Sail Away and Passage To Hawaii--23 Jan--29 Jan 2014

On Friday, January 23rd at 4:00pm we were supposed to begin our trip around the world.  But, to everyone's surprise, the ship had been in port all day and had not taken on any fuel.  So, when it came time to sail away, the Captain announced that he was waiting for the fuel bunker to arrive.  So, there really wasn't a Sail Away Party, because they did not serve any champagne until after fueling and it was dark--so off to dinner we went!

We received our luggage late on the first night and will enjoy the complimentary bottle of wine for the delay--thanks Customer Services.  Spent the next day getting settled into our aft facing balcony on Deck 7 (7121). 

Our stateroom  7121 Aft Balcony

 We were extremely lucky to see two Black-footed Albatross while en route to the Hawaiian Islands.  While these birds are not rare, it is not often that you see them while making the passage to Honolulu.

Black-footed Albatross

Arrived in Honolulu this morning and will departed later tonight for Apia.

On The Road

The day has finally come for us to travel to Los Angeles prior to the World Cruise.  Six hundred and two (602) days ago, we booked the 2015 World Cruise.  Since that time we have done plenty of planning, coordinating, and arranging, to ensure that everything was taken care of before sailing away across the Pacific Ocean.  We will be spending the evening in San Pedro, CA and having dinner with friends.  The hotel is just a short distance from Pier 93 at the World Cruise Center.  

The following morning we will transport the luggage to the pier for embarkation.  Luggage isn't a good description.  There are four suitcases, one duffle bag, three carry on bags and one backpack.  Then we will turn in the one-way rental car and proceed to check-in for the voyage.  

Anyway, the time is finally here to begin this grand adventure that we have been planning for a long time.

14 Days And Counting

Today we are down to 14 days before sail away from Los Angeles.   All the items that we are taking on this cruise have been set aside and our bags are ready to be packed.  

We had all been wondering who our Cruise Director would be and this morning an email came announcing two more members of the senior leadership of the Pacific Princess.  

Our Cruise Director on this world voyage will be Matthew Thompson.

Matt Thompson was born in the South of England in Chatham, Kent but grew up in the Naval City of Portsmouth. He started a successful mobile DJ company at the age of 16, combining a passion for music and travel. By the time he was 18, Matt was headlining at nightclubs in Greece, Spain and Thailand, the country he now calls home. Along the way he also gained management experience while working for a music store.

Matt's career with Princess started in 2005 when he was hired as Assistant Cruise Director on board the Sea Princess. Matt was quickly promoted and is delighted to now be Cruise Director. He has served on board many ships in the Princess Cruises fleet.

Bora Bora is Matt's favorite port of call because of the stunning beaches and the opportunity to dive with manta rays and sharks. He has been a certified scuba diver since he was a teenager and dreams of someday diving in Cape Town, South Africa. Matt also enjoys mountain biking and collecting watches during his travels.

Our Captain Circle Host will be Tiffanie Kilgast.

Tiffanie Kilgast grew up in Southern California, not far from the corporate offices of Princess Cruises! However, a life at sea was hardly on her mind as she spent her young adult years studying theatre, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts from Cal State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Wayne State University in Detroit.

In 2009, Tiffanie found herself working on board cruise ships as a Port and Shopping Guide. During her time with Princess Cruises, she has developed a fondness for a couple of destinations in particular. "I love turnaround days in San Francisco where I can get my In-n-Out fix," she says, "and fell in love with New Zealand because of the diversity, beautiful landscape and outdoor adventures."

As a theatre connoisseur, Tiffanie can't say enough about Princess Cruises' evening entertainment, and highly recommends taking advantage of the high-quality production shows on board. And in her spare time, when she isn't acting herself, she enjoys going to the theatre, watching movies and television, participating in water sports and indulging in her favorite meals - desserts!