Sydney to LAX to DFW - Fri 03/27 - Day 83

I flew 4 hours to Sydney and  then had 4 hours before my flight to LAX.  The flight to LAX was 12 hours and I got a few hours of sleep.  The food service was pretty good, but the oven was not working properly for breakfast service while the lunch of Thai fish cakes, followed by delicious Barramundi on rice .  We arrived at 5:18 and the terminal did not open until 6 so we sat on the tarmac until then.  After going through immigration which was not bad, I got my bag and rechecked it with American.  I had some problem finding the American terminal due to a lack of signage, but got through security and to the departure gate by 7.  Flight to DFW boarded at 10:12. Even though I was flying first class, American announced just before boarding that there would be no in-flight service, neither drinks nor food.  It was also a very bumpy ride most of the way.  Got to DFW at 3:18 and my limo service owner Ron was there personally to take me home.  Arrived home at 4:25 and Thea came over around 4:45 and we caught up.  I have many hours of recorded TV to keep me busy for the duration of the self-isolation.  I watched 2 shows and went to bed at 10:20 after spending 37 hours in airports and on planes.  I did have a few short naps on the planes, but it was a very tiring 43 hours.

Perth to Sydney - Wed 03/26 - Day 82

I got up at 6 and made coffee.  Breakfast was delivered at 8.   I showered, packed and went to the desk at 9 to request a late check out.  Since my reservation for 2 weeks was made through Expedia, I would have to get any refund for unused nights from them.  I think I have more sympathy for caged cats who continually pace back and forth in their cages.  I did some of that pacing in my hotel room.  I now know that the distance from my door to the window is 15 paces.  I checked out of the hotel at 3:45 and took a taxi to the airport.  My flight to Sydney is at 11 pm and arrives in Sydney at 6:10 tomorrow morning (+3 hour difference). Had a long wait in the airport but was able to board the flight which was delayed about 20 minutes.  All is looking up.

Perth Self-Isolation Day 2 - 03/25 - Day 81

I got up at 7 and had a message from my travel agent that there was a ticket on hold for the 26th and she was waiting to contact the U. S. Embassy when they open later.  She called back at 7:10 and told me to go the Consulate office to get approval.   I went to the U. S. Consulate in Perth at 8:45 and talked with George there and they will be contacting Qantas about my new flight tomorrow the 26th from Perth to Sydney and on the 27th from Sydney to LAX and LAX to DFW.  My taxi driver shared his philosophy that "yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is to be lived".  Received an email from Teresa at 10:15 that George had contacted her manager to go ahead and book the flight on hold and that I would fly tomorrow.    At 11:45, I ordered a club sandwich (Chicken, Bacon, Fried Egg, Tomato, Salad Leaves, Cheddar Cheese, Aioli, Sliced Seeded Sourdough with Beer Battered Chips) from room service since I forgot to put out the breakfast order last night.  After eating, I watched re-runs all afternoon.  MacGyver (not the new series), Diagnosis Murder, Star Trek Enterprise (finale), and Star Trek Voyager.  I ordered the Bombay Chicken Salad (Crispy Chicken Tikka, Onion, Tomato, Cucumber, Salad Leaves, Mango Salsa, Crispy Poppadums, Yogurt Dressing) for dinner.  I read the digital Dallas Morning News and watched some news on TV.  I went to bed aat 9:30.

Perth to Self-Isolation Day 1- Tues 03/24 = Day 80 -

I got up at 6:30 and was unable to check-in to my flight with Qantas so I will have to check-in at the airport.  I ordered breakfast and dressed while waiting.  The breakfast came in 35 minutes and was very good.  I re-packed my bags and went down to check-out of the hotel at 9:45 and took a taxi to the airport.  Arrived at the airport at 10:15 and was told that I couldn't check in until 8:45.  I waited and at 3 I was advised that the government had changed the rules again and no passenger from a cruise ship could fly but must self-isolate for 14 days.  I managed to get a hotel room for 14 days, but I don't know if there will be  any airlines flying then. I got room number 13, as if I needed anymore bad luck.  It is also in the isolation wing of the hotel with a firedoor separating we lepers from the rest of their guests.  I ordered a meat lover's pizza for supper and I decided to go ahead and drink the bottle of wine I was taking home.  It will give me more room in the suitcase.  I only hope I don't go stir crazy.  I have a nice room, queen size bed, large screen TV, big desk, free wi-fi, nice big shower, and a view of the parking lot.  After my wine and pizza, I watched NCIS and NCIS Miami re-runs and read.  I went to bed at 9:30.

                            My prison room number 13 for the next 14 days.
   

                            My meat lover's pizza

Perth, Australia - Mon 03/23 - Day 79

I got up at 6:30 and checked my flights for Tuesday and Wednesday which still show to be scheduled on-time.  I went down for the continental breakfast at 7:30. I went back to the room to watch the news.  I called Thea and talked with her for 20 minutes at 9:10 my time.  Good to hear her voice and hope to see her in a couple of days.  I spent a good portion of the day watching a session of parliament.  Well, they just closed the Regency Club Lounge at 1:30 due to the new regulations, so no drinks and canapes tonight.  Also, the cafes are all closed so food will be room service today and in the morning.  I had a great meal of fish & chips with a salad and iced tea from room service for dinner.  I went to bed at 9.

Fremantle, Australia Day 2 - Sun 03/22 - Day 78

I got up at 6:30 and it was 66 degrees with 69% humidity and 9 knot winds. I got dressed and went to breakfast at 7:40.  I went back to the cabin to read and wait for my tag number to be called.  They started calling numbers at 8:00 and my number was finally called at 9:30.  After leaving the ship and gathering my suitcase, I joined the long taxi line for about 20 minutes before I got to the front of the line.  There were very few taxis, usually only 1 or 2 at at a time, then a wait for another to show up.  The pace picked up eventually.  The taxi ride was about 30 minutes and I checked into the Hyatt Regency where I could get a Regency Club Lounge room immediately for $140 Australian.  I said yes since this includes breakfast and all day refreshments and evening drinks & canapes and the wait for my prepaid room would be a couple of hours.  As I was returning from the lounge, I ran into Martha who is also on this floor for one night.  She invited me to have dinner with her and someone else in the hotel at 7.  The Australian government is closing the borders here on Tuesday at 1:30pm.  This means that I will have to get to the airport prior to that time which will mean about  10 hours in the airport.  I got dressed for the evening and went to the evening drinks & canapes at 5:30.  I had drinks with Martha and had a picture made with her and Frankie & Richard.  There were 6 of us from the Amsterdam.  I skipped dinner and went to the room to read and check the news.  I went to bed at 8.

View of the lobby from the Regency Club 8th floor

View of the Swan River from the Regency Club Lounge

  

My room

  

Fremantle - Sat 03/21 - Day 77

I got up at 7 and it was 68 degrees with 77% humidity and  18 knot winds (32 knots apparent) .  We were still l0 nm from Fremantle.   I went to breakfast at 7:45 and picked up the daily crossword.  We arrived a little after 8 and docked behind the Pacific Princess. After breakfast, I returned to the cabin to work the crossword and look at my preliminary final bill.   With all the credits for excursions and taxes and port charges, my on-board account was cut in half or more.  I packed the bag to go with me with a few exceptions for tonight.  I went by the front desk to get clarification on my disembarkation day and it is correctly tomorrow the 22nd.  I plan to take the train to Perth and a taxi to the hotel.  Forget what I just wrote, the Captain just announced at 3pm that no hotel stays would be allowed and that guests disembarking must go directly to the airport.  Anyone attempting to stay in a hotel would be fined up to $50,000 Australian.  I guess that means that I disembark Monday the 23rd for my late night Tuesday the 24th flight.  What a mess!  There was almost pandemonium at the front desk as people scramble to find out what to do.  The Captain come on at 3:55pm to tell us that the Australian authorities had changed their minds and hotel stays will be permitted.  It's a crazy time for sure.  I got ready for the evening and read until time for happy hour in the Crow's Nest.  I went up at 6:30 and visited with Jim & Cathy and Don and said goodbyes to the Captain, Karen 2, Leslie & Handler, Twinkle, Sue & Leon, Herman & Rhea, Aart & Ellen, and others.  I made a video of Sonny singing one of his songs.  Barbie had ask me to dine at their table tonight and so I ate with Bill & Marianne, Barbie, Woody & his wife, and Ellen & Aart.  I returned to the cabin to finish packing my bag for the hotel and went to bed at 10:30.

At Sea Farewell Dinner - Fri 03/20 - Day 76

I got up at 6:45 and it was 75 degrees with 85% humidity and 27 knot winds (43knots apparent).  I checked the email and facebook and went to breakfast at 8.  I picked up the daily crossword.  After breakfast, I returned to the cabin to work the crossword and read until time for the final bingo session where the jackpot on the fourth game will be awarded regardless of the number of balls and it was $1736.  I was one away along with several others, but one man won the whole thing.  I went back to the cabin to change into my barong to attend the Combined Crew Show from the Indonesian and Filipino crew.  It was a great show with a lot of the crew that I knew performing.  The solos by Julie Alo Ampoloquio the sanitation officer and Jarrie Camille Omana, the barista from the explorers cafe were fantastic.  I got videos of part of their performances.  The Captain announced at 4:20 that we had changed course toward the Australian coast near Geraldton in order to rendezvous with an Australian Coast Guard helicopter for a medical evacuation.  Don't know what this does to our scheduled arrival tomorrow in Fremantle.  I got my disembarkation Package with temporary FEDEX tags for the shipped bags which will be re-tagged in Ft. Lauderdale when the ships gets back.  I went to the Crow's Nest at 6:30 and it was temporarily closed as well as the main stage and all outside decks until the helicopter has departed.  I went back to the cabin to wait it out.  I went to he Crow's Nest at 6:50 after the announcement that the passenger was on their way to the hospital and drinks were on the house.  I had too many drinks and talked with Jim & Cathy, Leon & Sue,  Don, Henk, the Captain, Jennie, Lydia, Joan & Roger, Alan & Sandra.  At dinner, we had free wine and after dinner, and the tribute to the Captain on his retirement, I talked with Barbie, Woody, and Bill & Marianne.  I went back the cabin to update the blog and went to bed at 11.

Saman Dance

Bambangan Cakil Central Java Classical Dance

Nusantara Archipelago Dances

Kecak Ramayana Dance

Cups Song

Julie Alo Ampoloquio

Maglallatik

Jerrie Camille Omana

 

Painting by Jennie of the Captain

Jacques the Cellar Master

The Captain & Henk

Jennie presenting the painting to the Captain

Some of the officers attending the presentation

Crew's Farewell

Captain's farewell

Marianne & Bill, Barbie, Thomas, and Woody

At Sea Indonesian Dinner - Thur 03/19 - Day 75

I got up at 7:30 and it was 84 degrees with 81% humidity and 7 knot winds (16 apparent).  I checked my email and went to breakfast at 9.  I stopped by and picked up the daily crossword.  I worked the crossword and packed a lot more.  I read until time for trivia.  We got 12 correct, but the top team got 14.  We had an announcement that we would be arriving on the 21st instead of the 22nd.  We believe that we can stay onboard the first night, so I shouldn't have to change my hotel arrangements in Perth.   I read and packed until time to get ready for the Indonesian Dinner.  I went to the Crow's Nest at 6:30 and visited with Jim & Cathy, Don, Sue & Leon, Aart & Ellen, Sandra & Allen and Lydia.  After dinner, I went back to the cabin and went to bed at 10.

Heidi, Karen2, Jan, Karen1 & Captain Jonathan, Lori, Leo and Joan

Melinda & Papu

The other side of the bar

Rene, Twinkle

Rich, Diane, ?, Handler, ?, John

.Jim & Cathy, Sue, Sue & Leon, Don

Roger, Lydia, Joan, Rene, Ron

Station Band

Ellen, Silvie, Herman, Aart, Alan & Susan

Eddie and Me