Back to the big blue

Well, I’m going to attempt this once again. No promises! Currently, we’re sailing in the South Pacific. Just minutes ago, we crossed the “Golden Line” on the fifth sea day of seven on our way from Honolulu, Hawaii to Luganville, Vanuatu. It is day 12 of the 117 day world cruise, and for me day 26 already on the 131 day voyage that began in Ft. Lauderdale. However, I’ve just received the news that I will be extended until June 24th and will be disembarking in Rotterdam, Holland. The longest contract by far. Many think I’m nuts, but I’m very excited for the Baltic Itineraries and for the chance to sea Eastern Canada, Ireland and St. Petersburg, Russia.

Going back to the “Golden Line” crossing , it’s the simultaneous crossing of both the International Dateline and the Equator. This means that today at 12:00noon, we will set our clocks ahead 24 hours – or basically “skip a day” as we explain it onboard. So I woke up today and it was the 30th of January in the Northern Hemisphere, now that it’s 18 minutes past noon, it’s now the 31st of January and we’re in the Southern Hemisphere.


Jan 4th, began this journey in over a foot of snow in Vancouver and continued to Ft. Lauderdale where I spent a night in the “Inn with no name”. Unlike last year in the Sheraton Suites, the economy has visibly taken a dive and we were put up in the Quality Inn, no – comfort inn – no! It’s actually between names, owners and apparently no one knows it really exists. However, I was met by Steve and we did our annual ship-shopping run then on to drinks at Lulu’s bait shack on the beach. I must thank Steve for introducing me to a long-standing Gayda tradition. We enjoyed the last few moments of “freedom” with a Pina Colada and hot wings, ah how I already miss that last non-stress moment.

The next morning we hit the ground running, taxis to the ship, rushing to get rooms and figure out our lives for the next four months. Happily, we were incredibly lucky to be onboard for the 2 week Panama Canal cruise before the official world cruise was to begin.

Oh the seas they call me

So, I'm doing world cruise number two which will offically start Jan. 19th. In order to completely circumnavigate the world, we left in Ft. Lauderdale on Jan. 5th for a quick Panama Canal Transit. I will do my utmost to keep a blog on this voyage, however as I know how busy these long voyages are: no promises! I hope this keeps you interested in Travelling.