1. The internet service provided by the vessel, and for which I paid $900 up front, has been so poor and/or non-existent that the Captain, during his daily noon broadcast, apologized to all the guests and crew. He promised that it was being "worked on" and would be improved as soon as possible. Neither definite date nor time frame was mentioned so I will get up extra early and try to bring you up to date.
Changes to the schedule (again): no one at Cunard/Carnival bothered to check the customs or wishes of two of the South Pacific ports and we were scheduled to go to Samoa on a Sunday. Many Samoans are deeply religious and observe the Sabbath by closing businesses and attending church. And, the last thing they would have wanted was 2,000+ disgruntled tourists interrupting their church services.
Why we did not stop at Tonga is a not entirely clear but two stops in Fiji were substituted. We stopped at Lautoka
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lautoka)
yesterday and will be in Suva today.
2. There is always a World Club Dinner, for those guests who do the full world voyage. I have attended 8 of them and they have all been horrible for one reason or another: the local cultural performances have been amateurish and much too long, the food has been questionable and, at times, the seating arrangements have been regrettable.
This year, the dinner is again scheduled for Dubai - but during Ramadan.
Ramadhan or Ramathan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,[9] observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection and community.[10] A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation,[11] the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam[12] and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.[13][14]
Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating.[15] The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar.[16][17] Although fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca,[18] it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.[19][20][21]
Having lived in a Moslem country during Ramadhan, I can relate how difficult it was for my neighbors not to eat, drink or smoke during daylight hours. We have overnights in Sydney and Singapore and either port would have been preferable.
Supposedly, there is one person at Carnival House in Southampton whose sole job is to organize the World Club Dinner.
As with most carnivals, it's probably a clown!
3. Why has Google switched to Chinese on my computer and phone? I had to guess how to open this blog and took a screen shot for the next time. Also, I am really not interested in eyelid surgery (the commercial most often shown when I go to youtube) nor skin whitening creams. Help!
No, it stopped as mysteriously as it began.
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