Day 19 At Sea

Well we finally turned the corner on temperature. Today was very hot. The occasional cloud was certainly welcomed. Great day! This was our final day at sea before we hit our first port on the Grand World Voyage, Hilo, Hawaii. I have not been to Hilo before so this should be interesting. First thing I am going to do tomorrow is have a look (from the air) at Kilauea Volcano. I will be doing a helicopter tour through the ship. Here is the description: "Circle of Fire" Volcano Helicopter ExperienceEnjoy a thrilling helicopter flight to see the most geologically active environment in the world--Kilauea Volcano! You will follow the surface activity down to the devastated village of Kalapana, viewing the Puna Forest and Pu'u O'o vent. After I get back a few of us are planning on arranging a tour with a taxi to check out some waterfalls and scenic areas. It should be a fun day!

Day 18 At Sea

We keep sailing along on a southwesterly course heading for Hilo, Hawaii. We have one more day at sea before we arrive in Hawaii. It was another very nice day, still a little cool and breezy but nice nonetheless. Tonight there was a lot of festivities, our first formal night, the Captain’s Champagne Welcome Reception and our first headliner, Vicki Lawrence. Many of you may remember her in her rise to fame on the Carol Burnett show and her show that followed, Mama’s Family. It was a fabulous evening….

Day 17 At Sea

Today was sooooooooo much better than yesterday….. It’s still a little cooler than I’d like but it was a full day of relaxation in the sun. The thing that separates this Grand Voyage from my last 2 is the spirit and energy of the crew and guests alike. This is a very positive and upbeat environment. The desire of the crew to provide an excellent product is evident everywhere you turn. I have a really good table at dinner. The people are very nice and everyone gets along well. The conversation is so good that we are about the last ones to leave. Believe me the people at your table can really make a huge difference. On last year’s Grand Asia Voyage I had 2 ladies traveling together (for only a segment) and they took a lot away from the voyage because of their unpleasant behavior that occurred from time to time. I saw that one of them is on board now but….. not at my table. The days are filled with seeing and visiting old friends (crew & guests alike) and it makes for a nice day (as long as it is a sunny day). The Captain, Olav van der Waard, stopped by while I was bronzing and visited for a minute and I gave him a thumbs up on the weather. This is just another of the little things that make this a Grand Voyage. P.S. Don’t I look pretty dark in the picture? Can you actually find me? I added a couple of photos, my friend Nancy from Ensemble Travel & I with the latest in fashionable sunglasses.... Good look for me? I think so....

Day 16 At Sea

Today was pretty laid back. It gave some more time to catch up with old friends. The World Voyage has gotten off to a great start (except for today’s weather). My friends Paul & Sylvia in Perth will be happy to know that all the ladies received a rose to kick off their Grand Voyage. We have 4 days at sea before we arrive in Hilo Hawaii. Hopefully the weather will pick up. Now is the time for finalizing my plans for the upcoming ports. I’ll try to get the most out of this voyage. My table at dinner is really nice, a collection of friends and waiter who is fabulous. I should know, I had him for about 7 months last year.

Day 15 Los Angeles, California

What a great kick off for a Grand World Voyage….. I saw lots of friends today from past voyages. It was difficult to walk through an area without continually running into old acquaintances… very nice! The afternoon was bright and sunny so sitting out on the deck greeting the new people coming aboard was great. The sail away was fun and certainly well attended. Could it have been the free drinks? Al in all it was a fun day. It was very special to see my old friends Sandy & Grace…. Amazing folks! I am definitely looking forward to a fabulous voyage…..

Day 14 At Sea

Today was a nice and relaxing day for winding down this segment of the voyage. It was mainly overcast with periods of sun. Tomorrow only 200 of us stay on board while the remainder of the guests return home or continue their journey elsewhere. Tomorrow we will pick up an additional 750 guests and begin our world voyage. I have a number of friends coming onboard while a number of others will not be joining us…. They will truly be missed. I am really looking forward to this voyage, the main reason being Africa….. The whole trip will be awesome but Africa will be truly special. As it stands right now I will celebrate my birthday at the Maasai Mara Game Reserve checking out the big game….. Tomorrow will be nice because it will give me a chance to make a few calls and catch up with family and friends. I added a photo from dinner tonight... My table will change for the world voyage slightly.

Day 13 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Great day in Los Cabos….. It was all about the whales for me today! I saw pod after pod of humpback whales. It was very, very nice. We even saw a pod of what appeared to be orcas jumping out of the water some distance away. After whale watching I went into town, did a bit of shopping and had a drink with my friends Roberta & Joe. After returning back to the ship it was poolside for me. We had another nice sail away departing Cabo San Lucas…. Nice day! It is one day at sea and then into L.A. and the Grand World Voyage…. Let’s get it going…

Day 12 At Sea

What a fabulous day! I was out bright and early at 0700 to experience a near perfect day….. Not much more to say that that….perfect!!!!! We are getting down to the end of this 14 day Panama Canal Cruise (for me Grand Voyage…. won’t give up). Tomorrow is our last port, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico before heading to Los Angeles. This cruise has been great…. The food, service and just the attitude has been fabulous. I hope it continues for the Grand World Voyage, I’m sure it will. I also hope tomorrow is just a perfect as today. I will be going for some Whale watching tomorrow. Here is the description: Deluxe Coastal Cruise with Whale Watching
Between approximately January and March, these waters are visited by thousands of whales that make their yearly migration toward the warmer tides in the Sea of Cortez. Here, at least six different types of whales spout and breach as they swim around the Gulf. They include the California grey whales, the finbacks, the humpbacks and the mighty blue whales--the largest animal ever to inhabit the earth. Keep your camera handy. The Cousteau Society has done some of their very best film-making right here!

Day 11 Acapulco, Mexico

Today was pretty nice. Generally speaking it was fairly overcast a good portion of the day but it was very comfortable. We first went to La Quebrada to see the cliff divers. I have been here several times but always love to see the show. It was at this show back in 2006 that convinced me to get a Nikon SLR since a point and shoot just doesn’t cut it for cliff diving. I like the 7 shots a second much better. Next we stopped at one of the Holland America recommended stores where I actually purchased something . This is surprising only because I don’t like to be taken to stores, factories or whatever on a paid tour when there may be financial consideration involved for taking me there. I just don’t think that is right…. But hey, that’s just the way I am. Next we went to a viewing area (another place where all the buses went where shopping was involved). It was a great view though. Then we were off to the resort, the Fairmont Pierre Marques Hotel. It was a lovely place, nice pools and facilities but the beach was just so-so…. The lunch was pretty good and lounging around the pool was nice. We then headed back to the ship and had a nice sail away on the aft deck. HAL is continuing to do a nice job on this voyage. It is very refreshing. I have criticized them when I felt it was warranted and will give them praise when they operate as I know they can. I have recovered from my encounter with the wasp but had a bit of an unnerving experience when one kept coming after me today at the pool. He just really liked me I guess….. Tomorrow is a day at sea which is nice, I need to relax.

Day 10 Huatulco, Mexico

Today was quite busy. After a very, very stormy night I got up this morning and went out on the aft deck and enjoyed the sun (all by myself). After and hour or so others ventured out and it was lovely. We arrived in Huatulco, Mexico around 1030 this morning. I decided to go ashore around 1130 and walked around the little village before finally sitting out on the beach. Huatulco is at just the beginning stages of becoming (possibly) one of Mexico’s newest up & coming resort area. It is really a lovely place…. So, I got to the beach and I ordered some lunch, quesadillas con pollo and a couple of diet cokes. All was well until I was stung by a particularly nasty wasp. As my arm began to swell and the pain began to set in I decided I better go back to the ship for a quick first aid check. I arrived just after the medical office closed for lunch. I decided that this wasn’t an emergency so I ventured out for my Catamaran sail. We spent the next three hours bouncing around in huge swells and even stopped at one of the beaches for a 45 minute swim break. After we finished, I went up to the pool deck and sat there soaking up some more sun. I began feeling pretty crappy so I went to medical. OK so I should have gone earlier in the day. I got epinephrine, benadryl, a breathing treatment and a shot of some steroid (there goes the hall of fame). Needless to say…. I’m not in much of a blogging mood at the moment. I still feel like crap, it’s now like medicated crap. I’ll be just dandy by tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I have a tour of Acapulco booked. Here is the description: Acapulco Full-Day Tour
Visit the most interesting parts of this beautiful resort city. From a scenic vantage point, admire the view as your guide tells you about the history of this area. Continue on to the Fairmont Pierre Marques Hotel for a tasty lunch, followed by time at the hotel's pool, beach and lounge facilities. Bring your swimsuit and sunbathe, swim or stroll along the beach. Towels, changing rooms and showers are provided. A short stop will be made during the tour for those wishing to shop, then you'll continue past other luxury hotels, the Convention Center, residential areas, and the old and new parts of the city. At La Quebrada, enjoy a refreshment while you admire the world famous cliff divers before returning to the dock.