Live from the Westerdam-Join the "Pearls of the Pacific" gang's South Pacific Cruise

[Vict0riann]

We had the compensatory glass of bubbly last night at dinner, as we had missed Fanning Island. At least there was a gorgeous sunset, I didn't see a "green flash" though, and the stars of the Southern Hemisphere shone brightly later. I believe the crossing the equator ceremony will be performed when we re-cross coming back.

 

The Captain had Announced that they had arranged with the Red Cross in Rarotonga to take all the donations and try to get them to Fanning, so we took our stuff down to the Front Desk to add to the pile. That was a relief!

[T8NCruise]

Thank you for this thread :)

[RuthC]

The Captain had Announced that they had arranged with the Red Cross in Rarotonga to take all the donations and try to get them to Fanning, so we took our stuff down to the Front Desk to add to the pile. That was a relief!

Thank you for letting us know about that. Hope the supplies get there soon.

Glad to know other arrangements have been worked out. I was wondering what would happen to them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We had the compensatory glass of bubbly last night at dinner, as we had missed Fanning Island. At least there was a gorgeous sunset, I didn't see a "green flash" though, and the stars of the Southern Hemisphere shone brightly later. I believe the crossing the equator ceremony will be performed when we re-cross coming back.

 

The Captain had Announced that they had arranged with the Red Cross in Rarotonga to take all the donations and try to get them to Fanning, so we took our stuff down to the Front Desk to add to the pile. That was a relief!

 

 

 

When we did a PanAmerican cruise, the first time we crossed the Equator going down to Ecuador -- no ceremony. But as we headed north -- then there was one.

Glad arrangements are being made for the donations to get to Fanning Island.

[Vict0riann]

We went to Kainoa's talk this morning on Mo'orea, and someone asked about the donations for Fanning. He said there were 5 pallets of stuff, and they would go to the Red Cross on Rarotonga, as that was the only place that could/would arrange Customs clearance. He said it would all go to people who could use it, but he didn't specify that it would get to Fanning, although the Captain did mention it going to Fanning. Who knows?! Hopefully it will go where it's needed.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We went to Kainoa's talk this morning on Mo'orea, and someone asked about the donations for Fanning. He said there were 5 pallets of stuff, and they would go to the Red Cross on Rarotonga, as that was the only place that could/would arrange Customs clearance. He said it would all go to people who could use it, but he didn't specify that it would get to Fanning, although the Captain did mention it going to Fanning. Who knows?! Hopefully it will go where it's needed.

 

 

 

Thank you for the information.

Hopefully deserving people somewhere will get all the donations.

[kazu]

Well, it's the 15th here. The 14th for most of you every where else. It is our first 15th. Tomorrow will be the 15th as well - talk about confusing!!! Tomorrow is the International Date Line again and I guess it is a longer crossing. Perhaps we'll see some celebrations of some sort??? There were several people lined up at the Pinnacle Grill trying to figure out when there reservation was for since they had made it on line for the 15th. So there's 1-15th and 2-15th.!!!

 

Our newspapers say today is the 14th, billings are the day before. Things will be back to normal soon. Too funny!!!

 

PG actually has some openings tonight because of the confusion. I was chatting with Eva when I was down at the PG to see her to get some PG lunch reservations made for a few of us on May 3rd and 4th since life as we know it on board could change dramatically - LOL.

 

TravelingDot and Susie did the Scavenger hunt yesterday and came in 2nd place!!!

 

Our port lecturer Kainoa is exceptional. The room is absolutely packed when he is talking. There are so many lectures and things to do and cultural things that it can be tough to make a decision when they conflict. It's a rough life!!!

 

Just realized that it was lecture time and a roll call member asked her DH if he wanted to go see the "Rascals in Paradise" lecture and he replied "no - they are all sitting right here". I resent that remark - LOL.

 

Here's our On Location for today...

 

 

 

 

And here are our menus for tonight's dinner...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vict0riann]

We took in a comment card on our room stewards today. They are so good, it almost seems as if they are lurking around a corner and when we leave for breakfast, they pounce! Only one morning was our room not done when we came back, and they were in the room and apologized that the room was not quite ready. I sat by the elevators for 5 minutes, and Rudy rushed out to tell me they were finished. Anyway, kudos to Rudy and A. G.

[Sharon45069]

We took in a comment card on our room stewards today. They are so good, it almost seems as if they are lurking around a corner and when we leave for breakfast, they pounce! Only one morning was our room not done when we came back, and they were in the room and apologized that the room was not quite ready. I sat by the elevators for 5 minutes, and Rudy rushed out to tell me they were finished. Anyway, kudos to Rudy and A. G.

We are really enjoying these post. I do have a question. We are taking this cruise next year on the Maasdam and were wondering if the vendors take U.S. cash or XFP . We have a friend that is booking some things for us and she is not getting much info back .

Example Alberts tour, Kevai Tour, Patrick's Tour, Capt. Tamas tour. Any information will be most helpful. Can we do the exchanges on board if necessary ? Thanks and enjoy the rest of your wonderful cruise !

Sharon and Jim

[kazu]

Oops, I just realized that I forgot to tell people who the officers were

 

Our captain is Captain Rens Van Eerten

 

HD is Frank Ulbrict

 

CD is Mario Vines

 

And our Cellar Master is Csaba

 

I mention the Cellar Master as there are a number of different activities that the Cellar master has planned on this cruise. Some I'v never seen before and they are very intriguing. Sadly a couple have had to be cancelled due to lack of interest but they have offered a replacement for the one DH booked that will not have all the munchies but will offer the tastings, etc.

 

Vict0riann - good to hear on your stewards. I think some experiences may be a bit mixed, but once you explain I think things have worked out well for those that I have heard from.

 

I did my comment card (Let Us Know what you think) last night too Vict0riann. Nice of you to commend your stewards. I did the same for our serving staff as the service had been very good. Turned ours in last night. I did ask them to turn up the heat on deck two though - especially for the MDR and Vista Lounge - LOL.

 

 

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[Scrapnana]

We are really enjoying these post. I do have a question. We are taking this cruise next year on the Maasdam and were wondering if the vendors take U.S. cash or XFP . We have a friend that is booking some things for us and she is not getting much info back .

Example Alberts tour, Kevai Tour, Patrick's Tour, Capt. Tamas tour. Any information will be most helpful. Can we do the exchanges on board if necessary ? Thanks and enjoy the rest of your wonderful cruise !

Sharon and Jim

 

Temarena Tour in Nuka Hiva is the only one I am on that wants to be paid in xpf. I found it impossible to get xpf in advance in the banking sources available to me. Others had no problems.

Edited April 15, 2016 by Scrapnana

[kazu]

We are really enjoying these post. I do have a question. We are taking this cruise next year on the Maasdam and were wondering if the vendors take U.S. cash or XFP . We have a friend that is booking some things for us and she is not getting much info back .

Example Alberts tour, Kevai Tour, Patrick's Tour, Capt. Tamas tour. Any information will be most helpful. Can we do the exchanges on board if necessary ? Thanks and enjoy the rest of your wonderful cruise !

Sharon and Jim

 

Some tour operators want xpf and some U.S. $. Very confusing for sure.

 

Outside of the operators, for French Polynesia they prefer xpf for purchases but most accept U.S. $. The thing is that you might not get the appropriate exchange rate.

 

Patrick's Tour is in U.S. $, Bruno's in xpf. Yvonne's in Nuka Hiva accepts xpf, U.S. $ and credit cards currently.

 

If you drop down to my signature (assuming you can see it) and click the link for our PDF spread sheet. - you. Will be able to see that different pricing that different vendors wanted.

 

We did bring xpf with us for extras along with one tour. The operators should tell you clearly how they want to be paid. I'm surprised they are not. If it is on their website, it might be the reason?

 

Hope this helps.

[kazu]

So for those Canadians out there or anyone just interested...

 

The piano bar player comes from Lethbridge Alberta!!!

 

Her voice is tremendous - just wish her repertoire was bigger.

 

She sang Wings tonight and it was unbelievable.

 

Off to the show room and DH is convinced they are lip synching. I disagree. The Unexpected Boys did Phantom of the Opera. Sorry, DH they are too many nuances in this to do a lip sync IMO. Roll call members? Your opinion?

 

Dining room steward has me down to a t. And when he came with the dessert recommendation he offered two. I took the rhubarb and cherry one and OMG. DH, who doesn't like rhubarb was forced to admit it was good. (We share - he knows that. - one dessert - two forks - LOL).

 

No luck at bingo today for TravelingDot not I. We were both waiting for numbers and of course, they were never called.

 

No luck at casino either. Sheesh!!! Can Kazu catch a break??? LOL. New thing for me at the casino. In the old days, they sometimes offered a drink. Now the matching tallies, so you get a free drink if you want one. Scary.

 

I sent our laundry out this morning including my night clothes. I had a back up. Everything was back this evening!!!

 

I promised DH since missed Fanning we only had one more sea day. Mucked that one up. Looks like tomorrow is Friday again so that means two more sea days.

 

Thi International Date Line stuff can get confusing!!! That's my line and I'm sticking with it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Loving your "Live" report.

[Sharon45069]

Temarena Tour in Nuka Hiva is the only one I am on that wants to be paid in xpf. I found it impossible to get xpf in advance in the banking sources available to me. Others had no problems.

Thanks for the information. We are so excited to go on our cruise next year .

Sharon

[Sharon45069]

Some tour operators want xpf and some U.S. $. Very confusing for sure.

 

Outside of the operators, for French Polynesia they prefer xpf for purchases but most accept U.S. $. The thing is that you might not get the appropriate exchange rate.

 

Patrick's Tour is in U.S. $, Bruno's in xpf. Yvonne's in Nuka Hiva accepts xpf, U.S. $ and credit cards currently.

 

If you drop down to my signature (assuming you can see it) and click the link for our PDF spread sheet. - you. Will be able to see that different pricing that different vendors wanted.

 

We did bring xpf with us for extras along with one tour. The operators should tell you clearly how they want to be paid. I'm surprised they are not. If it is on their website, it might be the reason?

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the information. We are so excited to go on our cruise next year .

Sharon

[summer slope]

Finally caught up!! What great reports and pictures. Still sad we didn't stay on. Oh, well. And I have to say getting off the ship in San Diego was not a problem. We were the last group off and the luggage line through customs went quickly, less than 45 minutes.

[SilvertoGold]

Pretty funny about the dateline confusion!

 

We've been on perhaps a dozen crossing the dateline cruises and HAL always, always has a problem with this. Bookings for the Pinnacle, Caneletto all mixed up, invitations to the Cabaret Luncheon on wrong day, accounting problems......... Amazingly consistent with not being able to handle this!

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Pretty funny about the dateline confusion!

 

We've been on perhaps a dozen crossing the dateline cruises and HAL always, always has a problem with this. Bookings for the Pinnacle, Caneletto all mixed up, invitations to the Cabaret Luncheon on wrong day, accounting problems......... Amazingly consistent with not being able to handle this!

 

Not to mention spa appointments. Those computers do get confused:D

[gigianne]

I found it amusing yesterday to see some of the elevator mats saying Friday while others were saying Friday - confusing for some.

[SilvertoGold]

Not to mention spa appointments. Those computers do get confused:D

 

They do!

 

Often the ships call the first repeat day, for example, Monday A and the second Monday B. I guess this isn't computer language!

[Vict0riann]

We had some amazing clouds yesterday, (First Friday!), with many squalls around us, and occasionally on top of us, and a blazing sunset, but no "green flash", as the sun itself was hidden behind the clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

Good morning. Friday morning again!!

 

There be dolphins out there!!! Eating breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill and we luckily had the window seat. Lala calls out to everyone and ripped open any curtains that were closed. Pods and pods of them!! Absolutely amazing!!

 

Great start to our second Friday of the cruise.

 

Dinner last night was fabulous. DH got the salmon and said it was the best salmon he has ever had. My prime rib was very good. (Think I forgot to report that - if I did, please forgive the repetitiveness.)

 

I just learned something new - those drinks that you see the bar waiters carrying around at the Lido are not real. They are water with colouring. Apparently they are not allowed to advertise drinks. All the cruises I have done and I never knew that.

 

Here is the programme for our 2nd Friday. And yes, the elevators still say Friday.

 

 

 

 

And here are our menus for tonight

 

 

 

 

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[kazu]

There was some discussion on the boards on the coffee machine in the Neptune Suites. Here is the machine. I found it easy to identify which coffee was which.

 

 

And here is the Bose speaker. It works great!

 

 

 

I have to report....there be snorkelers in the Lido Pool.;) ;). Second day they have been snorkelling in the Pool.

 

 

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[kazu]

They do!

 

 

 

Often the ships call the first repeat day, for example, Monday A and the second Monday B. I guess this isn't computer language!

 

 

They called it 1-15 here and 2-15. But the computers do not accept that the date had changed so the dates on the billing and the newspapers were out of synch. Now we are up to snuff with everything again.

 

 

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