Guam - Santiago Sep. 8 - Oct. 17. Missives from The Andesite Line on Pursuit

[highplanesdrifters]

Guam - Santiago  Sep. 8 - Oct. 17. Occasional missives from The Andesite Line.  

 

Who is ready for some fun?

 

 

FYI, Some of the ports may have changed. You get the gist.  Remote islands,  friendly locals, sing sings, welcome to island ceremonies, carved souvenirs, warm tropical waters, cold tropical beverages, snorkeling, and some general hijinx. Lots of sea days.  Me happy!

 

Following in the footsteps of @kej1 and @Sharkb8. Hope I can do their reports proud.

Edited September 4 by highplanesdrifters

[kej1]

3 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Guam - Santiago  Sep. 8 - Oct. 17. Occasional missives from The Andesite Line.  

 

Who is ready for some fun?

 

 

FYI, Some of the ports may have changed. You get the gist.  Remote islands,  friendly locals, sing sings, welcome to island ceremonies, carved souvenirs, warm tropical waters, cold tropical beverages, snorkeling, and some general hijinx. Lots of sea days.  Me happy!

 

Following in the footsteps of @kej1 and @Sharkb8. Hope I can do their reports proud.

@highplanesdrifters I can’t wait to hear about your trip!  I’ll be going along for the ride unfortunately not on the ship!  Try to book the sub in Chuuk to see one of the deep wrecks.   Have a wonderful time on the Andesite line!  

[galeforce9]

3 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Guam - Santiago  Sep. 8 - Oct. 17. Occasional missives from The Andesite Line.  

 

Who is ready for some fun?

 

 

FYI, Some of the ports may have changed. You get the gist.  Remote islands,  friendly locals, sing sings, welcome to island ceremonies, carved souvenirs, warm tropical waters, cold tropical beverages, snorkeling, and some general hijinx. Lots of sea days.  Me happy!

 

Following in the footsteps of @kej1 and @Sharkb8. Hope I can do their reports proud.

Can’t wait to sail along! 

[lincslady]

Looking forward to the reports.  However, just to show everyone how ignorant/stupid I am, I read the title as going on a cruise on the Andesite Line, as in cruise line, as I had not heard of it!  At least looking it up marginally improved my knowledge of the rest of the world.

[whogo]

I am looking forward to this. What an amazing itinerary! I have been to one of your eighteen ports. If you need any help with San Antonio…

[highplanesdrifters]

UGH!  Flight delay.  This leaves us with 45min Layover at NRT.  Stay tuned, trying to get on next flight to Guam.   Let's see how good Seabourn Flight Ease is.

 

 

We had a good first leg to DEN yesterday.

 

A luxury start on an RJ.🤣

 

Doesn't this just warm your heart?

 

 

Love the Westin at DEN....but $28 skimpy martinis? C'mon!

 

 

These were only $17, a Violet Night.  Very tasty, Vodka, creme de violet,  and blackberry reduction. A few more and it could be a Violent Night.😃

 

 

Some very yummy tacos!

 

 

TIL, the tents are made of Teflon coated fiberglass.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

10 hours ago, kej1 said:

@highplanesdrifters I can’t wait to hear about your trip!  I’ll be going along for the ride unfortunately not on the ship!  Try to book the sub in Chuuk to see one of the deep wrecks.   Have a wonderful time on the Andesite line!  

Shhhh, don't tell anyone!😄

[highplanesdrifters]

7 hours ago, lincslady said:

Looking forward to the reports.  However, just to show everyone how ignorant/stupid I am, I read the title as going on a cruise on the Andesite Line, as in cruise line, as I had not heard of it!  At least looking it up marginally improved my knowledge of the rest of the world.

 

LOL, I had to look it up too!

[highplanesdrifters]

3 hours ago, whogo said:

I am looking forward to this. What an amazing itinerary! I have been to one of your eighteen ports. If you need any help with San Antonio…

 

Thanks very much for the offer. We've been to San Antonio a few times very recently and love it. Given that this is already a long one we're headed straight to the airport.  

[galeforce9]

Love the man and boy photo ❤️

[galeforce9]

Fingers crossed, hope flight ease comes through 

[highplanesdrifters]

Update:

 

Our flight delay is now less and we were able to switch to the NRT-GUM 5:25pm flight instead of the 5pm flight. We now have 2hr+ Layover, whew.  Unfortunately I do not have a seat on the second leg.  My companions do.  The rest of the open biz class seats are blocked.  No worries....I'll get there!

 

As for Seabourn Flight Ease.  Our TA said that the person on the emergency help line was dumb as a rock and useless and said she could do nothing. FYI, United had told me all changes had to go thru Seabourn.  We got to the airport early and luckily had an extremely helpful gate agent.

[galeforce9]

2 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Update:

 

Our flight delay is now less and we were able to switch to the NRT-GUM 5:25pm flight instead of the 5pm flight. We now have 2hr+ Layover, whew.  Unfortunately I do not have a seat on the second leg.  My companions do.  The rest of the open biz class seats are blocked.  No worries....I'll get there!

 

As for Seabourn Flight Ease.  Our TA said that the person on the emergency help line was dumb as a rock and useless and said she could do nothing. FYI, United had told me all changes had to go thru Seabourn.  We got to the airport early and luckily had an extremely helpful gate agent.

So glad you are making progress. Some disappointing flight ease feedback from various sources recently.   I’m not sure what the benefit is anymore 

[RetiredandTravel]

Didn't you just go to those Islands?  🤠 Have to great trip!!

[kbnovak]

We’re joining you (sitting in ICN awaiting our flight to GUM), and we will be continuing on with the Antarctic expedition as well.

Looking forward to cruising with you!  First drink is on me.

[markandjie]

This itinerary is on my bucket list. Hope it doesn't disappoint!

[kej1]

10 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Update:

 

Our flight delay is now less and we were able to switch to the NRT-GUM 5:25pm flight instead of the 5pm flight. We now have 2hr+ Layover, whew.  Unfortunately I do not have a seat on the second leg.  My companions do.  The rest of the open biz class seats are blocked.  No worries....I'll get there!

 

As for Seabourn Flight Ease.  Our TA said that the person on the emergency help line was dumb as a rock and useless and said she could do nothing. FYI, United had told me all changes had to go thru Seabourn.  We got to the airport early and luckily had an extremely helpful gate agent.

Hope you made it a little bit less stress free once you arrived in Narita to connect to Guam.    I used to connect a lot there on business trips ( when I wasn’t staying) and I recall the ground agents being very organized and good about getting people to their connecting flights. ( of course it was pre Covid so hope that hasn’t changed!)   🤞🤞you made it safely!

[highplanesdrifters]

19 hours ago, whogo said:

I am looking forward to this. What an amazing itinerary! I have been to one of your eighteen ports. If you need any help with San Antonio…

 

Perhaps I was too hasty.  There might be others who are traveling there would like your recommendations!

 

Hijacks are welcome.  

[highplanesdrifters]

10 hours ago, RetiredandTravel said:

Didn't you just go to those Islands?  🤠 Have to great trip!!

 

Sort of, we were in the South Pacific spring of 2023.  We are hitting a lot of new places.  Guam headed south, and everything east of Papeete. 

 

Good to hear from you R&T. Keep things under control while I'm gone.  I think  we've got some rocky seas ahead.😉  

[highplanesdrifters]

9 hours ago, kbnovak said:

We’re joining you (sitting in ICN awaiting our flight to GUM), and we will be continuing on with the Antarctic expedition as well.

Looking forward to cruising with you!  First drink is on me.

 

Sweet!

 

Feel free to chime in.  Always like different eyes!

[highplanesdrifters]

2 hours ago, kej1 said:

Hope you made it a little bit less stress free once you arrived in Narita to connect to Guam.    I used to connect a lot there on business trips ( when I wasn’t staying) and I recall the ground agents being very organized and good about getting people to their connecting flights. ( of course it was pre Covid so hope that hasn’t changed!)   🤞🤞you made it safely!

 

 

All good!   Got seats, GUM flight slightly delayed so all luggage should make it.  There's going to be a big sleep tonight with nothing on the agenda for tomorrow. 

 

Youre so right about traveling through and to Japan.  Spoiled for sure.

[highplanesdrifters]

@kbnovak

Did you make it to Guam?😁

[highplanesdrifters]

 First stop GUAM!

We made it.  Only slightly road weary and a few minor bumps along the way. I will admit these long hauls are getting harder.

 

 

The airport was empty at 11pm. Immigration was a breeze with friendly agents.

 

 

Even pretty at night.

 

 

BTW,

@kej1 was right.  NRT was a breeze.  They don't make you jump through any hoops if you're transiting through.  Do you hear that Heathrow? Our arrival and departure gates a few apart. The UA lounge was next door and awesome.

 

We chose the Hyatt over Dusit.  Feeling pretty good about the choice.  They upgraded us to a monster suite.The Hyatt driver was waiting with a sign. A simple luxury when you're brain dead, it's 11pm, and you've been traveling for 2 days.

 

Crazy right?

 

 

 

 A sweet sunrise welcome.

 

 

We're starting to feel like we're in an alternate reality.  Everyone we have encountered at the Hyatt has been kind and  helpful.  Is this heaven, no it's Guam.

 

Breakfast Buffet insane and delicious. There must be 20 different stations.   Here's just a few.

 

 

 

They cater to a large Asian clientele, Japan, Korea, Philippines. Pot stickers for breakfast- sign me up.  Especially when my stomach thinks it's dinner time.

 

 

 

 

There was also an egg station, pancake and waffle station, kid station, barista corner,  and more.

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

After a breakfast food Coma rest we hit the pool and ocean. Turns out it's hot and muggy here.  Who knew?  

 

We usually don't stay at large resorts like this.  So far it's been great. Yes there are a far amount of families with crops of rugrats. They seem to be well behaved and kinda cute.  Also, it's not terribly crowded which helps.

 

Very well maintained property with a large pool that winds through the property with several slides.....lots of nooks and crannies to hide in.

 

 

 

Weather always rolling about. It goes from brutal hot to delightful tropical breeze every few minutes. 

 

 

 

If an Octopus were a plant.

 

[lincslady]

So far - wow!!