VK3DQ

Chinease spy ship in 

Suva

Sorry. Re the poor quality of the documeent.   Morre to come. Maasdam has another 3 ports in Fiji. Keep fingers crossed.

Reggards.

John

New info

See

Ship staying late happy houre all day all bars

Passengers born before 1956. Allowed on shore

Being refused practique in Fiji. Sitting like stuffed duck

Hi folks.

We are at the port of Savusavu and are currently held up as locals refusing to allow anyone ashore who has not had Measles vaxcine.

Captain on phone to health dept but to no avail.

Will report as we go along.

Regards. John

3 hours ago, erewhon said:

Thanks for your reports.

What time are the set dining times in the Main Dining Room for the early dining and the late seating?

As far as I can see there are no fixed sittings dining room is open 5.15pm untill 9pm no mention of any sittings. We have never had to wait for a table.

Regards. John

Oh and before I forget a few of the young New Zealand Girls have taken a liking to the members of  the ocean quartet   I have high hopes we might get a song or two out of those sweet young things (grin)

Which is I hope the bands motive

Regards

John

Hi Folks

An intresting show , gentleman playing a saxaphone varaious classical arrangments  rather too shrill for my taste ... "who said that about some music ????"

Vary nice meal in MDR last night Peti loin of beef mashed spuds and parsnips  and a gravy to die for!!! 

After the show we headed again to the ocean bar  happy day ment a couple of strongbow ciders 

Our morning cofee tray has just arrived so there will be a shot break in typing

regards'  John

ps Margeve of Brandernberg speaking about the Brandenberg Concertos written for her say they are too shrill 

Our music provided by the Ocean Quarted was great and happy day ruled supreme 

Oh I Forgot Silent Night and Gloria in excelches  sung by the New Zealand youth Choir starts off our Christmas music

great day  all bars in happy hour mode all day...for missed port this morning ... everyone happy  we are now bound back across the dateline towards the Fiji Islands Savusavu on Vanua levu

magnificant performances  by new zealand youth choir  ... standing ovations

just wonderful voices

2 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

John

 

how easy is it to get on and off a Zodiac? I have a knee issue, that I can usually find a way around, but never been on a zodiac. Never mind getting on one with moving water beneath it.

Good question.  I would say it might be an issue..however never give up..adventure keeps you young

Port call at Nuie canceled due to large swell at locial wharf Maasdam will circumnavigate the island...oo. all is well in the. Crows nest bar.

Its happy day in all bars half price drinks all day

Regards john

On 12/11/2019 at 3:02 AM, VK3DQ said:

Ohhh  yes another victim of happy hour emerges   FantASTIC session last night  young passenger  lass with voice of an angel gets up and sings with band .....WOW!!!!!

 

You dont see that very often     

 

lots to report from Tonga but not strong enough yet

 

Regards

 

John

The Zodiac,s were out in force. Bums bouncing on the rubber sides.

Perfect day with large market on the wharf.

Its Pie night in the lido and show tonight

A Great day in Vavau the Zodiacs out in force we made it to the market on the warf

And the perl workshops

Concert by New Zealand "youth" choir ..1st class 

regards John

I d0nt quite understand a number of posts have not made the system at all

Regards

John VK3DQ

Ohhh  yes another victim of happy hour emerges   FantASTIC session last night  young passenger  lass with voice of an angel gets up and sings with band .....WOW!!!!!

You dont see that very often     

lots to report from Tonga but not strong enough yet

Regards

John

Hi Folks

WE are having a great time on Maasdam .. she fits  us like an old comfortable pair of slippers.....

regards

john

Hi Folks

Happy hour in the ocean bar lasted all night ...Bombay Saphire Gin and Tonic and earler in the day we had some hot and cold bar snacks in the crows nest ... we skipped on the show tonight just to hang out in the ocean bar which is our favorite watering hole in the evenings ..but the band had a day off yesterday,,so no Jazz .... well here we are in Tonga ....

Regards

John

Mr B a friend  is afraid of the water and cruising is not for him however I had this e-mail from him a few hours ago whilst I am in mid pacific on board Maasdam

I wonder if you would choose the same cruise that I suggested for him

"

Weii I am wide awake 6am will need to send for coffee real soon now ... I think today perhaps we will use the lido for breakfast as it has a wider menu normally we use the dining room but I feel like a change but first things first a coffee

i had an urgent request from a friend wht would you suggest "

Hi folks. 

A bit of s hard day for me a bit under the weather with back pain so I have not taken too much notice.

Went to the talk to the captain session and then to the port talk for Tonga given by Kaye the new cruise director who joined the ship in Auckland.

Then onto a cooking demo with visiting chef Craig Squire. This was a hoot. Enjoyed it.

Show tonight was not to my taste The Showmen but most people seemed to like them.

In the bar having a coffee after grabbing fillings for a. Ham , chook and salad roll for. My dinner.

So that was our day. See you all again tomorrow.

Regards. John

On 12/6/2019 at 10:11 AM, VK3DQ said:

Hi there.

 

The cruise goes from Sydney to the bay of islands ,next is Auckland and then out in the south pacific to the Kingdom of Tonga. Then across the date line to nuie , then we turn north to Fiji and west to New Caledonia and back to Sydney ...trip is 20 days.

 

Regards. John

Hi.

Yes I understand the zodiacs will be used at a number of ports , we are now on approch to the bay of islands sitting in the crows nest watching the. World go bye.

Regards. John