Today is our first day of the 2nd segment’s new itinerary, of the 2020 World Wonders Cruise. Rather than cruising north along the Queensland Coast, we are ploughing our way East, back across the Pacific Ocean towards Noumea, New Caledonia.

I stopped in Noumea a number of times on SS Oriana back in 1978, but have zero memories of this port. Therefore, I can only deduce that it wasn’t overly impressive, as I probably didn’t go ashore.

Regardless, today is another relaxing sea day aboard the magnificent Viking Sun.

Temperature: 27C/81F

Wind/Weather: Partly cloudy. Light winds freshening to 10-12 kts by Noon.

Sunrise/Sunset: 05:26/18:12

Clox: No change (Z+10)

Navigation

We departed Brisbane, as scheduled. at 21:00, navigating up the river, then through the buoyed channel of Moreton Bay. On dropping the pilot, we set a course for Noumea at a speed of 17 kts. Since departure, we steamed 231 miles, at an average speed of 15.4 kts. We have 584 miles to reach the Noumea Pilot Station, requiring a speed of 14.6 kts for an 05:00 arrival.

Weather

Partly cloudy throughout the day. Early morning winds were < 10 kts, with a short and fairly steep swell of 6 to 8 feet. Winds freshened slightly throughout the day, reaching about SE’ly 15 kts at Noon.

Meals

Today’s special meals:

• Aquavit Bar (07:00 to 10:00) – Organic Muesli Bar
• Aquavit Terrace (18:00 to 21:00) – Grilled fresh Australian Coral Trout)

At breakfast, Judi left after she finished eating, as she had an appointment for a warpaint application to her nails. She met Linda, outside the restaurant and having not seen them in a few days, agreed to meet for dinner in the MDR. I stayed in the restaurant, chatting with Neil, one of our new trivia team members. On leaving the restaurant I saw Linda’s husband Dave, commenting, “Long time no see.” He mentioned Judi & Linda had already met and set up dinner that evening. Great minds think alike.

For dinner, we booked table # 153 with our usual waiters, enjoying dinner with Dave & Linda at a 4-top table. Rather than Andrian providing the menu briefing the A/Waiter Teyfun explained the menu. He did a great job for his first attempt. He recommended the Chicken & Pork Fried Rice, so I went for that. Wow! piping hot and delicious. Judi had another steak, which was cooked to perfection. Excellent company and dinner tonight.

Apologies, forgot the camera yet again, so no dinner photos today.

Activities

I started up on Deck 8 about 05:45, completing laps for about 1 hr 15 mins, then stretching to help stabalise my knee.

It was a busy day with activities, but the lectures were either repeats, or of no interest. The 10:00 lecture was from a fashion diva discussing Australia’s Fashion Story. Doubt if there were many blokes attending that one, so I headed to the photographers get together at 09:30. Most enjoyable and very sociable, as we chatted away until about 11:30.

Met Judi in the Theatre shortly before Noon for daily trivia. We scored a respectable 11/15, but the “Boys” won with an amazing 14/15.

After lunch we chilled, with me catching up on photos and blog posts until 17:15, when we returned to the Theatre for Bevan’s Mad Gabs. It consisted of 15 questions, each with a series of words and we had to guess the meaning. Never seen this before and being very literal, it wasn’t something I enjoyed. However, Judi did really well.

We enjoyed an excellent dinner with Dave & Linda, then headed to the Theatre for the Viking Singer’s ABBA show. OMG!! it was excellent. Sadly, only 2 more ABBA shows before London, but rest assured, we will be at both of them.

As another day closes, we bid you farewell, till tomorrow and hope for fair skies and following seas.