highplanesdrifters

Ditto, excellent report!

Happy New Year Coolers! Thanks for all the fine funnies.

@Fletcherhave you picked out your tattoo from the on board tattoo parlor?

We like the Mysty show, especially the sparks!

Just saw Aranui5 docked in Papeete. A most interesting ship indeed. If the OP doesn't mind a quick hijack, where are you headed, and will you need to help with the cargo loading and unloading? 😃

There are approximately 400,000 King Penguins at Salisbury plain. Throw in some Shackelton history, drop dead scenery, thousands of fur seals and their pups, birds galore, and you've got yourself the trip of a lifetime on top of Antarctica. Most everyone's favorite, but not in a lot of itineraries.

Thanks sensei, will avoid. I am a mere snorkeler in the ocean of life. I see the Aranui 5 is docked in Papeete. I can only imagine how your French friends would feel about their buffet. 🤣

Of course.🙄

What's Blue Top?

I'd panic.

Nooooooooooooo! At least we are not on that ship this trip, just OWB next to the Coral Gardens in Taha'a, so shouldn't be an issue. Sorry for the mini hijack AussieBoy. @AussieBoyTX what it is with territorial trigger fish? Years ago in Moorea I was attacked every day as I stepped off our OWB. I finally decided to fight back and aggressively chased them. After 2 days of this they left me alone. Weird. With any luck the "atmospheric river" will let us escape SFO and we will be in Papeete tonight, and Le Taha'a tomorrow enjoying Poisson Cru. . Trying the new Hilton in Papeete, fingers crossed. Thanks again for all your reports. Really wonderful. You've really wet my whistle thinking about what awaits. Sorry about the less than ideal dives. But it was probably better than the deep freeze at home😃. Fair winds on your next leg wherever it takes you.

Thanks @AussieBoyTX. Your reports have been keeping me going. We leave today, and will be in Taha`a by Friday if all goes as planned.

Exactly!

@arlingtonva Another big thanks for a well written review. I was quite curious. We too will stick with Seabourn and Silversea, and hoping to give Ponant a try.

Love it! Merry Christmas!

Oh my!

Thank YOU Terry for keeping this thread going. I'm always learning something. Happy Holidays, Merry CHRISTMAS and most certainly wishing you a Happy New Year....which involves some wonderful traveling. Be safe, be warm. A little chuckle for you.

Your posts and comments are always so helpful! Thanks.

@astrocat Thanks for taking the time to write a great recap! Much appreciated.

Would love a quick recap.

Thanks for the info, have added it to my files.

C'mon Santa. Don't get stuck in the chimney. Rough couple of days for the market. Ever notice how hawkish Powel gets when the market rallies? If the S&P drops another few hundred will the Dove come back out? A side note on the economy. We are in Chicago for the Holidays. We have been out every night for the last week with friends and family, which will continue through next week. It's killing me, I'm too old for this😃. Restaurants are jammed. Dinner reservations are hard to come by at many restaurants in spite of 30-40% higher prices. Sticker shock is an understatement. These expensive bars and restaurants are full of 20-30 somethings. No wonder they can't afford houses. It's a mortgage payment just to go out for one night! Where is all this money coming from? Has the stimmie run out? Has their Stimmie savings run out? Are they putting it on credit cards? Some data says yes. Going to be in interesting first quarter.

I'm just guessing based on the Venture schedule and cruisemapper, so please don't shoot the messenger. The Holiday Cruise began on Dec. 15. Venture left Ushuaia yesterday and is in Falklands today, Dec. 17. So perhaps one day lost? The bigger question for me is why not still go to South Georgia, if in fact that is still the current plan. I'm sure all will be revealed at some point. 😀

My source tells me that the days they loose in South Georgia will be spent in Falklands and Antarctica. So there is a good chance with extra days they will get some quality time there. But mother nature may have other plans.😀

Unfortunate. But at least you know now and can cancel as opposed to a last minute port change. Al Ulla is getting an Aman. Perhaps you can just spend some time there.😀