Honolulu to Pago Pago Ms Volendam

Fri 5 Oct

The ship was alongside the Honolulu wharf by 7am and was greeted by another post card perfect tropical day. I did my 2 miles around the deck as we were approaching the port.



 I met up with Denis, Colleen, Stuart and Lorraine for Brekkie on the Lido deck where we made our plans to go ashore.

Denis Colleen and I found a Wifi café not far from the ship and I was able to update the blog, check emails do banking etc. It was a very good connection and very fast compared with Starbucks the day before in Hilo.

After coffee and an hour on the laptop I caught up with Colleen and Denis in Macys, where I bought another new pair of cargo shorts ($14.99) and were size 36. (To think this time last year my size was 42). I also bought 2 shirts and they were also a size smaller than what I normally have bought in the past. The customer service was excellent and Aussie stores could learn a lot from these folk. They even offered us a foreign visitor’s discount of 10%.

After our shopping it was back to the ship to drop off our purchases and have lunch. We then set out to have a look around and we caught up with Wayne. The four of us got a limo down to Waikiki to do some sight seeing and more souvenir shopping. After a few hours our legs were just about to fall off from walking around we got another limo back to the ship. OMG! The peak hour Friday traffic was a mess and what was a 10 minute ride to go out there took 50 minutes to get back.

We made it back in time for the last 10 minutes of the Crows Nest Happy Hour. After a quick shower and change we met up for a pre dinner drink and then to the dining room for our usual fun time meal. As we were all a bit worn out from the day we elected to have an early night at about 11pm.

Sat 6 Oct

I was up by 6.15am to do the 2 mile walk around the deck before Tai Chi. Then some brekkie with the gang on the lido deck.

I then got 2 bags of washing ready to go to the laundry, a shower and shave then up to meet up for coffee and a chat. As the others were going to the Mariner’s lunch I had my lunch with a Canadian couple from Vancouver Island. Then it was down to the room for the usual nanna nap.

The Happy hour was fun as usual and then it was down to get ready for the formal night. 

We regrouped at the Crows Nest for the pre-dinner happy hour then all went off to the dining room for a very enjoyable meal of lobster tails.

 As usual we were one of the last tables to leave. The others went off to the show but I joined Peder in the Casino bar for a drink and also met the Casino Manager.

Then it was up to the 60’s music night in the Crows Nest. It was a bit of a late night for me as I got to bed just after 1am.

Sun 7 Oct

I slept in and didn’t get out of bed until about 8.30am so I was too late to do my walk and go to the 8am Tai Chi class. I missed Mass and couldn’t fit in the Rev Bev’s 9am service. I had a small brekkie with the gang (Stuart, Lorraine, Denis and Colleen… Wayne sleeps in until late morning).

At 10.30 I had to go to a function for the 4 star Mariners and the folk who were getting their 100 days medal. Free wine and savouries were served and then it was down to the Mariner’s brunch and meet up with and sit with Lorraine and Stuart. We had to sit with other 2 Aussie couples and they were great company resulting with us being the last table to leave the dining room.

Down to the Cabin for a nanna nap before Happy hour was the order of the arvo. Young David the barman had us in stitches of laughter with his impersonations of Mr Bean.

Dinner was fantastic as the Maître de himself allocated us a VIP table and as usual we had excellent service. Again we were one of the last tables to leave the dining room. The girls went to the show and we went to the ocean bar and then up to the Crows Nest before having an early night. I was in bed by 11.10pm.

Mon 8 Oct

WOW !!!. I slept in until 8.35am. Did I ever mention I sleep so well on Dam ships? So I missed Tai Chi and went up to the Lido to meet the Gang for Brekkie.

After a long brekkie Denis and I went to take some photos of me in the Sir Pat shirt, finally we moved into the Ocean Bar and Karina took the award winning photo.  

 When I am online I will post to the blog site and FB.

At 7.30 we had drinks with the Captain at a reception for 4 Star Mariners. I was allowed to bring the other 5 of the gang along with me so the free drinks and the good company made it a great party.

The others went to the show after an enjoyable dinner but I just went in to the Ocean bar for a night cap.

I was in bed before 11.30pm.

Tue 9 Oct

As it was the 10^th Oct already in Oz I had to do battle with the satellite internet for 40 minutes to get on line and send birthday wishes to my good friend. I made it up to Tai Chi for the lesson. I had to forgo the walk this morning and go to brekkie.

We have crossed the equator and are now on the best (Southern) side as we head to the land Downunder. The ship still has another 2 sea days before we go ashore at Pago Pago and then we loose a day as we cross the International Date Line.

There was the usual King Neptune ceremony which is always heaps of fun for folk making their first crossing. It was so hot outside on the deck and as there was only standing room only I spent some time showing Karina, videos of some of my travels and then it was time to go to lunch.

I joined up with Stuart and Lorraine for a late lunch in the Lido dinning room so by the time we finished it was to late to have a nanna nap before Happy hour.

 At happy hour since day one there has been a couple that sit on the opposite side of the bar in the same spot each day. 

We have got to know them over the past weeks and their name is O’Brien and they live in Hawaii. Well, I as a Dunworth am part of the O’Brien Sept (Clan) and am descendants of Brian Buru (ancient Irish Royalty). So anyway we each claim each other as cousins as his forefathers like mine are from Co. Limerick Ireland.   

We had dinner with the usual fun and then had the night caps in the sports bar and then finished up in the Ocean Bar. I had a per midnight night as I was in bed by 11.30pm.

Wed 10 Oct

It is a rainy overcast stormy day with a bit of a swell so it was a bit of a challenge doing Tai Chi this morning. I had a beaut 8 hours sleep with the ship rocking around a bit more than it has been.

 I met the gang for brekkie and it was nearly 11am by the time we left the Lido. Today is the last sea day in this series of 5 as tomorrow we arrive at Pago Pago.

Next Saturday night Wayne, Denis and I are taking Peder to the Pinnacle Grill for dinner. So that will be a hoot.

The Happy hour was the usual fun and the ‘cousins Terry and Janet’ enjoyed the banter across the bar.

Tonight is another formal night. Most folk are commenting that there have been too many formals so most guys are not wearing a tux and only a jacket and a tie.

Formal or no formal we had a great time at dinner and my tempura prawns were to die for.

Most went to bed early as tomorrow we will be in Pago Pago and we wind the clock back an hour. I got to bed before midnight.