DAY 41---CRUISING IN THE CORAL SEA (DAY 2)

 

        Try to disregard the red lines.  They are boundries for the different island groups.  The bottom photo shows that we are headed for Papua New Guinea.  It is a sunny day and the noon temperature is 84 degrees.  Smooth sailing again today in the Coral Sea.

CORAL SEA

        The Coral Sea is named for its numerous coral formations and stretches from Vanuatu 1200 miles west to Australia.  It contains over 1,000 islands and nearly 3,000 reefs.  It includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Great Barrier Reef which the ship has an 8 hour tour to it when in Cairns, Australia.  I was to do it but canceled as I do not snorkel or swim where fish live!  

        The area is abundant in birds and aquatic life and is thought to have been formed some 50 millions years ago.  The depth reaches 25,000 feet deep in the New Hebrides Trench.  The battle of the Coral Sea took place in 1942 between the navies of Japan, the United States, and Australia.

LAST EVENING

Seven Seas Society party at 6pm.  Several crew members recognized on stage for their years of service ranging from 5 years to 20 years.

                                            The production cast did some songs from ABBA.

                                                   Some ladies cruising alone joined us.

Dinner with the Executive Concierge, Thay.  I forgot to get a photo of those at the table.  Bummer!  Thay was raised in Brazil but now lives in France.

I took this photo of Thay at his desk in the atrium the next morning.  Also joining his table was Pat & Jim Bittle.  It was a fun evening at dinner.

                                                     Miso glazed sea bass with sticky rice.

                                     White chocolate croissant pudding with ice cream.

        We did go to the show after dinner to hear the pianist, Carl Coy.  We sat on the front row which was a mistake as the background music was way too loud and I had to put fingers in my ears.  He was very good except for being too loud.

TODAY

        Rebecca did her treadmill time after her room service breakfast.  I decided to my hour fast walk out on the promenade deck 6.  It is in the shade unlike up on the deck 12 track.

        Today is my mother's 95th birthday so I gave her a call this morning which was Thursday evening in southern Illinois.  She sounded very good and said she had a nice birthday.

        Here are some more photos of what we have available on the ship.

This is looking down the hall as you approach Coffee Connection on deck 6.  A very nice place to enjoy a coffee and chat with friends.

                                You can get coffees, lattes, tea, or cookies here on your own 24/7.

                                                     Tables available in Coffee Connection

There is a barista (this one is Elvis) here during the hours of 6:30am to 6:00pm.  They can make coffees, lattes, espressos, and also liquor flavored drinks.

Opposite wall from Coffee Connection bar is snack items:  yogurts, meats, cheeses, cream cheese, butter, and fruits.

Other end of snacks:  breads (also a toaster), fruit bowls, cake, cheesecake, plates, & silverware.

Further down the hall from Coffee Connection is a puzzle table and places to play other games or cards.

Internet place with computers for people to use.  Kus, the internet manager, is here 3 hours every morning and 3 hours every afternoon to help folks with their cell phones or laptops.

                                                             This is where Kus sits.

                                          Here is the well stocked library.  Look as you enter.

                                              Looking back other way towards entry door.

                                                   Oh, my!  There is even a fake fire place.

They are always working to keep the ship in good shape.  Here they are scraping the rail to prepare for applying new varnish.

        We are to be docked at Alotau on the southern tip of Papua New Guinea by 9am tomorrow.  This is a new port for us so we had a 3 1/2 hour tour of old WWII sites booked.  Today I find out the tour transportation will be in small vans with no air conditioning and even in worse condition than the ones in Port Vila were.  At noon we were told by a crew member that there are many cases of the flu going around the ship now.  So we canceled our tour as did not want to be in small, confined vehicle with possible flu infected folks.  There will be a shuttle to the town which is just a mile away.  We will probably don our masks and take the shuttle for that short trip to town.  We were warned to be careful as 87% of the population are in poverty here.

        Spending this afternoon watching today's lectures on our tv.  Cocktail hour as usual in Mariner Lounge followed by dinner in Compass Rose.

        Tonight's show will be featuring a magician so we will not be going.