World cruise 2025 number 2!!

[Moondoggy]

Looking forward to further pics thanks.

[RichardBartlett]

Apparently the guy was too poorly to be winched up. There is no landing pad hence helicopter cancelled for good reason.

so we arrived in port around 01.30. it's now Sunday 9th at 06.04 I'm sure he's in hospital being treated.its going to be a long painful recovery probably with life changing injuries. Our hearts go out to him.
Excursion today around the city. Last time we went on a boat trip (Dalia's birthday) so never saw too much although my memory of here is limited to say the least.

we were told "rain all day" but it looks actually quite nice outside.

[RichardBartlett]

Port Louis Mauritius

We were promised rain all day right up to the day. In fact it was very hot and very humid.

Close your eyes and conjure an image of Mauritius.. whatever that is, it's not Port Louis!

This is their main import export town and it's pretty much just that. It's also very poor. Sure there are some very rich people around judging by the Porsches mercs and BMW's driving around but abject poverty isn't too far from view.

So we were originally booked on an 11.30 four hr excursion but we felt that would ruin the day so we jumped on a German language tour coach leaving at 09.30.
As a tour (despite being in German which Dalia managed to grasp way more than l) it was the worst excursion we'd ever taken. Just driving around aimlessly. She hardly spoke during the whole time..

We stopped at a couple of botanical gardens but our guide didn't have a clue of the place and kept having to ask for directions and help.

We visited a Hindu temple which was ok. A church on a hill, wandered round a plantation house of 1800's (think gone with the wind) drank some of their liquor and orange juice. Then left

Near the end we were asked if we would like to be dropped off at a shopping center near the Marina (it was Sunday so 90% of the shops were closed) or go back to the ship.
As the excursion was so bad we thought walking around for a while we'd at least see something half of the coach thought the same. So the couch left.
We walked around and decided it wasn't worth it so headed back to where the shuttle bus stopped.
Waiting for 40 minutes in the blazing sun. I asked a guide when the next shuttle bus is due?
" No shuttle bus , get back on your assigned coach"
So as our coach left an hr before we were stranded.
Only thing we could do is jump on another excursion bus.
It was 3/4 empty so no problem.
Oh but sadly it was a french language coach and they all started kicking off saying to the guide "they are not on our bus!!"

I nearly told them to mind their own fooking business but told their tour guide what happened and she just said "fine no prob"

So back onboard we sundowner'ed and sailed away.

It's not fair to base an opinion on Mauritius on port Louis so hold on tight to your dream as it does have some amazing beaches etc.

We sail to Tomasina Madagascar which is only a few hundred miles but logistics mean a day at sea..

This set me thinking.

Do cruise ships make more money on sea days or port days??

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[1William]

Very nice. Where are all the people that live there?

[JasoninDenver]

Great posts. Please keep them coming.

[Moondoggy]

I’m not going there.

I’m thinking they make their money every day it’s a captive audience!

[RichardBartlett]

Madagascar

Our second visit to the island. This time on the eastern side.

Madagascar has a lot to offer but little on a day trip. The first thing you notice is how poor the country is.
We teamed up with a couple to share a tuktuk as we did one last time and it was fun. These little vehicles are amazing. I'd rather trust one of these than a Toyota land cruiser. Although tbf it did need a bump start at one point!

So we went to a small zoo then back to the ship.

I have been waiting for the pictures of that but not arrived hence why this is so late

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[RichardBartlett]

Three days at sea...

So from Madagascar to Durban is three sea days UNLESS you have yet another medical emergency (lady had heart attack)..so upping the speed from 16 to 23 knots cuts massive amounts of time and we got to a very wet Durban a day early.although we were not allowed to disembark.

Durban like a lot of SA is slowly dying through poor government, DEI forcing the use of untrained "computer says no" staff, political (tribal) infighting and rampant corruption.
Mass immigration from those escaping Zim has caused a lot of the problems but that's not spoken about as everything is whiteys fault irrespective of the facts.
Given that and the fact that we've been here and the next stop Port Elizabeth before, we are currently sitting in a minivan outside the terminal about to be driven 4 hours to a game park for a 3 day safari


We have waited an hour for the other people to arrive...but now we go


Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[Moondoggy]

Thanks for update Richard, South Africa forty years ago was half functioning, places like Hillbrow were university towns now it’s screwed.

So Sydney is still your favourite place other then home in all your journeys?

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

Thanks for update Richard, South Africa forty years ago was half functioning, places like Hillbrow were university towns now it’s screwed.

So Sydney is still your favourite place other then home in all your journeys?

Sydney is still our favourite. I would want my daughter to emigrate there if possible.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[RichardBartlett]

Safari ended.

We had a pretty amazing time. The reserves in SA are quite dense with vegetation and tbf after the first 30 minutes driving around looking at hedgerows I thought "oh jeez this is going to be a total disaster"

But for some strange reason lady luck was on our side from that moment. Pretty much everything just fell butter side up
We turned a corner and came across two male one female lions, two did the business 6 times before finally falling asleep exhausted !

We drove past and spotted a rhino deep in the bushes. Oh well at least we saw one.
Next day we came across 7 in a mudbath who after a few minutes all got up and disappeared into the bush. The next van along saw nothing!

Our guide stopped the van and spoke to another guide coming the other way "have you seen a giraffe?"
"Yes, but about 1km away so nothing really "
We drove a few km , turned a corner and there was a herd of them coming at us!

A herd of elephants appeared out the bush and walked down towards us and back into the bush. Then the male rushed the van and our guide drove off PDQ.

So many instances of just us being in the right place at the right time.

We stayed off the main reserve in a fantastic private park with individual huts .The animals there seemed tame but they weren't, sure they knew lots of humans were around but you couldn't get too close before they bolted.
The accomodation, staff, food and whole 3 nights were fantastic.
We had it out with the couple who were 'late' ; turns out they were told 9.00 to 9.30!

So we all had a good laugh at dinner about our first meeting at the van (see previous post) Dalia getting her arse in her hand about their late arrival and him thinking Dalia was some mental head case because they were actually 6 minutes early!

Our last day on the way back we had a 2hr boat trip spotting Hippo's a nice gentle way to finish the trip..

We are now in a b&b near Durban airport to fly in the morning to Capetown.

As per my rule only 9 pictures per post. The pictures don't do the experience justice as there's a delay of taking pictures plus there was a lot of videoing. I could easily post a hundred or more pictures but let's be honest this isn't the national geographic channel and they get boring very quickly....

Lastly to my horror, I've noticed in the last couple of weeks I've absolutely piled on the weight :-(


Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[TheVTCGuy]

Is my room ready?

[omar10213245]

I was today years old when I learned that "world" cruises are a thing. Holy heck! 131 days out at sea?? That's pretty wild!

What's the average cost for such a trip?

[Moondoggy]

.

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Is my room ready?

I'll ask the steward!

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by omar10213245

I was today years old when I learned that "world" cruises are a thing. Holy heck! 131 days out at sea?? That's pretty wild!



What's the average cost for such a trip?

Fair comment. I myself only learnt about them 3 years ago when a cruise friend of Dalia mentioned he'd booked a world cruise. At the time I still had the business and was working but looking to slow down.
Me being me said "book it we're going too!"
Dalia didn't believe me but nothing sharpens the mind like a deadline.
Long story short after a whole lot of stress we finally sold the business on the 27th December and flew to Rome on 3rd January for our first world cruise.
We liked it enough to book our second jan-may 2024

and now this our third dec 2024-april 2025.

Our fourth is already booked nov2025 -april 2026 ! 145 days..

Can't take it with you and I'm fit enough to enjoy it.


Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[RichardBartlett]

Capetown

Before we left the b&b Dalia complained about being itchy. I said don't worry it's nothing. However we both came out covered in small bites (we believe bed bugs) and Me especially in mozzie bites. Great location and friendly owners but our lasting impression of the b&b isn't one we will cherish.

The breakfast was very good though.

The Liftair flight was pretty good
Old planes but great service. Free coffee and biscuits provided. Left on time, arrived early. Both airports small but efficient; What more do you want?

Got a taxi, paid slightly over the odds for convenience but driver was very helpful and dropped us off right by the terminal. Back in our cabin by 12.45. job done.

Shower and some buffet food we went for a walk in CT. Boy was it hot!
I had an idea to go visit Bo-Kaap and the colourful houses . It's some 40 minutes walk. At 13.00 pm it possibly wasn't my best idea but we made it.
What I didn't realize was it's the Muslim area. It's not as large as I thought so a quick walk round and we headed back to the Marina area.

On our first world cruise we met a couple who had been to CT many times so they know the area.
On our second WC (see above ) they were staying in CT too waiting to join QE ll to sail back to the UK.
They invited us for lunch and it was excellent and considering the location amazing value for money.

We had a slow walk round the area and ended up there again. Both because we really enjoyed it and as a memory of our cruise friends.

Two large Burger and fries bottle of decent wine was 35 euro..

There are hundreds of eateries in the area. I'm not saying this is the best , worst or anything just the one we personally really like. If you go to CT this area is by far the nicest and you'll find most foods and price range to suit yourselves.

So having eaten far too much all day by 19.30 we were very tired so headed back to the ship.

Day 2 tomorrow.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[omar10213245]

Originally Posted by RichardBartlett

Fair comment. I myself only learnt about them 3 years ago when a cruise friend of Dalia mentioned he'd booked a world cruise. At the time I still had the business and was working but looking to slow down.
Me being me said "book it we're going too!"
Dalia didn't believe me but nothing sharpens the mind like a deadline.
Long story short after a whole lot of stress we finally sold the business on the 27th December and flew to Rome on 3rd January for our first world cruise.
We liked it enough to book our second jan-may 2024

and now this our third dec 2024-april 2025.

Our fourth is already booked nov2025 -april 2026 ! 145 days..

Can't take it with you and I'm fit enough to enjoy it.


Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

well Godbless you and the Mrs, I'm glad you're able to get such enjoyment from these adventures, and let me also express my appreciation for the pics, very fascinating and I feel like I'm on the trip with you! I might have to look into one of these cruises for myself one day

[RichardBartlett]

Capetown day 2


Bad nights sleep but woke at 07.25. dalia asked what time our excursion was?
"Dunno?" was my incisive response "I'll have a look"
Opps 7.45 eekkk Oh my God
Action stations !!
We made it down to the meeting place but they'd already gone off the ship to the coaches..
More running and luckily they were still there

Jumped onboard all ok. Set off just after 08.00
A 3 hr drive around the southern side of CT and beyond. Overall not the best excursion but Anyhoo.
Back onboard sorted some stuff out, washed clothes, lunch and back out 13.00

Last day but everyone was restricted for time and instead of 17.30 we had to be back by 16.00 as we all need to be stamped out of SA (SA thinks it's somehow special that everyone wants to sneak in...
(The ironic thing is that on literally every street corner there are dozens of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe Botswana etc hanging around.)

Bit like UK and USA. If you're legal they care, if you're illegal they look the other way.. although that's changed slightly in USA after January of course)

We opted to wander around the Marina again. It's pretty much the only part of Capetown worth bothering with. But it's definitely worth bothering.

Otherwise you need to get to the wine region or coastal area like Simons town etc. We plan on going out further next time.

After about 10 minutes we went into the shopping mall and literally bumped into some cruise friends from the 2023 WC! It's incredible how this happens!
They winter in CT and summer in Rome. He's a retired ex Italian parliament MP and she is from a family of diamond merchants.

We spent time with them then wandered around the area some and as it started to rain (much cooler weather ) we headed back to the terminal to immigration departure to get stamped out and back on board. Last year there was a 2 hour queue so we decided to come back around 15.00 and beat the rush. We queued up for about 15 minutes...

Next stop Luderitz Namibia in 2 days time.


Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[Moondoggy]

Thanks for the update

[Oscarpapa]

Ditto

[77T]

If I walked on this beach, and maybe lay down for a nap after one of those excursions, I'd likely miss the horn to depart.



Thanks for the continued travelogue!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RichardBartlett]

Originally Posted by 77T

If I walked on this beach, and maybe lay down for a nap after one of those excursions, I'd likely miss the horn to depart.



Thanks for the continued travelogue!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The beaches around CT are amazing. Sadly the water is a tad cold at around 14c now so you need to be quite hardy to brace it. Although it can warm up more.
But yes the whole area is quite majestic

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[RichardBartlett]

Ludervitz cancelled due to poor sea conditions.

So we are having an extra day at sea but 2 days in Walvis bay instead.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[Ellz]

Just amazing Richard- thanks as always for sharing ;-)

[RichardBartlett]

Walvis bay day l

We were here last year for an overnighter . As a port it's not very exciting. WB is and probably the rest of Namibia quite behind the times. That's not necessarily a bad thing. However it's a huge county with not a lot in it but what it does have there's an awful lot of. Ie sand dunes.

As with a lot of Africa they are hung up on immigration control. So everyone has to parade past a line of immigration officers. It's one of my favourite pastimes. It seems there is an unofficial training manual all immigration offers must have as everywhere in the world they do the same

They pick up your passport and look at it as if it's the first passport they've ever seen. Then they slowly turn it over looking extremely bored and uninterested. Finally with an even more puzzled look they start flicking through the pages as if it's a book in some ancient unknown language. Giving up they put it in the scanner which deciphers it and tells them

A it's a passport
B it's a good passport

Then they slowly reach for a stamp and start flicking through the pages looking for a space to stamp. Duly and reluctantly done as if letting you into the country is a personally painful experience, they slowly very slowly close it and slide it towards you and avoiding eye contact say "next"

It took several attempts to get Dalias visa as the hoops they want you to jump through and the poorly designed visa website work against you.
For example cruise ships have been coming here for years but on the website it only lists road or airport as possible arrival points .
No 'neither' or 'sea' options are available so you don't know what to tick. And no help is available (emails are obviously left on unread for ever)

Then it repeatedly asked for a copy of your plane tickets. Err I'm on a ship now what?

Or that they need a letter from your host where you are staying.. Err we're on a ship we don't have a host now what?

Bank statements must be in English (she's Lithuanian why would they be in English? They translated it for her
And have an official wet stamp cross signed. Her bank said "who has a stamp these days we are an online bank isn't everyone electronic?" But Lithuanians being Lithuanians found an old stamp and stamped the statement.

So many stupid questions badly thought out by programmers who are not fully aware of the topic or care to find out.
I started the visa process in November and after many attempts got dalias visa granted early March..

Anyhoo apparently Namibia is trying to promote tourism so from April 1st is introducing that everyone who visits Namibia must have a visa and have put up the cost to around 87 USD. Totally outrageous. If they think this will encourage tourism by over charging everyone they are woefully mistaken.
It's an obvious tourist money grab as ships cannot pass through the Suez so have to Go round Africa but what they are missing is there are a lot of repeat travelers who (like ourselves) simply won't get off the ship next time

We are here again in 2026 and there is no way I'm going to pay 190 dollars for us to go ashore for a day trip it just won't happen. The good news is l don't have to waste hours on end applying and reapplying for Dalias visa

Anyhoo we got a little red star on our boarding pass which confirms we have been approved so we went for a walk. For the past 3 days sailing since Capetown it's been thick fog. Walvis bay was no different. You could hardly see more than a few metres. But we walked out none the less.
They have been spending money on the port tidying it up. The whole area has been paved so instead of jumping puddles and mudholes it's all paved.

Outside we walked the coast path. The fog was actually starting to lift but very slowly and a bit of blue sky was appearing and l was worried that I hadn't brought my hat nor had Dalia.
I suggested we turned back. But no Dalia insisted we continued to find the flamingos so about an hour from the ship we were out in the blazing midday sun without protection.. Needless to say by the time we got back we were both horribly burnt!

After lunch we went out again but it was very windy so we gave up and had drinks onboard.

I'm expecting day ll to be very similar as I had been trying to arrange a catamaran trip for the morning but I've left it too late and being Sunday the excursion people are not responding

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[Moondoggy]

Thanks Richard, interesting you say about the customs, I have found some of the most arrogant, difficult, draconian customs have been undesirable poverty riddled countries I probably wouldn't return to.

[RichardBartlett]

Walvis bay day ll

So laying in bed around 06.30 I got a WhatsApp from a excursion seller (who'd I'd been thinking of booking a catamaran trip locally with) over the past couple of days. I'd kinda forgot about it until she texted me some information apologizing for not responding sooner it being Sunday and all.

We went back and forth with info price, itinerary time etc but after 30 minutes l still wasn't sure but I thought as we will be 7 days at sea from 20.00pm tonight onwards I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead.
So at 7.30 I woke Dalia expecting some reluctance "too early too expensive" etc

top tip: woman love their man making decisions, being proactive and especially adding spontaneity to their life. Even if they moan about getting ready things to do etc etc secretly they love it.

So whilst she was very sleepy by the time I returned from the bar with coffee she was up and almost ready.

At 8.20 we were outside and met our contact. She drove us all of 500 yards to the jetty and our catamaran was almost ready.

We jumped on and waited for the other 4 passengers ( south Africans) and away we went.

We had a great time. Within five minutes a large seal joined us onboard. Further on we visited the seal colonies the other side of the bay chased dolphins ate Namibian oysters and on the way back had the company of several pelicans.

After that the wind got up again and we went back onboard. At 4 o'clock we got stamped out by customs so we couldn't leave the ship again

So we've now set sail leaving Africa heading to Cape Verde seven days away.
There's an air of deflation around as we all can sense the end is in sight.

Bit like school summer holidays. At the beginning its exciting and fun and the 'back to school morning' seems a lifetime away, then around a few weeks to go, it starts to loom large.
We are starting to book flights, make appointments and worse start to pack suitcases..

But there's still 3 weeks to go and a few new ports and things to do on the ship so we're still pretty up

As I said seven days at sea so no posts unless something happens. Quite possible we get another medical emergency but hopefully not..!



Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk