Turn-around port, San Diego. A new cruise begins.

Land at last after 6 days at sea!  The days have flown by quickly because I've kept busy with sorting out photographs and trying to get my blog together.  I also helped Jannos, from the shore excursions department, with collating the next tour pages together to form a brochure and then get them stapled.  We were joined by Ryan, Mike's husband who is a doctor working in the ship's infirmary.  Between the three of us we got the brochures done very quickly.  There are no rubber thimbles on board so wearing latex gloves helps very nicely with being able to pick up individual pages, rather than rubbing wax onto our fingertips.

When Paul and I boarded the Maasdam in Tahiti there was a 'code red' on board.  A gastrointestinal bug was doing the rounds, some guests were isolated and all food, plates, cups, cutlery, etc was handled by only gloved staff.  Floors, handrails and much more were constantly wiped down with disinfectant.  There were hand sanitisers everywhere and at all the dining room doors there was a staff member standing at the door to remind guests to sanitise their hands before entering, if they didn't do so automatically.  Guests, when embarking on a cruise, are asked to report to the infirmary if they have a stomach bug or feel ill.  Unfortunately this was not the case and, after one particular port call, guests started to get ill.  Some people didn't report it to the infirmary and so rather than being isolated in their cabins, a combination of walking around the ship and their inadequate hand-washing procedures (perhaps) helped spread what I call 'le bug' 😉.  Fortunately two days before we arrived in San Diego 'le bug' seemed to have been eradicated.

At some point in time, while posting my blogs onto Facebook,  Facebook blocked me a few days because they felt that one or two body painting photographs that were in one of my photo albums were inappropriate/indecent.  Funnily enough the photographs have been in my Facebook album since sometime last year, so why block them now - months down the line?  I know Facebook's rules and didn't feel the photographs were inappropriate because the 'bits' were painted over.  But nope,  Facebook felt that the pictures were indecent.  Oh well ...  By the time I could get back into my Facebook account I had a backlog of blog links to post but that went fairly quickly, fortunately.

This morning everyone was up early.  We had to meet with border control officials who boarded the ship once it had had official clearance for docking.  Fortunately everything went smoothly but the chap who dealt with my paperwork was unfamiliar with it had kept asking his colleagues what to do next.  He was probably used to dealing with USA citizens and their paperwork rather than a visitor who has an ESTA visa and waiver.  Little did he know that he would be dealing with a lot more people further down the queue who had similar paperwork so I was his 'learning curve'.

Linda, nurse from the ship's infirmary, invited me to join her when she got off the ship for a few hours.  She was meeting up with family who would pick her up from the ship.  Unfortunately before our agreed meet-up time in her office in the infirmary there was an emergency call-out and all medical staff and first aiders went to the scene.  Someone was about to leave his/her cabin for disembarkation and had a heart attack.  Sadly numerous attempts by the doctors and support teams to get the heart started proved futile, the person's life spirit left.  Staff had done their very best, and once again handled the situation with dignity and professionalism.

At our agreed time I went to the infirmary and had to wait a short while for Linda while she got ready. It was good to get off the ship and I was delighted to get out and about; not at all fussed as to where we would go or where we would end up at. I was just grateful that Linda had asked me to join her because generally I don't like getting out and about on my own.

As we walked along the boulevard Linda's sons drove to meet us.  It was quite fortuitous that we were waking along the edge of a car park beside the road when we were spotted so they were able to stop their vehicles in the car park rather than on the roadside.  The lads had come in two vehicles because they had expected more staff joining me and Linda but they had already been picked up by friends and headed to the zoo - where we had hoped to meet up later.

First thing we did was go to Costco for a few bits and bobs then we had a nice hamburger at In-N-Out Burger (similar to Burger King or MacDonalds but I believe the quality is much better).  We were going to meet up with a few other people at the entrance to the zoo but traffic was very bad and time was moving on.  So we headed back in the direction of the port but diverted past Linda's house to do a bit more shopping and allow one of her sons to drop his car off at the house and join us in one car to go back to the port.

At the pier we said our goodbyes and a very friendly security chap let us through the gates.  Unfortunately for Linda - she had a load of bags that had to be emptied and examined - probably for contraband!  My bumbag didn't contain anything very interesting - camera and mobile phone; and a plastic bag with a bottle of apple cider vinegar and insoles.

We were on board with half an hour to spare before the lifeboat drill for crew and guests started.  Another ship was on the opposite pier also doing a lifeboat drill, so there was a 'loudspeaker' competition 😉.  We could hear them and they could hear us as the two ships did lifeboat drills.

MS Maasdam's route to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The Maasdam is now on her way to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, a two day sea voyage, and no doubt I will be trying to catch up on some more blogs.

Arrival on MS Maasdam, Our Journey Begins.

The bed, last night, was comfortable but it was so high off the ground that my short legs almost needed a stepladder to climb up onto it!  We slept well but unfortunately jet lag kicked in and we were awake early.  So much for getting a full night's sleep!  Instead of dragging our bodies out of bed when the alarm went off we were well awake and just about dropped onto the floor - forgetting how high the bed was!

Our transport arrived on time at the Andaz Hotel and we soon found ourselves being whisked away through town and to the harbour.  Secretly hoping that the ship wouldn't make it into port that morning, Paul was sorely disappointed 😉.  The Maasdam was at the dock, waiting.

A chap from Human Resources was waiting for us at the cruse terminal and necessary documentation was exchanged and forms filled in.  Once done - port and ship's security cleared us to board.

The morning passed by in a flurry of activity.  Paul had to go through a handover with the leaving staff-captain, and many other formalities.  He was so busy until later on in the afternoon that he didn't even have time to change into his uniform but it is understandable and he was let off the hook!

The small orchids are blooming once more.

While Paul was busy I set about unpacking our luggage and had a quick exploration of the ship, seeing if there were any staff/familiar faces from 3 months ago.  A few are still on board and it was good to see them again.  Others are on holiday now or have assignments on other sister ships.  That is ship's life - people come and go and you bump into each other again on other voyages.  I was happy to see that the plants I had 'rescued' from being chucked out a year ago were still very much alive.  The cabin steward has been watering them while I have been away, Paul's counterpart staff-captain not being very good at taking care of plants.  Two orchids are happy - though small, they are blooming nicely.

The bridge.

To give you an idea of the ship, you are welcome to see some of my photographs I initially took in May 2016 and to which I have added over a period of time that I have been with Paul on the ship:  MS Maasdam

We were due to set sail for Honolulu at around 5 or 6pm but unfortunately there has been a delay as necessary cargo wasn't delivered and a contingency plan had to made in a hurry to get the necessary items in a hurry and get them delivered.  What time they will arrive, I don't know.

I'm ready for bed but Paul will have to stay up until departure.

For more information about the MS Maasdam, you can go to:  http://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/ms-Maasdam-670
https://www.hollandamerica.com/pageByName/Resp.action?requestPage=ships_msMaasdam&showHeader=true&showFooter=true

Our route to Honolulu over the next few days.

Back 9 hours: Flying Westwards, Los Angeles & San Diego.

Yesterday, in Amsterdam, it was nice to get priority boarding but ... Paul got stopped, as did a few other random passengers, just before boarding the plane and was put through a random drug test.  Plenty of swabs were taken from his shoes, hand luggage, bum bag, laptop, etc.  The guy doing Paul's random check was super-thorough and we had no option but to wait patiently.

We finally boarded the aircraft and found our seats.  The stewardess was very helpful with trying to re-arrange our seats with our fellow passengers so that we could sit side by side but nobody was interested in giving up their seat, let alone for a window seat.  It didn't matter - at least Paul was just a leg's length away from me.  The flight was delayed for almost an hour because there was a shortage of loading staff.

The flight to Los Angeles was pleasant - I slept most of it away! 😃 The food and service was superb so no complaints from the 'peanut gallery'.  Flying westerly we gained another 9 hours. 😊

It was when we landed in Los Angeles that the fun began.

We had to stand in a long queue for "self-service" machines where we were had to scan in our passports and get our finger prints scanned in.  Not a problem.  Er yes, it was a problem.  The scanner didn't seem to like Paul's fingers and wouldn't register his prints.  After trying a few times Paul ended up going to the machine next to ours where everything went smoothly.  In the meantime I had the same problem that Paul had where my fingerprints wouldn't register.  An assistant came over to help and eventually the scanner got my finger prints in - but only after the assistant cleaned the screen a couple of times.  We were just about to go when the assistant told Paul he also had to get his passport and fingers scanned even though Paul had used another machine - something to do with people flying together, i.e. couples/families.  The machine regurgitated a piece of paper with something on it along with our pictures.  What it was exactly for, we weren't sure but we held onto it.

We then discovered that we had to go into another queue to see a human.  It seems the finger scanner nor passport recognition had anything to do with immigration because we had to go through the process again when we finally got to passport control desk.  We hoped not to get the one particular immigration control chap because he seemed to be in a very bad mood.  He even walked a visitor somewhere else for further investigative questioning.  Another chap was Russian and the immigration official dismissed him eventually, telling him to stand to one side and wait - but without saying why.  The 2 ladies in front of us headed towards him and he told them to 'get back behind the line' until called.  They sighed with relief when someone else called them but for us - we ended up getting 'crosspatch'.  Funnily enough he calmed down when we approached and was full of good cheer, friendly and even cracked a joke or two.  What a change in mood!  We just about fell over backwards.  We got through passport control without any further hassles.

We collected our suitcases and, with the lack of signage and a bit of luck, we found the luggage re-check in area.

There were no information boards as to connecting flights so we ended up doing a bit of guesswork and followed signs that said 'connecting flights'.  After going through security check (I found staff were rude and unfriendly) we found ourselves in a large terminal but with still no information boards as to where our connecting flights were.  We finally asked someone and were given directions as to where to go.  We were in the wrong terminal and had to go to another terminal.

So we followed more signs to the exit of the terminal and walked along a pavement to another terminal and finally found the right place.  It meant having to go through security again even though we had been through security earlier at the wrong terminal.  Once again there was no signage as to which direction to go and some personnel were abrupt with us because we couldn't find our way.  How were we to know that BEHIND her and to her left was the way to get to the security scanners - we just saw barrier tape blocking things off; the way to the security scanners not being very visible.  Through security once again and finally we found information boards with flight information.  We gave a sigh of relief once we got to the gate and could sit down for a few minutes before boarding our next flight.

The short flight between Los Angeles and San Diego was uneventful. Once landed we were able to pick up our luggage and found our transport waiting for us to take us to the hotel.

Now at the hotel (Andaz Hotel, San Diego - https://sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html), we are able to have a much needed shower and relax. Tomorrow is another day and it is now time to get some much needed rest before Paul goes back to work on the cruise ship, MS Maasdam.

San Diego, Californa

Today we have been docked in San Diego after quite a day at sea yesterday - rocking and rolling as the sea swell moved the ship around in all directions.  I ended up with a nice headache from it so took a seasick tablet.  What a ‘last day’ to remember for some!  It was quite funny seeing folks walking in a strange manner or clinging onto handrails, a friend or spouse.

The senior nurse (Maxine) from the ship's infirmary and I went ashore to do some much needed shopping.  She picked up bits and bobs from a small 'pharmacy'/grocery shop, and then we went to another shop so that I get some t-shirts. 2 of mine have holes in them, and another one has oil stains from the sunblock which I cannot get out despite washing the t-shirt a couple of times.  Pity ….

After that Maxine and I walked back to the ship and caught a taxi to outside of San Diego to Office Depot (also known as Office World or Office Supplies in other countries) where we picked up 3 chairs for the bridge, 1 for the captain's office and a small corner desk for the infirmary.  It needed 2 taxis to transport the flat-packed lot!  Office Depot couldn't deliver the items to the ship today so it had to all go in a taxi.  Maxine got in the one taxi and I went in the other.  The boxes were offloaded at the cruise terminal and I went to the ship and rang Paul (on their internal phone) to send someone with a trolley to fetch the stuff.  Three cadets rocked up minus a trolley.  I think the ones on the ship were all being used as it is a turnaround port day.  In the end one of the cadets asked a porter to lend us his trolley a few minutes.  The guy was reluctant but relented and we got things through to dock-side and the lads manhandled the boxes off the trolley, along the gangway and onto the ship.  We then took the precious trolley back to the car park.  Finally, for the 3rd and last time for me and 2nd time lucky for the lads, the terminal's security people let us back through yet again but without too much trouble this time, barely blinking when one lad’s steel toed boots set the alarm off again!

In the middle of a short afternoon nap I was rudely awoken to the sound of the emergency alarms. Time for the usual drill for guests, which I have to attend as well.  Groan.

It is supper time now but Paul's not finished on the bridge yet as the ship is heading out to sea now.  A new cruise begins - the "22 Day Panama Canal" cruise.  New places to see and explore.

Route to our next destination:  Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

San Diego, California. Preparations for next cruise.

After two days at sea it was good to see land again. Unfortunately there was no late zzzzz for me. Chaps from Customs & Border Protection arrived soon after the Maasdam docked and set up a desk in the Explorers Lounge as early as 6am. I set my alarm clock for 6:30 and arrived on deck 8 to see a long queue snaking its way through the casino towards the Explorers Lounge. Fortunately it moved quite quickly as non USA residents went through the routine 'passport control' formalities - even if some of us weren't getting off the ship.

Paul had a busy day as it was a 'turn around day' for both staff and passengers. Staff and passengers disembarking, new staff arriving and a new lot of guests for the forthcoming 33 day round trip to the islands of Hawaii, Cook islands and the islands of French Polynesia.

The next 5 days we will be at sea, heading towards Hilo, Hawaii. It may well be at some stage that we will be out of satellite range but hopefully not. Feel free to track the Maasdam's whereabouts using the marine tracker to see exactly where we are in the stream of time.

Route to Hilo, Hawaii.