Transpasific Cruise

October - November 2016

A 25-day adventure by Vander Wonders Read more

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- Nov 1, 2016 UTC
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Tasman Sea -33.342777, 152.18917833°20’34” S 152°11’21” E
Day 25
Just like that the cruise is over
November 1, 2016, Tasman Sea ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Cruise day 24:

The best decision was to take this cruise, it beats fly everyday of the week.
The ports of call along the way was absolutely awesome and I don't think we would have ever made our way to these places without taking this cruise 🚢. Having said that I have to say one of the highlights of this trip was the days at sea on the ship, there are so many things to enjoy on the ship and just relax and rest.
We are so thankful for this opportunity to sail on the Explorer of the Seas, especially thankful to Jaison (waiter in the dining room), Komang (assistant waiter in the dining room) and Iputu (our stateroom attendant). The three of them really made this a wonderful experience.
Jaison is always so happy 😁 to see us and does not take "no" for an answer for a little dessert. He always knew when to spoil us with a dish we didn't order that he knows we would love.
Komang trying his best to feed us little dinner bread roles, mostly so disappointed when we say no, but the nights we said yes, it really looked like it made his day.
Iputu quietly goes about his business which meant our room was always in great condition, i am sure going to miss not having to make my own bed.
If a cruise like this is not already on your bucket list, make sure you get it on the list.
{Roedolf}Read more
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- Nov 1, 2016, 5:52am
- ⛅ 24 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Coral Sea -28, 158.08999628°0’0” S 158°5’24” E
1
Day 25
Last taste of America
November 1, 2016, Coral Sea ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Cruise day 23:

After weighing half a kilo less this morning than the day we got on the ship I decided it was time to let the old fat Roedolf out to play

So we made our way to Jonny Rockets, the iconic old American dinner for an all you can eat burgers 🍔and fries 🍟.

I just had to taste all the burgers (excluding the plain burger and the meet free burger) on the menu so I had 4 of the 6 on the menu. The fries and onion rings was real good. To top it off they brought me a chocolate sundae that will bring my dad to tears of joy 😂.

Fast food heaven!

Ek kon nie help om na my pa te verlang nie, want ek weet hy sou dit ongelooflik geniet het en hy sal so teleurgesteld wees dat ons dit nie vorige kere wat hulle saam ons op skepe was gedoen het nie.

{Roedolf}Read more
Bobo Van der westhuizen Lekker ou dikkes 😜👍🏻
11/2/16Reply
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- Oct 31, 2016
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Coral Sea -25.956112, 161.80583225°57’22” S 161°48’21” E
Day 24
Lazy day after 5 very busy port days
October 31, 2016, Coral Sea ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Cruise day 22:

We did not get up to much, other than sleeping in, going through Australian 🇦🇺 passport control, afternoon nap and gym.

I realized again today how much Isabel stresses about passport control. From the minute we received to notice that we had to be in the dining room to go through passport control at a certain time with our Australian immigration forms filled out, she started to worry that we are going to fill in the forms incorrectly . Then on the way there she wanted to make sure we have our story straight on what we are going to do in Aus, as if we are going to do something illegal.
The joke of it all was when we went to the customs official they did not even ask for our visa as its electronically on their system as soon as they swipe your passport (the world can learn from the Aussies about visas). They stamped our passports and off we went without answering any questions. All the stress for nothing.Read more
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- Oct 29, 2016, 3:28pm
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- New Caledonia South Province Nouméa Citre Ville Place Des Cocoters -22.271008, 166.43748522°16’16” S 166°26’15” E
Day 22
Noumea New Caledonia
October 29, 2016 in New Caledonia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Cruise day 21

This was the forth island we had the privilege to visit on this trip. Similar to Bermuda this Island is an overseas territory of a European nation, in this case France 🇫🇷.

The interesting observation we made, is that this Island New Caledonia 🇳🇨, Bermuda 🇧🇲and other Islands with European or US influence have a first world feel to it and is clean and public transport etc works well.
On the flip side of the coin is Islands such as Vanuatu 🇻🇺, Fiji 🇫🇯, Bahamas 🇧🇸 etc. seem to be left to the natives to run. To be honest for the most part these resembled African poverty and hardship. They are mostly shantytown and dirty.

New Caledonia reminds me a lot of the French riviera and Marseille to be exact.

{Roedolf}Read more
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- Oct 29, 2016, 2:13pm
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- New Caledonia South Province Nouméa Conception Pointe Lasalle -22.267451, 166.50403722°16’3” S 166°30’15” E
Day 22
Isle de Canard
October 29, 2016 in New Caledonia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We got "randomly" selected for a passport check Yeah right- I used a bit of french & mentioned we have a "tour" organized to expedite the process😛.

Rushed of the boat for another fab Westwood adventure. We got on the water taxi for some snorkeling on Isle de Canard. Spotted a turtle again and there were lots of fish and colorful coral. I got a bit worked up over the stupid tourists stepping on the corral, I yelled at them ( to Roedolf's embarrassment) but felt I did my part to save planet. The volunteers and staff also had their hands full to try and educate the ignorant.

We wandered around, got a decent coffee and I sprinted down the local bus. I enjoyed speaking some french in the French Riviera of Micronesia.

{issy}Read more
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- Oct 28, 2016, 6:26pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 4 m
- Vanuatu Shefa Province Malaora Hideaway Island -17.696388, 168.26306217°41’47” S 168°15’47” E
Day 21
Prentjiemooi eiland
October 28, 2016 in Vanuatu ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
'n Kaleidoskoop van kleure en die reuk van sondbrandolie het ons betower op die Mysterieuse mooi Vanuata eiland. Terwyl ek en Roedolf so om die eilandjie stap, het ek gedink my Afrikaanse en Engelse byvoeglike naamwoorde mag dalk opdroog voor ons in Sydney aankom.

Wie sou kon raai dat mens met n bikini oor n landingstrook kan loop en gou n spring kan inwerk? -ook n eerste.

Die snorkel was weereens eersteklas. Dit was absoluut die moeite werd om ons snorkel en paddavoete saam te karwei.

N.S.
Ek werk aan my Afrikaans, ek besef ons praat n mengelmoes na ek 'n Afrikaanse storieboek gelees het

{Issy}Read more
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- Oct 28, 2016, 4:29pm
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Vanuatu Tafea Province Anelghowhat Nétchan Anétitchao -20.239385, 169.77084820°14’22” S 169°46’15” E
1
Day 21
Mystery Island Vanuatu
October 28, 2016 in Vanuatu ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Cruise day 20

A day on a deserted island 🏝in the Pacific. What more do you want.

The island is 2.3km around, yes Isabel and I walked around the Island with our GPS watches to know exactly how big the island is. But it came at a price for me walking around and island in wet shorts = rash.

This is really an island like you see in the movies with coconut 🌴 trees, never ending beaches and natures beauty everywhere.

We spent most of the day snorkeling and sunbathing on the beach.

{Roedolf}Read more
Charmaine Thomas Love the shorts
10/29/16Reply
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- Oct 27, 2016, 4:09pm
- 🌬 26 °C
- Altitude: 4 m
- Vanuatu Shefa Province Malaora Hideaway Island -17.696388, 168.26306217°41’47” S 168°15’47” E
Day 20
Vanuatu- Hideaway
October 27, 2016 in Vanuatu ⋅ 🌬 26 °C
My love for islands are growing rapidly!! We spend majority of our day on a tiny island, called Hideaway, it took me 12 min to walk around it. The beach is full of washed out corral. This island is also home to the only underwater post office in the world.We dived the wreck& reef closeby, the boat dropped us off halfway so we snorkeled back to shore. A Beautiful mix of soft and hard corral& loads of fish. Today I was in clown fish (Nemo) heaven.

We walked through the market in town, I loved the gorgeous flowers. We spend our last Vatu's on an icelolly & then headed back with a water taxi. We enjoyed the pristine views from the water. Vanuatu is a third world country but without a doubt a paradise.

{Issy}Read more
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- Oct 27, 2016, 1:35pm
- 🌬 27 °C
- Altitude: 4 m
- Vanuatu Shefa Province Malaora Hideaway Island -17.69644, 168.26316417°41’47” S 168°15’47” E
Day 20
Hideaway Island Vanuatu
October 27, 2016 in Vanuatu ⋅ 🌬 27 °C
Cruise day 19

As the photo shows it day 27 of our trip, its unbelievable to think we have been on holiday for almost a month. We really had so much fun it feels like a week. I can do this permanently no problem. 😜

We had another great tour with our tour guide Clay Westwood who just happen to have been to all the places Isabel's research showed as must do's. Also he knows all the tricks like not having to pay to go to the Island 🌴 if you dive instead of just snorkeling.

Beautiful dive site called the "Bronzer", with a wreck that's intact and the biggest clown fish colony we have every seen.

We were lucky enough to see a seahorse for the second time in a couple of days of diving.

We even saw a cleaning shrimp, who's job it is to clean the teeth of fish eating fish, like sharks. As this little guy does the sharks a favor they won't eat him. I even tried it as I opened my mouth he swam into it& no doubt getting some of last nights rack of lamb leftovers. 😜

The clown fish was quite a treat, as I get to see the same facial expression on Isabel's face every-time she sees them, as she had when she saw her favorite Disney character in Disney world. She just loves those small clown fish or as she calls them Nemo's.

The dive site was so close to shore that we literally got back on the boat and dropped our dive gear and snorkeled back to the island. Even the snorkeling was a treat with the amount of fish we saw.

Just before we got to shore we passed the famous underwater post office of Vanuatu 🇻🇺 . Seems like too much effort to get you mail watertight or waterproof before posting it 😜.

{Roedolf}Read more
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- Oct 27, 2016, 7:31am
- ☀️ 30 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- South Pacific Ocean -18, 171.58305418°0’0” S 171°34’59” E
Day 20
Active day
October 27, 2016, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Cruise day 18

Incredibly active day, this after we had a late night with some dancing under the stars ✨.

We struggled to get out of bed in time for breakfast and just grabbed some oats and fruit from the buffet.
Then we hit the climbing wall, followed by flowrider till lunch.
We had a quick nap after lunch before we hit the gym for a good workout. Straight after gym I played dodge ball and Isabel went for a 10km run.
I did the flowrider one more time after dodgeball before a nice game of volleyball 🏐. If that was not enough Isabel joined me for mini golf to end the active day. Nothing better than sitting in the jacuzzi for a few minutes and relax after all of that action.

I got to say nothing taste as good as being skinny, fit and active.

{Roedolf}Read more
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