World Cruise 2024 Archives

Abacos, Bahamas, Africa, South Africa, World Cruise 2024

On To Africa

March 23, 2024 Bobby Di

We sailed away from Freemantle/Perth with a longing to return once more to the Great Southern Land of Australia, but with great anticipation toward our next destination.

***Indian Ocean, leaving Perth heading west to Africa***

Africa is nick-named the “Mother Continent”, since it is he oldest inhabited continent on earth and is home to 54 countries, more than any other continent on earth.

**Western Australia to Mauritius, Africa**

The time was filled with lazy days, punctuated with wonderful food and service, new found friends, great entertainment, special events, cruise surprises and glorious relaxation and gaining four hours by setting the clock back every couple of days.

**Reserve Dining: Bob Di, Libby, Pattie, David, Bob, Robin**

**Production Cast and Band were spectacular**!

The entertainment included a tribute to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons which brought me back to the night I first saw them perform on Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1963. Oh, “What a Night!”

Princess aimed to please with a variety of novel Enrichment Presentations including a series of informative events from Grant Harrold, the Royal Butler to King Charles. Grant also conducted special sessions on social graces, proper decorum at tea, including proper napkin placement and use, as well as, the polite way to stir your hot beverage.

The cruisers, including myself, especially enjoyed presentations by Leo Rossi the former rock ‘n’ roll tour manager, who’s worked with such legendary bands as The Who, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, ELO, Billy Idol, and most notably Fleetwood Mac. Over several days Leo regaled us with exclusive stories and photos from Rossi’s life on the road as he was living out his own rock ‘n’ roll fantasy.

The next day, Day 39, brought 8 to 10 feet seas, the most active yet, but still comfortable. It certainly did not curtail any of the ship’s activities.

The afternoon wine tasting event was delightful and included special pairings of 5 chosen wines and canapés .

It featured carefully selected vintages with delectable complimentary bites. Basically, it was a cultured and informative event to allow afternoon intoxication, as I said. . .delightful!

Early that evening came a surprise, the Captain elected to inform us via special notice, the slight possibility of encountering Space Debris from two decommissioned satellites.

At least it wasn’t the Houthis this time! It turned out to be no problem at all and we sailed on with no problem.

I believe it was on Day 40 that I got an anxious feeling that the trip was going to end before I was ready to leave it. We have settled into the cruising routine and really enjoying it. Only 57 days to go!

We continued to enjoy the ship and were delighted with the daily pool towel whimsy of the Deck Staff at the Lido Pool:

On Day 42, we arrived at Mauritius at 7:am. We prepared for our excursion in the 82º, sunny conditions.

Mauritius is an island country in the Indian Ocean about (1,100 nautical miles) off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island (also called Mauritius),and three other islands. Along with nearby Réunion, they are part of the Mascarene Islands.

The main island of Mauritius (population 1.3 million) spans 790 sq. mi which is smaller than the smallest state of the US, Rhode Island (1200 sq. miles). Port Louis with 150,000 is the capital and largest city.

As we disembarked, we were greeted by local performers who lifted our spirits as we began our tour with a scenic drive through Port Louis, past sugarcane fields en route to one of the island’s most popular destination, Sugar World.

This former sugar factory turned museum gives the history 0f the island island and details the process of sugar manufacturing.

**The essential sugar by-product. . . Rum!**

The weather was magnificent as the temperature climbed and the allowed for a wonderful tour of the nearby Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens. Encompassing 92 acres and first established in 1767 it is the oldest Botanical Garden in the Southern Hemisphere.

Exiting the Gardens ,we drove up steep narrow streets with densely packed housing to reach the Citadel.

La Citadel or Fort Adelaide offered wonderful views of the city, harbor and dormant volcanos.

On the way back to the ship we fought traffic to view government buildings, houses of worship and other points of interest. Finally on our way back to the ship we encountered a welcome sight. . . Super Mario!!

Back on board, we departed Mauritius and began our next leg of the trip encompassing 5.5 sea days and 2,300 nautical miles until we reached Cape Town, South Africa.

We settled into the Sea Day routine and in addition to the usual enjoyment of the ship’s amenities, I took advantage of an iphoto class that was led by one our cruise mates, Dennis Baker. His background as a gifted teacher and a professional photographer were evident as he helped us all understand the power and nuances of the incredible mobile device we that we hold in our hands. Thank you Dennis.

**Dennis Baker, Photographer Extraordinaire**

As Princess often does, they included a special show with gifted entertainers such as Dan Middleditch. Many of us have seen “Elvis” shows before, but few can match Dan’s high energy performance.

**A Tribute to Elvis – Dan Middleditch**

As we made our way in the Indian Ocean in what seemed like an endless empty sea, I pulled up a Marine Traffic App. Here it’s plain to see that with over 50,000 to 60,000 merchant vessels and ocean going passenger ships, you are not alone . . . amazing!

**Island Princess position east of Madagascar**

Filling our days with Enrichment Lectures, Bobamala research and relaxation, I continued to trade Equity Options. As we traveled westward, it was becoming easier to trade since I no longer had to get up in the middle of the night for the Stock Market open at Eastern Standard Time.

**Moderate to Heavy Sea . . . that is sea spray up to Deck 9**

After we rounded Madagascar, the sea picked up to the heaviest yet at about 12 to 15′. Some noticed the enhanced movement, others took it in stride. As Spike Milligan, comedian and writer said, “The best cure for Sea Sickness is to sit under a tree.”

The Production Staff, with their talented dancers and incomparable band, displayed their talents with an evening of “Latin Rhythms” displaying high energy and provocative dancing.

**Showing support for the Production Team**

We arrived at Cape Town on Day 48 where it was 66º and overcast. Regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Cape Town offers museums, lush parks and international shopping. It’s famous for its towering mountains, magnificent beaches, award winning wineries and impressive sea life including Great White Sharks, Whales, Cape Fur Seals and African Penguins.

Table Mountain is synonymous with Cape Town and is one of the most iconic mountains on earth.

**Table Top Mountain covered with a Table Cloth**

We met Nabil, our tour guide, who would escort us via Motorcoach for the 3 hour jaunt with 80 of our closest friends to the Aquila Game Reserve, home to the Big Five .

**Striking Landscape and award winning vineyards northwest of Cape Town on the way to Aquila**

This Reserve is ideal for those who want to see African wildlife without venturing too far from Cape Town. Once there, we enjoyed a buffet and time to relax and enjoy the grounds before embarking on our game drive.

Our Guide “IQoQodo” drove and led us on our 1.5 hr game drive with David, Pattie, Don and Gail.

We travelled the dusty roads and riverbeds experiencing some bone crushing moments which brought back memories of a similar excursion in Sanbona last year. It didn’t take long for encounters with all types of animals.

Our search for giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, hippos, elan and elephants were met with resounding success.

So with a feeling of accomplishment after a long, dusty, but beautiful day, we said thanked Aquila for an unforgettable experience.

The Island Princess spent the night at the Dock in the center of Cape Town, just adjacent to the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. The V & A Waterfront is South Africa’s most popular shopping destination.

It boasts over 450 retail outlets selling everything from fashion, homeware and curios, jewelry, leather goods and audio visual equipment.

Restaurants, museums, boat trips, helicopter rides and all types of activities can be enjoyed. We spent a few days here last year at the nearby Table Bay Hotel and loved it.

We strolled for a couple of hours around the waterfront enjoying the weather, the sights and the shops.

**The African Trading Post was jammed with souvenir shoppers.**

And just like that, it was time to return to the ship and enjoy cocktails and dinner before heading off to our next port of call on the west coast of Africa . . . Namibia.

**More Reserve Class Service with Super Mario, Tyrone and Mario.**

We’ll see you soon at our next ports of Walvis Bay, Namibia, Mindelo in Cabo Verde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Arrecife in Lanzarote and Agadir, Morocco.

Fair winds and following seas,

Captain Bob

Australia, World Cruise 2024

The Great Southern Land

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 Bobby Di

We continued our visit to Australia, the Great Southern Land, famous for its natural wonders, wide open spaces, deserts, fascinating animals and the “outback”, but it is also known for its megacities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. We were fortunate to visit a few of them on this journey.

After only a day and a half at sea traveling 530 nautical miles from Sydney, we navigated through Port Phillip Bay to reach Melbourne Harbour in the early morning under overcast skies.

This was my third visit to Melbourne and I was delighted to have the chance to enjoy its treasures once again. Actually, it’s high on our list for a lengthy vacation!

Melbourne was recently named the most liveable city in Australia and the third most liveable in the world. The city achieved a perfect score for education (100/100) and infrastructure (100/100). It also scored highly for culture, environment and stability. It’s a culturally diverse city made up of people from over 100 countries.

*Bob, Libby, Mike, Robin, Bobby Di, Janet, Dena, Mike*

We gathered a group of 8 to join our friend Fred Garcarczyk of Oceania Tours. Robin and I were looking forward to meeting with Fred again as he goes above and beyond to give visitors a wonderful experience.

**Fred, tour guide extraordinaire, with Robin**

We met Fred at 10am and assembled comfortably in the 10 seat van. At the outset, Fred promised that the three hour Melbourne City Tour would last 5 hours and include the Brighton Bathing Boxes, that we missed on our last visit.

Fred regaled us with background of the city and all of the spots we visited, starting with the Queen Victoria Market the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the only remaining 19th century market in Melbourne’s central business district (CBD).

Today the market is one of Melbourne’s major tourist destinations and offers a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and seafood, as well as a wide range of non-food goods such as clothing, shoes, jewelry, and handicrafts.

Melbourne boasts the largest Tramway system in the world, which in the city center is completely free. . . no ticket needed!

We made several stops in the Central Business District including the Block Arcade, the ACMI museum for an interactive experience.

Walking through the streets of the CBD, you will find vibrant murals and graffiti in every direction. The laneways and alleys are filled with hidden bars, restaurants, stores, and murals that give the city a unique atmosphere.

We then visited St Patrick’s Cathedral on Eastern Hill, which is the Cathedral Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Gothic Style cathedral displays an impressive interior including vaulted arches, towering stained glass windows and a magnificent pipe organ. Construction was started in 1858 and it was then consecrated in 1897.

**St. Patrick’ Cathedral, the Archdiocese of Melbourne**

Then, on to nearby Fitzroy Gardens , 64 acres on the southeastern edge of the Central Business District . The gardens are one of the major landscaped gardens in Australia and, along with its more than the 2,000 parks and reserves, add to Melbourne’s claim of the “Garden City of Australia.

Within the gardens is an ornamental lake, fountains, sculptures, conservatory, a visitor information centre with cafe and Cook’s Cottage. This is the house where Captain James Cook’s parents lived, brought stone by stone from Yorkshire, England in the 1930s.

Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia and hosts the Australian Open, Melbourne Cup, the Australian Grand Prix and the AFL grand final. On our tour we passed the Marvel Stadium, Rod Laver Arena, Docklands Stadium, John Cain Arena, AAMI Park and of course, the Melbourne Cricket Grounds or MCG, just known as, the “G”.

We noticed that “Swifties” were everywhere as the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert was to be held at the “G” tonight. . . No wonder the CBD was crowded and abuzz!!

After leaving East Melbourne we drove by Albert Park, another one of the over 2,000 parks or reserves in Melbourne, then through the seaside town of St Kilda on our way to Brighton Beach.

The Brighton Bathing Boxes are 93 beach huts in Brighton, Australia, in the City of Bayside. The Brighton Bathing Boxes are built in a uniform way with painted weatherboards and corrugated roofs, first built in the 1860s to protect the modesty of bathers. The owners are allowed to paint their huts, causing a mass of different bright colors. Even though they do not have water or electricity connections these homes are valued over $350,000 USD. Where do we sign?

**Robin and Bobby considering a purchase!**

The Brighton Bathing Boxes are sure to bring a smile to your face!

On the ride back, we thanked Fred for the well-paced, incredible tour and vowed to return soon. He made our visit very special, as he always does.

Back on the Island Princess, we settled into our Sea Day routine with relaxed meals, exercise, enrichment and entertainment. After 4.5 wonderful days on a calm to moderate sea we travelled the 1650 nautical miles to reach Perth .

**Melbourne to Perth, 4.5 days and 1650 Nautical miles**

With over eight hours of sunshine each day, Perth is officially the sunniest capital city in Australia. Located 1,300 miles away from the next closest capital city, Perth is known for being isolated, but is also located in Australia’s largest state – Western Australia. It is 4x the size of Texas and larger than all of Europe!

Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and with over 2 million people is the fourth most populous city in the country. Perth covers an area of 3,300 square miles, 50% larger than my home state of Delaware. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

We arrived at the busy port of Freemantle, Perth’s harbor, the day after a heat wave of 100º moved away from the area, and enjoyed the 75º overcast conditions.

Taking advantage of a full-day guided adventure through historic Fremantle en route to the city of Perth, we stopped at Fremantle Prison and the Round House, both built in the 1800s to house convicts and military prisoners.

Then traveling along the Esplanade and Beach Road, we passed Victoria Quay and stopped at Cottesloe Beach.

Cottesloe is one of the city’s most popular spots for swimming, snorkeling, surfing and drinking in ocean sunsets over a glass of wine, a refreshing beer or a relaxed dinner.

It was then on to King’s Park at 900 acres is bigger than New York City’s Central Park.

There was lovely Botanical Garden and an incredible gift shop with beautiful glass pieces.

Then we continued with a brief, narrated orientation drive in Perth before two hours of independent sightseeing and shopping.

We met cruise friends Jennifer and Dewey in our travels downtown and chose one of the city’s charming pubs. We descended two flights of stairs to the 43 Below Pub for a lunch of fish and chips accompanied by upbeat rock music and a local brew.

I promised Lori Ruth, Associate Publisher of the East County Observer in Lakewood Ranch, Florida a photo; so we stopped by a local park for a meet-up with a friendly kangaroo. The Observer travelled halfway around the world, congratulations Lori!!

On the move again, we boarded a James Cook Tours riverboat for a cruise down the Swan River back to Fremantle. The Captain pointed out the passing sights including Perth’s Bell tower, the Swan Brewery, King’s Park, the homes of the rich and famous on Millionaire’s Row including Gina Rinehart’s home.

Gina Rinehart is Australia’s richest person, daughter of iron ore magnate Lang Hancock. She lives here in Claremont on the Swan River. Her net worth is over $25 billion USD and is noted for her views that anyone who is jealous of richer people should “not sit around and complain” but “spend less time drinking, smoking and meeting people and work more.” I like Gina!

We finally reached Fremantle’s bustling harbor and walked the 1/2 mile back to the ship.

**Island Princess fueling up in Fremantle**

After all were aboard, we prepared not for the sea days, but for a Sea Week to reach the next port of Mauritius, Africa 3,220 nautical miles to the west.

See you in Africa!

Australia, World Cruise 2024

G’Day Down Under

March 3, 2024March 9, 2024 Bobby Di

After logging 1,035 nautical miles along both North and South Islands of New Zealand it was time to leave Dunedin and head for Australia.

Australia is the smallest continent, but one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. 90% of Australians live on the coast. It is home to 26 million people and has a land area comparable to the Continental USA with just 8% of its population.

Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, and home to the world’s oldest continuing culture. They have a highly skilled workforce and a proud history of democracy and stable government. We recalled our last visit and were very much looking forward to this one.

To make our way to Australia, we travelled south to round South Island and then through Foveaux Strait passing between South Island and Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third largest Island. We spent 3.5 sea days and 1,150 nautical miles crossing the Tasman Sea or “The Ditch” to Sydney.

As promised, the “Ditch” offered a moderate to heavy sea and often, the need to hold on, as we travelled through the ship. We spent the time at sea mostly relaxing, enjoying selected activities and researching for this Post.

On Sunday, the Super Bowl was broadcast on the Large Outdoor Screen, in Ship Lounges and our staterooms. Since the temps were in the mid 50s, we elected an indoor venue. I’ve been a Chiefs fan since my time there in the late 60s. It was the Chiefs in a nail-biter. . . WOW!

Then we prepared for Formal Night in the Bordeaux Dining Room with new friends. Yet another fabulous dinner presented by the competent and caring kitchen and waitstaff. How do they do it? We were about to get the answer.

**Executive Chef Nage Dinand and larger than life, Daniele Rosafio, Director of Restaurant Operations**

Another Sea Day brought more relaxation and conversation, but most notably another Enrichment Presentation: “Culinary Demonstration and Galley Tour”

Daniele Rosafio is the Director of Restaurant Operations from Puglia, Italy. He has been with Princess 30 yrs, has a staff of 100 and has 9 galleys under his charge. He is personable and omnipresent in the Dining Areas and a man who loves to entertain.

His presentation along with the ultra talented Executive Head Chef Nage Dinand from Mauritius, was informative , but mostly hilarious! These two gentlemen interact as well on stage as they do in the dining venues.

After the Presentation, we toured the huge galley. . . it was so impressive in its sheer size and cleanliness. This particular galley services the Bordeaux and Provence dining rooms on Deck 5 & 6 where they serve about 5,000 meals per day.

They even have an escalator between the galley decks for more efficient service. This may help to explain the extremely quick, efficient and tasty delivery of your special order.

As we continued at sea, Jessica Potter our Destination Expert and a native of Sydney, continued with her enrichment series, but this time gushing about her home city. Australia’s oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the “First Fleet” transporting 760 British convicts. Today, Sydney is the largest port in the South Pacific and is often voted the most popular destination in the South Pacific. A city of over 5 million there is a lot to like about – from its cosmopolitan city center to miles of beautiful beaches and the Blue Mountains.

With 75º temperatures under partly cloudy skies, we arrived at Sydney Harbour at sunrise to capture the captivating views, thought by many to be the most beautiful harbor in the world.

Entering Sydney Harbour just after sunrise

Two prominent landmarks, the Harbour Bridge and the sail-like curves of the Sydney Opera House, grace the backdrop of this picturesque harbor. Due to our ship’s size and lack of dock space before the Bridge we had to anchor out in the Harbour.

Our tour of the city started with a 5 minute tender trip to Sydney Man O’ War steps, just adjacent to Queen Elizabeth Gate of the Royal Botanic Garden. Gorgeous and well maintained, we ambled through the gardens and admired the pristine condition of the grounds.

The stroll through the Park adjacent to the City Center gave marvelous views of the stunning architecture of the nearby structures.

The sun appeared and in 75 to 80º temperatures we spent over an hour in park before walking 20 minutes to Town Hall Square.

There, we met a group at St. Andrew’s cathedral for a walking tour of the Central Business District and shopping areas.

Our guide, Leo, was knowledgeable and personable and guided us through some of the city’s famous sites, including the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), Pitt Street, Hyde Park, St Mary’s Cathedral, Rum Hospital, Old General Post Office.

In addition to the quality, luxury shops, we admired the Mosaic floor detail in the Queen Victoria Building.

We stopped off at Australia square for a blond beer and heard the loud clamoring of a a special Chinese New Year celebration coming through the square.

We continued the tour with Leo as he showed us tucked-away restaurants and secret bars in the alleyways. . . apparently it’s a thing in Sydney, can’t imagine that happening on the South Side of Chicago!

After continuing our walk on Pitt Street then Center Quay we took one last glimpse of Sydney’s signature attractions.

We logged 6 miles on our Sydney walkabout and finally arrived to pick up the tender at Man O’ War steps and who was there to greet us. . . . Super Mario!

Back on the ship we enjoyed yet another excellent dinner, this time with a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge before our departure.

It was after our visit to Sydney that we would experience the effects of the itinerary change due to the cancellation of the transit of the Red Sea and Suez Canal. The changes were significant, but due to geopolitics, understandable. . . blame it on the Houthis and weak international foreign policies.

Some have described the revised itinerary as a “Coddiwomple”: Traveling in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.

A total of 12 destinations were cancelled and 4 were added, the net result was an addition of 8 Sea Days. Of special note was the fact that the Port of Melbourne was added. . . one of our favorites.

When we first learned of this, we quickly booked a tour with Fred Garcarczyk, the larger than life guide extraordinaire of Oceania Tours. Five years ago, we enjoyed a 12 hour tour with him and have kept in touch via social media. We recalled the Great Ocean Tour we took with Fred a few years ago and looked forward to meeting him again.

On Tour with Fred on the South Ocean — Great Ocean Road with Fred, Oceania Tours

Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park, Victoria

Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell National Park

Due to his intimate knowledge of “Melbs”, we booked a city tour with Fred on Messenger and included 6 of our cruise mates. In anticipation of our visit, we enjoyed another sea day before meeting our friend in Melbourne.

See you all soon,

Bobby Di

New Zealand, World Cruise 2024

New Zealand, “Land of the Long White Cloud”

February 23, 2024February 23, 2024 Bobby Di

For the next 2 1/2 days and 1,130 nautical miles we again enjoyed mild weather and smooth seas as we plied south to New Zealand.

After 16 days aboard, we continued to enjoy the ship’s amenities including the Sanctuary on Deck 15 aft.

The Sanctuary is a quiet, outdoor spot to escape to when you simply want to relax and ignore everything else for a while. This area of the ship is for adults only and is a completely stress-free setting.

We chose a perfect weather day to enjoy the Sanctuary for Lunch, then High Tea, served at our reserved chaise lounges.

Of course, we made fast friends with the Dining Room Staff. From the Restaurant Managers to all of the Waiters and Junior Waiters, they all ensured that we enjoyed a superlative dining experience.

We always looked forward to visiting with Mario, Tyrone and “Super Mario”, the junior waiter who always magically appeared like Spiderman armed with his trusty pepper mill.

The menu items were varied, well presented and delicious. We quickly realized that weight maintenance would be a losing battle.

We could always count on Mario, the affable and linguistically gifted Restaurant Manager, to create fabulous and creative additions to the already diverse menu.

Dinner was followed by a Production Show or a myriad of other activities including live music venues with all types of music, as well as, Music Trivia Games and Karaoke.

**“Oh What a Night”, Four Seasons Tribute**

Robin was a star at any of the Musical Trivia shows. Here she is after naming 16 Hits to win Dance and Party Song Bingo!

Exercise your Thing? Then you can visit the gym, walk the promenade on Deck 7 or join in with the Zumba fans!

If you enjoy quiet, there is always the internet cafe, library, card room, wedding chapel or a myriad of spots tucked away to enjoy a good book, or in Robin’s case, needlepoint. If you’re bored. . . you must be dead!

Since my first visit to New Zealand in 1986, I have returned several times to visit. It is spectacular!

New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean consisting of two larger islands, North and South and over 700 smaller islands. It was the last largest habitable land to be settled by humans in about 1300 who developed a distinctive Maori culture. In 1841 it became a colony of the British empire and is now a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.

It was the first country to introduce a minimum wage and give women the right to vote and has low levels of corruption. It is regarded as one of the world’s most stable and well-governed states.

Today, the population of 5.25 million, mostly of European descent, represent only 5% of the population. . . the rest are sheep, cows and horses!

New Zealand is known for its competitive international teams in many sports, most notably cricket, sailing and rugby. The national rugby team is known as the “All Blacks”, regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.

Auckland with its population of 1.5 million people on the North Island is New Zealand’s largest city and former capital it boasts scenic beauty, historical interest and a cosmopolitan collection of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries and gardens. One of New Zealand’s fine wine districts lies to the north of Auckland.

The climate is classified as subtropical with warm summers and mild damp winters. Of course, since it is February and mid-summer here in the Southern hemisphere, the weather was great with temps in the 70s and low humidity.

On this visit, we were headed south to Waitomo, a rural community in the King Country region of New Zealand’s North Island. There are several cave systems in the area that are known as one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions.

We boarded a sleek Black motorcoach, which was actually the “All Blacks” Rugby Team Bus and headed south past the Skytower to State Highway 1.

The driver/guide of Maori decent greeted us with “Kia Ora” the Kiwi hello that translates to “have life” or “be healthy”. He told us to expect lots of attention on the highway due to the team’s international prominence.

The driver gave us a glimpse into the life of the First National People. Maori language and culture is an integral part of the New Zealand experience.

During the 3 hour trip which included a rest stop at a colorful pastry/coffee shop he regaled us with the finer points of Maori culture.

We arrived at Waitomo Caves and took a well-organized tour for 1.5 hours.

We explored the cave on foot before embarking on a boat ride, gliding silently through the starry wonderland created by the Glowworms.

The glowworm (Arachnocampa Luminosa) is unique to New Zealand. They are actually tiny, mosquito-sized creatures that radiate a sparkling, fluorescent blue-green glow that illuminates the caves and underground streams leaving us spellbound.

Next, we took a short scenic drive to Crosshills Farm for an opportunity to meet the owners and savor a home-cooked lunch amidst a lovely English garden setting.

The weather was absolutely perfect at 75º with a soft gentle breeze wafting over the hillside farm and garden.

After a stroll through the yard and garden we relaxed on the drive back to Port.

Happy to see that the Island Princess our new home was safely docked at the Port of Auckland where we left her, we went about our usual shiply routine. . . Cocktails and Dinner anyone?

Due to a delay our 1 am departure from Aukland allowed for a farewell photo.

After yet another blissful day at sea, we rounded North Island and proceeded southward and arrived at the city of New Plymouth at Port Taranaki.

**Sunrise off of New Plymouth New Zealand**

New Plymouth is a city on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. It only recently received cruise ships, but it’s known for its coastal walkway stretching to Port Taranaki.

After taking the free Cruise shuttle to the CBD (Central Business District), we met with a City “ambassador” on the street near the i-Site, New Zealand’s official visitor information network. One thing that seems to be universal, Kiwis are friendly, helpful and always up for a chat.

It was suggested that we take a short walk through the town and visit Pukekura Park with its premier botanical garden, birdlife and Sports Complex.

We enjoyed the walk through the New Zealand’s sunshine capital with views of Mount Taranaki to the Park Entrance.

There we spent 2 hours meandering through dense native walkways, by waterfalls and over bridges enjoying the tree collection, fern gullies and hidden dells.

After admiring the stunning freshwater lakes and streams, we enjoyed a coffee at the teahouse before continuing on to explore more of the garden.

We returned to the CBD (Central Business District) to board the quick shuttle back to the ship. . . and there he was at the dock. . . . . “Super Mario” is everywhere!

As we departed the port, we got a great view of Mount Taranaki considered New Zealand’s most perfect volcano shape. It was used as a backdrop in the filming of “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise.

For a bit of Trivia while still in the North Island, we learned that the longest place name in the world is in New Zealand. It is a hill near the small township of Pōrangahau in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand called:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

Not on everyone’s bucket list, unlike South Island, where we are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

**New Plymouth, North Island to Picton, South Island**

Located at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton is the gateway to the South Island’s famed Marlborough District. We stalked through the Sound in the early morning close to the picturesque islands and bays.

If you travel by car between the capital city of Wellington of the North Island and the scenic town of Picton on South Island you must take the 3-hour trip by a modern ferry to cross the Cook Strait, enjoying a wonderful cruise through the picturesque sound along the way.

As in New Plymouth, on disembarking we again caught of wonderful aroma of freshly cut lumber emanating from the huge stacks of logs.

New Zealand has over 25 million acres of forests covering 38% of the land. New Zealand’s forestry industry is largely based around sustainably managed plantation forests. About 90% of plantation forests are radiata pine the remainder are Douglas fir, eucalyptus, and other softwood and hardwood species.

In New Zealand, 96% of plantation forests are privately owned and used for commercial timber production.

Trees have reached harvest age and strong demand from China has delivered record prices. Many ports been extending log yards and wharf space to cope with the demand.

The Marlborough region boasts dramatic sea and landscapes, fascinating wine country, excellent restaurants and a number of the nation’s finest gardens.

We made our way to the Picton waterfront to enjoy a cruise through the tranquil waters of Queen Charlotte Sound.

We boarded a Power Catamaran for a tour of the Sound.

Stellar views are everywhere including unspoiled natural scenery, lush forests, and scattered settlements that add a spot of color to the coastline.

The nutrient-rich waters are a feeding ground for seals, seabirds and dolphins. As we hugged the rugged shoreline and we stopped at Double Cove, a quiet bay, to feed the fish. On our return, we got a great view of our ship in the Port.

While strolling in the small CBD, we took the opportunity to visit the nearby Edwin Fox, one of the world’s oldest surviving merchant ships and the only surviving ship that transported convicts to Australia. At the museum we came across a copy of the convict manifest:

**Edwin Fox finally at rest in dry dock**

Continuing our walk in perfect 75º sunny weather, we returned the CBD pickup the shuttle back to the ship. After a relaxing evening including cocktails and dinner, we chatted with a few new friends and prepared for yet another relaxing sea day, but later got another bit of bad news that due to the severe weather in the Fiordlands of South Island where we were headed, we will not be visiting the Fiords, due to heavy seas. . . Damn! I’ll have to dig through my archives and relive the trip sailing through Milford Sound using the photos I took in 1986.

We arrived at now our last stop in New Zealand, Port Chalmers, gateway to Dunedin, located eight miles from the city center. Perched on the hills above one of New Zealand’s loveliest harbors, Dunedin is a Kiwi city with a Scottish heart often called the “Edinburgh of New Zealand,” The city also boasts a distinguished architectural and cultural history, a legacy of New Zealand’s 1860s gold rush.

We took advantage of a half-day adventure which first included a visit to Baldwin lane, which Guinness says is the steepest street in the world.

**Baldwin Lane, Steepest Street in the World!**

We had the incredible opportunity to visit the Dunedin Botanic Garden. Established in 1863, it hosts a variety of plant collections set amidst 72 acres of natural beauty.

We explored the formal paths but didn’t have nearly enough time to discover the 6,800 different species of plants from all over the globe.

It was on to the Iconic Dunedin Train Station, a 1906 building famed for its Flemish Renaissance architecture, mosaic floors & stained glass. It is the most photographed structure in New Zealand.

The interior detail was quite stunning including the ticket window and the detail in the mosaic floors.

From the train station we travelled through the CBD and up several hilly streets to a home perched upon a hill. . . the Olveston House. It was constructed by the David Thoemin, a Jewish importer and philanthropist. He lived with his family of 4 and 7 servants in 35 rooms and 27 fireplaces.

From its construction in 1904-1906 to its bequeathal to the City of Dunedin in 1966 by Dorothy Theomin, only one family lived in the Olveston House. It is this continuous heritage that provides such a unique glimpse of the era’s privileged lifestyle.

On our way back, it started to rain, so we passed on the walk back through Port Chalmers and returned directly to the ship.

“Super Mario” is there once again appearing magically at the gangway ready to offer water and a cold towel after a day of exploration.

After a bit of relaxation we prepared for a cocktail at Crooners, dinner in the MDR (Main Dining Room) and a late Comedy show by British comic Jeff Green.

And so it is with a longing to return, that we leave the wonderful country and people of New Zealand. We will sail around the South Island, unfortunately, missing our exploration of the Fiords, but anticipating all of the great things that the Land Down Under has to offer.

See you in Sydney!

Bobby Di

Fiji, World Cruise 2024

Crossing the Line to Fiji and Down Under

February 7, 2024February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

After we said “Aloha” to the Hawaiian Islands we would spend 7 days at sea and travel 2740 nautical miles to the next port of Suva, Fiji. Traveling at about 17 knots, we had mostly incredibly calm and pleasant weather.

We spent our time alternating between walking the promenade deck and occasional visits to the gym in an attempt to keep fit and enable guilt free indulgence in the myriad of dining options available. The on board Enrichment Lectures were informative and engaging discussing a range of topics. Historical references were valuable as was the advice on the shoreside opportunities available.

The dining was spectacular with a myriad of choices presented by the professional and courteous staff making everyone feel special. The deserts were too tempting to pass up.

Sunday was a good day. It started with watching the Kansas City Chiefs spank the Ravens 17 to 10 in an NFL Divisional playoff game winning them the right to appear in the Super Bowl.

Since we were to cross the Equator soon, it was time for the traditional Line Crossing Ceremony.

This ancient ceremony commemorates a person’s first crossing of the Equator.

King Neptune, ruler of the seas, must be appeased by some minor hazing and degradation followed by kissing a fish.

The “pollywogs” are then proclaimed “Shellbacks”. If you then cross the International Date Line you become a “Golden Shellback”

Robin and I had the dubious distinction of becoming “Golden Shellbacks” on an Oceania cruise years ago.

**Chart of the Equator and International Date Line**

We will soon cross the dateline and lose a day (Monday) as if it never existed and . . . voilá, it’s Tuesday!

Following the excitement on Lido Deck we returned to our cabin to prepare for dinner when we heard the dreaded general announcement from the Captain.

Due to current security challenges in the Red Sea and concerns for safety, itinerary has been changed significantly. Our voyage will no longer visit the Middle East or Asia. Instead, the ports in Australia have been revised and we will then travel west transiting the Indian Ocean to South Africa and sail up the west coast of Africa, exploring destinations along the way. From there we will proceed north for our visit of Western Europe and the Mediterranean, after which we will continue on our Atlantic crossing as scheduled.

Most cruisers took the news in stride as we know that Captain Cataldi and the Cruise Line want to ensure a safe passage. Most of us are aware of why this situation exists, but until the next election, we must endure it. We will need to alter a few shore excursions, but are aware that travel carries with it some risk. So we continued our voyage on to Fiji and beyond.

The Fiji archipelago is at the crossroads of the South Pacific. In the days of sailing ships, it was known as “The Cannibal Isles,”. Mariners avoided its fierce warriors and treacherous waters. Fiji’s pagan days are gone, but live on in tribal rituals such as fire-walking and Kava Ceremonies.

Fiji is an exotic destination, with 333 islands that provide an exciting adventure or peaceful repose. The northwest region, where the sun shines almost every day is home to the majority of the resorts.

Suva is the political, administrative, educational and commercial center and has a backdrop of lush rainforest. The people of Fiji are the most multiracial and multicultural of all South Pacific island countries – this being reflected in churches of all denominations, mosques, temples and shrines.

After greeting everyone with the traditional “BULA”, we experienced the highlights of Suva City and surrounding area on a half day tour. We fought the heavy traffic out of the industrial area, then the town and drove by the National Forest with its mahogany and pine trees before visiting the rural but busy town of Nausori. Most housing was not maintained well unless it was for the government officials.

**Albert Park and Government buildings**

We made our way to the Fiji Museum and browsed through Fiji’s history, but mostly enjoyed the surrounding gardens.

We did stop in downtown Suva to marvel at the incredible market where there was an amazing selection of flowers, fruits and vegetables of all description.

We then took the short walk back to the ship and relaxed before preparing for cocktails and dinner with new friends while we sailed away to New Zealand just 1,315 nautical miles and 2.5 days away.

Wishing you all well,

Bobby Di

Hawaiian Islands, World Cruise 2024

World Cruise

February 6, 2024February 19, 2024 Bobby Di

The Island Princess

As many of you know, Robin and I have been sailing together for over 30 years including 25 years of owning sailboats. We are back on the water again, but in a bit of a larger craft. After 17 days at sea and over 6,000 nautical miles from the start of our voyage indulging in total relaxation and pampering by the accommodating crew, I finally have the time for an introduction and update of the 2024 Island Princess World Cruise which we booked in 2022. We hope you will enjoy this trip as much as we hope to.

Why a World Cruise? Well, we were drawn by the itinerary, a “voyage of a lifetime”, which for us included 22 countries, 44 destinations and 51 sea days for a total of 97 days. Some will carry on for another 14 days to transit the Panama Canal, but since we have transited the Canal on the Coral Princess, a sister ship, in 2017, we elected to embark in Los Angeles on January 18^th and return to Fort Lauderdale in late April.

2024 WORLD CRUISE CHART

As a premonition, the cruise itinerary experienced a few changes early on, such as the inclusion of the port of Suva Fiji instead of Pago Pago, American Samoa. Of special note, was the early decision to forego the visit to Nazareth due to safety concerns.

Preparation for a 14-week cruise is somewhat complex and included arranging for home watch, vacation override for all medications, computer backups and transfers, luggage forwarding service, planning excursions, strategic packing, as well as transfers to and from the ship. In addition to the Premier Home Watch Service, my cousin Vito will be house sitting. He’s an angry man and although he has a concealed carry permit, insists on wearing his Glock 19 around the house in the Streamlight TLR Holster we got him for Christmas.

Just after dawn, our flight departed from Tampa to LAX. A bit early for me, but fortunately it was uneventful. We made it somewhat easier by shipping some luggage ahead of time for delivery directly to our stateroom. After arrival at LAX with luggage in tow, we spent the night in San Pedro near the Harbor to allow for a trouble-free embarkation. The morning presented with a chilly 59º, but the transfer to the nearby Port in Long Beach was seamless.

The Island Princess appeared majestic at the Port dock in Long Beach as we checked in at 10:30 with a very quick and efficient process using our “Medallion”.

A Princess Medallion is a quarter-sized wearable device that allows touch free boarding, room access, locating your travel mates and having everything you need delivered anywhere. No ID cards or receipts to sign. . . an incredible convenience!

You can wear it on the lanyard included, a necklace or bracelet, but I found mounting it to an iwatch strap the best option for me.

After a brief respite in the Elite Lounge, we boarded using the enclosed gangway to the ship, which was to be our home for the next 97 days. Robin and I travelled on this same ship, along with family for a partial canal transit in 2019.

The Island Princess has a traditional feel, but the recently updated carpeting and upholstery give it an elegant atmosphere. The Central Piazza is not overwhelming, but rather welcoming, and hosts many of the ships activities.

The Island Princess is one of the two Coral-Class ships; it was launched 2003 and refurbished 2017. It is a relatively small ship of 93,000 tons, 982 feet and 106 beam to allow travel through the 110-foot wide Panama Canal. It’s a tight fit with only 2 feet to spare on either side, as you can imagine, touch up paint is often needed at the next port.

The ship accommodates 2,200 passengers and 900 Crew and although we had 1,975 aboard, the ship never felt crowded, unless we were in a tender port, which was rare.

Our stateroom was a midship mini-suite of 305 Sq feet and included a separate sitting area with a full sofa, two TVs with a variety of channels, movies and enrichment lectures, as well as, a comfortable balcony.

In the past, we have found this to be a comfortable cabin, well laid out, and with our organizational skills, enough room for a 3 month trip. We had storage cubes and hanging shoe racks sent ahead to allow for organized clothing stowage. This was the best set up we have found yet for dressing in a confined space.

After lunch in the dining room, we set about unpacking and organizing the stateroom for our voyage. We finished just before sail-away and made our way to one of the lounges for cocktails before dinner in the Reserve Section of the main dining room.

Sail away from the World Cruise Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro at 5:45 pm.

After dinner and a show we indulged in a nightcap at the Wheelhouse bar and then retired to the sumptuous, premium linens of our comfy king- size bed. We slept like babies while on our way to the Hawaiian Islands in a moderate sea.

And so, for another 5 days at sea we enjoyed the amenities of the ship. There were numerous activities, enrichment lectures, opportunities for exercise, music, gaming and, of course, eating.

The offerings were pleasing to the eye and palate and were meticulously presented by the pleasant and attentive restaurant managers and waitstaff. The Common areas including the restrooms were kept impeccably clean and our cabin steward Adie, attended to our every need.

Of course, a good deal of time doing research for both option trading and this missive, which I hope you find of interest. In addition, we had this incredible view for days on end.

Our first destination was Hawaii, about 2,600 miles from the U.S. mainland in the Northern Pacific Ocean. It is the only U.S. state outside of North America and the only one in the tropics. Hawaii, consists of 137 volcanic islands but only eight main ones, the most familiar being Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii, which is often called the “Big Island”, to avoid confusion with the state .

Settled by Polynesians sometime between 1000 and 1200 CE, Hawaii had independent Chiefdoms. Hawaii became a unified, internationally recognized kingdom in 1810, until American and European business men overthrew the monarchy in 1893 which led to its annexation by the US in 1898. Hawaii is the most recent state to join the Union in 1959. Its economy has tourism and military defense as the two largest sectors. Honolulu, Hawaii hosts the United States Pacific Fleet the world’s largest naval command.

Hawaii’s relative isolation results in one of the highest costs of living in the U.S. However, Hawaii is the third-wealthiest state, and residents have the longest life expectancy of any U.S. state, at 80.7 years

Honolulu, the capital and most populous city of the state of Hawaii is situated along the southeast coast of the island of Oahu, and is the westernmost and southernmost major U.S. city. The city is characterized by a mix of various Asian, Western and Pacific cultures, reflected in its diverse demography, cuisine, and traditions.

Honolulu’s favorable tropical climate, rich natural scenery, and extensive beaches make it a popular global destination for tourists. With over 2.7 million visitors as of 2019, Honolulu is the seventh-most visited city in the United States after New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

We arrived at the Downtown Port of Honolulu, home to almost half a million people. Honolulu is Hawaii’s state capital and the only major city. It offers a wealth of historic, cultural and scenic attractions. Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head are two of the city’s enduring symbols. Pearl Harbor, site of the USS Arizona Memorial, is a reminder of the tragic events of December 7, 1941 which led America into World War II.

At 7am we gathered at Wheelhouse bar, then to the Pier and boarded a comfortable motor coach for a 4 hour Scenic Drive of the Pali Coast. This was a visually captivating half-day guided tour of Oahu to some of the island’s most famous areas.

Our Tour guide and driver Kimoke’o was informative and entertaining using visuals and music as part of his tour.

We traveled through the heart of the resort district at Waikiki Beach with stunning views of Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, a protected marine preserve and then to Waimanalo Beach featuring a pristine shoreline that slopes gently into the ocean.

We then travelled a narrow road to the Pali Lookout with awe-inspiring vistas of the island where King Kamehameha I forced thousands of his opponents to jump to their deaths.

On the way back to the ship we learned more about Israel Kamakawiwo’ole or “IZ”and his legacy on the island. IZ is a larger than life musician and singer who is celebrated as the voice of Hawaii:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

With the spirit of IZ we made back to the comfort of the ship for Lunch followed by, cocktails, dinner and the Explorer’s Lounge for a bit of music trivia. We departed the dock at 10:30 pm and made our way through the night traveling southeast to the island of Hawaii.

On Day 8, we welcomed the Big Island of Hawaii. Twice as large as the other major Hawaiian Islands combined, Hawaii’s terrain ranges from tropical beaches to the alpine crags and basalt heights of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The Kona Coast is a land of infinite variety, ranging from pristine beaches to rolling uplands that are home to coffee plantations, macadamia groves and the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the United States. To the southeast lies Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. At over 10,000 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea is the highest point in the Pacific Basin.

We dropped anchor at Kona at about 8:00 am. The anchorage was rolly, so tenders were lively and disembarking process was slower than usual.

We didn’t board tender until 11:30 am the walked through town to Kona Coffee Café in the Kona Inn Shopping village.

We got a great Kona Cappuccino, but passed on the “Donkey Balls” and watched fellow cruisers amble around in perfect weather.

Enjoying our brief visit, we returned to our new adopted home on Dophin Deck.

After leaving Kona we enjoyed 7 more sea days and travel 2740 nautical miles or 3,150 statute miles until we reached the next port of Suva, Fiji. Traveling at about 17 knots, we had mostly beautiful sunny days with a calm to moderate sea with gentle rolling waves and no white caps. It is heaven!

Wish us fair winds and following seas,

Captain Bobby Di