No month has flown by as quickly as February for the passengers on this Grand World Cruise!
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
We experienced Rarotonga, one of the Cook Islands, a tender port. As much as we all prefer a dock for easy access to the islands, the nature of the harbor or underwater topography do not allow for larger cruise ships to enter the port. When we step on land, a huge sign welcomes us with the lovely “Kia Orana”! We arrived on a Saturday, in time to visit the local markets and to see the fish vendors with their prized tuna hanging next to their pickup trucks, ready to be sold. The local bus drove around the Island, passengers entering or exiting as they reached their hotels and beaches, with the bus driver calling out the various locations. If no one was interested in alighting, she drove on to the next stop. There was bus audience participation as we often had to repeat her location callouts, since her voice was very gentle. The heat of the day seemed bearable due to the interesting beaches and local stores that captured the interest of the passengers.
Tonga
Tonga was a very wet day, the rain that refreshed us also soaked many to the skin. Still, most of us bravely faced the downpour and visited the local attractions, easily recognized by our bright orange umbrellas as we sloshed through the little rivulets of water running over and next to the sidewalks. The locals are always so friendly and inviting, happy to chat and to show their displays of homemade belts, knickknacks and carvings. Pearls can be found in many shops, some still embedded in the shells. Of interest are the shops that sell everything from shoelaces to brooms to pulleys. The exploration of these shops is a tour all on its own!
Australia
Sydney, Australia, a port that fills everyone with anticipation of seeing their first koala bears, their first sight of the Blue Mountains, or repeat visits to their favorite locations such as the zoo or the beautiful beaches and smaller villages. Two days are never enough, but they are a wonderful time to enjoy Circular Quay, Chinatown, the Rocks, and the Opera House, or a visit to the Queen Victoria building. Happy passengers, happy ship! Every moment is savored and the sail-away is quite possibly the most photographed location as we pass the Opera House and the Sydney Bridge.
A succession of the West Coast Australian ports, each with its distinctive characteristics, each with sights worth seeing and stunning beaches are worth a visit. This is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, small marinas, and small local markets. The beauty of the beaches is almost heartbreaking because these waters are not swimmer friendly. The oceanfront lagoons are protected area for swimmers, due to the dangers such as the poisonous jellyfish (deadly box and irukandji varieties) and sharks, and further north, even the crocodiles, that enjoy swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Warning signs are posted along the beaches, and Aboriginal names grace the street signs or local pubs. The Aboriginal Peoples welcome us all to their special places and only ask that we acknowledge, respect and appreciate their story and beauty of the landscape.
We had enjoyed many calm and sunny days and now came the days when humid weather and frequent showers became the norm. When the temperatures are in the 90s, with a very high humidity, passengers tend to prefer the air conditioning of the ship. Still, in the evening the sun would shine between the clouds and provide us with another opportunity to take a few outstanding sunset photos.
In Cairns, some enjoyed a walk along the esplanade, watching the little boats as they left the marina and enjoying a local refreshment as they contemplated the beauty of the mangroves across the inlet. The information on the billboards told the story of World War II and the reason why the Wharf Complex was built to serve both the Australian and U.S. navies. The busiest place seemed to be Woolworths, where the crew and passengers purchased items that they forgot or needed renewed.
Darwin, the final port in Australian waters was very hot and quiet. It too suffered during World War II, when in February 1942, a military force attacked mainland Australia for the first time. The same force had attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, ten weeks before. It would drop more than twice as many bombs on Darwin, and like Pearl Harbor, Darwin was unprepared. Now the city is growing, more high-rises every visit, the Mall still a lovely place to walk and sit, unless on a tour to see the snapping crocodiles and the large termite nests.
Komodo Island, Indonesia
Slawi Bay, Komodo Island, Indonesia is always a favorite tender port, with the restrictions that unless one is on a tour, you are not permitted to step on land. Komodo dragons are dangerous if approached or disturbed, so it’s critical to keep a safe distance. Some passengers like to move in a bit too close and the rangers, who are experienced with the dragon’s behavior, have to jump in with their wooden sticks and warn the passengers to be more careful. Humans are not a part of the dragon’s diet, but defensive bites have happened. Looking at the rugged terrain, it is easy to imagine the 3-meter-long monitor lizards roaming around the entire region, in what is now the Komodo National Park.
Bali
Benoa, (Denpasar), Bali, was an opportunity for many of the relatives of our crew to come aboard and visit the ship and their loved ones. All the families were dressed in their finest attire, many of them bringing huge boxes of native preferred groceries and all of them taking photos and videos of every conceivable space on the Zuiderdam. Passengers request little or no maintenance or housekeeping service that day, hoping for their favorite room stewards to have family time. A bittersweet day as we sailed in the early evening and needed to ask the guests to leave the ship by 6:00 pm. Forty-five Cruise Specialists guest enjoyed a busy tour as they explored East Bali, tour comment forms giving an ‘Excellent’ in most categories and in general stating that they liked the diversity in travel stops and the lovely lunch at the Candi Beach Resort and Spa, located next to a beach.
Onboard Activities
Travelers who haven’t been on a longer cruise often wonder if the passengers have enough activities to keep them busy and happy! The Cruise Specialists guests were invited on Bridge and Kitchen tours held during port days organized by Voyage Host Alex Tokar. The wonderful Pinnacle dinners, Canaletto dinners, and Suite dinners round out the onboard events sponsored by Cruise Specialists. This year, Voyage Host Tom Mullen also hosted a “Baby Boomers of 1955” birthday dinner, where the invitees all reached that wonderful age of 70 years! Many more activities are hosted by Holland America, such as “On Deck for a Cause,” the “Craft, Burgers and Beer” event featuring live music, “Disco Night Party”, “National Margarita Day”, “Game Nights”, etc. A Lido Poolside evening that is favored by the passengers is the “Glamp Out”, where the guests can grab their gear and get ready for a night of camp “fire” fun with live music, games, drink specials and s’mores!
Daily programs include activities for a diversity of interests – crocheting a blanket for Project Linus, a quick game of pickleball on the courts or presentations in the shops on board. Perennial favorites include special dinners in the Pinnacle, such as “A Taste of Tamarind,” and visiting Guest Chefs. Knowledgeable instructors hold classes that teach everything from ballroom dance steps to watercolor painting, or learning how to play the Ukulele! Such variety! And who can resist Port Enrichment talks and the Special Events held on the World Stage? For those who just want to relax and unwind, there is always a quiet corner in the library, a lounge, or on deck.
Others wonder how it feels to travel solo. One solo member of our group commented: “This group of passengers is different from other groups I’ve experienced. Getting to know each other has helped develop a bond. Cruise Specialists is more inclined to have their passengers feel like family.”
– Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts, Tom Mullen, Kirsten Ulmer and Alex Tokar
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