Saturday 4 August 2018
Great activity this morning as it was our arrival in Boston
and the end of the cruise for most passengers so folk
were all packed up and getting their last brekkie before
departing the ship. I had an early brekkie as I was
looking forward to going ashore as the day started off
fine and sunny.
To comply with the American Immigration officials, I had
to leave the ship and go into the terminal as a In Transit
pax so I took advantage of the free internet. By now the
heavens opened up and sent down a heavy downpour
and the temp dropped dramatically. I was able to get my
update off and check emails etc.
As usual the non-organised American Officials held up
the re-boarding until midday however I found out from
some of the crew they were re-boarding at 11.15 am so I
put on my Papaku name badge and came on with the
crew.
It was still raining heavily so going into town was now
not a priority, I had lunch in the Lido and then went
up to the welcome back on board drinks up in the Crows
Nest. There were heaps more Mariners at this party than
at the other similar drinks for the previous other 2
segments.
John and I went to the sail away party at the Seaview
Bar as by now the rain had cleared up although the sun
didn’t bother to make an appearance.
We had a special order of Chicken schnitzel for dinner
which was most enjoyable and then had a night cap out
at the Seaview bar. I called it a night about 10.30pm.
Sunday 5 August 2018
Today is the first of 3 sea days so I slept in and had brekkie about 8.30. The sea was very calm, and it was a bright sunny day so many of the beached whales were sunbaking around the pools.
I decided to go to the cabin and have a little rest, well that turned out to be a 3-hour sleep before going to lunch at the Lido Bar. I held court for a while and then in the mid afternoon went down for another nap which caused me to miss Happy Hour.
I ate alone and that may sound tragic but far from it as the officers and crew are always stopping to say hello and have a chat.
After dinner I had a few night caps at the mix bar and was joined by Willy and Olga (Belgium Friends) from many previous cruises. They are always great company.
It was 11pm by the time I got to bed.
Monday 6 August 2018
I woke at 6am so I went down to the office to get the stats of the passengers for this 14-day cruise to Cuba.
There are 27 nations on board making a total of 1373 passengers and the main nations are made up of the following:-
Yanks 1024
Canadians 147
Dutch 67
Poms 40
Aussies 30
The Mariner status is as follows:-
Presidents Club 2
5 Star 36
4 Star 150
3 Star 238
2 &1 Star 671
First timers 254
After brekkie I called into the Seaview bar to say hello to Ricky as he was setting up for the day.
Wow what a perfect day with calm seas and the temp in the high 20’s C so the slim fat and the ugly were out getting some sun around the pool.
For the rest of the morning I held court with some of the crew and then got this update done for the last few days.
The Papaku Masarap chicken burger went down as a nice light lunch before heading off for a nap.
Happy hour was very popular in the Ocean Bar. Tonight is Galah night however most folk don’t seem to get dressed up in formal gear any more.
I had a rack of lamb for dinner in the dining room with John. Called it a night about 11 pm.
Tuesday 7 August 2018
Today is the last day of the 3-day series of sea days. Perfect weather with calm seas and the temp in the high 20’s C so perfect conditions for the pool and sunbaking for the sun worshipers.
After brekkie I spent some time holding court at the Lido. I had to go to the front office to arrange my Cuban visa. Boy oh boy the Cubans know how to make money out of tourists because we are on an American ship we must do a tour in each of the ports as well as have the visa. This 2 days visit to Cuba amounts to just over $US360.00 before even leaving the ship.
I had Pizza for lunch at the Sea View and enjoyed the cool breeze. There don’t seem to be as many smokers on this cruise, so it is not too bad out on this rear deck.
After my nanna nap I went up to the Seaview to enjoy the warm tropical air with a cool sea breeze and have a drink, Just before I arrived there had been a tropical downpour. Unlike Canada it was nice warm rain.
I went to dinner with John and had perfect Weiner Schnitzel that were to die for. We had a night cap at the Seaview and experienced another tropical shower so we adjourned to the Mix Bar for a before bed drink.
I was in bed by 10.30 pm as I wanted an early night because tomorrow we will be in Key West and it will be my first visit there.
Wednesday 8 August 2018
Today was my first visit to Key West Florida so after brekkie I set off to explore this tourist town and after walking around for a while I found a great café/bar with free internet and was able to catch up on emails and do banking etc.
Their coffee was beaut, and I had Blueberry Pancakes with strawberries for a snack. Key West reminded me a bit of Airlie Beach on the Whitsunday Coast in Queensland.
It was a nice and warm day and a lot of the old farts were complaining about the heat and humidity, well I guess you cannot please everyone.
I came back to the ship in the early afternoon in time to have a nap before sail away. The crew were now in Cuban shirts and hats as they served snacks and drinks to the sounds of Cuban music.
John and I had Chicken Schnitzel for dinner before going to the Mix Bar for a night cap. I called it an early night and was in bed by 10.30 pm.
Thursday 9 August 2018
I was out on deck for the 7 am arrival at Havana Cuba as the sun rose shedding light on the derelict buildings along the dock. I was amazed with the amount fuel sheen on the water surface.
It was like being on a movie set of a long past forgotten era. It was already 30C and very humid.
After brekkie I went on a tour of the city in a very comfortable air-conditioned coach.
The tour included old and new Havana and highlighted the contrast of the state of the buildings. We saw the statue of El Cristo over looking city other highlights included the Quisicuaba Community Project and a excellent lunch at a very old colonial restaurant.
This 7 and a half hour tour finished up with a drive through the Colon Cemetery looking at the old historic mausoleums. It was good to get back to the ship have a shower and a cool drink. I will let the photos do the talking and it was beaut to see the old cars in mint condition. (John C you would have been in heaven here.)
Overall the tour was very good however a bit drawn out especially as it was a hot day. The locals we met were very friendly and seemed happy.
I finished up the evening with a night cap and was in bed by 11 pm.
Friday 10 August 2018
A sea day as we make our way from Havana to Cienfuegos on the southern side of Cuba. I never realised Cuba was as large as it is as it was going to take 2 nights and a day to get around to Cienfuegos.
I had a restful day with downloading photos taken yesterday in the morning and after a chicken burger for lunch I had a 3-hour nanna nap.
Tonight, was Galah night and after dinner I had a quick night cap and had an early night in bed by 10 pm.
Saturday 11 August 2018
I was up on the top deck for the sunrise arrival for the tricky entrance to the port of Cienfuegos which involved going through a narrow passage with cliffs on each side and many bends before arriving in the port area. It was a fantastic safe inland harbour. Today is a tender port.
I did a ships tour of the town which I enjoyed as it was a much nicer city and cleaner than Havana.
We visited Club Cienfuegos a palatial building which was the former Yacht Club where we were entertained with a local group of musicians. There was a salsa dance demonstration which many folk enjoyed getting up and joining in.
It was about 4 pm by the time I got back to the ship and I was starving and had a Pizza.
Sir Raymond joined John and I for dinner in the Canaletto and we had a most enjoyable meal with great company.
I adjourned to the Mix Bar for a night cap. Tonight we had to set the time back an hour so had a bonus of an extra hours sleep.
Sunday 12 August 2018
We arrived anchored off Georgetown Grand Cayman at 8 am whilst I was having brekkie and I didn’t look like the weather was going to be kind with threating storm clouds. By 9.30 am it had cleared up so I decided I would go ashore on the tender.
I think most folks decided to hold off getting the tender until the weather improved as the tender process was very slow. Even though I get priority for the tender I waited until ‘open’ tender process as Roi was going with me as my body guard and crew can only go on the tenders after all the guests have gone.
We went over and has a couple of hours to look around and have a couple of beers and use the internet at Sharkee Hotel.
Because of Roi’s work schedule we had to tender back to the ship and I had a Papaku Masarap Chicken Burger for a late lunch. I then had a nap as we have the VIP party tonight and I wanted to be in top form.
The cocktail party went well and I wore my new Veendam Papaku Polo shirt that was arranged by Frank the Hotel Director.
After dinner with John in the dining room I had a night cap before calling it an early night at 11 pm.
Monday 13 August 2018
As I was having Brekkie we arrived at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. However, as a larger MSC ship was at the main jetty we were docked in the commercial sugar wharf a short distance from the town, I decided to stay on board. Well I had been here a few times before and it was raining.
I had a rest day and a good sleep in the morning. I ventured up to the Seaview bar and had pizza for lunch with John.
It was a colourful sail away party on the rear deck as now the skies had cleared however it was very humid.
John and I went to the Pinnacle Grill for a most enjoyable dinner and then had a quick night cap in the Mix Bar.
Tuesday 14 August 2018
Today was a sea day so I had a late relaxing light brekkie.
At lunch time we had the Indonesian Lunch in the upper dining room for the Collectors Voyage guests (Folk doing back to back cruises.) What a fantastic meal with the waiters in National dress. I will let the photos do the talking.
I had a pre-dinner drink at the mix bar before going to dinner in the Dining room and John had pre-ordered Pork schnitzel for us. It was to die for and a excellent choice.
Wednesday 15 August 2018
We arrived at Half Moon Cay, a resort owned by Holland America before I had gone to Brekkie. It is a tender port and as there were a few threatening storm clouds I decided to stay on board. (Well again I have been here many times before).
It ended up being a very hot, still and humid day as the rain clouds has gone away. I made the right decision as many came back to the ship with pain full sunburn. My Bar staff friends that had to go ashore to work the bars were pleased to get back to the ship and enjoy the air conditioning.
Sir Raymond joined John and I for dinner in the Canaletto tonight. Raymond is always great company and we had a most enjoyable meal.
Thursday 16 August 2018
Another sea day so I had a light brekkie as we had the Mariners function and Brunch today.
The meal was excellent, and the waiters certainly looked after John and myself with VIP service.
I had a long nap after lunch as tonight John and I were going to the Pinnacle grill for dinner. As usual the meal and the service was excellent.
After a night cap or two I called it an early night and was in bed by 11 pm.
Friday 17 August 2018
After brekkie I spent the morning packing, as you know a job I hate. Most of my laundry for the past week had come back folded so this made the job easier.
I had the Papaku Masarap Chicken Burger for lunch and after had a nap.
For the last night on board I had my favourite Pork Schnitzel for dinner with John in the dining room.
I had a few good-bye drinks before having an early night.
Saturday 18 August 2018
I had an early brekkie before going to the face to face passport interview with the US officials. Only in America is this process a long drawn out pain in the butt. We (the non Americans) were lined up for over an hour. It would have been much quicker and more efficient to have processed us in the terminal after leaving the ship as is the case in most other ‘advanced’ countries.
I finally left the ship just after 9 am and was greeted in the terminal by a crew guard of honour chanting ‘Papaku! Papaku!’. I felt like a star footballer going out on to the field.
I then got a cab for the 15-minute ride to the Boston Airport.
In no time at all I was relaxing in the Admirals Club lounge for the 90 minutes until the flight to JFK.
With my luggage now with me I asked where I got the Hotel shuttle bus only to be told I had to now get a sky train to another station where the hotel shuttles operated from. Well that was a military exercise with dragging my bags across the road and up elevators to get to the platform.
The train arrived packed fuller than a sardine can and only a few got out, but a lot more got in and I had to stand and I’m too short to hang on to the rail above and could get nowhere near the vertical hand rails. Luckily a young black guy got up and gave me his seat.
The shuttle was there waiting when I got out at this collection station and I was soon checking into the Hotel.
After a nice hot shower, I went to the Hilton Hotel next door to have a drink and a feed. What an interesting bar and a very entertaining bartender.
I had a snack of Chicken wings well a ‘snack’ is an understatement as I was given a serve that I reckon would have been a snack for 3 people so I ended up taking a third of it back to my hotel for a late night snack. It was delicious (Masarap).
Monday 19 August 2018
I had a great night’s sleep, however when I got up to go to the bathroom during the night I’m sure the floor was moving as it I was on the ship.
Brekkie was very basic but enjoyable. I spent the remainder of the morning on the net and making a few phone calls.
I caught the shuttle at 12.30 back to the airport but this time I was delivered direct to Terminal 8.
The check in procedures and security went very swiftly and I was soon relaxing in the lounge to fill in the time before the Qantas flight to LAX.
The check in procedures and security went very swiftly and I was soon relaxing in the lounge to fill in the time before the Qantas flight to LAX.
I probably got in about a total of 6 hours sleep on the 14 hour flight.
Tuesday 21 August 2018
Because we crossed the International date line we lost Monday 20 August 2018.
We arrived in Sydney after a very comfortable 14-hour flight on the A380 at 6.30 am to a very cold 11 degrees C and a very sunny clear morning.
Thank God for the efficient and friendly Aussie Immigration & Customs officers as I moved the swiftly through the arrival process and within 15 minutes of leaving the aircraft I was re-checking my luggage in at the domestic flight connections counter.
I had a 5-hour stopover in Sydney so after the shuttle to the Domestic Terminal I had a nice hot most welcome shower and shave in the Qantas Club and begun feeling human again.
Brekkie was delicious as I watched the aircraft coming and going. I caught up with the emails, Facebook and made a few phone calls to fill in the time.
My final flight to Cairns was very comfortable as I had a spare seat beside me and the 3 and a half hours went very quickly as I watched a movie. They did serve up a mini pizza in a box as an excuse for lunch. I only had a few bites as the microwaved heated pizza was tasteless.
On arrival in Cairns I was met by my friend Steve who drove me home via the Supermarket to get some basic supplies for the next few days.
In finishing I had a fantastic cruise and many thanks to Frank the Hotel Director, his Officers and Crew for the VIP Papaku treatment they gave me on the Cruise. Their kindness and friendship is sincerely appreciated.
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