Location map

No sunrise again, too many clouds. It was 9 degrees this morning and the pool was sort of warm in spots. However, it was very bouncy again and got quite rough at times. I actually quit 5 minutes before the end of my usual stay as it got quite nasty. Didn’t want one of those poor lifeguards jumping in to rescue me, lol. Lots of swell out on the ocean and the ship has been bouncy all day.

Here’s a photo of the Wind Jammer dining room as they are closing up this side for the lunch setup.

The inside of the ship is comfortably warm, except near the doors leading outside, those foyers are not so pleasant.

Carl joined me for dinner after his gym session. He’s been doing lots of planning for his Canadian tour. He said he even has bear spray as well as insect spray!!!

Here’s another of those unsigned displays.

Probably won’t see the sunset tonight as it’s at 9 pm. Just a bit late for me, but looking out at the clouds, not going to see much anyway, so here’s it at 7.30.

Location map and lack of sunrise 6 am!

A very grey start ot the day, horizon filled clouds! The pool was a little warm, but you have to take a shower before getting into the pool and that was very cold indeed. Quite windy and only 12 degrees, but I think the wind chill factor must have been nearer zero, lol. Pool wasn’t too rocky either as you can see the ocean was quite smooth again. Not so much this evening, a bit of rocking going on now.

Stayed an hour in the pool which was an extra 15 minutes, too scared to get out, LOL. At least the interior of the ship is heated now as well so it wasn’t too bad getting back to my room and that lovely hot shower.

This is a portion of the corridor I use to get to and from the pool. I’m about half way down it, so much the same behind me!

There are also displays in the corridors, but they have absolutely nothing in writing to say what they are for or contain.

Once again a quiet day. Caught up with Carl at dinner. Another hour forward on our clocks tonight. Sunset was also nothing much as too many clouds still around.

Location map

Had a bad night, so no sunrise this morning, as I slept through it! The pool was only lightly heated, so didn’t stay in as long as I usually do, however I had asked Carl to pop by and get a photo to prove I’ve been in the pool, LOL Icy wind again!

The pool was actually very quiet today, none of the regulars in the deck chairs! Getting too cold for them. The water also was quiet. Not much of a swell out there today, the ocean was very flat.

Just mooched along doing the usual once again! It would be nice if there wasn’t a bank of clouds on the horizon at sunset time!

Location map (6 pm) and sunrise colour 5.30 am

I usually sit out on the balcony, after the sunrise, for a couple of hours or so and do the location map at the same time. Well it’s getting too cold to sit out first thing! So I snapped the sunrise colour and went back to bed, forgetting the location map until dinner time, sorry!

There wasn’t much heat in the pool this morning, just enough to take some of the chill out of the water. It’s the icy wind when getting out that’s more of a problem. Not sure if this is going to continue much longer, lol. Mind you I’m quite amazed at myself for what I have managed to do pool wise.

The day just disappears. By the time I’ve been to the pool, showered and had brunch it’s usually getting on for 11 am. Then a bit of family tree, games & reading, more family tree and it’s time for dinner. I joined Carl tonight, as I’m quite a bit slower than he is getting there, LOL.

Here’s a photo of deck 5 from deck 7. Not quite sure why it turned blue, must have been something to do with the glass I photographed it through, even though it doesn’t look blue visually, the camera obviously sees something else.

Also, here’s the latest towel animal, a seal. We have another time change tonight, Perth will be 16 hours into the future!

Location map 7 am

We had to go forward another hour last night, and as I was awake half the night, it was 7 before I woke properly and I had missed the sunrise. However, I hadn’t missed the pool opening at 8. They were a little late as they were having problems removing the netting which is used overnight. It hadn’t had warmed water pumped in for very long so it was slightly chilly in spots. Once again it was very bouncy but a different bounce to the last session, maybe we were hitting the ocean swell at a different angle.

After brunch I went down to the excursions desk as I hadn’t been able to book a tour in Victoria (Canada) before I left home. Sorted that and then back to my room for, guess what, rest and relaxation, LOL.

I did finish the jigsaw, as Carl didn’t like it overly much, I couldn’t just leave it partly done!

Carl popped into the dining room to grab some water, all hot and sweaty after his gym session. He sat and chatted for a while before heading off for a shower and a late dinner! The sunsets are getting later too, so was back in my room after dinner to get it.

Location map and sunrise 6-6.30. The sun appearing from behind the island of Hawaii.

All the misty stuff floating over the island is vog. Volcanic emissions reacting to sunlight and oxygen, basically volcanic smog. It is permanent in this area with the active Kilauea Volcano. They are expecting another eruption in a few days time.

We had to catch the tender again to get to shore. I had booked a glassbottom boat excursion, so then hopped onto another boat. the Marian. She was built by the guides’ father, in their backyard on the island. First off there was a large pod of spinner dolphins in the bay. We cruised over a couple of areas of coral reef. These were formed by corals growing on volcanic rock.

Lots of pretty fish, especially the bright yellow tang. Only thing with looking down is that you see the tops of everything. Until a swirl of water push the fish to their sides. There were long-spined sea urchins as well.

There were manta rays too, but hard to photograph. The ship looked good through a port hole!

Back on board for lunch and some relaxation! Then caught up with Carl at dinner. He had already eaten, so he kept me company while I had mine. We have 5 days of cruising now to Canada & the US. It’s getting close to the end of holidaying!

Location map and hint of colour 6.12

The pool was nicely heated again and not as bouncy as the last time. But still a swell or two to contend with occasionally. It did try raining a few times, but nothing much happened. However, the wind was icy when out of the pool and wet!

I had a bad night, didn’t sleep much at all, so after brunch I tried napping, but not to much avail. Here’s hoping tonight is better. Watched the Napali Coast pass by, read, played a few games, did some family tree, what a way to occupy ones time. LOL.

The Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, located on the northwest side of Kauaʻi, Hawaii, is a breathtaking 16-mile stretch of towering sea cliffs (pali) up to 4,000 feet high, deep narrow valleys, and waterfalls. Accessible only by air, sea, or a rigorous 11-mile hiking trail, it is renowned for its remote, pristine beauty and volcanic, rugged terrain. The ship went along the coast, then turned around and came back so balconies on both sides had a view. However, it was a bit like the New Zealand fjords, too much moisture hanging around making visibility very poor.

Managed to bump into Carl as he was coming down the stairs from the gym and I was heading for the elevators after dinner, bowl of fruit salad in hand.

The ship has definitely got more rocky as the day has gone on. When I went out to see if there was a sunset, there was a very strong breeze and white water rushing from the front.

No need for a location map today as we haven’t moved! Did get a bit of colour from the sunrise though. 6.10

Had another coach tour today, but didn’t realise until we actually headed in the same direction that it was almost the same as yesterday’s, just an hour shorter. I sat next to Murray as the bus was pretty full. The driver/guide wasn’t quite as focused on Hawaii 5-O as yesterday’s but it was mentioned! As was the marina where Gilligan’s boat left on his never ending 3 hour tour!

Photo of a great building mural that I hadn’t seen yesterday.

We didn’t stop at the blowhole lookout as no bus parking, but we did stop at the same shops, no ice cream this time!

I did take photos of various volcanic mountains as we drove along. All very green. Apparently they’ve had quite a severe drought and all the mountains were brown. But a few weeks ago they had so much rain it caused many land & mud slides. Closed the Pali Highway and lots of other places needed repairing. Normally the rainfall on the other side of the island is double this side, 180-200 inches as opposed to 80-100 inches. The other sider is always much greener! I couldn’t see any difference, it all looks very green.

After the shops I moved to the very end seat of the bus as I had discovered where the final part of the tour was heading. The Punchbowl Crater and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. I was a mess when we got to the front entrance and a wreck by the time we had driven around and out again. I’m in tears now just writing this.

The view of Honolulu from the Punchbowl Road.

Back for lunch at a reasonable time and then nothing much. Didn’t see Carl at dinner, hope he made the trek down from Diamond Head lookout ok! I did like watching the tugs bringing in a container ship first thing..

Location map and early colour 6.09

We obviously docked really early as we were stationary when I woke. Took this panorama from the balcony first thing!

Things were a bit chaotic this morning, as everyone, even those not going ashore had to go through US Immigration. Those on organised excursions had to turn up 30 minutes before their assembly time (8.45 for me). Others had to have collected a number like Carl did yesterday. Well there were long queues and not moving very fast. Because I had a stick and an excursion I was ushered through the crowds. It looked like there were only 4 people on duty. I had all my fingers/thumbs scanned and a photo taken before being able to head off to the excursion meeting room. Then sat and waited another 40 minutes. Bus left at 10 for a 4 hour, south Oahu tour. One would have had to watch both versions of Hawaii 5-O to appreciate the tour guide as he pointed out lots and lots of places where episodes happened! He did mention other things too along the way. First stop was the Halona Blowhole Lookout, but not enough swell for the blowhole to be working.

Interesting lava rock wall!

Then along the Pali Hghway to restrooms & shops! We were given a coconut & macadamia ice cream as we got off the bus! Very nice and I kept the spoon, that was nice too, LOL. I did buy a dress and one of those bags that tuck into a small flat cover.

Then on up to the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout. I stayed on the bus, but I do think I came here with Zack back in 2003. Just a few images taken from the bus as we returned to the ship.

Lunch was at 2.15 pm, just a bit late!!! Then a bit of rest & relaxation. It was seafood night in the dining room and Carl joined me a bit later. Sunset is very inconvenient at the moment, happening at dinner time!

Location map and no sign of sunrise! 6.05

A rather miserable morning, no colour of sunrise. Apparently we had a lot of rain overnight. The pool was still fenced off when I got there. They were getting confirmation that it could be opened, so sat and waited for a little while. Yay, it was deemed okay, so they unfenced it. Well, I can say the main word to describe it was bouncy. One minute my feet would be flat on the floor (not usual in the deep end) and then I was looking over the edge. As my normal position is staring into the side about a head lower than the top edge, it was quite a swell! It just made the exercising interesting!

Bumped into Carl at brunch. He had had to get his call ticket for the US immigration check tomorrow. As I’m doing an excursion my immigration will be done just before the excursion leaves the ship.

Had another special delivery! Very nice!

Did the usual once again for the rest of the day. Carl was in the dining room already when I got there for dinner, so he kept me company whilst I ate. Nice having someone grab a beaker of water for me!!

The sunset didn’t look promising either, so grabbed this photo from the dining room. It was a good as it got!