11-12 Sailing the Pacific

 

This post is based primarily on Don's notes, occasionally supplemented with MT's notes from our cruise in November-December 2023. When information from other sources is added—for further explanation to readers or to satisfy our own curiosity—that is set off in a text box (as this one).
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.

The Viking Daily newsletter showed today's weather forecast as "Cloudy, 66° F" and "Sunrise: 5:57 AM."

We woke around 5:50 am.

Around 7 am, we went to the World Café (Deck 2) for breakfast. We shared a table with Janette (Jan) and her husband.

MT Sunday, November 12, ‎2023, 9:02 AM - Viking Star: TV screen in our stateroom, showing our progress across the Pacific from Los Angeles.

At 9:15-10:20, we walked around the track (Deck 2).

MT 9:23 AM - Viking Star: view, from track (Deck 2) of waves and gray sky.

MT 9:27 AM - Viking Star: view, from track (Deck 2) of wake.

From 10:20 to 10:35,Don went to the Fitness Center (Deck 1) for neck exercises.

Then we sent dress shirts and blouses to Laundry for pressing (free with Penthouse Veranda).

At 11:30, we went to Mamsen's restaurant (Deck 7) for split pea soup.

We had intended to go to the Pool Grill (Deck 7) for our seared ahi tuna and onion marmalade lunch, but instead we stayed in the Explorers' Lounge (adjacent to Mamsen's on Deck 7) for the Team Trivia, which started at 12:15. Our team got 12 of the 15 questions correct, but 14 won.

Then we went to the World Café (Deck 7) for gelato, which was available in their lunch buffet from 12:00-2:30 every day.

At 4:15, we went to the Star Theater (Deck 2) for the Port Talk - Kahului, Maui (although we would not get there until November 17).

MT 4:40 PM - Viking Star: Star Theater - picture of rainbow eucalyptus trees during Port Talk (mild telephoto 51 mm).

 

The Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) tree is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, but is also widely planted in many other countries, including in Hawai’i. It is the only eucalyptus species that usually lives in rainforest. It is a tall, fast-growing tree with smooth, orange-tinted bark that sheds in strips, revealing streaks of pale green, red, orange, gray, and purplish brown. The special epithet deglupta is a Latin word meaning “peeled off.’

At 6 om, we went to Manfredi's Italian Restaurant (Deck 1) for dinner.

At 7:15-8:00, we went to the Explorers' Lounge (Deck 7) for "Explorers' Sounds" with resident pianist Simina.