At Sea in the Pacific

World Cruise 2011 Segment 1 LA to Papeete

Day0 Sunday 16 Jan. We were up early to catch the stretch-black limo at 745. It arrived a few minutes early and we were at the airport at 8 for the 945 flight. Curbside checkin was easy without any weight issues. The bags were not put on a scale. The flight was maybe 40% full and we had seats in the front row. The 55-minute flight was a few minutes early and we were at the hotel by 11. The room, 604 at the Beverly Hills Wilshire -Four Seasons was a corner, facing east and south. It was a beautiful day with temps into the 80’s. We took an hour’s walk down Rodeo Drive. The hotel faces Rodeo Drive, on Wilshire Blvd. We returned to the room about 2 with 5 hours before the party. Eiko put my cuff links and shirt studs into the wrong suitcase but the concierge came to the rescue. We used bobby pinks to link the cuffs. The cocktail party was way too noisy but we met Ian and Marilyn from New Zealand. We were seated at table 8 next to Angela from London and Jim and Jane. The dinner was tasty with crab cakes, gorgonzola/pear salad, beef and lemon tart. The dancing was good and Eiko was very happy with the evening. We saw many of 2008 travelers. There are 176 World Cruisers this year, down from the 330 of 2008. Eiko recognized most of the Japanese contingent and they, her.

Day1 LA Weather beautiful. We were up early to eat The Blvd, the hotel’s restaurant. Crystal provides transport to the ship and we arrived about 1pm, to find Larry Reich and Joyce Hagin at the terminal. Check in was rapid and no immunization cards or visas were requested. ?? We had lunch with Larry and Joyce and proceeded to room 7057 for the unpack. Ana from Montenegro is our cabin stewardess. Everything arrived intact and we were squared away by 4pm. I found Eiko’s favorite books in the library and went up on deck to watch the USC Trojan band perform. I took a few pictures of the port of Los Angeles. We have a nice table by the window, 114, at the far end of the dining room,starboard. When the Hagins dine with us, we will sit at a table for 4 just adjacent to 114. There was a welcome party in the atrium with balloons and a little dancing. The ship is about half full for this first segment.