Wednesday, March 11

It's Day 4 of then cruise and we're in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean on the way to Luganville.  Before we boarded on Sunday we were informed that the itinerary had changed and we would not be going to Fiji after all.  There is a cyclone developing and it might be dangerous to head in that direction.  Instead, we will be calling in to ... Newcastle.

Yes, Newcastle, the Pearl of the South.  No matter, we weren't getting off anyway.  And most people made the same decision.  

The ship is great, as we expected.  We have a comfortable cabin and I've managed to plug our hard drive into the TV so we can watch some of our series or a movie if we're bored.  What a life!

Last night was a Formal night but very few people went to the trouble.  It's disappointing when you make the effort to get dressed up, the waiters in the dining room look terrific, but some yobs turn up for dinner in shorts and thongs with no sign of embarrassment.  And, of course, they can't be turned away.  

We met the waiter who served us on this cruise last year, and he remembered us. It turns out he is from Paete in the Philippines and we know his uncle well.  100 million Filipinos in the world and we have that connection.