2025 Tales of the South Pacfic

 This is the 51 day Tales of the South Pacific cruise I booked while on the Alaska cruise. It leaves September 29,  2025 and returns November 19, 2025.

Day 29 - Seattle to DFW

 I got up at 6:25 after the docking noises started at 5:20. I went to breakfast at 6:45 and was just finishing when they called the group before mine. I rushed to the cabin to get my carry-on baggage and they called my group at 7:15 an hour earlier that they had predicted. I went down and caught the bus to the airport and arrived at 8:15. I got in the very long TSA pre-check line and went to my gate. it was D8 but after about 2 hour, they changed it to D9 and then again later to D10. Luckily, they were very close to each other. Then our flight to DFW was delayed from 1:51pm to 2:20. We finally got boarded and took off about 45 minutes late. Ron from A-Rated Limousine Service met me and when my bags finally got out, we left and I got home at 9:30.

Day 28 - At Sea

 

 I got up at 6:45 and went to breakfast at 7:15. I picked up the daily crossword and returned to the cabin to work on it but was unable to finish it. I finished the first bag and did most of the second bag packing. I read until time to get ready for the last evening. I got the second bag finished, closed and strapped at 5:15. At 6, I went to the Ocean Bar and at 7, I went to dinner. After dinner, I went to the cabin to  put out my bags and found my towel animal to be a crab eating my chocolate truffle. The Rolling Stone Lounge didn't start until 9:30, so I didn't go. I will really miss being on board a ship. I went to bed at 10.

Day 27 - Prince Rupert, BC, Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got up at 6:45 after losing an hour and listening to the noise of docking beginning at 6:15. I went to breakfast at 7:25 and afterward, I picked up the daily crossword and returned to the cabin to work on it since my Sights and Bites tour didn't start until 10:30. I left the shop at 19 to meet up with our guide, Ann, and awaited for the remaining 18 people on the tour to gather. We took off at 10:30 and walked around Cow Bay and heard about the history of some of the buildings on our way to Cowpuccini's Coffee House where we sampled some of their delicious pastry offerings. We saw many murals on the buildings as we continued. We stopped in at Dolly's Fish Market where we had small bites of their pizza and some olives. We visited the Sunken Garden through a tunnel that has no historical information about why it was built, or when, or by whom. We passed a native long house, the Prince Rupert Courthouse, an old steam roller. when a deer appeared and calmly crossed the street. We saw the Prince Rupert Fire Museum and continued down over the rail tracks to a park with a statue of a whale and baby. Next we went to the Wheelhouse Brewery to sample some of their local brews. From there, I walked along the sea side back to the ship and re-boarded at 12:45. I went to my cabin and uploaded my pictures, updated the blog entry and started my packing. I got ready to go to another Cellar Master's Dinner in the Pinnacle. At 5:50, I went to the Pinnacle and we had a very nice menu. The food was delicious and  the wine was perfect. I returned to the cabin at 9:15 and  packed some more and updated the blog entry. I went to bed at 10.

Day 26 - Cruisig Misty Fjords and July 4th Party

 

 

 I got up at 6:55 after a noisy night. A call to the Medical Response Team was made at 11:15 and several times during the night there were unusual noises that kept waking me. When I got up, it appears that we were docking somewhere even though this was supposed to be a sea day. I went to breakfast at 7:40. On the way to breakfast, I saw the ambulance and the people's luggage at the gangway and found out we were in Ketchikan for the medical evacuation. We left at 8:15 while I was eating. I took some pictures of the scenery as we left to head for the Misty Fjords. We entered the Misty Fjord about noon and I went up at 12:30 to take some pictures. I stayed out until 2:15 when we had turned around, looking for wildlife but I didn't find any. I did see the National Geographic Sea Lion and a float plane. I read until time to get ready for the evening. At 6, I went to the Ocean Baar and at 7, I went to dinner. For some reason, they had roast turkey and cranberry as the featured main course. I had the salmon. After dinner, I went to the Rolling Stone Lounge for the July 4th Party. I stayed until 9:30 when it got so crowded that I could not enjoy it. I returned to the cabin and updated the blog entry. Tonight, we set the clocks forward one hour. I went to bed at 10.              

Day 25 - Cruising Tracy Arm/Mariners Recognition Evennt and Lunch/Westerdam Ball

 

 

 

My towel animal tonight

 I got up at 6:55 and went to breakfast at 7:30. Afterward, I picked up the daily crossword and looked out at the overcast and foggy conditions, so I returned to the cabin and worked the crossword. At 8:50, the Captain announced that the visit to Tracy Arm was being cancelled due to low visibility and possibility of large ice. Two other ships had already had to turn back due to these conditions. At 11, I went to the Mariners Recognition Event where they awarded the gold and platinum medallions. then they introduced the Presidents Club members and Sue Anderson and Suzanne and Leon had over 2000 days, Don was the highest with 3500 days on HAL Then we went then to the dining room for lunch. After lunch, I returned to the cabin after taking a picture of the mountains. I read until time to get ready for the dressy night. At 6, I went to the Ocean Bar and at 7, I went to dinner. After dinner, I returned to the cabin and at 8, I went to the Rolling Stone Lounge at 8:15 and stayed for the Westerdam Ball at 9. I left at 9:30 as it was very crowed. I went to the cabin to find a new towel animal and my tile Iupdated the blog entry and went to bed at 10.