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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 16, 2020 10:00 PM Arriving beautiful PagoPago - SECOND March 16th
They (the crew) are also making mistakes estimating navigation time. The ocean is calm and blue. We should be at noon in Pago Pago, but we saw it only at 3 pm. The view was fantastic and all the passengers were on the open decks regardless of the strong sun.
Being here years ago for the first time I was arriving by the small plane from Western Samoa. Now I know that view from the ship is much nicer...
Pago Pago is located in the deep bay surrounded by the green mountains - it is very good storm shelter for the ships.
We will stay here all night bunkering. Great evening in the port, but they do not allowed us to go ashore...
What next?
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Mar 15, 2020 10:00 PM From the deck of Flying Dutchman... March 16th first
Yesterday at 10.00 am our captain announced that we will be disembarking on Fiji in the port of Lautoka - just to be transferred quickly to the NAN airport ant fly home. My fellow passengers we running to the few available computers to book the flights. Not me...
It was right choice - at 20.00 captain announced that government of Fiji changed their mind and we are not allowed to dock in Lautoka...
It is Monday morning now. I see that we are still sailing, but nobody knows where to (except maybe the people on the isolated bridge).
I am OK, healthy and fine.. :)
Later: new news: We are sailing to Pago Pago, American Samoa - but only to take more fuel. Oh, PagoPago - I was there - at least there will be great panorama of spectacular port! Full of fuel we will PROBABLY sail to Honolulu...
We will see...
Tonight we will cross again the date line so tomorrow we will have again March 16th!
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Mar 14, 2020 10:00 PM New Zealand does not want our ship!
Yesterday at 6 pm our captain announced that New Zealand is introducing new law and since midnight will close the ports.
It means that we are not allowed to go to Tauranga.
Nobody knows what we will do now.
Fortunately our ship has enough fuel, water and food to survive few days at sea.
We are feeling like on the "Flying Dutchman"
What next - who knows...
Keep the fingers crossed, dear friends!
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Mar 13, 2020 10:00 PM Fiji does not want our ship!
In the night we crossed again the date line. So there was no March 13th this year!
In the morning the captain informed that Fiji closed the ports -
for now trhe only port who is read to accept our ship is Tauranga in New Zealand, where we should be on March 17th in the morning. Then everybody can go where he wants...
Do you have any idea? :)
Greetings from the deck of unwanted ship dear Friends!
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Mar 13, 2020 10:00 PM Fiji does not want our ship!
In the night we crossed again the date line. So there was no March 13th this year!
In the morning the captain informed that Fiji closed the ports -
for now the only port who is read to accept our ship is Tauranga in New Zealand, where we should be on March 17th in the morning. Then everybody can go where he wants...
Do you have any idea? :)
Greetings from the deck of unwanted ship dear Friends!
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Mar 11, 2020 10:00 PM First day at sea - relaxing
We are heading east - to French Polynesia. on March 15th we should be on Bora Bora
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Mar 11, 2020 10:00 PM Date line crossing. Second day at sea - again March 12th
In the night we crossed the dateline. Second Thursday March 12th started.
At 1 pm we got from the captain tragic message: French Polynesia closed all ports for the cruise ships.
We are turning back to Suva - Fiji. Nobody knows what will be later...
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Mar 10, 2020 10:00 PM Suva - last day on Fiji
Imagine - last time I was here some 20 years ago. Nowadays Suva, the capital of Fiji has more high buildings, but preserved also the colonial charm. It is a must to stroll Victoria Parade with High Court and State House visible from the guarded gate. Fancy Grand Pacific Hotel - once ruined now is nicely restored and offers you lunches for 25 FJD - once you spend this money you have allowance of 2 hours wifi connection (I recommend rather to go to local mobile operator and get for 7 FJD SIM card with 7GB for 7 days)
The market is just opposite the port with piles of tapioca, pineapples and bananas. Private operators offer 3 hours tours for just 20 USD at the port gate.
I spent the hot day refreshing memories, meeting people and visiting again interesting Fiji Museum (entry 10 FJD, no discounts) with traditional weapons of brave Fijians...
The band of Fijian police in the white skirts will play for us for goodbye in the port at 4.30 pm. In the evening we will sail to French Polynesia so do not be surprise that during next days there will be no message from me. AHOY!
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Mar 10, 2020 10:00 PM Meeting friendly Fijians
With lady -sergeant from Fiji Police Band...
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Mar 09, 2020 10:00 PM Dravuni Island - South Seas paradise
In the morning we were anchoring some 1 km off the coast of Dravuni Island. Then ship's tenders took us to the shore. The island belong to Fiji. It is a part of Kadavu group (other island of this group are visible around).
I was ashore already at 9 am. We landed at the little jetty on the beach - near the only village where all 140 inhabitants of the island live. They were waiting under the palms offering their products (coconuts 3 USD each), shell neckleces, shirts...
For me it was much more interesting to visit little primary school and then follow the muddy path climbing to the top of the island's highest peak. Not easy climb after night rain. But I managed! The view from the summit was nice, but not breathtaking... Unfortunately the rain came when I was on the top. No shelter there so I returned completely wet.
Bach on the ship I changed clothes and returned to enjoy the motorboat ride around the island (cost - 10 FJD) the lovely beachand the music.
What a lovely place! The beach near the settlement was crowded with 1400 passengers landed today, but on the opposite side of the island there are also nice, empty beaches...
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