We're headed east from Moorea bound for Nuku Hiva and have been advised to set our clocks 30 minutes forward. In other words, Nuku Hiva is a half hour ahead of Tahiti. I suppose it means their "noon" is closer to sun-at-zenith. The trip ends about a week from tomorrow and our last port is day after tomorrow in the Marquesas.
Holland America has been apologetic for the ports we've had to blow off and the changes in itinerary. Not that they've said so but they may also be apologetic about scheduling the cruise during the hot, rainy season. They're giving everybody a credit equal to 15% of the base price for their trip as a credit toward our next trip, if booked in April (i.e., on board before this trip ends). We've also been given an extra $100 each in shipboard credit. That isn't chump change., it could amount to $3000 per cabin.
A Day Later ... We are finally out of the rain clouds and into sunshine. In common with other highly humid places like DC, the sky is a buttermilk-like washed-out blue that's as much ivory as it is blue. Apparently low humidity is needed for really blue skies.
We got our passports back today, not sure why. Do we need them for going ashore in Nuku Hiva or did the passport check they did for Fr. Polynesia handle us for the whole region? All will become clear in the fullness of time.
