It was certainly a drama full cruise.
My wife was unwell for the entire cruise, but
she was still able to enjoy the places we visited.
Our first port of call was Isle of Pines, where we went on
a shore tour of the island. A lady in our group slipped on
some wet mud in the mouth of a cave we were visiting.
She broke her ankle and re broke her arm, that she had broken
a few days prior. It was a task getting her back to the bus, then
we continued our tour while an ambulance took her to the local
hospital. We passed the hospital later in the tour and saw that she
had arrived OK. That was the last we saw of her, so not sure if she
remained on the island or what.
That night we were meant to cruise to Mystery Island (we haven't been there before),
but the Captain came on the loud speakers and told us that he had to rush to Noumea
instead and we would not be going to Mystery Island, but another Island,
Lifou (we have been there before), which was closer.
It seems another lady had a heart attack and had to be rushed to the hospital at Noumea.
Our next stop was Wala Island, a very nice place, but very basic. After we got back on ship
the captain came on the loud speaker again and told us that he would have to travel faster
than normal to our next destination, as another woman had a serious problem.
We later found out it was the lady in the cabin next to ours. It seems she had a problem with
her pancreas. We got to Santo about 9.30PM that night and she, and her Husband, were taken off the ship and
loaded straight on to a special jet that had flown from Australia while we were cruising to Santo.
She was then rushed back to Sydney hospital in Australia. After cruising off shore the rest of the night
the ship docked early in the morning and we carried on as normal. The shore tour here excellent,
with some lovely singing and dancing from the local people.
Then it was back on the ship and a 3 day cruise back to Sydney. During this part of the cruise my wife
won $520 in the Bingo, so that help to offset some of our on board spending.
On the second last night, the Captain come on the loud speaker again, this time at 3.30am (some
passengers, including me, were not impressed at being woken), to tell us that an oven in the main
galley had short curcuited and created some smoke, which set the silent fire alarm off and
everything was under control. He wanted to let us know, so that no rumours would spread.
I hope these people on our ship had health insurance, I know I always do. Otherwise they might be
in for some big expenses.
