June 4, 2024
Time to roll the dice!
Our ship embarking date and sail has again shifted out, due to the DNV inspections. Late yesterday, we were informed they have to make one additional retrofit on the Ship propellers in dry dock and this work will take 10 days; therefore, our new boarding and departure date is June 15th out of Belfast. This propellor change had been previously grandfathered by DNV with prior ship owners. It was due to be done at our next maintenance stop and thankfully the parts had already been on order. Villa Vie filed a grievance with DNV regarding this, but bottom line is, we have to do now. Villa Vie ownership has been fantastic in communicating all this to us. Their staff has scrambled today to come up with a contingency plan to give us all an alternate to camping out in Belfast. There are roughly 300 passengers waiting to embark, most are in Belfast now and others like me are scattered around.
My choices at this point are:
1) Keep the rental car I have from Belfast and continue to stay in Cork at Edel's or visit more of Ireland. Edel'scommitments in Cork start again on 6/8. But I could stay here until 6/15.2) Return to Belfast, swap out some of my luggage, turn in rental car and go on trip to Canary Islands with fellowpassengers in waiting, Villa Vie is working out all-inclusive details now.3) Return rental car in Belfast or Dublin and get a flight to Hamburg Germany and go visit my friend Tom who was supposed to join me on cruise on 6//16 in Hamburg. Villa Vie has yet to announce where we will be sailing on the new embarking date of 6/15, so not sure if my planned catch up with Tom will be impacted.Right now, I am leaning to option #2. The Canary Islands will be more beach like weather / locale, and it will be good to start connecting with the other passengers. Also, I don't expect any real beach spots in the planned itinerary much before late September and everyone knows I am a beach lover at heart. They have signed me up for all-inclusive now, for planning purposes, but I am still reserving option 3 if it looks like Hamburg, Germany is being removed from itinerary.Suppose to have more details later tonight or tomorrow.So for now, stay tuned!
R
We covered a lot of the Island on this tour. Spot #3 was a scenic overlook of the coastline looking out at some of their pristine beaches and #4 was further along the coastline, at a rock outcropping known for it's phallic formations.
Sherrie, Sarah, Bob and I took a 1/2 day tour of Island to take in the major cultural spots. They picked us up at the Hotel and we had 7 stops.
Thailand! For the longest time I have associated it with the land of yummy Pad Thai and Chicken Satay with peanut sauce ! Now, I can add a nation who embrace color - their Temples & Shrines that dot the landscape are stunning. They are influenced and have welcomed many traditions from China and India along with their own SE Asia native culture. Buddhism is practiced by over 90% of the country. Social Harmony around respect, self control and consideration of others feeling is their mantra. All we met were so pleasant and truly thankful for any kindness you extend to them.