April 28, 2013 Sea Day

Lovely day with a nice breeze which made sunbathing on deck 11 quite nice! After a shower we went to the fabulous Sunday Brunch. Lobster claws and Prime Rib were highlights as well as an Alaskan Wellington. (Salmon, halibut and spinach wrapped in pastry) Our usual favorites of smoked salmon, pate and salads. The desserts as usual were to die for. Chocolate covered bananas and chocolate dipped elephant ears were our favorites. Our tablemates said the lemon pie actually was true lemon flavor and the crème caramel was perfection. Only 1 more brunch before the end of the cruise. Sigh……

This afternoon I am getting all of our pictures backed up. I hadn’t done that since China, so needed to get caught up. I have quite a job waiting for me once we get “home” sorting through all of them and putting them up on my site on Picasa Web Albums. I was hoping to keep up with them on the cruise, but that became way too time consuming and uses way too many internet minutes.

We also need to get our things together for the next 3 port days. We need to get our day bag packed for tomorrow and snorkel gear for the next day and day bag for the next day. All clothes ready for the respective days as well.

Tonight the show is the male lead singer of the production numbers. Then it will be early to bed since we have a 4:00a wakeup call for our 6:00a tour that will get back probably after 10:00p. Then it is up early for our snorkel tour the day after that.

We do get to set our clocks back an hour tonight so we can match Egypt’s time zone, so that will help!

Needless to say I won’t be blogging for 4 days.

April 19 Cruise Summary Hong Kong to Dubai

Captain Andrea Poggi 

Hong Kong to Cai Lan (Vietnam)         614 nautical miles

Cai Lan to Phu My (Vietnam)               779 nautical miles

Phu My to Laem Chabang (Thailand)   607 nautical miles

Laem Chabang to Singapore                 802 nautical miles

Singapore to Port Kelang (Malaysia)    186 nautical miles

Port Kelang to Penang (Malaysia)         170 nautical miles

Penang to Phuket (Thailand)                  177 nautical miles

Phuket to Mangalore (India)                 1,650 nautical miles

Mangalore to Mumbai (India)                 396 nautical miles

Mumbai to Dubai (U.A.E.)                   1,152 nautical miles 

Total distance traveled from Hong Kong to Dubai is 6,533 nautical miles 

Leaving Hong Kong the Captain entered the Traffic Separation Scheme and then passed the Lei Yue Mun narrow heading towards Vietnam. During the next morning the Pacific Princess steamed in a South-Westerly direction following the Vietnamese coast. In the afternoon we passed Yalang Bay on our starboard side, in the evening we altered to a North-Westerly course towards Halong Bay.  

The next morning we passed through Passe Henriette passing several small islands on each side. We then entered the channel and anchored once the transit was completed. 

That evening we exited the channel and headed towards our next port of Phu My in a Southerly course following the East coast of Vietnam. After 2 days we altered to a Westerly course. Approaching Phu My the ship altered to a Northerly course and navigated the Vinh Ganh Rai passing the city of Vung Tau on our starboard side and Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve on our port side, arriving at Phu My. 

Departing the Captain set a South-Westerly course towards Thailand. The next morning we altered our course to the West following the West coast of Vietnam, across the Thailand Gulf. 

After navigating the Gulf of Thailand, passed the many oil rigs we approached Laem Chabang on a northerly heading passing between the islands of Ko Phai and Ko Lan.  

Departing Laem Chabang in the evening we reversed course and set a southerly course across the Gulf of Thailand once again passing the many oil rigs in the area. 

The next afternoon we switched to a South-Easterly course towards Singapore. Throughout the next day and night we maintained a Southerly course following the West coast of Malaysia, across the South China Sea. Early in the morning we entered the Straits of Singapore, passing to the north of Horsburgh Lighthouse, where we made our entry into the Singapore Reporting System. The Pacific Princess made her way through the Marina Cruise Bay, passing Sentossa Island on the port side.  

Throughout the night we maintained a Northerly course and in the early morning altered to a Southerly direction arriving at Penang. Departing Penang a North-Westerly course was set towards Phuket. 

Leaving Phuket we set a South-Westerly course towards Mangalore. Throughout the night we steamed through the Andaman Sea. During the day we passed between Nicobar Islands and Ten Degree Channel making our entry into Bank of Bengal. The next day Pacific Princess steamed in a Westerly direction across the Bay of Bengal and the next day entered the Mid-Indian Basin, following the South coast of Sri Lanka. 

Throughout the next morning we steamed in a Westerly direction for Mangalore across the Lakshadweep Sea, following the Indian Southerly coast and in the afternoon we altered to a Northerly course by the Indian Westerly coast arriving at Mangalore the next day. 

Departing Mangalore we set a North-Westerly course towards Mumbai following the Indian coast and the next day crossed the Arabian Sea and set a Northerly course arriving at Mumbai. 

Departing Mumbai for Dubai we set a North-Westerly course across the Arabian Sea or the next 2 days. On the next day we continued the same course across the Gulf of Oman that connects the Arabian Sea with the strait of Hormuz which runs to the Persian Gulf. The gulf borders Pakistan and Iran on the north and Oman on the south and the United Arab Emirates on the west. 

In the early afternoon we approached the Strait of Hormuz and in the evening we altered to a Westerly course passing through the strait towards Dubai. The Strait is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean on the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an enclave of Oman. At it’s narrowest is the Strait is 21 nautical miles wide.

 

Throughout the night the Pacific Princess set various Southerly tracks towards Dubai. During the initial approach the ship rounded the Palm Deira and made their final approach. We altered to a Southerly course through the breakwater into the harbor called Mina Rashid.  

End of segment 3.

April 27, 2013 Sea Day

Woke up to kind of a hazy day. The sun was shining, but low clouds made it seem dull out. We took a break from the sun today and I started packing things that I won’t wear in the next couple of weeks. I filled a few space saver bags and our cabin steward used his vacuum to get the air out.

We went to the port lecture on Port Said which is where we will see the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx as well as Cairo with the antiquities museum.

We skipped the dining room again in favor of the French Buffet today.

Spent the afternoon going through things to pack or not and did a few loads of laundry since we have lots of port days coming up.

Went to dinner and the show was an encore presentation by Michael Bacala, the Polish violinist. Very good performance! There was also a special show at 10:00 with Sally Jones, but we opted to relax in the cabin.

Only 1 more sea day before Egypt. Tomorrow we have a Sunday Brunch! (only 1 more of those left on this cruise) We thought we missed a Sunday Brunch while we were on the India Overland, but it was canceled due to the Noro Virus.

Also, I finally finished the Cruise Summary for segment 3 which should have been in after Dubai, but I wanted to get the ports entries done, so I wouldn’t forget too much. So, I’ll post it after this one.

April 26, 2013 Sea Day

Another hot and sunny day! There was hardly any breeze today, even on deck 11, but we sunbathed and cooled off in the pool this morning.



Had lunch in the buffet today since it was the Italian Trattoria. Then we went to the lecture on the Suez Canal which we transit in a few days.

Then we went to the Meet & Mingle for all the World Cruisers in the Cabaret Lounge. It’s the first time they did a function just for all of us doing the full world cruise. Most of us thought it would have been nice to do one early in the first segment so we could have met each other. But, they had free cocktails and snacks and it seemed like most everyone was there.

I spent quite a bit of the day confirming tours for this last segment. I contacted tour companies with questions or updates. I have 2 openings on our Cyprus tour that so far hasn’t filled up.

Later this afternoon we passed through the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea. There is a narrow area where we could see Yemen on one side and Djibouti on the other.

The show tonight was a production number called Shake, Rattle & Roll with 50’s & 60’s music. Very fun show. Even Peter and Jason (Cruise director and deputy cruise director) performed a couple of songs.

2 more sea days!

April 25, 2013 Sea Day

Today we had a group photo shoot in the late morning for all the full world cruise passengers. Most all officers and staff were there as well. There are about 227 of us.

 

Then we went to the port lecture on Petra from Aqaba, Jordan, before we went to lunch in the dining room. We sat with some interesting people that had just joined the cruise this last segment. The buffet upstairs sounded good as it was a Desert Rose buffet, but the menu in the dining room was one of my favorites.

We sunbathed in the afternoon and now I am finally getting caught up with this blog. Whoo Hoo! (don’t get too used to it…lol)

Oh, I don’t think I mentioned that finally the ship has been declared healthy so the Noro must be under control. We can now serve ourselves in the buffet and things are back on the tables again. (silverware etc.)

Before we knew it, it was time for dinner and the show again. The show tonight was the MacDonald Brothers, a musical variety duo from Scotland. They sang, played various instruments and were a lot of fun. It makes me wish we would have drug our tired butts to see them after we got back from our shore excursion the other night.

3 more sea days!

April 24, 2013 Sea Day

We slept in a bit and after breakfast went up to deck 11 to sun bathe. Showered and went to the Pub Lunch offered today. It’s always good. We sat with Rita and Frank who have a couple tours with us. Marianne was there at a different table with Bonnie and Dennis and another couple.

We went to the afternoon port lecture on Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh, our next 2 ports in Egypt.

After that I came back and worked on the blog.

Oh, I had my sea days confused, I think I wrote about the dolphins on our sea day after Doha, but it was today. That’s what happens when I have to try and remember what we did days later when the ports are boom boom boom! Greg saw them earlier right before the port lecture. One of the guys that are watching out for pirates was watching something intently and Greg went out to see what he was looking at and it was dolphins. I saw them later from the balcony and then a couple times at dinner. Huge pods of over 50 of them. I have never seen them fly that far out of the water before, except at Sea World.

The show tonight was an encore performance by Sally Jones with a whole new show. Very talented singer and entertainer, with a good sense of humor as well!

We got to set the clocks back another hour! Nice to get an extra hour of sleep or whatever!

4 more sea days until our next port. Someone mentioned that we only have 3 weeks left of the cruise. That just doesn’t seem possible. The thought of packing it all up and leaving is quite daunting.

We are in the Gulf of Aden now and the Captain has the ship cranked up a little faster to pass through here. We don't want the "pie rats" to get us. Not sure what movie that was from, but we can't stop calling them "pie rats"

April 23, 2013 Muscat, Oman 8:00a to 5:00p

Oman's capital was once a major trading center controlled and influenced by the Portuguese. Today, visitors flock to Oman thanks to its azure air, towering desert mountains, and crystalline waters. Muscat itself is an Arabian fable sprung to life. Old 16th century forts guard the bay and the palace, while the vibrant souqs offer daggers, superb silver jewelry, and traditional crafts and costumes.

Muscat's Al Alam palace is the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. We dock in Mina Qaboos today.

Today we have a full day tour set up with Mark’s Tours. Valentina was helpful and responded quickly to emails. www.marktoursoman.com/
 

We are joined today by Marianne, Gail & Hal and Jeff & Julie. Yesterday at the meet and greet 2 other people canceled with no time to replace their openings.  So, I contacted Valentina and told her we had 2 less people and got new pricing and she said she set up a smaller van instead of a bus. She reminded us we needed ankles and wrists covered for the mosque and a scarf to cover our heads.
 

We took the ship shuttle to the main gate of the port and she wasn’t there. Greg called and she said she was on her way. She shows up with a vehicle that seats exactly 7. Another car followed her and parked and a girl gets out and also gets in the vehicle. Valentina put a blanket down in the row that seats 3 and says that will help so we don’t feel the spaces between the seats and 4 of us squished in there. Luckily none of us are huge. We wondered who this other girl was, we thought it was a guide and Valentina was the driver or perhaps it was her daughter. However, it turned out she was a paying tourist and was put on with our “private” tour.
 

We drove through the city of Muscat passing the Ministries district and Royal Opera House.

Then we were off to our “short” stop at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. It was a majestic white sandstone building and can hold up to 20,000 worshipers. It really was beautiful with this huge chandelier and ornate carpets and ceilings. We saw the understated women’s place of worship first and then the men’s. However, our short visit turned into a long visit.

 sail in

 waiting for the tour guide



 

Our next hitch was when we confirmed our return time of 4:00 and on board no later than 4:30. She said she thought we had until 6:30 and couldn’t do everything in the plan. Every email I had from her confirmed we could do the tour and be back at 4:30. So, now we have to choose what’s the most important things to us. I really wanted the lunch with the Bedouin family and the dune bashing at the sands, but couldn’t do both. The girl we don’t know says “well, the sands are the most important”. OK, who is this girl and why does she have a say in what we do? Plus, Valentina now tells us it’s a 2.5 hour drive each way instead of a 2 hour drive each way. There goes more time.
 

So we drive out of Muscat to Sharqiya region the place of the famous Wahiba Sands. We drove through the beautiful mountains which reminded me a lot of Arizona. Along the way we saw lots of goats, camels and donkeys. Also a lot of new construction of some really nice homes out in the middle of nowhere.

 

 



We stopped at a mini mart for a bathroom break and it also was where we picked up the 4WD vehicles for the dune bashing. Each car held 3 people and the driver. Interesting they were playing American rap type music in our vehicle. I heard the other drivers had different tastes in music played in their vehicles. It had rained hard the night before so the sands were not dry and didn’t make for good dune bashing. With soft dry sand there is way more slipping and sliding. Our driver however did drive up and down a few steep areas. Our guide rode with us and she was screaming and I was laughing because it was fun!

 

The driver of the 4WD took us to a different Bedoiun family and we got out to take photos and were invited in for dates and coffee. There were camels and a ton of goats there. They had dried palm fronds that made their camp and they had a tent made of them that was their bedroom. We were taken to the guest quarters which was a medium sized “room” with carpets on the walls and like a tarp to sit on. The floor of course was sand. We sat down and a little old lady who requested not to have her picture taken came in with coffee and these small cups and a huge bowl of dates that we passed around. Man, they were good. We all ate a bunch of them and had seconds of the coffee. We asked if she had any handicrafts since the family we were supposed to visit was to have them for sale. Our guide asked and the lady came back with a bag with some things she had made. Colored cloth rings and bracelets, purses and a couple silver containers that we were told hold eye makeup or the like. The Bedouin woman only spoke Arabic, but one of the drivers helped translate. To convert the money our guide who is Russian was calculating in Russian. Greg could understand her and they spoke briefly in Russian. I got one of the silver vials.

 





 

We then finished our dune bashing and drove back to the mini mart. We had a few photo ops and then we needed to hit the road and try to make it back to port on time.

We were hungry since we had not had lunch so Valentina took us to another mini mart to grab some munchies for the car ride back. We grabbed a couple of sodas, cheese pastry type sandwiches and chocolate wafer bars.
 

We wanted to be dropped at the souq for about 15 minutes of shopping, but one in our group loudly protested and we were taken back into the port 25 minutes before all aboard.
 

So, we missed the lunch with the Beduion family and driving the Corniche in Old Muscat for a photo stop at the Sultan’s Palace flanked by the Portuguese forts of Jalali and Mirani and stop at Jahili Fort and Sultan Qaboos Palace for a photo and shopping at the souq.
 

I felt bad since it was the first tour that Hal & Gail took with us and it was less than what was promised. Not a good first impression. Like Doha, I don’t think they are that prepared for tourism. However, I’m not sure we actually ended up with a tour by Mark’s Tours. They have nice vehicles that are well marked. Valentina said she now worked at the Oryx farm where we dune bashed. I got the feeling she stole our business and getting vehicles was a problem. She had borrowed the one we were using from a friend. She didn’t know how to drive it and it had child proof locks that won’t open unless the car is shut off and so we wasted a lot of time figuring out why the doors wouldn’t open. She also drove with both feet. Gas, brakes, gas, brakes and kind of herky jerky.
 

At one point in the ride to the sands Jeff made a joke and everyone is the back seat was laughing. Valentina thought somehow that everyone was laughing at her and got upset. She wanted to know what was so funny. It was kind of hard to explain the joke. Marianne had said Sherry had told her that a couple of the ladies wet their panties during their dune bashing and so she might want to bring a spare pair along. She had told the story about an hour ago. Jeff and Julie were getting a bit car sick with the sway of the back of the vehicle and just her sporatic driving. Jeff joked “I might need Marianne’s panties soon” We all laughed. They were also making fun of me because I take a lot of photos out the window and of course most don’t turn out that well from a fast moving car. I joke that trees or trucks always jump into my picture. So we were laughing at some of my great pictures of trees instead of the building or whatever I was trying to get a picture of.

 ride back to port

 sail away

 pirate safe guards



 

So, I’m going to email Mark’s Tours and see if they really organized our tour or if Valentina stole our reservation.
 

We showered and made it to dinner and the show. The show was fantastic. It was a violinist named Michael Bacala from Poland.
 

Now, for 5 relaxing days at sea before we hit lots of ports with only a couple sea days sprinkled in there.