We never tire of this amazing view of Hideaways Beach and Hanalei Bay. |
If it was a cruise, leaving two weeks or more of our lives with a hole in our schedule, this could be costly in trying to fill the period of time. Besides, we often use cruises as a means of getting us to one location or another resulting in added airfare expenses.
The combination of colors from the sea and the vegetation is always breathtaking. |
Yesterday, we discovered that our booked cruise was cancelled, scheduled from Sydney to Perth on April 12, 2016 to April 28, 2016, for a total of 16 nights.
Tom had been reading comments online at cruisecritic.com about this possibility. We were never notified directly nor were our online friends, Staci and Glenn who were also scheduled on this cruise, whom we were looking forward to meeting in person.
Beautiful orchids. |
In any case, it was cancelled, as we've discovered due to it being booked in its entirety for a private charter. If a wealthy individual or company chose to book an entire ship for an event, someone would be inconvenienced. They often begin to book as soon as their posted at time two years out. In this case, the inconvenience lies with us. Good thing we didn't wait any longer to find out.
Remote Hideaways Beach, accessible only by a steep partially paved path. |
In reviewing the three options, only one offered dates similar to the cancelled cruise, the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, sailing on April 16, 2016 to April 30, 2016, for a total of 14 nights, the price slightly less for the shorter by two night cruise.
Another portion of Hideaways Beach. |
Sure, we could call RC and make some noise. Then again, what's the point? Plus, that's just not our style. In reality, we're being compensated and for most of us, kinking a cruise a few days, a year in advance for $200 may not seem to be such a big deal. Although, we wonder how long they'd have waited before telling the passengers?
Zooming in, we spotted these sunbathers on the beach. Looks like the guy standing is adjusting his snorkel. |
In all, this could cost us for six nights somewhere at an average cost of $200 per night, including housing and meals. Its the nature of the beast. We budgeted for scenarios such as this and have seldom had to tap into that. Who's to complain? Instead it becomes a matter of figuring it out on both ends and biting the bullet for the added costs.
Future lily pods. They almost look like apples and are almost as large. |
Cancelled cruise itinerary:
Royal Caribbean - Explorer of the Seas, departs 4/12/16, 16 nights
Tue Apr 12 Sydney, Australia 9:00pm
Wed Apr 13 At Sea
Thu Apr 14 At Sea
Fri Apr 15 Wellington, New Zealand 3:00pm 10:00pm
Sat Apr 16 Picton, New Zealand 8:00am 6:00pm
Sun Apr 17 At Sea
Mon Apr 18 Dunedin (Port Chalmers), New Zealand 7:00am 5:00pm
Tue Apr 19 Dusky Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 9:00am 10:00am
Tue Apr 19 Doubtful Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) Noon 1:00pm
Tue Apr 19 Milford Sound, New Zealand (Cruising) 4:30pm 5:30pm
Wed Apr 20 At Sea
Thu Apr 21 At Sea
Fri Apr 22 Melbourne, Australia 8:00am 7:00pm
Sat Apr 23 At Sea
Sun Apr 24 Adelaide, Australia 8:00am 7:00pm
Mon Apr 25 At Sea
Tue Apr 26 At Sea
Wed Apr 27 At Sea
Thu Apr 28 Perth (Fremantle), Australia 6:00am
New cruise itinerary:
Royal Caribbean - Voyager of the Seas, departs 4/16/16, 14 nights
Sat Apr 16 Sydney, Australia 5:00pm
Sun Apr 17 At Sea
Mon Apr 18 Brisbane, Australia 7:00am 4:00pm
Tue Apr 19 At Sea
Wed Apr 20 At Sea
Thu Apr 21 At Sea
Fri Apr 22 At Sea
Sat Apr 23 Darwin, Australia 9:00am 5:00pm
Sun Apr 24 At Sea
Mon Apr 25 At Sea
Tue Apr 26 At Sea
Wed Apr 27 At Sea
Thu Apr 28 Kuala Lumpur (Port Kelang), Malaysia 8:00am 5:00pm
Fri Apr 29 Singapore 10:00am Sat Apr 30 Singapore Disembark
As shown, this second cruise is by no means as exciting as the first with considerably less ports of call and yet the price is comparable. Based on visa restrictions we must proceed with this new cruise or we'll end up staying too long in either location.
Pools refilled each day from the surf at high tide. |
There it is, folks, the realities of the possible inconveniences of living a life in motion. We both took this in our stride. I suppose if this was our only vacation for a year or more, we may have felt differently. But, in this life, it goes with the territory. Literally.
Happy day!
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Photo from one year ago today, April 30, 2014:
In between the enclosed area of the souks was outdoor areas where more products are offered for sale. For details from that date, please click here. |