VIETNAM

So now 40 years after this war torn country, it has become a tourist destination. Do you suppose that means in another 40 years we will find Iraq or Somalia as a vacation destination?

Let’s hope there’s peace in the world.

Nha Trang was our first stop and is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent diving and is complete with five-star hotels along with family run hotels, all within easy walking distance of the beaches. We toured outside the city area where there are many rice paddies and families have their own piece of land to grow their sustenance. There is very little modern equipment used and the work involves much manual labor although it is slowly progressing.

Phy My – the gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, otherwise known as Saigon. From where the ship docks into the city is about 50 km but due to the traffic, it takes nearly 2 hours to transit. Once in Saigon, you find it a very energetic city. Most people drive motorcycles with special traffic lanes for them. Safety has a long way to go with barefoot drivers and although helmets are required, they seem to translate that to head gear by many of the drivers. There’s an area of the road where there is a helmet check so before it starts you can stop and rent a helmet, drive through the check area and turn it in on the other side of the checkpoint. With the custom of many Asian cities, tailors are abundant here too. Water puppet shows are popular tourist events.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong is always a port of call on the Grand World Voyage. It was a British colony until 1997 when it passed to Chinese sovereignty so it is very westernized. It reminds me a bit of New York City – it never sleeps! It is densely populated and in fact the “reclaim” land from the sea to have more land. Their new airport is built on reclaimed land. There is a delightful mix of old China and modern China as you see in the photos. Tailors are abundant and in just one day it’s possible to have some beautiful clothing made to fit. We had a two-day stay here. The ship docks with a beautiful view of downtown across the harbor. Each evening at 8pm, there is a light display synchronized to music. Then there’s the markets – lots of shopping here. In daytime the famed Jade Market is bustling but as evening comes, it turns into a night market with great bargains on watches, knock-off brand name purses, sunglasses, oriental clothing, jewelry, it goes on and on. So much to do and see here, so little time.

Ship Life

As you read this blog, I’m sure most of you think my life is just all travel & fun. But I really do have a job! My days vary quite a bit as what I do is help our passengers plan and book their next cruise on one of our 15 ships. I work seven days a week for my entire contract which is approximately four months long. Days when the ship is at sea can be very long work days. Most days I start by 8am and finish by 7pm, and sometimes I don’t finish my work day until 10pm. When we are doing many sea days in a row, this can be really tiring. But on the flip side, when we are port, I don’t do many hours. Sometimes my “work” hours include escorting a tour. I always do a few work hours but the days are much shorter.

This week Holland America Line held it’s annual sales meeting in Seattle. Since our department is all sea-going employees we do not attend. However, they now select a “Future Cruise Consultant of the Year”. The photo speaks for itself! This is the wonderful e-mail I woke up to one day.

I am very pleased to say that last night at the annual Consumer Programs Awards Dinner we announced that Char Patton was our2011 Future Cruise Consultant of the Year .

Char had a 2011 NTR Target of $8.4 million and achieved $13.5 million for 145% of Target. This award is based strictly on the percentage of sales to target but Char means so much more to us than just the “numbers”. She is constantly assisting other FCCs, making suggestions that increase our sales and productivity and has established an excellent rapport with our guests and fellow seagoing staff, especially on our Grand World Voyages. We are very pleased and proud of Char for her continued excellence.

Komodo Island

My first time in Indonesia! As we approached this tiny island, the hilly landscaped was so lush it was as if it was covered in a velvet blanket. This island is known more for its animal residents than for its beauty.

The indigenous Komodo Dragons are considered the last of their kind. The grow up to 9 feet long and can weigh up to 300 pounds. Although technically they are not poisonous, their saliva hosts a deadly bacteria so if bitten, one is quickly infected and can cause death. They are carnivorous and cannibalistic, sometimes eating their young.

This was one of the most thrilling places I have ever visited. I felt like we were exploring Jurassic Park! The island is a national park and any visitors have to be with special guides that are trained in “dragon fighting”. In our mile hike, we came across 6 dragons. Their forked tongues actually are how they smell. Their eyesight is very poor and they are rather stupid animals.

Land Down Under - Cairns - The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is about 1500 miles long and can be visited from many places. Our ship’s berth is in Cairns (pronounced Cans). I spent the day sailing on a catamaran out to a snorkeling island on the reef, snorkeling, riding in a glass bottom boat, then a semi-submersible marine craft and more snorkeling. On a previous visit with ship friend Judy and home friend Annette, we took a helicopter flight over the reef so I’m including photos from that visit too.

The Land Down Under - Sydney, Australia

Sydney Harbor is probably the most beautiful harbor to sail into in the world and it is all natural. We pass many islands and communities along with way with hundreds, maybe even thousands of sailboats dotting the waters and as we approach our berth, we pass the Sydney Opera House and sail under the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Our stay here in the most populous city in Australia was for 2 days.
The first day I went by ferry with a friend to a charming place called Manly. It was picture perfect beach community and we had picture perfect weather.





The second day was spent taking local transportation to China Town where we enjoyed local cuisine.

Mardi Gras at Sea on Fat Tuesday!

Every year during our World Cruise, the CEO of Holland America Line sails with us for a special celebration. This year our theme was Mardi Gras at sea. Our crew spends many hours planning this huge event. The carpenters and deck department transformed our Lido pool area into what appeared to be a paddle wheel steamship complete with “porches”, a Dixieland band played, a caricature artist cartooned many people, there was a tarot card reader busy predicting futures, and many people wore theme clothing. Our entertainment department dressed in costumes and paraded around often and the drinks flowed freely. Food stands were set up around the edge of the pool area with some delicious New Orleans style food.

American Samoa

Our next port was Apia, American Samoa. I had a crew boat drill/training I was required to be at in the morning so this didn’t allow a lot of time ashore. I was able to take a walk and spend some money! It was USD so was easy. Most ports/foreign countries require their currency so it’s always extra effort to figure out what things cost.

Tahiti

Our next port was Tahiti in French Polynesia. I was home ported here in 2011 when I worked for Renaissance Cruise Line which went out of business after the 9/11 disaster. We are greeted on shore by some local entertainers, then visited the local market. I needed some general office supplies so hopped the local bus for the Carre Four, which is similar to our Target or Walmart. A comedian friend I have known since 1998 when I worked on Celebrity Cruise Lines, was disembarking the ship here and not flying out until the following day. He invited me and others to his hotel to spend the afternoon by the pool. It was so relaxing just being with friends in this beautiful tropical setting. It was a fabulous day!