Rhapsody of the sea part one

[happy daze john in oz]

There are a number of ports around the world where thebackground gives an amazing sight when leaving. Rio with the Christ, Hong Kongat night with a myriad of lights lighting up the night- time sky.
Cape Town with the Lions Head and devils Peak standingsentinel to Table Mountain, with a cloth of clouds precipitously sliding fromatop down to meet the southern cape.

Then there is Sydney with its’ Opera house and Coat hanger.

A warm autumn eve, the sun now set, clear sky with a risingmoon. Across the bay sits Luna Park with its’ gleaming mouth as if calling tothe people, ‘come inside and try my wares’, whilst the city lights glitter likea myriad of stars, and across the bridge the lights of home bound cars carryingthe workers to their daily rest. Whilstupon the waters the ferries sailing to and from Circular Quay, with lightsaglow making them look as if glow worms busily going about their business

The Opera house stands tall as if guarding the whole sceneas slowly the ship slips away from the quay- side. On the main deck a Caribbeanband plays whilst passengers in a joyful mood sing and dance whilst drinking totheir fill. Her stern now under the bridge the ships whistle gives a loud calland slowly the ship moves forward. Passing Mrs. Macquarie’s chair with thecrowds as ever waving farewell as slowly we move along past Fort Denison andslowly out of the heads to greet the ocean beyond.

Rhapsody Of The Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship is one on whichwe have cruised three twice before, a very popular ship with the Australianpublic spending six months a year sailing from Australian waters. Recentlyundergoing a refit to the tune of some $195 million US. The changes aresignificant with all En-suites refitted as new, a very little used loungeconverted to two speciality restaurants, one a New York style steak house, theother an Italian family style one. Also in the Viking lounge, used mainly as anightclub, part has been converted to an Asian style restaurant. All incur acover charge but the food is of the most excellent quality.

In the main Atrium changes have also created anotherentertainment arena. High above on deck 9 a set of winches have been arrangedin such a manner that acrobats can now engage in some of the most spectacularshows. A large dance floor now compliments the area and here the music neverappears to stop.

It was the first morning out of Sydney when it happened,completely without warning. A feeling I have not had for many a long year cameover me and I was very surprised as there was little warning of it. Those of you who ever sailed with UCL willknow what I am talking about. Each voyage outward and homeward bound twocompany ships would pass each other mid voyage. Horns would sound, passengersand crew waving franticly across the water. So it was this very morning,Radiance of the Sea, another company ship homeward bound for Sydney passedwithin 500 metres of us, and as with UCL the greetings were the same.

The remainder of the first two days passed without furtherincident until arriving at the Isle of Pines. This island some 8by 9 miles hasbeen inhabited for about 35,000 years and was discovered by Captain Cook, not acricket player, in the late 1700’s. Named the Isle of Pines due to the plethoraof pine trees growing there on. In 1853 the French took over constructing anisland prison there housing some 4,000 murderers, thieves and political prisoners.The prison, one of stone and brick, was built by the first prisoner’s, as wasthe original fortress wall that guarded the port. What remains today shows howforeboding the original was, three main cells each with three tiers of bunksand housing 90 prisoners in each. The cells for solitary confinement are evennow in their state of disrepair still an awesome sight that still conjures upscenes of brutality and depravation. For many a prisoner the voyage there was aone-way ticket, there was no escape from the island, the natives still a littlecannibalistic, and in the middle of the square stood the guillotine. Those thatmay have survived would never be the same again. Outside the prison walls theaccommodation for officers and the General in charge, ever their situation waslittle better than that of the prisoners.

Today the island is mainly a resort used by people of theNew Caledonia region and close to the shore an Hotel owned by the French.During the season many travel from France to spend time there. Of course beingthe friendly French that they are there is large notice advising cruisepassengers that they are not welcome within the hotel complex.
Having visited on three previous occasions we have visitedmost of the other places of interest upon the island, including a very remotevillage.

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
I was on Ille de Pines on 8 February, beautiful beach there, the finest white sand I have ever seen. another cruise ship was anchored off and they set up a free bar for their German passengers , so I became a Gerrman for the day.free grog.

We saw the Rapsody of the Seas sail on 11 February and a distant young relative had just got her first job at sea on it as a childrens entertainer, it was followed by the Oasis of the Seas.
They always get the Ocean Terminal berth at Circular Quay, we had to go to White Bay a 40 dollar taxi ride away.
Cheers
Brian

[happy daze john in oz]

PART TWO

Then on to the island of Lifou, a member of the loyaltyisland group, held within the French territory of New Caledonia. It was againCook who discovered the island group naming it New Caledonia, Latin forScotland

In 1853 Napoleon 3claimed New Caledonia as a colony thus chasing what British persons were thereout of the island. It had for a short while been used as a whaling base. DuringWW2 the region became a strategic Allied army base.

There are a number of interesting places for the tourist tovisit on this island including two rather unique churches. There is also a cavecomplex, which we decided to visit this time. Not the best of choices as itturned out. The descent was steep but there is a large rope to which one mayhang on. The steps down are littered with tree roots and fallen rocks, whilstthere are a number of sections where one has to almost crawl on hands and kneesto get through. The number of persons going there was quite amazing, close to200 I estimated, but at $10 per head the guardian of them did well for the day,then at the bottom a very large rock pool. Into this many of the people jumpedonly to scream as they hit the icy cold water.

From there on to Mystery Island, and this one is a completemystery .It is part of the Vanuatu group, which consists of about 80 islands.This island is no more than one kilometre in length and about 50 metres at it’swidest yet was used in WW2 as an allied airstrip. It is an uninhabited islandwith locals from the island of Aneityum coming to the island on ship days. Itis little more than a swimming and snorkelling place but very beautiful. It isbelieved the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quinos first saw the islandin May of 1606. In 1774 Cook arrived and named the island group the New Hebrides.

He people of New Caledonia are now seeking independence fromFrance and a referendum is to be held on the issues.

On then to Villa a port where many passengers go to buytheir duty free sprits rather than on board. But as has been discovered by many an unsuspecting traveller, whilst thelabels look very genuine the contents are not. Mush of the grog sold this wayis local brewed and many have experienced dire consequences as a result ofconsuming some of this. Along the quayside a large number of market stallsselling the usual tourist rubbish, whilst in the town there area number ofpoints of interest. There is a large monument to the Allied troops of WW2; theywere here in large numbers beginning on May 4^th 1942.

Last port of call was Noumea another island within the groupof New Caledonia where the local currency is a version of the old French franc.The ship, due to size, is unable to dock in the designated cruise terminal sowe arrive in the main dock area where a shuttle bus service takes us into thetown. A small town with large garden central town square, a meeting point formany of the locals. High above the town sits the main Cathedral, built over aperiod of some 20 years and not completed until the late 1890’s. The lectern,taken from the local church, on the Isle of Pines.

There are many great spots to visit on this island includinga tour, which takes you past some of the most expensive real estate outside ofthe West. Views across the seas from the high points is breathtaking and thecountryside some of the most beautiful to be seen. High on one point theremains of a very early garrison with cannons of the 1800’s standing guard. Anideal island for water sport and to see marine life in it’s most natural statewith the aid of a glass bottomed boat.

Whilst the tour guides and most people out of the citycentre are quite friendly, that cannot be said of the city dwellers who itwould appear go out of their way to ignore the tourists even though they are avery big part of the economy.

The final two days sailing home were uneventful though forfour days the ship was in quarantine with an outbreak of Noro Virus. Over 40passengers from the one deck reported sick with it, all confined to theircabins for up to three days. During this time the self service restaurant wasmanned by crew who, served all foods. For the majority it was no drama, but forthose who reported sick a very expensive experience.

It has been noted that there have been more outbreaks ofthis illness on ships sailing from Sydney than any other port in the westernworld.

So back home now until the next adventure.

[Captain Kong]

Thanks for the tour John, I went to Noumea just before ille de pines. Cannot remember a thing about it. just a blank, dont know what I had to drink.

A lot of passengers go on tours with meals thrown in or eat ashore an when they sail the following day they all go down with this Novo Virus. So it is not always the ships fault.
Cheers
Brian

[happy daze john in oz]

Thanks for the tour John,--.
Cheers
Brian

Very true Brian, we had it on a cruise to Fiji the other year. 24 of them all ate in the same area and all got the virus.

[john walker]

Thanks for the tour John, I went to Noumea just before ille de pines. Cannot remember a thing about it. just a blank, dont know what I had to drink.

Brian

They must put something in the beer Brian as I had a similar problem in 1985. I had flown out via Paris,Vienna, Istanbul, New Delhi, Singapore
Djakarta and Sydney to Noumea on a French U.T.A. Flight. Then a helicopter flight to join the ship in Nakete on the east coast. The ship was chartered to Societe Nickel and was on a regular run loading nickel ore by barges in Nakete for discharge in Noumea for several weeks. Besides remembering that there was a lot of civil unrest at the time caused by the indigenous Kanak people, with night time curfews. The only other thing that I recall is that whenever we transited between the two ports we passed a beach with a lot of female topless bathers. This normally resulted in a scramble for the binoculars on the bridge. So my only memories of the Island are not of idyllic South Pacific sunsets or historic buildings or great cuisine ashore, it is just boobs, boobs and more boobs.

[Ivan Cloherty]

T This normally resulted in a scramble for the binoculars on the bridge. So my only memories of the Island are not of idyllic South Pacific sunsets or historic buildings or great cuisine ashore, it is just boobs, boobs and more boobs.

Sounds like you were very diligent and keeping abreast of the situation.

[Don Rafferty]

it is just boobs, boobs and more boobs.

You must have got the Booby Prize - sorry, couldn't resist.


P.S.........can I nominate that for the Worst Joke of the Year Award.

[gray_marian]

#8 Don, '.can I nominate that for the Worst Joke of the Year Award.' Yessssssssssss

#4, Captain, R#6,..... Looks like you & Cappy missed out bigtime!

[Richard Quartermaine]

Being a normal event rather than a titillating knockers parade, the view through the binoculars would have revealed there should be three categories of prizes: Super Doopers, Droopers and Spaniel's Ears. Of course there would be the others sporting their budgie smugglers; a knocked down version of a leotard which, if you had seen Swan Lake and the like were in fact not real budgies but rather falsies for the effect.
Richard