Sandy and Jim WC 24-25

  BAY OF ISLANDS (WAITANGI), NEW ZEALAND January 28, 2025 After 5 sea days, we were looking forward to landfall again.   Just before our arrival this morning, we were greeted by this group of porpoises off our port side. Waitangi is the Gateway to the 150-some islands that comprise the Bay of Islands and holds a central role in the history of New Zealand.  In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in the Treaty House by British officers and Maori chiefs.  The Treaty House where the document was signed stands side by side to a Maori meeting house.   Our tour today traveled through lush citrus fruit orchards where swarms of bees produce the honey from which Manuka Honey is produced.  Our first stop was in the Kerikeri Basin which is home to the country’s oldest buildings dating back to the early 1800’s- the wooden Kemp House and the stone-constructed Stone Store.   Then on to the beautiful Rainbow Falls along the Kerikeri River.   Thi...

  RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS    JANUARY 22, 2025 The volcanic island of Rarotonga is the sleepy capital of the Cook Islands.   Because of the mountainous terrain, a roadway encircles the island, but vehicles cannot cross the island’s center directly – only by 4x4;   inland routes can be traveled only by foot. VIKING SKY GUEST BOAT COMPETITION A handful of The Villages, FL, guests volunteered to design and build a “boat” that will hopefully float during competition day in the main swimming   pool!!!   Team member chairs were given a starter kit and in addition, could scrounge up any enhancements that might enrich the floatation and pizzazz of this creation!!!!!   This is the initial model with technical expertise in building accessories being added.   Launching takes place in two weeks so more to come!!!!! JIM KREER’S 80 th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION JANUARY 25, 2025 Jim’s big day began with the daily competition of Baggo (like Cornhole)....

  TAHITI (PAPEETE), FRENCH POLYNESIA In 1769 Captain James Cook sailed to the shores of the Society Islands – Tahiti is the largest of the Windward Islands, which with the Leeward group, form the Society Islands.   We began the day today with a brief walking tour of Papeete. While docking, we had seen a wedding taking place on shore and during the walk we got to see the happy couple in a local farmers’ market.  We later took a West Coast Highlights tour that included black sand beaches created by the island’s volcanic origins, beautiful waterfalls, and a fern grotto filled with stunning groups of flowers and tree shapes.  We also visited a museum that highlighted the migration of the Polynesian people throughout the South Pacific.                The evening was topped off with a “Girls Night Out” Japanese themed dinner on board for Julie Wheeler and me AND a nightcap at the Explorer Lounge Bar!!!

  January 19, 2025 - Bora Bora Well, Viking bent over backwards after cancelling our planned stop in Bora Bora to find a way to insert it back into our itinerary! On Saturday, they informed us that we were going to Bora Bora after all. The stop in Mo'orea would be cancelled instead but we would have an opportunity to take a ferry to that island from Papeete Tahiti. We were ecstatic! We last visited Bora Bora some thirty years ago on our honeymoon aboard Windstar, and we were really looking forward to our return. We think that Bora Bora is one of the most stunning landscapes on Earth! It did not disappoint. We took a short cruise around the lagoon formed by the ancient caldera of a volcano that erupted tens of thousands of years ago. Stopped near the reef to see some Eagle Rays that are denizens of the area. Then it was a cruise around the famed bungalows on stilts over the water. These luxurious units go for anywhere from $1000 to $6000 per night, but come with all the amenities. T...

 What was supposed to be a 5-day transit between Hawaii and Bora Bora has turned into a 6-day trip directly to Papeete because of a medical emergency onboard! We guess that a 138-day itinerary is bound to have some changes somewhere along the line. That being said, it has been a pleasant trip southbound with 2 more days to go. One of our new routines is to visit Alvin in the Explorer Lounge for a cocktail before dinner. One evening, we had a very enjoyable gathering in the restaurant with our Villages group and two of the crew officers, Nico and Adrian. We all learned a lot about life on board, crew contracts, and general ship workings. On Wednesday, we reached the Equator, and the crew put on the usual ceremony for all of the Polliwogs who have never crossed before. Each individual must bow down to and/or kiss the fish before jumping into the pool - thereby becoming Shellbacks! Joe and Julie were amongst the rather-large group who participated as well as Matt (cruise director) and...

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11   Viking Sky arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii around 8AM for a 15 hour stay to tour all around Oahu -- Honolulu, the North Shore, Waikiki Beach with the famous surfer Duke Kamehameha statue. Then it was off to Diamond Head and the Kolohana lookout. Afterwards, back to the ship. Our stay concluded with an Evening of Hawaiian Tradition – a Luau!!!!  The “Drums of Polynesia” gave an evening performance on board the ship which included the youngest performer – an adorable 3-yr old learning the hip movements!!!!   A wonderful time in Honolulu and then off to Kauai. SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 A beautiful moon sailing to Kauai and into the harbor entrance of Lihue at 8:30AM.  Our tour today was to the Kilohana Plantation where sugar baron Gaylord Wilcox built a 16,000 sq. ft. plantation estate at the center of 26,000 acres of sugar.  We began our tour on the open-air Kauai Plantation Railway taking us through the rare tropical plant gardens as well as the ani...

  Monday, January 6 – Friday, January 10, 2025 Highlights of Five Days at Sea   The ocean began rather calm on Monday but gradually the waves gained more height and the ship began rocking.   The seasick pills were being handed out by the baskets!!!!!   Here is a look at our course for these five sea days. Attended a lecture by a couple who spent 17 years traveling to the harshest and most remote regions on Earth on off road motorcycles!!!!  This adventursome couple thought they could circumvent the globe in one year and with all the mishaps and injuries that happened in the months ahead, their adventure took them into their 17 th year on the road!!!!!   We had a meeting of The Villages contingent in the Atrium to see how everyone was enjoying the cruise so far, especially now that the Los Angeles-boarding group has joined us. Took the opportunity for a group photo. Team Baggo (or Corn Hole) is ready to go every morning.  Jim’s team wins this...