World Cruise: January 2026 LA to New Zealand
Day 14: 01/01/26 At Sea
We enjoyed a fantastic New Years Brunch on the pool deck.
It truly was beautiful!
So much chocolate!
We sat out by the pool and soaked up some great sunshine!
We lost our first passenger. She was picked up off the coast of Mexico and appeared to have a leg injury. She waved good-bye as they headed off to shore.
Tonight's entertainer was Douglas Ladnier. He is an Emmy nominated songwriter and a singer. He performed several Neil Diamond hits and a few Elvis.
Day 15: 01/02/25 Day at Sea
We are in Mexico's Baja Peninsula and is known for sightings of great whales, blue whales, humpbacks, sperm whales, and pods of dolphins. We saw some dolphins from our balcony today. Some others saw Orcas as well.
Day 16: 01/03/26 Day at Sea
Video of Jim playing his daily Corn Hole they call "Baggo".
Impromptu concert with 3 very talented musicians who just met a few days ago. Perry on Piano, Douglas Ladnier vocalist and Jakub Trasak violinist.
We both worked out today. Jim on the treadmill and Ina joined NIA by zoom. Then we went to the thermal baths, ice room then sauna. The band had Jim sing again tonight. Ina did not record for some unknown reason.
Day 17: 01/04/26 Day at Sea
We are almost to LA. About 600 of our passengers will disembark and pick up passengers. A full ship is expected on the continuation of the world cruise.
Our Trivia Team...we were able to win twice which was more than anyone else! Vladan, Ina, Jim, Jim Teslow, Burnie and Tracey.
The band was incredible. This was the last night for them as they head home, and we get a "new" band tomorrow
Jim sang 2 songs with the band and broke into some kind of dance that he thought was entertaining! You can watch it in his recap.
Day 18: 01/05/26 Los Angelas, CA
Country #6. USA. We decided to not go on any of the excursions in LA. It is cold at 56 degrees and was overcast this morning. We had to disembark and go through passport/customs then reboard after the ship was cleared.
We could see the USS Iowa from our ship. Too lazy to go tour it!
Met our new band at the Welcome Party for all the new guests.
Day 19: 01/06/26 Day at Sea
Mike, this puzzle needs you!
We decided to have high tea today in the Wintergarden.
Day 20: 01/07/26 Day at Sea
I got to do our only domestic chore of laundry today! Got my steps in going back and forth to the laundry room.
Team Trivia winners again today!
The Assistant Cruise Director, Tara, had to get into the picture with the winningest team!
We played Name that Tune team trivia. We tied with one other team so we had a face off. Traci rocked it and won for us!
Our entertainment was a master ventriloquist, Don Bryan and his sidekick Noseworthy. Pretty funny performance.
Attempting to dance!
Day 21: 01/08/26 Day at Sea
Our team, the "Curmudgeons and their Queens" won Team Trivia again today!
We had a beautiful rainbow this morning from our balcony. It doesn't show up on the picture as bright as it was in real time.
We were able to listen to the Hurricanes Fiesta Bowl game against Ole Miss. Proud of our Canes!
Our entertainment tonight was Elliot Finkel is a pianist, conductor and composer. He has performed all over the world including on Broadway, at the White House, Carnegie Hall and the London Palladium.
Day 22: 01/09/26 Day at Sea
Guest lecturer is Captain Mike Foreman a USNA graduate and astronaut. He flew 2 missions on the Endeavor Space Shuttle to the ISS. He was in the class '79 and says he does indeed know Don Akiyama. Jim and David class of '81 had their picture taken with him after the lecture "How I Became a NASA Astronaut".
Day 23: 01/10/26 Day at Sea
Not much happening today. Did get to join the Zoom Akiyama Christmas gift exchange. Always fun!
Day 24: 01/11/26 Honolulu, Hawaii
Arriving into port just as the sun was rising behind Diamond Head!
We took a tour that took us to Pearl Harbor. We toured the museum. We had already gone out to the USS Arizona, toured the submarine and the USS Missouri on previous visit to Hawaii.
We opted to go to the Aviation Museum.
We went to the Ala Moana mall and caught a hula show. Bought a bag of Maui-like potato chips!
Dinner at Akasaka!
Day 25: 01/12/26 Honolulu, Hawaii
We walked to the US Post Office to mail postcards to Mom/Dad, JJ and a valentine card to Claire's class. We walked to Iolani Place, the coral church and King Kamehameha's palace. The statue is supposed to be life size as he was a very tall man. We had lunch at the Highway Inn, serving traditional Hawaiian food since 1947. Jim had the loco moco and Ina had Kalua pig sliders.
Departing Honolulu, we had views of the Aloha Tower.
Tonight, we had a Hawaiian feast with Huli Huli chicken, Blue Hawaiian drink and other dishes. We participated in the hula lessons and then danced the night away!
Day 26: 01/13/26 Day at Sea
Another relaxing, lazy day at sea!
Our guest entertainer was Helene Angley, a comedian, "Generation Gaps Gone Wild". She was pretty funny and totally relatable.
Day 27: 01/14/26 Day at Sea
Today was a lazy day at sea. Our guest entertainer was Terrell Edwards, a singer, "Unforgettable - Part 1".
Jobie Quirante video clip. He is a really good entertainer and will be leaving us soon for his vacation.
Day 28: 01/15/26 Day at Sea
We participated in the Equator Crossing Ceremony. We received the official "Order of the Shellback" status. Jim decided to kiss the fish!
Jim saluted and Ina did the U as we jumped into the pool. Rooting for University of Miami in championship game in 4 days. Playing against Rob's alumni Indiana University.
Appetizer at dinner tonight!
Jim's vlog: We crossed the Equator and Jim kissed the fish while Ina did the "U" sign.
Day 29: 01/16/26 Day at Sea
We invited the guest entertainers to join us for dinner at the "Chefs Table" tonight. We finished dinner just in time to catch "Name that Tune" with our trivia team. We thought that Terrell Edwards would be a ringer for the game. However, it turned out the comedian, Helene Angley, was the ringer! She was trash talking other teams and even more competitive than our group! BTW...we won again. Front Row L to R is Terrell Edwards, Jim, Helene Angley, Traci Jovanovic, Ina. Back row L to R Ann, Vladan Jovanovic and Rick.
Jim's vlog: Dinner at the Chef's Table w/ entertainers Helene Angley and Terrell Edwards. Then played name that tune with them. Show was Tara Lucas, Assist. Cruise Director.
Day 30: 01/17/26 Day at Sea
Helene Angley was hilarious tonight! She had Ina laughing to tears!
Jim's vlog: Last day at sea before Bora Bora. Once again, we were trivia champions.
Day 31: 01/18/26 Vaitape, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
The world's most beautiful island! The result of a volcano with the lagoon surrounding it. We took a boat ride and saw Mt. Otemanu at 2379 feet, guides in the water with the stingrays and black tipped sharks. Our guide even serenaded us singing and playing his ukulele.
We had a great time listening to, hanging out with our entertainers Terrell Edwards and Helene Angley
Terrell performing tonight!
Sunset sailing away from Bora Bora.
Jim's Vlog: Porpoise escort into Vaitape, Bora Bora. Guides attracting black-tipped sharks. Terrell sings with Eza and the Viking band after his show.