Day 33 - At Sea - Halloween

 I got up at 6:45, dressed and went to breakfast at 7:30. After breakfast, I picked up the crossword and paper and returned to the cabin and worked on the crossword and read the paper. At 9, I went to the Coffee with Clare with the HR team, followed by the port talk on Avatoru & Fakarava.  I returned to my cabin at 10:55 and read until going to lunch at 11:35. After lunch, I returned to the cabin to read until time to get ready for dinner. I showered and dressed and went to dinner at 5:35. After dinner I returned to the cabin to get into my Halloween costume for the party. I went to the party at 8, but apparently it started early as the area around the Lido pool was jam packed. I ran into Tom and he had a photo of us taken on his phone. I lasted until 8:45 when my costume became rather warm. I am posting a picture of the entrance to the dining  room and a couple of selfies of my consume. Other photos don't want to upload from my phone. I went to bed at 9:30.

Random pictures from the costume party

 

Day 32 - At Sea

 I got up at 6:30, dressed and went to breakfast at 7. After breakfast, I picked up the crossword and paper and returned to the cabin to work the crossword and read the paper. At 9, I went to the port talk on Huahine & Pape'ete. I couldn't do the Walk-a-Mile as it was also at 9. At 10:30, I took my passport to mid-ship to turn in for clearing French Polynesia. I returned to the cabin to read  until 11:30 when I went to lunch. After lunch, I returned to the cabin to read until time to clean up for the Cruise Specialist cocktail party at 4. As I got dressed, I  watched the Raven - Dolphin game until time to go. After the cocktail party, I returned to the cabin to see the end of the game and I went to dinner at 5:20. After dinner, I returned to the cabin to read and watch TV until bedtime. I went to bed at 9:30.

Day 31 - At Sea - Extra October 29

  I got  up at 6 and reset my navigator app to cause the correct itinerary to appear due to the second Wednesday, October 29. I dressed and went to breakfast at 7. After breakfast, I picked up the crossword and paper and returned to the cabin to work the crossword and read the paper. At 8, we passed by the island nation of Nuie, a small country that I visited in 2011.  At 9, I went to the port talk on Raiatea & Moorea. At 10, I went to my muster station to get my card scanned and then returned to the cabin until lunch at 11:30. After lunch, I returned to the cabin to read until 4 when I showered and dressed for dinner. I went to dinner at 5:30 and got a table for one on deck 5. After dinner, I returned to the cabin to find that my blog entry draft had been lost and I had to re-create it. We set the clocks forward one hour tonight. I read until I went to bed at 9. 

Day 30 - At Sea - Masquerade Ball - Crossing the International Dateline

 I got up at 6, dressed for the day and went to breakfast at 7:10. After breakfast, I picked up the crossword and paper. I worked the crossword and read the paper before going to deck 3 for the Walk-a-Mile at 9. After the mile with Dario, I returned to the cabin until time for the port talk on Avatiu and Bora Bora. When I got to the World Stage, the Coffee Chat with Claire was still going on so I saw the last of it and was sitting waiting for the port talk when it was announced that due to something, the port talk was changed to 1pm. I returned to the cabin and read until time for lunch at 11:30.  After lunch, I returned to the cabin until 12:50 when I went to the port talk. At 1:45, I returned to the cabin to read for a while before getting ready for the dressy night and Masquerade Party. I went to dinner at 5:20. After dinner, I went to the cabin to wait until the Masquerade Bowl started at 8. I went up at 7:45 and sat with a couple who live down the hall from me and we have talked several times. She took some pictures of me in front of the stage and I managed to stay until 8:55. Today is October 29 and tomorrow is October 29 again as we cross the International Dateline. I updated  the blog and posted it and went to bed at 9:30. 

 

Dario

Cast members

Day 29 - Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga

I got up at 6, dressed and went to breakfast at 6:30. After breakfast, I picked up the crossword and paper and returned to the cabin. I worked the crossword and read the paper. My meeting time is 8:15 for my 9:00 tour. This is a tinder port so the actual time is approximate. I went to the World Stage at 8:05, got my sticker (Number 1 bus) and sat waiting to be called.  They called bus 1 at 9:20 and we proceeded to the other end of the ship to board the tinder. When we arrived on shore, we boarded the bus and waited for some of the passengers. We drove for about 30 minutes to a small village where they showed us some of their farm products such as pineapple, breadfruit, papaya, before putting on a cultural show starting with a cava ceremony and this time I partook of the cava. Next, we  view some of their handicraft and tourist items before the dancers performed a few of their dances. Then, we were offered some of their typical food before returning to the buses and back to the pier. I caught the next tinder along with about 90 other people and got back to my cabin at 11:40. I  uploaded my photos and then went to the Lido Market for a small salad before returning to the cabin to watch the Washington  - Kansas City game. I  showered during halftime and dressed for dinner after the game. I went to dinner at 5:15. I ate with 2 couples and a woman who I had eaten with before. One of the couples was on the same bus as me for the tour today. After dinner, I went to the show to see CJ Finley, a ventriloquist. He was very funny especially the last part of his act when he turned an audience member into a dummy. The man reacted to the words that CJ was saying and he was a very good sport. I updated the blog and posted it and went to bed at 9:30.

Welcome dancers
 

Mormon Temple

Our bus guide

Our village guide

Pineapple plants

Banana tree

Ready to pick pineapple

Breadfruit

Village dogs resting

Cava ceremony

Handicrafts

Souvenirs 

Village dancers

Ready for the show

Day 28 - Nuku'alofa, Tongatupu, Tonga

 I got up at 6:20, dressed for the day and went to breakfast at 6:50. After breakfast, I picked up the crossword and paper and returned to the cabin to get ready for my tour. We meet at  8:30 for an Island Encounter & Ancient Tonga tour. I have been here 2 times before, so I have probably seen what we will see today. I went to the World Stage at 8:25. The tour was called at 9 and there were 5 buses. We walked down the pier to the buses and boarded. We went first to Ancient Tonga where they did some dances and then talked about herbal cures and let us taste or smell or feel various plant products. I then walked through the small museum and had some refreshments. Next we drove to the rugged coast to the blow holes followed by a drive to see the fruit bats. We stopped by the Royal Palace but on the far side rather than the side with the entrance, so I did not get out for the 5 minutes photo op as I have many photos of the palace from the other side. I got back on board at 1:35 which made my 5.5 hour tour into 6.5 hours. I found my laundry back in the cabin and put it away while watching the Green Bay - Pittsburgh game. I showered during halftime and got dressed for dinner after the game. I went to dinner at  5 and was seated with David and Vicki from Illinois who it turns out were on the 2020 World Cruise with me as well as another woman from Atlanta. After dinner, I returned to the cabin to update the blog and read as the show tonight was Bruce Mathiske - Virtuoso Guitar and Didgeridoo Sensation which didn't sound very interesting. I went to bed at 9:30.

 

Always something for tourists to buy

This was made from the pounded out fiber and glued together before the art work was added

Helpers

The dancers

The most interesting thing in the small museum

The blow holes

The fruit bats

The Royal Palace from the ship

The entertainers shelter

Day 27 - At Sea

 I got up at 6:35 after losing an hour last night. I dressed and went to breakfast at 7:10. After breakfast, I returned the the cabin and watched the end of the UCLA - Indiana game. Last night, I got two letters from Shore Excursions stating that the previous 30% refund for the tour in American Samoa was changed to 40% and the Chocolate Farm tour was given a 30% refund due to the delays. Next game was BYU - ISU. Then, Wisconsin - Oregon game. I cleaned up and dressed for dinner after the games and went to dinner at 5:10. After dinner, I returned to the cabin to watch TV and read since the show tonight was the Australian country singer again. I went to bed at 9:30.

The chocolate bars I bought

The ceramic glass from Tom