We’re back in Singapore!…Cruise is ending….Disembarking the ship early tomorrow morning…

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Sunset out to sea.

Today has been a busy day. We’ve packed and will place our bags outside our cabin door for a late evening pickup. Once we disembark early in the morning we’ll collect our bags and be on our way, looking for the prearranged driver for the ride to the Singapore International Airport. 

We’ve left out clothing and toiletries for tonight and tomorrow morning and of course, all of our digital equipment, computers, and documents which we’ll keep in our possession.

Sunset moments later.

Also, today, we’ve prepared two posts, today’s and tomorrow’s, with all of our final expenses for the entire cruise, including the cruise fare, all ancillary cruise-related expenses and miscellaneous spending along the way.

The floor in the casino.  We never played!

Time has moved quickly over these past two weeks. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed every single day aboard Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, as we always do on all cruises. The social activities have been over-the-top as we’ve met hundreds of wonderful people, most Aussies, some Kiwis, and a handful of others from a variety of countries. 

We still haven’t encountered the reported 15 other American passengers on board the ship, although we did meet a few Americans that have lived in Australia for decades, their American accents interspersed with the delightful Australian dialect.

The Promenade at night,

Of course, we welcome interaction with people from all over the world, especially after our growing worldwide travel experience. As time marches on, we’ve both become more adept at understanding thick accents from many countries and enjoy the varied perspective of many travelers whether they’re on their first or 25th cruise.

Cosmetics shop on the Promenade where I made a purchase.

Amid today’s tasks, we went to the movie in the La Scala Theatre at 2:30 for a much-enjoyed respite from the usual activities. Even there, while waiting for the movie to begin, we often meet yet more people, all making an effort to be quiet when the movie begins.

We’re anxious to be settled in Bali by tomorrow evening around 6 pm, providing all of our travel plans go smoothly. As for Singapore today, we’ll be back for a week in 60 days when we’ll see the sites and explore this amazing country.

A portion of the art gallery.

Hope your day will be productive, leaving you with a sense of accomplishment in whatever you decide to do.  Happy day!

No photo from one year ago due to the poor wifi signal. Thanks for your patience!

Part 3…New Darwin photos…Staying entertained, educated and entranced…

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No sooner than we stepped off the shuttle bus, we spotted this local zoo staff person promoting the venue to the ship’s passengers while holding this baby crocodile.  ts mouth is wrapped in a rubber band as shown.

There’s some form of mindlessness that transpires for both of us when we’re cruising. Somehow we get into a mode of a series of pleasing routines interspersed with idle chatter with an endless stream of people that takes us to an almost abstract state of mind.

As we walked on the pier in Darwin toward the shuttle bus.

Don’t get me wrong. We love this state of being, in part since we know it will never last for the long haul. It only lasts as long as the cruise itself. Perhaps in part it’s the total lack of responsibility; no bed to make, no dishes to wash, no food to cook, no laundry to hang outside in the breeze.

But then, we’re not inactive. Since wearing my newly purchased FitBit a few days ago, although I haven’t yet made the 10,000 hoped-for steps a day, I’m working my way up to higher and higher each day as I take stairs instead of elevators and walk the “long way” around the ship when possible. 

The port of Darwin.

Even Tom seems to be moving about along with me in my mission to stay as active as possible on the ship. It’s so easy to eat and sit too much when many activities seem to involve both. 

Turning back to glance at our ship, Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

I must admit I feel a bit overstuffed with the good meals the chef has managed to make for my way of eating, often putting way too much food on each plate, twice as much as I’d normally consume.

Once we settle in Bali in five days, we’ll both resume our lower consumption healthy diets. In part, I’m a little concerned it may be tough to stay active with a household staff of four who’ll make the bed, wash the dishes, cook the food, leaving us only with the option of doing our own laundry.

Tom busied himself chatting with the friendly driver on the shuttle to town.

Most likely we’ll want to do the laundry mainly to ensure we’re doing “something” to get us up and off of our butts. It doesn’t appear we’ll be doing a ton of sightseeing in Bali based on our distant location and lack of a rental car. 

We assumed this was the entrance to a mall but found this entrance had yet to open in this new building.  Walking around the next corner we easily found the huge outdoor mall.

Parts of Bali are unsafe for road trips which we’ll definitely keep in mind with safety always a top priority. However, we’ll find plenty of fodder for our Bali experiences both in our immediate environment and when we get out to explore every few days with the driver that’s available at the villa.

Do we feel like a holiday/vacation is ending?  In a funny way, the answer is yes. No, we don’t go “home” to unpack, go through a pile of mail, catch up on bill paying and daily tasks. None of that applies to us.

Surprisingly, there was a fair amount of traffic in Darwin, not unlike what we’d experienced in New Plymouth, NZ.

We pay our credit card balances, deposits for rentals, cruises, and flights online wherever we may be.  No such task is ever awaiting us at the end of any one experience. We pay as needed in any given time period regardless of where we may be.

But, the end of a cruise, always remains the end of yet another type of pleasurable event unlike any other in our day-to-day lives. Many times, passengers we’ve met have asked us if we’d like to cruise indefinitely. The answer is “no.” 

A part of the mall was covered providing shelter from the heat of the sun.  Darwin has a tropical climate.

The novelty of cruising would be lost if it was a daily or long-term commitment. Soon, the days and nights would blend into one another and the uniqueness would be lost to the mundane.

For us, nomads that we’ve become, the joy of our lifestyle seems to center around the constant change in location, lifestyle, and surroundings keeping us entertained, educated, and entranced.

With only four more nights aboard the ship, we’re winding down and beginning to focus a little attention on the future. With an upcoming whirlwind of travels over the next several months, visiting five countries in the next four months to include: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, we’re enthused and looking forward to an endless variety of stories to tell and photos to share.

Hang on, dear readers.  We’ll be back with lots more!


Photo from one year ago today, April 26, 2015:

A year ago on this date, we posted photos of our guide in Africa on a photo safari. Tom and Anderson really hit it off.  This was within moments of arriving at the dirt runway airport in the Maasai Mara. For more of these photos we reposted a year ago, please click here.

Part 2…Visiting Darwin…More photos

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Tom checking out the sights in the Darwin area.

Today is ANZAC day in Australia. This morning, aboard the ship, services were held for Australians and New Zealanders in commemoration of this special day in their lives.

These plaques are embedded into the cement walkway in Darwin.

ANZAC day is described as:

Anzac Day /ˈænzæk/ is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.”

Another plaque in the cement in the walkway.

The Aussies and Kiwis take ANZAC Day very seriously. It was quite a sight to see the number of passengers attending this special day’s celebration that Royal Caribbean honored on their behalf. With 2500 Australians and New Zealanders on board, it was an interesting perspective for us to witness.

Shopping area in Darwin.

As we mentioned earlier, there are about 17 Americans aboard this ship. We still have yet to meet a single American, instead, enjoying all the other passengers from these two and other countries throughout the world.

A small band playing on the street in Darwin.

This morning, when I began posting in the Promenade Cafe we met a wonderful couple from Australia, younger than us, who have done extensive travel through their home country and soon are venturing to other worldwide locations.

It’s been delightful to share stories with other travelers we’ve met during this wonderful cruise, their adventures, and hopes for the future, often not unlike our own. 

A busy spot on the shopping walkway.

In a few days, we’ll arrive in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Unfortunately, it’s a 90-minute ride to the city and all offered tours stop at shopping areas for the day. For us, a day of shopping is hardly in our wheelhouse. 

This city is known for its varied shopping. Many passengers have brought along extra empty luggage specifically for this purpose. We could take a private taxi into town for our own tour to exclude shopping, we’ve decided not to go at this juncture

Double-decker, “hop-on, hop-off” buses, and lots of cars lined the busy Darwin downtown area.

With three hours of driving time, the taxi fare would be outrageous and we’d run the risk of not getting back to the ship in time if there were unforeseen delays. On a ship-sponsored tour, the ship will wait for any late arriving passengers. On our own, they don’t wait. It’s simply not worth the risk.

As a result, many other passengers we’ve spoken to, also have decided to stay behind on this less-than-convenient port arrival.  We’ll be back in this part of the world in the next few months and can easily explore on our own terms.

There wasn’t a huge amount of high-rise buildings in Darwin.

We’ll continue to make every effort to post as we continue on this cruise. With five days until the cruise ends, we’ll continue to take photos in hopes of being able to upload them along the way.

Happy days to all!

Photo from one year ago today, April 25, 2015:

A view of the Hanalei Wildlife Refuse from a hard-to-find overlook in Princeville. For more photos from one year ago, please click here.

Part 1…Visiting Darwin…A beautiful city…Busy downtown area…

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The two little ones played with the hanging branches of a Banyan tree in the middle of town.

The shuttle ride to Darwin from the port wasn’t more than 10 minutes from start to finish. Waiting in line to board the shuttle took about 35 minutes. In essence, we could have walked into town, but we enjoyed the ride seeing a little more than we would have on foot.

We actually had to purchase a few items which made the outing all the more fun for us. We’d been told by other travelers to purchase insect repellent in Australia since we’d be unable to find many options in Bali.

The sports store where we purchased a new Fitbit for me.

Secondly, after noticing several passengers wearing FitBit fitness tracking devices, I was determined to purchase a new one since my year’s old tracker had bit the dusk awhile back.

The Intersport store has typical sportswear and equipment.

I’ve found using such a device forces me on my feet more, taking stairs instead of elevators, and generally be more active. After returning to the ship and setting up the FitBit, I’d done over 1500 steps in the first two hours. At this rate, it may be possible to do the desired 10,000 steps a day.

We walked up and down several blocks looking for the store. It was a beautiful day, warm but tolerable in the shade.

It wasn’t that I detected any of the wearers necessarily appearing more fit than non-wearers, but for me, it had always been a good motivator, the digital person that I am. 

Plus, my last wristwatch died a few days ago and for the low prices I’d paid for them, it didn’t make sense to replace the batteries. The new wrist-worn FitBit also doubles as a watch. Perfect.

A pleasant park in near the shopping district.

We wandered about Darwin, feeling totally comfortable and safe in the lovely city. The high temperature was offset by a cooling ocean breeze. The city was clean and low-key with an abundance of shops and restaurants.  Of course, whenever the cruise ships came to town, the businesses thrive.

The Darwin State Square.  Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory in Australia.

When we entered a local chemist shop, it was jammed with dozens of cruise passengers. Cruise ships carry few toiletry items on board and an opportunity for a stop at a pharmacy is always a popular tourist attraction.

As we wandered about the town, we were amazed by how similar is it to New Plymouth, NZ which we left only a little over a week. In many ways, it feels as if it’s been much longer ago since we left when we’ve so easily immersed ourselves into life aboard the ship.

The Darwin State Square Building.

We apologize for the last posting once again. Not only did we have a very busy morning, we just left La Scala Theatre after watching yet another movie, a perk included in the cruise fare. Now, after 4:00 pm, it’s time to dress for the evening and to attend a special party for Crown and Anchor members at 4:45. 

After the party, we’ll head to the bar for a pre-dinner beverage and by 7:30 make our way to the main dining room for what most likely will prove to be yet another enjoyable evening at a shared table of eight or ten.

Photo from one year ago today, April 24, 2015:
Due to the poor wifi signal on the ship, we’re unable to post the year-ago photo today.  We’ll get caught up as soon as we get a better signal.  If you don’t see a post, know that we’re struggling to get online and will be back as soon as possible.  Thanks for your patience.

More freebies included in cruise fare…

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Due to a continuing poor wifi signal on the ship, we’re unable to post any photos today including the year ago photo. We apologize for the inconvenience and will include photos as soon as we’re able.

With the ongoing poor wifi signal posting continues to be quite a challenge. Once we arrive in Darwin tomorrow, we’re expecting a better signal and hope to be able to post a few photos after we return from checking out the popular port of call.

As a result, tomorrow’s post will be available about 5 hours later than has been over the past week since we boarded this cruise on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

With the exception of the wifi issues, everything has been great so far. The highlight of the cruise has been social interaction. We’ve made a number of friends that we hang out with as we still reveling in meeting new people at every turn.

We may not take advantage of many of the “freebies” offered on the ship when for us the group activities are less appealing than interacting in small groups.  No doubt the majority of the passengers are senior citizens, most likely as much as 75%. 

The majority of the remainder of passengers are age 40 and over with a few “20 somethings” along with a handful of children of all ages.  There are a wide variety of activities for passengers of all ages, many of which don’t include additional fees.

Some of the “freebies” included on this particular cruise are:

  • Fitness center to include a few free classes and activities
  • Trivia games
  • Daily Mass
  • Men’s Shed
  • Water aerobics
  • Mensa challenge
  • Movies are shown daily in the large theatre and outdoors on a giant screen by the pool
  • Dance lessons
  • Mini-golf tournament
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Singles gatherings
  • Bridge lessons and tournaments
  • Shuffleboard, ping pong, video games
  • Napkin art workshop
  • GLBT meetings
  • Ice Skating and skating shows
  • Rock climbing
  • Paper airplane making
  • Drama class
  • DreamWorks characters on display in Promenade Deck
  • Voyager Scavenger Hunt
  • Karaoke auditions and eventual show in the theatre
  • Shows in the main theatre in the evenings at 6:45 pm and 8:45 pm, different each evening
  • Live music at various bars both during the day and in the evenings

Each day, more and more activities are offered, some of which we may participate in and others we decline as not quite our style.  Most days, we spend socializing, attending seminars, movies, and shows all of which keep us very busy. 

Other than the Shed, Tom and I spend all of our time together, enjoying this two-week period aboard a ship, appreciating every moment together and each and every encounter. 

In one more week, we’ll be disembarking the ship to begin another leg of our journey. For now, we’re totally living in the moment

Photo from one year ago today, April 22, 2015:
Please check back for photos in the near future.

Fifth day of cruise…Sailing along with ease…Free Food aboard ship…Finally, a few photos…

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Tom’s dinner of tender steak, broccoli and fried potatoes.  In addition he ordered a starter and a dessert.

There are no rough seas, no notices of Norovirus or signs of the cruise cough. We’re as content as we can be.  Tom’s attending the “Shed” meetings each afternoon at 3 pm and finds me when he’s done, usually close to 5 pm. 

At 5:00, we head to the cabin, freshen up for dinner, check our email if we can get online and by 6:00 pm, we’re out the door heading to the bar. Tom has a cocktail, his usual cognac and Sprite Zero on the rocks while typically I sip on my mug of hot tea. Last night I ordered white wine with dinner.

With a tea pot in our cabin and a few spots onboard where I can reload at no charge, I’m reminded about the many complimentary perks aboard the ship which are included in the cruise fare as opposed to the many extra charges we mentioned over these past few days.

Every evening they serve me a plate of cut up avocado. I never have asked for it to be cut this small and suggested cutting it in half would be fine with me, but they continue to cut it in tiny pieces which is fine.

The single biggest perk included in the cruise fare, not surprisingly, centers around food. It’s everywhere. And, a vast majority of it is “free.” Sure, there are a number of areas where there’s a charge for certain items; specialty coffee drinks and shakes in the coffee bars; fancy cupcakes in the cupcake decorating center; and specialty restaurants which we mentioned a few days ago.

With several buffets at various times of the day along with the Windjammer Café on the 11th deck, always open, at least in part for anytime dining and the main dining rooms open for meals at specific times of the day, there’s never a shortage of venues for full meals or occasional snacks. 

Whether it’s a burger, hotdog and fries or a slice or two of fresh baked pizza, Chinese or Indian food, it all there for the taking included in the fare. For those with a sweet tooth there is a decadent array of every imaginable dessert including soft self serve ice cream. 

Although this may not look appetizing, it was a delicious steak dish suitable for my way of eating.

On the Promenade deck, a boulevard that runs through the center of the ship on deck 5 with many shops, there’s the popular Café Promenade with cases filled with baked goods including doughnuts, cakes, cookies, pies and pastries.  

In addition, there’s a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps and Panini to fulfill the tastes of most passengers at one point or another (present company excluded). Today, Tom had two chocolate covered glazed doughnuts after a big breakfast. Piglet. I keep my mouth shut and let him enjoy himself.

For sun worshippers and swimmers, there’s a complimentary grill by the pool with burgers, fries, hotdogs and more and a “healthy food” café by the spa (nothing there works for me).

Occasionally, the ship hosts social functions for Crown & Anchor members all of which include free beer, wine and appetizers for the guests. Many passengers partake in these free events for the complimentary alcohol and snacks.  Others choose to partake for the socialization.

Magically, the restaurants aboard the ship are the perfect venues for meeting people. We can’t believe how much fun we’re having each and every time we sit down for awhile in one of the eating establishments aboard the ship.

This, dear readers, is why we love cruising!

Photo from one year ago today, April 21, 2015:
Due to the poor wifi signal aboard the ship, we’re still unable to post the year-ago photo.

Internet issues…Sorry for the delay in posting…Continuing on the cruise, out to sea…

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We’ve had issues with the ship’s wifi that has prevented us from posting photos let alone being able to get online to write about our cruise experiences to date aboard Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas. 

Although we haven’t actually missed an entire day, we’ve only been able to post one photo in the past 24 hours. It’s unlikely we’ll be able to post even one photo today. The signal remains sporadic at best.

We’ve been having another memorable time on this ship as we have on numerous others. This morning we found out there are only 17 Americans aboard this ship. Thus far, we haven’t encountered one of them. 

Instead, we’ve met dozens of Australians who are some of the most friendly people in the world and friendships develop will ease and vast amounts of humor and lively conversation.

Aussies don’t hold back in conversation, are less inclined to monitor what they say is an attempt to always be “politically correct” although they are respectful of all people, if such a combination can possibly exist. 

Although we prefer not to generalize about a nation of people, we find this commonality in Aussies and Kiwis we find to be enchanting and enticing. Sure, they may be exceptions to any such similarity, but we seldom encounter it to be the case after spending the past 10 months in and around the South Pacific.

In a way, it’s hard to believe this much time has passed that we’ve lived in this part of the world and without a doubt, it’s added to our perspective of the world in a positive way.

As for the cruise, besides the pleasurable time we’re having meeting other passengers, we’re loving every moment. Our cabin is comfortable and roomy enough for us, the views from the veranda are excellent, the food is good and working well for my needs, and the endless array of activities and venues in which to be entertain keeps us on the move from one hour to another.

We’re unable to post the year-ago photos or links. Once we’re able to receive a better signal, we’ll catch up on those we’ve missed as well as posting many photos we’ve been unable to post.

Today, we’d intended to write about the ship “freebies” and inclusions. However, with this sporadic WiFi connection, I’m finding it difficult to stay focused on a specific topic.

We’ll continue to attempt to post until we’re near land for a better connection. Please stop back to see our new posts. We so appreciate all of our readers sticking with us through these less than ideal WiF conditions.

Be well. Be happy,

More indulgences aboard ship…Out of pocket expenses beyond the cruise fare…

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A wall hanging in the casino.

Based on our positioning out at sea, we’re unable to post any additional photos today as we discovered after trying for the past several hours.  Rather than spending the entire day trying to load photos, we’ve decided to complete our story about extras and indulgences available on most cruise ships.  We’ll add photos to future posts once were within range of a better signal.

Another out-of-pocket expense passengers may incur aboard the ship is the cost of excursions sponsored by the cruise line. With their intent to make substantial profits from these excursions we’ve noticed that prices include a considerable markup, often as much as 50% for the convenience.

What are the conveniences? They arrange every detail, from payment for the event on the passenger’s Sea Pass card, to transportation, entry fees to venues, tour guides and an assurance of a prompt return in time for the ship to set sail. 

If for some reason the bus or van doesn’t return in time for sailing, the ship will wait for passengers on a cruise line sponsored tour.  This can be a big deal in some countries where vehicle breakdowns and delays can be the norm. It’s under these circumstances, where we’re maybe inclined to partake in a ship sponsored tour.

For those passengers, often like us, who prefer to go off the ship on their own, arranging their own transportation one can only imagine the horror and frustration of missing the ship’s departure.

The options are to give up on the remainder of the cruise, losing the balance of the fare and leaving all of their belongings behind in their cabin, arranging to collect them at a future date by expensive transfer. 

Most often, from what we’ve heard, passengers usually choose to fly to the next port of call to get back on board. This can be quite an ordeal, especially if that port of call is located in another country requiring a visa.  Add the cost of airfare, interim hotels, transportation and meals, missing a ship’s departure time is not something a passenger wants to experience.

More than once on our 13 cruises in the past 42 months, we’ve heard nightmarish stories of such incidences occurring. No thank you. Instead, we proceed with caution in planning how we’ll spend time off of the ship on our own, leaving early in the day and returning several hours before sail time.

Another big expense for many passengers is spa services. These may cost hundreds of dollars each and may appeal to many passengers, both women and men, including facials, Botox injections, massages, acupuncture and a wide variety of face, hair and body treatments. It’s not uncommon to rack up a $1000 or more in spa services on a cruise bill. 

For avid diners and “foodies” it’s easy to find the appeal of the specialty restaurants, most of which incur additional charges.  In many cases, the set prices (some do not include beverages, wine, or cocktails) are under US $40, AU $51 per person for a multi-course meal. 

On several occasions, we’ve opted to indulge in a few specialty restaurants during promotions with discounted prices, at times as low as US $15, AU $19 per person. However, on this and our past Aussie cruise, we’ve had such fun during dinner in the main dining room, dining at another venue holds little appeal.

Laundry services including ironing, wash, and dry and dry cleaning are available on most cruises usually completed within 24 hours or sooner for pressing.  With many cruise passengers bringing formal wear for dress-up nights, this service is particularly useful for those occasions. 

On most cruises, we usually incur about US $50, AU $64 in “wash and dry” services when we receive small discounts as members (in this case) of Royal Caribbean’s Crown and Anchor Society. After this cruise, we’ll be considered “Emerald” members, still a long way from the highest category. Every cruise line’s rewards programs are different. More on this later. 

Often, there are a few activities aboard a ship that may require payment for supplies (for arts and crafts), tickets, raffles, bingo, on-demand movies on the TV or other such activities. The daily program guide will list the activities and the costs or they may be listed on the interactive TVs.

Another of the two final areas where passengers may choose to spend outside the scope of the cruise fare itself is for tips for favorite service providers. This particular cruise fare included US $12.95 AU $17 per person per day tips that are distributed to all service staff. We paid these fees at the time we paid the final payment for the cruise, usually 75 days before sailing date.

Once onboard the ship, the passenger has the option to have these tips reversed from their bill and pay tips out of pocket or…not at all. We’d never do this. The staff works hard for little pay and have left their homes for extended periods of time. We feel they are entitled to the tips.  

On most cruises, we pay additional tips for special assistance from our cabin steward and head waiter in the dining room who oversees my special diet. We’ve yet to experience less than exemplary service in these two areas.

Finally, a big expense for us is the use of the ship’s WiFi service. For this cruise, it’s US $255, AU $328 for unlimited data for two devices which includes both of our laptops. The service is slow and unreliable as mentioned above but we do what we can to upload our daily posts.

We received a US $300, AU $386 cabin credit from Vacations to Go and the cruise line.  o far, our bill is US $168, AU $216 after having used the credits. I must admit I purchased US $78, AU $100 in Lancôme mascaras in the duty free shop, enough to last me for a year which was 1/2 the cost I’d paid last year. A girl’s got to have some of her favorite products from time to time!

Our other expenses thus far are the wifi, a few glasses of wine and cocktails and a few toiletry items in the store all at below chemist store prices in NZ. Most likely by the end of the cruise, our final bill will be around US $800, AU $1029, a typical amount for us on most two week cruise for which we’ve budgeted slightly more. 

Of course, at the end of the cruise we’ll post our final bill, cruise fare, hotel and airfare for this leg of our journey. Tomorrow, we’ll share cruise “freebies” that are included in the fare and how to get the “most bang for the buck.”  Stay tuned for more!

Photo from one year ago today, April 19, 2015:
We are unable to post a photo from one year ago today due to poor connectivity aboard the ship.  We’ll catch up as we go along.

A dream come true…Antarctica, here we come!…Exciting and…pricey!…Tomorrow…the 666 day itinerary!

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Not our photo, but not unlike the experience we hope to have on our booked cruise to Antarctica in 21 months. The cruise was booked up so fast on the day it was posted, we decided to book this far ahead.

When we first conceived of the idea of traveling the world in January 2012, a few of what we considered as “must do’s” in our travels have changed or have since been fulfilled.

That’s not to say the list isn’t still extensive at this point. The more we learn about this enormous world we live in, the more we find appealing to our tastes and desires.

For me, my number one dream was to see wildlife in Africa.  After almost nine months on the continent, my greedy self longs for more. Someday, we’ll return to fulfill my desires to return and also to fulfill one of Tom’s dreams to see Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Of course, that future trip will include seeing the gorillas in Rwanda, an experience we both will treasure.

As for Tom in the beginning, his first priority was to visit the Panama Canal.  Our first cruise in January, 2013 our ship traversed the narrow passageway at the Panama Canal, which proved to be an extraordinary experience for both of us. 

The newly built locks on the Panama Canal are yet to open due to construction delays although the expectation is that it will be operational by the end of June. Even if the new canal its not open by the time we arrive in 2017 we still look forward to it once again as another layer in the experience.

The Panama Canal is not a “final” destination, instead its a means for us to make our way to South America from our location in Central America at the time. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, in November, 2017 we’ll again cruise through the canal on the first of the two cruises we mentioned.

As we’ve continued on our travels incorporating almost constant ongoing worldwide research, we’ve added many locations to our list of places we’d like to visit. Will we be able to see them all?  Most likely not.  Both time and finances have a bearing on our ability to do so.

However, added to our list of “hope to see,” eventually moving over to the “must see” list, Antarctica quickly moved up to the top of the list over these past few years as we conducted more and more research.  We knew the price would be outrageous. As we’ve fine tuned our budget, we’ve saved and trimmed to make this possible.

The itinerary for our upcoming cruise to Antarctica.

Availability of Antarctica cruises for the right dates became imperative based on current bookings and, as described in yesterday’s post, as we began to explore South America for the later part of 2017 and 2018. 

Here is a link with considerable information about cruising in Antarctica from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) that has provided us with valuable answers to questions.

The quality of the cruise lines and ships became a vital aspect as we continued in our extensive research. We watched videos, read hundreds of online reviews as well as endless comments in CruiseCritic, constantly on the search for the perfect scenario for our needs and wants.

The most important criteria for us is taking an Antarctica cruise is the inclusion in getting off the ship to board small Zodiac boats that travel to the ice floes for close encounters with wildlife.  

The “cruising only” options of many ships with no “off ship” experiences typically last for 10 to 11 days. This was definitely not worth the lower cost to us.  We wanted more. We knew a 14 to 17 day cruise with use of excursions on guided Zodiac boats for up close and personal wildlife experiences was the driving force behind our research and ultimately, our final decision.

Then, of course, the price, age of the ship, quality of ship, number of passengers, reviews and accommodations on the smaller ships that visit this vast area of the world became a vital factor in finding the right cruise.

ITINERARY
DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE   DEPART
Tue Jan 23 Ushuaia, Argentina 6:00pm
Wed Jan 24 At Sea
Thu Jan 25 Grave Cove, Falkland Islands / New Island, Falklands
Fri Jan 26 At Sea
Sat Jan 27 At Sea
Sun Jan 28 South Georgia Island
Mon Jan 29 South Georgia Island
Tue Jan 30 South Georgia Island
Wed Jan 31 At Sea
Thu Feb 1 Elephant Island
Fri Feb 2 Astrolabe Island, Antarctica
Sat Feb 3 Neko Harbor, Antarctica
Sun Feb 4 At Sea
Mon Feb 5 At Sea
Tue Feb 6 At Sea
Wed Feb 7 Ushuaia, Argentina 5:00pm
Thu Feb 8 Ushuaia, Argentina Disembark

For me, I’d have been content to sail on the less luxurious ships with minimal accommodations if necessary to make it affordable. But, as our research continued, the lower priced older, less luxurious ships didn’t offer much lower pricing and…sacrificing luxury no longer became an issue. In any case, it was going to cost us dearly.

After considerable research, we decided on the French Ponant Cruise line which has small enough ships to maneuver into areas larger ships cannot navigate. Also, the cruise line offered excellent accommodations and amenities including tips and alcoholic beverages, upscale food with scientists and professional photographers on board.

Over these past 18 months, as we continued our search, we resigned ourselves to the outrageous cost of these 14 to 16 day cruises.  Prices on most Antarctica cruises begin at a low of NZ $14,682, US $8800, per person for more modest accommodations on less desirable ships to a high of NZ $79,285, US $54,000 on luxury ships.

Ships are categorized by “number of stars” ranging from a low of “3” to a high of “6” for the pricey high end ships.  The ship we selected, Ponant’s Le Soleal, is rated a “5.5”. We’re very happy with this. The price, on the other hand made us cringe a little although we were prepared it would be high.

The cost for the balcony cabin we selected on the fourth deck of Ponant Le Soleal is a combined (for two) NZ $50,654, US $34,500, as opposed to the much lower priced third deck where the medical center is located. We didn’t want to be close to that!  

Here’s information about the ship:

Le Soléal

Ship Rating:
Le Soléal features a sleek silhouette and a welcoming, intimate atmosphere. Le Soléal accommodates up to just 264 passengers and embodies the philosophy and spirit of yacht cruising that has made Ponant a success.

All 132 staterooms and suites feature ocean views, and the interior of the ship boasts contemporary décor with fluid lines and a modern color scheme. Trips in a Zodiac boat will allow passengers to get as close as possible to the natural grace of the Arctic lands, and a team of naturalists and lecturers will accompany guests and share their knowledge, experience and passion for their subject.

Carrying on a tradition of reducing impact on the environment, Le Soléal also features a state-of-the-art navigational positioning system, eliminating the need to drop anchor and therefore protecting the seabed. This advanced system also lowers smoke emissions and includes an optical and submarine detection system to avoid collisions with marine life, both day and night.

 Le Soléal
Detailed Information
Deck Plans Dining Wireless
Internet  
 Ship Statistics 
Year Built 2013
Tonnage 10,944 tons
Registry France
Length 466 feet
Beam 59 feet
Passenger Capacity 264
Crew Size 139
Total Inside Cabins 0
Total Outside Cabins 132
Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 124
Suites 4
Maximum Occupancy per room 4
Age Restrictions One person must be 18 or older
Dinner Seatings 1
Seating Assignments
in Main Dining Room		 Open
Dining Hours Open Seating
Dining Room Dress Code Dining
Tipping Recommended? No
Tipping Guidelines Gratuities are included in the cruise fare.
Onboard Currency European Union Euro
Services & Amenities
Bars/Lounges 3
Beauty Salon/Barber Shop Yes
Casino No
Chapel No
Disco/Dancing Yes
Elevators Yes
Hot Tub No
Cell Phone Service No
Internet Access Yes
Internet Center Yes
Wireless Internet Access Yes
Laundry/Dry Cleaning No
Library Yes
Movie Theatre No
Outdoor Movie Screen No
Onboard Weddings No
Self Serve Laundromats No
Shops Yes
Showroom Yes
Spa Yes
Video Arcade No
Fitness & Sports Facilities
Basketball Court No
Fitness Center Yes
Golf Driving Net No
Golf Simulator No
Ice Skating Rink No
Jogging Track No
Mini-Golf Course No
Rock Climbing Wall No
Swimming Pool Yes
Tennis Court No
Water Slide No
Water Sports Platform No
Cabin Features & Amenities
24-Hour Room Service Yes
Hair Dryer Yes
Safe Yes
Telephone Yes
Television Yes
Kids Facilities
Babysitting No
Children’s Playroom No
Kiddie Pool No
Supervised Youth Program No
Teen Center No
Special Needs & Requests
Adjoining Cabins
(private connecting doors)		 No
Kosher Meals No
Single Occupancy Cabins No
Single Share Program No
Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins Yes

Yesterday, we paid the non-refundable deposit of 25% at NZ $12,666, US $8,625. Even that made us cringe.  But, we look at this much desired cruise as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one neither of us ever dreamed possible. 

Going forward, we’ll share more information on this cruise including the cost and details of renting appropriate outerwear clothing, boots and gloves which the cruise line arranges after we make our online selections. 

The cruise lines have requirements on which items we must rent to ensure they don’t have to deal with less appropriately dressed passengers. Today, we received an online form from our highly competent cruise rep at Vacations to Go, Brooklyn Earnhardt who can be reached here which included medical forms we must have signed by a doctor no more than 90 days before departure date.

Over the next 21.5 months until we board the cruise on January 23, 2018 in Ushaiai, Argentina, referred to as the most southerly city in the world (the ends of the earth) we have plenty of time to take care of everything we’ll need to do

Here we are today, only one week from boarding the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas at the Port of Sydney, Australia.  No, this upcoming cruise may not be as exciting as the Antarctica cruise. But, our enthusiasm and level of excitement is high, as always, as we continue on to our next adventure. 

May your day find you filled with enthusiasm for whatever your day brings. Today, we’ll be hanging out with 47 adorable alpaca moms and babies. What more could we possibly want?

Photo from one year ago today, April 9, 2015:

A juice bar on wheels in Hanalei. A tour we’d planned was rained out.  Instead we visited Hanalei, a small tourist town in Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

Final expenses for cruise on the Celebrity Solstice from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, NZ for 14 nights…A few photos…

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Tom is the king of cruising.  He loves every moment and I love every moment with him. We were walking in the rain in Sydney when I took this photo.

It’s been a fabulous cruise. With only a few days of not feeling up to par with colds, we both enjoyed every single day and night. The social life was exceptional, the other passengers friendly and welcoming and we spent every meal except a few reveling in mutual travel experiences throughout the world.

The Celebrity Solstice is a meticulous ship, well maintained and easy to manage when walking from one area to another. The staff is thoughtful, helpful and welcomes each passenger they encounter in all venues and decks. 

All activities were organized, well advertised, and promoted with plenty of opportunities for even the single traveler to participate. Surprisingly, the WiFi, although slow preventing more than a few photos to be posted daily was relatively reliable with only a few occasions when we couldn’t connect.

As for the food, by far, this ship above any other previous cruises provided me with the best attention to detail for my special dietary needs preparing beautiful plates with careful consideration of my list of restrictions. Never once, did I have to send back a plate that wasn’t properly prepared. Only once, was it necessary for me to wait for my meal after others at our table were served. 

Every night I was served a perfect avocado, sliced and served with my nightly salad and cup of full-fat sour cream which I used as a salad dressing when none of their prepared dressings were befitting my way of eating.  I sweetened the sour cream with a few drops of my liquid Stevia making a tasty dressing which we often use when preparing our own salads.

It was pouring in Sydney the day we boarded the ship, but it didn’t prevent us from getting out and exploring.

Apparently, a server had given my dinner to another guest and they had to start over, to prepare a complex plate of seafood and vegetables. 

I maintained a level of calm while waiting and once the food arrived, I’d forgotten about it.  Otherwise, the dinner service was always exemplary.

Tom also enjoyed the diverse nightly menu trying many new foods and always finding them not only palatable with his somewhat picky taste buds but overall quite delicious. 

Sure, some passengers complained about being “nickeled and dimed” but we never felt that way.  Our final bill was an acceptable amount lower than we’ve experienced on any of our past 11 cruises.  Then again, we don’t gamble, buy much if anything in the shops, and this time, never felt a need or desire to dine in any of the specialty restaurants.

With the “drink packages” included for both of us in the fare as a “perk” never once did we purchase a beverage not included in the package. Although I don’t drink alcohol, I enjoyed the free-flowing specialty teas, whole cream in Americana coffee with an occasional small shot of sugar-free vanilla syrup, making for a rare special treat.

The cabin, a 2B class which we were upgraded from a 2C class due to our current Captain’s Club standing was ideal for us. We continue to accumulate more points which will enable further upgrades on future cruises.

This photo was taken on the aft of the ship as we sailed through Milford Sound in New Zealand.

The bed, king-sized, was very comfortable with equally good pillows and bedding. The bath had all the space we needed with lots of storage and many amenities. The cabin was 194 square feet, 18 square meters, a size we always find more than adequate. We had a full-sized sofa and coffee table, an extra we often enjoy more for providing extra storage space than actually for lounging. 

The balcony was 54 square feet, 5 square meters, which on this ship we didn’t use often due to inclement weather, was suitable with two lounge chairs and a small table. To date, we’ve always selected a balcony cabin knowing we’d feel cramped and uncomfortable without access to the outdoors from the cabin.

Here are our total expenses for this cruise including the conversion to New Zealand dollars for which, going forward over these next three months, we’ll be stating along with US dollars. 

Cruise fare for the above cabin as stated:
USD $4,771.32, NZD $7,393.85 (Beverage package included for two, valued at USD $1,652, NZD $2,560)

Total excess bill for internet and a few small purchases:
USD $412, NZD $638.45 after the onboard credit of USD $100 , NZD $154.96)

Grand total: USD $5,182.32, NZD $8,032.45
Average cost per day for two: USD $370.24, NZD $573.24

Our ship, the Celebrity Solstice, docked at the port of Tauranga a few days ago.

Having paid the cruise fare in full 75 days before the sail date, the only portion we had to pay now was the USD $412, NZD $638.45 which was charged to the credit card we left on file on the day we boarded the cruise. I’ve already verified the payment online for accuracy without issue.

By the time this post is automatically uploaded this morning, we’ll be well on our way by rental car to our new home in the Taranaki region, close to New Plymouth, New Zealand. 

It’s a five-plus-hour drive which most likely will stretch to six or seven hours with multiple photo stops along the way, including an additional stop for groceries in New Plymouth. We’ll be back tomorrow with all new photos of our journey through the countryside which we’re anticipating with considerable excitement. 

Once again, dear readers, we’ll be “home.” Please stayed tuned.

Photos from one year ago, January 19, 2015:

The area of Princeville where we lived for four months beginning one year ago, was named in honor of an 1860 visit by Prince Albert Kamehameha, son of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. It was then a plantation owned by Robert Crichton Wyllie. He named another part of the plantation Emmaville, but that name never stuck. Originally the land was planted with coffee which was not suited to the wet lowlands. Later sugar cane was planted with some success. Wyllie’s nephew inherited the land but committed suicide in 1866. In 1867 it was purchased by Elisha Hunt Allen to later become a cattle ranch. It was sold for development in 1968 and became a golf course and resort called Princeville at Hanalei. For more details, please click here.