July 27, 2024

Floating the Ship and reinstalling lifeboats!

Finally the new rudder stocks have been approved by DNV and both rudder assemblies reinstalled. I was so excited Tuesday to get the video of the dry dock finally filling up with sea water! On Wednesday saw they were floating and reloading the life boats. The next hurdle is passing all the agency inspections and testing, now that we are finally floating. DNV has signed off on 2 generators and 2 more need to get reviewed over weekend. Then they have to do critical test for Transitional Power. Everything needs to go off and switch over perfectly to pass! Anything that goes amiss, will have to tweak to get perfect.  PSSC and MCA are the agencies for all the technical testing. From the Hotel perspective we are all good to go. The PNI Insurance Policy has been approved and to be in place for 7/31, allowing embarkation of residents. YAHOO!  We got these updates this afternoon and Sunday we are to going to get more insights. Based on today's zoom call,  I changed my Aer Lingus return flight to Dublin, from Sunday night to Tuesday night arriving on 7/31. I have learned to always buy fully refundable, no change fee tickets!

 

Off the Coast of PATTAYA, THAILAND

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
Off the coast of Pattaya, Thailand a talented and dedicated group of residents, the Odyssey Troubadours , performed A Night of Broadway for the enjoyment of all the other residents and senior staff on board. The group of 20 performed, 15 Broadway songs that had some special Odyssey edits, personalizing them to our journey. We loved it ! Such a clever, talented and fun loving group. I was upfront and focused on getting candid pictures of the talented cast.

NONG NOOCH TROPICAL GARDENS, Pattaya, Thailand

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
We were up for breakfast at 7 and then hired a private small tram to take us around the gardens, for an overview, because it came with a guide. Problem was, guide barely spoke English, so we had a hard time figuring out the history of this crazy place. Even with translate app his answers were questionable. Did it start as gardens? What's with all the statues? Is there a master plan? It seems to be growing with no real connections, that we could make out. Web & Chat GPT seem vague on details too! We had fun with it, finding more and more absurd things, until the heat won out!

PATTAYA , THAILAND ADVENTURE

By Pat Patrick • October 20, 2026
I went on a 24 hour adventure with these fun shipmates into Pattaya, Thailand to explore Nong Nooch Wonder World. Noted on the web as one of the top 10 Botanical Gardens in the World, it is certainly the largest in S. Asia at over 500 to 600 acres. Since the place is so massive; open from 8am to 6pm; the heat is so oppressive and we are at a tender port, we decided to spend the night, so we could be there at the opening, the next day and make a fun night before too!