You are doing WHAT for 80 days?
Day -1, Grand Asia 2017
Sept. 30, 2017
I’m sitting on the balcony of the Wyndham San Diego Bayside, looking at Holland America’s Oosterdam at the pier across the street. It leaves later today for points south, but overnight the Amsterdam will take its place. And I will board with about a thousand other people to start an 80-day adventure to Asia, Australia and the South Pacific.
Over the next few days and weeks, I’ll write about the ports we visit, the people I meet, what is involved in planning for and getting away for 80 days and a variety of other topics.
Surprisingly, no one asks “why 80 days?” I think a long cruise is a faraway dream for many people, although I would venture that a good portion of my friends wouldn’t really choose that as their preferred vacation. One of my sisters thinks a cruise longer than seven days is too long. But I love the sea and cruising. When I sailed for 45 days a few years ago (Florida to Rome and back), and 30 days more recently (Galveston to Dubai), I wasn’t ready to leave at the end.
I’ve never been to Asia or Australia, so these ports with the exception of Hawaii will be new.
This cruise looks fabulous!
80 days sounds perfect.
And the ports of call look awesome…Bali, Hong Kong, Auckland, Sydney, Singapore! Yay!
My husband and I met you on the Tx to Dubai cruise. We continued on to Singapore then traveled via car and train to Thailand. That was one fabulous cruise with a lot of lovely and fun people on board.
I look forward to your travel posts during this trip.
I think, no matter how long the cruise is, it always ends too soon!
BonVoyage Jo!
Bon voyage! I think you’re brave and adventurous, and I’m more than a little envious!
Looking forward to following every post with great anticipation. Long is good, longer is better! Have a wonderful time.
Bon Voyage and thanks so much for sharing your blog!
Wishing you a fabulous cruise. Looking forward to following your adventures from home.
Exciting! I can’t wait to read all about it!
Bon Voyage and I will be traveling vicariously through your posts. Maybe someday I will be able to do the same.
HI, I’ve never read or responded to a blog before so I hope this works! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about your 2017 Grand Asia Voyage. We are going this coming September!!!! 🙂 I would love to be able to ask you some questions via email if you could contact me. My home email is hissweetone@yahoo.com I will make a list as I finish your blog, but will start with Did you stop at Petropavlovsk? The travel agent there assures me that I do NOT need a visa. Thank you for any feedback. It is a wonderful blog!
Carol, I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog. We did not go to Petropavlovsk. Please feel free to post any questions here. I know others will be interested in the answers, too.
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I’ve contacted and scheduled a tour with a local privately at Petropavlovsk. She insists that we do NOT need a visa and that the city has “no legislation requiring a visa”. Did you have any trouble at customs? She says we are fine just to walk outside the terminal to meet her. Also, after reading your Pogo Pogo post – how did you book that private tour. It looked wonderful! Do you know if they have any handicapped accessible vehicles for our friend? I will have more questions I’m sure as I get through the blog. It is wonderful so far – thank-you! Just as an aside, you asked about future cruise ideas for you. I put together a 92 day trip a couple years ago with a sailing out of FLL on the Zuiderdam to Northern Europe, Then one on the Baltic on the same ship. We had 6 days in Amsterdam/Rotterdam on land and then boarded the Rotterdam for Norway (twice around) and back to Boston on the last leg that encompassed Iceland and Greenland. It was Wonderful! Especially loved Norway and Iceland
Thanks for the cruise suggestion, Carol. It sounds wonderful.
We did not go to Russia so I can’t help with visa questions. As far as Pago Pago, I did not arrange the tour, but if you search for Tisa’s Barefoot Bar you should be able to find her. Or look on Trip Advisor. I never saw a handicapped accessible bus there, as they were converted school buses. But you can ask Tisa what options are available.
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Thank you, I will take your suggestion! Just read about Bali. Would like to know whom you booked through there too as it looks like a wonderful day. Thank you so very much as I continue to “pick your brain and resources”. Makes me even more excited for our trip. I LOVED that passengers tried to free staff from duties so that they had more time with family! Bravo
Sorry, but I didn’t book any of the tours I took on the cruise. They were mostly booked by others on Cruise Critic. So I can’t help with the tours. If you haven’t signed up for your Cruise Critic roll call, I highly recommend it.
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I just started reading your blog. We were in the same trip and must have been neighbors as we shared the same room stewards. We are actually going again this fall. There are 13 new stops (two that we missed this year). It is fun to read what you did and I am looking for ideas of things we missed last year.
Ann from Williamsburg, VA
Ann, I’m sorry we didn’t meet. And I’m jealous of your planned repeat voyage. I have thought about it, but for a single it’s just a bit too much so soon after the last trip. Unless they have incredible deals at the last minute, which I doubt. I’m sure you will enjoy it.
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Hi Ann, My husband Tom and I will be on this years cruise starting in Seattle. I would love to know about any possible tours. I would like to hear about any ports you especially liked. Are there any “for sure don’t miss” places/activities? My home email is hissweetone@yahoo.com if you would like to communicate via email. We live in Salem Oregon. Thank – you very much!