Day 53 April 29 – Phuket, Thailand

Day 53 Wednesday April 29th (67 days to go) — We had tender service today for Phuket, Thailand. I think the heat and humidity of the two days in Singapore has finally got to us and we decided to stay on the ship today. The Vista arrived and started using a tender service to bring passengers to shore at 1:30 this afternoon. We woke up and had some breakfast before going up to the Spa Deck to hang out. I am thinking because passengers were planning to go on shore today, there was nobody on the Spa Deck. John and Joan Meyer came up and met us, and we hung out on the deck until 1pm and lunch time. This afternoon we just sat on the balcony watching the tenders coming back and forth before deciding around 3pm it was a great time for a nap. Before taking the nap I called the butler service and asked about dinner reservations tonight at Jacques (French Specialty Restaurant) and the on-call butler called me back in a few minutes and asked if 7pm would work and we took it.

When we were in Singapore there were a number of passengers who left the ship. Some had already been to South Africa on a previous world cruise that was deviated due to the Middle East issues. The ship picked up some passengers, many joining the ship for the Singapore to Cape Town segment of the World Cruise. Jackie checked with the reception desk and was told for the Singapore to Cape Town cruise we will have 785 passengers. The breakdown of passengers is 505 Americans, 150 Canadians with 38 Australians. The Vista’s capacity is 1,200 passengers. If it were left up to me and Kevin Guidry, we should have 600 passengers. We have a plan to reduce the number to 600 but I don’t think Oceania would like us throwing people overboard…laughing. The penthouse cabins are full as passengers were given the opportunity to move from Concierge or Balcony Cabins to the Penthouses. The thinking is that the Cape Town to Southampton cruise will have even fewer passengers.

Eating at Jacques tonight

Menu at Jacques tonight

We had reservations for 7pm tonight. Combination of passengers staying later in Phuket due to excursions and a decreased number of passengers caused the restaurant to be empty this evening. After we sat at 7pm, no other passengers came in to eat dinner tonight.

They started us off with hot sour dough bread that did not last very long on the table.

The next item brought to the table is called Barbajuan Aux Epinards (Provencal spinach fritter)

Lane’s appetizer was Salade de Crabe au Raifort et Sauce A L’Orange Sanguine (Lump crab meal salad, Horseradish and Blood orange sauce)

Jackie started with Coeur de Laitue A Lechalote et Roquefort (Heart of Boston lettuce, shallots, Roquefort blue cheese)

For the soups, Lane had Gratinee A L’oignon (Baked onion soup. Gruyere crust)

Jackie’s soup was Creme de Potiron (Creamy pumpkin soup)

For the entree Jackie had Coquille Saint-Jacques, Sauce Noilly Prat, Fondue de Poireaux, Pommes de Terre Fondates (Sauteed scallops, Fondant potatoes, Leek, Noilly prat sauce)

Lane’s entree was Gambas A L’armoricaine (Shrimp in Tomato-cognac cream sauce)

Dessert Menu

Jackie had Flan Parisen (Parisan custard tart)

Lane’s dessert was Crepes Suzette (Grand Marnier-Caramel Sauce)

Marshmallow squares

Photo of a cruise ship docked in Phuket while the Vista is anchored off the coast and using tenders.

Photo of Phuket tonight from the ship

Tomorrow the ship leaves Phuket at 3pm. We thought about going on shore after viewing photos of other passengers, but after speaking to John and Joan and the ordeal they had with a taxi we decided to stay on the ship again tomorrow.