travelbynatasha

Star Wars Day at Sea aboard the Disney Fantasy

Posted on March 10, 2017 by travelbynatasha

Natasha, Rocky, and Storm Troopers on Star Wars Day at Sea aboard the Disney Fantasy.

There have been teasers all week, but this is our last sea day and the culmination of the Star Wars cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy. On schedule, we got up and went to the Royal Court dining room for brunch. Ship guests are already out in force (pardon the pun) in costume to enjoy the day. Don’t worry, if you don’t bring anything to wear the Disney gift shops aboard to there to help you out. It is Star Wars Day at Sea.

Some of the guests went all out with their costumes for Star Wars Day at Sea. ©Jean Janssen

Brunch was not the elaborate buffet I have had on some ships, but rather an extended breakfast menu with lunch-type options. This is the only sit-down venue available today for breakfast or lunch. We ended up having really fun waiters and it was a great start to our day. The food was ho-hum, but the experience was fun.

This guest was dressed as an Imperial Officer for Star Wars Day at Sea. ©Jean Janssen

When you arrive on the ship at the beginning of the week you are given a selection form to rank 5 special character experiences for Star Wars Day at Sea. It was due a couple of days ago. Last night we got tickets to two events (our first and third choices). They tell you they will try to get you at least one of your top three choices and I was anticipating only one ticket and was excited to have the two opportunities. We also went to a presentation earlier in the week that got us an additional ticket (to see our fourth choice). Since one of the five options was an Jedi training for children, the most popular selection but not one we wanted, we got most of the character greetings we hoped for. We will miss out on C3PO and R2D2.

What a way to start our character greetings on Star Wars Day at Sea-Darth Vader. ©Jean Janssen

We decided to get in line early for our 10:30 am meet and greet and were surprised to find that they had already started the photo sessions. So go early and avoid the line. We started at the top of the chain with Darth Vader who had several prerecorded messages he could share with you. Rocky and I are dressed in Stormtrooper shirts, so Vader let me know that “the Empire appreciates your support.” We did individual pictures and one together. The ship had set up cool backgrounds too. This photo shoot was in the Tube and the cave-like setting fit the mood.

Guests of all ages enjoyed getting into costume. I loved this Leia and her scoundrel, Han. ©Jean Janssen

Disney has done a good job of using somewhat out of the way venues that guests wouldn’t normally venture to at this time of day so as to be not too “in your face” to guests who did’t have tickets. Without tickets, you were unable to get in. You might just not have got this selection, but most of the guests missed out simply because they did not turn in the form.

The Rebels-Rocky, Chewbacca, and Natasha-at Star Wars Day at Sea.

After Vader we headed to our second meet and greet with Chewbacca. The appreciative greeting I got from Vader was reversed here with Chewie. He was most disappointed when he saw my shirt. I told him that I was a rebel spy that had infiltrated the stormtrooper ranks. He really wasn’t buying that, but we got a good picture anyway.

Love that this family had dressed their youngest as a Ewok. ©Jean Janssen

We did note that there were more people dressed in the dark side theme at the Vader shoot, while Chewie attracted guests dressed as Rebels. There were also lots of family groups and parents with young children there to see Chewbacca. My favorite family had dressed their youngest as an Ewok.

Next we headed to the Costume Celebration in the Lobby Atrium. This was not a costume contest, but a chance to show off your creation. There were some pretty good ones.

The Costume Celebration at Star Wars Day at Sea. ©Jean Janssen

It will come as no surprise that this is a day filled with Star Wars trivia options. Trivia was in the daily Navigator and there were trivia contests at every age level throughout the day. They even have a super fan contest tonight. For those that need a little education, they offer a Star Wars 101 class on board. We decided to enhance our Star Wars education with a lecture from Shawn Kelly, an animator with Lucasfilms’ Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). Kelly started there as an intern and has worked himself up through the ranks, having now worked on 29 films including all three Star Wars prequels, Jurassic World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pacific Rim, and Avengers. He is the lead animator on all of the Transformer films.

Kelly was so excited about the opportunities he had had in his career and to be part of Star Wars Day at Sea. He was on board with his family. He showed clips of the animation process at various stages and even showed us some behind the scenes work on Rogue One which will be shown on board tonight. Rocky and I have seen the movie, but it will be fun to look for these elements when we see the movie again tonight. Shawn Kelly’s presentation was one of the highlights of the trip for me.

Boba Fett walked among the guests aboard the Disney Fantasy looking for rebel spies. ©Jean Janssen

Next it was up to deck 11 for Pool Patrol. Stroomtroopers filtered through the pool deck looking for rebel spies and Boba Fett made an arial entrance onto the deck to assist with the search. Even those who were unwilling to give up a day in the sun by the pool for the inside Star Wars events got a taste of this special day through the Pool Patrol. There were almost too many events to do everything, but enough variety for alternative tastes.

Looking for rebel spies in the Lobby Atrium of the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Next it was time for our last scheduled meet and greet of the day with either Kylo Ren or Captain Phasma. We ended up meeting the captain who looked us over as potential recruits. I am not sure I passed muster in spite of the shirt I was wearing. Afterwards, we went to McGill’s Pub for an adult animation class. We learned how to draw Yoda and had a nice cider in the process. Finally it was back to the atrium to see if any other characters might appear.

Bounty hunters roamed the atrium of the Disney Fantasy in search of rebel spies. ©Jean Janssen

We started out at the top of the atrium where the changeling from Episode Two was sneaking around. She was really into character and pretended to stalk me as I tried to get pictures. I finally just walked up so we could get a picture together. Kinda cool that they had the bounty hunters out and about.

Natasha and the changeling from Episode Two. ©Theodore Crane

There is not a production or entertainer on stage tonight, but rather there is a showing of Rogue One, the most recent Star Wars saga release, in both the Walt Disney Theater (the production stage) and the Buena Vista Theater (the movie theater). We opted for the more comfy seats in the movie theater. I really like Rouge One, perhaps a little darker than the other Star Wars movies, and enjoyed looking for the details that Shawn Kelly had told us about earlier in the day.

C3PO and Tusken raiders at Summon the Force aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Throughout the Star Wars Day at Sea, the cast members-all Disney employees are called cast members-wear special Star Wars name tags. There were announcements over the PA regarding the invasion and continued search for the rebel spies, and even the captain gave his announcements including galactic data. When we got to the dining room, our waiters also had special outfits for the event. All of the menu items were named for different planets and themes from the Star Wars universe.

Summon the Force was on the pool deck to close the Star Wars Day at Sea onboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

To end the evening we were back up on the pool deck for Summon the Force and an attempt to rid ourselves of the First Order invaders. They do a cheesy stage show just like they do on Pirate Night. It is really not about the plot of the play but the opportunity for the crowd to cheer or boo as they showcase the characters.

R2D2 and the Jawas at Summon the Force aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

The invading order was vanquished and our ship’s captain restored to command of the vessel. Of course, it wouldn’t be Disney if the evening didn’t end in Fireworks. We have had fireworks at sea twice on this trip, truly special.

Chewie and R2D2 lead the rebels to victory aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Fireworks were followed by a special buffet (we had a similar one on Pirate’s Night aboard the Wonder) and a Galactic Dance Party. What a day! A Star Wars fan couldn’t ask for more.

Posted in cruises, Disney, international | Tagged Disney cruise, Disney Fantasy, Shawn Kelly, Star Wars Day at Sea, Summon the Force | Leave a comment

St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and a First Order Invasion

Posted on March 9, 2017 by travelbynatasha

A view of the Harbor in St. Thomas as seen from Paradise Point. ©Jean Janssen

Magen’s Bay, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

Having been to St. Thomas many times, we decided not to book an excursion. I highly recommend the beaches on St. Thomas, Magen’s Bay being perhaps the most popular. It is a rather interesting ride out there too. You don’t necessarily need to book an excursion, there is plenty of local transportation to and from the beaches. You can rent chairs and umbrellas and purchase food and drinks at the beach. There is an admission charge. For US visitors, you also have the advantage of not having to exchange currency. Just be sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship.

Trunk Bay, St. John’s, US Virgin Islands

Another wonderful option is hopping the ferry to St. John’s and enjoying Trunk Bay, which I have done on several visits. This is a perfect spot for snorkeling. St. John’s is much quieter than St. Thomas, 2/3 of the island is a National Park. While St. Thomas is the land of the franchises (as our guide on Tortola referred to it), St. John’s is more about discovering nature in a serene setting. That’s today. Before the islands were conquered by the Dutch West Indian Company, this was a notorious pirate outpost.

All those red roofs on the bottom of the photograph? Shopping, Shopping, and Shopping at Havensight Mall on St. Thomas. ©Jean Janssen

St. Thomas is perhaps the first major Caribbean shopping port and still offers a variety of shopping opportunities. There is lots of strip center shopping right near the cruise pier, but serious shoppers will take a cab to downtown to visit the long established locations.

Another view from Paradise Point in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. ©Jean Janssen

Not setting an alarm, it will come as no surprise to those of you following this series of blog posts that Rocky and I overslept. We have a 4 pm departure from St. Thomas which meant I really didn’t want to leave the beach any later than 2 pm. We wouldn’t have had much time, so we grabbed a snack on board and then left the ship to try the St. Thomas Paradise Point Skyride. It was a beautiful sunny day and I am sorry we missed the bay with such perfect beach weather.

The St. Thomas Skyride to Paradise Point. ©Jean Janssen

If you are docked at the main cruise terminal, Havensight Mall Dock, also known as West Indian Company Dock, you can just walk over. I say that because 2 of the 5 large cruise ships in town that day were not at this dock. They had a pretty significant cab ride over. We looked for the base of the sky ride and just followed that to the ticket window. The ticket price is $21 or $10.50 for children. We could purchase tickets from Guest Relations on the ship or at the ride itself for the same price.

The Norwegian Epic was also in Tortola yesterday. Like yesterday, they left earlier than we did. You can see how the boats churn up the sand in the bay. In the distance you can see the two other cruise ships docked at a more remote location. ©Jean Janssen

There are some stairs up to the loading platform, but they offer chairs to sit in while you wait for the ride. They travel in sets of three cars and during our visit they were putting about 6 adults in each car. It was a fairly quick ride up to the top where there are restrooms, a few gift shops, and a restaurant and bar. This is all about the view and the opportunity to take pictures.

The St. Thomas Skyride to Paradise Point. ©Jean Janssen

We ran into some people we had met on the ship who had snagged a table right by the railing and joined them for drinks. The specialty here is the Bushwacker and according to Rocky it will put you under the table. I tried a drink that tasted like a Key Lime pie; there wasn’t much alcohol in it. After our friends headed back to the ship, we moved to their side of the table and enjoyed the view. We ordered some nachos and margaritas and hung out until about an hour before the ship was scheduled to leave.

We were a little too early for the opening of the Ooh La La Champagne with its boudoir decor.

Back on board we took showers and then went to Mass as it is now Lent. Then we checked out the character greetings in the Lobby and the Bars in Europa. I didn’t give up alcohol for Lent. La Piazza with its carousel bar, O’Gills Pub, and Ooh La La Champagne Bar all carry their themes out well. We were too early for drinks, so we went out on the deck and watched the sun set.

Sunset from the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Tonight’s show is by Hypnotist Ricky Kalmon, by some reports one of the two best shows on the cruise. Rocky and I were not really intrigued by a hypnosis show, but we did head over to see the Character Dance Party in the atrium before dinner.

We are back in the Animator’s Palate tonight and I stand corrected regarding my assessment of this restaurant being not as much fun as the Animator’s Palate on the Wonder. Tonight was great. When you arrive, you create your own character which is whisked away by the servers before dinner. I thought we would see them again up on the screens. It was so much more than that. Throughout dinner, they played scenes involving food from Disney movies and cartoons. At the end, they show a film featuring our drawing as animated characters. Really clever. Each of us was a given a certificate and our names appeared in the credits at the end of the film.

Phasma appears to announce the First Order invasion of our ship and the search for the Regal Spy from the balcony above the atrium in the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

At the end of dinner, our head waiter told us to head out to the atrium for a not to be missed event. Additional lighting had been added and then over the ships intercom, it was announced that the First Order had invaded our ship. The Phasma character from Episode 7: The Force Awakens then appeared on the Balcony to announce they were searching for a rebel spy. Her stormtroopers filtered through the guests on levels 3,4, and 5 conducting their “search”. It was a simple gesture, but it set the mood for the day ahead. By walking through the crowd, they engaged everyone in the Star Wars event. The day ended with the crowd excited about the coming Star Wars Day at Sea.

Stormtroppers filtered through the crowds at all levels of the atrium searching for the Rebel Spy on the eve of the Star Wars Day at Sea aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

We get an hour back tonight, so Rocky and I went to the late night showing of the Force Awakens. We are very excited about the day ahead.

The anticipation is building for the Star Wars Day at Sea. ©Jean Janssen

Posted in cruises, Disney, international | Tagged Disney Fantasy, Paradise Point, Skyride, St. John's, St. Thomas, Star Wars Day at Sea, US Virgin Islands | Leave a comment

Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and a Pirate’s Life for Me.

Posted on March 8, 2017 by travelbynatasha

Natasha’s view on Jost Van Dyke beach, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. ©Jean Janssen

We have been so bad about sleeping late that we bit the bullet and scheduled an early (7:30 am) beach excursion for today. I am not sure if I have ever been to Tortola before. We ordered room service (only Continental breakfast offerings on this Disney ship) and met our group in the theater. It is mostly families with children which perhaps explains why they give a full 15 minute delay before they actually escort us ashore to our boat. Unlike some ships where the tour information is in the daily program, you must refer to your tour tickets for place and meeting times. Once on the excursion boat, we had a 45 minute ride over to White Bay and the beach on the island of Jost Van Dyke.

This barge transferred guests from the boat through the shallows to beach at White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. ©Jean Janssen

The outside seats on the boat were fun, but you should count on a little spray. Just as we arrived it also started to rain. Most of these showers are light and don’t last very long. Just outside the shallow section of the beach, the boat stopped and a barge came over to take us to shore. It took three trips to get everyone there. You walked a ramp to reach the beach and could totally avoid the water if you wanted to. They also required you to wear a life vest on the barge to travel the very short distance to shore. I would have rather hopped off the boat and just walked in, but I am sure this barge service is someone’s livelihood.

The Soggy Dollar Bar on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke Island, British Virgin Islands. The birthplace of the painkiller.

We settled in on some lounge chairs under the palm trees. This half day excursion will put us back at the ship around lunch time. The famous Soggy Dollar Bar is a short walk down the beach from our chairs. The bar is the birthplace of the painkiller, a rum cocktail, and got its name from patrons from boats who would wade ashore with soggy money to buy their drinks back when there was no road or dock to reach the bar. There is a road now, but still no dock. Our savvy shipmates figured out that you could also get a painkiller at the bar a few steps away from our beach chairs and at a cheaper price than at the Soggy Dollar.

From our beach chairs on Jost Van Dyke, we could see the islands of St. Thomas and St. Johns. ©Jean Janssen

Jost Van Dyke Island is actually the smallest island, at 3 square miles, of the four main islands that make up the British Virgin Islands. The rumor is that the island is named for a Dutch Privateer (and sometimes pirate), Joost van Dyk. Van Dyk assisted the Dutch Admirals who attacked San Juan, Puerto Rico and plundered the Spanish Treasure Fleet. The Spanish retaliated by attacking Tortola, which is when van Dyk fled to the island that now bears his name.

The beach at White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands. ©Jean Janssen

Jost Van Dyke has less than 300 residents (298 in the last census). Its main industry is tourism, particularly yachting tourism. The beach at White Bay was fabulous with beautiful sand, few shells, and crystal clear water. You could wade right into the shallow water bare-footed. I actually spent quite a bit of time in the water. The rain would come and go, but it didn’t deter us.

These two well-behaved young ladies scooped up water to build their sand castles on the beach at White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Island. ©Jean Janssen

I really don’t like to wear headphones at the beach because I enjoy the sound of the water, but I was tempted today. Rocky put his on. The children loved the beach, but there was lots of screaming. There were also a lot of parents enjoying their painkillers and not doing much to supervise their children.

The ariel search before diving in for fish. ©Jean Janssen

Perhaps my favorite pastime on the beach, in the water and out, was watching the pelicans and other seabirds dive into the water to feed. Sometimes they completed submerged themselves.

Natasha and Rocky at White Bay on Jost Van Dyke Island just before heading back to Tortola. ©Jean Janssen

All too soon, our excursion was over. I thought it might be too long a day, so we did not go for the full day option which included lunch (primarily because of cost and the fact they said that umbrellas were not available). I wish we had chosen to stay the full day. The food did smell good. We had to reverse the process of the two boats to get back and frankly I think we spent more time in transit than we did on the beach.

Our view of Tortola from the Cabanas buffet aboard the Disney Fantasy was beautiful. ©Jean Janssen

Once back, we went to the ship for lunch. Rocky decided to take in an afternoon movie. I decided to check out the Caribbean’s newest shopping port. There were lots of cute, typical Caribbean shops a few steps from the pier. Most were smaller than in other cruise ports and those with promotional offers had been cleared out by the morning shoppers. I did use the slow, but free, internet to check on a few things. I got back in time to meet Rocky for the movie.

The Baths at Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

I should mention that another popular excursion was to Virgin Gorda. The Virgin Gorda excursions were sold out before Rocky and I booked the cruise. Virgin Gorda is the second largest of the British Virgin Islands. “Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island ‘The Fat Virgin’, because the island’s profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side.” The most popular tourist spot is the baths where granite boulders form grottoes, tunnels, tidal pools, and arches. Swimming and snorkeling in the area is popular.

Minnie Mouse in her pirate attire aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Goofy dressed up for Pirate Night aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Tonight we are back in the Royal Court for dinner and it is also Pirate night. This is a popular celebration on all of the Disney ships that sail in the Caribbean. We enjoyed Pirate Night on our last Disney cruise on the Wonder out of Galveston, Texas. One of the things that I love about the character greetings is that the characters also get into the day’s celebration and dress for the theme. You can take pictures with Mikey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy every day and they will always look different.

Captain Hook and Smee signing autographs on Pirate Night aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Daisy in her pirate attire aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Pirate Night is also a good time to spot characters like Captain Hook and Smee, Peter Pan, and Jack Sparrow. It is not only the characters that get dressed up for the event. Lots of the guests come in full costume. Rocky did a better job than I did pulling his outfit together. They will give you a pirate bandana on the ship, so everyone will have a little something.

Rocky in his pirate gear. ©Jean Janssen

In addition to the characters being available around the ship, there was a pirate celebration with Mickey on the pool deck between the two dinner seatings and pirate themed games for children and adults throughout the evening. We started our night with Michael Holly’s full show and learned he started performing as a juggler in Disneyland back in his teens. For years now he has had a full Vegas show, but retains his Disney connection with the cruise ship appearances. There was a lot of guest interaction in this show.

There are always special items available to commemorate these Disney events. Our assistant waiter Graham showed us the special pirate mug with multiple light settings, which he referred to as the rave, slowing down, and morning after settings for our adult only table. He even offered a special dance. After having him do the dance three times, I had to buy a mug.

Up on the pool deck aboard the Disney Fantasy for Pirate Night. ©Jean Janssen.

We headed to the pool deck after dinner and it was already full of guests so we stood to see the pirate show on stage, Jack Sparrow’s appearance, and the Buccaneer Blast Fireworks. Even before the show, I loved seeing the aquaduck all lit up for the evening. Disney always does a great job with fireworks. There were the first to do fireworks at sea and are currently the only company providing this type of entertainment.

Disney is currently the only cruise line giving you fireworks at sea. ©Jean Janssen

Tomorrow is St. Thomas, part of the US Virgin Islands and a Caribbean port we have visited often.

Families on the beach in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke Island. ©Jean Janssen

Posted in cruises, Disney, international | Tagged Animator's Palate, AquaDuck, Disney Fantasy, Enchanted Garden, Palo, Remy, The Tube | Leave a comment

Sea Days aboard the Disney Fantasy

Posted on March 7, 2017 by travelbynatasha

Meeting some of the Disney Princesses aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

We are starting the cruise with two sea days and Rocky and I couldn’t be happier. They are featuring a Star Wars movie each day of the cruise. We are headed out to the pool this morning and going to catch Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back this afternoon. A little more ship exploring is on tap as well. Tonight is formal night and we visit Animator’s Palate for dinner.

Wandering around the ship we found lots of interactive activities, including this “painting” of a pirate ship you could steer around. The popular treasure hunt from the Disney Parks is also found on the ship. ©Jean Janssen

We slept in this morning and missed breakfast. Hey, we are on vacation. We put on our swimsuits, lots of sunscreen, and coverups and headed up to deck 11 for the buffet and pools. It was unbelievably full. You could not see any water in the pool or hot tubs, just children’s heads bobbing up and down. I am not sure any of the children had the space to swim. The Funnel Vision, the large outdoor movie screen, was showing Disney movies and most of the eyes were glued to it. The adults-only pool, with chairs mostly in shaded areas, was equally crowded. We decided to try some of the inside games on the ship.

Palo, the Disney Fantasy’s specialty Italian Restaurant, is also found on the other Disney cruise ships. ©Jean Janssen

On this Disney cruise, people really went for the group games, whether for children or adults only. Rocky checked out the Movie Quotes Trivia and was on the second place team, losing by only one point. He said it was a little frustrating because they picked really obscure quotes. Also popular with the adults, were the wine and alcohol tastings (there is a fee for these). All of our table mates were participating in at least one tasting.

The speciality restaurants, for which there is also a fee, only operate in the evenings. This afternoon the doors were open, so I popped over to see the menus and what the rooms looked like. We tried Palo, an Italian restaurant which is also on the Wonder, on our last Disney cruise. It is very good. We considered the other option, Remy, a French restaurant. The menu at Remy is fixed and not all the items interested us so we decided to skip booking a speciality restaurant. One of the couples from our table are going to Remy tonight to celebrate her birthday, so we will get the lowdown from Erika and Nick. Both speciality restaurants are small so you might want to book before you go. However, we like to find out what our dining rotation is and what night is formal night before we book, so we waited to check it out on the ship.

Remy, the fixed-menu French speciality restaurant, aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

With the pool crowded, we decided to see a Star Wars movie in the afternoon. Next it was back to get dressed for formal night and the first of three big stage shows in the Walt Disney Theater. The Musical Aladdin was presented. It was very well done. Next Rocky and I had to work in our pictures in Formal Attire.

Animator’s Palate aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Tonight’s dining is in Animator’s Palate. Gone were the wonderful screens from the Wonder where the picture slowly gains more color. We had a show by Crush from Finding Nemo. Both Laura and I were of the opinion that we like the Wonder’s version of this restaurant better. They did have great chairs though. However, the highlight of the evening was Crush’s direct interaction with our table. He is on screen, but spoke directly to us and replied with facial expressions appropriate to his comments much like the characters do at the Monster’s Inc. presentation in the Magic Kingdom. They use cameras and actors with facial monitors.

Love the chairs in Animator’s Palate aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Laura and Kyle were on their honeymoon and Laura’s dad had booked their cruise through the Disney Vacation Club. Dad had let them know about the occasion and apparently it had been passed on to Crush who insisted that Kyle stand and sing to Laura in “whale”. Kyle was a good sport and it was hysterical.

The Tube, dance club and bar, aboard the Disney Fantasy.

After dinner, we went down to the Europa area of the ship reserved for adults after 9 pm. There are a series of uniquely themed bars. At last night’s introductory show we saw a comedian juggler who is doing an adults-only show tonight. He was performing in The Tube, named for the London underground system (in the USA we call them subways). The theme was well carried out in the signage to the Union Jack in colored lights on the ceiling. This venue is also the dance club. We enjoyed Michael Holly’s tightrope walking and juggling. At the end they kicked us out because so many people wanted to come in and play the next game. You did have the option to keep your seat if you wanted to participate. Having missed the pool today, that is definitely on the agenda for tomorrow. I want to tackle that AquaDuck.

The AquaDuck aboard the Disney Fantasy.

So we slept in again. Vacation and we lost an hour on the time change. No breakfast, but we got an early lunch before heading to see Dr. Strange in 3D in the Buena Vista Theater. After the movie we went straight to the Duck. It was overcast and threatening rain so the crowds were a little thinner on the pool deck. I have to say I was a little nervous. There are high winds today so you are required to ride in pairs. That is ok with me; I prefer to ride with Rocky. The wait was shorter today. Lots of parents riding with their children. At least no one filmed me rolling into the tube.

The AquaDuck.

I did it and it was great fun. Rocky and I toweled off and made a potty stop. I told you I was nervous. They were doing a Moana Sing Along in the Walt Disney Theater and lots of the children were otherwise occupied. It was raining by now, the line had gotten really short, and so we just looked at each other and knew it was time to ride again. Awesome. Natasha’s tip for day: Ride the AquaDuck while it is raining and enjoy the short lines. Then ride it again, and again, and again.

Rocky had unknowingly dressed to match his Princess.

The Queen of Hearts let us all know she was done for the evening. ©Jean Janssen

With a great sense of accomplishment we headed inside to check out the characters in the Atrium and get showers in preparation for tonight’s second big show, Wishes. The theme of Wishes is moving on with your life while still embracing the things that bring you joy. It centers around three high school seniors who met at Disneyland as children on the occasion of their last trip to the park before high school graduation. They learn lots of lessons along the way from Disney Characters preforming popular songs from Disney Movies. I would rate this show as not to be missed.

The Enchanted Garden aboard the Disney Fantasy. Note the changing light color on the ceiling and the center fountain. ©Jean Janssen

Afterwards was dinner in The Enchanted Garden, the last of the three main dining rooms. The theme is carried out through the illusion of a glass conservatory where day turns to night as the colors change and the “light bulbs” open as a flower would. I like this restaurant very much. Occasionally, buffets are also served here. We got the Remy report from Erika and Nick, who enjoyed it very much. Full, Erika made the mistake of ordering nothing for dessert.

This is what happens when you have cheeky waiters and order nothing for dessert. At the Enchanted Garden aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Tomorrow we have an early excursion (7:30) and we have overslept each morning. That means we should go to bed early. Instead we went to the 10:30 pm showing of Episode 6: Return of the Jedi and set an alarm for the next morning. Embrace the opportunity!

I always love the towel animals they leave in the room. Tonight we came back to find my favorite of the week. This monkey even had our gold pirate coins on his head as hair. ©Jean Janssen

Posted in cruises, Disney, international | Tagged Animator's Palate, AquaDuck, Disney Fantasy, Enchanted Garden, Palo, Remy, The Tube | Leave a comment

A Caribbean Cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy

Posted on March 6, 2017 by travelbynatasha

Natasha with the honorary ship’s captain of the Disney Fantasy in the atrium lobby.

Rocky and I are taking a cruise to the Caribbean aboard the Disney Fantasy, one of Disney’s two newer cruise ships. Our first Disney cruise was out of Galveston aboard the Wonder, one of the older two ships. This time we are flying to Orlando and taking the ship’s transfer to Cape Canaveral. I avoided Disney cruises for many years because they are priced higher than other cruises at this amenity level. However, once you take one (and if you love Disney as much as I do) you understand the price difference in the level of entertainment that the experience affords.

Dumbo makes his appearance on the rear of the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Admittedly most of the cruisers have small children, especially during a school week. However, there are also families with home-schooled children and parents who have taken their children out of school to go to DisneyWorld and its on-water extension. You will also find plenty of retired couples, young married (or dating) couples (including honeymooners), and a few mothers and sons looking for another type of Disney experience beyond the parks.

Rey’s speeder from Episode 7: The Force Awakens is in the lobby of the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

Another plus of this cruise, available only on the Disney Fantasy January-April, is that it has a Star Wars Theme. That guarantees you one full day of Star Wars activities with a few teasers along the way. It also means you will travel with other Star Wars enthusiasts. You have all now figured out how I got Rocky to go on this cruise with me.

Disney Cruise Terminal in Cape Canaveral, Florida. ©Jean Janssen

We took an early Saturday morning flight into Orlando and headed to the Magical Express Transfer desk on level one on the B side of the main concourse (same place you go for the free transfer to the park). There was a long line that was not moving waiting to load the buses. We found out that there was fog at the port and that the entry of the ship into dock was delayed by three hours. Glad I wasn’t flying out that day; I would have missed my flight. Although it was not their fault, a Disney representative went up to each family directly and explained the situation. They also sent an email.

Model of the Disney Magic, one of the original Disney cruise ships, in the Cape Canaveral Disney Cruise Terminal Building. ©Jean Janssen

Once the line starting moving, they loaded people slowly as not to flood the port terminal with arrivals. The drive to the port would normally take 45 minutes. This day it took two hours, most of the time within sight of the terminal building. The delay was due to heavy traffic and the periodic raising of the drawbridge. Three cruise lines depart out of Cape Canaveral-Disney, Norwegian, and Carnival. Once inside, things moved very quickly in this very attractive building.

Rocky at the ship entrance in the Disney Cruise Terminal in Cape Canaveral, Florida. ©Jean Janssen

Rocky and I booked this cruise late, hoping to catch a deal. There were only two rooms left at the time. Of course the ship was sold out when we boarded. We usually book balcony rooms, but we have ocean view this time with a porthole window. The window has a cushion so you can sit there and read. Yes, Natasha tried it. No, it was definitely designed for a child. We dropped our carry-on bags at the room and headed to the buffet and to explore the ship a little.

You don’t want to go too fast on the AquaDuck or you may fly out of one of the openings in the tube and straight into one of the main stacks on the ship like Donald did aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

One of the unique attractions on this ship is the AquaDuck. There is also a waterside, but the AquaDuck is a water flume ride in and outside of plastic tubing that goes out over the water and through one of the main stacks of the ship. You ride in double-seated tubes. It is on our bucket list for the cruise.

Tonight we met our dining partners in one of the three main dining rooms. Ship guests rotate between three main dining rooms each with a different theme and entertainment. Your servers go with you and you are seating with the same group each time. We were seated with two young married couples, one on their delayed honeymoon. They are all more closer in age to Rocky than to me. The guys are all big Star Wars fans and those details dominated tonight’s conversation.

Bread basket in the Royal Court Dining room aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

We usually take first seating, but it was not available and is also much earlier on the Disney ship (before 6). First seating is the one with most of the small children and it is not a slow leisurely meal. It is rushed through for the sake of the children. We were first seating on our first Disney cruise. When traveling on a Disney cruise, I highly recommend the second seating for parties with all adults or adults and older children. We started our rotation in the Royal Court, the most ornate dining room just off the atrium lobby. Here the waiters dress like Prince Charming. My favorite detail however was the bread basket that looked like a coach. Our second seating dinner was at a much more relaxed pace.

Minnie Mouse greeting fans on the 4th four balcony into the atrium on the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

The Disney characters are out in full force this evening in the atrium. They are available for photographs all week and their appearance schedule is in the daily program. Parents also bring along autograph books and blank frames for the characters to sign. You will have far more opportunities for pictures and shorter lines on the cruise ships than you do at the parks if this experience is anything like ours was on the Wonder. On that first trip, I met a parent who told me that is why they came on the cruise. They wanted to give their younger child a Disney experience, but felt safer in this environment than in one of the parks. Greeting characters was a big plus for them. They planned on taking their children to the parks when they were older.

Ship guests dressed up to see Belle aboard the Disney Fantasy. ©Jean Janssen

In spite of the weather delay, the ship was turned around quickly and we left the port on time. We had the benefit of putting pre-printed tags on our luggage in Houston and not worrying about it again until it appeared at our cabin. Disney pulled the luggage when it came off the plane in Orlando (MCO) and delivered it to the port and then to our stateroom. I was just a little nervous about it, but it arrived prior to the ship pulling away from the pier. After, the welcome show, dinner, and getting up really early for our departure, we were tired and in bed before 11. We had planned to go see the late showing of Episode 4: A New Hope, the original Star Wars Movie from 1977, but just couldn’t keep our eyes open. With two sea days ahead of us, we look forward to relaxing on the high seas and catching most of the Star Wars movies which will be shown throughout the week.

Rocky, Goofy, and Natasha aboard the Disney Fantasy.

Posted in cruises, Disney, international | Tagged AquaDuck, Cape Canaveral, Disney cruise, Disney Fantasy, Star Wars, Star Wars Day at Sea | 2 Comments

Last Day of Fiji Diving

Posted on February 20, 2017 by travelbynatasha

Fiji diving in the Somosomo Strait Photo ©Zaide Scheib

©Jean Janssen Beach on a small island in the Somosomo Strait, Fiji.

Even though it is the rainy season in Fiji, we have had fabulous diving in the Somosomo Strait between Taveuni and Vanna Leau. The Strait is known for its beautiful soft corals and plentiful sea life. We asked our dive masters if we could try a new beach for our surface intervals today. Our dive leader Eric really wants to do the The White Wall site again, hoping for better conditions and time to photograph. Three of our divers are serious underwater photographers. Zaide, who shared her pictures with me, is a recreational underwater photographer; she did a great job with simple equipment. We also hit some new dive sites-Pandora, named for a horse who fell off a boat and survived here, and Kona (the corner).

I loved the unusual color of this anemone that I found. Photo ©Zaide Scheib.

We started with Pandora, which I didn’t think much of, and then took a long 2.5 hour surface interval at what our dive master called Cannibal Beach to wait for better conditions at the white wall. I stayed in the water most of time and still got sunburned through the water. It was definitely a prettier spot than Pee Pee Beach which we all have grown tired of.

Diving in the Somosomo Strait, Fiji Photo ©Zaide Scheib.

The Somosomo Strait, Fiji, is known for its soft corals. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

We didn’t find particularly better conditions at the White Wall, which I have now dove 3 or 4 times. Other than the remora that decided to follow Caitlin around, the dive was unremarkable for me. I am getting jaded. A remora generally attaches itself to a larger fish and feeds off it parasites. I was a little worried to Caitlin. 🙂

Natasha enjoying the beach were are barbecue lunch was served. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

©Jean Janssen. Our dive boat at “Barbecue Beach”, Fiji

However, a special treat was in store for us after the dive, a beach barbecue on a lovely island. Of course it was raining, but that actually created a waterfall effect on the ledge overhanging the bbq pit, making it even more picturesque. After the rain cleared we enjoyed the shell-laden beach with its beautiful sand, lovely setting, and clear waters.

Part of the fun of a dive trip is the time we hang out together on the boat. By the end of the day we can be pretty tired and very silly. Photo by Zaide Scheib.

One more nudibranch, Somosomo Strait, Fiji. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

Finally it was back to the boat for our last dive of the trip. Tomorrow we “off gas” before going home-no diving for 24 hours before our first flight. The final dive site was Kona, the corner, and it was everything you could hope for-easy current, beautiful colored soft corals, and plentiful fish. I got to enjoy my Christmas Tree Worms one last time. They pop closed when you disturb the water nearby; the fun part is watching them reopen. I was so zen in the water, the other divers didn’t even want to disturb me to show me anything. This was a true “aquarium dive”.

The beautiful soft corrals of the Somosomo Strait, Fiji. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

On our final dive at the Kona site, Fiji Photo ©Zaide Scheib

A farewell to Fiji diving from Natasha Photo ©Zaide Scheib

Our final full day at the resort was for lounging around as we “off gas” before our three flights en route to home. I did some packing and writing, but the highlight was two more trips to the spa for me. First I had a coconut scrub. Bera had freshly graded coconut. She prepared the table with banana leaves and flowers. I was facedown first, the scrub softening my skin and removing some of the sunburn. Then I had to turn over; I was so slick I almost slid off the table. After the second side scrub, Bera wrapped me in the leaves to marinate. The funniest part was when she got to my toes and couldn’t figure out how to wrap the leaves around, so she just stuck the leaves between my toes. I felt like a coconut banana burrito. I returned to the spa later for an end of the trip massage.

©Jean Janssen. Pre-scrub table in the open air spa at Sau Bay Fiji Retreat.

A coconut banana burrito.

©Jean Janssen the lawn at Sau Bay Resort as viewed from my porch. Note our lounge chairs and the pavilion we all gathered on on the last day.

Caitlin worked on her log book with her beverage of choice. Photo ©Caitlin Molloy

©Jean Janssen. Bench on the lounge deck near the Sweethearts Tree, Sau Bay Fiji Retreat.

That night we had a performance by the staff. The owner told us that this wasn’t something they for all the visitors. The staff came to her and asked if they could perform. We certainly will miss them. They are warm and open and there was a genuine affection between the staff and guests.

©Jean Janssen Caitlin with some of the resort dogs. Sau Bay Fiji Retreat.

The sweethearts tree from the beach at Sau Bay Fiji Retreat. Photo ©Caitlin Molloy

It was a wonderful performance with our quiet boat captain, Sio, leading the dancing with his crazy cannibal antics, a hidden talent. This time we were given flower necklaces and grass skirts. It all ended with a conga line around the room with performers and guests all dancing.

©Jean Janssen Our fearless trip leader, Eric Keibler with Oceanic Ventures, Inc.

The next day we had to reserve our travel process. We set our alarms early, put out luggage and went back to sleep. Because it was unlikely all our bags would make the same flight, we sent the heavier dive gear on the earlier flight; this was all pre-arranged through Fiji Link for Fiji Air. The owners and all the resort staff were on the beach when we left and continued to wave to us until we rounded the shoreline and were completely out of sight. We had to say goodbye to Carl and Sio when we reached Tavenui.

Natasha at the 180 Degree Meridian

The 180 degree meridian runs through Fiji on the Island of Taveuni. For practical purposes, the international date line waves a little to allow the whole country to be on the same date. (Just as it waves a little to allow Russia and Alaska to be on different dates from each other at the same time as allowing Alaska to be on the same date as the rest of the United States.) On our way to the airport, we made a stop at the meridian. I had to get that photo that shows I was in two days at once.

©Jean Janssen View from our Fiji Link flight as we approached Nadi.

Then it was layovers and three more flights to make it home. The first flight on that Fiji Link plane to Nadi was pretty rough with the rain and all the cloud cover. People in the back of the plane felt rather sick. Nadi has had a lot of rain since we passed through. One day there was 20 inches, effectively shutting down the city. Our flights experienced no delays due to weather. We transferred from the Domestic terminal to the partially-completed International Terminal. It is going to be very nice when complete. We have the long leg to LAX where we will split up with most of us heading back to Houston.

Natasha on a surface interval break from Fiji diving in the Somosomo Strait. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

I traveled with a fabulous group of people to a beautiful warm place with amazing people and beautiful fish and corals. I highly recommend a visit to Fiji and something off the beaten path. Here’s to our next adventure–Natasha.

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A Fijian Lovo and more diving

Posted on February 17, 2017 by travelbynatasha

©Jean Janssen Meats and Root Vegetables in the Lovo at Sau Bay Resort, Fiji

After today’s Fiji diving in the Somosomo straight, we will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Fijian Lovo and entertainers from the nearby village. A lovo is an ancient form of cooking in the earth giving the food a smoky, barbeque-type taste. It is a excellent way to cook large quantities of food including the meat and root vegetables. John will begin the work on the lovo even before we return from diving.

Something was peeking out for the camera. Fiji Photo ©Zaide Scheib

Previous dive sites include Nuku Reef, Jerry’s Jellies,White Wall, Rainbow’s End, and Annie’s Bommies. Randall has completed his certification so he will be diving with Zaide now and Caitlin will be my new buddy. We begin today at the Purple Wall. This wasn’t one of my favorite sites, but we were diverted from our original location due to the large number of divers already there. Normally we were the only divers at any given site our dive master selected. This site did include a lovely wall with a plethora of purple coral. I also saw a turquoise nudibranch and a brown coral that turned to white upon the dive master’s touch.

A black, gold, and white nudibranch in the Fijian waters. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

Beautiful Color in Fiji. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

However, the color and beautiful fish returned with our next few sites-Rainbow Passage, The Zoo, Cabbage Patch, and the Fish Factory.

A yellow trumpet fish in the Fijian waters. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

Susan with a school of barracuda behind her in the Fijian waters at the Zoo dive site. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

A few of the 10 lobster our trip leader Eric spotted on a ledge in the Fijian waters. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

Calm waters mean there is time for a little goofing around. Eric gives an inverted hello to our dive master Carl. Photo ©Zaide Scheib

We returned from our dives to find that John had the lovo in action. The fire was heating the lava rocks that would serve as the base of the lovo and heat the food. When hot enough, these rocks will be placed in the pit John had dug. On top of that a “grill” was created. Into the pit, meat wrapped in banana leaves or palms is added. Then root vegetables go into the heated. The pit is then covered and the food cooks up to 3 hours; the time depends on the quantity.

©Jean Janssen John with his shove to dig the lovo pit. He heats the rocks first before placing them inside. You can see the palms that will create the grill and the leaves to wrap the food.

©Jean Janssen. Palms create the “grill” for the lovo and are placed on the heated rocks.

©Jean Janssen. Cooked meat wrapped in palms that has been removed from the lovo.

Tonight is also special because we are celebrating Jane and Igor’s 25th wedding anniversary. Just outside the lounge is a wonderful deck. In front of that is the sweethearts’ tree with the water beyond. It is a lovely spot for a picture so the couple posed for us there. There is a reason we were all willing to come halfway around the world for this occasion. This is a fun couple. I think the picture says it all.

©Jean Janssen The anniversary couple in the sweethearts tree at Sau Bay Resort, Fiji.

©Jean Janssen. A performance by the local villagers at Sau Bay, Fiji.

In addition to the lovo, anniversary celebration, and lovely dinner, the evening’s festivities included a performance by residents of the nearest village. Because the resort is only accessible by boat, we saw their arrival. Then they added beautiful flower headdresses, greenery at their wrists, and necklaces made of palms and flowers to their attire. Two groups of women performed. Older women in red skirts and white tops and younger women with black skirts and white tops.

©Jean Janssen They began by presenting each of us with one of the palm and flower necklaces.

Although we dress casually around the resort, in the Fijian culture women usually wear a wrapped longer skirt and cover their shoulders. Men wear a sulu, a black skirt with pockets for formal occasions. The version without pockets is called a sarong. They began their performance by presenting each of us one of the palm necklaces.

©Jean Janssen

Their song and dance was raw and energetic. They laughed when they made mistakes and at times were disorganized which only added to the beauty and sincerity of the performance. Periodically, they pulled us up to dance with them. The men accompanied the women on musical instruments. We all enjoyed it.

Two of the young women had their small daughters with them. The little girls enjoyed joining in the song and dance. One of the most precious moments was when one of the little girls decided she was going to sit next to my roomie and dive buddy Caitlin. Adorable.

At the conclusion of their performance, they sang a lovely heartfelt song in Fijian and then in English and presented each of us with one of their lovely headdresses. All of the female performers gave each of us a personal greeting taking our hands in theirs and sharing hugs and kisses. It was a sincere and moving gesture.

After they took their leave, returning by boat in the dark to their village, we went inside for our dinner. One of our boat captains, Seo, lives in the village and played guitar during the performance. He said they are used to traveling in the water at night. We are almost at the full moon so there is extra illumination.

The dinner was wonderful. The meat and vegetables cooked in the lovo were very tender and had a smoky flavor. It was a magical night.

The headdress given to me was in one of my favorite colors. I enjoyed wearing flowers all week long.

I was fortunate to receive a headdress in one of my favorite colors and enjoyed wearing flowers in my hair throughout the week.

Posted in international, Scuba diving, Uncategorized | Tagged Fiji, Lovo, Sau Bay, scuba diving | Leave a comment

The Tuvaluans of Kioa in the Fijian Islands

Posted on February 15, 2017 by travelbynatasha

After two full days of diving in Fiji, we are reducing our number of dives for the day so that we can visit a neighboring island. One of the things I love about traveling with Oceanic Ventures is that they always include cultural aspects to their trips. Although within Fiji, the island of Kioa was purchased by people from the Viatupu atoll in Tuvalu.

A nudibranch (commonly referred to as a sea slug) in Fijian waters. Most of the nudibranchs we saw, in a variety of colors, were no more than two inches long. Photo ©Zaide Scheib.

The white wall dive site, Fiji

Both yesterday’s diving and this morning’s held many special treats. We visited the white wall, one of the top sites in the world. You submerge to below 80 feet through a passthrough to reach the coral wall filled with white coral that looks like neon blue up close. For the coral to remain open, the area needs a strong current. We were moving pretty swiftly along the wall. It was not an easy dive and one best done with a local guide who can show you the passthroughs in the coral wall. The white wall is usually done as the first dive of the day due to depth.

Some of the other highlights from my dives included the blue ribbon eel (the most hoped for sighting for at least one of our group members), nudibranchs, a pufferfish in a mango color, anemones in a variety of colors, a free swimming green moray eel (usually only seen popping their head out of their cave), a hopping scorpion fish (a well-camouflaged fish normally not seen moving), and a Leaf Fish (rare).

We returned to the resort after for lunch and showers. In the late afternoon who took the dive boat over to Kioa.

©Jean Janssen An outrigger on Kioa Island, a traditional craft still used by the islanders today. When made from softwoods, the boat lasts about 4 years and is then replaced. The hardwoods are generally saved for building construction. Outriggers made from hardwood (you see some logs in the picture) last about 10 years.

In 1946, a Fijian island-that had been previously bestowed on a single individual by a Fijian chief-went up for auction. That June, people from a Tuvaluan atoll purchased the private island for 3,200 pounds; in 1947 the first group of 35 colonists came to the island of Kioa. A second group of 235 came in the 1950s. Today there are between 500 and 600 Tuvaluans on Kioa due to population growth. Additional tribal members are off island studying. In 2005, the Fijian government granted the people of Kioa citizenship certificates entitling them to rural assistance.

The original colonists came due to overcrowding on the atoll. Today the Tuvaluan people suffer much as the people of the Maldives do. Their island is sinking. In 2006 a Tuvaluan-born scientist suggested that the entire population of Tuvalu be relocated to Kioa as climate refugees to preserve their language and culture. While previously under consideration, in 2013 the Tuvaluan Prime Minister stated that this option “should never be under consideration(.)”

©Jean Janssen When we arrived at Kioa, the uniformed children were just getting out of school. Some played in the lawn area with colorful umbrellas.

We originally thought we would be entertained with cultural dances. However, when we arrived we were told that there had been a miscommunication. In spite of the miscommunication, many of the women (some with children) came and filled the beach pavilion with baskets, jewelry, carvings, and woven mats. We were invited to shop their handicrafts. They were simple, but lovingly made. After we made our purchases, a tribal council member appeared to give us a tour of the village. I got the distinct impression that he had waited to see if we bought anything before he appeared.

There are no chiefs, but a elected chairman who serves a two year term; there is no questioning the decision of the Chairman. The islanders survive on sales of their handicrafts and fish. Our host back at the resort told us that their handicrafts are well known for their quality. The Tuvaluans of Kioa lead a basic life. We walked through village with a clinic at one end and the school at the other.

©Jean Janssen On the island of Kioa, the islanders make a wine from the sap of the palm tree. At the top of the photo, you see the sap being collected.

There is a kinder school and a primary school on the island. After primary school, children go to boarding school on the Fijian island of Tavenui and come home for the weekend. Their primary language is their own, but they also learn Fijian and English in school. There ancestry is Polynesian, not Melanesian like the Fijians.

Today, there is a lot of intermarriage between Indians, Fijians, and Kioan islanders. However, children of these intermarriages often go to live with one set of grandparents. It is a patriarchal society. Many of the educated Tuvaluians chose not to return to Kioa; quite a few work in the tourist industry. The islanders themselves do not like tourists.

After returning back to the resort, we hung out in the lounge and I visited with our host and the dining room manager about their impressions of the Tuvaluans. We closed the day with another candlelit dinner.

Posted in international, Scuba diving | Tagged Fiji, Kioa, scuba diving, Tuvalu, Tuvaluans | Leave a comment

First Day of Diving in Fiji

Posted on February 14, 2017 by travelbynatasha

After a big breakfast, it is time for diving Fiji style. Unfortunately it looks like we will have rain all week, but that does not stop the diving. It is always better with full sun for illumination purposes, but unless there is a storm or the surface is so choppy that it is impossible to get everyone off or back on the boat, we can still dive. The sound of the rain on the water is actually quite nice from below the surface.

Everything takes a little longer the first day as we are getting situated on the dive boat. It is also when we check out our equipment or get used to rented equipment, so the dive master will generally pick easier dives. Before the first dive, I noticed that one of my fin straps was torn-something to watch out for. Underwater I realized by back up computer, that I had just serviced and gotten a new battery for, was set in metric. My extra fin strap and computer manual were two of the things that got left at home due to weight concerns.

I had forgotten how beautiful Fiji diving is. The fish and coral or plentiful with just a few patches of dead coral where the typhoon went through. Purple and orange are certainly the theme colors and there was every variety of angelfish you can think of. We started at Nuku (sand) reef with an hour dive; it was easy diving to settle in. Near the end I felt my fin go loose and reached down and grabbed it before I lost it. The strap had ripped through completely.

Two of my dive buddies have replacement straps back at the room, but that won’t help me right now. Zaide took colorful tie wraps from Jane and secured the fin. In the process we realized that the other one was in the same shape and secured that one too. Z also went down with me and helped put the fins on and off on the second dive so we could treat them delicately. We had a great second dive with a sea turtle, a shark, and giant clam. The sides of these giant clams reminded me of stacked Lays potato chips.

After the first dive, we were taken to what we have dubbed “Pee Pee Beach”. There is no head (toilet) on the boat so the water off of Pee Pee Beach became our bathroom. While the staff changed our cylinders on the boat, we took advantage of “the facilities” and enjoyed cookies and coffee or hot tea on the beach. Just wish there were chairs and maybe a tent or umbrella. We returned to the Beach for lunch after our second dive. Unfortunately, it was raining. It was the first time in my life I ever stood in the rain eating my lunch.

We take an hour surface interval between dives to “off gas”. After our second surface interval and lunch at the Beach, we went out for our third and final dive of the day. With the exception of Randall, who is being certified and doing his first open water dives, the rest of us are pretty experienced divers. In fact, all of us have at least Master Diver status. In reference to my comments, the significance of that is that we are able to stay under longer on a single tank. The more you dive, the more control you gain over your breathing and hence your air consumption. Most of our dives were an hour long. A new diver is lucky to get in 20-30 minutes on a tank. We were coming up after roughly an hour; I often still had 1/3 or more of my tank full of air. You come up when you, your buddy, or the first member of your group (if all surfacing together) reaches a air pressure point where you have about 15-20% of the air still left in your tank (500-700 psi). We also take a 3 to 5 minute “safety stop” between 15 and 20 feet below the surface. The safety stop is a precautionary measure to prevent decompression sickness done on the final assent. It is mandatory for deep dives.

I jumped in for my third dive. Z was again willing to help me with those “repaired” fin straps. Unfortunately, what worked for the second dive, didn’t work for the third. The fin straps broke when we tried to put them on. Without the spare gear, I had to go back to the boat and wait this one out. I stayed with the boat captain, enjoyed the scenery, and watched for bubbles (which is how the captain tells where the divers are).

Back at the resort, I hunted down spare fin straps for tomorrow’s diving and worked on my log book, recording the names of the dive sites and what I had seen. The log book is also a good place to record things like air consumption, water conditions, and the amount of weight used. The logs are useful as a resource for future dives and as a record of progress.

The cabins at Sau Bay are designed to collect the sea breeze. Air conditioning is optional and comes at a fee. It is a little warm to hang around in the cottages during the afternoon so most of us hang out in the Lounge where the breeze is at a premium. I am usually worn out after a day of diving, but hiking and kayaking are also available. There are some wonderful hammocks too.

Each room at Sau Bay Resort includes a porch with a table and chairs. There are also lounge chairs for each room. ©Jean Janssen

The resort actually features 3 kinds of accommodations. The original structure, now modified and closest to the lounge, has a large porch and two connecting rooms that can be separated. Each features its own bathroom. Next to that structure (with foliage in-between rooms to give some measure of privacy) are three cottages with twins or beds that can be put together for a couple. Each has its own porch, dressing area, bar area, and full bathroom. There is also an outdoor shower with a secondary entrance. I am staying in one of these cabins and love the outdoor shower!

One of the owners is from South Africa and the third accommodate type is reminiscent of the luxury safari tents of that region. Susan is staying in the large tent and she gave me an afternoon tour. It has a huge bathroom and sunken tub, sleeping area, and living area. It also has a fabulous porch. Unlike the other accommodations, the tent can not be air conditioned but sits up higher to collect even more breeze. It is reached by a staircase near the spa.

I look forward to tomorrow’s diving with fin straps and an upcoming tour of a neighboring island. Greetings from Fiji.

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Fiji for Diving

Posted on February 13, 2017 by travelbynatasha

I am headed to the South Pacific for scuba diving in Fiji. This is my second visit to this beautiful series of Islands. Both visits have included land and underwater excursions organized by Oceanic Ventures, Inc. Boris joined me on the first visit when we were based on Taveuni Island. Our location on that island was better suited for non-diver activities than the remote resort we are staying at. Boris loved his hikes to area villages and meeting their chiefs. These were definitely the highlight of his trip.

Getting to our resort on Vanua Levu Island (which means “big land”), the second largest island in Fiji, includes three plane rides and boat. Although there is an airport in Savusavu on Vanua Levu, we are flying into Taveuni, the third largest island. It is closer to our resort to fly in there and take a boat to our resort at Sau Bay. The resort is not reachable over land. There are over 700 islands in Fiji, including three large islands where most of the population lives. In fact, 75% of Fiji’s population lives on the coast of its largest island, Vito Levu. Most of the large resorts, the capital and major cruise port of Suva, and the international airport at Nadi are also located on Vito Levu.

It has been a year and a half since my last dive trip; I generally like to dive at least twice a year to keep my skills up (and because I love it). This trip is also special because we are celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the first diving family I met. Rocky and their daughter Stevlana took Scuba Rangers together. Scuba Rangers is a pre-certification class for children to introduce them to scuba diving. Since then, all of us have been certified and have dove together on several occasions.

Jane and Igor (the anniversary couple) picked me up for the drive to the airport. We will fly United to LAX, meet up with the rest of our group, and then take the long flight over the Pacific to Nadi, Fiji. I am used to my three 70-pound bag international limitation on United and wasn’t prepared when I found out just a few days ago that I had to pack all my dive equipment and clothing in one 50-pound bag. They also weigh the carry-ons, so I can’t really hide anything there. The hardest part of packing was figuring what to eliminate.

For ease and safety reasons, I take and dive with all my own equipment except for weights and cylinders. I also like having a new swimsuit each day. That is not going to happen, so I guess I will be doing some washing while there. The Sau Bay Resort is small and our group will be using all the rooms so I really don’t need to be particular with what I wear. You really can’t look worse than you do when you come up after a dive so these people will see me in that far less than glamorous state. Even marginal effort will have me looking better at dinner.

After landing in Los Angeles, we had to transfer to the International Terminal. We had a snack while waiting for the Fiji Air flight check-in to open. Since there is only one flight a day, we didn’t want to risk a miss and came in early. Most of group is traveling together from Houston, but we have two additional divers joining us at LAX. One is Susan who now lives in New Hampshire, but who caught the diving bug while living in Houston. She was happy to leave the snow behind and join us. The other diver is Randall who is flying in from Chicago. He is the father of one of our Houston divers. (You will see the photography of his daughter, Zaide Scheib, all taken on this trip, throughout these Fiji trip posts. I didn’t take my underwater camera for weight reasons.) At 75, Randall is just now getting certified and will complete his open water dives for certification in Fiji. What a fabulous gesture on his part to go through this process to share something his daughter loves.

After check-in, and with everyone now together, we stopped at a Steak restaurant beyond security for a nice final meal before boarding. I actually had a fancy burger, something I know I will miss while abroad. I really don’t like airline food and am happy to be full and skip the meals on board the plane. I was happy to take a pill and sleep about 5 of the 10+ hours of the flight. I can’t sleep on a plane without that sort of assistance.

After landing in Nadi, we had to clear immigration and customs and make a quick move over to the domestic terminal for our third flight to Matei, Taveuni. They weigh you with your carry-on bag to determine weight distribution on the plane and give you a seating assignment. Fortunately, the ticket agent just writes down your weight and doesn’t say it out loud. We have the first morning flight out of Nadi for Taveuni and were all but three of the passengers on the plane.

The plane, with its unpressurized cabin, gives you a fabulous view of the island with its low flight pattern. We arrived in Matei to learn that all the luggage did not make the plane due to weight limitations; this doesn’t bode well for our afternoon checkout dive. They told us the remaining luggage would all be on the next flight. I wasn’t too surprised. We went through this the last time we came to Tavenui.

The “airport” at Matei is little more than a crude shelter. However, there was a small gift counter if you wanted a snack or last minute souvenir. After sorting out the luggage situation, we boarded two vans. One van had the bags that made the flight in it; the other van carried the passengers. From the small airport, we took the 30+ minute ride to the dock and waited for the resort boat. It must have been a “Kava Night” last night because the guys were a little late to get us.

After boarding the dive boat from the resort, we rode over to the Sau Bay Resort on Vanua Levu. We were greeted in song by the resort staff on the beach and were handed a coconut with a welcome drink inside. The resort has no dock because of the vast difference in the water line due to the shifting dives. We had a “wet landing” meaning you rolled up your pant legs, put on your flip-flops, and stepped into the water to reach the resort. Staff brought all the bags ashore.

We had a orientation in the lounge area, were shown our cabins, and then returned to the lounge/dining area for a wonderful breakfast. Since most of our dive gear wasn’t expected to be here until sometime after 3 pm and the seas were really choppy, the group decided to forego the checkout dive and just nap and relax in the afternoon.

I grabbed a shower and only after shampooing my hair did I realize that my comb was packed in my checked bag that had not yet arrived. Woops. I had to just clip my hair up for lunch. In the afternoon, I took the opportunity to get a 90-minute massage. The spa is open-air and you enjoy the sound of waves, the wind blowing across your body, and the best body oil you have ever smelled. Bera eased by travel stiffness and helped the swelling in my feet. At the end of the massage, she braided and arranged my hair. The rat’s nest on the top of my head was tamed.

We had a lovely candlelit dinner to end our day. Tomorrow is an early start for our first day of diving.

Posted in international, Scuba diving | Tagged Fiji, Oceanic Ventures, Sau Bay, scuba diving | Leave a comment