Average Temperatures in Ports

For the day we will be in each port, these are the average highs and lows:

Ft Lauderdale 72/53
Grand Cayman 80/74
Panama Canal 84/76
Quito (Manta) 86/72
Lima (Callao) 79/68
Easter Island 78/70
Papeete 89/72
Rarotonga 84/76
International Dateline 85/76
Auckland 73/62
Burnie 64/55
Sydney 79/66
Brisbane 84/70
Cairns 88/75
Rabaul 88/74
Guam 85/76
Osaka 54/39
Hiroshima 54/40
Inchon 46/35
Shanghai 53/42
Hong Kong 71/63
Ho Chi Minh City 92/76
Sihanoukville 100/75
Singapore 88/77
Kuala Lumpur 91/74
Mumbai 90/77
Dubai 93/72
Salalah Oman 88/75
Luxor 93/65
Port Said 71/63
Athens (Piraeus) 66/52
Sorrento/Capri 64/48
Rome (civitavecchia) 63/47
Cannes 61/49
Barcelona 62/47
Gibraltar 66/56
Lisbon 65/51
Cork 55/43
Paris/LeHavre (Normandy) 56/51
Dover 61/44
Zeebrugge 50/49
Amsterdam 61/46
Copenhagen 60/45
Helsinki 59/41
St Petersburg 60/44
Tallinn 57/42
Stockholm 60/41

Voyage Itinerary

This is the Tahitian Princess itinerary

Jan 14 2009 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 05:30PM
Jan 15 2009 AT SEA
Jan 16 2009 GRAND CAYMAN, 10:00AM 06:00PM
Jan 17 2009 AT SEA
Jan 18 2009 PANAMA CANAL, PANAMA 07:00AM 04:30PM
Jan 19 2009 AT SEA
Jan 20 2009 MANTA, ECUADOR 06:00AM 07:00PM
Jan 21 2009 AT SEA
Jan 22 2009 AT SEA
Jan 23 2009 LIMA (CALLAO), PERU 07:00AM OVERNIGHT
Jan 24 2009 LIMA (CALLAO), PERU 01:00PM
Jan 25 2009 AT SEA
Jan 26 2009 AT SEA
Jan 27 2009 AT SEA
Jan 28 2009 AT SEA
Jan 29 2009 EASTER ISLAND 09:00AM 06:00PM
Jan 30 2009 AT SEA
Jan 31 2009 AT SEA
Feb 01 2009 PITCAIRN ISLAND SCENIC CRUISING
Feb 02 2009 AT SEA
Feb 03 2009 AT SEA
Feb 04 2009 PAPEETE, TAHITI 08:00AM 05:00PM
Feb 05 2009 AT SEA
Feb 06 2009 RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS 08:00AM 05:00PM
Feb 07 2009 AT SEA
Feb 08 2009 AT SEA
Feb 09 2009 CROSS INTERNATIONAL DATELINE -1 day
Feb 11 2009 AT SEA
Feb 12 2009 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND 07:00AM 10:00PM
Feb 13 2009 AT SEA
Feb 14 2009 AT SEA
Feb 15 2009 AT SEA
Feb 16 2009 AT SEA
Feb 17 2009 BURNIE, TASMANIA 08:00AM 06:00PM
Feb 18 2009 AT SEA
Feb 19 2009 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 07:00AM 10:00PM
Feb 20 2009 AT SEA
Feb 21 2009 BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA 08:00AM 06:00PM
Feb 22 2009 AT SEA
Feb 23 2009 AT SEA
Feb 24 2009 CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA 07:00AM 06:00PM
Feb 25 2009 AT SEA
Feb 26 2009 AT SEA
Feb 27 2009 RABAUL, PAPUA/NEW GUINEA 07:00AM 02:00PM
Feb 28 2009 AT SEA
Mar 01 2009 AT SEA
Mar 02 2009 GUAM 12:00PM 07:00PM
Mar 03 2009 AT SEA
Mar 04 2009 AT SEA
Mar 05 2009 AT SEA
Mar 06 2009 OSAKA, JAPAN 08:00AM 08:00PM
Mar 07 2009 HIROSHIMA, JAPAN 09:00AM 05:00PM
Mar 08 2009 AT SEA
Mar 09 2009 INCHON, KOREA 08:00AM 05:00PM
Mar 10 2009 AT SEA
Mar 11 2009 SHANGHAI, CHINA 07:00AM 06:00PM
Mar 12 2009 AT SEA
Mar 13 2009 AT SEA
Mar 14 2009 HONG KONG, CHINA 07:00AM 08:00PM
Mar 15 2009 AT SEA
Mar 16 2009 AT SEA
Mar 17 2009 HO CHI MINH CIT, VIETNAM 08:00AM 04:30PM
Mar 18 2009 AT SEA
Mar 19 2009 SIHANOUKVILLE 08:00AM 06:00PM
Mar 20 2009 AT SEA
Mar 21 2009 BANGKOK, THAILAND 07:00AM 07:00PM
Mar 22 2009 AT SEA
Mar 23 2009 AT SEA
Mar 24 2009 SINGAPORE 07:00AM 05:00PM
Mar 25 2009 KUALA LUMPUR, MAL AYSIA 07:00AM 06:00PM
Mar 26 2009 AT SEA
Mar 27 2009 ANDAMAN ISLANDS, IN 12:00PM 07:00PM
Mar 28 2009 AT SEA
Mar 29 2009 AT SEA
Mar 30 2009 AT SEA
Mar 31 2009 AT SEA
Apr 01 2009 BOMBAY, INDIA 07:00AM 10:00PM
Apr 02 2009 AT SEA
Apr 03 2009 AT SEA
Apr 04 2009 AT SEA
Apr 05 2009 DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 07:00AM 08:00PM
Apr 06 2009 AT SEA
Apr 07 2009 AT SEA
Apr 08 2009 SALALAH, OMAN 07:00AM 05:00PM
Apr 09 2009 AT SEA
Apr 10 2009 AT SEA
Apr 11 2009 AT SEA
Apr 12 2009 AT SEA
Apr 13 2009 LUXOR/KARNAK (SAFAGA), EGYPT 06:00AM 10:00PM
Apr 14 2009 AT SEA
Apr 15 2009 SUEZ CANAL, EGYPT 01:00AM 05:00PM
Apr 16 2009 PORT SAID, EGYPT 07:00AM 08:00PM
Apr 17 2009 AT SEA
Apr 18 2009 ATHENS (PIRAEUS), GREECE 09:00AM 06:00PM
Apr 19 2009 AT SEA
Apr 20 2009 NAPLES/CAPRI (SORRENTO), ITALY 08:00AM 06:00PM
Apr 21 2009 ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY 07:00AM 06:30PM
Apr 22 2009 CANNES, FRANCE 09:00AM 06:00PM
Apr 23 2009 BARCELONA, SPAIN 12:00PM 11:00PM
Apr 24 2009 AT SEA
Apr 25 2009 GIBRALTAR, GREAT BRITAIN 07:00AM 01:00PM
Apr 26 2009 LISBON, PORTUGAL 10:00AM 06:00PM
Apr 27 2009 AT SEA
Apr 28 2009 AT SEA
Apr 29 2009 COBH, IRELAND 08:00AM 06:00PM
Apr 30 2009 AT SEA
May 01 2009 PARIS (LE HAVRE), FRANCE 07:00AM 07:00PM
May 02 2009 LONDON (DOVER), ENGLAND 07:00AM 05:00PM
May 03 2009 PARIS (LE HAVRE), FRANCE 07:00AM 06:30PM
May 04 2009 ZEEBRUGGE, BELGIUM 08:00AM 06:00PM
May 05 2009 AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS 09:00AM 05:00PM
May 06 2009 AT SEA
May 07 2009 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK 07:00AM 05:00PM
May 08 2009 AT SEA
May 09 2009 HELSINKI, FINLAND 08:00AM 05:00PM
May 10 2009 ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA 07:00AM 09:00PM
May 11 2009 TALLINN, ESTONIA 09:00AM 03:00PM
May 12 2009 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 07:00AM

Bridge Cams

Like the other ships we have traveled on, Tahitian Princess has a bridge cam pointed toward the bow of the ship. You can watch our progress at this url.

This is the view this morning where she is going through the Panama Canal, which we will do on January 18, traveling from north to south.

Packing Checklist List

It is really time to be packing for this adventure. This is the checklist I am working with to pack everything we think we will need that we will be able to fit into the baggage we can take for free on the airplane.


Paperwork packet
_____cruise tickets
_____copies: passports, insurance cards
_____credit card numbers list
_____credit card company phone numbers

Stuff
_____ business cards
_____ credit card(s)
_____ keys (car, house)
_____ money
_____foreign currencies
_____ passports, driver’s licenses

Electronics
_____ laptop, powercord, case
_____iPod, accessories
_____Nintendo, cord, cards
_____power bar
_____cell phone, charger
_____ camera, charging unit
_____ memory cards
_____ portable drive

First Aid Kit
_____ Deet spray
_____ Tylenol
_____ Imodium AD
_____ Band-Aids
_____ Benadryl pills, cream
_____ Itch eraser
_____ Bonine, bands
_____ Cough drops/Cold tablets
_____ nail kit
_____ thermometer
_____ triple antibiotic cream
_____ z-pack

Toiletries - His
_____ after-shave
_____ deodorant
_____ hairspray
_____ prescription meds
_____ mouthwash
_____ razors
_____ toothbrush
_____ toothpaste
_____ dental floss
_____ scissors, comb

Toiletries - Hers
_____ combs/brushes
_____ deodorant
_____ eyeglasses/eyeglass case
_____ hair spray
_____ make-up
_____ moisturizers
_____ nail kit
_____ Q-Tips
_____ razors
_____ toothbrush
_____ toothpaste
_____ dental floss
______mouthwash


Her Stuff
_____ athletic socks
_____ socks
_____ belts
_____ blouses
_____ sweaters
_____ bras (regular, sports)
_____ hat/sun visor
_____ Capri pants
_____ slacks, cold weather
_____ slacks, hot weather
_____ sleepwear, slippers
_____ panties
_____ pantyhose
_____ sandals
_____ shorts
_____ sneakers
_____ formal, semi-formal
_____formal wear lingerie
_____ swim shoes
_____ swimsuits
_____ cover-ups
_____ tank tops/t-shirts
_____ workout clothes
_____jewelry, watches, case

His Stuff
_____ athletic socks
_____ casual slacks
_____ dark socks
_____ belts
_____ ties
_____ sleepwear
_____ loafers
_____ athletic shoes/walking shoes
_____ polo shirts
_____ sandals
_____ shorts
_____ swim trunks
_____ T-shirts/tank tops
_____workout clothes
_____ sportcoats
_____ dress shirt
_____ underwear
_____ tuxedo
_____ tuxedo accessories
_____ dress slacks
_____ formal shoes
_____jewelry, watches, case

Miscellaneous Stuff
_____binoculars
_____ envelope (legal size) for receipts
_____ envelope for photos
_____ flashlights, pocket-size
_____ highlighters
_____ kleenex (purse pack)
_____ laundry bag
_____ lint roller
_____ on-shore tote bag
_____ pens
_____ Post-It notes
_____ power bar
_____ rain ponchos, umbrellas
_____ sewing kit (w/safety pins)
_____ sunglasses
_____Playing Cards
_____Duct Tape
_____Swiss Army Knife
_____Zip Lock Bags (different sizes)
_____Folding tote bag/Back Pack

National Poinsettia Day

Wikipedia says that December 12 is National Poinsettia Day in the United States. Since the poinsettia is one of my favorite symbols of the holiday season, I decided to mark the occasion with an off topic post . Two years ago I received a poinsettia plant as a gift and when the holidays had passed, we found a place in our garden on the side of the house. Last year I took this photo and used it for our holiday cards.

When we lived in upstate New York, I often kept holiday poinsettia plants for more than one season. We had the perfect spot for growing them indoors, a living room full of natural daylight. We so seldom used the room that the darkness of winter nights was not disturbed by artificial lighting. The darkness told the poinsettias it was time to bloom again and they did spectacularly.

It was much easier in Florida with Mother Nature doing the watering and providing just the right amount of sunlight and darkness for the plants to thrive.

You can see that we do not cruise to get away from the winter weather.

New friends/Old friends

One of the most rewarding aspects of a long voyage like a world cruise is the people you can meet both in ports and on board your ship. On board the ship it is possible to really form relationships with both passengers and crew. Thanks to email it is also possible to maintain a connection to those cruising friends living continents away. I count myself as truly blessed to be in touch with people on 5 continents who we met on cruises over the years. (So far, not Asia or Antarctica.)

Some tips for those international contacts

1. Go prepared to give people your information and to keep theirs where you can find it after you return home. We have inexpensive business cards printed at an online company, of which you can find many by googling "free business cards." They are not really free, of course, but you pay only shipping. You do not need any online skills to order these cards. The sites themselves are very user friendly and anyone with a computer and a credit card can do it. This time we did step it up a bit and uploaded a photo of us taken on a formal night which is included on the card. An alternative to or supplement to the business cards would be address labels that you can stick on cards or notes.

2. Take some little note paper or cards for leaving messages or invitations for fellow passengers.

3. Use the contact information right away before you can lose it.

4. Keep in touch the way you do with your other friends so you can be part of each others' lives.

5. Send them your cruise plans. Maybe they will join you on the cruise or be able to meet you in a port in their country.

And that is something we are looking forward to on our next voyage! No, more than look forward to. Eagerly anticipate is closer to our real feelings. We have plans to meet quite a few cruise ship friends in ports the Tahitian Princess will visit.

Time to sail again

Who would have thought that we would be doing another world cruise this soon? We both wanted to do one again because the first one was so fabulous, but we thought a year or two at least would pass. But, life intervened and here we are booked to leave in just a few weeks.

This time we are sailing on the Tahitian Princess with our most traveled cruise line. We do get many nice perks for being in their Elite status and we have always enjoyed our cruises with Princess. At about 30,000 tons and carrying 670 passengers, TP is the smallest cruise ship we have sailed on. In fact, about half the tonnage of the QE2.

The itinerary includes about 50% ports that will be new to us. Of the remaining 50%, there are very few, maybe only one, we do not look forward to revisiting. And that one would be- Ho Chi Minh City. We just might stay on the ship for that one. If you want to know why, check this post.

In addition to the full world cruise, we are staying onboard for the extension that includes Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg. We have long wanted to visit St. Petersburg, so the extension is a wonderful bonus for us. We have been only to Amsterdam and Copenhagen on that segment of the cruise and look forward to returning to those great cities.

Before we booked, we sent our passports off the State Department for renewal. Luckily for us, the State Department is operating efficiently and our passport package arrived about 3 weeks from the date we mailed it. And, our contacts with the customer service people at State were incredible. In a time when every customer service contact is a nightmare, the State Dept. people were friendly, cheerful, pleasant, spoke clearly and gave us good news.

Now we are tracking the progress of our visas at the visa service. We need to acquire passports through the service for only China and India. Australia is an electronic document easily acquired online by self-service and the remaining visas will be acquired by Princess and charged to our onboard account.

Although no shots are required this time, we did just return to the County Public Health Clinic Travel unit for the last shot in our Hepatitis A series. We are now fully immunized for the standard travel package.

Next task will be planning the packing. New challenges this time include the need to fly back from Stockholm bringing airline baggage restrictions into play. Last time, we traveled round trip Fort Lauderdale and the QE2 had a baggage room and baggage master. We were able to take 9 suitcases between us with no problem or additional fees. This time we can take without additional fees 4 checked bags weighing no more than 50 pounds each and the usual carryons. The good news is that there are not anywhere near as many formal nights eliminating at least one suitcase.