January 19, 2026 Sea Day #6

The original schedule had the ship visiting Port Vila, Éfaté Island, Vanuatu.

Port Villa is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. European explorers first sighted the islands in 1606 when Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandes de Queirós arrived under the Spanish flag. It was largely ignored until 1774 when Captain James Cook visited and the islands gained more European attention. He named the islands the New Hebrides. In 1906, Port Vila became the administrative and commercial centre under the dual administration of Britain and France establishing a rare political arrangement called a “Condominium” until 1980, where both nations jointly ruled, each maintaining separate legal, educational, and policing systems. On July 30, 1980 Vanuatu gained independence,

However, due to weather, today is Sea Day #6 and overnight the clocks were moved ahead one hour. Our day started with a quick dash to the Rolling Stone Lounge for the 9 a.m. Coffee with Robbie after awakening at 8:43 a.m. Fortunately, there was coffee and pastry available as you entered. We had a light breakfast as Robbie’s guest was himself with the Entertainment Director as the person taking the microphone to people for asking questions. One of the passengers asked if Australia Day would be recognized on January 26th. Robbie mentioned that the Lido Market planned an Australian food section on that date. Robbie comes from a dance background from his childhood near Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Next was the World Stage for Robbie’s interview with Captain Bant at 10 a.m. For the first 30 minutes Captain Bant showed slides of the navigation deck and the many navigation instruments. He also showed the weather charts that predicted bad weather for the final two stops in Vanuatu, the reason that those ports were cancelled. Every day the captain receives a three day forecast from head office. Captain Bant mentioned that there may be a recognition of the ship’s 20th anniversary. This ship was delivered on January 31, 2006. The ship is 285 metres long and 32.2 metres wide and a draft of 8 metres. She is powered by diesel electric engines that power everything including the two Azipods, that contain the propellers that move the ship. At the bow are three thrusters below the water line to assist in docking. There are two independent auto pilot systems. Stabilizers of located on each side of the ship to reduce the sideways motion on rough days. The ship makes her own water by reverse osmosis at a rate of more than 400,0000 litres per day.

Good news from the captain about tomorrow’s arrival in Lautoka, Fiji. The new docking time is now 5 p.m., one hour earlier than anticipated yesterday. During the two days in Suva the ship will have to make a 180° turn, probably during the night to accommodate the arrival of a cargo ship on the second day. He joked to not think that the ship is leaving without you should you be returning to the ship at that time. At the end of the 50 minute talk, Captain Bant introduced the 70 member team who were the people involved with safely getting nearly 1,000 passengers back to the ship from the tenders and from the land. These people included engine room, tender drivers, food and beverage servers, platform and jetty safety and security officials. They received a prolonged applause.

There was only a few minutes to set up the podium for John Hocknull’s presentation about Papua New Guinea in the 1960s and 1970s titled “Customs, Cults and Cannibalism”. He spoke about the witch doctors known locally as Sanguma Men or Sanguma Women. One of the methods of cursing a person was to inflict injury to a person’s neck with the spikes from a Sago Palm, then rub dirt into the wound, then wait several days for sepsis to kill the person.

We had a nice lunch in the dining room and managed five laps on Deck 3, before returning to the World Stage for Dr. Gerald Carney’s presentation about James Cook’s second voyage to the South Pacific from 1768 to 1771. Berny gave the port talk on our three stops in Fiji - Lautoka, Suva and Dravani Island. The talk lasted 55 minutes. A fast glance outside showed some blue sky and less cloud.

Our dining time is 5 p.m. and tonight was a “dressy” evening. We were only five minutes late sitting with Ted, Margaret, Sandy and Sue. Tonight’s officer having dinner with us was Yvonne Tugado, the Media Manager. None of us had received a letter that we would have an officer joining us tonight. When an officer joins your table there is complimentary wine for the guests. She was lots of fun. Her home is in the Philippines. In May her next contract may be on the Koningsdam for the Alaska season. Yvonne reminded us to attend the Casino Royale later this evening in the Casino and Billboard Onboard.

The regulars met again in the Library Café for after dinner coffees before going to the World Stage to get seats for the 7:30 p.m. show. Tonight’s show featured the dancers and singers with “Curtains Up”, which was just as energetic and upbeat as in December.

We went down to Deck 2 to the Casino and Billboard Onboard venues for “Casino Royale”. Yvonne was in the officer’s receiving line and recognized us. Sue and Sandy were trying their luck at the Roulette table. There was a slot pull, Black Jack games and people playing on the slot machine. It was the busiest the Casino has ever been. Billboard Onboard was decorated with spades, hearts and diamonds and Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale movie was playing silently on the monitors.

Tonight there was a new towel creation on the bed with the chocolates and tomorrow's daily program.

Total steps 7,480

Robbie’s interview with Captain Bant

the 70 member team who were the people involved with safely getting nearly 1,000 passengers back to the ship from the tenders and from the land at Kiriwina