Day 45: No Norfolk Island for Us

Monday, 20 February 2017
At Sea — South Pacific Ocean … En Route to Auckland

Stats @ Ship’s Time 3:30p (FJT) … UTC 3:30a (20 February)
Temp: 72.5F (22.5C)
Position: 32.36.52S / 172.27.24E

A journey is like marriage.
The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.
~ John Steinbeck ~

Today was to have been a tender port at Kingston on Norfolk Island … our first port of call in Australia even though this small speck of land is closer to New Zealand than it is to Ozzie land.

Day 44: At Sea … Not En Route to Norfolk Island

Sunday, 19 February 2017
At Sea … South Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 8:00p (NIT) … UTC 9:00a (19 February)
Temp: 76.8F (24.9C)
Position: 28.01.41S / 168.41.04E

Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember,
and remember more than I have seen.
~ Benjamin Disraeli ~

A beautiful day at sea.  I sat outside all morning, writing about yesterday’s Amédée Island experience for the blog.  I did take a break mid-morning to do the face-to-face meeting with the Australian Border Force Officers.  It’s nice that they came aboard yesterday so we can complete the immigration process in advance of our first port call in Australia.  Anyway, once the meeting was over — just a two-second match the passport to the face thing — I was back on the veranda until the sun drove me inside.

At 4:00p, we went to the gala tea affair billed as An Afternoon Inspiration.  We had not noticed it in the Currents, but Tom and Alice, with whom we had breakfast, said it was not to be missed … if for no other reason than to take photographs.  Turns out it was not unlike the brunch event O put on during the first segment … except that this one was all about desserts, with some finger sandwiches thrown into the mix … and scones and crêpes suzette, too.

The big news for today … our port of call for Norfolk Island has been canceled.  Captain B made the announcement at noon.  I’ll write about the details and the alternate plan in tomorrow’s post.

By the way, although it was not printed in today’s Currents, we lose an hour overnight to put us on New Zealand time.  We will do so again tomorrow night … this time to adjust for the Southern Hemisphere daylight saving time.  Paying back some of the time we’ve gained in the past weeks … but will take it back again when Insignia changes its heading again ;-)

© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.

Day 40: At Sea … Planning Shore Visits or Winging It?

Wednesday, 15 February 2017
At Sea — South Pacific … En Route to Vanuatu

Stats @ Ship’s Time 2:00p (VUT) … UTC 3:00a (same day)
Temp: 81F (27.2C)
Position: 17.37.46S / 172.07.49E

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to
experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position
in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
~ Bill Bryson ~

We gained another hour overnight and are on Vanuatu time now.  That puts us one hour closer to Eastern Standard Time in Miami than we were yesterday … 17 hours instead of 18 hours.  We are now also 9 hours ahead of our families in Turkey … meaning we have to pay more attention to the time when we check in ;-)

It’s a quiet day at sea — lots of sunshine on the veranda in the morning, so I had to wait until after lunch to sit outside.  The good news … I’m caught up on our two ports in Fiji — both the journal and the blog.

Day 35: At Sea … Still Heading to American Samoa

Thursday, 9 February 2017
At Sea — South Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 7:45p (SST) … UTC 6:45a (10 February)
Temp: 84.6F (29.2C)
Position: 14.53.95S / 167.23.54W

Too often … I would hear men boast of the miles covered
that day, rarely of what they had seen.
~ Louis L’Amour ~

For the first time since we began cruising in 1999, I can honestly say that I did not have a good day at sea.  It wasn’t the overcast sky or the slight motion of the ocean that made the day less-than pleasant.  Rather, it was the diesel fumes that seemed to permeate the ship … though it was much better in the forward sections of the ship than it was at the stern … and dissipated quite a bit as the day wore on.

Day 34: At Sea … En Route to American Samoa

Wednesday, 8 February 2017
At Sea — South Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 9:15p (TAHT) … UTC 7:15a (9 February)
Temp: 83.1F (28.4C)
Position: 15.35.89S / 160.07.97W

The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.
~ Anna Quindlen ~

A wonderful day at sea.  I could have easily not done anything, but I resisted that temptation … the decision was helped by the veranda getting the morning sun ;-)

Day 28: We Are South of the Equator

Thursday, 2 February 2017 (Part II)
At Sea — South Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 2:30p (MIT) … UTC 12:30a (3 February)
Temp: 79.9F (26.6C)
Position: 2.40.00S / 144.45.96W

What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do — especially
in other people’s minds.  When you are traveling, you are what you are right there and
then.  People don’t have your past to hold against you.  No yesterdays on the road.
~ William Least Heat-Moon ~

Last night we set our clocks 30 minutes forward.  Yes, for the first time on our westbound voyage, we lost a bit of time.  Or more accurately, we gave back a half-hour of the five hours we have gained since leaving Miami.  This time change was made to put us in the same time zone as the Marquesas Islands, our next port of call.  However, it may turn out that the change was for naught.

Day 28: Light & Shadows South of the Equator

Thursday, 2 February 2017 (Part I)
At Sea — South Pacific Ocean

Play of light and shadow … a few images that caught my eye when I was walking on deck 10 this morning.

© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.

Day 27: Keeping a Tidy Cabin Keeps My Mind Sane

Wednesday, 1 February 2017
At Sea — Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 9:30p (HAST) … UTC 2:30a (2 February)
Temp: 81F (27C)
Position: 1.20.60S / 147.46.40W

To get away from one’s working environment is, in a sense, to get away from
one’s self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change.
~ Charles Horton Cooley ~

Could it really be true that the Pacific calms down in February as some have said to me.  True or false, that’s what happened for us on this first day of February.  Now, I wouldn’t say that we had a flat-calm sea state, but the motion of the ocean was negligible in comparison to what we have been experiencing.  Though there was a stiff breeze, the sun was out, and except for some puffy clouds that added texture, the sky was blue.  All in all, a wonderful day at sea.

And yes, I spent most of my waking hours enjoying the day on the veranda.

Day 24: No Nawiliwili for Us

Sunday, 29 January 2017
At Sea — Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 8:45p (HAST) … UTC 6:45a (30 January)
Temp: 73.6F (23.1C)
Position: 18.44.41N / 159.16.91W

Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.
~ Peter Hoeg ~

We came oh so close.  But as they say, close only counts in horseshoes.  Our third port cancellation of the cruise happened today when we skipped Nawiliwili, Kauai … our third and final call in Hawaii.  I can’t say that it came as a surprise.  Strong winds + a narrow entry channel into a protected harbor is generally not a good equation for a ship.  And that proved true today.  C’est la Vie!

Day 21: Crossing the Pacific Ocean … Day 5 of 5

Thursday, 26 January
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 8:30p (HAST) … UTC 6:30a (27 January)
Temp: 70.5F (21.4C)
Position: 20.20.06N / 151.57.29W

Not all those who wander are lost.
~ JRR Tolkien ~

What a great day at sea.  Days like this one are why I so enjoy cruising.  And why, despite my best intentions, I never made it off the veranda to catch the few activities I had circled on the Currents.  I did start the day off right with a walk on deck 10 … and my reward was a golden sunrise.

The ocean was far from flat today.  In fact, the sea state was described as very large waves … which the Captain said at noon ranged between 8-15 feet (2-5m).  There were white caps on the surface, but Insignia was giving us a comfortable ride as it was gently pitching and not rolling … the direction of the waves makes all the difference in the world.

Add to that sunshine and blue skies … a comfortable temperature … the white noise of the wake … the dull thrumming of the engines moving Insignia onward towards our first port in Hawaii tomorrow.  Well, couldn’t have asked for a better day.

And it’s apparently going to get better overnight.  Or so Captain B said when he came on the P/A at noon to tell us that we have traveled 2,000 of the 2,300 NM between San Diego and Hilo.  We are expected at the pilot station at 7:00a tomorrow and should be at our berth an hour later as per the schedule.  His use of the word berth prompted us to query Destination Services as we expected to be tendering in Hilo.  But no … looks like a spot has opened up for us to actually dock … always a better option than relying on small boats to get us ashore.

Looking forward to not only our first visit to the Big Island of Hawaii … but also to spending time with a friend who lives there.

© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.

Day 20: Crossing the Pacific Ocean … Day 4 of 5

Wednesday, 25 January 2017
At Sea — Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 9:45p (HAST) … UTC 7:45a (26 January)
Temp: 70F (21.1C)
Position: 21.30.11N / 145.05.84W

You lose sight of things ... and when you travel, everything balances out.
~ Daranna Gidel ~

The deck 10 jogging path was re-opened to walking today … yay!  It felt great to be able to walk without ‘dancing’ my way down passageways, trying to maintain my balance … and even better to be able to get my daily steps in while breathing in fresh sea air.

It was definitely a calmer day at sea — partly cloudy, but with enough sunshine to keep us comfortably warm.  I missed Captain B’s noon announcement, so I have no idea what is forecasted for tomorrow.  Hoping for more of the same as today.

Such a nice day at sea meant spending as much time as possible on the veranda.  Using duct tape to secure the oversized O umbrella to the lounge chair, we rigged up a sunbrella to cut down the glare of the bright light.  A perfect setup for writing and reading without squinting … and even processing photos.  It’s not something I would leave up when I am not on the veranda, so we may have to get a few more rolls of duct tape to see me through to the end of this voyage ;-)

Remember how I mentioned that we tend to take light and healthy meals at the Terrace Café so we don’t feel guilty over splurging on the occasional dinner in the main dining room or in one of the specialty restaurants?  Well, tonight was one of those splurges.  We joined our friends the Zs and the Hoffmans for dinner at the Polo Grill.  Good food, good conversation … a good way to wrap up a lovely day at sea.

© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.

Day 18: Crossing the Pacific Ocean … Day 2 of 5 … Entertaining Ourselves

Monday, 23 January 2017
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 11:00A (AST) … UTC 8:00p (same day)
Temp: 68F (20C)
Position: 25.31.32N / 126.30.36W

I am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child,
travel formed me as much as my formal education.
~ David Rockefeller ~

One of the readers of this blog commented that she was interested in how we entertain ourselves on sea days.  So, instead of waiting until the end of the day to tell you that we were up at 5:00a, and followed our regular sea day routine as Insignia rocked and rolled across the Pacific for a second day in a row — but with sunshine and blue skies today — I thought I would tackle her comment instead.

Day 17: Crossing the Pacific Ocean … Day 1 of 5

Sunday, 22 January 2017
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 9:00p (PST) … UTC 5:00a (23 January)
Temp: 60F (15.6C)
Position: 28.34.07N / 122.52.91W

The suspension of life that occurs onboard ship is addictive.
At sea you are always in transit, in transition.
Nothing is fixed.
Everything is imminent.
A storm could come.
A whale could break the surface.
The future could hold anything.
~ James Gorman ~

Captain B was right when he said last night that there would be considerable motion overnight.  We rocked and rolled the night away — and the day as well.  No matter — we have been in worse.

Day 15: At Sea … En Route to San Diego

Friday, 20 January 2017
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 8:30p (PST) … UTC 4:30a (21 January)
Temp: 58F (14.4C)
Position: 31.00.48N / 116.54.01W

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony
which once existed between man and the universe.
~ Anatole France ~

Nothing exciting to write about really.  This was a typical day at sea for us, with the addition of the Oceania Club Party tonight.  So we got gussied up and went to have some bubbly.  The 15 points we are receiving for this voyage have vaulted us into the gold tier, but we opted to have the recognition pins delivered to our cabin instead of receiving them on stage … just not our kind of thing.

The temperature has definitely grown more chilly.  But we have the appropriate layers of clothing for these temps, so no problem continuing with our outdoor activities or even dining al fresco at the Terrace Café for breakfast.  I bundled up with the cashmere blankets provided for our in-cabin use and even managed to do some reading on the veranda.

The seas were fair this morning; the sun in and out, but the skies mostly overcast.  As Captain B predicted, the heavier seas made an appearance shortly after his noon P/A announcement and the ship’s movement changed.  Gale force winds, with the sea state increasing to 15-20 feet (5-6 m) as the afternoon hours wore on.  We are definitely dancing and shimmying on the ocean tonight.

I’m going to take advantage of the motion of the ocean and have it rock me to sleep.  Tomorrow is a port day for us … we’ll see if San Diego welcomes us with rain or sunshine.

© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.

Day 14: No Cabo San Lucas For Us

Thursday, 19 January 2017
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 8:30p (MST) … UTC 3:30a (January 20)
Temp: 60F (15.6C)
Position: 25.53.01N / 113.55.42W

It is good to have an end to journey toward;
but it is the journey that matters in the end.
~ Ernest Hemingway ~

What a gorgeous day we are having!  And it all started with a colorful sunrise.

Blue skies, plenty of sunshine, calm seas.  There is a breeze out on the open decks that adds a chill to the day, but the sun tempers its effects.  Here on the veranda — at a little after 1:00p — it is simply terrific.

In his noon announcement, Captain B said the temperature was about 68F (20C), but back here, where the breeze isn’t affecting us today, the temp has risen from 65F (18C) at 7:00a to a very comfy 75F (24C).  I am stocking up on this cool weather for those days when we will be “cooking” later in the voyage.

Day 13: At Sea … En Route to Cabo … or Not

Wednesday, 18 January 2017
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean

Stats @ Ship’s Time 10:00p (MST) … UTC 5:00a (19 January)
Temp: 70F (21.1C)
Position: 21.10.76N / 108.27.47W

I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.
~ Susan Sontag ~

I love days at sea.  I know I’ve said it before, but IMHO one can’t say it often enough ;-)

Day 11: At Sea … En Route to Acapulco

Monday, 16 January 2017
At Sea — North Pacific Ocean … En Route to Acapulco
Temps: 81.7F (27.6C) @ UTC 2:45a (ship’s time 8:45p)

Voyage, travel, and change of place impart vigor.
~ Seneca ~

It felt so good to wake up this morning and know that we had nowhere to be.  Ahhh — a day at sea … after several days of being out and about, well deserved I think.

Day 7: Brunch En Route to Golfito

Thursday, 12 January 2017 (Part I)
At Sea — Pacific Ocean

Quiet morning at sea as Insignia sails to Costa Rica for an afternoon in Golfito.  We spent a portion of our morning at the Brunch hosted by O in the dining room.

I’ll be back to write about our day later …

© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.

Day 4: Crossing the South Caribbean

Monday, 9 January 2017
At Sea — Caribbean Sea
Temps: 82F (28C) @ UTC 5:00P (ship’s time Noon)

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry,
and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
~ Maya Angelou ~

We were up at 6a.  I blinked and it was noon.  I blinked again and it is already 3:00p.  Please tell me where the day has gone!

Day 3: No Grand Cayman For Us

Sunday, 8 January 2017
At Sea — Caribbean Sea
Temps: 79F (26C) @ UTC 5:00P (ship’s time Noon)

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.
I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

We woke up at 6:30a to a bit of motion of the ocean.  It was a dull, gray morning that greeted us.  The NavChannel listed the wind speed as a “fresh breeze” at about 31 knots.  The sea condition was described as large wavelets … a leftover from yesterday, I imagine … the waves definitely looked bigger.