Day 17, Sailing toward Avatoru

The morning started with a light drizzle and overcast skies as we continue pushing southwest towards Avatoru.   Today was the last day for the Polynesian On Location team craft project where we would make a Tahitian Tiare Gardenia Headlei.   The team bought fresh flowers in Nuvu Hika and we knew that this already popular event would be ever more popular. We arrived at 8am at the tables were already ½ full and I had no idea when the first person arrived.

Note to future cruisers: These Polynesian events are very popular on whatever cruise they may appear and getting there at least 45 minutes early is always appropriate if you want to ensure you get a seat.

We were given 14 Tuberos flowers, long lei needles and thread. We had to leave our room cards as a deposit for the needles. Not that they were that valuable, but they wanted to make sure they got them all back and they didn’t end up in the pool.   On a previous Hawaii Cruise with this team, they didn’t request room cards for Lei needles so I suspect there was some issue with them over the last year.

The project went very fast and we were done threading the flowers in about 5 minutes.

Pete Neighbour was the guest for Good Morning Amsterdam and he shared his interesting background with playing the Jazz Clarinet.   Many of the performers will reunite for a big variety show tomorrow evening.

The-Inside-Cabin ventured to deck 9 for the Basketball shoot out to work on getting more Grand Dollars.   The Basketball Shoot was on the courts on Deck 9. There were about 30 people taking part with Gene hosting.   You would get $5 for every shot from the free throw line, but would get $500 for a successful shot from half court.   Since this is a smaller court, half court isn’t THAT far, so I elected to go for the big bucks.   Most people started at the free throw line, but when many saw me get close a few times, others joined in for the half-court shot attempt.   Two people were successful from half court and earned $500. I didn’t get anything but it was fun to try.

Jodie, the show host, held a Grand Dollar Event – Target Toss – on level 3 in the Atrium. They divided the 60 people or so into two teams who then tried to toss bean bags into a board with 5 holes cut out representing various scores.   A member of each team would compete head to head with a member of the opposite team. The team who won the majority of these head to head events would earn $3 for each member of the team.   Our team won adding $3 more to my slowly growing pile of dollars – now up to $216.

We received a preliminary statement today for the first two weeks

• The Evansons