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RTW Redux ... 2023

December 2022 - July 2023
Second around the world voyage on Oceania's Insignia. This time, we're taking a little more time to circumnavigate the world by choosing the 198-day itinerary over the 180-day itinerary. And we are adding an 11-day Caribbean cruise as a precursor. Read more
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  • 214days
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  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 219

    LF Delivered

    July 18, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    The bags we left on Insignia for shipping to our house were delivered today!

    Now to start unpacking and putting things away.

    But that can wait until tomorrow.

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 215

    LF Picked Up & On the Way

    July 14, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Because we left Insignia before the official disembarkation day of 13 July, our Luggage Forward shipment remained in the cabin for handling by the ship's crew and the LF rep who joined us in Alaska to coordinate the service.

    Last night, I received a notification that our bags had been picked up from Insignia as scheduled. The tracker, when I checked this morning, is showing that the shipment has already arrived in Sparks, Nevada.

    Delivery of our bags is now expected on or around the 18th ... earlier than the originally scheduled date of the 24th!

    That's a good thing. The sooner I can unpack the bags, the sooner I can start repacking for our next travel adventure 😉    Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    21
    Day 213

    Back Home Travel Day

    July 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 75 °F

    There's nothing better than having a smooth travel day following a grand travel adventure.

    With very few passengers skipping the overnight in San Francisco and leaving the ship this morning, we had an easy-peasy disembarkation. In fact, we were first off Insignia when the authorities cleared the ship at 9:00a. And the only ones carrying off luggage ... two checked bags and two carry-ons ... the rest will be delivered as part of the RTW luggage pick-up/delivery service through Luggage Forward.

    Our good luck continued with a no-wait Uber pick-up across the street from Pier 27. By 9:15a, we were on our way to the airport. Thirty minutes later we were getting off at Terminal 3 at SFO. Having checked in for our flight yesterday, all we had to do was to follow United's instructions to go to the bag drop shortcut to check our two bags. By 10:00a, we were ensconced in comfortable seats at the UA Lounge.

    We had approximately four hours to kill before our flight to DEN. What with checking messages, handling a few quick to-do items, journaling, and reading, the wait time flew by. Before we knew it, we were on our way to gate F3 to board our flight.

    UA 1823 was about 15 minutes late getting in the air. But even with the delay, our otherwise smooth flight landed at DEN 30 minutes early ... with no wait for our assigned gate to be cleared so that we could deplane.

    Because we opted to stretch our legs and walk to baggage claim in the Jeppesen Terminal, our bags were already on the carousel when we arrived to pick them up. Then a quick shuttle ride to the Avis counter to pick up our rental car.

    Here's where we ran into a small glitch. The line snaking around at Avis was 5 deep and the wait time was long. Mui quickly fixed that problem by signing up for Avis Preferred and linking our reservation to the program. Leaving the line, he went to the Preferred desk to get our assigned car. No more than 10 minutes later, the bags stowed in the trunk, we were leaving the airport.

    The drive home was smooth. We pulled into the driveway before 8:00p.

    A long, but smooth travel day behind us, we settled down to relax. Chores can wait until tomorrow.    Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 213

    C’est Fini!

    July 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    It’s finished!

    213 days after embarking Insignia, today we bid our floating home farewell at Pier 27 in San Francisco, California.

    Our adventure included a couple of days in Miami, Florida before embarking Insignia … an 11-day Caribbean precursor to RTW2023 … an 18-day Miami to San Francisco segment bundled with RTW2023 … and the 180-day SF-to-SF RTW2023.

    Here’s to living the moment and looking forward to continued adventures.    Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 213

    Hello San Francisco!

    July 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Yes, we got to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

    Welcome to San Francisco!

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 213

    The Last Pilot Boat

    July 12, 2023, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    Here comes the pilot to take us into San Francisco … for the last sail in of RTW2023.

    Will we see the Golden Gate Bridge? We’ll have to see if the weather cooperates.

    For the moment at least, San Fran looks like she’s ready to repeat the welcome she extended the world cruisers when we embarked on the 180-day voyage back on 15 January … foggy and wet!Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 212

    At Sea

    July 11, 2023, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌬 55 °F

    Our last full day on Insignia!

    Although the ship is overnighting in San Francisco after it arrives tomorrow morning and disembarking the world cruisers on 13 July, Mui and I will be flying home tomorrow.

    Like the song says … it’s time to say goodbye. But we don’t like to use that word. Instead, today was a bittersweet day of bidding friends — old and new … staff, crew, and passengers alike — “until we meet again.”

    Where one wonderful adventure ends, a new one is bound to follow.    Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 211

    An End of the World Tradition

    July 10, 2023, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    The End of the World Sail Away Crew/Guest Party is a fun tradition. It is held as the ship leaves the last port of call prior to arrival in the debarkation port.

    Today’s event was emceed by CD Ray, who returned to Insignia not as the cruise director, but specifically to coordinate and oversee the last of the events organized for RTW passengers.

    This grand finale of the voyage was held on the pool deck. There was music and dancing to kick things off. Then, Captain Zuzic led the officers and crew representatives from each department on a parade around the top decks. More music and dancing followed … this time with the crew joining in.

    As Insignia slowly left it’s berth in Astoria, the fun times were wrapped up with CD Ray and the production cast taking the traditional plunge into the pool … joined by several of the passengers who had come prepared to do so as well.

    A grand time was had by all … lots of laughter, and dare I say … a few bittersweet tears. Just three more days to go for those disembarking in San Francisco on 13 July.    Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 211

    Astoria, Oregon

    July 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    New-to-us port #65.

    After the pilot was air-dropped onto Insignia this morning, we made our way up the Columbia River to our last port of call before the world cruise comes to an end in San Francisco. The river was socked in by fog, so no scenic views to enjoy.

    The day was, in fact, mostly overcast with on and off drizzly rain … especially when we gained some elevation in our quest to see the Astoria Column. Around mid-afternoon the skies brightened quite a bit while we were walking back to Insignia.

    The first item on our agenda today was to go to the post office to ship a few odd-shaped boxes instead of dealing with them ourselves on the flight back home. To that end, as soon as we completed the immigration process by meeting with the US CBP officials who came aboard the ship, we hopped on the shuttle and went into town. As luck would have it, the post office was just two short blocks from the shuttle drop off location. Even better, we were the only ones at the post office so we didn’t have to queue up.

    Then we went off to do a little exploring. Although this is a new-to-us port, we had already decided to leave the real sightseeing for when we return to Oregon in our RV. That’s not to say we did nothing. We walked along the riverfront for a bit, then climbed up to the top of the hill where the Astoria Column sits.

    The concrete column was built in 1926 to “celebrate the discovery, exploration, and settlement of the West.” Over the years, it has been painted with scenes depicting the history of the area from before the explorers arrived to when the railroad was built. It is 125 feet high. Climbing to the top is free if you are willing to tackle the 164 steps it takes to do so. We were willing, but the scenery lay below the cloud layer, and everything was shrouded, so we decided to leave that for next time.

    12,000 steps later, we were back down at the river level. We were starving after all the cardio exercise we got climbing up to the top of the hill. We figured we had earned a meal at the all-day breakfast place — Pig ‘n Pancake — which came highly recommended by our friend CD Ray. Mui was delighted with his Dungeness crab omelette and I enjoyed the sourdough pecan pancakes … the fluffiest I have ever eaten.

    We returned to the ship on foot to burn off some of the calories 😉    Read more

  • RTW Redux ... 2023
    Day 211

    Air-Dropped!

    July 10, 2023, North Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    And this is how the pilot came aboard this morning around 7:30a to guide us up the river to Astoria, Oregon.

    We’ve seen this with medical evacuations of course, but it’s the first time seeing the pilot air-dropped like this in more than 20 years of cruising.Read more

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