2023 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin

[sandiego1]

One of the best parties we’ve ever attended on a HAL ship. So fun to dance and mingle with the crew!

[quilty964]

That sounds wonderful!

 

[dchip]

Thanks for sharing all the photos of Surprise Night. What an amazing time for everyone!! Having to wrap things up at 12:30 sure proves it was a wonderful night!

Cheers, Denise

[lissie]

I'm loving your blog - you did an itinerary similar to what we're doing this year on Zaandam to Iceland. One thing though I'm super confused on dresscode - most of your photos you look amazing in your tux - but some of those pics have men in jeans and open-neck shirts. 

 

We are travelling long-haul and for a couple of months I really want to go carry-on only - but can't if my partner needs to pack a suit  - we're hoping that a pair of chinos and a long-sleeved shirt would be sufficient even on gala nights? 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 hours ago, lissie said:

I'm loving your blog - you did an itinerary similar to what we're doing this year on Zaandam to Iceland. One thing though I'm super confused on dresscode - most of your photos you look amazing in your tux - but some of those pics have men in jeans and open-neck shirts. 

 

We are travelling long-haul and for a couple of months I really want to go carry-on only - but can't if my partner needs to pack a suit  - we're hoping that a pair of chinos and a long-sleeved shirt would be sufficient even on gala nights? 

You will never NEED a suit - a collared shirt with long pants (that are not jeans) are OK on dressy/Gala nights.  (except on the few grand voyages that have a formal night)

 

My advice for the light packer.    Get a dark, lightweight travel sport coat.   Wear the sport coat on the plane or when you travel.   It doesn't have to go in a suitcase,

 

While you don't NEED to wear a jacket - having one may be useful, and you can wear it pretty easily on travel days  (unless you are camping or walking distances when it's very hot)

 

Slip a tie in the pocket, and you could even wear that to a Formal night.    HERE are some nice choices

 

You can not wear jeans or shorts in the MDR, Pinnacle, or Canneleto on Dressy Nights.   When you see guys in my pictures hanging around in the background wearing jeans, they were probably eating in the Lido on.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 hours ago, dchip said:

Thanks for sharing all the photos of Surprise Night. What an amazing time for everyone!! Having to wrap things up at 12:30 sure proves it was a wonderful night!

Cheers, Denise

I was never to a cruise ship party on HAL that sustained that energy level for that long with that many people.  It was an amazing night.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

On 3/6/2023 at 3:12 PM, frbob said:

I served on USS Ranger back in the early 60's when CVs were CVAs. In Alameda we were berthed right next to Midway. Interesting times. We once had a "drag race" with Kitty Hawk out i

Were you a brown shoe. or black shoe? Thanks for your service, by the way!

 

 

I was a "brown shoe" meaning I was attached to an aviation unit or had a traditional aviation rating.

I was a restricted line office specializing in aircraft maintenance.

 

HERE is an article that explains more for those interested.

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[lissie]

1 hour ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

You will never NEED a suit - a collared shirt with long pants (that are not jeans) are OK on dressy/Gala nights.  (except on the few grand voyages that have a formal night)

 

My advice for the light packer.    Get a dark, lightweight travel sport coat.   Wear the sport coat on the plane or when you travel.   It doesn't have to go in a suitcase,

 

While you don't NEED to wear a jacket - having one may be useful, and you can wear it pretty easily on travel days  (unless you are camping or walking distances when it's very hot)

 

Slip a tie in the pocket, and you could even wear that to a Formal night.    HERE are some nice choices

 

You can not wear jeans or shorts in the MDR, Pinnacle, or Canneleto on Dressy Nights.   When you see guys in my pictures hanging around in the background wearing jeans, they were probably eating in the Lido on.

Oh he'll have a jacket alright - its going to be cool in Greenland and Iceland - just nothing that is suitable for dinner - and he'll be wearing that and light-weight hiking boots on the plane!  Yup never travel with jeans and shorts are only for some warm weather before the cruise. 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Arrived Maputo early.   Cleared around 8 am

 

 No immigration issues.   No delays

 

you an see my breadcrumbs where we walked from ship to meet our private tour.   There is a small passenger terminal now.   It's new.  Very nice.   We were met by very friendly welcone committee.    City seems much improved from 2018.   So far.  

 

 

we are on our second Across Africa tour.  No issues with them so far.  
 

welcome committee 

 

tour guide outside main gate. 
 

street vendor outside our bus.   Politely persistent

we are off to a wildlife preserve 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We are returning from Maputo National Park.  
More HERE and HERE

 

Very nice 2 hour game drive.     Saw impala, antelope, hippo. Elephant and wildebeest.  
 

Across Africa tour exceeding expectations.  
 

We are off to lunch then back to the ship

 

I have these friendship flag pins for every port.   I wear them while in the country.  Today 

people in the passenger terminal noticed the Mozambique 🇲🇿 pin as I walked by and smiled  while pointing it out!  This is the first time this BFF as happened this cruise. 
 

we had 2 of these Safari trucks. 
 

 

Elephants always have the right of way!   
 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We are sailing away from Maputo - had a great time - many good reports from people who went to the Market - 

 

Big improvement since 2018 

 

More later

 

HAL crewmembers, Semi and Chayanich,  are the BEST!  - This is from the Maputo Sail Away

 

Nice Sunset behind the Maputo–Katembe bridge

[IslandThyme]

I love that friendship flag pin. And there's one for every country? Where did you get them?

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, IslandThyme said:

I love that friendship flag pin. And there's one for every country? Where did you get them?

 Flagline.com  and  Pinmart.com

Here and Here - 

 

I couldn't find one for Mauritius - a few didn't have friendship pins so I got a solo flag pin for that country.

[*Miss G*]

On 3/4/2023 at 11:22 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Here is a video of the USS Kitty Hawk in heavy weather.   I was on the USS Ranger under similar circumstances in the 1990's .    My "inside cabin" was all the way forward.   We were probably moving 30 feet up and down.   Felt like we were sleeping in an elevator.....I never had to strap into my bunk as folks do on smaller ships - no stabilizers on USN ships.

 

 

The scariest time was probably on April 5th 1979 when I was on Ranger and we collided with a tanker in the Strait of Malacca off Singapore.   Here is a picture of our bow afterward.  We had to go back to Subic Bay for temporary repairs and then to Japan for permanent repairs.   We were out of action for 2 months

 

 

 

More HERE and HERE

 

You can listen to the Captain talk to the crew HERE after the collision 

 

Here is a video from my final cruise on the USS Midway where I give a tour of my "inside cabin"  This was filmed by my brothers on a "Tiger Cruise" -  A Tiger Cruise is where relatives can ride along the ship for a few days.   This video shows Midway's final full power run - over 30 knots and the last time she sailed under her own power in 1991.    I was moving back from Japan so my "inside cabin"  was filled with household goods and other stuff and was normally more organized.  

 

 

 

 

 

WOW.  What a fantastic post!  

 

Oh my gosh, that video of Midway’s final cruise was so cool!!!  And General Powell too!

 

That was me in the crowd when my Dad came home after months at sea.  He was a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Marines (Britain).  It was a very exciting and emotional time watching his ship come in.  And I got gifts!!

 

Loved the video of the Kitty Hawk at sea.  My Dad has some amazing photos of waves crashing over the bridge during a hurricane.

 

Wow, that collision with a tanker would have been terrifying.  I am amazed it made it back to port and there were no casualties!

 

Sorry, had to comment.  Very exciting!  Thank you.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

PASSPORT PAGE COUNT UPDATE:

 

One constant question for World Cruisers is, "How many blank passport pages do I need"   

I used seven pages in 2016 and 2018 and three in 2020 until it was aborted.

 

We are at the halfway point of 2023 and have used one and 1/4 page.   

 

The only countries that stamped anything were Mauritius - a one-inch rectangular transit stamp and Mozambique, which used a full page with a sticker visa and 1/4 page with two small circular stamps. 

 

I will be surprised if we use four pages by the time we return in May.

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

OUR OVERLAND SAFARI BEGINS!

MARCH 9, 2023

Click "Show More Posts" to show all the links to the other posts for the 2023 World Cruise

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Our independent overland safari begins as we search for "The Big Five"

Our independent overland starts tomorrow.  I will be posting detailed reports later when I have time.  There may not be any posts until 14 or 15 March.   

We chose Thanda Safari Lodge out of four Contenders.  Here are the locations of the four we considered.  

Thanda is about a 3-hour drive from Durbin.

 

Here is Thanda Safari Lodge’s daily routine- typical for most lodges.

 

Here is the schedule for our safari

10 March 2023

Arrive Durban, South Africa – 7 am, 10 March 2023

Depart Durban around 9 am for St Lucia Hippo Tour

Arrive St Lucia around noon

Hippo Tour is from 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Drive to Thanda Safari Lodge – Arrive around 5:30 pm 

Unpack and relax until Dinner

11 March 2023 (All times approximate)

5 am – Breakfast if desired

6 am – Depart on Morning Game Drive

8 am – Return from Game Drive

Free time until afternoon game drive

4 pm – Depart on Afternoon Game Drive

6 pm – Return from Game Drive

Dinner

12 March 2023

5 am – Breakfast if desired

6 am – Depart on Morning Game Drive

8 am – Return from Game Drive

Free time until afternoon game drive

4 pm – Depart on Afternoon Game Drive

6 pm – Return from Game Drive 

Dinner  

13 March 2023

5 am – Breakfast if desired

6 am – Depart on Morning Game Drive

8 am – Return from Game Drive

9 am – Depart for Durban Airport

12 Noon – Arrive Durban Airport

Depart Durban via Air

Arrive Cape Town

14 March 2023

Return to Zuiderdam  

Edited March 9, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We are just wrapping up our Hippo Tour in St Lucia.  
 

Our harbor pilot arrived via helicopter early in the AM.   We moored tight next to where they started 

Immigration took 30 minutes.  We had to do a face to face in the MDR.   Immigration officials were fast and efficient.    People on over lands went first.  They everyone else was called by deck from low to high. 
 

immigration in the MDR

 

Our driver met us exactly on time very near gangway.   We were on our way in no time.  
 

We left the ship around 9 am and got to our lunch stop at 12:30 pm.   After our lunch we arrived at the Hippo tour for our two hour tour.
 

we spend 90 minutes cruising very slow along the grassy coastline looking for hippos.  We found 5 groups almost submerged and one group out in the open on land, but further away.  
 

some on land 
 

 

most looked like this.   
 

Great Tour!
 

we were able to get about 20 yards from the submerged hippos and probably 100yards from the ones on land.   We are now heading back to the dock and will arrive at Thanda around 5:30 local time. 

 

 

Weather has been perfect.   

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We arrived in our Safari Lodge - Thanda - Outstanding facility and staff.

Wonderful dinner

 

First game drive at 5:30 AM tommorow

 

Here are a few highlights.

 

Five of us from table 89 are on this tour - we arranged everything on our own.

 

Nice, new Safari Vehicles - Thanda puts no more than 6 per vehicle  - even though it had 9 seats. 

 

 

We arrived too late for an evening game drive,but we saw this on the way in...

 

 

Much more to come....

 

 

Edited March 10, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[HAL Sailer]

4 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We arrived too late for an evening game drive,but we saw this on the way in...

 

 

Much more to come....

@The-Inside-CabinYour photo made me chuckle with memories.

 

Twenty-five years ago, on my first day of safari in Kenya's Amboseli, I was warned that if one wasn't careful one would quickly take an entire roll of zebra butt pictures.

 

"Oh, not me," I thought. After all, I'd been warned. Well, five minutes and 36 film frames later...

 

Enjoy your safari -- and being digital!

-Melisa 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

1 hour ago, HAL Sailer said:

@The-Inside-CabinYour photo made me chuckle with memories.

 

Twenty-five years ago, on my first day of safari in Kenya's Amboseli, I was warned that if one wasn't careful one would quickly take an entire roll of zebra butt pictures.

 

"Oh, not me," I thought. After all, I'd been warned. Well, five minutes and 36 film frames later...

 

Enjoy your safari -- and being digital!

-Melisa 

We took over four hundred pictures.   I plan to try avoid posting more than 5-10

 

the delete button is you friend !!

[The-Inside-Cabin]

20 hours ago, HAL Sailer said:

@The-Inside-CabinYour photo made me chuckle with memories.

 

Twenty-five years ago, on my first day of safari in Kenya's Amboseli, I was warned that if one wasn't careful one would quickly take an entire roll of zebra butt pictures.

 

"Oh, not me," I thought. After all, I'd been warned. Well, five minutes and 36 film frames later...

 

Enjoy your safari -- and being digital!

-Melisa 

LOL  -  I am putting them on auto delete....

 

Finished 2 game drives today - Saw Rhino, Wildebeest, Zebra, Elephant, Kudu  and more!
Here is a non butt

 

 

and here

 

 

Judy spotted these elephants about 1 mile away from our suite...We tracked some of them down later, more to come on that

 

Rhino

 

[alibabacruisers]

Loving your blog and photos Pete!

[RuthC]

I could get dizzy looking at those zebra pictures! 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We just returned from a spectacular morning game drive - we came across a lion pride with one adult male, two adult females, and eight cubs - sitting right in the middle of the road.  We watched them frolic for 20 minutes.   

Much more later 

This was what it looked like when we arrived - they ignored us....The Thanda Lodge employee saw this on the way to work.

 

The large male was off to the side, maybe 100 yards....not interacting with the others..

 

About 1/4 mile away, a lone wildebeest stood motionless, ready to sprint for the tall grass if the lions moved in his direction.  

 

I have a 50-minute "How to Plan a Safari" Video on my blog and related documentation. 

 

 

How to plan a safari.pdf is the companion briefing.

 

Here,  Here, Here, and Here are posts with additional Safari planning information.

 

Edited March 12, 2023 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Here are a few fun pics from our safari.   Our afternoon drive was cut short due to heavy rain - but we did see a herd of water buffalo.  

 

 

 

 

Here are the water buffalo in the rain.  How appropriate. 

Table 89 at Last Nights Sundowner stop. 
 

 

We have one more AM drive then back to Cape Town on the 13th 

 

we saw plenty of giraffes 

 

 

lots of elephants 

 

Plenty of Zebras.