This year, we start off with two weeks in Sydney, before departing on the Ovation of the Seas taking us to Honolulu where the first cruise ends, and we stay on for the next cruise that takes us to Vancouver. We will then take an Amtrak train from Vancouver to Everett:
MARCH 30 – APRIL 14, 2023 – HOME THROUGH OUR AUSTRALIA VISIT
Thursday March 30, 2023 (which became Saturday April 1, 2023 on our arrival)
Today begins an approximate 6 week adventure comprised of a 2 week visit to Sydney, Australia, an 18 night Transpacific cruise from Sydney to Honolulu on Ovation. and a 9 night Honolulu to Vancouver, BC, on Ovation. Then we’ll take Amtrak home bringing Mom and Dad with us for a 2 week visit.
We didn’t have to leave until almost 2:00 so we had a relaxing morning at home. Just before 2:00 we said our goodbyes to Daniel and Nicole before taking an Uber to the airport. Our first flight to Los Angeles took off on time at 5:40 and arrived on time. Our second flight left a little later than the scheduled 10:35pm time and also arrived later than scheduled, at 8:08AM. We flew on Delta this time to use up some credit that we had and they did a good job. On the second flight a food refrigerator broke so we didn’t get a full breakfast for food safety reasons, just beverages and various snacks. They said they will compensate us in some way but we’ll see.
After the arduous trip through Australian immigration, we went out into the sunshine to get an Uber to our Airbnb located in Bondi Junction which is an eastern suburb of Sydney. The apartment hadn’t been cleaned yet but the owner, Chris, let us drop off our luggage after which we went over to Eastgate Shopping Center across the street to kill some time until Chris let us know the apartment was ready. The weather changed quickly and it soon started to pour. It was interesting to people watch before picking up a few groceries and returning to our home-away-from-home for the next 2 weeks, which is a very nice place in an excellent location. We settled in setting up our internet and taking an inventory to see what else we needed from the store as well as started unpacking. For dinner we picked up a big bowl of shrimp laksa from Luckin Kitchen to share for dinner. It was delicious but a bit spicy. We both nodded off briefly a couple times but mostly made it until 8:30 before we turned in.
April 2, 2023 – Sunday
We were both up in the middle of the night chatting since we couldn’t sleep. Laurie ended up getting up about 5:00am and Pat sleeping until 6:00am – or so we thought. We were unaware that there was a change to daylight saving time at 3:00am turning back an hour so we were actually up an hour earlier than we thought. It really didn’t matter since our times were messed up anyhow. It was rainy again today. Except for a trip to the grocery store, we just relaxed during the day. M&D’s flight landed about 7:30pm so we took an Uber and arrived at the airport to meet up with them. We had a happy reunion a little after 8:30, then proceeded to the Rideshare area to get an Uber back to our Airbnb. M&D started to settle in and we spent a while visiting before turning in a bit late for us.
April 3, 2023 – Monday
We were up early as usual with M&D joining us a little later for coffee and breakfast. Everyone had slept well. Gloria joined us late morning and looked wonderful – it was a very joyful reunion! The afternoon was spent in lively conversation getting up-to-date. Gloria treated us to delicious takeaway laksa for lunch from a small shop nearby called Saigon Noodles. Then it was time for more visiting and relaxing. Anne stopped by later in the afternoon which was the first time the two of us met her, but it was another uplifting reunion for M&D. She was as nice as everyone told us she was. A short time later Syd joined us. We had just taken Covid tests, all negative, to ensure the safety of Yvonne who is frail and stayed home. He looked the same as on our last visit several years ago, and entertained us with family news, stories, and his great sense of humor. Anne and Gloria left together but Syd stayed for a little while longer. We all were full from our late lunch so skipped dinner. In the evening we watched a short film recommended by both Gloria and Syd called “Dinner for One”. It was cute and humorous. We turned in at what will probably be a more routine time of about 8:30.
April 4, 2023 – Tuesday
Not long after we had our breakfast, Gloria came over. She suggested that we go to the Bronte Beach area to enjoy the views and have lunch so we ordered an Uber and were soon on our way. The weather forecast had predicted rain mid-day but the sun was out and it was very warm along the waterfront.
We settled in one of the picnic shelters that faced the water which afforded a place to sit with a mixture of sun and shade. The two of us decided to do the Bronte to Coogee hike south along the water. The walk provided gorgeous scenery of blue ocean, crashing waves, and water-carved cliffs of many designs. There were a lot of ups and downs as well as some stairs and Pat decided she had enough just before reaching Coogee. (It was within sight but still a long walk with uphill hiking to get there.) We did the return hike joining back up with Mom, Dad, and Gloria in time to have a fish ‘n chips lunch courtesy of M&D which tasted especially good in the ocean air. We relaxed and chatted, then decided to Uber back. We stopped at the grocery store before we parted ways with Gloria and went back to our apartment. After settling in we sat out on the balcony together enjoying the view and drinking lots of water to rehydrate from our outing. In the evening Laurie showed M&D his proposal for preparing their Skokie house for sale now that they reside in Honolulu. More discussions to come.
April 5, 2023 – Wednesday
It was a quiet morning with breakfast and relaxing in the apartment. Late morning Mom and Pat walked over to the grocery store (Cole’s) to get a few things as well as flowers and candy for Anne who is hosting a Passover dinner this evening. Gloria came over about 3:00 and we chatted until it was time to go. Anne’s husband Tony picked up M&D, with Syd and Yvonne giving the two of us and Gloria a ride. What we could see of Anne and Tony’s house (large kitchen with a huge eating area, family room, and living room) was beautiful. Very modern and well organized. We spent a short time getting to know everyone. In addition to the four of us, Gloria, and Anne and Tony, the others present were Anne and Tony’s son Adam, Tony’s brother Abe, Tony’s cousin Morris and his girlfriend Parkee, and Syd and Yvonne. Tony led a lovely low-key seder with everyone participating with a short reading. Then came Anne’s fabulous dinner: broccoli and brussel sprout salad, beef tenderloin, a side of maple glazed salmon with almonds, roasted root vegetables, and crispy roasted potato chunks. We all managed to find some room for dessert: cookies, a chocolate and vanilla ice cream cake, lemon poppyseed cake, and a fresh fruit salad followed by the option of various coffee drinks. More conversation gave it all a chance to settle and was a perfect ending to a memorable evening.
April 6, 2023 – Thursday
Another wonderful day. Breakfast and relaxing until Gloria came over about noon. Then we walked across the street to Yvonne and Syd’s place for the afternoon. They are on the 21st floor and have a panoramic view from their large balcony towards Sydney Harbor with the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge in the distance.
Closer in we overlooked Bondi Junction’s busy streets and Westfield Mall down the street. Spread across it all was a sky filled with an ever changing variety of clouds. Inside their beautiful home we sat together enjoying great conversation with lots of laughs. Yvonne took Mom off to try on some of her clothes that no longer fit and Mom gave us a little fashion show. She even had a cute top for Pat. At one point 3 very colorful parrots visited the railing on the balcony and seemed as amazed to look in at us as we were to look out at them. Syd and Yvonne were very gracious hosts providing drinks with snacks and a delicious laksa lunch followed by a variety of delicious pastries and coffee. More memories to think back on! Returning to our apartment we sat around the living room chilling and napping a bit.
April 7, 2023 – Friday
We started the day with our usual Passover breakfast of matzah with various spreads, hard boiled eggs, and fruit. Gloria arrived mid-day and we spent the afternoon chatting. We never run out of things to talk about. We ventured out to find some lunch but we found many places were closed because of Good Friday. Laksa ended up being our lunch of choice once again with Gloria getting a stir-fry. The broth at Chili Home Thai was the best of any we’ve had, with the noodles/veggies/protein at Saigon Noodle being the best “filling”. Gloria left about 5:30 with rain starting soon after. There were a few rumbles of thunder with more thunder and lightening after we went to bed 9:00-9:30.
April 8, 2023 – Saturday
Today was supposed to be a “day off” when we were on our own but soon after breakfast Gloria called to tell us that Syd and Yvonne had plans to take the four of us to lunch at Zilver in Westfield Mall. Zilver is a huge dim sum restaurant (or yum cha as they say in Australia). They picked up M&D while the two of us walked over to meet them. It was a fun meal with a large variety of small dishes coming and empty plates going. We didn’t always know what we were eating but every item was delicious. Per Yvonne’s suggestion we finished up the meal with yummy mango pudding topped with sweet milk. The meal was washed down with little cups of tea from a pot left on the table. Our only complaint was the noise level made it hard to hear around the table. We parted ways with the four of us having a leisurely walk back to our apartment. During the rest of the afternoon we watched a movie recommended by Gloria called “Living” which was an enjoyable British film. We spent some time discussing the movie then did our own thing with an ice cream break. Our day ended with turning in a bit early.
April 9, 2023 – Sunday
Mom made some fried matzah for breakfast which was a great start to the day. Gloria arrived late morning and we sat visiting until it was time to go in search of lunch. Being Easter Sunday lots of places were closed so there weren’t a lot of people out. Mom, Dad, and Gloria shared roasted chicken, potatoes, and pumpkin. Laurie got pho from another Vietnamese restaurant, and Pat got chicken laksa at another. We spent more time visiting until Gloria left late afternoon. The rest of our evening we just relaxed using our various devices before we went to bed a bit early.
April 10, 2023 – Monday
Happy Birthday Laurie! Another Passover breakfast followed by Gloria’s arrival at 11:00. We headed to Anne’s for lunch with M&D being picked up by Syd and the other three of us taking a taxi courtesy of Gloria. In addition to Anne and her son Adam (Tony was working), Syd and Yvonne were there as well as their son David and his family (wife Nicole, son Jason, and daughter Violet).
It was dark when we were at Anne and Tony’s for Passover so this was a chance to see their piece-of-paradise backyard. About half the yard was a beautiful, dark blue tiled pool enclosed by a glass enclosure. The other part was grass, and the whole yard was surrounded by tall greenery making it very private. Along the back of the house were patio areas with a table and chairs as well as loungers. Anne put out a spread that included salad, egg and tuna salad, smoked salmon, and a huge pile of latkas. For dessert she thoughtfully had a cheesecake with birthday candles for Laurie. There were other leftover desserts as well. Everything was delicious. We had a lot of interesting conversations with the family and it was a memorable visit. As we were trying to arrange an Uber that would hold the 5 of us, Tony arrived and took Gloria back to her place while Anne took the rest of us back to our apartment. We relaxed then turned in early.
April 11, 2023 – Tuesday
Today was just going to be a laid back day at the apartment visiting with Gloria. Unfortunately, Gloria wasn’t feeling well – she felt a bit dizzy so she was going to stay at her place making this our first day on our own. It was a catch-up day with Pat doing laundry, and Laurie doing our New Zealand visas and finishing up Dad’s taxes with him. There was leftover roasted chicken, potatoes, and pumpkin from 2 days ago. Mom and Pat went to Cole’s and bought the fixings to turn the leftovers into a salad, including eggs and shredded cheddar that we already had. It was cool and breezy outside so it was a good day to stay in. During the afternoon we watched “Elvis” which was a long (2 hours, 39 minutes), drawn out movie which wasn’t that great. More relaxing until bedtime.
April 12, 2023 – Wednesday
Periodically, Pat has her early coffee on the balcony, but the mornings have been getting cooler as Australia is in it’s late fall headed into winter. Our balcony looks out on the side of Syd and Yvonne’s 28 story building which has a lush green space behind including a pool, tennis courts, a paved walking path, and grassy areas surrounded by shrubbery and palm trees. There also is a variety of birds to hear and see including black ravens, black and white Magpies, colorful parrots, pigeons, and lots of little swallows zipping around that have a blue tint in sunshine. It’s a peaceful spot to look out on in a mostly urban area.
After breakfast we checked in with Gloria who was feeling better and was going to spend the day at her place. Anne picked the four of us up about 10:30 for a drive to the Manly Beach area. Parts of the drive were very scenic with views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge (which we drove over) and views out over the water. We started out at Shelly Beach where we had a view across the water to Manly Beach.
We walked on the path that goes north along the water, then returned to eat lunch at The Boathouse restaurant after we got hit with a few raindrops and weren’t sure if it was going to get better or worse. We ate inside, but the place was open to the outside and even had a couple pigeons wandering around inside. Lunch was delicious with our selections being either fish and chips or a big salad with a lemon chicken skewer. Laurie also had a tall mango smoothie. Anne picked up coffee for herself and Pat, then M&D sat on a bench visiting with Anne while we walked the path north again but continued on to Manly Beach. Along the way, in addition to gorgeous scenery we saw jellyfish, crabs, several lizards, and various birds. On Shelly Beach and near the restaurant there were “bush turkeys” (kind of looked like small turkeys), walking around looking for food scraps. We enjoyed the drive back while we had a chance to chat in the car. Anne was as great a host outside her home as in. Back at the apartment we did more of the relaxing we are so good at.
April 13, 2023 – Thursday
Today we stayed at the apartment getting a few things done including laundry and taking Covid tests as preparation for our cruise in two days. Gloria came over late morning and we had another gab-fest – always learning something new about the family. We went out in the afternoon to pick up laksa for the last time during our visit. Laurie also picked up a banana smoothie. Our good conversation continued after lunch until late afternoon when Gloria left for her place. We did our own thing as well as chatted some during the evening. (Also, Passover ended at sundown!)
April 14, 2023 – Friday
Our last full day in Sydney as we depart on the first of our two cruises tomorrow. Today’s main activity was a family lunch at Doyle’s Takeaway in Watson’s Bay. It’s a beautiful area where there is a ferry terminal and lots of small sailboats anchored around the bay. Everyone who was at Anne’s for lunch on April 10th was there as well. Anne’s husband Tony was working, unfortunately.
It rained off and on most the day but Gloria had gotten to the restaurant early and set up a table in the enclosed area for the 12 of us. Gloria took orders from everyone and we placed the order and brought it back to the table. All the food was delicious with generous portions. We had a wonderful visit before, during, and after our meal. David and his family left together, then Syd and Yvonne took Gloria and Laurie back to our apartment, and Anne took M&D and Pat to the apartment in her car. We had a nice visit with Gloria before we said our goodbyes to her, with hopes of seeing her again soon. The two of us then headed out to buy a few things and make use of two $5 off coupons we had at a deli. Our last evening in Australia was spent packing and relaxing.
Everyone in the family was so warm, loving, and generous. They gave a lot of themselves and their time to make sure we felt welcomed, were looked after, and were well fed! We couldn’t have asked for a better time.
April 15-May 2, 2023 – Ovation of the Seas Transpacific, Oceanview 3578
April 15, 2023 – Saturday (Sunny, mid-70’s) – DEPARTURE DAY: Departure day. Very bittersweet. We’re so sad to leave all the wonderful family and the amazing time we had, but we’re also excited to start our cruising adventure that takes us back home. Around 11:00, after breakfast and a little last minute packing, we put M&D in an Uber to the port and we walked to a nearby taxi stand to catch our ride. We had a great taxi driver (Mark) who dispensed endless interesting information about Australia during our drive. We easily found M&D at the port, turned in our luggage, and went through the multi-step process to board which went smoothly. At last we were aboard the Ovation of the Seas. The ship is under Captain Espen Been, with Steve (from Canada) as cruise director, and Cecilia/CC (from Mexico) as the activities director. The ship has a very similar layout to our cruise last Fall on Odyssey. We sat and chatted while nibbling on pizza from Sorrento’s until our rooms were ready just after 1:30. About an hour later our luggage arrived so we could unpack and settled in for the next 27 days. The two of us went up on deck to take in the 360 degree view of gorgeous Sydney Harbor including the Harbor Bridge (Which had people hiking up and across the very top of it!), the Opera House, and the expanse of water dotted with many boats of various kinds. Soon it was time for our first Happy Hour at the Schooner Bar. We tried two different waiters but neither gave us very much of a drink. We’ll try someone else or somewhere else tomorrow. Dinner tonight was at Jamie’s Italian on our BOGO deal. Henry, our waiter, steered us through a fantastic meal starting with several appetizers and wine. The main courses were lasagna and salmon with truffle fries and crispy rosemary polenta chunks. Finishing it all up Dad had a brownie and the rest of us had lemony cheesecake. We managed to get ourselves back to our cabins to collapse for the night. (Tonight we moved the clocks 1 hour ahead.)
April 16, 2023 – Sunday (Sunny to Partly Sunny, 70) – AT SEA Back to our early coffee/hot chocolate start in the Diamond Lounge, then back to the cabin to relax until M&D came to life. Our breakfast time is 9:00 as on previous cruises. The Windjammer was already busy but we found a table and enjoyed having the huge variety of options to choose from. After breakfast M&D headed off on their own and we went to the Solarium to read. It also was very busy and we sat on a couch until a couple of lounge chairs opened up. About 2 hours later we returned to our cabin to continue reading out of the sun and relaxed. We tried the Schooner Bar again for Happy Hour where we had 2 different waiters, and both once again brought us tiny drinks. At least we had each other’s good company while we sipped. Before long it was time to head to the dining room for our 8:00pm seating where we met our servers for the first time: Waiter Deepak and Assistant Waiter Dwi. The food was good but mostly was only warm instead of hot, and the service was really slow. We finally finished up in time to see the 10:00 show at the Royal Theatre, Phil Cass & Philippa – “a showman, magician, and comic” with his wife assisting. Our seats weren’t great so it was hard to see and it was often hard to understand his heavy Australian accent, especially when he talked fast. He seemed like he would have been pretty good if we could see and hear better. It was after 11:00 when we returned to our cabins, however, with moving the clocks ahead another hour it made it midnight. A very late night for us.
April 17, 2023 – Monday (Cloudy, waves of showers/fog, big swells, 70) – AT SEA A good day to be inside weather wise. We got to the Diamond Lounge early, then back to our cabin, then had breakfast with M&D. Afterwards Mom went to the spa to wash her hair and the rest of us went to the library to pick up sudoku puzzles. Dad went his way and we went to read, finding a nice corner by the windows in the pool area just before the doors into the Solarium. The swells looked big from deck 14 but they looked huge from our deck 3 cabin window where we spent the rest of the afternoon after vacating our pool chairs. Happy Hour took us to the Amber & Oak Pub to see how their drinks were. They ended up being the same as the Schooner Bar so we think we’re just going to have to accept the fact that the waiters seem to have stricter pouring rules to follow than in the past. The pub was nice, however, without foot traffic going by our table and it was a bit quieter. About 7:30 we decided to head up to Windjammer instead of the main dining where the buffet had some Caribbean themed items. Most the food was very good and it wasn’t very busy. Our main disappointment was that they now charged for ice cream! We had no other plans for the evening so we returned to our cabins early – about 8:45.
April 18, 2023 – Tuesday (Cloudy, windy, big swells, 70) – BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND CHANGED TO AT SEA Soon after we had our morning coffee in the Diamond Lounge and returned to our cabin, it was announced that our stop in Bay of Islands was cancelled due to weather. It is a tendered port and with the high winds blowing into the harbor and high swells, it was too dangerous to use the tenders. Another day at sea which is fine with us. We had breakfast in the Windjammer then went our separate ways. The two of us went to the Solarium to read but it was packed. We ended up in the Music Hall on deck 4 even though there was a crafts class going on on deck 3 of the Music Hall. We managed to tune out the person leading the class but once Super Hero trivia started next we went back to our cabin. We read, napped, and relaxed until Happy Hour in the Amber & Oak Pub. Mom and Pat tried a drink called Cherry Orchard which they both enjoyed. Once again we decided on Windjammer over the dining room for an Italian themed night. Everything was delicious. We opted to return to our cabins about 8:30 rather than seeking out a show.
April 19, 2023 – Wednesday (Partly cloudy, some sun, 70) – AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND An overcast start to the day, with some mid-morning to mid-afternoon sun until the clouds returned. We had our early Diamond Lounge coffee as we pulled into Auckland. Because Ovation is so large we had to dock by the port’s container yard and take shuttle bus to Queen’s Wharf by downtown Auckland. We hopped on one of these shuttles about 10:30 after our usual 9:00 breakfast with M&D in the Windjammer. We walked the downtown area for about 90 minutes. The streets were lined with designer stores such as Prada, Gucci, and Coach. The area seemed to be a mixture of old and new architecture including shorter buildings right up to skyscrapers. The futuristic looking Sky Tower was the prominent feature of the skyline. It was good to have a long walk for some exercise. Back onboard M&D went to Windjammer and we went to the Solarium to read and have a short nap. Our view from the Solarium included the downtown area to the right, a beautiful harbor with a marina and moored sailboats to the left, and the incredibly busy container yard straight ahead. Time in our cabin until Happy Hour once again in Amber & Oak. The waitress Stephanie has been okay. Still searching for our “generous pourer”. We dined in the Windjammer which had a Mexican theme and everything was tasty, although a couple things were very spicy. At 9:00 we went to the Royal Theater for the production called “Live. Love. Legs.” It was a extremely loud, high energy show with great dancing and singing that kept us awake at our usual dozing off time. We turned into our cabin just a few steps from the theater about 10:00.
April 20, 2023 – Thursday, Day 6A (Mostly cloudy, 70) – AT SEA Diamond Lounge coffee and Windjammer breakfast to begin our day. We managed to snag a couple lounge chairs in the Solarium seconds after people vacated them. Every chair appeared to be taken today. Towards 1:00 we returned to the quiet of our cabin until Happy Hour with M&D. We think we’ve found our waiter in the Amber & Oak Pub! Not only did Pravesh make us good drinks for the second time, he also brought us a round of singles without charging our cards. After some great conversation during Happy Hour we decided on the Main Dining Room for dinner tonight. The service and the food was much better than the first time we were in the dining room. Since we crossed the International Dateline today, tonight we turn the clocks back 24 hours.
April 20, 2023 – Thursday, Day 6B (AM clouds, PM sun, windy, 70) – AT SEA We got to relive April 20th all over today since we crossed the International Dateline – thus the Day 6A and Day 6B. The usual lounge and Windjammer to fuel up, and the Solarium to read. We went to the theater to see “Top Gun Maverick” which was a good, but predictable, movie that was better on a big screen than seeing on a TV screen. Soon it was time for Happy Hour in the Oak & Amber Pub and Pravesh did not disappoint. The dining room was our choice of venue for dinner and they served up some wonderful Chicken Schnitzel – crispy and tender. Full and sleepy it was time to turn in.
April 21, 2023 – Friday (Mostly cloudy, some sun, 72) – AT SEA Another Diamond Lounge and Windjammer start to the day. We had to turn in our passports today for our stop in Papeete, Tahiti, on Tuesday, and Laurie also visited Voom to straighten out our internet. Then we spent about 3 hours relaxing, reading, and enjoying a cold drink in the covered pool area since the Solarium was packed. There was mixed sun, clouds, and showers resulting in several rainbows. We set the clocks ahead at noon today so there was no 12:00-1:00. Before long we were in the pub for a drink and then up in the Windjammer for a UK themed buffet. The fish and chips were crispy and delicious, as was a Scottish egg which was a hard boiled egg encased in ground meat with a crunchy coating. We didn’t quite figure out what bubble and squeak was (fried mashed potatoes and onions?) but it was pretty good. We turned in early and tried to watch Dateline but both fell asleep before the end so we never found out who did it.
April 22, 2023 – Saturday (Mostly cloudy, some sun, 75) – AT SEA Same start but then we went to the outdoor pool area and secured a couple lounge chairs near the windows to read. Hopefully we’ll soon have some weather worthy of our swimsuits and sunscreen. It’s been windy with too many clouds to go through the effort. Later in the afternoon we read some more, watched TV, and relaxed in the cabin. Pat also had a good nap. Pravesh once again provided us with excellent drinks in the pub before we enjoyed the Chinese themed buffet dinner in Windjammer.
April 23, 2023 – Sunday (Mostly sunny, 80ish) – AT SEA As usual we started our day early in the Diamond Lounge, but then we went to the Solarium Bistro which has a small buffet but still a variety of options. Laurie was able to get his muesli and Pat had eggs, potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and a pastry. Since it was earlier then when we finish eating in Windjammer we were able to get one of the 2-person wicker beds that fill up fast, then do some reading. As the sun rose it became too hot there so we moved to loungers just outside the Solarium for a while before returning to the cabin where Laurie dealt with email issues and Pat read and then we watched some TV. We had Happy Hour in the pub and found another waiter, Stephen, who was good. Dinner was in Windjammer where there was some Indian themed food. We turned in by 7:00 to watch TV, read, and relax.
April 24, 2023 – Monday (86, very humid, partly cloudy) – PAPEETE, TAHITI Diamond Lounge then Windjammer. We rested in the cabin then the two of us went out for a walk along the waterfront late morning. There was a nice, wide path with lush plants and tall palm trees waving in the breeze. The breeze helped a little bit but it was very hot and humid. There was a big thatched hut at our turnaround point which provided some shade as well as a good view from in front of the ship. The water along the path was lined with moored boats of various kinds. Under the water they appeared to be encouraging a variety of coral to grow on metal bracing which were easy to see through the clear water. Back on the ship we returned to our cabin to try to cool off. We felt pretty tired so we just went to Windjammer (Greek theme) and turned in early to watch TV.
April 25, 2023 – Tuesday (76, mostly cloudy, AM showers, humid) – MOOREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA (overnight) Happy Birthday, Dad! We’ll be celebrating with a dinner at Chops later in the cruise. We went to the lounge early but there were more people there than usual because of early disembarking so we went back to our cabin. It was a gloomy, wet morning so even if we go off the ship it won’t be until if and when weather improves. We chatted with M&D in our room for a while. Pat hadn’t slept well so she napped in the afternoon after our visit. We enjoyed a delicious salmon dinner from the dining room before watching some interesting shows on TV and going to sleep.
April 26, 2023 – Wednesday (78, mostly sunny, humid) – MOOREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA We overnighted in Moorea. Laurie took some pictures with the sunrise of the gorgeous harbor where we were anchored. Moorea is a tendered port with the tenders docking at the small town of Papetoai. The island has eight mountain peaks that magically rise out of he ocean like a cathedral. Then we had coffee from the Diamond Lounge and then breakfast. Being the lazy creatures that we are, we spent most the day reading, watching TV, and napping. Happy Hour and yummy garlic shrimp from the dining room finished up our day.
April 27, 2023 – Thursday (77, mostly cloudy) – AT SEA A glorious sunrise with the sun backlighting majestic clouds that started at the water and towered up into the sky. Since we’ve tried to avoid huge crowds our routine at sea is pretty much the same everyday: Diamond Lounge, breakfast, time in the room, some time on deck, Happy Hour, dinner, and turning in. Nice, relaxing days when we don’t feel pressured to do anything. Just enjoying being on a cruise together.
April 28, 2023 – Friday (84, mostly sunny) – AT SEA Mostly the same as above. Laurie and Dad spent a couple hours up on deck in the sun then a passing shower convinced them they had had enough. Today we passed over the equator in the early evening but they did the poolside ceremony late afternoon before sunset. We decided to see the ceremony on TV when they show it to avoid the crowds. A restful afternoon followed by a dining room dinner.
April 29, 2023 – Saturday (84, mostly cloudy, showers) – AT SEA A mostly gloomy day with passing showers and occasional minor rocking from the ocean’s swells. As usual we had Diamond Lounge coffee and then breakfast. We did lots of reading today. Dining room dinner. Our days seem to be running into one another. We’ll see if we can’t switch it up in the next day or two, especially with seeing Greg in Honolulu and starting the new cruise to Vancouver.
April 30, 2023 – Sunday (80ish, mixed sun & clouds) – AT SEA We had our Diamond Lounge coffee and breakfast to start our day. We read and chilled until Happy Hour in the pub when we all had some good conversation before heading up to Chops for an 8:00 dinner. The last few times we went to Chops on other ships the food and service was a disappointment. This time it was very good. The only thing was Pat didn’t care for the Red Velvet Cake which was different than in the past. Her filet was outstanding, though. On the way to our cabins we stopped in the casino to cash out and use our $6 slot credit. We turned in for the night without any financial gains but probably with weight gains.
May 1, 2023 – Monday (low 80’s, sun, clouds, humid, showers) – HONOLULU, HI (overnight) The Diamond Lounge was busy earlier than usual, as was the Windjammer. We went to read on the pool deck, Mom wandered around (although she joined us for a while), and Dad went up to deck 15 to get some sun. We pulled into Honolulu about noon, 2 hours early. Many people lined the railings to observed the view of waves rolling in, backed by the city, and further backed by green mountains. We saw a turtle in the aqua waters who’s shell must have been at least a foot long. As we prepared to dock it started to rain so we returned to our cabin until it’s was time to be processed through immigration. We were called just before 3:30 and then had to wait almost another hour for the line to make it to the border agents. Then it was very quick. Greg was already waiting for us outside the ship so we picked up a suitcase M&D were leaving at their apartment and headed out. It was wonderful to see Greg again and really great that he drove to the port to visit with us for a couple hours (tomorrow will be a longer day with Greg). He took us to a restaurant called Nico’s at Pier 38 in an industrial area by the waterfront where we sat outdoors enjoying yummy poo poo’s (appetizers) while chatting and catching up. Soon it was time for him to drop us back at the ship. We headed right to the pub for Happy Hour before eating dinner in the dining room. Service was extremely slow and we’re glad we’ll have a new table next cruise – which starts tomorrow!
May 2-May 11, 2023 Ovation of the Seas Honolulu to Vancouver, Oceanview 3578
May 2, 2023 – Tuesday (80ish, humid, mostly cloudy) – HONOLULU, HI Here we go again! We still had our early coffee/hot chocolate in the Diamond Lounge but then we went to Windjammer about 7:15 with just about every other passenger on the ship, or so it seemed. What a zoo! Laurie snagged us a great table right by the window with a wonderful view, though. After breakfast we collected some stuff from our cabins and then sat in the Music Hall until it was time to go out to meet Greg. Another zoo but we easily found him once we were actually able to get off the ship. He drove us to M&D’s apartment which is in the same complex as his condo in Hawaii Kai about 35 minutes away. It’s a great airy apartment with high ceilings and a balcony with a gorgeous view of a harbor backed by lush, green mountains. Greg brought his dog (Mochi) over and a little later Anela joined us for a visit. Mom and Pat each did a load of laundry while we were there. Greg graciously treated us to yummy shaved ice from Kokonuts before returning us to the port about 3:00. It was a memorable afternoon. After an hour rest in the cabin, we went to check in at our lifeboat station followed by an early start to Happy Hour in the Amber & Oak Pub. Stephen made us some good drinks. Since we started early we finished early so we decided to go to the Diamond Lounge where we had a few appetizers and chatted until dinner time. We are now in the “Chic” dining room. Our waiter is Gusti and assistant waiter is Raymund. Service was incredibly slow and lacking but it was night one so maybe the next time will be better. The food was okay. Nothing exceptional. After our long but wonderful day we were happy to turn in. Settled in our bed and ready for sleep we had a knock at the door – bar service bringing us a bottle of wine. Told them through the door to bring it back tomorrow. Settled back into bed. Ten minutes later there’s another knock at our door – room service. Not sure what they were bringing but also told them to come back tomorrow. Have to remember to put the “do not disturb” sign out!
May 3, 2023 – Wednesday (mid-80’s, humid, mostly sunny) – LAHAINA, MAUI, HI Back to our routine of early Diamond Lounge coffee, time back in the cabin, and 9:00 breakfast in Windjammer with M&D. We thought yesterday was a zoo – this morning was much worse! Not only were there more people than we’ve ever seen in the Windjammer, they were running out of all kinds of food! Omelets which usually take about 5 minutes to make were taking 35 minutes! Talking to one of the staff, he said the demographics from last cruise changed with most people seeking out breakfast in the Windjammer and hardly anyone going to the dining room which they apparently were not prepared for. We did eventually find a table and none of us went hungry. Dad went in search of sun, Mom went wandering, and we found chairs in the indoor pool area to read while taking in the ocean/mountain/city view spread before us. Around noon we greased ourselves up and hit deck 15 to soak in some sun. It was really hot in the sun with a slight breeze occasionally for a little relief. An hour was about as long as we felt safe staying out before we returned to our cabin for cooling showers and ice water. Soon it was time for Happy Hour in the pub where Stephen provided us with some good drinks. Then it was off to Windjammer for a Caribbean themed buffet. An early night with us turning in by 8:30.
May 4, 2023 – Thursday (mid 80’s, mostly sunny) – LAHAINA, MAUI, HI We had our early lounge coffee and Pat had a pastry before we met M&D at 8:00 to take a tender to shore. They packed us in like sardines but the ride was less than 15 minutes. Front Street was a nice street to stroll along although most the shops were closed so early in the morning. The view was outstanding all along our waterfront walk with the deep blue color of the ocean dotted with sailboats and surfers trying to ride the small waves. Of course the Ovation of the Seas was the most prominent feature on the water. After a while M&D went to sit on a bench enjoying the view while the two of us walked farther down the street. We picked them up on our return walk and we continued on to a park that had Maui’s oldest living banyan tree (planted 1873) spreading it’s magnificent trunks, branches, and vines over the entire park. M&D found another bench to rest on and the two of us did a quick trip to the waterfront to get a better view of our ship and the surfers. It was sunny and hot but there was a nice breeze. After a couple hours we took a very uncrowded tender back to the ship. Since we had skipped breakfast we met at Windjammer at 11:30 for lunch. Soon after lunch we put on sunscreen and headed up on deck 15, where we found Dad, to relax in the sun for a while. We finished off the afternoon with showers, more resting, and Happy Hour. Tonight’s dinner venue was Izumi for sushi. For the $35 set menu we each got miso soup, a choice of 1 small plate, a choice of 2 large plates, and dessert (mango mochi ice cream). We also enjoyed hot saki with our meal. Everything was delicious and our waiter, Ming, was excellent. Since the meal was on a BOGO deal and the drinks were on our Sea Pass, for about $70 plus tip we had a real feast. By 9:30 we were ready for bed.
May 5, 2023 – Friday (Upper 70’s, mostly cloudy) – KAILUA KONA, HI Another Diamond Lounge and Windjammer start to the day. Then we went to read on the pool deck, then in the cabin until the guy came to clean, then in the Diamond Lounge again. In Fall of 2019 we had visited this port and we didn’t do much except walk around. We decided it wasn’t worth the trouble and long lines to take tenders to and from the port so we stayed onboard and enjoyed the uncrowded ship. Unfortunately, the day quickly turned cloudy and the temperature was just warm so it wasn’t good for sunbathing. The coast is beautiful, though. Instead of beaches the coast was black volcanic rocks and incoming waves would hit them and shoot up in the air. Gorgeous. Late afternoon we wandered on deck watching the tenders being hooked back up, getting underway, and taking pictures. Our Happy Hour was in our usual place, Amber & Oak Pub, where Stephen took care of us. We had dinner in the dining room and our experience was much better than the first day, both service and food. Walking through the ship on our way back to our cabins everywhere was packed with people, especially the Promenade and casino. Once we left the port it was the first time all the shops and the casino were open since we originally departed.
May 6, 2023 – Saturday (Mid 70’s, partly sunny) – AT SEA Diamond Lounge / Windjammer / reading on deck / reading in cabin / napping. Then Happy Hour! – where we had some great conversation and talked about future cruising. Dinner was in the dining room and it seems Gusti has found his groove with better service. The food was good also, especially the beef tenderloin. We moved the clocks forward 1 hour at noon so we are only 2 hours behind home now.
May 7, 2023 – Sunday (Mid 60’s, mostly cloudy) – AT SEA Early coffee in the Diamond Lounge, then early breakfast in Windjammer. Our usual time for breakfast has been 9:00 but M&D were ready to go before 8:00. There were a lot less people there at that hour which was nice. Then we separated with the two of us heading to the Solarium to read. Since we got there an hour earlier than usual we had many options of places to sit. We spent over 4 hours there since we were comfortable. (Pat napped part of the time.) At noon we turned the clocks ahead another hour so we are now only one hour behind home. Our cabin provided an afternoon resting place until our usual 5:30 Happy Hour in the pub. Tonight we went to a show at 7:00 in the theater performed by “Oh What a Night” – a Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons tribute group. The group had great voices, did a few dance moves, and did some goofy comedy which they could have done without. Then it was off to the dining room for a delicious dinner.
May 8, 2023 – Monday (Mid 50’s, windy, mostly cloudy) – AT SEA Same as yesterday – lounge and early Windjammer then finding good chairs to read the morning away in the Solarium. We moved the clocks ahead one last hour so we are now on Mukilteo time. By the time we left the Solarium about 1:00 it was packed and very noisy. We went to our cabin for some quiet rest. Our Happy Hour was very happy, followed by dinner in an uncrowded Windjammer.
As we head farther north away from the tropics the temperature is going down each day.
May 9, 2023 – Tuesday (Low 50’s, mostly cloudy) – AT SEA Again we had early coffee in the lounge and an 8:00 breakfast in Windjammer. Arriving at the Solarium early we were able to get prime chairs looking out the front of the ship at the expansive view. Near our chairs on the side of the ship we found a door you could go out onto a small platform that stuck out the side of the ship affording a view down the side of the ship from deck 14. On our way back to our cabin in the early afternoon we stopped by Next Cruise to place orders for Open Booking tickets for future cruises. Then we stopped by the casino to try our luck with the $6 credit we each had but didn’t walk away any richer. Back in the cabin Pat started organizing a few things for packing and, of course, we rested. Amber & Oak was where we spent Happy Hour until it was time to head up to Chops for dinner. We had another great meal there, consuming too much once again. M&D picked up pictures they had ordered earlier from the photo gallery on our way to our cabins for the night.
May 10, 2023 – Wednesday (Low 50’s, sunny) – AT SEA
Our last day. Mixed feelings as we’ll greatly miss cruising with M&D (at least until our next cruise in the Fall!) but we can’t wait to be with the family back home. As a bonus M&D are coming home with us for 2 weeks! For today, though, we followed our usual routine of early coffee in the Diamond Lounge and early breakfast in Windjammer followed by reading time in the Solarium. During our time there we saw what we think were 2-3 sea lions hanging out in the water, as well as the spouting backs of what looked to be two Orca whales. Then we had to face the fact that it was time to do as much packing as we could until just before bedtime tonight. At least we were able to put the sadness of packing behind us when Happy Hour rolled around. Our last Happy Hour in the Amber & Oak Pub with Stephen serving us our final drink of the cruise. Soon it was time for our last dinner in the dining room. The food was good as was the service up until dessert when our waiters seemed to disappear. We won’t miss them so much. After finally getting our dessert we had to do last minute packing and put our suitcases out in the hall for pick up.
May 11, 2023 – Thursday (Upper 60’s, sunny) – VANCOUVER, BC
We were all up early. Laurie went to the Diamond Lounge and brought Pat back some coffee. There was time for Laurie to start his “technical stuff” packing before M&D called at 6:15 to go to the Windjammer for breakfast. It had only been open since 6:00 but it was already packed. Laurie once again hunted down a table for us. With our appetite and morning coffee needs satisfied we returned to our cabins to finish up packing and wait until 8:00 when we had to be out of the room. Our next area to wait was the Schooner Bar. We were finally let off the ship about 9:30 and hung out in the terminal a bit until the crowds went down some. Then we headed out into the harbour area which was very pretty with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. About a block away was an Uber pickup area to catch our ride to the Pacific Central Station. Our Amtrak train wasn’t until 5:45 so we had another long wait. We filled out time visiting, reading, walking around the station, the guys did Sudoku, the girls browsed the tiny gift shop, and for dinner we had A&W burgers and fries. At 4:15 we got priority boarding due to our Nexus cards. For the 3 1/2 hour ride we had comfy chairs, outlets, WiFi, pull down trays, and plenty of leg room. There was also a cafe car but we didn’t go there. We saw some amazing scenery at times including expanses of water sprinkled with sailboats, mud flats with herons searching for food, snow-capped mountains, the setting sun, and stretches of rocky and sandy beaches dotted with people waving at the train and enjoying the glorious evening. About 9:20 we arrived at Everett Station, picked up our luggage, and had a wonderful Uber driver deliver us home. Daniel came out to greet us and help with luggage. Nicole’s reunion had to wait until the next day since the teacher needed her early sleep. It was so good to be home. Daniel and Nicole took excellent care of the house, lawn, and food supplies so it was a happy and stressless return after 6 memorable weeks together with M&D.