition to the real Panama hats (that probably won't make it home), we have each gotten messenger bags (nice ones!), Moleskin travel journals, neck wallets for our key cards and from our travel agency very nice carry bags and windbreakers!
At each port we are given small cards with currency-equivalents and a few phrases we might need for taxi drivers, etc. in the native language...i.e. Where is an Internet cafe? Where is a toilet? Etc. The phrases are in their language so all we have to do is point. It also has our ship location and emergency info.

January 7: at Sea

It's finally warm! 80's with fairly calm seas. The wind and swells are behind us so it's a comfortable ride. We set clocks back an hour last night so I feel like I'm back to being an early riser. We're sleeping so well!
Today was a busy day compared with yesterday's rainy port day where nothing much is planned on ship. Too many choices today for the same time slots! I went to my knitting group which is a fun bunch of gals, followed by our excellent port lecturer, Barbara, who spoke about Panama City. We have been invited to join a dinner table tonight where she will be the guest, so I'm looking forward to picking her brain! (It's Gala Night, so we'll all be dressed up...not super fancy tonight...C's tux shirt is at the cleaners.)
Chris walked 5 miles and I walked 1...it's a start...and still I've stayed away from the sticky buns!
Our cabin is very comfortable...we are lucky to be here! I shall post this tomorrow (Monday) when I have cell service. Costa Rica tomorrow (Puerto Limon) but not sure what we will do...no plans at the present.
Home for the next 4 months:

January 6: Grand Cayman in the rain

Captain Mercer made an appearance yesterday at our Cruise Critic Meet and Greet (I've never seen a captain appear at one of these)...over 200 attended.
The other photo is from today...Grand Cayman is very rainy, so we are happy in the Crows Nest with reading and knitting projects.

January 4 and 5: Day 1 On Board! Excitement and Panic!

January 4 was just as cold and blustery as it had been the 3rd when we flew in, so we took a cab to Walgreens to get our "stuff" and returned to the hotel. The night before we had a welcome dinner put on by our travel agency where we met many previous world cruisers...only 1 newbie like us! But they were all friendly and welcoming with plenty of information about where we are going and what to see. We felt comfortable with all of them (over 250 were at the dinner!)

About 10:30 we boarded busses they provided and headed for Holland America's beautiful "Amsterdam." Once on board we quickly ate knowing we had a big job ahead of unpacking our 4 bags. The bags came at good intervals so all went quite well. We are quite organized thanks to tips from other cruisers. Off to dinner (prime rib and stir fry veggies), then get ready for sailaway party at 7:30....but....oops...in all the unpacking I realized I didn't see any of my medications! Searched and searched the cabin...pulled all the suitcases out from under the bed, and searched again. Now total panic for me! Finally called my home neighbor and they went to the house and searched as I told them where I had been...nothing. Called the hotel and they were kind enough to check the room again too...nothing. So, I was resigned to have the ship doctor help me deal with it. But, while I was reading last night, I all of a sudden remembered I had put all of them in a purse I packed! They were there! The only thing I hadn't double-checked! WHEW! So, the first night ended on a happy note! Light rocking and rolling, the kind I like that puts you to sleep!
This morning is grey and cool with light seas. A good sea day. Lots going on today so we have to make priorities. Mine are the knit group organizational meeting 10-11, and then Cruise Critic's Meet and Greet 11-12. Cruise Critic is an absolute must for anyone who Cruises. It's an online community where you find out virtually anything and everything about cruising. The best feature is always the Roll Call where you sign up according to what ship and date you are on, so you can find others there to share tours with, etc. Several of our tours have been set up this way for this trip so it will be nice to meet in person. One woman put together an entire book about this World Cruise which included photos and bios of members going on it, itinerary, books to read, fancy dinner schedules etc. It's a PDF file we downloaded. Met some fellow RV travelers last night because I recognized them from the book.
Chris is off to get his usual sudoku that he does each morning on ship and I am doing this.
Our cabin is lovely and it's fun to see quite a few Lido stewards here from our past cruises. The Captain is one we've liked very much (rumor is that this is his final cruise.) And...we start off on a great note...ABBA FAB is the entertainment tonight! One of the best entertainment groups on board or anywhere! The piano bar is all Billy Joel and Elton John tonight, too, which means that Terry, from ABBA FAB will be banging on the keys too...close your eyes and he's Elton and Billy! Great music!
I shall post this tomorrow when we are in Grand Cayman. Thanks for coming along!


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