August 4, 2024

When you hear "Good News, Bad News" does your spirit sink a little?

Here's our lovely Odyssey sailing out of the dry dock, around to the pier, alongside the shipyard entrance. Was like watching our baby swim for first time with floaties! And below is the Ship parked next to the Harlon & Wolff Shipyard Security Trailer, where we are due to begin embarking today. Except for one small snag, PSSC signoff for PNI insurance for us to begin living on Ship - meaning sleeping here! The insurance lawyers showed up waving a flag, late Friday afternoon, that until PSSC signoff complete, probably Monday or Tuesday next week, we can only go on the Ship during the daytime to tour, eat. mingle and ready our cabins from 8 am to 9 pm daily! We have to sleep at Belfast hotels, until this sign off is complete. Soooo, guess who called Aer Lingus to move her flight back again! 

Heard from fellow passengers who started arriving at Ship today, after 3 pm to get their room keys and check in. They said Crew and Staff were warm and welcoming, and the Ship looked great. Several ate dinner on board and said food was plentiful and yummy! Airconditioning was off in cabins, but temperature only in 60's and many started unpacking. Shot below is of one of smaller inside cabins on deck four - but looks like they may have overpacked!?!  There are 4 large suitcases behind the boxes. Can't wait to see mine!

By Patricia Patrick January 19, 2026
I threw together an impromptu Bachelorette party for Angie tonight! Angie and Gian are getting married for a third time in Hawaii next week.They will be alone this time and it turns out she never had a Shower or Bachelorette to celebrate her first 2 marriages on the Ship, last May! Our girl deserved a fun night to celebrate her! So we took over a section the outdoor seating at Les 3 Brassuers, and their great band had us all up dancing! It's amazing what you can do with a bunch of WhatsApp messages to fellow ladies, some tulle, sparkles and always handy flower lei's ! One of the ladies even went and bought her some lingerie! I love our supportive community!
By Patricia Patrick January 19, 2026
I got to go Sailing Again! We were supposed to head to the COOK ISLANDS after the lovely Rangiroa and the Tuamotu Archipelago, but due to stormy weather there, with all unprotected tender ports, they made the decision to head us southwest, back to the protected port in Papeeta (Tahiti). We got lucky and Holly ( pictured below) found us a sailboat available for charter.
By Patricia Patrick January 14, 2026
Since Janette Emerich is generous enough to share her drone photos with all of us on board the Ship, I have to share them with you all. This beauty is why I said we felt like we were in a screen saver the whole day in Rangiroa! I love the height perspective in the photos it really captures so much more. Blue Lagoon below: