The lowest price was for an Inside Guarantee, meaning we were guaranteed at least an inside cabin but didn't know which one we'd be assigned. While I might have given a moment's thought to the possibility of ending up in a cabin on the very front the ship (bouncy), it was a calculated risk I was willing to take. On July 27 (quite early, actually, as many Guarantees are not assigned until just prior to sailing) we were notified that we were assigned an oceanview cabin on Deck 4, midship, just one deck above our cabin last year. A stable, centrally located cabin...it was a happy day at our house, and we immediately had our reservation marked No Upgrade. Sure, we might have eventually been upgraded again to a balcony cabin, but it also might have been a balcony cabin in an undesirable location. No, we were staying put.
While the cabin is identical to the one we had last year, we'll have a nice large window to brighten up our room in lieu of a cute little porthole. I found a YouTube video about this type of cabin, even recorded when the ship was in Papeete.
As for where we're going...well, obviously, one can't sail from Vancouver to French Polynesia without encountering a lot of sea days. Once again, we'll have five in a row before Hawaii, and then an additional five in a row before reaching our first French Polynesian island of Raiatea. But with six Hawaiian ports and four French Polynesian ports to enjoy, I know I'll survive, and may even relish the opportunity to kick back and relax after several busy weeks at home. And I've been abstemious for months this summer, healing my liver after the party that was our month on the Caribbean Princess last winter. ;-) Maybe I'll splurge on a wine package again.
The first cruise is 9-nights long, and ends in Honolulu; cruise #2 begins that same evening and is 12-nights long. Because our first 21 nights are actually comprised of two cruises, we'll be repeating two Hawaiian ports (Maui and Hilo) on the second segment.
The first cruise is 9-nights long, and ends in Honolulu; cruise #2 begins that same evening and is 12-nights long. Because our first 21 nights are actually comprised of two cruises, we'll be repeating two Hawaiian ports (Maui and Hilo) on the second segment.
This map of our itinerary was correct when we booked our cruise, but our itinerary has since been changed. I suspect the reason is that Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas is leaving Vancouver four days after we do on a transpacific cruise bound for Sydney, Australia, and will be stopping at Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti on the way. The French Polynesian port order had to be rearranged to avoid that surprisingly familiar phenomenon we also encountered last year: port congestion, where two ships would be at the same island on the same day. On St. Thomas, that's called a slow day, but these small islands simply aren't equipped to handle that many passengers at the same time. So we've added Huahine and eliminated the overnight in Papeete; it's actually a wonderful alternative, and provides those passengers not staying on for the first French Polynesian cruise the opportunity to see one additional island.
This calendar, I think, offers the more accurate depiction of our revised itinerary.
We are living a bit dangerously by flying to Vancouver this morning. We wouldn't normally be so insouciant about timing our arrival that closely to the ship's departure, but, once again, we have booked our flight through Princess EZ Air, with its "Next Port Guarantee". If we miss the ship, Princess will provide us transport to the ship's first port of Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Leaving as early as we are this year, we really did not want to spend even a single night in a hotel pre-cruise. Besides, it is a bit of a novelty to wake up in our own bed knowing we'll be sleeping on a ship that very night (and lucky are those who can do that all the time!). Fingers crossed that our luggage arrives when we do, but we're not even stressing that. When it comes to potential travel snafus, we have mellowed a great deal over the years.
And, finally, here are a few websites you might enjoy following as we make our way first west to Hawaii, then south to French Polynesia.
Our weather at home has been hot, really hot, and I'm actually looking forward to the chill Vancouver temps that are predicted and those that we'll inevitably encounter en route to Hawaii. Cruising to escape the heat? Who'd've thunk it?