Venture with Bill & Mary Ann on the 2013 GW Voyage "Postcards from Paradise" 115 days

[innlady1]

Thank you...I'm enjoying ALL of the World Cruise blogs!

[windsor26]

Thank you for your postings they are so entertaining I was thinking of the lady on your table who would not shake hands "but sat on hers" Did she not think the chair may not have been the cleanest of places to put her hands??

[JamesEM]

Thanks for keeping us up to date on your adventure.

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for the updates, I feel like I'm right there with you.

[Traveling Dot]

I'm enjoying every minute of your cruise as you take us along. Between you, kweenkaren and Jeff I feel like I'm there with you. i have been to most of the places you have been so far so I can imagine myself there again. But now you are getting to places that I haven't been yet, but can only dream about. Thanks again,:)

Traveling Dot

[WCB]

Report # 11 Day at Sea January 10, 2013 Thursday

 

Today's weather came as quite a surprise. As hot and sticky as it was yesterday, this morning was just the opposite. It was still humid, but the sun was gone and the heat was gone with it. We did make an attempt to set up the lounges at the aft pool, but it only lasted for an hour, then the rain began. There were some awesomely black clouds on the westside of the horizon, and we really were sure the navigators would be able to avoid them. Sometimes these clouds are just too big to go around. Oh well, we had lots of catching up to do with photos, and now we would have plenty of time to do them in our room.

 

It would also be a good time to watch a movie scheduled for 2pm on the drama channel. Wouldn't you know that it was the only one that never came on, like someone was asleep in the control center. Since we seldom watch movies at home, we know we can catch them onboard during the four months we are here. The most recent ones are usually shown in the Wajang Theater, then shown on the room TV the following day. And this was the one that did not work. We'll see it when they rerun it sometime after this cruise.

 

Some of the passengers were preparing for an overland trip to the Galapagos Islands with the HAL tour group. They will leave the ship in Manta tomorrow, bus to Guayaquil, then fly to the islands. They will have three days touring the islands, then return to the ship on a flight to Lima, Peru. The price of this tour is about $4900. per person. We have not done this tour yet, but when we do, we have decided to do it independant from a cruise. There are numerous well-known companies that offer a combination Galapagos/Machu Picchu excursion for more days for a lot less money we understand. That's the way we will go, and probably at a different time of year when the weather is the best.

 

Some of our friends are going to fly from Guayaquil to Cuzco to tour Machu Picchu tomorrow. They will have four nights and five days of touring, then rejoin the ship in Lima. Doing it on their own, they are only paying about half of the ship's price or less. Can't wait for them to come back and hear about their experience. Hope the rain and fog stay away for a few days, since it is always a gamble when you visit that part of the world.

 

Dinner was interesting this evening. We both ordered the cobb salad, which was described as containing chicken, diced eggs, bacon, cheese, and an assortment of salad fixings. Sounded good, but when we got them the chicken was absent. Maybe it was hidden on the bottom of the lettuce, but upon eating half of it, we discovered it was never there. Thinking we were crazy, we checked the menu again to see if it said chicken. Yes it did...we're not crazy yet. Our waiter had no idea how it went missing, but apologized profusely. We would not go hungry, because we backed up the salad with a split order of chile rellenos with seasoned rice. Delicious.

 

The entertainer this evening was an actor by the name of John Amos. We sort of remember him from some old TV shows such as Good Times and the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Although we did not go to the show, we will report tomorrow what it involved. By the way, two dancers were the entertainment last night, and our dinner mates seemed to enjoy their act very much.

 

Tomorrow, we will be in Manta, Ecuador, and will have crossed over the Equator sometime during the night we think. On our mailslot, we both got certificates commemorating the crossing. At a few other points on the cruise, we will cross the line again. At one of those times, there will be a special event to celebrate the occasion.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[WCB]

Report # 12 Manta, Ecuador January 11, 2013 Friday

 

The port of call for today was Manta, Ecuador. In pre-Columbian times, this city was a trading post for the Mantas and Incas. Today it is a bustling city of 200,000 residents with a booming economy in tourism, chemical products, and especially tuna fishing. We witnessed that firsthand the moment we docked early this morning. The fishing boats were already in the process of unloading their huge catch of large frozen tuna. Truck after truck drove off with tons of fish, headed for the canneries nearby. It's a very interesting process to watch, bringing to mind the saying that there are a lot of fish in the sea.

 

Also important in this part of the world is the fact that since 1999, Manta has been used as a military location for the US Air Force. They have joined with Ecuador in supporting anti-narcotics military operations. Surveillance flights are flown from here to track Colombian drug trafficking cartels. Finally, Manta serves as a lookout point for the US for any warcraft heading north from the Middle East and Asia. And if we recall, that is about the time that Ecuador adopted the US dollar as their currency. Sure makes things much easier for us cruisers.

 

Since we have been on every tour available from here, we decided to take the complimentary shuttle to town instead. We used to be able to walk out of this working port, but no longer. Truthfully, we were glad not to walk for miles in the warm humid overcast weather today. Taking the air-conditioned bus for a 10 minute ride was worth it.

 

We ended up at the local supermarket and pharmacy, which was most convenient. In the courtyard of this mini-mall, was a 2 level craft market with all the local souveniers you could wish for. The prices were good and the vendors were most happy to bargain even more. This area for the craft market was much better than in the old location. That was an open-air market in the unrelenting sun, where folks did not last too long before bailing back to the ship.

 

At the supermarket, we picked up more room snacks and also a bunch of colorful fresh flowers. Everything here, including the food and sodas, is quite affordable compared to the states. We even came across some gardening supplies, where we purchased some small pots to plant our seedlings. They have done so well, they needed transplanting. Most of the plants are wildflowers , so it will be a test to see how they progress. We came back to the ship with our treasures, then went back an hour later.

 

This time, we walked to the local hotel down the hill from the mall. It faces the ocean and a nice stretch of beach, and the staff welcomes the cruisers to visit and perhaps enjoy a beer or lunch in their bar and restaurant. We were more interested in taking pictures of the pool and gardens. As we strolled down the landscaped walkways to the pool, we heard some people saying, "Hola". Looking around, we spotted a tableful of friends who were dining on a balcony overlooking the grounds. This particular group seeks out the best places to lunch in almost every port, much the same as we do nowadays. It's really relaxing watching the world go by.

 

The last shuttle was at 3:30pm, with the sailaway scheduled for 4:30pm. We made it back early, so we could get some good video and photos of the tuna unloading. Also, swimming around the fishing boats, were huge sea turtles. We figured that the fishermen in the smaller boats were cleaning their catch, thus attracting the turtles. The bird activity is fun to watch too. Gulls, pelicans, and boobys dive for the small fish, while the frigates chase them down and steal their catch. It's a tough world for these creatures.

 

The sailaway party was in full swing, except the music is still from the 30's. The band is good, but gosh, they need to update their tunes. We ended up visiting with friends Bill and Leta, and were well out of the port by the time we left the aft deck at 7pm.

 

We have two days at sea, sailing at about 16 knots, to reach Callao, Peru, for the city of Lima. Hope the weather improves, and we see the sun. At least, it did not rain today.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[cruz chic]

I'm really enjoying your posts especially since the places you've been to so far I've also visited. Looking forward to more:).

[ijkh]

This is a novel idea guys. So where do you have your little potted plants? In your stateroom or on a balcony? Will they get enough light to grow? We will want to hear more later.

[cruisin crazy in Michigan]

I'm enjoying your wonderful posts and looking forward to following your cruise adventures!

[DFD1]

Great post about Manta. I feel like I was there with you.

 

Great Work! Carry On!

[Esri]

 

*snip*

 

The sailaway party was in full swing, except the music is still from the 30's. The band is good, but gosh, they need to update their tunes.

 

*snip*

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

Someone doing a review of another cruise said the band needed to update their play list because they were playing songs from the 50s/60s... Perhaps they choose music that was popular before the major demographic age group on board was born! ;)

 

I wouldn't even recognize songs from the 30s -- 40s, maybe (war movies)... So they wouldn't be OLD to me, anyway.

[Esri]

This is a novel idea guys. So where do you have your little potted plants? In your stateroom or on a balcony? Will they get enough light to grow? We will want to hear more later.

 

They do that most cruises, I believe. I'm sure we will get updates! The gardening updates are quite interesting as the cruise goes on. :)

[WCB]

Report # 13 Day at Sea January 12, 2013 Saturday

 

Things were looking good today when the sun peeked out of the overcast sky. The temperature was much more comfortable now that we have entered the Humboult Current, which comes up the west coast of South America from Antarctica. It significantly cools off the region and is most welcome.

 

It can be deceiving, however. Since we are still quite close to the Equator, the rays of the sun can be powerful, Mixed with the cooler breeze, one could get a pretty bad sunburn if you're not careful. That is what happened to one of us last year, while sailing from Punta Arenas to Easter Island. Even though we were much further south, relaxing on the pool lounge during one cool morning without sunscreen was a big mistake. The end result was like getting a chemical peel on your face. Never knew that even eyelids can peel. Anyway, today we poured on the lotion, and enjoyed our stay at the aft pool for the afternoon.

 

And we had a pleasant surprise.....spotting some whales, or should we say whale plumes as they skimmed the surface. We're not entirely sure of the species of whales we saw, but they appeared to be smaller than the humpbacks, judging from the size and height of the plume coming from their blowholes. More whales appeared later in the afternoon while we were walking on the promenade deck. It sure made the passengers happy.

 

Right before dinner at 8pm, two workers stopped by our room to check and clean the air ducts in our room. They dropped the panel in the ceiling outside the bathroom door, and vacuumed out the ducts. We asked for this service, because we have been sneezing way too much every time we enter the room. Our tablemate Barb asks for the workers to do this on every cruise. It's a great idea, because you never have any idea when it was done last. Anything we can do to remain healthy is important. Unfortunately, some folks are already getting ill with colds or stomach disorders. It only took a week for this to start, and we sure hope that the deep cleaning continues by the staff so it doesn't go shipwide.

 

Black and silver were the colors of the formal dinner tonight. The dining room was decorated with festive mobiles and streamers hung from the many columns. Most all of the ladies matched these decorations. Usually all of the larger size tables have an officer or staff member join them on these evenings. Seems that most of those tables were covered except ours. Remembering that some of us had requested to be hosted, we found it strange that no one showed up. Even though the dining room manager had been briefly at the entrance, he soon disappeared and never seemed to get the message that we all wanted to ask him why. This is a repeat of what happened last year, oddly enough. The protocol has always been that if you go unhosted, the wine will be served anyway. Well, that never happened, not that we drink wine ourselves, but our new tablemates do. Oh well, guess this will give us something to do tomorrow.

 

Here's another funny thing that happened today. Someone lost a handbag or something like that, while re-boarding the ship sometime yesterday in Manta. Out of the blue, we had a message from the front desk gal on our phone, asking if we had happened to pick up someone else's bag by accident on the xray machine. Well, of course we had not, and reported that immediately. In the meantime, we had to fill out the first of many immigrations and customs form for Peru, so we went to the front desk to turn it in, and also investigate this missing bag situation a little deeper.

 

Thinking that another passenger had made an accusation by wrongly identifying us, got us a bit hot under the collar. In all of our travels, we have never heard of this happening to anyone. At first upon asking, we were told there was no record of that call coming from the front desk. Now we were really confused, thinking we had been crank-called. Now they would have to ask some of the other staff members who made that call to us. By 5pm, we got another call with the final story. Since the lady seemed to think she lost her bag after the xray check, the computer was reviewed by security, and all of the passengers who boarded around that time had been called. Not just us. More than likely, she left her bag on the bus that had just returned from her tour. Anyway, they apologized profusely, and said that was the procedure they take with a possible mixup such as this. Bet it occurs all of the time. Who knows?

 

One more lazy day at sea, and we will be in Callao, Peru.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

 

PS More gifts were delivered tonight. We each got a "Moleskine" travel box containing a small journal, a mini map, two luggage tags, and stickers. It does not have the 2013 world cruise logo on them, because the real set did not arrive in time for the sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale. We will get those later.

[xjust4fun]

Enjoying your wonderful posts, thank you for taking us along on your cruise.

[JamesEM]

Thanks for your reports.

[planitohio]

Thanks for posting again.

[WCB]

Report # 14 Day at Sea January 13, 2013 Sunday

 

Visiting with Presti, one of the dining room head waiters/managers, we learned that there are over 1100 guests onboard from Ft. Lauderdale to Hong Kong. That number is considerably more than we had last year. The highest number of passengers will be on from Hong Kong to Cape Town, around 1300. Then from Africa to Florida, we will be back to 1100. Those are healthy numbers considering the economy these days. Perhaps the draw of a vacation away from all the negative news is what people are looking for. Sure we can turn on the news on TV, but there are so many other things to occupy your time, it's easy to avoid the news. One of those distractions was football this weekend, a most enjoyable passtime for most everyone.

 

We had an invitation for a complimentary wine tasting this morning at 11am in the dining room. It is one of the perks for the Mariner members. So is the offer of 50% off of the Navigator and Admiral wine packages, which happens to be quite pricey. Since we seldom drink wine, we did not attend the tasting. Even our serious wine-drinking friends did not go because it was held so early in the day. One in the afternoon would be much better.

 

Explorations speaker, Donna Giesler, has been lecturing on stars and star gazing. Early this morning, like at 4:30am, she had a viewing outside. Wonder how many folks showed up? This evening, weather permitting, she will have a laser tour of the night sky. Two of our tablemates plan to go, so we hope the sky remains cloud free.

 

The sit and knit group will be creating items for Project Linus, a Seattle chapter. They will provide blankets and hats for local Seattle hospitals and the Ronald McDonald houses for newborn and ill children. In the past, the donations were presented to foreign charities, but there was too much red tape, we heard. The ladies that knit and crochet happen to be very talented, and we're sure the items they create will be most appreciated.

 

There are mixed messages concerning smoking in the Crow's Nest. During the day, many activities are held up there. We counted four exercise classes, and also teatime where smoking at the bar and dance floor area is not allowed. The rest of the time, smoking is OK in those areas. For some reason, we read that most all of the HAL ships had banned smoking in all of the bars. Guess the Grand Voyages are the exceptions.

 

During the wee hours of the morning, the hot water system is going to have some maintainance work done. We will remember not to shower between 1 and 3am. That could affect the laundry, because that must run around the clock. We turned in a bag of laundry this morning, and got it back this afternoon. That is really fast for a world cruise, where the majority of passengers get complimentary laundry service.

 

At dinner, we were served Ecuadorian yellow fin tuna steaks. Certainly they came from Manta, and were fresh and delicious. So far, we have been very happy with the cuisine. Everyone we know has commented on the smaller portion sizes, especially those that have not sailed for the last two years. We are glad they have cut back a bit. Nothing stops us from ordering whatever or how much we wish, although we have decided to keep meals lighter and healthier. OK, we will add some desserts every now and then. Remember, the servings are small.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

[SilvertoGold]

Mary Ann

 

Wonderful posts! Thank you for sharing your journey!

 

Could you let us know who the DRM and Executive Chef are? As always, one of the best parts of your posts are the descriptions of the meals and the DR service.

 

Would also like to hear your views on the new 5 star level and how you like the rewards.

 

Thanks!

[KirkNC]

I am reading five different blogs and your is my favorite!

[jbhcw]

I am reading five different blogs and your is my favorite!

 

Agree...and the most informative:):):) Really enjoy the detailed reports!

[DFD1]

Bill and Mary Ann paint word pictures very well. Good writing! Great fun to read.

[WCB]

Report # 15 Callao (Lima), Peru January 14, 2013 Monday

 

The Amsterdam slipped into the port of Callao very early this morning, well before we woke up. Way back in 1537, Callao was the main port for Spanish commerce in the Pacific. Just about everything that was produced by the countries of Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru was carried over the Andes mountains to the port in Callao to be shipped back to Spain. Callao, along with other settlements, also served as a coastal defense against pirate attacks.

 

Today, it is the gateway to the famous colonial city of Lima. The capital of Peru, Lima is the cultural, industrial, and financial hub of the country. The central district is a 45 minute drive from the pier. There you can tour 16th century landmarks such as cathedrals, palaces, churches, and scores of museums. With our many visits here to Peru, we have had the privilege of touring them all at least once. So today, we plan on taking the shuttle service provided by the local Port Authority. Nice of them.

 

The dining room breakfast service was quick, because most of the guests were either on tours or on their way to the Miraflores area. We could tell that the waiters were ready to clean up, so they could also go into town. The buses were starting at 9am for the hour ride, and we thought perhaps there would be no line by 10am. Well, we guessed wrong. There was no bus in sight, and there had to be around 200 guests waiting, some not so patiently.

 

We noticed that there were no Stern's vans there like they have been in the past. To be more specific, the name is H. Stern and they are a worldwide high-end jewelry store. One of their stores is located in the Marriot Hotel in Miraflores, and happens to be the drop-off point for the five buses that were used today. Reps from their store handed out maps and brochures, enticing everyone to visit their showroom. Even a free Peruvian charm is given just for stopping there. We have a few from here and other locations around the globe. But we'll have time for that later.

 

Our real destination was the Indian Craft Market, about a one mile walk from the hotel. Even though there was a serious warning in the daily newsletter regarding safety here, we always feel comfortable walking in this part of town. On every corner is a police person, as well as security people in every store and restaurant. Something tells us that conartists and pickpockets are strictly dealt with. Being aware of your surroundings and dressing down (no flashy watches or jewelry) is the best idea, no matter where you travel.

 

There are more than three blocks of craft markets here. Unless you are searching for something specific, it can be overwhelming. And you can get lost. Numerous stalls containing wood products, silver jewelry, woven blankets, straw and leather purses alpaca sweaters, and clothing are too many to count. Today, we noticed that there were few tourists shopping in these markets. That is until the bus tours stopped here. We ended up strictly window shopping and taking photos of the colorful products, most of which we already own. Lunch was sounding like a good idea, so we headed back to the cliffside shops and cafes at Miraflores.

 

Right across the road from the Marriot Hotel is a very nice park facing the Pacific Ocean. You would never guess that below this park is a three story complex tiered off of the cliffs. Among the several cafes and restaurants there is a favorite of ours at home....Chilis. Besides enjoying the great salads we ordered, it was wonderful to sit and relax in their bar area.

 

It was time to start back, even though the last shuttle bus would be at 7pm. You can never depend on the traffic here, so we decided leaving at 4pm was the wisest move. We got back to the pier where a few souvenier stalls and shops were set up. Not planning on purchasing anything, we did buy a very useful knit alpaca poncho with a llama design in shades of grey. Perhaps it will come in handy while in New Zealand, especially since one of us forgot to bring something warm to wear while there.

 

There was a Gaucho Barbeque Party held in the Lido pool area this evening from 5:30 to 8pm. The food looked enticing, especially the skewers of beef and chicken sizzling over the hot coals. However, there was a lack of seating outside. And for that reason, we never dine at these events. So many folks save seats for others that we saw several people taking their plates to deck nine and eating on the railing. No, the dining room would be fine with us. And we could count on our buddy Barb to join us.

 

A group called Inkamerica, a local cultural show, was the only entertainment tonight with one show at 9:30pm. Think we have seen it before, so we skipped it (like that is a surprise.......)

 

We have one more full day in Lima tomorrow before we head to the next port of General San Martin, also in Peru.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

[cruz chic]

Loved your post today. I love the market you are talking about and also went to the park you talk about. It brought back great memories of the time I spent with a friend of mine back in 2008 that has since passed away. Thank you!

[WCB]

Report # 16 Callao (Lima), Peru Day Two January 15, 2013 Tuesday

 

Boy, would we have a surprise early this morning. Not just us, but the entire population on the ship.............no hot water. There was an announced maintenance job to be performed with the water system last night from 1 to 3am. That was fine, but when the hot water was not working at 7am, we knew there was going to be problems. Forgoing showers, we went to breakfast, and found out from the waiters that they had no hot water as well. One upset passenger was protesting loudly for all to hear that he felt that wine should be poured copiously for dinner this evening. Would that happen? Well, we'll wait and see.............

 

The buses to town were running again today, with the last one leaving Miraflores at 3pm. That would give us enough time to ride back there and take a walk through the parks across from the Marriot Hotel. And perhaps have lunch. The wait was not so long this morning for the buses to return from their first run. People were still impatient, so when the local rep offered them a ride to Miraflores in a taxi for $5. each, some took her up on it. The funny thing was that yesterday, this same ride was running around $25. for a taxi for two passengers. As it turned out, the bus arrived 5 minutes after the taxis left. Pays to be patient sometimes.

 

The weather was much better in Miraflores today. The fog had lifted and the sun was shining. Now it was warm and very muggy, but much better conditions for photo-taking. The view from up here on the cliffside was stunning. Miles of beach stretched out below us, filled with sun worshipers and surfers. We walked for about a mile, taking in the gardens of marigolds, morning glory, and canna lilies, all perfectly manicured. One area of these series of seaside parks contains tiled benches and walls, similar to the art seen in Barcelona, Spain by Gaudi. In Parc Del Amor, a huge sculpture of a man and a woman in an embrace is notoriously famous.

 

We reached the end of the trail, because the rest was closed due to construction. It was just as well, because it was getting mighty warm. We came upon a gauge for measuring the UV rays of the sun. There were five lights, similar to a stop light. Since the top light was lit, we realized that meant that today was extremely dangerous for over-exposure to the sun rays. It's so deceiving, because there was a nice breeze blowing in our faces. Bet lots of tourists get heat stroke, and never feel it coming. Time to leave.

 

On our way back, we passed a cliff where a group of para-sailing guides were offering dare-devil rides for about $75. US dollars. There are always some takers, although you have to be half crazy to do this. It is fun to watch however. We witnessed one rider take off with a guide, and quickly disappear behind the cliffs. And we never did see where they went, but it had to be straight down.

 

We figured there may be more activity with the flyers, and we could watch it from TGI Fridays at the Larcomar Shopping Mall. We were seated quickly by a very sweet Peruvian girl, who spoke excellent English. After placing our order for Coke Zeros, she apologized by telling us that their soda fountain had broken this morning. The only alternative was lemonade...way too much sugar for us. So they sent a waiter to go find some sodas and bring them to the restaurant. We didn't mind waiting. In the meantime, we ordered appetizers of loaded potato skins and quesadillas with salad. Yeah, we know, not exactly diet food, but oh so good. The sodas arrived in the form of 16 ounce bottles, and were ice cold. Good deal, since yesterday at Chilis, the sodas came in small drink glasses and are not bottomless like at home.

 

And just as we figured, the kite-flyers glided past the window, doing flips and sudden turns, dipping towards the waves, and going up again. Actually, most of them were the guides showing off, we think, hoping to attract some business. The time flew by, and we had to head back to the waiting bus. The ride to Callao only took about 50 minutes, not bad at all.

 

A little shopping was in order at the pier before the Captain pulled the ropes and left the harbor at 5pm. You know we have to start the t-shirt collection. At the sailaway party on the aft deck, waiters served hot snacks and drinks at "buy one, get one for $1." This special has been in effect in most of the bars before dining for both seatings. It is a fair deal, although we have not taken advantage of it as of yet. Visiting with friends Bill and Leta, we watched the coastline of Lima disappear in the shroud of mist. We are headed south towards the last port in Peru, General San Martin tomorrow.

 

At dinnertime, we celebrated the first birthday for Carol, our new tablemate. She admitted to turning 33 again, a number she has chosen just because. How funny, she is the same age as we are, ha-ha! They brought little vials of bubbles, that we all blew after the happy birthday song sung by the waiters. It was rather amusing watching the tiny bubbles falling in our water and wine. The best part was the small, and we mean really small, lemon-filled cake with whipped cream frosting. Adding a scoop of ice cream made the perfect dessert.

 

The entertainer this evening was a guitarist by the name of Fabio Zini. Will report on his performance tomorrow.

 

Mary Ann & Bill

 

PS Guess what? No wine with dinner, only a printed announcement that all of the water will be turned off again tonight between 1 and 3am. Better take double showers before bed!