November 1, 2025
A lot of people went to dinner in costume, but the full party started after at 8:30 pm with fun and games first, then the dance floor opened outside. I hand sewed our Pebbles & BamBam costumes.
There was a custume parade at 10pm before our 5 judges, who deliberations to get to the finalist - Bosco and I made it to the final 6! Then crowd applause determined the grand prize winner! Resident Barbara, from The Villages in Florida was victorious and deservingly so for her creativity!
Thiere were lots OF other creative ideas, made with limited ship resources! Here's some of my favorites!
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This year Robert Vong, our largest shareholder and resident fashion plate, was the one most imitated, especially since he allowed several residents access to his closet and accessories. Here's some of them and a videos of outside dance party ( by resident Magda)
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.
This is my third time in CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA and I really enjoy how walkable, clean and charming it is. The waterfront esplanade and lagoon area is a nice walk day or night. We had 2 nights here in the waterfront Shangri La Marina Hotel while waiting for the Ship to arrive and then 2 additional days in Port.