At Keelung, our port was within easy walking distance to the city, so we took off to explore on our own. When we stopped on a busy street corner to pull out our map and get our bearings, a very friendly man asked if he could help. This was Jeremy, originally from Keelung, but living…
Continue reading →Hong Kong has many nicknames…Asia’s World Capital, City of Life, Fragrant Harbour, even The Big Lychee. But it’s most historic and romantic moniker is The Pearl of the Orient, and indeed it is. On an island of just 410 square miles, this vibrant, bustling, modern, densely populated city and former British colony on the South…
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(borrowed, with a nod to Jaina)
For those who know Dean and me, it would be no surprise to learn that we have befriended the charming onboard head sommelier. He is Oleksandr from Ukraine, but better known as Sasha to all. Among the many onboard activities offered to amuse us, for varying fees we can partake in occasional wine tastings that…
Continue reading →Our Captain, Jurica Brajcic, hails from Dubrovnik, Croatia, and has had salt water in his family’s blood for at least several generations. He is a tall man, imposing, with gray hair and moustache. He has been with Oceania for many years and was the first captain to sail our Insignia when she was purchased from…
Continue reading →I’ve been having this subliminal fear that our trip could be thwarted again, that the ship would not be repaired on schedule or have enough time to make the long, slow journey from San Juan to Singapore. Do the math. 11,900 miles at about 16 or 17 knots per hour. That’s about 28 days without…
Continue reading →Anyone who has been stranded overnight in an airport, missed their train, encountered a sudden highway closure due to blinding weather, or had their hotel reservation cancelled, knows that travel is guaranteed to challenge the traveler to be flexible, willing, and open to change. You may not like it, but hopefully in the end, you…
Continue reading →The day before Christmas Eve, we received a phone call from our travel agent informing us that Oceania had sent the following announcement by email to travel agents and passengers of our Around the World Cruise: Dear Insignia Guest and Travel Partners, We finished our initial repair assessment for Insignia and expect the ship will…
Continue reading →We have news that Insignia is now headed to San Juan where she is expected to arrive on December 22 and will go into dry dock for repairs. She appears to be sailing under her own power with a “restricted manoeuverability” status at a speed of about 7 knots. Oceania has informed us that we…
Continue reading →I received the terrible news that a blaze broke out in the engine room aboard the Insignia while the ship was docked in St. Lucia on Thursday, December 11. A crew member and two contractors died, and two other crew members were treated for injuries. The fire was contained to the engine room and extinguished….
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