11-21 Nov 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 80° F" and "Sunrise: 5:56 AM." 

Don woke at 5:35 am but went back to sleep until 6:30 (MT was already up).

Room Service Breakfast came at 7:30.

Around 9 am, we tried to run on the track on Deck 2, then walked due to wind and slick deck. Finally, we went up to  Deck 9 track to finish our walk.

When we got back to our stateroom, there was another menu for The Restaurant outside our door. We had filled out one the night before but had forgotten to turn it in before 9 am, as directed. So MT sent to The Restaurant, where they explained that there had been changes to the menu and had MT circle our choices on the new one.

At 11:00, we went to the Theater (Deck 2) for the Gest Lecture "Colonialism, Cloth and Conversion in French Polynesia," which would discuss how religion and westernization affected dress in Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora.

At 12:15, we stayed in the Theater for the "Finish the Lyrics - 1970s" contest with Assistant Cruise Director Jonny. We teamed up with two other couples, but didn't win.

Tuesday, November 21, ‎2023, 12:16 PM - Our team for "Finish the Lyrics - 1970s."

At 1:00 pm, we went to the Pool Grill (Deck 7) for our favorite lunch of seared ahi tuna.

Then we went to the World Café (Deck 7) for gelato and a cookie each.

At 3:00, MT wanted to go to Torshavn (Deck 2) for the "Viking Star Choir" singalong with Cruise Director Katy.

At 4:15, Don wanted to go to the Theater (Deck 2) for the Guest Lecture "Bounty Mutineers and Justice," which told how the British Navy captured Captain Bligh and his men and held a court martial.

We started the movie "Walter Mitty" om the TV in our room and finished it after dinner.

At 6:30, we went to The Restaurant (Deck 2) for our pre-ordered dinner. The following is the menu we had filled out the night before. Presumably, MT had circled the same choices on the revised menu we had received this morning.

Monday, November 20, ‎2023, 9:32 PM - Viking Star: Don's menu for pre-ordering dinner for November 21. From the front side, he ordered only Fresh Fruit Plate (melon, pineapple & berries) under Deserts, but put an arrow at bottom right for "more options at the back."

9:33 PM - Viking Star: close-up of front side of Don's menu for November 21, showing that he ordered only Fresh Fruit Plate (melon, pineapple & berries) under Deserts. 

9:34 PM - Viking Star: Don's menu for pre-ordering dinner at The Restaurant on November 21. From the back side, he ordered under Starters, Tomato Bisque (vegan cream soup & croutons); under Main Courses, Risotto ai Funghi Porcini (porcini mushroom risotto, with Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese from the Parma-Reggio region, i.e. the two provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia in Italy).

9:33 PM - Viking Star: close-up of back side of Don's menu, showing that he ordered under Starters, Tomato Bisque (vegan cream soup & croutons); under Main Courses, Risotto ai Funghi Porcini (porcini mushroom risotto, with Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan cheese from the Parma-Reggio region, i.e. the two provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia in Italy).