Day 33 - Honolulu, Hawaii

Tuesday, February 11

Today was an amazing day!  Up around 8 to meet for my tour at 9.  I took the "Pearl Harbour and Honolulu" tour.  We drove to Pearl Harbor first.  We had some time to look around before our scheduled time to watch the movie at 11:00.  The movie was an excellent overview of what took place on December 7, 1941.  We exited the theatre straight on to the boat that took us to the Arizona Memorial.  We had about 15 minutes to walk around and see the remains of the Arizona just under the water (and some above).  1177 American servicemen died on board and most of their remains lie encased in her hull.

When we returned on the boat we had an hour to look at the various exhibits.  The whole area is well maintained and well run.  On the return to Honolulu we stopped at Pali Lookout, drove through the Punchbowl cemetery, passed the Iolani Palace and the statue of King Kamehameha and then back to the ship.  We returned at 3:25 and the pick-up for the luau was 3:30.

The ride out to Germaine's was long because of rush hour traffic but our guide, Kii (pronounced Kee-ee) kept us entertained.  With the meal you received three tickets for alcoholic beverages (I gave one away) and all the soft drinks/tea/coffee you wanted.  After watching the pig being removed from the pit and the welcoming show it was time to eat.  The pork was delicious as was the chicken.  I tried poi (made from the root of the taro plant).  It wasn't bad but it was not real tasty either.  After dinner the show highlighted the culture of various Polynesian cultures.  The ride back was much faster than going (no traffic) and we were back on the ship by 10:30.

We sailed away at 11:30 p.m. and there was a party on deck 9.

I can certainly understand why people love the islands of Hawaii.

Thanks to all who are keeping up with this blog and I enjoy reading the comments.  A special "hi" to my SJMS friends (who I understand have Thursday off!).

Arizona Memorial

remains of the Arizona

the Missouri (the ship on which the peace treaty with Japan was signed on September 2, 1945)

Pali Lookout

Punchbowl Cemetery

Iolani Palace

Germaine's Luau

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 31 and 32

Sunday - Well, it is official - I have a sinus infection and feel crummy.  I slept for 12 hours last night.  After having lunch in the Lido I decided it was worth the money to see the doctor.  I have three excursions planned for the two days we are in Hawaii and don't want to be miserable.  The Medical Centre was well run and in about 45 minutes I left with a Z-pack for the infection (I have heard of people who have had good results with Z-packs for sinus infections)  The total cost was $118 which will be well worth it if I feel better.  (I'll also get to see if my travel insurance is any good!)

Since it was a formal night, I decided to not go to the dining room but try room service.

We set our clocks back another hour so I ended up going to bed at 6:19 pm.

Monday - Slept most of thirteen hours (did get up about midnight for the dessert I had ordered from room service) and then sat out on my balcony for about an hour.  I had no real plans for the day but when I watched the morning show I realized my friend Pat was speaking today.  She worked for British Airways for many years and co-founded "Dream Flight" which is a charity that takes 192 disabled and sick children to Orlando each year.  She made a great presentation then signed her book (all proceeds go to the charity).

Had fish and chips in the pub for lunch.  Ordered a half pint of Guinness but they brought me a pint.  Guinness is supposed to be good for all that ails you, so we'll see how it helps a sinus infection!

After Needlework/Knitting group I had a cup of hot tea to see if it would help open up my sinuses (didn't work).

Then I decided to try my luck on the penny slots.  I won $7.19!

After sitting on my balcony for about an hour I decided I would try going to dinner tonight.  I ordered off-menu (you can always get chicken or beef even if not on the menu) and the chicken was very tasty.  Had one of my two favorites (key lime pie) for dessert.

We gained another hour tonight so it is just about 10 pm and I am ready for bed.  Honolulu tomorrow.

The internet has been terrible the last couple of days.  I have not been able to get e-mail since San Francisco.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 29 and 30 - At Sea

Friday -  It is hard to believe that I have been on board for four weeks now.  The time has flown by.

I woke up about 9:30 to fog and rain.  They were showing the one Bill Miller lecture I missed (on British passenger ships in the 50s and 60s) so I propped my pillows up and watched it in bed.  Then I watched the Cunard Morning Show.  It was then time to get ready for the next Cruise Critic Meet and Greet.

I went to the Commodore Club early and talked with Maggie until people started arriving.  We had a great turn out with about 30 showing up.  Leah, the assistant entertainment director we met in Southampton, welcomed everyone on board.

Had lunch in the Lido and sat with Chez from CC.  Afterwards I went to the Needlework/Knitting group.  There were about 15 present, 2/3 of whom just embarked yesterday.

Tonight is a formal night and the Cunard Ball.  Chez and I had a drink before dinner.  We had all eleven at our table.  I did not get the names of any of them, where they were from, or how long they would be on because I was too far away from them.  With such a large table it is hard to hear people more than a seat or two away.

After dinner I watched the dancing for a short while and then attended the show which featured the "String Idols" -- two young ladies who play the violin.  They played a variety of different songs - classical, show tunes, popular, etc.  They were very good.

Saturday - Another lazy day with nothing major planned.  Once again I stayed in bed for awhile and watched the sea go by.  For those who don't love the sea or have never been on a cruise, these days must seem really dull.  I feel quite the opposite.  Having the whole day with nothing I have to do, opportunities available if I choose or just sitting and reading, watching the sea, talking with friends or making new ones, is pretty much perfect for me.

Today was warmer with more sun.  High temperature was predicted to be about 66F/19C.  After lunch in the Lido I realized I had lost a button on my blouse.  Walked around where I had been looking for it but finally came back to my stateroom to change.  Luckily, an extra button was sewn in the seam so I was able to fix my blouse.  Then I sat on my balcony for about an hour (very breezy but warm enough for me) before heading out to the Needlework/Knitting group.

As the day progressed I was getting more and more congested.  I'm still hoping it will not turn into a full-fledged sinus infection.

I hadn't been to the Commodore Club recently (it has a beautiful view over the bow of the ship), so I took my book (reading Bill Bryson's At Home) and sat up there for about an hour and a half and treated myself to a Coke.

Dinner seemed to go on forever as my head started to hurt worse and worse.  Excused myself at 10:00 and was in bed about 10:30.

Internet has been awful recently, sorry!

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 27 and 28 - San Francisco, California

Wednesday - I had my alarm set for 5:30 to see the Golden Gate Bridge and slept right through it!  I have my alarm on my iPad set for "Waves" and evidently over the last four weeks I have become too familiar to the sound (I woke up at 6 and the "waves" had gotten quite loud).  I guess I will need to change to "Church Bells" to wake me up.

Everyone was being cleared by CBP onboard (unlike New York City where we were cleared in the terminal building).  My time was 7:15 (the first group was 6:45) but I got there at 7:00.  Turns out they didn't even open the doors until 7.  We were divided into two lines - US and non-US.  Since there are only about 500 Americans onboard, our line went much faster although it still took me about 40 minutes from the time I got in line until I was checked in.  I was up anyway so I went to the Lido and got a muffin and a glass of pineapple juice (it comes from a carton but is very good).  It was then 8 am and I knew nobody was getting off until all were cleared so I went back to bed for an hour and a half.

One of my few criticisms of Cunard is you never know on which deck you will disembark.  So far, we have disembarked on A deck, Deck 1 and Deck 2.  Today, I guessed Deck 2 and was correct but there were 26 passengers who had not shown up for Customs check so it was almost 11 by the time I got off the ship.

I caught a taxi and went to the Union Square area to do some shopping and use free wi-fi (thank you Westfield Centre).  By the time I left it was starting to rain (something that is much needed in California) so I took another taxi back to the ship around 5 pm.

There were only six of us at dinner tonight.  Barbara came to say good-bye but did not stay to eat.  We said our farewells to Diane and Roy.

I was tired so I came back to my stateroom instead of going to the show, watching the dancing and/or getting a drink.

Thursday - Woke up about 8:30 to a rainy day.  Had to line up to get off the ship because many who were leaving had their carry-ons and the transfers to hotels and the airport were in progress.

Once I made it to dry land, I walked to Pier 39 (we are at 35) and took the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour.  The commentary was good and I saw many of the famous sights of the city.  Unfortunately, it was raining so I could not sit on the top open deck.  Most of my pictures have raindrops on them.

After I made the complete loop, I went back to Union Square.  Once again, I took advantage of free wi-fi, this time in Macy's.  I ended up eating in the Burger Bar inside Macy's and had a really expensive (but good) cheeseburger, onion rings, and a root beer.  I was looking for one or two short sleeved tops but did not find any in Macy's (they had long-sleeved and 3/4 sleeved but no short in my size.

Talked with the family via Facetime (while sitting in Macy's) and then headed to the cable car stop.  When the cable car showed up I realized that the step up onto the cable car was much too high for my knees to handle so I went back on the hop-on hop-off bus.  As I was waiting for it I met another lady from the ship who was also doing the full world voyage.   We walked back to the ship together.

Due to sleeping through my alarm on Wednesday and the rain and fog today, I still had not seen the Golden Gate Bridge (I had seen it the last time I visited SF when I was six, but did not remember it) so I was determined to be out on deck for the sailaway.  Met up with Maggiemou (from my CC roll call) and we watched the sailaway  together.  I was rather disappointed that the bridge was not lighted better but I did see it and get a few pictures.

Our table of ten has been expanded to a table of eleven.  The only one of the new people to show up was my CC friend, Chez, so we still have three new people to meet.

Made an early night of it again.

Alcatraz

The view from my balcony

Entrance to Chinatown

One of the many old electric streetcars brought from various cities

the Golden Gate Bridge

View as we sailed out of San Francisco

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 25 and 26 - At Sea

Monday - Awoke to cloudy skies and congestion so I rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour.  The sky and my head had both cleared some when I finally got out of bed.  Did some reading and then had lunch at the Lido.  I tried to sit out on the aft of deck 9 but, with the wind, it was a little chilly.  Met my English friends while I was walking through the Lido and they invited me to meet them in the Queens Room for Afternoon Tea.

Joined the Needlework/Knitting group for about 45 minutes.  Three of us from the Cruise Critic roll call were there.  I then went to tea with Angela and Lee and we talked.  They told me about one of their visits to the US.  They were in a small town in the Midwest and one of the workers at the dollar store recognized their English accents and asked them if they had taken the train to the US!

I hadn't lost any money in the slot machines recently, so I took $20 and went to the casino.  I was down to $13 (on the penny slots) when I won 20 free spins and ended up with $22.91.  I took my winnings and quit.  (Obviously I am not a big gambler!!)

Tonight was a formal night.  It continues to amaze me how well-dressed almost everyone looks.  The show tonight was a repeat so I decided to go to the Yacht Club since I had not yet been.  The DJ played Abba tunes from 11-12 and the place was packed.  Saw a few people from the Cruise Critic roll call that I had not seen in a few days and was able to chat with them.

Tuesday - Another cloudy, cool day that encouraged me to roll over and get another hour of sleep.  Attended the last of Bill Miller's talks, this one being on the port of New York.  After his talk, he showed a BBC show on Art Deco (which is used in the decoration on Queen Elizabeth).

I considered going to the movie presentation, "Man of Steel", but decided I did not want to sit in a dark theatre for another 2+ hours.  Instead I read in the Garden Lounge for awhile and then went to the Needlework/Knitting group.  Many are getting off in San Francisco (only about four of the group will remain).

The show tonight was on before dinner since we have to be up at the crack of dawn to meet with US Customs (my time is 7:15!!!).  The show is another variety show, this time with Jennifer Fair, John Joseph, and Mark Donoghue.

At dinner I heard that we are due to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge at 5:30 am meaning I have to get up even earlier.  I may cheat and watch the sail in from my balcony.  For dinner I had the chicken curry again and went through my usual three glasses of water.  Our table went to the lobby to have our picture taken after dinner because three are leaving in San Francisco.

I am posting this in the Westfield Center near Union Square in San Francisco which has free wi'-fi!

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 23 and 24 - At Sea

Saturday - Another beautiful day.  I spent the morning at the pool.  I had a cheeseburger at the Lido Grill for lunch.  The first one I had in almost a month.  It was very tasty (not your normal tasteless frozen patty) but it could not compete with Riverbound/Marty's burgers!  At 2:30 there was the Great Boat Building Competition.  Teams built boats out of things found around the ship.  They were very nice looking but some were not "sea worthy" (they could not make it back and forth across the pool).  Went to the needlework/knitting group again.  Did some reading afterwards and chatted with a Cruise Critic friend.

After another beautiful sunset from my balcony, I got ready for dinner.  All ten of us were there tonight, which is unusual.  Three of our group are leaving in San Francisco.  I left dinner early to see the "Chocolate and Ice Culinary Event" which had beautiful ice sculptures and magnificent chocolate confections.  Unfortunately, it was set up poorly and people were coming in from all different directions so it was difficult to get good pictures.

Then it was off to the show entitled "Sing" featuring the Royal Cunard Singers and 19 of the musicians onboard.  They sang many popular hits including songs from Petula Clark, the Bee Gees, the Commodores, and Barry Manilow.  Met up with Gloria and John and Andrea and John (from Cruise Critic) at the end and talked for awhile as the crew took down the set in the theatre.

I try to go out on my balcony every evening before bed to look at the stars.  Tonight was much cooler than it has been for the last two weeks as we head north to San Francisco.

Sunday - Groundhog Day and Superbowl Sunday

I have gotten in the habit of staying in bed for about 15 minutes after I wake up to watch the sea go by.  An amazing view!

This morning we had another lecture by Bill Miller, this one entitled "Sailing to the Sun:  Cruising History and Folklore".  He talked about the popularity of cruising and how the cruise lines have enticed new cruisers over the years (during Prohibition there were $10 one-night "booze cruises" out of New York City so people could drink legally).

We were about five miles off the coast of Mexico midday.  The Captain announced that there were whales in the area.  I went out on deck 9 to look.  About two people away from me a couple kept saying, "There's one", "Look, another", "Over there", etc. The lady next to me and I looked at each other and just shook our heads.  Couldn't see anything!

At 2:00 the "Singers at Sea" performed.  This is a group of the passengers who have been practicing since Fort Lauderdale.  They were really good and received a standing ovation.

I mentioned that I was given a voucher for the Champagne Tea (costs $29.99 each) for two.  I invited my Cruise Critic friend, Pat, who drove me to the ship in Southampton.  There was a choice of Veuve Cliquot champagne (NV or Rose), a pot of tea (four choices - I had the Jasmine) and more food than two people could eat (starting with a small strawberry parfait, then six finger sandwiches, six scones [with jam and cream] and six desserts).  A string quartet played while we ate and talked.  It was all quite posh.

The temperature is definitely getting cooler - I needed a jacket in the afternoon to sit on my balcony.  After watching another gorgeous sunset, I got ready for dinner.  I listened to the Big Band music in the Queens Room after dinner.

The internet has been amazingly slow for the past two days.  My third attempt to upload pictures is still not working so I am going to publish this without pictures and edit it when the internet is more cooperative!

Two of the boats from the boat building competition (the second one did quite well)

Chocolate and Ice

Nationalities onboard (as of 28 January)
American - 566
Australian - 47
Austrian - 3
Belgian - 3
Brazilian - 1
British - 903
British Virgin Islands -1
Canadian - 112
Croatian - 1
Danish - 7
Dutch - 22
French - 9
German - 110
Greek - 1
Iceland -3
Indian - 1
Irish - 15
Italian - 1
Japanese - 42
Kazakhstan - 3
Luxembourg - 4
Mexican - 1
New Zealander - 5
Norwegian - 9
Romanian - 1
Russian - 1
South African - 2
Spanish - 4
Swedish - 13
Swiss - 15
Ukraine - 1

Total 1907

The crew represents over 50 nationalities.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 21 and 22 - At Sea

Thursday - Awoke to another beautiful, hot, sunny day so headed straight to the pool.  Swam two times at the Pavilion Pool, sat in the sun for awhile and then had lunch by the Lido Pool.  I am amazed by the number of people who have a really good tan.

As I was getting close to running out of unmentionables, I decided I had to do a load of wash.  There was an empty washer so I could put my stuff right in but one of the dryers (different one from last time) is now broken.  Luckily my wash finished before the rush was on (at least eight people came in trying to do laundry as I waited for mine to dry).

When I went to dinner I left my key card in the slot in my stateroom.  A trip to the purser's office after dinner (had chicken curry - some were complaining it was not spicy enough but I needed three glasses of water!) got me a new key card.  Started feeling bad during dinner (like the start of a sinus infection) so took some sinus medicine and made it an early night (bed by 11:10).

Friday -  Felt fine when I got up this morning so I got ready for the lectures I wanted to attend.  The first was a continuation of the series Bill Miller is doing, this one called "Getting There Was Half the Fun" about the last days of the great transatlantic liners.  As usual, he was a great speaker with many photos and anecdotes about sailing on these ships.  The second was a Q&A session with Bill Bryson.  The Entertainment Director asked a number of questions and then had audience questions.  Once again Bill Bryson was amusing and engaging.

After a long lunch and a bit of time on the open deck (9), I decided to spend some time on my balcony.  Going north (we are off the coast of Mexico at present), I get the afternoon sun and some beautiful sunsets.  Today is slightly more cloudy and a little cooler (about 85F/29C).

Went to the "Needlework and Knitting" group for the first time.  There were 18 ladies present which, according to a comment by the Social Hostess, is more than normal.

Tonight was the Captain's reception for the full world cruisers in the Queens Room.  The Captain told us after San Francisco we will have about 500 World Cruisers and will pick up about 20 more in Australia that are transferring from Queen Victoria.   I spoke too soon about the gifts.  Tonight when I returned from dinner there was a nice tote bag with the World Voyage logo embroidered on it, a pin with the logo, and a map of our voyage.

The entertainment tonight was a singer, Jennifer Fair.  She has a good voice but the songs she sang were not my cup of tea.  (Speaking of tea, the ice tea on board is terrible.  I am experimenting with ways to make it better).

Notice the ice sculpture of the Panama Canal

Part of the table decoration 

Gifts

Smooth sailing until next time!