Segmenting across the South Pacific WC Valparaiso to Sydney 15/02

[Silver Spectre]

Being checked out by some locals

 

[Silver Spectre]

This mornings double rainbow

 

[Silver Spectre]

Looks like Easter Island is a bust, we still have a swell and there will be no tender service this morning. The ship is trying to get the overland guests and their luggage back onboard. We had a Folkloric show yesterday, with the musicians and performers coming onboard via the pilots ladder, pretty scary.

[Silver Spectre]

The zodiacs have rescued the Machu Picchu overlanders and we are going to sail to the far side of the Island and assess the situation there.

[Silver Spectre]

The scouting zodiac returned and there are no better conditions anywhere, so we are going to sail around the island and then leave. A shame for a large number of guests, some have now failed to land 5 times.

[Silver Spectre]

The scouting zodiac returned and there are no better conditions anywhere, so we are going to sail around the island and then leave. A shame for a large number of guests, some have now failed to land 5 times.

[jpalbny]

49 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said:

The scouting zodiac returned and there are no better conditions anywhere, so we are going to sail around the island and then leave. A shame for a large number of guests, some have now failed to land 5 times.

 

So sorry! My worst nightmare would be going there by cruise ship and being unable to go asfor it. I know that you've been before, but I hope that your other stops make up for it.

[Silver Spectre]

3 hours ago, jpalbny said:

 

So sorry! My worst nightmare would be going there by cruise ship and being unable to go asfor it. I know that you've been before, but I hope that your other stops make up for it.

Thanks JP, lets see what happens with the Pitcairns

[Stumblefoot]

4 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

The scouting zodiac returned and there are no better conditions anywhere, so we are going to sail around the island and then leave. A shame for a large number of guests, some have now failed to land 5 times.

Dang, that stinks to high heaven.  I’m with JP.  Since we’ve never been to Easter Island ourselves, after reading about missed landing after missed landing over the years here, I’ve just made up my mind we will never go there by ship.  There just is no reason to visit there, let alone pay such good money, without getting ashore.

[Silver Spectre]

9 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

Dang, that stinks to high heaven.  I’m with JP.  Since we’ve never been to Easter Island ourselves, after reading about missed landing after missed landing over the years here, I’ve just made up my mind we will never go there by ship.  There just is no reason to visit there, let alone pay such good money, without getting ashore.

You could always fly. The lucky ones turned out to be the 12 who did the overland to Machu Picchu because they flew in on Friday afternoon and had an all day tour yesterday and the couple who left the WC in Valparaiso and flew direct to Easter Island for 6 days.

[Stumblefoot]

1 minute ago, Silver Spectre said:

You could always fly.

Yes, exactly.  That is what I was implying.  Sorry, should have been more direct.

[Silver Spectre]

Easter Island fading into the distance - until next time!

 

[Silver Spectre]

Day 7 at sea, heading across a calm Pacific towards the Pitcairns, hoping that we will not equal our record of 9 sea days in a row.

[les37b]

On 2/23/2020 at 5:47 PM, jpalbny said:

 

So sorry! My worst nightmare would be going there by cruise ship and being unable to go asfor it. I know that you've been before, but I hope that your other stops make up for it.

 

I would be devastated. I can't imagine making 5 attempts though. If I ever made a booking, I think I'd make every effort to make sure they were not sailing with me. That is jinx levels! I jest.... So so sad. 

 

With JP... Hope the seas are kinder on your next stops SS.

[jpalbny]

On 2/23/2020 at 12:47 PM, jpalbny said:

 

So sorry! My worst nightmare would be going there by cruise ship and being unable to go ASHORE. I know that you've been before, but I hope that your other stops make up for it.

 

Oh my. How did I miss that glaring typo! 😳 My second-worst nightmare!

 

  

On 2/23/2020 at 4:21 PM, Silver Spectre said:

Thanks JP, lets see what happens with the Pitcairns

 

Hope you have better luck there!

Edited February 24, 2020 by jpalbny

[Silver Spectre]

Day 8 at sea. We have a rather long and deep swell, so the ship has been rolling all night and continues to do so this morning. We are also passing through an area with many showers making the pool deck a bit hit and miss.

[Silver Spectre]

Mardi Gras sunset

 

[Silver Spectre]

Arrived at Pitcairn Island and its a beautiful day with calm seas, so zodiac transfers are about to begin.

[Silver Spectre]

Made it

 

[Silver Spectre]

It was good to meet Paul (Pirate Paul) Warren again today after 5 years.

[Silver Spectre]

Saying goodbye to Her Majesty’s remotest outpost

 

[Fletcher]

4 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

Saying goodbye to Her Majesty’s remotest outpost

 

 I'm so pleased you were able to land at Pitcairn.   It's always a throw of the dice here and by landing it makes up for the disappointment at Easter Island.

 

Aa far as remoteness is concerned, Pitcairn is only about 300 miles from the nearest human settlement which is Mangareva in the Gambier Group of French Polynesia.  Her Majesty's Tristan da Cunha is 1700 miles away from the nearest human settlement so that is usually regarded as the most remote island in the world.  Always in the interests of accuracy!

[Fletcher]

11 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

Made it

 

A handsome new sign but they'll have to remove the EU flag!

[Master Echo]

Dear SS

 

So sorry to come to the party late!  For some unknown reason I was not given notification of any posts  - good old CC!!

 

Was so disappointed for all those whose ambition was to see Easter Island, but know that you have already been. 

 

Having also travelled with passengers in the past, who had booked cruise after cruise, only to have their Easter Island landings thwarted - I decided in 2018 the only way to set foot on this magical place, was to fly, and I spent four days and three nights there prior to a cruise from Buenos Aires.  I was extremely fortunate in having two Rapu Nui guides to myself, so obtained much indepth knowledge which I will never forget.

 

So pleased that you all managed to set foot on Pitcairn, I too hope to do that in 2021!.

 

Do hope that all the succeeding ports have calm seas for you to get into.

 

Kindest regards

 

Master Echo

[Silver Spectre]

Thanks ME.

 

It wasn’t easy getting in and out of the zodiacs, and there were one or two guests who acquired bruises, but no one was hurt as far as I know.

 

Our highlight was spending some time with the Island doctor in the clinic, a specialist in emergency medicine from Queensland and who was doing a short three month stand in for someone who had pulled out at short notice. If you get seriously ill it’s pump full of drugs and a 300 mile trip in one of the Whale boats to Mangareva.

Edited February 27, 2020 by Silver Spectre