Feb 17, 2017, Friday, at sea heading for Nuku ‘Alofa, Tonga

Feb 17, 2017, Friday, at sea heading for Nuku ‘Alofa, Tonga

A semi-slow sea day, speakers included Clare Balding doing a question and answer session in the theatre. Later in the day, Pip Burley did another “The Golden Age of Song” this time about Irving Berlin. The evening show was a New Zealand tenor by the name of Ben Makisi. He is of Polynesian heritage and a very large man. He is also a terrific singer.
Feb 18, 2017, Saturday, Nuku ‘Alofa, Tonga
At about 8:00 in the morning, the wind was brisk, and the captain was headed for the pier. We got close to the pier and then we pulled away. The Captain came on the speaker and said that with the wind, he could not keep the wind from blowing us into the pier. The bow thrusters and rear propeller were not strong enough to push us away from the pier upon departure. Also, I don’t think this port has any large tugs to help us if the wind got stronger. Long story short, we are skipping Tonga and heading for Auckland, New Zealand.
Sandra and I have been in a similar situation in Prince Edward Island, Canada. We missed that stop for the exact same reason.
The daily program was quickly rearranged and we had another quiet day at sea. Our evening show was a speciality act, Marcus Winter doing sand paintings. Telling stories with only sand and light. He sets up a glass sheet on a light table. Throws some sand on the glass and works a design, or picture using his hands. Light from below shines through the picture and onto a video camera which is fed to a projector and on to the ships movie screen. Some of his work is unbelievable.
 
Feb 19, 2017, Sunday, en route to Auckland, New Zealand
A quiet Sunday at sea. Our Captain, Aseem Hashmi did a question and answer session with our Entertainment Manager, Paul O’Loughlin. The Captain started off in the airline industry as a cadet pilot. During the next economic downturn, he was bumped back to cabin crew. The Captain then decided to change careers and moved to ships. All very interesting.
The Insight lecture was another presentation by Pip Burley, “The Golden Age of Song- Cole Porter”. Another very good story of his life.
Tomorrow we dock in Auckland, New Zealand