World Cruise 2020

[Stumblefoot]

6 minutes ago, DCCruiser57 said:

So no zodiac cruising or landings, swells did not cooperate. Just a scenic cruise around the island like last time on WC 2016.

 

Man, that stinks.  Such beautiful, sunny weather too.  

[DCCruiser57]

Pitcairn Island today and folks went ashore via zodiacs.  Since the water was quite choppy and waves dropped to about a foot below the ladder and rose to the top of the ladder, we decided to not risk a chance of injury.  Apparently it was a steep climb to get off the zodiacs at the dock.  Upon return, guests found they had to wade through several inches of water at the ship platform.  Lastly, we heard that several guests had fallen and one guest slipped and landed on her back in the zodiac.  A good call on our part.

 

Some pics from today.

 

 

[mysty]

Thanks DCC!  Sounds like a wise decision to not risk potential injury!  Thanks for the photos!

[DCCruiser57]

Originally, our next port was supposed to be Mangavera but the channel was not deep enough.  So SS substituted Fakavara, however, the French Polynesian government is requiring us to go directly to Papeete.  So now the plan is to get there a day earlier in the late afternoon on Saturday.  I suspect that this is not the last of the changes.

[mysty]

I hope things work out well DCC!  It sounds like this will be a crap shoot as to which ports will accept cruise ships.  Best wishes!

[Silver Spectre]

Interesting developments over on the Crystal board, their WC is no longer allowing embarkation for segmenters in Sydney and the next two segments and those who were to disembark at the next two segment ends will now be disembarked in Sydney. Not taking any chances.

[DCCruiser57]

Misty - thanks.  Just heard that Crystal reversed themselves and now are guests to embark in Sydney.  What a mess!

[DCCruiser57]

On 2/27/2020 at 5:11 PM, DCCruiser57 said:

Originally, our next port was supposed to be Mangavera but the channel was not deep enough.  So SS substituted Fakavara, however, the French Polynesian government is requiring us to go directly to Papeete.  So now the plan is to get there a day earlier in the late afternoon on Saturday.  I suspect that this is not the last of the changes.

Just learned that the HAL WC has cancelled calls in Indonesia, Singapore, Male, and Mombasa.  No word here yet.  I suspect we will hear something after the net segment board in Papeete on 3/1,

[mysty]

Interesting DCC!  Of course SS will protect the passengers and the crew!  That may well lead to disappointment for many.  Here's hoping that the disappointments are minimal!  Safe Sailing!

[Stumblefoot]

16 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

Interesting developments over on the Crystal board, their WC is no longer allowing embarkation for segmenters in Sydney and the next two segments and those who were to disembark at the next two segment ends will now be disembarked in Sydney. Not taking any chances.

Wow!

[DCCruiser57]

We docked in Papeete at 2pm, a day earlier than scheduled.  The weather has been miserable all with pouring rain.  Had to do a face to face immigration inspection since we are doing an independent overland to the Four Seasons in Bora Bora for 3 days/2 nights.  Pictures to follow.

[Silver Spectre]

37 minutes ago, DCCruiser57 said:

We docked in Papeete at 2pm, a day earlier than scheduled.  The weather has been miserable all with pouring rain.  Had to do a face to face immigration inspection since we are doing an independent overland to the Four Seasons in Bora Bora for 3 days/2 nights.  Pictures to follow.

Have a great time.

[Stumblefoot]

12 hours ago, DCCruiser57 said:

...an independent overland to the Four Seasons in Bora Bora for 3 days/2 nights.

Hope you enjoy the Four Seasons as much as we did.  Dinner service was a bit hit or miss, but the property itself was fantastic from tennis to kayaking to jumping straight into the lagoon from your over water bungalow.

[DCCruiser57]

Pics from the Four Seasons Bora Bora.

 

 

[mysty]

17 minutes ago, DCCruiser57 said:

Pics from the Four Seasons Bora Bora.

 

Gorgeous!  Enjoy!  Thanks DCC!

[DCCruiser57]

The rain stopped, the sun came out and the water was warm.  Back to he ship Tomorrow.  Some pics from today.

 

 

[mysty]

So beautiful!  Thanks DCC!

[DCCruiser57]

Learned last night from another thread that the Captain had another passenger meeting to announce that Aitutaki and Lifou, New Caledonia have been cancelled.  Instead, we are now going to Rarotonga, and then we will get to Sydney a day earlier on the 19th.  More to come.

Edited March 3, 2020 by DCCruiser57

[DCCruiser57]

Got back to the Whisper after an interesting day.  Got a call in our room this morning  from the Whisper senior accountant that the Bora Bora immigration folks needed to stamp our passports with an exit stamp to clear the Whisper for departure. He said they would meet us in Vaitape around 3 PM at the tender dock.  After several different calls, the officials wanted to do it NLT 3 PM.  So, they got a water taxi to the Four Seasons so they could stamp our passport in person.  True Silversea service.

 

Some pics from our water taxi ride.  We went around the north side of the island, so I got a pic of the Whisper next to the R2 and just the Whisper.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mysty]

Beautiful!  Thanks DCC!  Very happy that administrative details were ironed out with not too much muss and fuss!

[DCCruiser57]

So, our revised itinerary has changed.  Rarotonga has been cancelled long with our 2 ports in Tonga.  Thy have added 2 por in Fiji for a total of three.  Hover this is tentative and not yet confirmed.  Not sure w I’ll do Fiji at all.  Wait and see.  We days on Silversea is really great.

[mysty]

Thanks for the update DCC!  This part seems like a bit of a mystery tour.  Hope things work out well!

[DCCruiser57]

So, we added Suva, Fiji and SavuSavu, Fiji and also Port Vila, Vanuatu.  Suva is ok, but, SavuSavu, and Port Vila look like great additions.  Had an excellent roasted filet of beef and and outstanding guacamole tumbler with crab tonight.  Amazing food.

[turtlemichael]

1 hour ago, DCCruiser57 said:

So, we added Suva, Fiji and SavuSavu, Fiji and also Port Vila, Vanuatu.  Suva is ok, but, SavuSavu, and Port Vila look like great additions.  Had an excellent roasted filet of beef and and outstanding guacamole tumbler with crab tonight.  Amazing food.

Fiji is very pretty and very friendly.We walked around town in Suva on our stop there last week on Muse. In Savusavu there was not a lot to see in the immediate vicinity of the tender port. The desk may have some good ideas.

[mysty]

3 hours ago, DCCruiser57 said:

So, we added Suva, Fiji and SavuSavu, Fiji and also Port Vila, Vanuatu.  Suva is ok, but, SavuSavu, and Port Vila look like great additions.  Had an excellent roasted filet of beef and and outstanding guacamole tumbler with crab tonight.  Amazing food.

Great news about the port additions and the amazing food!  Enjoy!