by Steve Sharp | Jan 22, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
January 22, 2024
Kauai Hawaii
We met Chris and Margo at a mutual friend’s New Years Party almost 20 years ago. Of course, I took some of my home brew. Chris really liked my beer and that started a conversation between us. I explained that I always invite friends to my Saturday home brew days and of course he asked if he could be included. Still, I’m not sure whether he wanted to brew or just drink my beer;) I don’t care, he is a good friend. Kim met them in a Master Gardeners class; they also bonded. Chris never missed a brew day and I’m sure I taught him enough to brew on his own.
When the brewery thing came up, I tried to convince Chris to become an investor, but no luck because he failed to tell me that they were moving to Hawaii to be with their children and grandchildren.
So, yesterday they picked us up in the morning and took us to their house and we had a glorious visit. Definitely a highlight of our trip so far.
Today was Kauai, the garden island of Hawaii. There are a bunch of chickens here and it is really beautiful! Wow
In about an hour we will head south for American Samoa, arriving on January 30. Might be January 29 in your world. We shall see.
by Steve Sharp | Jan 20, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
January 20,2024
Today was a trip to the Arizona Memorial. What an amazing tribute to Peral Harbor. I was there in the mid 70’s and Kim has never been. In the 70’s it really didn’t mean much to me, but now wow. I have always said that history lessons are wasted on school children, now history is so meaningful to me. We learned that there is only one remaining survivor, and he is 101 years old. The most amazing fact is that the Arizona is still leaking fuel or oil, over 80 years later. Folklore says that the oil is tears from the men that died that day and it will stop “crying” when the last survivor dies. Stay tuned! With the last survivor ageing out at 101, we shouldn’t have to wait much longer to find out. After our boat ride out to the memorial and back we watched a movie about December 7, 1941. It was very in informative. It’s scary that something like that can happen.
Tomorrow we are meeting up with our old Puget Island neighbors and going to their house for a relaxing day of fun and food.
Itinerary news: they have removed Christmas Island form our stops because of low water issues and they have hinted about changes when we get to the Red Sea. More later….So, after Kuai tomorrow we are at sea for either 6 or 7 days. The itinerary shows 7 days, but we cross the international date line which to me makes it 6 days.
Please share sailwest.net with anyone that you might think will enjoy it.
Out for now,,,,
by Steve Sharp | Jan 20, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
Yesterday I spoke of the room service on this ship. Well, here’s a picture for you to feast upon.
by Steve Sharp | Jan 20, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
January 19, 2014
Maui, Hawaii
So, one could ask “what is it about small ship cruising you like”?
Well, for starters, everything is close to your suite, it’s not a mile to the dining room. There are more square feet per guest than on the large ships. More crew per guest than the big ones. There is never a line for anything. There is always an open table at the restaurants, in the Grand salon and at any bar. There is a sense of community among guests and crew. The ships officers are always around and available to you. By the third day, all crew address you by name. There are several ports that cannot accommodate the large ships, so we get to go places that they don’t, and we often get to dock right in town while the big ships usually dock in a port or away from town. When we went to Antarctica, they allow ships with less than 300 passengers to get off the ship and explore the Islands, walk with the pinguins, while the large ships just tell you what you’re looking at. So, what makes Seabourn our choice of all ships? Seabourn is ultra all inclusive. Once you pay for the cruise, there is almost never that you are charged for anything. Tipping is not expected, if you want a bottle of top shelf liquor in your room, just ask and it will be delivered. If it happens to get a little light, they put a new full one behind the old one. I have a six pack of Lagunitas IPA in the refrigerator and it magically regenerates too. Free laundry, free internet, free specialty restaurant reservations. There is a charge for most excursions, but we usually prefer exploring on our own, taxi, uber, bus, etc. Jackets are never required and if you want to eat in your room, you can order anything from any restaurant during dinner time and they bring it to your room. It’s not just any old room service though, they set your table with white tablecloth, all the fixing of a formal set up. The food is always great.
All that to say the level of service is so far above would be considered normal.
I hope you enjoy learning more about our journey.
by Steve Sharp | Jan 18, 2024 | 2024, Uncategorized
January 18,2024
Aloha from Hilo on the big Island of Hawaii. Kim is already off shopping. I’m going to enjoy the warm air and read a book by the pool.
Last night we set our clocks ahead one hour for the second time. The only other time we crossed the Pacific Ocean we went from Japan to Alaska. Every other day we lost an hour. One would think that since we really didn’t do much each day, it wouldn’t really matter, but losing an hour several times had an effect on us.
Breakfast was from 7-9 each morning and as you know I never got there until just before 9, and the place was deserted. Well, as time went on I was joined by more and more fellow travelers. Everyone’s butts were dragging by the end of the trip.
One of the major reasons for picking this cruise is that it is sailing west. So, we get 25 hour days instead of 23 hour days. Much nicer.
They cancelled our stop at Christmas Island due to low tides and started the conversation about the Red Sea and how we might change course. That’s not until sometime in May, so fingers crossed it will all be resolved by then.
Tomorrow is Maui.
