In a way this cruise is relentless.  Too much fun.  We came off an intensive port schedule in New Zealand with three on board parties in a week.  St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, Costume Party Thursday, and Music Night Sunday, which was also a “formal dinner.”  On those days we also had lectures, an ice cream social, production shows in the main theater as well as the normal rounds of trivia, bingo, and everything else the ship offers, much of which we skip.  It’s almost too much.  For us it is too much.  We skipped the ice cream social and made only token appearances at the St. Pat’s and costume parties.  (although we did attend the production shows).  I think the entertainment planners looked at the world cruise, which is four weeks longer than ours, and decided to match it party for party, theme night for theme night.  It is certainly more frenetic than any long cruise we have been on before.  It’s paced more like the short “party” cruises to the Caribbean or Mexico than a longer “Grand Voyage.”

So, with all these good times we were exhausted by the time we reached Tonga.  We’ve been to Tonga before, been to the beach and walked the capital. It was hot and humid and we were tired.  So, we almost declared it a “ship day,” a port call where we don’t get off the ship.  But I couldn’t quite bring myself to do that so we compromised and got off the ship for about an hour. 

You can see much of the capital Nuku’lofa from the ship, the wooden Victorian Royal Palace, the new Chinese Built government building, and the ruins of the Free Wesleyan Church (damaged in a cyclone).  You can also see the remains of the dock damaged in that storm.  The Chinese built the dock and the government building were in return for fishing rights in one of their “infrastructure for access” deals.

We also enjoyed the welcome and farewell dance performances from our balcony. 

The clear water afforded us views of the coral right off the ship. 

We spent our hour on shore at the market near the pier where I found Polynesian shirts that fit me and Suzi found gifts for grandkids and friends.  So, although we only spent an hour on shore we felt like we had our Tonga experience.