Cruise final expenses including shopping at port and extras…Finalizing details…Favorite photos…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Mystery Island scene.

Rather than wait until we disembark the ship tomorrow, I decided to post the final expenses and favorite photos today. 

Tomorrow, when we disembark by 8:30 am with a 9:00 am shuttle pickup at the Port of Seattle, we’ll have time to post until after we arrive in Vancouver later in the day.

The sun was shining on the sea.

Once we’re settled in our hotel, we’ll prepare and upload a post with scenic photos of the three-plus-hour drive from Seattle to Vancouver, which we expect will be stunning. Neither of us has ever driven this route by car. It should be interesting.

At 11:30 am now with another time change occurring at noon, we decided to pack earlier than usual and get it all behind us. Tonight, the staff will collect all of our checked bags, leaving the newer duffel bag and computer backpack behind for us to keep in our possession during the disembarking process.

Mystery Island, Vanuatu beach.

Once we’re off the ship, we’ll find the remainder of our luggage in the cruise terminal and make our way to the pickup area, where an SUV driver will be waiting for us for the US $550 AU 744.95 drive over the US border into Canada.

We hedged at this high cost for transportation but after careful consideration decided this was the least stressful means of travel. We always keep in mind that keeping stress at a minimum has always been our goal and our motto.

A reminder of cannibalism in the South Pacific.

It always falls upon the fact that we can only control what “we know” in our world travels, not which “we don’t know,” which would include unforeseen circumstances over which we do not influence our diligent planning.

Sometimes, that includes paying a little more, planning ahead and leaving ourselves free and unencumbered to relish in our surroundings and experiences along the way.

Situated in the Diamond Club lounge for the last morning of this 24-night cruise, we can relax knowing everything is in place: we’re fully packed with clothing left out for tonight and tomorrow. 

King Neptune poolside celebration after crossing the Equator.

We’ve calculated our total expenses for the cruise, as shown below entering the figures into our main spreadsheet; we’ve reviewed our cruise bill for accuracy, handling any necessary adjustments; we’ve paid cash tips to our fabulous restaurant manager Belic who oversaw meticulous handling of my special meals and, over-the-top cabin steward Mira, the best we’ve ever experienced after 18 cruises.

Here are the final expenses for this 24-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas from Sydney to Seattle:

 Expense   US Dollar   Australian Dollar 
 Cruise Fare – 24 nights   $              5,955.26  $                    8,068.18
 Cabin credit   $                (280.00)  $                        379.28
 Airfare    $                                 $                                     
 Taxi    $                    50.20  $                          68.00
 Laundry aboard ship   $                    49.98  $                          67.70
 Ship Shop Purchases   $                    94.78  $                        124.38
 Tips not inc. in fare   $                   188.17  $                        254.87
 Lahaina Gap purchases   $                   106.00  $                        143.57
 Total   $              6,164.39  $                     8,349.44
 Average Daily Cost    $                  256.85  $                        347.89

We’re please with these totals. The daily calculations are slightly higher than our usual average daily costs. Using this cruise for transportation back to the US actually saved us money when the airfare alone would have been around US $2,000, AU 2,708.93.

During the 24-day period we would have been paying for a vacation home, groceries, transportation, etc. Adding the pure joy of spending this extended period of time with other passengers, it’s definitely money well spent.  Also, we avoided a horrendously long 14-hour flight from these distant locations.

We’ve made many new friends on this cruise and look forward to hearing from them in the future. Who knows?  Our paths may cross again sometime in the future.

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.

As we enter North America by early tomorrow morning, we’ll no longer include Australian money exchange rates for our expenses. All expenses during our time in North America will be posted in US dollars only. For our Australian readers, as you know for one US dollar, it is $1.35 for Australian dollar.

We won’t be posted a foreign exchange rate until August 1st when we enter Costa Rica as we continue on our world journey.

Thanks, dear readers, for your continued love and support during this lengthy cruise. We’ll continue to post daily during the Alaska cruise beginning in three days when we’ll be visiting many ports of call for a hopefully good signal which has been lacking during this cruise.

Goodbye, Australia, New Zealand, and islands in the South Pacific for the gifts you bestowed upon us in this exquisite and fascinating part of the world.  We’ll remain eternally grateful for the experiences.

Happy Mother’s Day to Moms all over the world! May your day be as unique as YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, May 14, 2016:

This dog walked up to our villa in Bali and wandered around the pool. We stayed seated and didn’t say a word. Soon, he wandered away. For more photos, please click here.

FlowRider videos and story….Cruise ending in two days…Final cruise expenses coming soon…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
FlowRider video #1.
FlowRider video #2.

A few days ago, we chatted with another passenger, also a Tom, in the Diamond Club lounge while we were preparing the day’s post.  In speaking with Tom, he shared that he belongs to a group of men who meet on sea days from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm to participate in one of the ship’s most exciting activities, the FlowRider.

 Eric, Darrell and Paul, members of the FlowRider Society determined to surf on a windy and cold day at sea.  Tom was finished for the day and thus, I missed his photo.

Fascinated that men over 40 had become avid and expert FlowRider participants, an activity definitely geared toward youth and/or the fit and coordinated sports enthusiast, we were thrilled to prepare a story on these FlowRider adventurers.

It’s imperative to stay within the white Royal Caribbean logo on the blue platform to avoid risk of injury from hitting the sides.

From Royal Caribbean’s site:

“Perhaps no onboard activity is as synonymous with Royal Caribbean as the surf simulator known as the FlowRider.
When Royal Caribbean started adding FlowRiders to its cruise ships, it generated a lot of buzz and ever since then, the company has been working to add FlowRiders to more and more ships in its fleet.
If you want to give surfing a shot on your next cruise, here is what you need to know about this popular surf simulator. (Continued below).
I wish I could take credit for this photo of FlowRider Tom, taken by a professional photographer aboard Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas.  What a fabulous shot of Tom in his mastery of this difficult and challenging sport!

The FlowRider is a simulator that sends water a very high speed across a small area that mimics what it is like to surf on the ocean.

FlowRiders were first created as a business on land and have partnered with Royal Caribbean to offer guests cruising the chance to try it out there.  The FlowRider supports two surfing styles: stand up traditional surfing and boogie boarding.
Royal Caribbean has added FlowRiders to more of its ships recently and here is the list of ships that offer a FlowRider:
  • Freedom of the Seas
  • Liberty of the Seas
  • Independence of the Seas
  • Oasis of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
  • Allure of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
  • Harmony of the Seas (two FlowRiders)
  • Quantum of the Seas
  • Anthem of the Seas
  • Ovation of the Seas
  • Navigator of the Seas
  • Voyager of the Seas
  • Explorer of the Seas
  • Adventure of the Seas
Guests participating in the FlowRider, for example, must be at least 52″/132 cm tall to use the bodyboard and 58″/147 cm tall to use the flowboard.   Absolutely no footwear allowed, no goggles and no go-pro cams are allowed.”
Paul was on-a-roll.
Use of the fluoride is included in the cruise fare, although there are additional charges for personalized training.  However, staff is available at no charge to assist the passenger in getting started and in becoming familiar with safety procedures.  More of the details of this popular activity may be found at the above link.
Every so often the surfer will restart from the side of the FlowRider.
As a result of the enthusiasm over being RC FlowRider participants, there’s even a Facebook page named Royal Caribbean FlowRider Society, which may be found at this link.  Who knew?
Paul back at it again.
After chatting with passenger Tom, he suggested we join their group to watch one of his group activities on this particular ship, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas.  From that, I was excited to take photos and videos we could share with our worldwide readers.
A good rider such as these has the option to maneuver their way back to the top based on the pressure placed on their feet on the board.
Had it not been so bitter cold, I’d have stayed outside longer to chat with the group, but I was only wearing a hooded sweatshirt and workout clothes and staying longer wasn’t an option. 
Even with the short length of the FlowRider, an experienced surfer can last on the surf for an extended period.
Paul at the end of his great run.
We commend the brave FlowRiders for their acquired skill and persistence in mastering what appears to be a difficult sport requiring considerable coordination, balance and fitness, especially when the participants aren’t necessarily youngsters.
Eric had an excellent run staying on his feet for quite some time.
In no time at all I dashed back indoors anxious to share what I’d witnessed with my Tom about these athletic “surfers” on Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider.  He was glad he’d stayed indoors in the warm comfort of our cabin.
Inevitably, each rider takes a stumble from time to time.
Hmm… In four days we’ll be boarding the ship to Alaska.  I wonder what the weather will be like while we’re there…
Happy day to all our worldwide readers.  Thanks to each and every one of YOU who’ve followed along with us on this lengthy cruise!
__________________________________________________________
 Photo from one year ago today, May 13, 2016:
We did a double take in Bali when we saw these two young guys walking their inner tube type boats along the beach.  Later, we saw them fishing from these tiny watercraft.  For more details, please click here.

The cruise ends in three days…On to the next leg of the journey…The challenges oF coordinating dates…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The beach on a tropical island.

With only three days until we arrive in Seattle and the continual activities aboard this ship, it was time to languish in thoughts of the upcoming cruise to Alaska.

It’s ironic, but the Alaskan cruise was somewhat of an afterthought.  Arriving in Vancouver by hired driver on May 15th after disembarking the ship in Seattle, we had a short period until our grandkids would be out of school for the summer. 

A thatched hut on a tropical island.

Instead of limiting the time we’d spend with the grandchildren with school still in progress, we decided to take advantage of the great prices for an early-season Alaskan cruise on Celebrity Solstice, one of our favorite ships, for the nine-night cruise. 

Most Alaskan cruises are for seven nights ending in Alaska. With the nine-day cruise, the cruise ends in Seattle, where we’ve immediately booked a flight to Minneapolis departing on May 26th, the beginning of the US Memorial Day weekend. 

Ship passengers, browsing the tropical island.

This schedule seemed to work well with our upcoming Minnesota plans in mind. Our lives of world travel is always a volley of coordinating cruise, airline schedules, and holiday home dates to ensure all of our desired stops match up.

In itself, this coordination process is challenging and tricky at times.  When I recall how much time and effort was involved in matching all the elements of the first cruise, we booked with the fact that we book one “vacation/holiday” after another, perfecting this process has been time-consuming and, at times, tricky.

In our usual manner of learning as we go, we now feel no stress or worry about connecting all the dots. We’ve even come to realize that we don’t always have to tie up all the loose ends. For example, we’ve yet to book a rental car for Minnesota and Nevada.

Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas.

We’d hope to book vehicles for both US state visits aboard the ship.  It became difficult to get the booking process completed and payment rendered with the ease we usually experience with the slow signal.

Instead, we’ve left the tasks for our arrival in Vancouver in three days, where we anticipate a much better signal at the hotel to complete the tasks. In addition, it’s time to book the hotel in Buenos Aires from December 23, 2017 (Tom’s birthday) to January 23, 2019.

At the end of this one-month stay in Buenos Aires, we’ll fly to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board the cruise to Antarctica. There’s a tremendous amount of planning and booking on the horizon for this leg of our journey.

Jetty in the coral reef in Vanuatu.

Undoubtedly, over the next several months, we’ll book everything we need to fill in a few gaps in our schedule/itinerary, including renting cars in Minnesota and Nevada.

Today, midday, there’s another one-hour time change from noon until 1:00 pm. Captain Rick prefers to have the many time changes occur midday instead of at night to lessen the effect for hard-working staff members with long shifts.

View across the blue sea.

Tonight, we’ll share the happy hour with our usual group and then meet Alice and Nate for dinner. It will be another fantastic day aboard the ship as we wind down toward the end of the 24-night cruise.

Have a beautiful day!

Photo from one year ago today, May 12, 2016:

In Bali, this bird appeared to be a Blue Kingfisher. For more details, please click here.

Making new friends..A couple, like us, traveling the world…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Sue and Scott, our new world travel friends from the US with whom we spent the evening.

We’re not so unique when traveling among passengers on cruise ships. Many passengers are enthusiastic world travelers with many more years of experience and often having visited more countries than we have to date.

Sure, most have homes and a lifestyle that includes trips to Home Depot-type stores on weekends, planting gardens, mowing the lawn, and a wide variety of household tasks we forfeited years ago.

The lighting was poor for photos of the tango dancers at the party.

Many have the day-to-day interaction with friends and family that they may see in person regularly, whereby our interactions with family are conducted online through Skype calls and face time.

As we continue to cruise and travel this vast Earth, we find ourselves building many relationships that may prove to last throughout the remainder of our lives with fine people we stumble across along the way, many on cruise ships such as this most recent experience.

There was a show for Crown and Anchor members in the ice skating arena last night.

The speed with which these relationships grow is astounding. Still, when the interactions may almost be daily, it’s not difficult to escalate into a deep relationship in a relatively short period of time, such as the day/weeks spent cruising together, spent in idle hours of conversation and activities.

Such was the case last night, and over these past three weeks, we’ve spent sailing on Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas since April 22nd, soon to end in four days on May 15th. We’ve made as many new friends as the time allows when we’re not watching a movie or hanging out for short periods in our cabin.

Last night’s dinner table included Sue and Scott’s friends John, Susan, and their son Jonathan,

Whether we’re in one of the several bars, the main dining room, or preparing a post in the Diamond Club, there’s always an opportunity to make new friends if one so chooses. And, we so choose when the situation is right.

Several days ago, while waiting in a lengthy immigration queue in Salon B, the ice arena, we met a lovely couple Susan and Scott, who, like us, are traveling the world. We couldn’t wait to have an opportunity to hear their story and share mutual experiences and details of how and why they, too, travel the world and have been doing so for the past 13 months.

Tom in the Tavern bar waiting with me to see Sue and Scott.

Susan and Scott also sold their home and downsized their lives considerably. Although they have storage with a plan to own another home somewhere down the road, they’re always on the move to explore new lands during this period of time.

Years ago, Scott survived a horrifying bout with cancer changing their perspective on how they wanted to enjoy retirement down the road.  Now, both having retired, they’re free as birds to fulfill a lifelong dream of traveling the world. 

Tom and his two Diamond Club bar buddies.

With a decades-long plan in place, they’ve been able to “step outside the box” of traditional life in the USA and, like us, pursue this seeming adventurous life of world travel and exploration. They’ve done it well over these past 13 months and plan to continue until they’re ready to settle down once again. 

Last night, we met Susan and Scott in the Tavern Pub for happy hour, later attending a Crown and Anchor Welcome Back party at the ice rink and finally meeting three friends they’d made at dinner over these past many nights aboard the ship, another Susan, husband John and adult son Jonathan. 

Last night’s photo of friends Ray, Terry, Ulla, and Julie when I walked past them on the Promenade deck on my way to meet Tom and new friends Susan and Scott.

The seven of us met for dinner at the Sapphire Dining Room for an 8:30 pm dinner reservation. Seated at a round table, the conversation flowed with an intoxicating level of enthusiasm, myriad questions regarding ours and  Susan and Scott’s lifestyle of “living in the world” and general chit chat. It couldn’t have been more fun.

The highlight of the evening heard about Susan and Scott’s worldwide adventures. Although, unlike us, staying in countries for extended periods of time, they may stay as little as one to three days, seldom staying more than one week.

At the beginning of our planning, we decided against short stays of less than a few weeks, when we felt we’d become tired of constant travel days. That’s worked for us. For them, it’s been enriching, although they’re now expressing interest in staying for longer periods.

Captain Rick and other staff presentation to top Pinnacle Club members (pictured center), the top tier in the Crown & Anchor Society, requiring considerable cruises over many years of sailing to acquire.

We shared various tidbits of information between us, including; tours in Africa, international health insurance, VPN benefits, etc.  The conversation couldn’t have been more enjoyable with this delightful couple with whom we have no doubt; we’ll stay in touch as we continue after this cruise ends.

Yesterday, we met two women who’d sadly lost their husbands at breakfast, now traveling together. As it turned out, they’ll be sailing with us on May 17th on the Celebrity Solstice nine-night cruise to Alaska. We look forward to seeing Diann and Helen (another Helen) on this upcoming cruise.

Tonight, most likely, we’ll share the evening with friends Ulla, Ray, Julie, and Terry, with whom we’ve spent many evenings, always having a fabulous time. Tomorrow night, we’ll spend the evening with new friends Alice and Nate, another world-travel-experienced couple much younger than us. Here again, we love sharing the mutual stories of our adventures.

This towel monkey made by our cabin steward Mira (the best cabin steward we’ve had to date) was on display when we returned to our cabin last night.

Whew!  It’s been fun. With only four days remaining until we disembark the ship to head to Vancouver, British Columbia, where we’ll stay for two nights, we’re soaking up every moment relishing in the companionship of interesting and entertaining people.

May your day bring you face to face with interesting and entertaining people…just like YOU.

Photo from one year ago today, May 11, 2016:

Me in the pool waving at Tom when he insisted on a photo. We spent lots of time in the pool in Bali, especially on days like that, hot, humid, and with many flies after the previous night’s heavy rain. For a similar photo of Tom, please click here.

Our travel map and how to view it…Winding down the cruise…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
A view of Honolulu from the ship.

During the remainder of the cruise, which ends on May 15th, we’ll be posting the balance of our photos from this 24-night cruise. How quickly the time has flown as we near the end of this glorious sailing in returning to North America from the South Pacific.

Kona-Kailua, Hawaii swimming area.

After almost two years in the South Pacific (we arrived on June 11, 2015), we’re sad to say goodbye but feel confident we had a thorough sample of what this part of the world has to offer. 

When we walked along the shore in Kona after we visited the town.

When we look in detail at our travel map on the right side of the page under the photo of us in Petra, Jordan, you’ll see the words “Map our Travels.” Below that, click on “Travel Map” on the line reading, “View Full-Size Travel Map at Travellerspoint.”

Passengers o the beach in Vanuatu.

Upon opening the link, a full-size map will show everywhere we’ve traveled since the onset of our travels beginning in 2012. We’re amazed when we review this map, which Tom keeps up-to-date as we move from location to location.

View of Kona-Kailua from the ship.

In reviewing the map, it’s evident we still have many worlds left to explore, including China, India, South America (soon), and Antarctica (in eight months). In a week from today, we’ll begin the cruise to Alaska, which we’ll be adding to the map upon the completion of our foray into this exciting part of the world.

View of our ship, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, from Lahaina, Maui.

There’s no doubt the timing was right to head out of the South Pacific to journey to these many other parts of the world. The continent of Australia is so huge one could conceivably spend a lifetime exploring its outback, cities, and rural areas in between.

The mountain view from Lahaina on a cloudy day.

Many islands piqued our interest in the South Pacific, but we were ready to move on after lengthy stays on several islands. Although, tropical island living will always remain of great interest for its pleasing lifestyle in our way of living in the world.

Ships in the harbor in Honolulu.

At this point, we don’t anticipate returning to the South Pacific, but one never knows. Tom’s favorite place to date, Penguin, Australia, may someday result in our return for an extended visit. I loved it as well, but areas rich and abundant in wildlife will always remain at the top of my “favorites” list.

Inside the courtyard at a shopping center in Lahaina.

In a mere nine months, my passion will once again be fulfilled. From there, we’ll seek to book the areas as mentioned above/countries we’ve yet to explore. No, it’s not a marathon to see the world. 

The shopping area in Kona during a port of call stop a few days ago.

Instead, it’s a leisurely walk, predicted by good health and well-being.  To this point, there’s never been a lack of interest or lack of desire to continue on regardless of stumbles along the way. Life is good, actually great, and the passion continues. Continue along with us!

Photo from one year ago today, May 10, 2016:

This photo was taken from the second-floor veranda of high tide in Bali. For more details, please click here.

A great day with a great new friend in Lahaina, Maui…A very scary event on the returning tender…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Yesterday, it was cloudy with a bit of drizzle as Helen and I wandered about Lahaina Maui, but the weather didn’t hamper the quality of the day.

While situated in the Diamond Lounge preparing yesterday’s post, new friend Helen popped in to say hello. We discussed the idea of heading to Lahaina on our own, leaving Tom behind.  

Craftspeople are often seen working with a variety of wood commonly found on the Hawaiian island.

Tom had no interest in shopping nor walking through Lahaina one more time after we’d visited the famous tourist town on five or more previous visits. I was thrilled at the prospect of leisurely strolling through the pretty village, perhaps doing a little shopping along the way.

It had been a long time since I’d gone shopping with a friend and was excited by the idea, especially when there was an “outlet mall” several blocks from the port. The ship was anchored in the bay, requiring tender boat rides to the shore.

Banyan trees in the local park in Lahaina.

Helen stopped by our cabin at 2:00 pm when I was ready to go with a shopping bag, camera, wallet and a few incidentals figuring we’d only be gone until 4:00 pm or so. The line for the tender moved quickly, and by 2:30 pm, we were ashore.

The famous tourist town was rife with cruise passengers shopping, dining, and reveling in the sights.

After browsing many shops looking for trinkets for the grandchildren, Helen and I decided to make the several block hike to the outlet mall, especially when we heard about the GAP store. I hadn’t shopped in a GAP store in almost five years. Tom and I both needed updates to our tee shirt inventory when many had become worn and tattered.

An old hotel in Lahaina.

It was a long walk to the outlet mall, which was very different from other outlet malls I’d visited years ago in Minnesota. But, many of the familiar stores were available, and after so long, it was fun to see them once again.

I purchased 12 items for a total of US $106, mainly tee shirts for each of us and three nightshirts for me. The three nightshirts I had remaining were practically threadbare after years of wear.

The last time we visited Lahaina in 2014, we also took photos of this art store.

As it started to sprinkle, we began the return walk to the port, hoping to get aboard a tender before a downpour. After we arrived at the port and a 20-minute wait, we were aboard the tender. 

Lahaina is often packed with tourists. This was our fifth visit to this Maui town since the onset of our travels four and a half years ago; twice by ship, three times by car when we lived in Maui for six weeks in 2014.

This particular ship uses its lifeboats as tenders to ferry passengers back and forth from the ship to the port of call when the port is inadequate for docking. In most cases, the ride from the ship to the land takes less than 20 minutes but boarding and disembarking can take anywhere from 10 to 20 additional minutes, at most.

It was apparent the seas were rough shortly before 5:00 pm on a cloudy, windy day. We bobbed side to side as the tender headed toward the ship at full throttle. 

An exciting piece of art in a local gallery.

At first, none of the passengers appeared worried or concerned during the rough seas until we reached the boarding and disembarking platform, a section of the ship that drops down to create a flat ramp that usually provides relatively easy access for most passengers.

Historic Hawaiian property under construction in Lahaina.

A few passengers were using canes and walkers, generally not precipitating a problem with staff available to assist. As the boat pulled up to the staging area, the driver was unable to steady the ship sufficiently to pull close enough to tie the boat’s mooring lines to the platform.

As the rough seas escalated, the boat rocked to and fro with such force; it was impossible to gain a firm enough hold with the thick lines to allow a single passenger to disembark. At that point, the conversation stopped as many passengers had worried and frightened looks on their faces.

We’d taken a photo of this tiny theater in Lahaina three years ago.

The boat banged against the metal platform with such force that some exterior lights and accouterments were smashed as we slammed harder and harder against the platform. Suddenly, a woman screamed who’d banged her head against the window, asking if she was bleeding. 

I was seated at the window and felt myself cringing and moving to the left each time the boat fiercely banged against the metal structure. As a boater for most of my adult life, I wasn’t frightened at all, nor was Helen. 

It was fun to go to a Gap outlet store for the first time in almost five years. I purchased several tee shirts for both of us.

Many passengers were terrified and anxious to get off the boat. It took no less than 30 minutes for the boat to become stabilized enough to allow one passenger at a time to disembark. One mentioned her fear of having a heart attack based on her level of sheer terror.

In all, it was about an hour from the time the tender reached the ship’s platform until we were all able to disembark. Throughout the remainder of the evening, several passengers chatted about the incident, shocked by the experience.

Of course, I’d hoped to make a video of the incident but it was impossible, based on where I was seated. I attempted to get the camera out of the shopping bag but could not hold on well enough to do a video or even take a single photo.

View of our ship from the sidewalk in Lahaina.

My paper GAP shopping bag had torn during the upheaval, and the new items began to spill to the floor. Helen and I hurried to gather the things which she placed into her backpack. 

By the time I entered the cabin, it was already close to 6:30 pm. Indeed Tom was at happy hour with our friends on the Promenade deck and waiting for me to arrive. I hurried to get myself changed and ready for the evening, able to get out the door by 6:45 pm.

Busy day in Lahaina.

The evening was pleasant as usual, with my dinner diligently attended to by Belik, the head waiter and my food restriction coordinator, who fusses over me more than any other such staff member on any of our past 17 cruises. 

We made a point of mentioning his exemplary and attentive service to Captain Rick and have already written a glowing review on a mid-cruise survey. When the cruise ends on May 15th, in six days, we’ll rave more about Belik on the online survey that follows each cruise, which Tom diligently prepares in every case.

A man caught a good-sized fish from the shore.

Today, we’re in Honolulu with no intention of getting off the ship.  After many prior visits and tours, we’re content to stay aboard and see the matinee movie in the Palace Theatre at 1:30 pm.

Tonight, we joining another lovely couple for a second “dinner date,” Leann and Chuck, for what indeed will prove to be yet another divine evening. We’re heading back out to sea at 6:00 for the final leg of our cruise to Seattle, Washington. 

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, May 9, 2016:

We miss the fantastic food prepared by two cooks named Ketut in Bali which included Blue Fin tuna made with a tomato, lemongrass sauce, spicy vegetables with a side of coleslaw. For more details, please click here.

An unanticipated opportunity thanks to Captain Rick!…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
Yesterday, Captain Rick Sullivan chatted with us in Dizzy’s Jazz Bar. His warm demeanor and superb sense of humor have made sailing aboard Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas a sheer delight.

With plans to take the tender to Kailua-Kona, we busily prepared the day’s post while seated in the Diamond Club Lounge on deck 14, our favorite morning spot on this 24-night cruise.

After Tom stepped out to head back to the cabin for a few minutes, I stayed behind with my fingers flying across the keyboard to get the post uploaded so we could take off for a walk at the cruise port of call that requires a ride on the tender.

The group of dignitaries from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, came aboard to present Captain Rick with a plaque welcoming the ship to the city.

At the time, I was the only passenger in the Diamond Club, keenly aware of the quiet and serenity usually lacking aboard this particular venue. A cloudy day, we weren’t in too huge of a hurry to go ashore, but, in typical Hawaiian style, a cloudy day could easily and quickly turn into bright sunshine.

Stopping to contemplate my next line of type, the door to the Diamond Club opened with a key card, and in walked our ship’s, Captain Rick Sullivan.

Having heard him over the loudspeakers, enjoying his lively and humorous demeanor and, seeing him wandering about the ship engaging so freely with passengers, I had no doubt it was him.

During the presentation…the official from the Mayór’s office and Captain Rick.

Let me clarify…we aren’t Captain or otherwise groupies. After all of our years of world travel, we’ve come to realize and embrace the fact that we humans are all alike in many ways regardless of ethnicity, celebrity, financial status, or notoriety. 

We’ve never attempted to dine with a ship captain, meet with a ship captain or engage in any particular conversation with a ship captain.  We always felt we could leave that up to those who found it most appealing and vital to their personal experience.

A representative from the Mayor’s office in Kailua-Kona and Captain Rick.

For us, we are always able to glean the best experiences from engaging with anyone of any culture, whether it be a local carrying a basket of fruit on her head or a local taxi driver scurrying us around.  They all matter to us.

As he entered the room with a wide and warms smile on his face, he suddenly fell into the category of another kindly human open to engaging in conversation with a fellow human in his path.

Hotel Director Michael Landry, Kailua city official, and Captain Rick accepting the plaque

Easily, the conversation flowed, and in no time at all, we were sharing personal anecdotes. Moments later, Tom entered the room and, without missing a beat, stepped right into sync into our discussion in Tom’s usual welcoming manner.

After a chat, Captain Rick, upon hearing about our website, invited us to attend the upcoming presentation by local officials, marine and city staff to present Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas with a welcoming plaque for its first destination port of call in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Plaques and gifts were exchanged between the city and the ship.

The presentation was scheduled within the hour in the bar/lounge Dizzy’s Jazz Bar located outside the door of the Diamond Club. Captain Rick suggested we sit and chat in the bar while we wait.

Captain Rick also presented a plaque to the city of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The conversation flowed with ease as we shared our story of world travel, our site, and why we decided to travel the world.  In turn, Captain Rick shared his story, including his vast experiences at sea, all of which further exemplified the fine details of the life of this special man.

When the guests arrived, Captain Rick reminded us, as he stood to greet his guests, to stay put and embrace the experience taking as many photos as we desired and joining in conversation with the group.

The gathering took place in Dizzy’s Jazz Bar on deck 14, outside the Diamond Club Lounge.

Regarding the event, we stayed back a little, but in no time at all, we were approached by a few visitors, not hesitating to share in the conversations. What a pleasant surprise to our day in Kailua-Kona, unanticipated and surely serendipitous, as are many of the memorable events in our lives.

We enjoyed speaking to Mark, one of the representatives from the city.

It never seems to be about the tourist sites, the organized tours, and old buildings. The best moments are always about the creatures God placed upon this Earth, both human and animal.  We’re grateful, forever grateful, and eternally humbled by that which crosses our path on this worldwide journey.

Be well.  Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, May 8, 2016:

The two Katuts and Ribud (the pool and landscape guy) hold up the three kilo Blue Fin tuna for our next meal. After it was cleaned and filleted, there were two huge portions that we’re sharing each night. Such wonderful people! Such fabulous fish! For more details, please click here.

Retelling our story over and over again…Our answers to frequently asked question…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The coral reef at Mystery Island is defined by the change of color of the sea.

Often to our surprise, other travelers are curious to hear about our story. In a nutshell (for our new readers); we sold everything we owned in Minnesota; leaving everyone we love; leaving no storage behind, and now with only three checked bags and two carry-on bags, we travel the world on a joyful quest to learn more and more about our planet, it’s people, its wildlife and it’s scenery.

The tender awaits our return to the ship. Lifeboats are often used as the tenders with several in service to avoid passengers waiting for extended periods.

It was only a result of vastly improved health from an incomprehensible change of diet in 2011. In January 2012, we decided to travel the world, leaving Minnesota on October 31, 2012, a little more than nine months later.

Many small bus tours headed up and down this paved road in Mystery Island.

When asked about our travels, the most frequently asked question is, “What is your favorite place in the world so far?”

For the first four years, Tom didn’t have an answer. He always replied, “The next one.” 

Cloud-covered beach view in Vanuatu.

This always made me chuckle when I wondered if he’d ever pick a favorite, and if so, how long would it stay his favorite? For me, as all of our readers are well aware, Marloth Park in Mpumalanga, South Africa, remains my “dream spot,” to which we’ll be returning in a mere nine months in February 2018.

Tom has finally chosen a favorite place, Penguin, Tasmania, the most quaint and charming small town we’ve visited in our travels. His eyes light up when he describes this special place. If he had to pick a place to live out our days, Penguin would be on the top of the list…so far, that is.

The color of the sea is breathtaking.

But there’s so much more to see. Are we on a mission to see as much of the world as possible? Are we attempting to visit most of the world’s 196 countries, many of which we’ll avoid due to political unrest and terrorism?

What about all of the continents? By the time we visited Antarctica in January 2018, we’ll have seen all seven of the world’s continents, some only touching the surface, others in a more comprehensive manner. 

No doubt we’ll be returning to most of the continents when there are many other points of interest that we’ve yet to visit.  With our usual desire to “live” within a region/country to learn about its people, its culture, its wildlife, and its beauty, the process is slower than it may be for others who may hop, skip and jump from country to country for shorter stays.

Rows upon rows of pine trees line the beach near the coral reef.

We love sharing our stories with people we meet along the way. We equally love hearing their stories of travel, their cruises, and their land experiences but, most of all, their lives. How did they get to this point? What inspired them to travel? Why do they like cruising? What is their favorite destination? What was their favorite cruise line or ship?

We all have a story to tell whether we travel the world or enjoy quiet time at home, simply living life to the fullest within a framework that works for us. We love hearing from all of you, sharing your story with us. Would you please stay in touch?

Photo from one year ago today, May 5, 2016:

The Buddha fountain by the pool in Bali.  At high tide, the sea almost reached the end of the infinity pool at the villa in Bali.  For more photos, please click here.

Pollywogs and shellbacks, the Equator crossing…The generosity of people we meet…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
This passenger at the King Neptune Equator crossing ceremony seemed to get the brunt of the food rubbed into his beard.

Yesterday was the King Neptune celebration poolside in commemoration of crossing the Equator. This particular observance is traditional on many cruise ships as they cross the imaginary line of demarcation of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.

Pollywog or Shellback: The Navy’s Line Crossing Ceremony Revealed

The Navy is chock full of myth and tradition, and what happens at sea even affects our language. From the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey to the boatswain’s call, many naval traditions date back hundreds and even thousands of years.

The Line Crossing Ceremony might be the most interesting of today’s naval traditions.

A Time-Honored Tradition

Line crossing ceremonies have been a part of naval tradition for at least 400 years.
No one is sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, “Order of Neptune,” came about. The ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring.
The ceremony observes a mariner’s transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn’t crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness.
When a ship crosses the equator, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and judge charges against Pollywogs that they are only posing as sailors and haven’t paid proper homage to the god of the sea.
What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew? High-ranking crew members and those who have been Shellbacks the longest, dress up in elaborate costumes, and each plays the part of King Neptune’s court. For instance, the ship’s captain might play the part of King Neptune himself.


 For more details on the above website on this celebration at sea, please click here.

Our captain Rick Sullivan and cruise director Graham prepare for the King Neptune ceremony to begin.
On the cruise to the South Pacific in May 2015, we were delighted to see the hilarious poolside activities as the crossing was made, and again on our return to the US, we were camera-ready to see it once more.
Captain Rick describes the significance of the Equator crossing celebration.

Please click here for our previous Equator crossing in 2015 and the resulting King Neptune celebration aboard Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas.

King Neptune and his court make their way to the stage poolside.

In many ways, it signified the reality of our leaving this part of the world perhaps for the last time in our world travels when we have so much more world to see in years to come.

King Neptune’s beard reminded us of fake Santa Claus beards.

Many Aussie and Kiwi friends we’ve made aboard the ship over these past two years in this part of the world have graciously offered we stay with them when and if we return someday. 

Volunteer participants, both passengers and ship staff, were led to the stage by RC staff members.

As much as we appreciate these generous offers, it’s unlikely we’d take advantage of staying with newly made friends since we’re not the easiest house guests in the world with our myriad idiosyncrasies and routines. 

The brave participants face the stage to determine their fate.

Nor would we ever want to take advantage of such kind offers when it would be impossible for us to reciprocate when we have no home of our own to extend such an invitation.

The volunteer passenger with the real beard could easily have played King Neptune.

As for yesterday’s King Neptune Equator crossing event poolside, we waited until the last minute to head to the pool. We anticipated we’d end up standing in the hot sun for lack of better spots available when it appeared most passengers aboard the ship, roughly 3200, were attending.

Oh, oh. I ordered grouper for tonight’s dinner. I hope it’s not this same fish! The first part of the ceremony included kissing the grouper.

The bright sun wouldn’t bother me, but Tom hasn’t had sun exposure lately and is prone to getting a sunburn within 10 minutes of exposure. Since the onset of our travels, he’s always been extra careful to avoid a sunburn due to his pale Irish skin.

Dr. Wesley, the ship’s young doctor, participated in the ceremonies by dumping food on the top of the heads of the brave participants.

We haven’t been out to the pool since we boarded the ship for this reason and also due to the fact we’ve been busy indoors mingling with other passengers, working on our posts, and generally having the time of our lives. 

Red pasta sauce and a white cream sauce were poured over the heads of these two participants.

Once we maneuvered our way to the right in front of the activities near the outdoor stage, we were in a good position to take photos. At the same time, we laughed and cheered over the loud and raucous litany of traditional events typical for shipboard observations of the Equator crossing.

Upon taking many photos, the festivities came to an end while we dashed to the closest elevator to return to our cabin so we could finish and upload the day’s post.

Every deck with a possible view of the festivities was packed with passengers anxious to see the show.

We packed our laptops in our smaller computer bag. We headed back to the Diamond Lounge until it was time to dress for the evening for yet another night of engaging conversation and interaction. 

We’d planned dinner with a lovely couple we’d met the prior evening during dinner, Alice and Nate, with whom we had much in common, although they’re more than 20 years younger than us.

King Neptune was pleased with the punishment bestowed upon the pollywogs and shellbacks.

After a superb dinner, we all headed to the Palace Theatre for the “hypnotist” show, a silly compilation of typical hypnotist jokes and ridiculous performances by willing passengers who didn’t seem to mind the antics presented in these types of shows.

Today at noon, we’ll attend the Diamond Club luncheon specifically offered for Crown & Anchor members with a designation of Diamond Club or higher. There are two categories above ours which include Diamond Plus and Pinnacle. We’ll eventually reach Diamond Plus, which offers a few more perks, but it’s unlikely we’ll ever reach Pinnacle, the highest perk-laden top tier. More on that later.

They all were such good sports.

We’ll be back tomorrow with more photos of this amazing return trip to North America. We’re well into the second half of this 24-night cruise, now on day 14 with 10 days remaining until we disembark in Seattle.

Happy day to all!

Photo from one year ago today, May 4, 2016:

In Bali, Gade stopped at the side of the road when he spotted this monkey and baby. We had no idea we’d see much wildlife here. Of course, we were thrilled! For more details, please click here.

Meeting with a medical researcher and presenter aboard the ship for helicobactor pylori…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
How many times a day should we poop?
Dr. Peter Dingle’s latest book.  See his website here.

Most mornings, we don’t attend any of the “enrichment lectures” aboard the ship when our primary goal is to get situated to complete and upload the day’s new post, after which we’re free to spend the day and evening as we choose.

After hearing comments from other passengers that Dr. Peter Dingle’s 9:00 am lectures on health and wellness were more than enriching and highly entertaining with his effortless style, we were intrigued.

As it turned out, we decided to prepare the post later in the day to attend Dr. Peter’s presentation on “gut health” of particular interest to me. With residual effects remaining after the two-week antibiotic treatment ending in March due to 16 months of discomfort with the helicobacter pylori infection, we were both anxious to hear what he had to say.

Keeping in mind that I’d seen three doctors in Tasmania and still suffering, I was desperate for some new advice that might set me on the right path. Oh, yes, I know…I wrote I was getting better. But on the days I posted such comments, I may have been feeling a little better and subsequently more hopeful.

Plus, after many comments on the topic, I assumed our readers might be tired of reading about it. But, alas, since we boarded the ship 16 days ago, I’ve struggled with the food, experimenting through a process of elimination which hasn’t been easy with my already restrictive diet. Layering one strict diet over another is challenging.

On several occasions, we watched the replay of Dr. Peter’s other presentations on the TV in our stateroom while getting ready to go out for the evening. In each of those presentations, we saw a pattern mimicking the way of eating and lifestyle we’ve adopted over the years. Could this fine man have a solution for me beyond what I’ve tried thus far?

After watching the informative presentation live with several mentions of the h pylori infection, I longed to meet with him face to face. Writing a short email informing him of my lingering condition, he agreed to a meeting in the cafe while he met with a few other attendees who had a similar request.

I was determined that if it took hours for him to get to me, I’d wait patiently in the Cafe Promenade. So, shortly after his presentation ended, I headed to the cafe bringing along my laptop to work on the day’s post. At no time, I was seated at a booth/table with three other passengers with questions while we each shared our stories.

Ironically, many of our conditions and symptoms were similar, and collectively we learned possible solutions befitting our needs. After the group presentation, Dr. Peter focused on my dilemma, leaving me with a litany of potential answers to this ongoing issue.  I was very grateful.

Upon returning to the Diamond Club lounge where Tom was waiting for me, I made of list of his suggestions on my phone on a variety of supplements that were one step above what I’d been doing thus far. I’d already been taking some of his suggestions but in doses inadequate to have any effect upon improvement, particularly in the case of probiotics.

I won’t list his suggestions here right now to avoid attempting to offer medical advice when I’m not a medical professional. However, many of them may be found on his website and Facebook page.

No words can express how grateful we are to have received what we perceive as valuable and meaningful advice. So, once we arrive in Kona, Hawaii, tomorrow, we’ll be heading to a local health store to purchase some added products that hopefully will get me on the right path to healing.

Thank you, Dr. Peter Dingle. Surely your informative and valuable suggestions will inspire many passengers to rethink their lifestyles and adopt a cleaner and more beneficial manner of eating, exercising, reducing stress, and dealing with a wide array of physical conditions. 

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, May 6, 2016:

Sorry, this Bali photo wasn’t clear. We were too far away, and my hands were unsteady after witnessing the dog shot being shot. This guy picked up the dead dog by one hind leg and placed him in a laundry bag as he carried him away. Wild dogs are often shot for rabies control in Bali. For more details, please click here.