It feels like our adventures on the 51-Day “Tales of the South Pacific” aboard Zaandam just began, and yet, we are now already at the end of October! Here is an update of the first leg of this incredible voyage.
Private Events On Board
We hold hospitality desk/chat times daily on sea days near the Ocean Bar, where coffee, tea and cookies are available. We are pleased that most Cruise Specialists guests stop by.
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So far, we have had two private cocktail parties which were both well attended. This was a time for guests to get to know one another and share experiences thus far. It is always amazing when we all share our interests and hopes just how much we are alike and how much we all look forward to an outstanding cruise.
Hawaii
The second week of our cruise was busy with Hawaiian ports for six days in a row, where passengers enjoyed many activities or tours that enhanced their travel experiences. Holland America organized a local show called “Drums of Polynesia” – charming performances with some singers, dancers and drummers from Oahu. Overall, a wonderful day for anyone who likes Hawaii. Taxi rides are always available for independent explorations; however the Holland America Line tours were popular with most of the passengers.
Onboard Activities
The Zaandam staff also organized a “Masked Ball” for which many passengers created their own masks on board. Masks for those who didn’t have their own were provided. This event was well attended, and dancers filled the floor. The culmination was the contest for the most original mask, almost half of the attendants vying for the win!
Voyage Host Alex arranged for a Zaandam Bridge Tour for Cruise Specialists guests. The tour was well attended and answered many questions about the ship, the various responsibilities, and operation of the steering instrumentation.
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Over the next few sea days, we crossed the International Date Line and the Equator at the same time, which made every passenger earn their “Golden Shellback” along with entertaining King Neptune and his entourage. Sections of the ship were in each hemisphere for about 5 seconds. The newest crew members were subjected to being covered in colored shaving cream after “kissing the fish!” was called out by all the passengers who observed the fun and games. Sea days are always as busy or as laid back as you prefer.
South Pacific Islands
Pago Pago, American Samoa, provided an opportunity to explore the parks, meet locals, learn about the National Park, and discover the “Islands of the Sacred Earth.” Several passengers mentioned just how kind and friendly the locals were.
Next up, we were in Fijian Islands. For us, it was an opportunity to learn more about their cultures that are quite different from Hawaii’s, and yet the locals are all Polynesians and proud of their history. Our Cruise Specialists guests enjoyed an exclusive shore tour in Suva. Our guide shared many stories as we drove to a local village. On the way, Voyage Host Alex Tokar was voted to be our Chief, representing the Cruise Specialists group when we were going to meet the villagers. Alex initiated the meeting by drinking the traditional Kava beverage and thanking the village elders for their kind and generous hospitality.
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History mentions that the inhabitants of these islands once practiced cannibalism, which understandably caused sailors to avoid visiting for hundreds of years. As our tour guide said, there is "no more cannibalism; don't worry about lunch, lunch is on me," which got a laugh out of all of us. He relayed a famous story about the missionary Thomas Baker, the last foreigner to be eaten by Fijian cannibals. It was forbidden to touch the head of a chief, but in 1867, Thomas Baker broke this taboo and sealed his fate. The villagers also tried to cook his leather shoes, which were too hard to boil and couldn't be bitten. The soles of these shoes are now preserved at the Fiji Museum.
Responses from Cruise Specialists guests indicate that this was an excellent tour! They mentioned that the highlights included the comprehensive and detailed commentary, and they felt that the villagers’ invitation was genuine. Members of our group who had visited in the past mentioned that the locals were still the same friendly and lovely people they remembered. Additionally, our guests commented that they enjoyed the fresh fruit and found the Kava taste interesting.
We enjoyed several stops in Fiji. For most of the stops, it was the water that was calling to the cruise passengers. This was not surprising since the water’s turquoise color and white sand beaches are what usually come to mind when one thinks of a South Pacific paradise.
Next, we visited the Kingdom of Tonga. A day in Nuku'alofa before our final Tonga port, Neiafu (Vava’u), where the weather was sunny for part of our day, and a huge downpour around noon. No matter what the weather, spirits continued to be good, even with wet shoes on our way back to the tender.
The month was rounded off with a Halloween spectacular, 2 days of October 29 due to crossing the International Date Line and high expectations for travel experiences as we sail toward the Cook Islands followed by our French Polynesian island visits.
It’s hard to believe that October has turned into November. As we sail in this warm climate, enjoying the sun and warmth, we are thankful for this opportunity to explore these scenic islands.
– Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts, Kirsten Ulmer and Alex Tokar
Read the conclusion of this voyage here >>
Join us next summer on the 28-day Glaciers & Volcanoes: Alaska to Hawaii Voyage >>