Warren -- I'm sorry you missed the trip to Corregidor. Too bad you just didn't take one o the ferries that do tours there daily. I visited there on the 2007 WC and it was a very meaningful experience.

On the CC board there have been some complaints about missed ports and delayed arrivals/departures.

For those who might be interested, I am repeating some of my musings on the subject that I posted there:

"I understand the concerns that people have when they make arrangements for activities (such as for land trips) based upon scheduled ship arrival times. On short cruises that frequently follow the same route I imagine this is normally not much of a problem.

"However on longer cruises, such as a world cruise, many additional factors enter into whether a ship can keep to it’s published schedule.

"When you have long passages between A and B and C, for example, it can be difficult to “make up” time.

"The Captain and crew have to deal with changing wind conditions, unpredicted currents, varying sea states, etc. Plus, you are subject to the varying efficiencies of harbor pilots and longshoremen. Then there are the customs and immigration clearances that vary from country to country. Sometimes ship provisioning doesn’t run according to schedule. Also, delayed arrivals impact the excursions schedules and adjustments need to be made continually. Then throw in a minor mechanical problem or two just for good measure (but remember these are floating cities with many subsystems that need to run 24/7). All of these issues can impact departure times and arrival times.

"Captain Dag and the staff do their best to keep to the schedule while making every effort to give the passengers the cruise they signed up for. In the end, it takes flexibility on behalf of the both crew and passengers to make a WC happen. IMO, they are doing a great job and we are having a wonderful cruise."

BTW, it is Thursday afternoon here in the Taiwan Strait...anc very foggy. The horn has been blasting since the around noon. We understand there has been an earthquake just to the east of our path.

Forecast for our arrival in Shanghai tomorrow is evening snow showers and 32 degree temp. Yuck. Capt. Dag has invited me to view the voyage up the Huangpau River from the bridge. So that should be exciting viewpoint (and warm!) to watch all the heavy industry and river traffic.

Your right Larry, they have schedules to keep and this ship isn't run like Amtrak. It's 64F here and i can't tell you how refreshing that seems. Plus I have a bug but I'm working with the doc. So I'm going to take these pills he gave me, turn up my Itunes so I can't hear that horn and take a nap. China and Taiwan have cooled their problems for now. I would join you on the bridge but Captain Dag does not need my cold.

Let us hope that this fog clears up, visibility is down to a 100 yards at times.

Warren --

Hope you shake the bug. And aren't all LCTers thankful the Voyager isn't run like Amtrak!?!

Interesting tidbit. Found out yesterday that our 15 minl. delay leaving Manila on Tuesday evening was because we were waiting for a "delivery."

Turned out that is was passenger laundry that Regent had sent ashore to help alleviate the backlog. Glad they waited!

Our sefive has been pretty good since Sydney, but I guess there have still been some problems. Happy to see they are taking the steps to stay on top of it.

(For those that haven't been reading my blog...all World Cruisers were given free laundry...4 pieces each/day. We have tried to not abuse it and have still done our own underwear, T-shirts, shorts, exercise gear -- things that don't requite ironing. It's a nice perk that we didn't expect.)

Now I have had to turn the heat up in the cabin, That's got to be first since we left SD. And I'm getting free laundry too. Might do some tonight since I've grounded myself to my cabin. The Doc's pills are starting to work. That's another great thing about Voyager, you get sick they take of you.

Larry, your comments concerning what can happen on a WC were well said and I hope that people realize the unforseen does occur. I was once told that when you travel think of everyday as a happening. One should be very grateful when they have the opportunity to travel and get to see how other people live. Try to stay warm in Shanghai and I hope Warren feels better. It is 70 degrees in HKG but is suppose to get cooler next week when I board.

Larry, well said. You're the perfect voice of reason.

Warren, I hope you're feeling better. Enjoy Shanghai, it is such a magical city.

Love your reports and blogs - Warren get well!!

Warren and Larry, love hearing from both of you! Chip, I hope your malady takes leave of you soon! Larry's now a veteran world cruiser, and knows you just need to learn to go with the flow (or learn to shut up complaining about all those little things that just "happen" on a longer cruise! Nice to hear that voice that reminds people...........Chip you have been a trooper!

Only thing I don't get is "outsourcing" laundry! Not like they didn't know how many pax were aboard, and of course, what laundry they can expect per person per day on the average WC after all these years. Just not going to give them a "pass" on this one. I'm on the Mariner now, and all is just fine with the laundry! I left my second bag out after 7 p.m. and it arrived in my cabin all done and pressed the next day by 3p.m.

Please keep giving us more updates! Ah, cool in Shanghai? I think here in the Amazon it was in the 90's today.

Well it's cold, It's 49. it's funny how it went from hot to cold so fast.

1. We got a whole new laundry crew in Singapore.
2. Many if not most of the passengers get their laundry done gratis so are more likely to send things out than to do it themselves.
3.I heard last night that some of the machinery malfunctioned.

A perfect storm . . . .

By the way, the situation is improving . . .

We have brand new dryers on 9. No one knows yet and I'm getting caught up. Shhhh. This immigration thing will be interesting but your right jhp you have to roll with the flow. I have a normal temp which worried me but the doc assures me I'll be okay. I hope the weather gets a little better.