Day 120 of 148 - CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

 Date: 5/04/2024     Day 120   Sea Day: CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Description: The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about 85,133,000 km2 (32,870,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for separating the Old World of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the New World of the Americas.

Afternoon Update: We are heading to the small island country of SAO TOME, SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE arriving tomorrow at 8 AM.  Tomorrow's forecast is a high of 85 degrees and 40% chance of rain.  Since this is a tendering port (ship is at anchor) we're going to assess the conditions on boarding the tender's taking us ashore.  If it looks to rough, we might just stay onboard.  We are scheduled to take one of those highlights tours tomorrow.  There is a birding excursion that is currently all booked up.  If the tendering conditions look favorable, we can try to go on the birding excursion instead if there are any "no shows".   

At one of the many talks today I learn the armed security personnel onboard are Navy Seal's.  I am sure they are retired seals working for a security company.  It's rumored that they have a support vessel following us out of sight.   We continue to darken the ship every night from sunset to sunrise.  

Day 119 of 149 - LUANDA, ANGOLA

 Date: 5/03/2024   Day 119   Port Day: LUANDA, ANGOLA

Description: Angola’s capital and most populous city, Luanda has enjoyed a massive boom in construction in the last decade following the end of the Angola Civil War. Learn about the history of Angola at the many superb museums, historical sites and monuments throughout the city. The Parque Nacional da Kissama, south of Luanda, is an expansive wildlife park with elephants, water buffalo, antelopes and nesting sea turtles. Kissama is at forefront of Angola’s wildlife regeneration efforts in conjunction with a pioneering relief project known as Operation Noah’s Ark.

Planned Excursion: None

Today's Notes: It was a beautiful sunny day with a high temp in the upper 80's.  There were few excursions to choose from.  Some folks did go on a 2 hr excursion.  We decided to take the shuttle bus to the local mall.  It turned out to be a very new and modern mall but with few stores.  Those open stores had little stock to choose from.  We were only there for about 45 minutes before leaving back to the ship.  Some folks did report trouble with using credit cards.  We didn't try to purchase anything. 

Joe and Pat Rawson went on the 2 hr excursion and reported it was a disappointment.  Pat only got out of the bus at one of the three stops.  The first stop was at a museum and old fort. The other two stops were at a small church and monument.  Other than that it was pretty much a bus ride around town.  One thing to note as the group of several small bus made their way around town, they were escorted by police cars in front and behind the group.  When we went to the mall we had several guides with us inside and outside the mall.  It was a bit disconcerting with the increased security for us.  

As I write this update we have left Luanda about 3 hours ago and now have our StarLink Internet back which was out again all-day today while in port.  

    

Days 117, 118 - CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

 Date: 5/02/2024   Day 118   Sea Day: CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Description: The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about 85,133,000 km2 (32,870,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for separating the Old World of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the New World of the Americas.

Morning Update:  Last night we were advised to remain indoors, all open decks were off-limits.  The ship went blacked-out from 6 PM to 6 AM with all outdoor lights off and all window shades pulled down.  They never gave us a reason why, but I can only assume it was for security reasons.  

This morning it's a beautiful day with nearly totally calm seas.  We moved our clocks back another hour last setting us to time zone GMT+1.  With the added hour of sleep for some I was up at 5:30 AM and out on deck at 6 AM for a nice 3 mile morning walk.  It was a truly beautiful morning watching the sunrise.  

Evening Update:  In the captain's noon address he reported that the ship is going to black-out again tonight.  No one will be allowed outside on deck's 6 and 12.  Most all the normal outside lighting will be turned off.  Again, I can only assume that this is for security reasons.  The ship's AIS (AIS tracking technology provides information about the identification, course, speed and current location of vessels. ) is not showing our destination but rather "ARMED SECURITY ONBOARD".  A six member security team boarded us in Cape Town.  It's not clear now long they will remain onboard.  

Note: The ship's AIS only shows Armed Security
 On-Board rather than the true destination.

Day 116 of 148 - WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA (Day 2)

 Date: 4/30/2024  Day 116  Port Day: WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA (Day 2)

Description: Unspoiled Walvis Bay, a natural lagoon and the only deep-sea harbor on the Namibian coast, offers something for everyone, with spectacular bird-watching being a keynote, as thousands of migrating species make their way here annually to join the local flamingoes and pelicans. “Dune 7,” at the outskirts of town, towers over the scenic bay, and offers excellent photo ops. The city is also a good starting point for a number of exciting day trips into the timeless beauty of the desert region, including off-road explorations, or fly-over dolphin and whale sighting.

Planned Excursion: PELICAN POINT BIRDING

 4.0 Hours           Moderate Activity            # LRN-010:

Free Catalogue sightings of numerous waders and shore birds at the nutrient-rich Walvis Bay Lagoon.  See a plethora of avian species, such as sandpipers, plovers, herons and pelicans.  Visit the Walvis Bay Salt mine to look for phalaropes, grebes and terns.  Spy osprey and African black oystercatchers at Pelican Point, home to a Cape fur seal colony.  Keep watch at the Kuiseb River delta for an Orange River white-eye and a dune or sabota lark.

Today's Notes: We have really enjoyed our time here in Namibia.  Walvis Bay is a very clean and safe city with a very low crime rate.  On our first day here we spent the afternoon at the Dunes Mall doing some essential shopping.  Very clean and modern mall with a wide variety of stores and very helpful sales people. 

On our second day here in Walvis Bay we went on a birding excursion.  We rode in a 4x4 Toyota modified Land Rover.  We traveled far out into the low flats of the lagoon observing many birds as described above and thousands of fur seals.  The highlight of the trip was going high up on the Dunes for a spectacular view overlooking the salt mining and Lagoon.  On our way down from the Dune we drove over and down a very steep cliff to the bottom of the dune.   

Pictures

Click Here --> PELICAN POINT BIRDING PICTURES

Videos

Click Here --> PELICAN POINT BIRDING part 1

Click Here --> PELICAN POINT BIRDING part 2

Click Here --> PELICAN POINT BIRDING part 3

Click Here --> PELICAN POINT BIRDING part 4

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Day 115 of 148 - WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA (Day 1)

 Date: 4/29/2024     Day 115         Port Day: WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA (Day 1)

Description: Unspoiled Walvis Bay, a natural lagoon and the only deep-sea harbor on the Namibian coast, offers something for everyone, with spectacular bird-watching being a keynote, as thousands of migrating species make their way here annually to join the local flamingoes and pelicans. “Dune 7,” at the outskirts of town, towers over the scenic bay, and offers excellent photo ops. The city is also a good starting point for a number of exciting day trips into the timeless beauty of the desert region, including off-road explorations, or fly-over dolphin and whale sighting.

Planned Excursion: None

Morning Update: It's a beautiful sunny day with calm seas.  We arrive in Walvis Bay at noon pier side.  We have decided to take the shuttle bus to the Dunes Mall this afternoon.    The mall appears to be safe enough to pickup some needed supplies.  Tomorrow we have a planned excursion here in Walvis Bay.

Sunrise over Namibia, Africa

Day 114 of 148 - CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

 Date: 4/28/2024     Day 114    Sea Day: CRUISING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Description: The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about 85,133,000 km2 (32,870,000 sq mi). It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for separating the Old World of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the New World of the Americas.

Moring Update:  We woke to overcast and rainy skies.  The seas are smooth much to Cathy's delight. We have this one sea day before arriving to WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA.  We are likely to lose our StarLink Internet connection while in Walvis Bay, this overnight stop. 

As we departed Cape Town, the captain's departure address told us we have sailed 29,780 Nautical Miles since leaving Miami on January 6th. 

Afternoon Update: We had pirate drill/training this morning.  More drills are to come.  I had thought since we were away from the Red Sea area that this would no longer be necessary.  In addition, we how have a six armed security guards onboard.  They are currently in plain clothing.  It's a shamed that these measures have to be taken for our safety.  At "The Speaker Series" talk this morning describing our next destination Walvis Bay, this is his favorite port-of-call in Africa.  We're going to stick close to the excursion tour guide(s) and don't do any "on our own" exploration while ashore.  I guess shopping is out of the question the next few African stops.  

Day 113 - CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

 Date: 4/27/2024     Day 113   Port Day: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Description: Called ‘the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth’ and regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Cape Town offers museums, lush parks and shops. Impressive mountains, magnificent beaches and outstanding wineries add to the attraction. Ride a cable-car to the top of famous flat-topped Table Mountain and gaze at the mosaic of towering mountains, verdant valleys and the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The historical highlight is Robben Island, once the prison holding such outstanding anti-apartheid leaders as Nelson Mandela.

Planned Excursion: CHEETAH AND OLIVES TASTING

4.0 Hours            ModerateActivity             # CPT-030: Free

Tour a wildlife center that cares for cheetahs as part of its conservation efforts.  Learn why free-roaming cheetahs are endangered and pet one, if the animal is willing.  Sample several Bordeaux-style wines and olive oils at a historical estate.

Today's Notes:  We arrived late into Cape Town at 8:15 AM (scheduled 7 AM).  This delay was due to weather conditions in the port delaying our pilot getting onboard to guide us in.  As a result, this delayed the early first scheduled excursions.  Our excursion started on time as it was the second departure.  The first bus or departure left late.  As both of these buses, or separate departures were visiting the same sites, our bus being the second departure was arriving at a tour site before the first bus, 1st departure, had not departed the site. This continued throughout the day making us the last bus to arrive back at the ship.  

The cheetahs were not feeling well enough to have us near them to pet them.  The wildlife center was basically a rescue center for injured or abandon animals.  Viewing the other animals in the center was a disappointment.  We were delay getting to the wine tasting venue by 45 minutes waiting for the first bus to leave.  We made an unscheduled shopping stop where some of us got off the bus to do.  Most enjoyed this wine and olive tasting tour.  

As we departed Cape Town, the captain's departure address told us we have sailed 29,780 Nautical Miles since leaving Miami on January 6th.