It is official that like Holland-America, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity and Princess; Carnival will now use the Port of Seattle as its home base for cruises to Alaska. In response to the ever increasing number of departures from the Emerald City, the Port of Seattle has accommodated the cruise lines with not one but two new cruise terminals. NCL and Celebrity will use the downtown Bell Street Terminal at Pier 66; and the larger mega-ships of Holland-America, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Carnival will be leaving from the brand new Terminal 91 at Smith Cove. The new terminal promises to offer ease of access for embarking and disembarking passengers with a new passenger check-in area, express baggage handling and ample parking.

I love Easter Island. It is one of the most beautiful and provocative places I have ever been. It is charged with an energy that can only be described as magical. The first time I stayed on the island I did not bring a camera. Feeling the need to somehow capture what I was seeing I bought a children’s sketch pad and a box of colored pencils. No sooner had I opened the pencils a picture started to emerge from the page. I watched as my hand drew anything and everything - flowers, boats, moais - as though it were detached from my body. It was surreal. But more amazing is the drawings were good ! I was possessed by the spirit of the island and have been in awe with the place ever since.The Seven Seas Mariner had a very lucky day; we called on the island under blue skies and calm seas. Our tenders were able to come ashore though they had to detour quite a ways to avoid the huge waves breaking off the rocks. It was a gorgeous day; the sun was bright, the skies were clear, the temperature was mild and the air had a crispness that made everything look vivid and bright. It has been about five years since my last visit and much has changed in the town of Hanga Roa. There are several new cafes, restaurants, shops and rental agencies for cars, motor bikes, and bicycles. The road from the tender pier passes in front of the Hanga Roa Hotel which is under construction for a complete renovation including 75 new rooms. There is a large, new Santander Bank with Rapa Nui designs on the façade and several ATMs. The town was a-buzz with visitors who arrived via the daily flight from Santiago on LanChile. But most impressive to me was the new infrastructure put in place by the Chilean National Park system to guard and protect the ahus and moais. Ahus are the platforms upon which the moai or carved statue of a revered ancestor was placed. The ahus and moais are located along the perimeter of the island; they were raised to look inland to protect the land for their descendants.

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, was designated a UNESCO patrimonial center in 1995 and the Chilean government is dedicated to conserving its heritage. In the area of the quarry at Rano Raraku where the moais were carved from the volcanic stone, the park service has constructed a fence enclosing the outer most moias. There are over 400 in various stages of completion on the flanks of the volcano. Years of people threading irresponsibly on them have damaged several.

Today there are now marked trails with park service “rangers” making sure no one goes astary. The Park Service charges a $10 entrance fee at Rano Raraku. The ticket is also good for entrance to Orongo - site of the Bird Man petroglyphs. Money from the fees has gone toward the building of a small visitors center, restrooms and interpretative signs. Faced with the fact that hundreds if not thousands of people arrive on the island each year via cruise ship island officials are considering implementing a head tax for cruise ship visitors like the head tax collected in Alaska. Since they eat and sleep aboard ship and rarely have time for souvenir shopping the head tax will help generate needed revenue to continue island efforts to protect this historically rich and magical island.

Just 414 miles from mainland Chile - a short 2 ½ hour flight on turbo prop plane - Robinson Crusoe Island is an adventure lovers dream! Part of the Juan Fernandez Archipelago it is the largest of three islands along with Alexander Selkirk and Santa Maria Islands. Back in the 16th century when the islands were first discovered by Juan Fernandez, a Portuguese mariner sailing for the Spanish, the islands were originally called Isla Mas Atierra and Isla Mas Afuera - Island Closest to Land and Island Furthest From Land. As that has no sex appeal, the Chilean government decided to change the name in the 1960’s to reflect the island’s famous inhabitant - Alexander Selkirk aka “Robinson Crusoe.” Selkirk, not wanting to continue on his badly damaged ship The Cinque Ports, asked the crew to remain with him on the island. No one took him up on his offer and the ship sailed without him. He stayed on the island - entirely alone - for 4 years and 4 months until he was rescued by the English ship The Duke. It was from the true story of Selkirk that Daniel Defoe conceived of the fictional Robinson Crusoe.The mountainous island is home to 101 endemic species of plants, 3 endemic species of birds, and the Juan Fernandez sea lion. It was named a UNESCO International Biosphere in 1977. Outside of the tiny town of San Juan Bautista, population 791, there are miles of trails through three different kinds of ecosystems. There is a new “hotel” on the island that sleeps 30 people; most of its guests come for the exquisite nature the island supports and diving off Cumberland Bay where the scuttled hull of the German cruiser the Dresden went down in WWI. Few cruise ships call on Robinson Crusoe Island. Those that do are usually smaller expeditionary ships with a clientèle interested in nature. The community is in the process of expanding its tender pier to accommodate a wider range of passengers. There are many building projects underway and it is sure that you will be hearing more about this island in the future!<

As many of you already know, off the coast of Singapore the Seven Seas Voyager snagged a fishing net that damaged an azipod. As the pods are external propulsion systems they are vulnerable to damage. The fishing net caused extensive damage and the pod effected was forced to shut down. Using only the one remaining the ship limped into Cochin where divers were sent down to assess the damage. Unlike the old shaft and screw propulsion system where damaged screws could be repaired almost anywhere, the sophisticated pod system is more specific and delicate. It was decided she needed to go into drydock. As this was still at the beginning of the Voyager’s Grand World Cruse, guests were given many choices and ample compensation. Some chose to go to Mariner; some stayed on as the ship slowly headed for drydock in Civitavecchia; and others went home. It was very unfortunate however I am happy to report that guests effected were understanding and they are looking forward to the ship’s rapid return to service.