At Sea - September 25-26, 2013

Cooking demonstrations with Guest Chef, Joseph Caputo (the Soup Master), trivia with our team “XXX”, our first formal night (Captain’s reception) - very happy to see our same Captain Fred Everson at the helm, as well as dining with our previous cruise Environmental officer Jonathan Bailey and wonderful wife Julie, have kept us busy over the past few days. Looks like we are going to in great hands and very well taken care of on this 2013 Asia/Pacific Grand Voyage. As the pictures show, we also received our first pillow gifts on the voyage as well as had one of the great mongolian cookouts. One more sea day and we will be in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii for Saturday.

Los Angeles - September 23, 2013

It was a beautiful day here in Long Beach California, the temperature hit 92 degrees Fahrenheit and we certainly felt it. After docking in San Pedro, we (with Jeff and Joy) jumped onto the HAL free shuttle bus and headed for the aquarium in Long Beach. A great way to spend 3 hours, many attractions from the smallest of sea horses and frogs to the sharks and manta rays. Pictures include a “Pot-bellied” Sea Horse and a Leafy Sea Dragon - spectacular. Then it was off to Walmart and some supplies, then returning to the ship for our official Grand Voyage send off. We are now floating with about 900 (max on this ship is about 1380), so we still have some great elbow room. With the additional 400, we became once again reacquainted with some guests from previous voyages, I am sure we will see some more tomorrow. Great traveling for this length of time with many familiar people - kind of like a Yellow Point Lodge on water. So with introductions at the show tonight came the new look and feel on the Grand Voyage, the former “Daily Program” is now “Today on Location”, okay is what I first thought, what does this mean. Well HAL is always looking at new ways and formats to keep things exciting and now this all makes sense. In Los Angeles we picked up a team flown in from Hawaii. So over the next five days of crossing to Hawaii we will have seminars, hula dance class and other “Hawaiian” events as if we are already “on location” in Hawaii. Pretty cool idea, will let you know how this all rolls out. Quote of the day: There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it. - Charles Dudley Warner