It’s official. I no longer know which travel day it is. I Staying in Victoria has been a lovely, relaxing experience. I will get a few pictures uploaded for days 10 and 11 but I think that still leaves me a day behind. I will catch up. On Friday we drove to Fisgard Lighthouse which is also a fort designed to protect the island a couple of wars ago. Saturday took a short trail walk and managed a few photos of the sea and surroundings. We also managed a visit to see John and Jose, cousins from my Grandfather’s family.
Continue Reading →Category: Pacific Ocean
Hilo then back at sea
It has been several days since the last posting. The internet has been spotty and too unreliable to even get much in the way of email much less upload a post or photos. Perhaps things will improve while we are at our berth in Ensenada.
Since leaving Hilo the weather has been overcast and grey. The seas have been heavy, the wind has been strong and the outside decks have been closed. Although the ship has handled the rough seas quite well, the decks have been in continuous motion. Walking from port to starboard the trip may involve both uphill and downhill sections. People walk the length of the deck look like they have consumed way too much alcohol, weaving from side to side. The elevators sway and make strange clunking sounds.
However, today, our last sea day before the port of Ensenada, Mexico is bright and sunny. The open decks are once again available for us to walk outside.
Hilo greeted us with a warm sunny day although somewhat overcast. We spent the day just enjoying the warmth that has been uncharacteristically missing this trip. The ship was quite empty with most passengers taking advantage of the last island port.
Among the decorations around the ship are a number of wreaths constructed by various departments. Each department seams to have attempted to use an appropriate motif. Eventualy, there will be photos.
When we departed Hilo for the five day return to continental North America with a stop at Ensenada, Mexico. On the first evening we indulged in the Crown Grill steakhouse thanks to a gift certificate from our travel agent Laurie. It was also a formal night but the floors were too bouncy for much dancing.
New Years eve was another formal evening. We managed to dance a little. I think the floor was still moving too much but perhaps we are becoming accustomed to the motion.
Crossed the Pacific to Ensenada
At the time of this posting, internet service is still not great but we will make this our final post before arriving back in Burlington. There are no more photos in the album, the remainder will have to wait until I am home.
We just did a little shopping while in Hilo, the macadamias are too hard to resist. Perhaps some will actually make it home. Although Mauna Loa was cloud covered for the entire day we did not get any rain.
It is now nine days since we left Los Angeles, more precisely, San Pedro behind to sail across the Pacific to the islands that are said to be the most remote from any major land mass than any other. It is also claimed that the volcanos on the island of Hawaii are the highest mountains on the planet. Measurements are from the sea floor to the summit. Given the physics of their creation in comparison to that of the reputed highest peaks, such a reputation is reasonable. Never-the-less, it is possible to climb the recorded height of such peaks as Denali or Everest whereas that is not possible with Mauna Loa or Mauna Kea. Each is, in its own way, a geological marvel.
On a more personal note, it seems we have developed a reputation as the “tango dancers” on board. At times there are others on the floor when we dance with other musical groups but more often we are alone when Anna and Olga, the Sun Shine Duo, are playing a tango. They tend not to play the more commonly recognized tangos but their performances are superb. Almost always Olga looks for us and makes eye contact with a wink, smile or nod to invite us to dance. The first tango they played for us is one called Libertango which was the music selected for a show dance that Bonnie and I performed a little over a year ago. They have also learned that playing “The Lady in Red” almost guarantees we will perform a bolero. Since Anna and Olga most frequently entertain in the Piazza there is a large audience. We can see passengers stopping along the Atrium railings two decks above the Piazza floor. Thanks to our dance teachers, Bryan and Patricia, we seem to be able to execute an entertaining version of tango. Last evening we had danced once and were content to sit out the next one when a passenger sitting next to us looked over, smiled and motioned to the floor with an expectant smile. What else could we do? It was Libertango. This duo has become one of the two most entertaining and enjoyable groups on board this otherwise rather mediocre cruise, the other being “Elua”, “Tiki Dave” and Leialoha, the Hawaiian Cultural Ambassadors. It also appears that Gail and I may have become part of the Piazza entertainment. We really haven’t danced as much on this cruise as on others and most commonly dance out tango and bolero with an occasional rumba or cha cha. The number of passengers who stop us to say they enjoy our performances is quite surprising and numerous. They are performances since it is exceedingly rare that any others join us on the Piazza floor.
After leaving Hilo to sail east across the Pacific the ride has not been smooth. There are no huge waves just waves big enough that the wind turns their peaks into surf and a swell deep enough for the ship’s bow to make considerable spray. There has been enough movement to turn the swimming pools into wave pools which some seem to enjoy. We have been using the hot tubs frequently and they don’t have the same wave action as the larger pools. In the islands we stayed on deck to enjoy the sun but as we sail east across the Pacific the temperature has dropped a bit and lounging on the deck chairs is not for us.
On the evening of Sunday, December 30 we paid a visit to the Crown Grill steak house thanks to a gift from our travel agent. We enjoyed a very good quality and well prepared filet mignon. I think the 8 oz rating may be a bit conservative but if you were up to the task there was a 22 oz porterhouse available.
The afternoon of December 31 saw the performance of the Aloha Oe show. During the sea days on the cruise Hula and ukulele lessons were provided by the Hawaiian Cultural ambassadors “Tiki Dave” and Leialoha and this show is the culmination of that instruction. The stage was full and Gail performed with the hula group.
Our trip across the Pacific has been anything but smooth. It has not been violently rough but enough so you really know that the deck is moving beneath you. As we approach Ensenada, Mexico this morning, January 2, the sea became quite calm. There was no majestic sunrise and it is still quite cool but it looks like we will have a sunny day. Ensenada harbour is not one of the prettiest. It is an industrial site primarily but there is room for a couple of cruise ships to berth. A brief excursion ashore confirmed a sunny but cool day.
Back aboard, we took a little walk around the deck then back to the room to pack. Tomorrow we expect to arrive in San Pedro early then wait for our 10 AM transfer to LAX.
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First Real Sea Day
The sidebar photo album covers both Dec 19 and 20. I have added a few of the decorations in the Atrium. The internet is rather slow so some photos may not be uploaded until we reach the islands where I can access faster service.
Thursday was our first full day on board the Emerald Princess. The ocean was a little angry last night and this morning. We have been experiencing moderately deep swells that tend to produce a corkscrewing effect on the ship which is felt much more extremely in the forward areas of the ship and the effect is amplified on the upper decks. Our accommodation is toward the aft of the ship and middle of the five major accommodation decks and the sensations, while noticeable, are not uncomfortable. We have experienced these conditions on most cruises that sail west from the coast of California.
We had breakfast in the dining room with several pleasant travellers and lunch with a fun couple from Arizona. During lunch about a dozen pods of dolphin passed the ship. To me, dolphin always seem to be laughing, even when you can’t actually hear them. I think they may be laughing at how easily we are entertained.
The ship is well decorated for Christmas with the three deck high atrium being the focus. There are numerous decorated trees, garlands wrapped around railings, a gingerbread village and some stateroom doors have been decorated by their occupants. There are decorations on some of the upper decks, particularly around entrances to food service areas.
We managed to dance a little with our two violinists, the Sun Shine Duo, and a little with our friends Elua. We keep meeting people on this cruise from previous journeys. Sometimes we are recognized, other times we recognize others. It is not uncommon to find passengers who have, like us, done this Christmas cruise one or more times. That said, there are many for whom this will be their first visit to Hawaii and others for whom this is their first cruise.
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