Tales of the South Pacific - My Final Thoughts

We started this cruise, knowing it would be a bit different than our other cruises.  Val’s hip was in bad shape, and she was scheduled for hip replacement surgery after the cruise, so we knew she would be limited in how far and how much walking and activity she could do.  Because of that we didn’t plan as much as we usually do ahead of time, and instead just planned along the way.  That was fine as the South Pacific is a place where you can enjoy just being there soaking the ambiance and beautiful surroundings. 

The one thing we didn’t count on was both of us getting sick.  Neither of us got too sick and we each only missed one port day, but we did have a cough that persisted and wore us out and made it difficult to get a good night’s sleep at times.  But despite Val’s hip and getting sick, we had a wonderful time on this cruise.

To me, being in the South Pacific is like being in paradise.  It never gets too hot or cold, if you’re hungry there’s plenty to eat growing on trees in the tropical climate, and the beautiful beaches and crystal-clear water are always close by.  Of course, for us the humidity was uncomfortable, but I think you would get used to it if you lived there.  Also, I’m writing this as a tourist so I’m sure the inhabitants, although aware they are living in paradise, have their struggles just like everywhere else.

As expected, we didn’t do as many things in the ports as we usually do, but it was very nice just sitting on our balcony enjoying the beauty in front of us.  The highlights for me were visiting American Samoa, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, all places we had never visited before.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do any water activities but instead focused on activities where we learned about the culture of the area.  Participating in kava ceremonies and visiting some of the villages was very interesting and we got to see and do things we hadn’t done on our first visit to the South Pacific.

We really enjoyed our tours on Samoa and Fiji where it was just us and our guides.  Not only did we visit some interesting places, but we also got to spend the day getting to know our guides, Asa and Manassa, and learning about their lives and the local culture.  We also really liked the time we spent with the taxi driver on Moorea when Val was searching for a pearl necklace.  We also spent many hours just sitting out on our balcony taking in the beautiful views.  The enjoyment of a trip doesn’t depend on how much you do, but whether you are having fun and enjoying what you do do, and we did very much enjoy everything we did on this cruise (except for getting sick).

So, what’s next for us, that’s a good question?  We do have the 70-day Grand South America Cruise scheduled for the beginning of 2027, but other than that, we have nothing planned and there is a reason for that as I have alluded to before.  Val and I are making a very big change in our life and moving to a senior living community in the Los Angeles area, and will be leaving our beloved California Central Coast, where we have lived for the last 44 years, including 37 in our current home.  Rather than say anything more here, I’m actually going to write a separate blog entry for this as it is a major change in our lives. 

This wraps up our epic journey into the South Pacific, we’ll see you on down the road.

Tales of the South Pacific - Debarkation Day and the Trip Home

San Diego

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

We were already docked when we got up at 7:30 and some people were already getting off the ship.  We weren’t in any rush as our train to San Luis Obispo doesn’t leave until 1:00.  We got cleaned up, had our last breakfast in the Neptune Lounge, said goodbye to Kyle and then went back to our room to wait until it was time to get off the ship.

We arrived early in San Diego.

We had to be off the ship by 9:15, so we decided to leave at about 8:45.  The big rush was over, so it was pretty easy to get off, go through customs and locate our luggage.  We found a porter to handle our luggage and then searched for the Luggage Forward truck that would pick up the two big bags we were shipping.  The porter then helped us with the rest of our luggage to find a cab, and we were soon on our way to the Sante Fe Station where we could catch the Amtrak Surfliner back home.

The station is quite close to the cruise port, but they are doing a lot of construction in the area, so it was a bit complicated for the cab driver to find a spot to drop us off.  We got to the station a little after 9:30 and settled in for our three and a half hour wait for our train.  After being in the tropics for the last 51 days, the weather seemed pretty cool to us, and we wished we had brought our jackets.  We decided to go outside the station where there were benches in the sun and felt a lot more comfortable.

The old Santa Fe Station in San Diego.

As it was near noon, I was getting hungry, so I went across the street to a place called Grab and Go Subs and got myself a sandwich.  Val wasn’t as hungry and decided to get a snack from the café in the station.  My sandwich tasted pretty good except for some reason, it was very salty and that spoiled the taste.

At 12:40 it was finally time to board the train, so we got in the boarding line and waited for the gate to open.  Luckily, we had business-class seats and were able to board first, so we were quickly on board and in our seats.  We had a nine hour trip ahead of us, so we settled in and got comfortable.  The seats are pretty nice, but I had a feeling that by the time we get to SLO, we’d be ready to get off the train.

We were finally on the train and headed for home as we pull out of the Santa Fe Station.

We won't be getting into San Luis Obispo until around ten so getting from SLO to our home in Atascadero was a bit of a problem.  We didn’t want to impose on our friends that late particularly since the train sometimes runs late.  It’s about 25 miles from the station to our home and it is almost impossible to find any kind of car service to get us there.  It’s a pretty small town and you can’t even find an Uber driver at night to do it. 

I did find a cab company that worked 24 hours a day, but they actually only had one taxi, so it seemed a bit iffy.  I had called them in September before we left, and they assured me that they could handle it.  When I asked them what if someone else books them, they said don’t worry, we can handle that.  It was a pretty expensive cab ride, but it was our only option, so I wanted to make a reservation on the spot, but they said no, just call us the day you need us.  Famous last words.

Anyway, we got on the train, and I texted the cab company and told them what I wanted, and I also told them the train was already running late so our arrival might be delayed.  They texted back that they had another pickup schedule for 11:00 at a location quite a way to the south and if the train came in after 10:30, we would have to ride with them to pick up the other fare, drop them off and then they would take us home.  That would mean we would get in very late, and they also said they would have to charge us more for the extra time.  We were a little uncomfortable with that as after the last train arrives, the SLO train station is deserted and there is no one around.

We called our friends Doug and Ev, and they immediately said they would come and pick us up; they are true friends.  It turns out the train arrived right on time at 10:00 which surprised us as they must have made up the time during the last part of the trip.  We had told Doug and Ev we wouldn’t be there until 10:20 so we had to wait a bit until they got there.  It was a pretty eerie and uncomfortable feeling standing there in the dark at an empty and closed train station; it was us and another lady waiting for a ride.  Finally, about the time the other lady’s ride got there, up drove Doug and Ev, and were we happy to see them.  We were home by 11:00 and in bed a short time later; it felt so good to be in our own bed again, this had been a long day and we were very tired.  Thanks so much to Doug and Ev for coming to our rescue, we owe you big time for this.  We are lucky to have such great friends.

So that's it, the end of our cruise.  We had a wonderful time, but both of us being sick for the last few weeks of the cruise put a damper on things, but despite that we did have a good time and we love being in the South Pacific or should I say, paradise.

Tales of the South Pacific - Sea Days

Cruise Day 46

Thursday, November 13, 2025

I’m starting to feel better, but the coughing continues.  We had our breakfast in the Neptune Lounge and I spent the rest of the morning resting and coughing.  Val read out on the balcony, I’m sure she’s getting pretty bored.  I had snacks from the Neptune Lounge for lunch, but Val decided to go up to the Lido and bring something back to our room for her lunch.

I spent the afternoon resting and Val visited the casino for a while and then spent most of the rest of her time on the balcony until it was time for trivia.  I still didn’t feel like going, but maybe tomorrow.  I decided to go to dinner tonight for the first time in a few days.  Tonight is Orange Night where Holland America honors its Dutch heritage, so everyone is asked to wear something orange at dinner and then there is an Orange Party up by the Lido Pool.

I had the same orange suspenders and bow tie I used on our Alaska cruise and Val wore an orange flowered head piece she had gotten in Pago Pago.  I still don’t have much of an appetite, but I need to eat of course so I ended up having two appetizers and a dessert.

 

It was another early bedtime for us as neither one of us is sleeping well, probably due to my coughing at night.  Tomorrow is another sea day and hopefully I’ll be feeling better.

 

Cruise Day 47

Friday, November 14, 2025

I didn’t cough as much last night and didn’t have to use the codeine, and although I didn’t wake up feeling groggy from the codeine, I did feel tired as neither of us slept well again.  Our morning routine was the same as usual lately with me continuing to cough.  Changing from laying down to being up after getting out of bed stimulates the coughing as gravity moves things around.

We crossed the equator sometime during the night so we are now back in the Northern Hemisphere, it feels good to be home.

I was feeling better overall and decided to return to the Lido for lunch.  That was fine with minimal coughing.  Due to my lack of appetite, food isn’t very appealing right now, but I had a decent lunch and decided to visit the casino with Val after we finished lunch.

I had a good start at my new favorite slot machine, but after a little while I started coughing and had to leave.  Besides my regular cough, every so often I get a tickle in my throat that starts me off on a coughing spree that’s hard to stop.  Val stayed for a while and joined me out on the balcony a little later.

I decided I was feeling well enough to go to trivia today and it was good to see Arthur and Donna again.  Today we exchanged contact information so we could stay in contact after the cruise, we have become pretty good friends playing trivia and talking every day.

Our trivia team, Donna, Arthur, Me and Val.

After trivia, I went down to the medical center to get my paperwork to submit for our medical claims and also ask for another box of throat lozenges that seem to help stop my coughing fits.  I wanted to make sure I had enough to last for the rest of the cruise and the train trip home.

We rested until dinner and as I was feeling better we returned again to the main dining room.  After dinner we once again called it a night as we are both still very tired.

 

Cruise Day 48

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Last night went well as I didn’t cough very much, but we still didn’t sleep well.  For me I think it might be the antibiotics I’m taking, but I’m not sure why Val can’t sleep, maybe she’s worried about me.

We did the usual morning routine of breakfast in the Neptune Lounge and then resting and relaxing until lunchtime.  I’m feeling better, but still not ready to be out and about again, as my coughing, especially in the morning continues.

After lunch in the Lido, we went to the casino, and I made it through my stay without having to leave.  Val wanted to stay longer than I did, so I left and went down to the photo shop where they were selling videos of the cruise.  I decided to purchase one but can’t pick it up until the last day of the cruise as there are still events going on that they will include.

Val returned and we relaxed until it was time for trivia.  I forgot to mention that for the last six days of the cruise they are doing a trivia tournament where the first, second and third place finishers get points and there will be a grand winner on the last day of the cruise.  We have been very consistently in the middle of the pack since we first started and that’s where we continue to stay, so there have been no points for us so far.

After trivia we relaxed until dinner and again retired early hoping for a good night’s sleep.  The ship’s clocks will be moved ahead another hour tonight, so we’ll lose another hour of sleep tonight, but it’ll be for the last time as we are now back in the Pacific time zone.

 

Cruise Day 49

Sunday, November 16, 2025

The morning sleep report is not much better than it has been, we both woke up not having slept well despite my reduced nighttime coughing.  It didn’t help that we lost an hour due to the time zone change last night.

I felt a little more energetic this morning so after breakfast in the Neptune Lounge, I started to organize things a bit and get ready to have to pack everything up in  couple of days.  I mainly got our photo gear put away in my backpack as our photo taking is pretty much over for the trip except for maybe some cell phone pictures.  It felt good to actually do something for a change rather than just lay around.

After lunch in the Lido, we visited the casino where I pretty quickly lost my daily allotment, but Val did better and played quite a while.  We went to trivia that was held in the Ocean Bar today instead of the Crow’s Nest.  We did our usual, but it seemed very hard today, so we were happy to get what we got.

We spent the rest of the afternoon resting and relaxing until it was time for dinner.  Our room steward, K, told us to be sure to go to the Crew Talent show tomorrow as our other room steward Han would be performing.  We will be sure to attend.

Once again after dinner we retired early hoping again for a good night’s sleep.  I have been able to keep my coughing to a minimum, but that hasn’t helped me sleep.

 

Cruise Day 50

Monday, November 17, 2025

Happy days, Val and I both slept very well last night and we woke up feeling very well rested.  I am feeling much better and except for my lingering cough, I feel almost normal.  Unfortunately, from what we’ve read, the cough may linger for a while, but it has seemed like it is getting better.

After having breakfast in the Neptune Lounge, we returned to our room and found that it was being cleaned, so we went out on the balcony and read until they were done.  With my newfound energy, I decided it was time to update the blog which I had been ignoring for the last few days.  While I was doing that, Kyle came by to explain the details of our debarkation in San Diego in a couple of days.

That done, Val returned to the balcony, and I returned to the blog and got that all up to date.  The weather outside is noticeably cooler with much less humidity and that is very welcome.  After getting the blog updated, I relaxed with Val until lunchtime.

After lunch in the Lido, Val and I went down to the casino and as usual, I lost my daily allotment pretty quickly, but Val stayed while I went back to the room.  We had decided to start some packing today, so I got our luggage out from under the bed where we had stored it so we could start on that.  I also had some tags to fill out to attach to our luggage that we will have taken off the ship for us.  Val returned and we did some packing, but we wanted to go to the Crew Show in the World Stage today, so we left early to get good seats.

Evidently everyone else had the same idea as even though we were half an hour early all the good seats were gone, and we had to sit over to the side with a limited view of the stage.  The show was a competition between departments, and they were all very good.  Han was part of group that did a traditional Indonesian dance that was very good and they ended up taking third place.  Overall, it was a great show, there are a lot of very talented people in the crew.  The winner was the young woman who takes the phone orders for room service.  She did a wonderful version of “I Will Always Love You” and added some light moments by using one of the ship’s officers as part of her song.  Second place went to (I think) someone in the culinary group.  He wrote his own song, sang it and put together a video about the power of love, it was very good especially considering he did it all in a week.  He also had never performed on stage before so that made it even better.

I didn't bother with any pictures from the actual show, we were sitting too far off to the side.

These crew shows are pretty inspirational, these crew members work hard every day making our wonderful trip even better; they do not get any time off for this.  They practice on their own time, often when they would normally be sleeping.  The overflow crowd showed their appreciation of this and gave big applause and support for every act.

The show ended up being an hour and a half long, so we missed trivia.  We thought that it might have been postponed as the assistant cruise director Byron usually hosts trivia and was one of the judges, but when we went up at 4:30 it was already over.  We talked to Arthur and Donna for a while and then returned to our room.

Today is the best I have felt in a while, but we were busy the whole day, so I decided to just rest until it was time for dinner.  Tonight is a formal night, so we’ll have to get ready a little earlier than usual.

Dinner was good tonight and Val and I both had the surf and turf, but actually, I only wanted lobster, so I had the surf and Val only wanted steak so she had the turf.  We gave Disan and Wahyu something extra to show our appreciation for them taking care of us every night.

After dinner we called it a night.  Tomorrow is the last day of the cruise and the big packing day.

 

Cruise Day 51

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

This is it, the last day of the cruise.  It’s usually a little bittersweet, but this time due to our illnesses, we are more anxious to get home, but it’s still a little sad.

We went to the Neptune Lounge for breakfast and gave Kyle some extra cash in appreciation for all her help.  Considering this was her first time as a concierge, she did a remarkable job.  She has a great, outgoing personality and is remarkably competent at her job so even as inexperienced as she is, she is one of the best concierges we’ve had.  Jefferson (her backup) was there this morning also, so we also gave him a little bonus cash.  Every morning while we eat breakfast a steward comes in and makes sure everything in the food area is clean and replenishes what is low and generally does whatever is necessary, so we don’t have any problems.  He is very quiet and shy and pretty much stays in the background, but we appreciate what he does and decided to give him a small cash amount too.  It was very heartwarming how grateful and thankful he was, it made Val and I feel very good.

The Neptune Lounge.

This is where Val and I had breakfast almost every morning unless someone got this table first and we had to sit and the big table.

This is where most of the food is, it's a little sparse as it is just about time to transition from breakfast to lunch food.

There was a coffee machine where you could choose different types of coffee.  I don't drink coffee and don't know much about the different type so I can't tell you what is offered, but I do know there is hot water available that Val used for her tea.

Our concierge Kyle on the right and her backup Jefferson at the concierge desk in the Neptune Lounge.

We returned to our room and found K and Han cleaning up so we gave them their extra gratuity and thanked them for all they had done for us.  They are a pair of the best room stewards we have ever had; they seem to anticipate our needs and fill our requests in a timely manner.  They are both very friendly and personable and we like talking to them every day.

The rest of the morning was filled with a frenzy of packing.  Our two biggest bags are going to be shipped home, so we can only put in them things we won’t need for the next week until our luggage is delivered.  It should be easy to decide what to put where, but it was pretty tiring.

Neither one of us felt very hungry, but we needed to eat and went up to the Lido for our last lunch onboard.  Wahyu also works in the Lido every day at lunch, and he always has Val’s glass of ice and a straw ready for her Diet Coke and looks after us during lunch.  We decided to give him a little extra cash for what he does for us at lunch, so we gave that to him today.  His contract is ending and he is going home to see his family for the first time in over six months, so he is very excited and happy.  I don’t see how these crew members do it, working seven days a week for months at a time, but they come from very poor countries and the money they make on the ship makes them able to take care of their family and give them a good life they might not have otherwise.

After lunch we went to the casino for the last time, and I lost the last of my money pretty quickly.  While Val continued to play, I went down to the Photo Shop and picked up the cruise video we had ordered and then returned to the casino to see how Val was doing.  It turns out she was doing quite well so knowing Val, she will probably be there for a while, so I went back to the room and brought the blog up to date and then did the last of my packing.

Val returned later and said she had actually cashed out some money which is always nice, but overall, we both lost most of our money on this cruise.  Val finished the last of her packing and then we relaxed until dinner.

Our last dinner was very good and after we finished, we said goodbye to Wahyu and Disan and returned to our room.  Wahyu was really excited and happy tonight as when we dock in San Diego tomorrow, he will be leaving the ship and flying home to see his family for the first time in over six months.

Before calling it a night we checked to make sure everything was packed and then I moved our larger bags out into the hallway where they’ll be taken away, and we won’t see them until we claim them in the terminal tomorrow morning.  After that we relaxed a bit and then went to bed.  As always, this is a bit of a bittersweet time as the cruise is coming to an end, but we are looking forward to getting home.